Lessons From a First-time Volunteer Soccer Coach

May 19, 2015, by HR à la carte | Performance Management

I have to admit I was nervous.  What do I know about coaching a soccer team?  I’ve commanded soldiers in the field, coached myriad employees, managers and executives during my HR career but there was something about facing a group of 9 year old girls all looking to me for wisdom and advice that I found somewhat unnerving.  What do I do with them?

What’s the first thing I do with a bunch of new employees who don’t know each other in a training session?  Ice breaker exercises – check!  I gathered the team around me in a circle and had them learn each other’s names by passing the ball to each other around the circle.  Each player had to shout their name and something interesting about them they wanted the other players to know.  Perfect!   We then passed the ball around and as each player received the ball the other players shouted that person’s name out.  Then it was time for a good old-fashioned scrimmage game.  During the scrimmage I kept reminding them to call each other’s names (reinforcing the lesson!) as they passed the ball to each other.  By the end of the game, everyone knew each other’s names.

It was my husband who pointed out afterwards that by having the team play a scrimmage match was the perfect first practice for them.  Really?  I had no idea.  He’s been coaching hockey for years and he explained that I now had really important data points about all the players on the team; who was a fast runner, who knew how to play their position, who might be a little nervous around the ball, who followed instructions really well, etc. I could now use that data to work at building up each player further and the team as a whole.  When I looked back on the scrimmage I realized he was absolutely correct.  And isn’t that what I do with any team that I manage; learn their strengths and areas of development and work with each individual and the group to progress further in their careers?  Of course!

Now that the first practice is behind me, I am so looking forward to working with these girls and seeing them progress this summer.  And I also realized a valuable lesson; even though I’ve never been a soccer coach, I can use the lessons and experiences I’ve learned in business to bring out the best in all of us on the field this summer.  What business experience could you bring to your volunteer roles?

Other Articles of Interest:

6 Must Have Coaching Skills for the Successful Manager

Performance Coaching - Focus on Improving Strengths