On the tactics board prior to a session I wrote this recently. The lads were doing some static stretching and I asked them to have a look at my Homework. When the session had finished and we were doing a de-brief I got the board out and and then what they notice about my homework. Unanimously they told me that the first 2 sums in my homework were wrong and that 2+2 is 4 and 3+3 =6.
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I challenged them and said ok out of 10 questions there I got 2 wrong. Non of you commented on the fact I got 8 right?
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I also made the mistakes right at the start of my homework and it didn't effect the rest of my homework, infact I carried on and it got better.
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I told them that when we play, when we train and when are trying to develop ourselves mistakes are part of the process. Dont focus on them, everyone makes mistakes. Continue to work and dont give up and there will be moments in games and in training where do excel. Help each other and catch each other in when we are doing soemthing well and support each other and celebrate that through ball, that well timed challenge, that defensive clearance and dont focus on the shot you dragged wide, the miss placed pass or the goal we have conceeded.
As my players navigate their young lives its important to me that I can support their development as not only players but young men. I use many tools, Veo, Tactic Board and Classroom sessions to bring a togetherness and a sense of belonging. Veo is great to relay information to a player as you can show them something positive or something they need to work on. I will also send videos to their parents in our shared group as above. Something it is important to me is their mental wellbeing. They have gone from Primary School to Highschool dealt with that transition, puberty and everything that brings. I have done mental health workshops with them and created "buddies" from the older players within the club.
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Supporting a player is not just on the pitch and in training - for me it means supporting the person.