[00:00:09,340] [Jamie:] Hello and welcome to CoachCast by England Football Learning, the coaching podcast that brings you insight from people across the game. Today we're chatting to Vicky Fisher, an FA coach development officer, to discover her journey so far and how she's helping to develop female coaches in the Southwest. Hi Vicky, welcome to CoachCast.
[00:00:30,106] [Vicky Fisher:] Hey, how are you? [Jamie:] All good, thanks. Yourself?
[00:00:32,633] [Vicky Fisher:] Yeah, great, thank you.
[00:00:34,245] [Jamie:] Fantastic. [Louise:] Really good to have you on. We always try and start by finding out a little bit more about your role and what you actually do. So if you could paint a picture for our listeners, what it is you do.
[00:00:43,360] [Vicky Fisher:] Yeah, absolutely. So, a working coach development and essentially supporting female coaches in the game, not just females, but female coaches around how we recruit more females. And then when we have coaches, how do we support, how do we look after and how do we help develop them?
[00:00:57,500] [Louise:] Brilliant.
[00:00:57,980] [Jamie:] Fantastic. Well, before we really dive in to find out all about yourself, Vicky, and your journey. As this is a coaching podcast, listeners could be on the way to training right now as they're tuning into this, so we feel it might be a good idea to give them some advice at the top of the show.
[00:01:12,874] [Louise:] Yeah, we like to call this your arrival activity, so it's a little bit something to warm you up but also get some great tips. So we'll give you 30 seconds and we'll give you a bit of a timer and you've just got to give us as many top coaching tips as you can. Is that okay?
[00:01:28,840] [Vicky Fisher:] Brilliant, no pressure.
[00:01:31,800] [Louise:] Okay, so we'll start the music,
[00:01:34,920] [Vicky Fisher:] Brilliant. So, top tips, always number one is have fun and enjoy it, because if you don't enjoy it, your players don't enjoy it. And I guess number two, links to make sure that your players are loving their sessions. So whether they're youth players, whether they're adult players, they go to sessions to have fun and to enjoy it. So I think whoever you work with, fun has to be key. I think always remember nobody else knows what's happening in your session other than you so if something goes wrong don't beat yourself up.
[00:02:09,000] [Louise:] Brilliant.
[00:02:09,718] [Jamie:] We will let that one get in there just there, well done Vicky. Fantastic, some really good top tips there Thanks for that. Let's dive straight in, shall we? And we'll start off as we always do in this segment is finding out what was your first experience of football like?
[00:02:24,554] [Vicky Fisher:] So my first experience, like many, I guess would have been at school, primary school where I played football. I live in the southwest, I live in Cornwall, so played with all boys. And then again, like many, when I went to secondary school, I wasn't allowed to play football anymore. There weren't any girls clubs. So in terms of my playing, that's where my kind of journey stopped at that time. And I was really, really fortunate that when I was 16, I got into coaching. But by that time, there probably were more opportunities to play than adult women's football. So certainly for me, I had a period of time where I had to stop playing just because of opportunities.
[00:02:55,240] [Jamie:] How come it was stopped then when you was getting into secondary school? Why were opportunities quite limited for you to play?
[00:03:01,480] [Vicky Fisher:] I think it was at that age where mixed football wasn't allowed. So when you were kind of 11, that was that cutoff point. And living in the southwest in such a rural area, there just weren't the girls teams. So there wasn't that potential opportunity. So it was really about then actually, what other things could I do to stay involved in the game other than playing. I was really fortunate to get involved with a lot of leadership opportunities, meaning that I could do my level one course when I was 16 and really start to look into coaching.
[00:03:27,340] [Jamie:] If we look at that coaching journey, I mean I interviewed you recently for some content on our website and the story you told me about how you first started your coaching journey was really touching. Would you mind telling our listeners exactly how that happened?
[00:03:40,680] [Vicky Fisher:] Yeah of course and opportunities were really limited but I have to say I had some really supportive people around me and my PE teacher Mrs. Jones, she always knew how much I loved football and although she couldn't necessarily give me the opportunity to play, she was really supportive and I got involved with coaching lots of the school teams, involved in all the Young Leader programmes and as soon as I was 16 the school gave me the opportunity to book on a level one coaching course so the support was very much driven by them and I'm really grateful and appreciative of that at such a young age to set me up on the journey that I've had.
[00:04:10,931] [Louise:] It's really good to have someone that can see that in someone and kind of push an opportunity towards them isn't it?
