An effective approach to coaching.

There are many factors that divide the best coaches from the rest and everyone has their own style. Some processes that top coaches follow to deliver the best results to their players are as follows.

Mistakes
They allow performers to make mistakes. Training is for that reason exactly , use training to its full potential in order to iron out any mistakes, let participants make mistakes , obviously the aim isn't to make mistakes but do not criticize them for doing so. Use mistakes as stepping stones and see them as areas to improve. Coaches often stick to practicing a team or performers strengths as it makes both the player and the coach look good if they are getting everything right. Don't be afraid to tackle weaknesses and make mistakes along the way , avoiding mistakes is what will hurt you in the long run , if a player is a fantastic free-kick taker but cant control the ball then when it comes to pressure time and they give the ball away in their own area , what are you  going to wish you had practiced ? This is not to say ignore the players strengths as they already have the ability , as with anything regular practice is good , but make sure you assign time to other aspects of performance , turn weaknesses into strengths and strengths into super strengths.

Technique
Focusing on a players technique does not guarantee a players improved performance. Technique is the physical action of a movement such as the kick of a ball or swing of a bat. The skill of a performer is how they are then able to put this into action in a game or pressure situation. A player may be able to kick a ball directly into the top corner 15 times without fail on a training ground or with their friends , you would say that they have great technique as they posses the ability to perform this task well. However , producing players that are technically brilliant but lack the ability to perform in games  is a pointless task in a sporting world which , by the nature of sport , is based on results , scores and performances. Players need to be able to produce skills on demand in any situation and when under pressure. For this reason it is important that coaches try and produce well rounded players that are used to performing in a variety of situations. Players need to have game appreciation as well as the skills to perform in a game. Game appreciation is basically a knowledge and understanding of the game , the ability to read situations such as detecting danger. Being able to read the game well allows a player to decide which is the most appropriate technique to use , such as a long or short pass , to be most effective. Put the players technique under strategic pressure which will assess their ability to perform in game situations. This is a purpose of practice matches and friendlies before major competition starts.

If learning means loosing 
Sometimes during the learning process we experience setbacks. At least that is what they appear to be , in reality these setbacks often prove to be the most important steps forward , they can open up new perspectives on everything , from training , preparation , performance and even recovery. A failure can often cast light on something that previously was not considered which suddenly ignites a performer who then finds a new level. Setbacks can all so be used as fuel for the next performance , being beaten then acts as the drive to avoid defeat again and win. If you set a new personal best but still loose , then although the outcome is the same you have made improvements and this should be taken as a positive showing that you are progressing. Some times you have to loose to learn , all great sportsmen/women have been beaten at some point in their life , if they quit after one defeat we wouldn't have many greats , as a coach and as the player it is important to use defeats to your advantage and turn it into a positive learning experience , if you dwell on the defeat and point out to players how bad it is that they lost then they will learn nothing. One thing i often use in my coaching is a 'praise sandwich'. This works by giving players feedback (again the importance of communication) firstly give the players some positive feedback , follow this up with CONSTRUCTIVE criticism of the performance, offering advice for changes , perhaps new things to try in a game. Then finally offer some more praise , perhaps an idea of how good they could be if they added these changes to their game.

With this point of that loosing can be learning , this is often a problem in junior football , children although they like extrinsic rewards are just as much involved in sports at a young age for enjoyment , begin with their friends and having fun , it is the coaches and parents that create stress and the win at all cost nature of junior sports. If you introduce the you are a winner mentality when you win , then surely children will think they are looser when they loose. This is often what kills off participation in many children , don't be the coach that makes a child stop playing sport , allow players to develop at their own rate in their own way , everyone has their own way of learning , problem solving and even technical ability is individually based , yes the basics of everyone ability to kick a ball has similarities but everyone will learn to do it in their own unique way.

Obviously there are differences between elite sport and grassroots sport , unfortunately although it has massively impacted British sport positively , sport has become a political tool with vast amounts of money involved , it is a very cut throat industry now and if your not making the grades and getting the results , both as a coach and a player , your out ! This then clearly does not really give you the opportunity to loose as a learning experience , you will encounter losses anyway as is the nature of sport and it is at these moments that you must work like never before to get back and beyond where you were before. As I mentioned earlier , use the defeat as fuel for victory. A recent example of this Bradley Wiggins , crashing out of the Tour De France in 2011 , trained harder than ever for the rest of the year and won it in 2012. Loosing is good , no one ever became the best by winning every race they ever did.