Football Coaching Types

MegaBonus · Post by **MegaBonus** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:38 pm

so, you're a coach..... but where do you fit in??

its a great read!!!

where would kossi fit?

1: The Thinker
A combination of Scientist and Strategist. The thinker has an MSc in football. A devotee of the history and cultural development of football. Always curious, travelling the world to absorb new methods, tactics, organisations and structures.
Will facilitate all the latest developments in psychology and physiology. Will also look to sources outside football for ideas. Loves deploying their strategic skills against the best. The thinker plans his match campaigns like a general.
Observing every nuance of the game, ready to introduce plans B to G if A isn't working. They become absorbed in the games rhythms and patterns and can appreciate a 0-0 draw possibly more than a seven-goal thriller.
Strengths: Curiosity, Analytical, Attention To Detail
Potential Weaknesses: The thinker must be careful not to overload their players with too much information. They must remember not to spend too much time trying to get the players used to complicated systems.
Turning Weaknesses Into Strengths: For one week forget the information overload. Walk in at ten to three and hold the ball out to the team. Say 'This is the ball. Make it your friend'. In other words, 'Keep It Simple'..
How To Spot-'The Thinker': The thinker can be found sat up in the stand away from the hurly burly of the touchline. Invariably they have phone to ear, offering a critical overview to the bench. Prone to stroking their chin, as they puzzle out a strategy to turn things around. Preferring business suit to track-suit. Keeps their emotions to themselves when their team score, or when a decision goes against their team.
Examples Past And Present: Arsene Wenger, Sam Allardyce, Glenn Hoddle, Sir Clive Woodward, Rafa Benitez, Terry Venables, David Platt, Sir Winston Churchill, Stormin Norman Schwarzkopf, Lord Horatio Nelson

2: The Motivator
Been there done it. By their very presence others want to run through brick walls for them. Earn their money at ten to three and at half time. Its what they say, its how they say it. Runs on enthusiasm and passion. Wears their heart on their sleeve. Deep love of the game and the jumpers for goals philosophy. Would play for free. Inspires others to go beyond what they perceived is possible.
How To Spot - 'The Motivator': The motivator positively radiates presence and encouragement. Clapping supportively, lifting the players after a mistake, making it known that they are there for the players, the motivator is almost the twelfth player. It's the motivator yelling support to a player who has made a mistake. It's the motivator puffing out his chest, pushing his hands upwards, asking the lads for one more effort. It's the motivator running down the touchline excitedly after a goal. More likely to wear track-suit than business suit.
Strengths: Passion, Belief, Communication Skills, High Levels of Enthusiasm
Potential Weaknesses: Lack of strategic skills, failure to see the bigger picture. Their feelings can be empathic to the games myriad mood swings.
Turning Weaknesses Into Strengths: By their nature, they are passionate people who run on emotion The motivator needs to take a step back every now and then to get a helicopter view, to detect patters and trends, to take stock, to look at their own performance. In other words to remove themselves from the battlefield, to a hill overlooking the battle, from where perspective can occur.
Examples Past And Present: Bryan Robson, Stuart Pearce, Kevin Keegan, Bobby Gould, Martin O'Neill, Joan Of Arc, Henry V, Sir Ernest Shackleton, Ronald Reagan.

3: The Hard Man
Give the impression that they are not to be messed with. Will happily pick a fight with their own players to prove a point. Got where they are by hard work. Expect others to do the same. Won't tolerate shirkers, bluffers or bullshitters. Love the physical battle. The macho challenge. A man is only a man when his mettle is tested under fire. Winning respect is everything. The hard man rules by fear and control. May in fact be a big softee underneath the outer veneer of machismo.
Strengths: Brutal Honesty, Competitiveness, Stubbornness.
Potential Weaknesses: Can easily upset people, can be rude and abrupt. By wanting to control everything may not maximise the creative capability of their players.
Turning Weaknesses Into Strengths: The hard man can be too much of a control freak, standing on the edge of the technical area, shouting out instructions at every point in the game. Thus the players are constantly looking to the hard man for guidance. So, the hard man should take a back seat for a game, and simply let the players play, without needing constant instruction on what to do. Tough for the control-mad hard man, but vital if they want to liberate the talent in their players.
"How To Spot - The Hard Man : You will find them on the edge of the technical area, hands on hips, tie loosened, gum chewing, simmering with anger, letting rip with a volley of abuse at either a hapless ref., or an error-prone player. It's the hard man you see with veins bulging out of their neck, or with fists clenched with frustration. Also prone to kicking over buckets.
Examples Past And Present: Graham Souness, Mark Hughes, Lawrie Sanchez, General Patten, Richard M. Nixon, Niccolo Machiavelli