[00:04:16,079] [Vicky Fisher:] Yeah and I think like I say it wasn't even opportunities that I was probably aware of you know I'd always wanted to play football you know I was really passionate about it and obviously it was really upsetting when I didn't have that opportunity so so for somebody else to say well actually do you know I think you can do this and and here's your chance And when somebody else believes in you, I think that makes you feel really special and I think it's something that I've always carried with me into my career and into every role that I have in terms of we can continue to give opportunities to other people, whatever that might be.
[00:04:44,340] [Louise:] Yeah, definitely. [Jamie:] What did you say to them when the teacher came up and told you that there was a place on a level one course for you? What did you say?
[00:04:51,100] [Vicky Fisher:] I think I was a bit, I was definitely shocked and surprised to start with. And then I think it was just that, like I say, how it made you feel in terms of somebody, somebody else had taken that time to consider you. So I wasn't aware, I hadn't asked for it. They'd gone and done that and sorted it. And also that actually somebody else believes in you. Somebody else has believed that I can go on that and I'm a 16 year old girl, but I can be a football coach and that's really powerful.
[00:05:15,260] [Louise:] So what was your first experience of coaching like?
[00:05:17,594] [Vicky Fisher:] Oh I was terrified, I was really scared, but I'm sure most of us are in exactly the same situation and I think there's an element that actually that stays with us sometimes throughout our journey, whatever our qualifications or experiences. But I say my initial coaching was in school. And then once I completed my level one, I coached at a local boys club, because again, there still weren't those opportunities for girls. But I think I had the respect of the boys because they'd seen me in school, they'd seen me around. It wasn't necessarily a new face to them. But yeah, it was very much a case of, or am I putting into practice all the things I learnt on my course? Or am I doing it right? And that questioning and self-doubt that I'm going to say I'm sure we all have at times.
[00:05:56,760] [Jamie:] What was the Level 1 course like? What was your experience of it like back then?
[00:06:01,400] [Vicky Fisher:] Yeah, obviously it was a long time ago now. It was a very old level one course. I remember being the only female on the course, so being only 16 years old and being the only female, quite intimidating, although the tutor was fantastic, so they were great. Just remember feeling quite overwhelmed sometimes and doubting whether I should be there. And again, it's been really powerful in terms of when I reflect on my journey and how I felt at times, how I'm now able to support and encourage and inspire more females to get involved in and probably take away some of those barriers that I felt. Not that they were intentional barriers, but definitely kind of sometimes felt uncomfortable. But I love the course. And I think it's that that love of it that gets you through it because you're doing it because you love it and you want to go and coach.
[00:06:42,740] [Jamie:] If your younger self was in front of you now as a 16 year old about to go on the course, what advice would you give yourself?
[00:06:49,280] [Vicky Fisher:] I think it goes back to that kind of believing in yourself but also everybody's there for a reason. So people don't necessarily know other than you because of their gender or because of their background or because of their experiences and I think sometimes we, I know I certainly did as a 16 year old female, looked around me and I think crikey I bet all of these guys know far more than me but actually probably wasn't the case it was just because there was only one of me. So I think sometimes it's safe around backing yourself and believing in yourself and you're more than capable to do whatever you want to do. [Jamie:] And would that be advice to any girls who'd like to start the coaching journey that may find themselves in a similar position that you did when you was at that age?
[00:07:27,120] [Vicky Fisher:] Yeah absolutely, I think and we say that football is a game for all and we want everybody to access opportunities and I think it's about taking any chance that you have and sometimes being a little brave and taking that first step forward and I was really fortunate that somebody gave me that opportunity. And there are so many more females now in the game So we have more visible role models and we have female tutors and female coach developers and it's probably a much more diverse coaching community when you go into courses.
[00:07:55,680] [Louise:] We've spoken about you having support and kind of someone pushing you forward towards the level one. Did you ever have any negative or challenges other than not being able to play that made you kind of consider whether it was something that you wanted to do and how did you overcome those?
[00:08:11,360] [Vicky Fisher:] Yeah I think not when I did my first course I feel like I was supported And even though I was the only female in the room, I thought the tutor was fantastic. And everybody on the course was lovely. There was no element that I was different to anybody else. But I would say there have been challenges along my coaching journey. And even now, there have been times when I've turned up to fixtures and the opposition manager has walked past me to a male parent, presuming that they were the coach of the team rather than me because I'm female. So I think that goes down to kind of stereotypes and how certain people perceive who are enrolled. I wouldn't say again that was a necessary, you know, negative, but it certainly makes you kind of feel a bit unsure or frustrated, I guess, in that time or that moment. [Jamie:] Yeah. So how did you overcome that? But then how do we go changing mindsets with that? It's not right.
