Coaching Tip: Debriefing Your Last Game

By Mike Barr, EPYSA State Director of Coaching

As coach, it is tempting to share your bountiful knowledge as often as possible. After all, your job is to teach, guide and help improve your players. But there are certain times when listening is more important than talking.

In the first practice following your most recent game, ask your players to comment on what they did well as a team, and where they need improvement. To prevent this from devolving into a finger-pointing session, you can ask players to talk about what they saw their teammates doing well in the game and what they themselves can do better. That way, they are filling teammates' Emotional Tanks and taking responsibility for improving their own play.

Having the players lead the debrief can accomplish many things:

• Players learn how to express themselves, which is an important life skill.
• Players hear from peers, who may persuade them in ways that a coach, as an authority figure, cannot. (This is especially effective if you have team leaders who share and express your same views, generating "buy-in" to your ideas without your even voicing them.)
• Players reach their own conclusions about where the team needs work, so they are that much more convinced and committed to put in the effort necessary for improvement.

You might even learn a thing or two yourself ... about how players perceive themselves and their teammates, about who is (or can be) a team leader and about strengths and weaknesses you had not recognized on your own.

To end the debrief on an up note, you can mention the positives you noticed during the game and give credit to players left unmentioned by their teammates.

Want to learn more about how YOU can benefit from the Positive Coaching Alliance? PCA will be hosting an interactive seminar at Immaculata College on Aug. 30 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., including a presentation by guest speaker Jim Perry and a chance for coaches, parents and administrators alike to learn how the Positive Coaching Alliance techniques and lessons can help improve their team, league or club. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in advance through epysa.org. Space will fill up fast, so sign up today!