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"You're taking your coaching course in your PJs?"

Sunday 7th February 2010
from Helen L. Nkwocha, coach & owner of DigSoccer.com
by Polly C

“I’ve never seen anyone take their assessment in their pyjamas”, my coach laughed as he took in the site of me wearing white jogging pants, a white t-shirt, and long, white soccer socks.

He did not make this remark quietly, oh no. The rest of the group laughed along too. Perhaps nervous laughter, signs of anxiety as we waited to do our final coaching assessment.

I will ‘cut to the chase’. He failed me.

During my feedback, I was told that, despite being the best prepared student coach, I had given the incorrect technical instruction to a player and could not pass the course for this reason.

It had not totally registered with me at the time, but my coach had knocked my confidence. His ‘pyjama’ joke was funny. Maybe I would have thought the same thing if I were faced with that vision. But, perhaps it is not the kind of humour that a player needs in front of their peers.

Coaches may be the same. On a more recent coaching course that I attended, the importance of ‘looking like a coach’ was repeatedly emphasised.

As a player, there were times when I ran late for training just because I was trying to figure out what I should wear! Now, though it takes me a couple of hours, I organise my wardrobe the night before.

I put a lot of thought into what I wear now. I so desperately want to look like I am physically involved in the game. Often people ask whether I am a personal trainer. On many levels it is a compliment, but I want someone to ask, “Are you a player? Do you coach?”

No player, or coach, wants to look out of place in a negative way. Or, be at the centre of ridicule because they are not wearing the right colour boots, or whatever.

Our game is based on psychology and ego as much as it is on skill and technique. “How do you stop a player from turning the defender?” “How can I improve on my weaker foot?” Those are the questions that the player should have answered for them. Or at least, they should be shown how to explore the answers. Maybe I could not afford to wear anything other than my pyjamas to my, ill-fated, coaching assessment. But, if I were wearing the latest, best clothes, I may have been supremely confident. Would I have been good enough to pass?

I will argue that it did me no long-term harm, failing that course. It made me stronger and more determined. As a player, coach and a woman, strength and determination is essential to even the smallest success in our game.

You may ‘look the part’, but you still have to be good enough. Fact.

Written by Helen L. Nkwocha, coach & owner of DigSoccer.com … for the Female Player.

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