[00:09:01,880] [Vicky Fisher:] No, it's not right at all. And I think that's where we have to continue to be the positive role models on the ground. So yeah, I'm really privileged to have this job and work in this role. But outside of this, I am a grassroots football coach and me working my grassroots team week in and week out, and being on that pitch side, again, shows others that we should all be involved in the game, regardless of gender or our experience or our qualifications, that there's a place for everybody. And I think in that situation, it was around potentially being the bigger person and saying, well, actually, I am the coach, and this is all the information that you need to know, and then continuing to be me on the side of the pitch. Because I think it's easy to get, like I say, flustered, upset. And I was, and probably afterwards more so. But at the time, my responsibility was my players and the match. I think it's about keep being visible and keep being the role model and keep encouraging others to do more and step forward and also, like I say, supporting those in the game and being around to help and offer advice and it's not always easy. So I think being there for people to go to is a good way that I can help.
[00:10:03,280] [Louise:] Yeah, definitely. So what is it that you enjoy about coaching?
[00:10:06,600] [Vicky Fisher:] There's probably multiple things. I love seeing others develop and I think that again started from a really young age, from when I didn't have the opportunity to play. The buzz and the satisfaction you get from seeing others have a chance and you being a part of that is quite special. And whether that's, you know, giving a player their first opportunity to play. So it might be that they're, you know, they're new to football and they're just starting it. Whether that's coaching a player to help them improve and develop. Whether that's supporting a player to access further opportunities. So actually, you might be working with a really talented individual that you think you could signpost further. So I think you can affect players in so many ways. And I don't even just think it's the football. The number of young people that I've worked with where you've seen their confidence grow and socially they've developed. I see players now that I coached, you know, those boys who I very, very first started my coaching journey with are now far taller than me and are off living their lives all over the country and you know when you bump into them and they share with you you know their lives now and and they've got their own children and families and their careers and a football coach is so much more than just the football on the pitch and again and quite often we forget the impact that we can have. So I love the football, I love seeing players develop but I love seeing the people kind of develop and grow over time.
[00:11:23,792] [Louise:] Yeah it must be really nice because you've got, it's like life lessons almost isn't it, that you're kind of passing on as well and then to see them develop and potentially passing those life lessons on to their family and what have you as well must be lovely.
[00:11:34,680] [Vicky Fisher:] Absolutely. I mean, we say it to coaches all the time in terms of that role model piece and I don't think any of us ever really believe it. We just, we go and do football because that's what we do. And yeah, on paper, we might know that we're a role model when we go on coaching courses and things like that. But I think it's like I say, it's that reflection. And when you see people much later on, you realise that impact.
[00:11:55,520] [Jamie:] Talking about impact, in order for a coach to have a positive impact on their players, what key attributes and skills do you think they need?
[00:12:04,200] [Vicky Fisher:] In terms of the coach?
[00:12:05,980] [Jamie:] Yeah, in terms of the coaching skills that they might need to make a positive impact on the game?
[00:12:09,760] [Vicky Fisher:] I think it's take away the football knowledge, it's that caring, it's that being there for your players, being that consistent person, getting all the basics right, like being on time and being prepared and being organized. And if you do all of those things, then your players will know that you care. I said at the start, I think there's a really important element to that fun piece. The players have got to really enjoy coming to sessions. And if it's fun, then they probably will. And they're going to keep coming back. And as a coach, you're going to enjoy it so much more. Because when you see players keep turning up week after week and going home with a smile on their face, then that makes you feel good. Because coaching's hard and lonely sometimes when it's pouring with rain or when you're on your own and you're carrying all the kit. But like I say, when those players leave and go home happy, then actually, yeah, that's a good place to be.
[00:13:00,100] [Louise:] Have you been inspired by any coaches or teachers throughout your coaching journey? What would you say that you've learned from them that maybe you try and introduce into your coaching?
[00:13:09,440] [Vicky Fisher:] I think I take ideas from people all the time and even now some of the coaches that I work with, some of my new female coaches who are just starting the game, when I go and watch some of their sessions, I don't think they always believe me when I say, I'm going to steal that idea and I'm going to use it. Because I think as coaches, we're always learning and developing. And it doesn't matter what our job is or what qualification we have. If we see an idea that we like, then try it, use it. So I'd say in terms of being inspired, I'm inspired by coaches on a weekly basis. I think any coach who tries something new, who puts on exciting fun sessions, fantastic. I think there have been certain coaches during my career who've probably inspired me and motivated me or challenged me in a different way. I think that's always a good place to be. And, you know, even linking back to that, my very first PE teacher who probably gave me that push and motivation to even start coaching. Because actually if I think about her as a teacher and how she taught me, you kind of pick things up of, oh, she used to teach like this. So obviously teaching and coaching are different, but you're always kind of noticing and picking things up.
