Coaching Players Who Learn Differently

Why this matters

Any squad contains players who cannot picture what you just described and players who stopped listening halfway through. Delivering the same message three ways costs nothing.

The common problem

Most coaching is verbal only. The players who process language quickly look like the clever ones; the rest look like they aren't concentrating.

Try this instead

• Show it: demonstrate yourself or use a player who already does it well.
• Say it in one sentence with a cue word you can shout later.
• Let them do it unopposed once before you add pressure.
• Check understanding by asking a player to explain it back, not by asking 'Understood?'
• Use the pitch — walk players to the space you're describing rather than pointing at it.

On the pitch

Teaching a defensive line to step out: demonstrate with four players walking, give the cue 'clear — step', then run it three times unopposed before playing.

Questions to ask

• Can you show me where you'd be?
• What's the cue word?
• What are you looking at before you step?