Personal Development: Developing the person through football

Football participation has long been associated with personal and social development.  Indeed, many believe that sport is responsible for developing many skills such as confidence, self-esteem, and social skills.  In recent years, personal and social development has become a significant focus for much of coach education delivery largely due to the holistic development of players being stressed, and the emergence of the four corner model to focus on the technical, physical, psychological, and social development of players/athletes. 

There has been a definite shift in the approach many coaches are taking towards a more player centred focus and away from coach led methods, with skills such as communication and teamwork being stressed.  But how do we know that social skills are being developed?

Taught not Caught

Whilst football can be used as a vehicle for developing social skills, it is not magic.  Participation in any sport does not guarantee personal growth. In order to develop these skills and enhance the personal and social development of young people, coaches and leaders in youth football must shape and facilitate the environment and young people’s learning.  This involves teaching skills across all four corners; skills are ‘taught not caught’.  Simply giving players ownership isn’t enough.

In my many conversations with coaches who talk about a modern approach to coaching, the concept of giving players ownership is frequently at the forefront of all discussions.  I often hear “we need to let them play and discover for themselves’.  Whilst I agree somewhat with this statement, the role of the coach should never be underestimated.

Role of the coach

Allowing young players to play is one thing, facilitating the learning process is another.  Coaches should always aim to enhance their players understanding of what they are doing and why they are doing it, and also its relevance to other aspects of life away from football to assist players in transferring what they’ve learnt.  Without this transfer can we actually claim to be enhancing personal and social development? 

I don’t believe we can.  If we develop a young person’s ability to work as part of a team in football without improving his understanding and teamwork skills in other aspects of life, all we are doing is developing football skills.  Youth football coaches have a duty of care for the young people to ensure that each participant develops as a person first and foremost to maximise their potential not only in football but wider life including at home, school, and later when entering the world of work.  Youth football delivered well inspires each young person and provides the platform from which they can excel.

A process for enhancing personal development

A simple three-step process can be followed to enhance personal development.

Message  - Introduce the learning focus of the session to the players (e.g. develop communication skills).  Question players and facilitate a discussion around the importance of communication in football.  Why is it important that we communicate to each other on the pitch?  How can we communicate to each other?  Can you think of a player who is really good at communicating to his team?

Developing the skill – Devise practices that promote development of the skill.  Question and challenge players throughout to develop understanding.  Don’t forget to question players after successful performance too.  Don’t take for granted that they know and understand why they did it just because they did well.

Transferring the skill – Consolidate learning by asking questions and facilitating a discussion around what they have learnt.  Ask the players to evaluate their performance against the learning focus, and suggest ways they might improve in the next session.  Question and discuss where the players may use the skill (e.g. communication) away from football.  Where else is communication important?  Why is it important to communicate at home/with who/how?

Challenge the players to use the skill that you have focused on in other aspects of life and report back how they have used it at the start of next session.

In summary, facilitating personal and social development is more than ‘letting them play’.  Football participation doesn’t automatically result in personal/social growth, instead learning is ‘taught not caught’.  As a coach, focus on developing the person in order to develop the player.