[00:14:20,320] [Jamie:] In terms of that really, in terms of the difference between teaching and coaching, you actually, in your journey, you actually went on to do a degree in PE teaching and sports coaching and I'm just wondering what are the main differences between those two aspects and did you always prefer the coaching route?
[00:14:35,380] [Vicky Fisher:] Yeah, so probably a similar story to lots of other times of change now. When I was applying to go to university, I had done my level one course, I was loving football, I was doing so much volunteering across different organizations and youth football clubs. And I think I had my heart set on I really wanted to work in football. And rightly or wrongly, my support networks around me in school and college said, Vicky, you're not going to get a job working in football. So how about being a PE teacher? So I kind of thought, well, OK, that's probably a sensible move in terms of career. But my passion was, without a doubt, football. So I went to university and obviously did the dual course, which allowed me to do both. And even when I was on my first placements in schools, I loved it. I loved working with the young people. I loved working as part of a PE department. But it was different to coaching because when I was coaching, I was just coaching football. And you had a different amount of time with the players and you could work on different things and there was almost, I guess, a bit of autonomy with it. Whereas in school, there was curriculums and there were syllabuses and there were structures and there was assessments and there were gradings. And I felt that I didn't have the same relationships with young people in school as I did on the football pitch. So for me, even like I say, even when I was doing my degree, I did enjoy being in schools because of the young people, but I did still know where my heart was. And so it was about then taking any opportunities I could to develop more as a coach because I knew it would be so hard to get that opportunity in football.
[00:16:07,200] [Jamie:] So after that then, what was the next thing that you went on to do after your degree?
[00:16:12,100] [Vicky Fisher:] I finished my degree, and like I say, all the time I was there, I was a bit of a nuisance, probably. I was pestering anybody for any opportunity that they could give me. And I was just building contacts and networks, because I think we'll all agree that having that network and people that you can go to to ask for advice and support in whatever role we're in is massive. So I was coming to the end of my degree, I was starting to kind of put messages out to say, you know, are there any opportunities coming up? And I was really lucky that it just timed really nicely that there was a job coming up at a local school who'd had a 3D football pitch built as part of the school facilities. And as part of this, there was a role to develop football on the site. So to make sure that the site was being used for community use, to make sure the school students were using it. So I ended up taking a part-time role as a development officer in the school, which meant I could work three days a week there and then the other time during the week out coaching for different organisations. So it wasn't a full-time job in football but at the time it was the best I could get and a fantastic first step for me in terms of actually I can work in football.
[00:17:20,020] [Louise:] Yeah, when we've chatted before you mentioned that you actually worked in the Middle East for a while and coaching, how did that all come about?
[00:17:27,500] [Vicky Fisher:] Yeah, I did, yeah it was amazing. So I had my job as a development officer at the school site, which I really loved. But probably about a year into it, I realized that as much as I loved the job, I wasn't really coaching that much. And to be a better coach and to learn and develop as a coach, I needed to do it more, just like anybody. I had a family bereavement and I really sadly lost my 18-year-old nephew. So seeing him suffer, losing somebody really important, and then seeing an opportunity to come up that actually would allow me to do something that I really wanted to do, experience something in a place that I'd never been, it kind of seemed the perfect opportunity. I wanted to probably get away a little bit from everything that was going on here and have a bit of a fresh start. But two, the opportunity to get paid to do something that you love doing every day of the week seemed a great opportunity. And I could say it could only help me as a coach in terms of coaching more. When I applied for it, I got offered the job. And even my family and friends, we joked that I'd probably be home in a couple of weeks. I come from the countryside. I come from a really small community where everyone knows everybody. And moving to the Middle East, to a country where I'd never been before, where lots of people have an opinion, without often having been, it was absolutely terrifying, actually. But it was also really exciting. And it did exactly what it said in terms of coaching all the time. And I obviously lasted longer than two weeks. I ended up being there for five years because there was a real opportunity to develop and progress both in terms of job roles, but for me and my career and me to develop as a coach and a person and as an individual and yeah like I say ultimately it just came down to the fact that I still wanted to learn and develop more and that's why I came home to the UK to kind of pursue other opportunities.
