Why this matters
You can only coach what you actually see. Coaches who observe first give sharper, more relevant feedback and stop guessing at problems that aren't there.
The common problem
Coaches watch the ball. Everything happens where the ball is, so everything they coach is about the player on the ball — which is one player out of eleven.
Try this instead
- Watch one player for two full minutes, off the ball. What do they do when play is on the other side?
- Move around the practice. From behind the goal you see completely different pictures than from the halfway line.
- Look for patterns, not incidents. One bad pass is nothing; six bad passes in the same situation is a coaching point.
- Write two words on your plan while you watch. That's your session review started.
- Watch the first three minutes of any new practice in silence.
On the pitch
Before deciding your team can't play out, stand behind the goal for one game and watch the full backs. Are they even offering an angle? Very often the problem isn't the goalkeeper's decision — it's that nobody moved.
Questions to ask
- Where am I standing, and what can I not see from here?
- Which player have I not watched properly all season?
- Is that a one-off or a pattern?
Your coaching challenge
Spend two minutes watching one off-the-ball player and give them feedback based on it.
Reflect afterwards
What did you notice that you'd normally have missed?