Coaches Clipboard
Keep showing up.
Our “Coaches Clipboard” is a collection of pertinent phrases, knowledge and wisdom. Shared every now and then on a Sunday. It’s our "thinking menu" with some bits and pieces we came across…
#sharetheknowledge 🙂
Read. Enjoy. Think. Share.
Alyson Annan: "We analyzed circle entries and realized we were entering 30 times a game but only getting 10% of shots away. It’s not just about getting in the circle—it’s about what you do once you’re there."
Andreu Enrich: "Small-sided games are a playground for creativity. By introducing constraints, like offside rules or zone restrictions, players discover new ways to solve problems and develop their tactical intelligence."
Ric Charlesworth: "As a coach, you never change anybody. You create an environment where they can change, but they have to change themselves. It’s an act of free will, and your role is to provide the motivation, technical backup, and feedback to make that possible."
Kwan Browne: "A good press isn’t about chasing the ball—it’s about creating traps and forcing the opponent into predictable patterns."
Ric Charlesworth: "Skill development is about specificity. Train the movements required in the game, push past the challenge point, and have the patience and persistence to let athletes grow into their potential."
Keep showing up.
Build relationships and always be learning
A well-told story can change everything.
Often times, we think if we check just off a box or do X, Y and Z, we’re going to have a great team. But it’s like marriage. You can’t just bring home flowers, chocolates and a nice card and all of a sudden your marriage is good. It’s an every day thing.
How can you practice patience during this season in your life?
Hope you enjoyed these… happy coaching!
PS: Need some quick answers for your 🏑 coaching question? → Just ask us
Have you seen…
Tips from intelligent players
Tips from intelligent players is not just the title of the latest book by Andreu Enrich. It’s also the topic for our masterclass at Friday January 12, 2024 with the Spanish coach, living and coaching in Mannheim, Germany.
I'm not entirely convinced that most coaches truly leverage their quantitative video data in a way that drives meaningful improvement. Too often, stats like circle entries (CEs) are used more as a shield or a justification, either to defend poor performance or to validate a particular playing style. But not all CEs are created equal. Merely entering the circle and being easily dispossessed isn’t the same as entering with intent, making decisions under pressure, and generating real outcomes like a penalty corner, a shot, or—ideally—a goal.
Circle entries in isolation tell you very little. It’s the quality of the outcome that matters. Unless a CE leads to a threatening opportunity, it shouldn't be counted as success. Numbers alone don’t paint the full picture. The focus should shift from volume to value, what happens once you're in the circle is what really counts.