Never Underestimate the Knowledge of a Coach

Soccer, or “football,” is much more than just the sport viewers watch on their TVs or in the stands. While players tend to be the stars on and off the field, a crucial behind-the-scenes department plays a massive role in shaping the team’s success – the coaching staff. The role of a soccer coach is critical to the expansion of soccer in America as their guidance, expertise, and leadership contribute to teams’ triumphs.

According to the Houston Chronicle, “soccer coaches develop the skills of individual players and help teams to win games.” Typically during the soccer season, coaches design and oversee training sessions to enhance overall fitness and refine technical skills. Depending on the size and funding of the program, head coaches may have a team of specialized coaches, each focusing on distinct areas like defense, offense, or goalkeeping. During training sessions, they practice tactics for specific in-game scenarios, including strategies for free kicks and corner kicks.

Adam Kirkwood leads a drill at practice. Photo By: Citadel Athletics

“Day-to-day, I run speed and agility drills at the beginning of the training sessions, or some sort of technical activity,” said Adam Kirkwood, Graduate Assistant of The Citadel Women’s Soccer Team. “Off the field, I scout the other teams and prepare powerpoints to present to our team about opponents, along with recruiting as well.”

In preparation for games, coaches thoroughly analyze the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents, creating strategies tailored to each matchup. Many coaches extensively review opponent game footage, focusing on critical aspects like defensive vulnerabilities and rapid counter-attacks. In the lead-up to a match, they determine the team's formation and clarify the specific roles assigned to each player within the lineup.

Josh Baker (7) after scoring in the USL2 National Final against Ballard FC. Photo By: Caean Couto

“Because I still play and I still think as a player at times, I can put myself in their shoes and see how they’re feeling, because I’ve experienced it recently or still experience it when I play,” said Josh Baker, Assistant Coach of the Chowan University Men’s Soccer Team, and the scorer of Lionsbridge FC’s goal in their USL2 National Final match. “It gives me a good perspective of not just the coach’s point of view, but I think about how I, as a player, would react.”

Once the match begins, coaches monitor player adherence to tactics and provide instructions for maintaining momentum. They make in-game adjustments based on team and individual performance, and as play unfolds in front of them, they must quickly decide whether to change tactics or make substitutions. Post-game, they debrief with the players, identifying areas to work on for the next game, and begin preparation to scout their opponent.

“Winning is the most rewarding aspect,” said Baker. “But not just by winning games, when you have a good performance or the guys are doing stuff with the community, and you have a good team culture, you can win in many different ways both on and off the field.”

It is pretty obvious soccer coaches have a tremendous amount of knowledge they can share, and as soccer develops in America, coaches are the best resource to learn about the sport and improve as a soccer player. If we want to speed up the growth of American soccer, however, coaches can and should utilize social media platforms to not only promote the game, but also share their knowledge and information to help build talented athletes with strong technical skills and in-game training.

A drill Matt Sheldon has posted to his soccer training Instagram. Video By: @become_elite

For example, Matt Sheldon, a professional footballer for the Hartford Athletic, a USL Championship team, runs an Instagram account called @become_elite, that shares different drills and activities for soccer players to follow and learn from. The 193,000 followers of his account are not only exposed to beneficial exercises to grow as players, but are also learning about the world of American soccer from the perspective of a player within an American soccer league.

“Soccer is obviously growing really fast in America,” said Kirkwood. “Now with influencers who are athletes, they get to give a lot of insight and it’s inspirational for the younger kids. There is so much exposure to what it is like to be an athlete that I think it makes the sport more attractive.”