4: The Assassin
Cold look in the eye. The look of a winner. Nothing will get in their way. Highly focused. Knows what they want and why they want it and how they will get it. Executes the plan to perfection. Everything is done against the grand design. Removes everything that stands in the way of success. Know precisely when to switch on and off. Will do what it takes to win. Totally professional in all they do. Will not tolerate sloppiness or lack of focus. Concentration, focus, application. Can seem obsessive.
Strengths: Supreme Confidence, Ambition, Ruthlessness.
Potential Weaknesses: Intolerance of others less committed. The Assassin will freeze you out if you upset him in any way. The Assassins ruthlessness will overlay any feelings or emotion they have about anyone they may have upset.
Turning Weaknesses Into Strengths: If the assassin has crossed anyone, or left a player out in the cold, then they should make it their business to let bygones be bygones. The assassin must not become the hard-hearted bearer of long-term grudges. First team players left to train with the youth team can be a source of bad morale and disgruntlement. The assassin must find a way to ensure that all can make a positive contribution.
How To Spot - 'The Assassin' : You recognise the assassin by their steely glare. Utterly unemotional, focused and very present. Unlikely to smile, unless out of irony. A glance from them is enough to let the unfortunate player know they have broken the code. They will likely substitute the player, then ignore them as they walk past them. Prefer the touchline to the stand, to let the players know of their nearby presence.
Current Examples: Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson.

5: The Organiser
Loves methods and methodology. The organiser won't tolerate deviation from the simple virtues. Keep the form and shape lads. Everyone knows their roles. Makes something out of nothing. Lets no one get above themselves. Everything is under control. The football may not be pretty but is effective. Modesty over ego. No time for big time Charlie's in the organisers team. The team ethic is everything.
Strengths: Methodical, Practical, Thorough.
Potential Weaknesses: Lack of spontaneity. The organiser must be careful not to be too structured and rigid.
Turning Weaknesses Into Strengths: The organiser must be careful not to worship too frequently at the god of caution. Every so often, throw caution to the wind and set a daring and bold plan in motion that will excite and liberate the players.
How To Spot - 'The Organiser': You recognise The Organiser as the manager who produces diagrams and notes for the sub.to digest before taking the field. Pen and notebook are always at the ready. Some organisers will even have diagrams pinned up in the dug-out. The organiser is fond of constantly pointing to the positions on the pitch he wants his players to take.
Examples: Steve McClaren, Alan Curbishley, David Moyes, Martin Jol, Alain Perrin, Sven, Craig Brown, Florence Nightingale, General Montgomery.

To Mati · Post by **To Mati** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 2:14 am

Great read

Karicako · Post by **Karicako** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 6:20 pm

While it is a good read, no coach can fall into only one catagory. Especially if you're coaching juniors - you need to roll with the punches sometimes.

the REAL one · Post by **the REAL one** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 8:36 am

im 60% thinker, 10% motivator, 5% hard man, 10% assassin and 15% organiser... hahaha

povman_2009 · Post by **povman_2009** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 9:00 am

I have very few of these traits at all, yet I try to coach anyway....

the REAL one · Post by **the REAL one** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 4:42 pm

me gets the feeling that megabonus has an encyclopedia on football coaching

would love to catch up with him to discuss!

MegaBoner · Post by **MegaBoner** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 10:47 pm

I reckon that MegaBonus should concentrate more on teaching than posting on here.

Gowzer · Post by **Gowzer** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:20 am

Having worked with Megabonus can tell u all that he could turn out to be a very very good coach!! reads the game very well, good communicater to all players and knows how to get the best out of his players!! just look wat he has done to that school up north! Gleeson i think...even though he has worked with some really good young players has a great record of gettin the knouckout teams into the latter stages of the competition!! keep goin Boss....

"Attack the SPACE"

Football_lad · Post by **Football_lad** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 4:58 pm

Well i guess i couldnt see myself as the assassin or the hardman. Dont think it would be a great idea to pick a fight with any of my under 9s... although i think if there was a stand for me to sit in... i would sit in it for a few games just for the views

BULLDOG · Post by **BULLDOG** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 5:34 pm

Football_lad wrote:Well i guess i couldnt see myself as the assassin or the hardman. Dont think it would be a great idea to pick a fight with any of my under 9s... although i think if there was a stand for me to sit in... i would sit in it for a few games just for the views

given that most of them are taller than you, best treat them nicely mate.

Football_lad · Post by **Football_lad** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:48 pm

[quote="BULLDOG"][quote="Football_lad"]Well i guess i couldnt see myself as the assassin or the hardman. Dont think it would be a great idea to pick a fight with any of my under 9s... although i think if there was a stand for me to sit in... i would sit in it for a few games just for the views

[/quote]

given that most of them are taller than you, best treat them nicely mate.

[/quote]

Oh very good Bulldog... i woujld laugh with you but in about a years time... your comment could become the sad sad truth

Fiasco · Post by **Fiasco** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:04 pm

very good read, where did you get this infromation from?

MegaBonus · Post by **MegaBonus** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:10 pm

i cant remember. im happy to keep posting if youre happy to keep reading!!!!

Fiasco · Post by **Fiasco** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:49 pm

yes and im sure im not the only one. is it only coaching that you have is there anything else, that goes with coaching, for instance... fitness, team bonding/comradery, etc