[00:19:19,640] [Jamie:] It's such a massive move that is, I mean moving anywhere in the same country for a job, it is daunting, never mind obviously completely somewhere halfway around the world. How did you adapt to that and how did that experience, the wonderful experience, help you grow as a coach? It was hard, it was really hard to start with and again, do you know, actually it probably helped that it was similar to my previous experiences. So when I moved over at the time, I moved to Dubai and at the time I was the only female coach working. So, you know, this was kind of eight or nine years ago now. And I know, again, the landscape has changed a lot now. And there's loads of female coaches, which is fantastic. And so there should be. But, you know, at that time, moving over there, so new country, new job, only female coach. But actually, I'd been through those experiences in terms of, well I was the only coach on my level one, I was the only female coach on my level two, so it probably wasn't new. And again it's culture isn't it, because actually if you're good at what you do you end up earning people's respect. So to start with it was strange for people to see a female coach and that was different. But actually once I started coaching and I built the relationship with the players, the players definitely didn't think any differently. And the parents soon got used to it too. And again, it just became normal. Nobody, nobody then questioned it. And like I say, there's so many female coaches over working now which is absolutely brilliant. So would you say that there was any big differences to coaching over there as opposed to here? I think there were some differences but also so many similarities. When I moved I was coaching only male players And that was more so just because of demographics and because of the clubs and the organisations that I was working with. Probably the biggest challenge was for them to have a female coach, because culturally, it was different and it wasn't the norm. But ultimately, when it got down to the football, football's football. It's almost like a common language. Even if some of my players didn't speak English, you can communicate through the game. And, you know, I ended up working with, like I say, players from all around the world, because it's such a transient place and people come and go. And like I say, the biggest learning curve again was being quite resilient, being in different situations and being so far away from home and then having to build that support network around you almost as you go because it is so new. But again, if you think back to the experience that I'd had on courses, actually probably quite similar at times and I knew I could do it.
[00:21:37,080] [Louise:] Do you feel like the resilience is something that helped you grow as a coach?
[00:21:41,180] [Vicky Fisher:] Yeah, absolutely. And I think as a coach we often feel judged and watched and I think that's the same for everybody. So I think that resilience piece is really important. So whether it's, you know, the parents of your team giving you a bit of a hard time sometimes, or, you know, opposition coaches on a match day, I've said it before, coaching isn't always easy. And I think it's that having that resilience to get through when actually it might be a little bit challenging and knowing where you can go to for some support and help when you need it and then ultimately just backing yourself and believing in what you're doing and knowing that you're doing the best for the players that you're working with because really they're the most important people you and your players.
[00:22:17,060] [Louise:] So if we jump forward now a little bit to your role that you have today, can you tell us a bit more about it? I know you briefly mentioned at the beginning but can you tell us a bit more about it and how you're helping to develop the female coaches in your area?
[00:22:30,420] [Vicky Fisher:] So I think we've all recognised it's really important that our footballing workforce and our volunteers and everybody, again, football is for all and it should be diverse. We should have male and female players. We should have coaches from diverse backgrounds in the game. So really privileged to be able to help support that and make that happen. My role is around how do we recruit more female coaches? How do we encourage mums to take that step over? Because traditionally, whenever we've set up new football teams, we, and it's just history, it's what we've always done, but we'll ask the dads if they fancy being the coach, which is fantastic. But actually, why don't we ask the mums? Because I think actually the mums would be just as good as the dads. Because again, when we talk about those things that make great coaches, being organised, being a role model, ensuring your players have fun. We can all do that. So how do we recruit more female coaches? And then how do we support and develop and keep them in the game? So some of that's around what do our courses look like? Have we got female tutors delivering them, so we have role models within the game? Have we got CPD and events and female coach networks where coaches can come into and be part of the community? Because I said before, it can be quite lonely when you're out on a match day on your own on a weekend and I know certainly in my league, I won't see another female coach all season. So having the opportunity to be part of a network where I can share my experiences in a safe place, in a supportive environment, and share some of the challenges, but also share some of the successes. So that I guess is part of my job around setting up those networks and encouraging people to be part of it and then giving them some support and development opportunities within that to make sure we keep these people in the game.
[00:24:16,560] [Jamie:] Do you work with and help then quite a wide variety of coaches? You say there obviously it'd be nice if the mums are asked for instance to go in rather than it always being the dads. Do you have a lot of like parents that you help and then also some that maybe see it as a career path and if you do, how do you tailor your support to those two groups?
