Coachability

[spuunj]

I wonder if some coaches look at coachability in different ways? Certainly different personalities have different expectations? I ask because my U15 daughter has a new coach this year and has been struggling to "get" him, and I think vice versa. This is the first coach in 8 years that has not seemed to think that she is "coachable." (It was always one of the first comments on past evaluations - highly rated in this category). Is it maybe just a different style of play that he thinks she isn't getting (but she thinks she is and doesn't know how to connect with him)? Not really trying to get too specific, just wondering if others think coaches might have different standards for their players' coachability.

Is it possible that your daughter is losing interest in soccer, or perhaps bored? Either will lead to a lack of focus. At this age, some kids want to do other things, but are unable to detach themselves from the game because they have been at it for so many years that they feel they must stick with it because of friendship on the team, or the terrible thought of disappointing their parents (and we all know, we parents like to live through our kids :) I'm no exception to that) .

If you're unsure where her head is as it relates to the game, have a frank discussion with her to find out.

"Is it possible that your daughter is losing interest in soccer, or perhaps bored? Either will lead to a lack of focus. At this age, some kids want to do other things, but are unable to detach themselves from the game because they have been at it for so many years "

I wouldnt say a kid is losing interest in soccer becuase of a lack or occasional lack of focus during spring club soccer. Some kids may enjoy HS soccer, but will naturally lose some interest in the spring club season with so many other interests and commitments in their lives. I would say it is very common for kids to lose a bit of passion in year round soccer, and it does not mean they do not still enjoy the sport.

Also if the coach is new this spring (which may be the case if she played high school in the fall) you may need to give it some time.

Some kids are more introspective and it may just take time for the team to get to know the coach and definitely vice versa. For the most part, if she has been a hard worker and really focused and deemed pretty coachable in the past and shows leadership qualities, then those attributes will eventually find their way to the coach. The cards will fall where they may (and if the losing interest in soccer is the issue as suggested by other posters, that will sort itself out the way its supposed to).

To the original question, I don't think the higher quality coaches' standards for "coachability" are different from stated in the original post, but they may assess the kids differently. After all, they all have different personalities too. Hopefully she can figure out the approach of this particular coach and maybe approach him with a sit down if she is still feeling disconnected as the season progresses. It's definitely important that she do this on her own though at this age and if she is determined to make it work, she will not be shy about it.

Good luck!

"I wouldnt say a kid is losing interest in soccer becuase of a lack or occasional lack of focus during spring club soccer."

That would be like expecting HS football payers to show the same interest and focus during a club football(if there was one) season in the spring and winter, while playing other HS sports and having other interests socially and academically.

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Captivity (2007)
Genre: Thriller
Running Time: 1 hr. 38 min.
Release Date: July 13, 2007 (wide)
Distributors: After Dark Films
Cast: Elisha Cuthbert, Pruitt Taylor-Vince, Daniel Gillies, Laz Alonso, Michael Harney
Director: Roland Joffe
Producers: Mark Damon, Leonid Minkovski, Sergei Konov