Rod Underwood

Our impact on our players lives shouldn't be underestimated. Depending on their homelife, you may be the only male of female role model that they have, or the only positive one. That's why our behaviour matters, in a world with so many poor role models, we can be positive ones.

"What you're trying to teach isn't always what they learn." Due to complexity, unpredictability & each players varied experiences and perspective of the game, there is often a gap in what you are trying to convey and what players understand. How do you as a coach, rectify this?

One of the hardest skills in coaching is knowing when to step in. Not just what to say… but when to say it. Step in too early and you stop the players working it out. Leave it too long and the moment has gone. Sometimes you can see something about to happen and you have to decide in that split second… Do I stop this? Or do I let it play out and see what they solve themselves? I’ve found some of the best moments come when you just wait a few more seconds. But there are also times where a quick intervention right there helps everyone. A small detail. A quick question. A tiny adjustment. The tricky part is that decision is happening constantly during a session. Watching the players. Reading what’s happening. Deciding whether the game needs you… or whether it needs you to stay quiet. That balance feels like a real craft of coaching. How do you tend to handle interventions in your sessions? Do you step in quickly when you see something or give it time to play out first?