[00:24:36,380] [Vicky Fisher:] Yeah, every day is so different. So I could go from working with a mum trying to build her confidence to take that step and start her coaching journey. And that might be taking her daughter's or son's football team. And then the next day, I might be having a conversation with a UA for B coach of around actually what's the next step in terms of her journey, her career, and how we support her get there. And I think the important thing to me is that Qualifications are fantastic. And we're really lucky that we have access to a range of qualifications that will support people on their journeys. But actually, the individual is more important. And I was at a female coaches group on Monday night where we were saying, actually, the majority of your time, I've never known it where a player asks your qualification, your player knows that, wants to know that you care, that you care about them. And it's not a barrier for our mums who are getting into football coaching to not want to go and progress and do lots and lots of qualifications. If they do the intro to coaching, if they've done their playmaker and their outwork of their players every week, they're making a difference. They're making a huge difference, and they're having an impact. So it's that mindset of we're not just kind of pushing coaches towards qualifications. It's around supporting coaches to be the best that they can be and support them with what they need.
[00:25:52,865] [Jamie:] Do you have any success stories that you're able to share with us at all from the groups that you've supported?
[00:25:59,060] [Vicky Fisher:] Yeah, And again, it's probably really similar to what I've just shared. Towards the back end of last season, I had a younger female who I was doing some support with. She was a level two coach, but she's somebody who really wants to work in football. She'd completed an apprenticeship and had been really engaged with any opportunity that came her way. And she sent me an email towards the end of the season saying that she wanted to let me know that she'd been offered a place on a UEFA B course and she'd been offered a full-time role that she'd applied for and really just wanting to share that with me, but also to thank me for the support. And again, for me, that's fantastic because she's had those opportunities that she's worked really, really hard for over the year. And all I really did was listen to her and be there when it was difficult and signpost her to potential opportunities. She's done all the hard work, but for her, it was having that person that she could turn to that she knew kind of got it and understood.
[00:26:58,044] [Jamie:] We usually ask this about players, Vicky, but how important is it for you to really understand the individual and their experiences in order to mentor the coaches that you support?
[00:27:09,140] [Vicky Fisher:] I think working with coaches is no different to players. We have to know them as individuals. We can't just group people together. And it links back to what I've said previously around not everybody is qualification driven. For some of the coaches I work with, they will be aspirational coaches who want to work through qualifications and will have their own kind of mindset in terms of where they'd like to be working within the game. And for others, it's around just becoming the best coach they can be. And that's fantastic. And our job is to know where they are in terms of their own coaching journey. And if we know them as individuals, then we can offer the right support for them. So whether that's becoming part of some of our female coaching groups, whether that's signposting to courses or other support, or if I think about our workforce, whether that's the opportunity to work with a coach mentor, but we have to know people as individuals. And that's exactly the same as our players. When we deliver a session, we have to know who our players are to get the best out of the session. So yeah, individuals first, always.
[00:28:17,320] [Jamie:] Do you have any top tips for coaches as well as players here? Do you have any top tips or advice for trying to get to understand individuals?
[00:28:22,500] [Vicky Fisher:] I think it's and it's always hard. I think it's it's time taking the time to to ask to find out and rather than just assuming So just because somebody's on a qualification, it doesn't mean that they're just motivated by the qualification. And I think sometimes to say that is just around having those conversations, just like you would with your players at sessions. You'd ask them how their day was at school or what they're up to on the weekend and find out about them. So actually, you know, I don't know, if they don't have the best session in the world it's because they've already had a school football match and they're tired. When some of my coaches come along to events and I don't think they use yourself, it's because they've been running around at work all day. So people first, take the time to find out and build that relationship.
[00:29:07,480] [Louise: I think that's really useful to think about. So we know that you support coaches, but you also coach a grassroots women's team. Would you say that it's beneficial to be able to do both of those and also does it allow you to see coaching challenges that others are having?
[00:29:22,760] [Vicky Fisher:] Yeah absolutely because I'm, I understand the challenges, I understand what it's like on a Thursday night late at night, late at night, eight o'clock in the evening when it's pouring with rain when my players range from 16 year olds to 36 year olds who some of them have just put their kids down to bed and are racing to training. Some of them have come from college. So for me to deliver sessions that are fun, which are engaging, which they feel are worthwhile to coming to, to then be able to play games on a Sunday, and I get the challenges of being a coach because I live and breathe it. And like I say, it's hard, those sessions, like I say, when it is pouring, when you jump in your car thinking, why do we do it? But you do it because you've got all those players who've turned up because they want to be there. You do it because you might not win your games on the weekend, but you learn and you develop and you give those players opportunities to play. I didn't have the opportunity to play, so I'm going to make sure I can do everything I can to give others the opportunity. I love it because it keeps me fresh, it keeps me learning. I can keep testing out new sessions that I see other coaches deliver. I love the game. If I wasn't privileged to wear this kit, I'd still be a coach.
