What are the benefits of having 1 to 1 coaching? This blog is here to help. Whether you're interested in giving 1 to 1 football coaching a go or even looking to start up your very own 1 to 1 business we've listed some of the key benefits surrounding 1 to 1 coaching.
The player is put first and is the centre of attention
One coach and one player, it's as simple as that. The coach will be working solely with the player, and this means that they are the centre of attention throughout the entire session. The coach can coach, observe, and demonstrate to that one player and only that player with no distractions. If the player is struggling at any point, it means the coach can pick this up instantly whereas compared to a group session they may be overlooked and even obscured by other players which can mean they are less noticeable. This can be disastrous for players that might be struggling and need that helping hand.
Looking at things from the players point of view, it means they can ask as many questions as they like and unlike in a big group session the coach can give the answer they need almost straight away. From the coaches point of view they are able to observe the player throughout the whole session. If they notice the player is struggling at any point or even excelling, they can adapt the session to suit and make it easier or tougher. Unlike in a group session it tends to be mixed ability, so it makes it very difficult to change the session to suit for that one person.
Great to boost and gain confidence
It may be the first time the player has kicked a ball, or it may even be they have years of experience either way we all can have confidence issues. Is it that they shy away from tackles? Is it that they feel the pressure of scoring goals? Or is it simply that they are just quiet and cannot get the attention that they need in a group session? For whatever the reason may be, 1 to 1 sessions are ideal for boosting, gaining and restoring confidence.
Boosting
We all could do with that extra boost, and 1 to 1 sessions can certainly give us that. They can ensure that we continue to be good at things like skills and techniques or be even better in fact. For example, by taking on that defender and beating them not just once but continually doing so time after time.
Gaining
Gaining confidence is key to lots of things we do in life, and it is even more so when we want to perform in sport. Within sessions the coach can work to gain the confidence of the player by using repetition and practising more and more. Whether the player is good or not either way the player has the ability to improve, and this
in turn gains that all important confidence.
Restoring
The player themselves maybe able to score those goals, make those decisive decisions, or even make those saves. But like the even the best of us they may be going through a bad patch and especially in a team or group environment there is that added pressure of other players analysing and judging us and each other. A 1 to 1 will enable the player to be away from that potentially damaging environment at times and work with a coach solely with the purpose the restore that confidence in doing those things that they know they are good at.
You can learn whatever you want to learn
Being part of a team or doing any regular training in a group session tends to mean that when you go along, the session topic has already been chosen for you by the coach. This maybe be slightly relevant to the player but there is also a chance that it may not be. 1 to 1 coaching is made for players who want to learn things that will benefit them. Yes, strikers have to learn how to defend, and it can’t hurt for defenders to learn how to strike but regardless of that it definitely helps if the player learns to improve at what they are good at.
Sessions will be suited to the player, practising those things they are good at and also those things that need work
but the coach will also give the player the opportunity to choose topics that they want to learn themselves. It may well be that a striker does really want to learn how to defend effectively. Players should have the freedom to learn whatever they want.
Easy way to learn without being overshadowed compared to a group session
As a coach myself it sometimes can be difficult to focus on any one player for any length of time in a group session before someone else needs your attention. Clearly you can’t have one coach to every child, so that’s where the one-to-one coaching sessions come in. It’s so easy for players to get lost and left behind in those big group sessions but also, it’s even those smaller group sessions that can be equally hard for coaches to spot errors and then be able to coach and iron out the mistakes made by individuals.
The player in a 1 to 1 session has no distractions from other players who can sometimes be potentially disruptive in a larger session, this means they can listen better and be heard better. If the player has any questions about the particular drill or technique for instance, they can ask the coach and in return get the answer they need.
More time with the coach and on the ball
Players will find themselves having anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour or more with the coach and this means that during this time they are listening, watching and working with the coach and they have their undivided attention.
They can ask more questions because the coach is not having their time taken up by other players. Being the only player its quite obvious that the ball is naturally going to spend a lot of time with them. More time with the ball at the feet can only be a positive, it might be dribbling, passing or control, either way the more time spent practising and getting in those repetitions will benefit the player greatly. Drills can be repeated much more quickly, like for example a shooting drill, in a group session players tend to be queued up waiting for the next shot which may not come around particularly quickly, however in a 1 to 1 the shots can just keep coming. Repeating drills more quickly means that the player can focus on getting things right having just done it seconds earlier and it can help the brain to create a memory of the motions to use and the technique.
Progression is quicker
A one-to-one session is designed to progress players and because they are all the things discussed above in this article, progressions can be made a lot quicker than the standard group or team training session. So, because player is able to spend more time on drills whether it be passing or shooting, it means that they are able to complete more repetitions of something, for example let’s say a weak foot pass. Because of these repetitions our brain is able to facilitate the particular movement or motion easier and quicker hence why we can progress quicker and advance onto more complex drills or techniques. Coaches can set the pace in the sessions so that players can work to their ability and this will mean progress can be made even if the player is struggling at something and it's made easier for them.