What Are Young Players Looking for in a Coach??

I asked our academy players from 2001 what they looked for in a coach.

Tony Poutch

Aine O'Gorman

Senior International

Niamh Karney

uU15  Schools and U17 International

A coach who knows the game ,encourages you ,and can organize fun sessions

Susan Hackett

u19 International

 Someone who encourages you and is there for you when you loose form or who helps you back on your feet after injury

Emily Hanney

 U17 International

A coach that doesn't rant and rave or who puts you under constant pressure 

Someone who can spot your weakness and help you improve .There is a lot to be said for a coach who can bring variety and fun to the sessions

Katie Taylor

Senior International

A coach who knows his stuff and encourages you to express yourself

  I asked the present youngsters to write down on paper what they liked and disliked about football. I asked them not to put their names on the paper and just express how they felt. This is the result.

Having fun.     

Making Friends.   

Learning lots of New Skills.

When we play matches cause they are competitive ,   

Having fun with my friends. 

When my coach tells me I'm doing well .

Being shouted at during match.

When adults cheat .

Being given out to after game.

Don't like losing .

Don't like to mess up .

When I can't get to training .

2001 players have a lot in common with our present day youngsters. Both sets of players like encouragement, and fun .They all want to learn and improve and by nature are competitive. Now we know how the player thinks we should be able to adopt our training program to suit.

Yours in sport

Tony Poutch