[00:30:35,280] [Louise:] Just on like a practical point of view then, say you are exhausted, you've been really busy all day and you kind of, you turn up to your session and you're about to start coaching, How do you revive yourself almost to go again and coach a session? What things do you do to kind of gee yourself up a little bit?
[00:30:54,240] [Vicky Fisher:] I think there's been plenty of Thursday nights where I've questioned going off my sofa and out the door and into the car. I try and plan a session before the Thursday night, so I don't leave it to the last minute. So I know actually, even if I'm tired, even if I don't want to go out the door, I've already got my plan and it's ready, so I don't need to think about that. And then it's around actually knowing that if I didn't go, then they wouldn't get the chance to train. So I think it's that actually knowing that once you get there, you're going to make a difference. You've got your plan. You're going to make a difference. And then I always try, like, when I get there, I'll always have a chat with the players. Because I think, again, that kind of shifts you out of your mindset. So actually, you know, yeah, 10 minutes ago, I might have been sitting on my sofa with my cup of tea, nice and warm. Now I'm not. I'm here. But actually, I'm with you guys. Tell me about your day. Tell me, like, how's your week been? What did you think about the game on the weekend? And then we'll usually start the session with some sort of fun game, even though they're an adults team, we'll quite often play a game of tag or races or something just because when you hear laughing when you start the session, like I say, it almost instantly shifts your mind or your mood set and then actually you're there then, you're committed and the time just flies by.
[00:32:05,140] [Louise:] Yeah, brilliant.
[00:32:06,000] [Jamie:] Just before we move on to our next segment of the show, Vicky, are there any initiatives in your area that you'd like to draw attention to at all?
[00:32:15,580] [Vicky Fisher:] I think, and they're getting out there more and more, you know, obviously the female coaching networks are being set up all over the country. So our aim is that if you're a female coach, you've got access to support and opportunities within your area and within your region. Now, each of those will look differently and be delivered by various members of my team, but it's definitely something that I'd recommend people look into or find out about because there are more and more opportunities growing all the time.
[00:32:42,240] [Jamie:] And in your opinion, how important is it to create a community of female coaches in your area?
[00:32:47,414] [Vicky Fisher:] It's really important. We've said about it's a real mixture, though, in terms of its purpose, in terms of, say, being in that safe space, creating that network, having other people they can turn to, but also delivering new ideas, giving some content. Because we say it's always nice to have new session plans or ideas or things to try or things to consider differently or just to reflect on our own sessions and our own practices. So, yeah, kind of multiple outcomes from the groups and that's why anybody can come along and benefit whether they're a brand new coach or whether they have their UFA B qualification. I believe everybody can benefit from getting involved.
[00:33:25,640] [Louise:] Okay, so now we're moving on to our next section which is our community chat. So for this we take questions from our England football community where coaches go on and ask questions of things that they're struggling with or just want some information about. So we thought we'd put one of those to you if that's okay. So this one in particular kind of ties in with what we just spoke about. So it's for new coaches. So something that often comes up is people are wanting to start their coaching journey like perhaps done a course or they're just wanting to make those first steps. How would you suggest that they go about joining a club or being part of a club to actually start coaching?
[00:34:06,820] [Vicky Fisher:] I think anybody who is looking to get involved in a club is fantastic and I have no doubt that their local club would be absolutely delighted to have them. Probably the first step would be to contact their local county FA, so wherever they are in the country. So for example, for me, in Cornwall, it'd be Cornwall FA. And they'd be able to share contact details of all the local clubs who might be looking for coaches or looking to set up age groups. So it might be, for example, if a coach had a preference, or actually I'd like to coach a girls team, they could say, actually, well, this club's really close to you, and they're looking to set up or would love you to get involved with an under 10s, for example. So I think contact your local county FA. They'll be able to give you information and contact details of your clubs to get involved with. And then in terms of, you know, of qualifications and support, again, there's almost so much more support now on a local level, so your local county FA will be able to share with you dates, times, details of any future events that are coming up. So whether that's a formal qualification or whether that's CPD opportunities that are happening in the county, they'll be able to share those dates.
