Shift in training philosophy…

Due to the changes in sport and social culture over the last decade, we felt as if some of our athletes desperately needed more attention than we were able to give them. We needed a different approach…

We asked our athletes what they needed most? What they were seeking? Most athletes felt as if they need to play faster. But when you dig deeper into why they don’t feel fast, or what coaches are asking them to do, the responses were much more detailed than a simple speed program could cover.

Many needed to be quicker, more elusive, or the ability to explosively separate from opponents. Others needed confidence with the ball, creative problem solving, and skillful precision. Some athletes needed to get stronger, more powerful, or improve their fitness to play faster late in games.

And it was becoming increasingly difficult to focus on each individuals needs in large groups of athletes coming in once a week. We just couldn't provide enough focused coaching for each athlete in the limited time we were with them. 

But there was an even larger problem...

Many of our athletes were beginning to talk about the PSYCHOLOGICAL CONFIDENCE factor that was derailing their motivation to practice. They talked about feeling anxious, depressed, fearful of making a mistake or just feeling burnt out. The older the player, the more often these responses came up. It was becoming obvious that we needed to be addressing the psychological aspects alongside the physiological aspects.

So we changed our structure to better align our system with what our athletes needed...more reps, more confidence, more focused, deliberate, intentional coaching. To do this we needed to decrease our group size and focus our efforts on individual need.

It starts with a focus on RELATIONSHIPS…When our athletes were coming in 2-3 days a week, year round, we had more time to get to know them (even in large groups). In recent years, as time constraints (more practices, more travel, more activities) limited our athletes ability to get in more days, it's become more difficult to build these relationships.

Better communication builds a more positive, motivating, stress-free, environment for a relationship to grow, for athletes to learn, develop and appreciate the process. If we get to know our athletes, and they feel comfortable communicating with us, we can coach more intentionally towards their needs.

Coaching is not just about leading athletes towards successful performance outcomes (wins, speed and skill), but maybe more critically, about creating a better psychological outlook on life and sport (self esteem, enjoyment and positive habits). To do both we have to understand our athletes interests and motivations.

To MOTIVATE and INSPIRE our athletes we have to understand what drives them… If we have established a good relationship and can communicate efficiently with each athlete, we can become more intentional with our feedback. This helps build interest. And athletes that are interested become inquisitive and excited to learn.

When athletes become INQUISITIVE…they listen more intentionally. They focus more purposefully and give more concentrated effort towards the task. Inquisitive athletes are curious, confident, seekers. They want to mine the coach for information and are more receptive to feedback. This requires trust in the process and the coaches intentions…importance of building the strong relationship.

Once motivated, inspired and inquisitive they passionately DIG DEEPER INTO THE TRAINING…being involved in a training program becomes more than just showing up. The athlete begins to actively engage in the process, willing to try, not fearing temporary failures, appreciating small wins, focusing their efforts towards mastering every detail.

Training sessions become more deliberate, and effort becomes more focused. Athletes want more reps, ask more questions, refine their skills and develop a confident understanding of how each aspect impacts their performance.

But it all starts with building better relationships. By decreasing group size we were able to...

  • COMMUNICATION: Understand athletes needs, motivations, and interests 
  • CONNECTION: Coaching is aligned with athletes ambitions
  • PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY: Build trust, understand fears, overcome anxiety
  • ENTHUSIASM:  Celebrate effort and willingness to try 
  • PURPOSEFUL: Focused, inquisitive feedback, guiding discovery 
  • CURIOUS: Be open to creative, innovative ideas that emerge 

This is what we are chasing, this is our mission, and why we needed a change towards smaller groups.

Waiver and Release Form:

Express assumption of risk: I, the undersigned, am aware that there are significant risks involved in all aspects of physical training. These risks include, but are not limited to: falls which can result in serious injury or death; injury or death due to negligence on the part of myself, my training partner, or the other people around me; injury or death due to improper use or failure of equipment; strains and sprains. I am aware that any of these above mentioned risks may result in serious injury or death to myself and/or others around me. I willingly assume full responsibility for the risks that I am exposing myself to and accept full responsibility for any injury or death that may result from participation in any activity or class while at, or under the direction of AthleteFIT or SoccerFIT. I acknowledge that I have no physical impairments, injuries or illnesses that will endanger me or others.

Release: In consideration of the above mentioned risks and hazards and in consideration of the fact that I man willingly and voluntarily participating in the activities offered by AthleteFIT or SoccerFIT, I, the undersigned hereby release AthleteFIT or SoccerFIT, their principals, agents, employees, and volunteers from any and all liability, claims, demands, actions or rights of action, which are related to, arise out of, or are in any way connected with my participation in this activity, including those allegedly attributed to the negligent acts or omissions of the above mentioned parties. This agreement shall be binding upon me, my successors, representatives, heirs, executors, assigned or transferees. If any portion of this agreement is held invalid, I agree that the remainder fo the agreement shall remain in full legal force and effect. If I am signing on behalf of a minor child, I also give full permission for any person connected with AthleteFIT or SoccerFIT to administer first aid deemed necessary, and in case of serious illness or injury, I give permission to call for medical and or surgical care for the child and to transport the child to a medical facility deemed necessary for the will being of the child. 

Indemnification: The participant recognizes that there is a risk involved in the types of activities offered by AthleteFIT or SoccerFIT. Therefore the participant accepted financial responsibility for any injury that the participant may case either to him/herself or to any other participant due to his/her negligence. Should the above mentioned parties, or anyone action of their behalf, be required to incur attorney’s fees and costs to enforce this agreement, I agreee to reimburse them for such fees and costs. I further agree to indemnify and hold harmless AthleteFIT or SoccerFIT, their principals, agents, employees, and volunteers from liability for the injury or death of any person(s) and damage to property that may result from my negligent or intentional act or omission while participating in activities offered by AthleteFIT or SoccerFIT, at the Overland Park Soccer Complex or abroad. This includes but is not limited to soccer fields located at the complex.

Photography / Video Release: Participants involved in any activities offered by AthleteFIT or SoccerFIT may be photographed or videotaped during training. The undersigned hereby connects to the use of these photographs and/or videos without compensation, on the AthleteFIT website or in any editorial, promotional or advertising material produce and/or published by AthleteFIT, SoccerFIT or RISE Elite Soccer.

I have read and understood the foregoing assumption of risk, and release of liability and I understand that by signing it obligates me to indemnify the parties named for any liability for injury or death of any person and. Damage to property caused by my negligent or intentional act or omission.