#243: The Opportunity to Coach A Super Skilled Talent
Coaches: rise up to the challenge of fostering genius when the chance comes.
I remember it like yesterday, even though it was 17-18 years ago.
The young lad had the ball on a string. He could dribble with either foot, he would fake left and go right, he would fake right and go left in complete control of the ball. He was as comfortable using the outside of the foot controlling the ball as the inside. He could strike or finish with either foot and had a great ability to get the ball to open space, dodge around opponents and create opportunity after opportunity to score. He never got tired, did not say much and had most of the field in awe watching this “miniature pro” play soccer. He would regularly score 5 or 6 goals in a game and it felt like he should be playing a few levels up.
It was local house league soccer and the kids were 7 and 8 years old. The age just before the “elite system” would scoop a player of this caliber. The young man himself was quiet, unassuming and if you asked him about soccer, he would rattle off Premier league information like a seasoned pro.
When I saw the youngster play, I must say I felt a little intimidated. I was not a “soccer guy” and wondered how I would be able to coach him on top of working with such skill difference compared to the other kids. His demeanor, and that of his family’s made the process easier. The family was relaxed, happy to see him play and he was very happy just being on the field.
If you coach long enough, you will come across the odd young athlete who is extremely talented and who’s skill level overshadows everyone else. The game itself seems to come easier to him/her, they seem to create more space for themselves, the play or ball also seems to follow them around as opposed to them “chasing the game”.
When this opportunity comes around to coach and work with such a talent, the temptation for many is to create systems and structure for the young athlete and those around them, often with the best of intentions and “level the playing field”.
This seems counterintuitive when we think about it.
The young talent has developed to a certain point by relying on their own passion for practice and creativity. This pushed me as a coach out of your comfort zone, and will likely do the same for you.
I had this opportunity a few times in my coaching experience. The young soccer player. A young Japanese baseball player on my son’s 14u team (TPM documented that here), the high school basketball player at the University of Maine summer basketball camp (Here is that experience).
Each time, I found myself challenged as a coach.
Challenged to rise to the level of the young talent. I found myself working harder to ensure the experience was positive for such a skilled young person, but also for the rest of the players. There was also some fear. I did not want to water down this spark in any way. In fact, the challenge was to support and propel the enthusiasm so all involved can increase their enjoyment of the sport/game, each other and time playing.
In the end, the best strategy for me as a coach was to have fun with it. To appreciate the opportunity in working with such talent, and doing my best to create opportunities where their genius could shine and rub off/ elevate the others around.
Sometimes the lessons were around the finer points of sportsmanship or in being a good teammate. The realization as a coach is that the young people playing are going through the situation at the level they are at for the first time as well, not just the coaches. I remember one experience where I had to explain to the young 7 year-old soccer player that he had to take a turn off like everyone else. He was not happy about that. He wanted to play!
Sometimes the coaches’ role was to speak to parents, especially the parents of teammates who perceived their young person was not touching the ball as much when the skilled boy was playing. Teaching the other players on how to play with a such a talent was interesting. Lessons like being prepared for a pass were just as important as the skilled player involving his teammates as much as possible.
In short, these were great opportunities to be so close to such high levels of skill. The experience challenged my knowledge of the game, my communication skills and pushed me to refresh and develop an understanding of meeting the athlete where they were. So while their sport skills may have been higher than their peers, there were other skills we could work on and improve.
Coaches: don’t over structure these athletes.
Embrace the opportunity and foster their genius.
I don’t remember that young lad’s name, but I wonder if his passion and skill at such a young age continued to develop, flourish and expand or was it extinguished by someone else’s agenda. He would be now at the professional level if it did flourish.
Have a great Sunday everyone and enjoy the Super Bowl! Most of the athletes you will see on the big stage were those highly skilled youth players, and many along the way cultivated their skill so they could blossom.
What a great opportunity!