[00:35:10,840] [Louise:] And then as a bit of a follow-up to that because there may be a bit of like confidence and worries in there. What would you say to help build someone's confidence to go into that, let's say they do get their first coaching position or kind of get into a club, how would you help them feel like they're able to do it?
[00:35:30,780] [Vicky Fisher:] I think it's, you know, if you've taken that first step, then that's amazing. I think it's around believing yourself, but also make things as easy as possible for yourself, because it can be quite scary when you stand in front of your players for the first time. So Have your plan, have some ideas up your sleeve. Don't worry if it doesn't go quite to plan. You're the only person that knows what's on that piece of paper or on your iPad or however you've planned your session. So things won't always go exactly as you want, but don't worry because you're, like I say, you're the only person. So if your players are enjoying it, then yeah, there's no need to worry. But yeah, plan, be organized, have everything ready kind of before you start your session and try and enjoy it. Try and enjoy it.
[00:36:12,180] [Louise:] I guess there's also the element of if things do go wrong, you can learn from it and kind of you can come again next time and try try again or you know develop it slightly.
[00:36:23,100] [Vicky Fisher:] Yeah absolutely you know you'll reflect after every session and and also you know your players will often be a great way of getting feedback because you'll see from your session, you know, if they're all taking part and they're happy, then that's a good session. And also sometimes you'll notice or players will give you feedback sometimes whether you want it or not about things that they might enjoy or things that you might consider doing differently. And I say, take that and use that as and where you can. But yeah confidence will come with delivering sessions and giving it a try and stepping out of your comfort zone.
[00:36:54,960] [Jamie:] Brilliant. Right well we are coming up to the end of the show Vicky and our usual listeners will know that means it is time for our Swift Session feature.
[00:37:05,740] [Louise:] That's right, so we've got another 30 seconds on the clock but this time we'll ask you to come up with or explain to us a session idea in 30 seconds. Is that something that you feel like you can do? Okay, so your 30 seconds starts now -
[00:37:27,140] [Vicky Fisher:] So my session idea I actually stole from somebody recently. So I like to get my players moving at the start. So two players stand opposite each other and then I have a line of players. And on the shout, they have to race each other to a cone. Now, it might be that they have to start in a press up position and go, it might be that they were passing the ball around their body, but they were having a one V one race against each other. And then after a few goes, they switch players.
[00:37:58,480] [Louise:] It's pretty much like the first one, just slightly over, but perfectly timed.
[00:38:03,480] [Jamie:] Added time, yeah. And it added time there. We'll give you that. It was just in there. We've added time. Was there anything else you'd like to add to that, or Vicky, if you need any extra time to explain that to our listeners?
[00:38:16,560] [Vicky Fisher:] No, I think pretty much just got there in the end. But yeah, I said earlier, it was around starting the session with a bit of fun. And everyone has obviously got there from work. So yeah, it was just a good way to get people laughing while still working hard.
[00:38:28,391] [Louise:] Brilliant.
[00:38:29,140] [Jamie:] Well, thank you very much for your time today, Vicky. It's been brilliant to chat to you again and really find out more about your coaching journey some great advice there for our coach as well and hopefully they've enjoyed it.
[00:38:40,640] [Vicky Fisher:] Well thank you guys.
[00:38:42,720] [Jamie:] Well Louise that was a nice chat with Vicky good to catch up with her and really interesting insight into a coaching journey. What would be the key point that stood out to you from that chat?
[00:38:54,060] [Louise:] Yeah like you I really enjoyed it. I think for me this time it would be right back at the beginning just the importance of showing that you believe in someone and kind of what kind of impact that can have on Someone's journey whether you think it's a big thing or not. Just kind of showing someone that you're interested you believe in them and you've got time to kind of support them.
[00:39:16,880] [Jamie:] Yeah, I like that one. And that's something that stood out to me as well. And that kind of goes hand in hand with another point that Vicky said about that kind of caring and being there for your players and the fact that they then know you care and appreciate them. And then I thought it was quite nice where she's highlighting herself and I'm sure many coaches listening to this having that kind of special feeling and a buzz of giving people opportunities to play football to have fun and to enjoy themselves and and then develop as well Just getting that little that little buzz from coaching. I thought was quite a nice nice thing to highlight. Right well that is all we do have time for today but don't forget to check out the episode description for all the links to our platforms. There you will be able to click through to the England football community. This is where you can post your coaching questions for us to discuss on the podcast or just to connect with loads of wonderful coaches.