Captain

[Chs_soccergoalie]

Hello, I am the captain of the Chester High Soccer team. I need help, we have a good team, a lot of potential but there is lack of desire. This sport is my passion, I love soccer, and I strive to be the best that is why I perform well in games. I have tried to tell them lets get on the ball, let’s hustle and let’s do better but they do not want to listen. I tried yelling, screaming and being belligerent. I just do not know what else to do, I am tried of losing, I block over 20 shots a game most of the time, and only a few get by, I cant stand to lose any more I want to win, but I cant go and score goals too. We have people that step up and try to be leaders I say we have 4 people on the team that really cares, and that is including me too. So what are some things I might be able to do, approaches, schemes any advice would be great. I try to practice harder so they will but that does not even would. Any suggestions or advice would be great thank you.

[nicephoras]

I think this is more appropriate here.

[rca2]

One very effective way of leading is by example. That you will be doing already whether you are aware of it or not.

In your description of what you have tried unsuccessfully, I see a lot of negativity. Encouragement builds confidence. Complaints can lower confidence. Appearing fair is important. Recognition of failures but not successes is not going to be precieved as even-handed.


Here are my suggestions--
..Be generous with positive comments
..Be stingy with negative comments and make them privately if possible.
..If you need to discuss something negative, start by making a comment about something positive.
..During a match don't criticizing someone for poor execution. They made the correct decision and you don't want to discourage them from making the same decision in the future. Most people are hard enough on themselves already.
..Show your teammates what is expected of them by your behavior on and off the pitch. Minimize your criticism of others. (Less talk, more action :) )

[vanity_soccer13]

..If you need to discuss something negative, start by making a comment about something positive.

the compliment sandwich :D

[Chs_soccergoalie]

thanks for the help. Ill try that and i will let you know what is going on.

[youcan'tseeme]

man the main thing is not to be negative and never put anyone down, ever! Give players smany compliments as possible, ad never tell them they made the wrong or a bad choice/play.Tell them maybe next time try this.
Anyways stay possitive, i know yor a goalie but if u get the chance after soebody as scored ve them a hug, letthem know u appriecat them, and they will come to appriecate you more then you ever imagned

[schmuckatelli]

Hello, I am the captain of the Chester High Soccer team. I need help, we have a good team, a lot of potential but there is lack of desire. This sport is my passion, I love soccer, and I strive to be the best that is why I perform well in games. I have tried to tell them lets get on the ball, let’s hustle and let’s do better but they do not want to listen. I tried yelling, screaming and being belligerent. I just do not know what else to do, I am tried of losing, I block over 20 shots a game most of the time, and only a few get by, I cant stand to lose any more I want to win, but I cant go and score goals too. We have people that step up and try to be leaders I say we have 4 people on the team that really cares, and that is including me too. So what are some things I might be able to do, approaches, schemes any advice would be great. I try to practice harder so they will but that does not even would. Any suggestions or advice would be great thank you.
Have you talked to your coach about what he wants? In my view, the captain is the voice of the coach on the field. In other words, you represent what the coach would do/say/be on the field if he could do so. So knowing what the coach wants and understanding that is pretty important. Second, enlist the help of the four people who seem to care as passionately as you do. Ideally, there is one on each line (forward, midfield, defense) who can help you "spread the word" about what needs done. Also, their enthusiasm may help to spark some of the ones who aren't as passionate. Lastly, be a student of the game. What is it that caused you to lose (outside of the score - duh!)?. What is it that caused you to win? There may be some keys there that you can grab onto and use when you need them. Did you give up goals on free kicks or set pieces, or maybe on fast breaks and counter attacks? Did you squander chances in front of goal, or are you failing to link up in the final third? Do you not control the ball well?

In any event, good luck!

[DerbyRam54]

Schmuckatelli is spot on with his advice re the coach, you need to go over your concerns with your coach.
A big part of coaching is motivating your players. The technical/tactical/physical aspects of coaching are important, but when there isn't a huge spread in ability between the teams in those areas, mental attitude will make the difference.
Have you asked, in a non-confrontational way, some of your teammates about their goals for the team? Perhaps they just aren't as inspired as you to give it all they've got? Perhaps they view you as being too intense and their slacking off is a way of getting even? That's not very smart on their part, but all sorts of stuff happens once a team's chemistry is off-balance.
I'm guessing here, but I'd say this is a boy's team? I referee youth matches and I coach O-30 women. In my experience, girls are more team-oriented than boys and more apt to work for the good of the team than their individual performances.
As a keeper you are in a great position to see the game, probably better in some respects than the coach. I always ask my keeper for input about how things are going because she has a much better vantage point to see how we are defending than I do from the touchline. I have one keeper who won't open her mouth and one who is a great leader on the field whether she's in goal or not. If your coach is smart, he'll listen to what you have to say. You might be telling him something he hasn't observed!
You can start in small ways to build a team. How do you enter the field for the start of the match? Drift on in ones and twos? Or run on as a team and sprint to your positions? When you are at home, can you get your mates to show up and cheer when you take the field? These may sound like daft little things, but it's little things that start building a team.
Best of luck, you seem to have the good of the team in your heart. Remember, there's no I in TEAM, it stands for Together Everyone Achieves More

[Chs_soccergoalie]

sweet advice, i take that to heart, and i will do my best to collaborate wiht coach and see what he has to say on this. it looks like the little things might help. J.V team capatin was so easy, they listen, varsity, well they are so damn stubborn. thanks for all the advice. ill see what happens.

[DerbyRam54]

the compliment sandwich :D

A couple of years ago I reffed an end of season match between the coaches of a club and their U-19 boys team. The coaches were a bit of a mixed group both age and ability-wise. One of their defenders was an older guy who'd obviously been around the game a long time, a Brit as it happens. There were a couple of other older guys who probably just got roped into coaching because their kids played, and their skills weren't that great, and their confidence was about zero.
I watched as the old pro set about boosting his pals. He was a constant stream of advice to them, delivered in a supportive way, and quick to congratulate if it worked out, quick with a "hard luck, don't worry" if the ball ended up in the trees.
As the game wore on, you could see the improvement in the play of the rookies. They weren't stars, but once they believed they could do a few simple things without screwing up, they got a lot better.
You could do worse than have an agreement, no negatives on the pitch!