How to be the role model your players need with Preeti Shokar | S7 Ep6

Every coach has an impact on the players they support. What kind of impact are you having?

In this episode, Preeti Shokar joins Coachcast to explore what it means to be a positive role model and why it matters.

Preeti coaches the Derby County U18s with a focus on analysis. She shares practical advice to help coaches create fun learning environments and support players in training and on matchday.

Whether you're coaching your first session or preparing for a new season, this conversation will help you understand how your words, actions and behaviours can shape a player's experience of football and leave a long lasting impression.

Covered in this episode:

• 0:00 – Intro.

• 1:00 – Top coaching tips.

• 2:24 – Preeti's journey into coaching.

• 3:55 – Early challenges most coaches face.

• 6:24 – Preeti’s most memorable coaching memory.

• 8:07 – Introducing The Mentee Development Programme.

• 11:06 – How mentoring and being a role model helps coaches develop.

• 13:03 – Advice that every coach needs to hear.

• 14:50 – Why getting things wrong is okay.

• 17:24 – Quick-fire questions answered.

• 21:57 – Why children need role models in football.

• 24:49 – What being a role model looks like during a coaching session.

• 26:46 – Helping players want to come to training, whatever the weather.

• 30:33 – Why fun is essential for learning.

• 32:57 – The most important thing to get right in your first coaching session.

• 35:05 – What success really looks like as a coach.

• 40:35 – A headers and volleys practice you can use in your next session.

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Do you have any coaching questions you’d like answers to? Or perhaps you’re facing a coaching challenge that you’d like help with? Simply head over to our England Football Community forum (https://community.thefa.com/) and post them there. We can then put them to our guests in future episodes to get their advice!

Already listened to this episode or the previous seasons of Coachcast? We’d love to hear from you! Pass on your feedback by contacting us via Coachcast@thefa.com.

MENTION IN THIS EPISODE

Heading in Football - https://www.englandfootball.com/participate/learn/brain-health/heading-in-football

https://learn.englandfootball.com/articles-and-resources/coaching/resources/2024/How-to-coach-your-players-when-heading-isnt-allowed

https://learn.englandfootball.com/articles-and-resources/coaching/resources/2024/How-to-coach-your-players-when-heading-is-allowed

Mentee Development Programme - https://learn.englandfootball.com/ongoing-learning/Initiatives/mentee-development-programme

LEARN MORE

England Football Learning - https://learn.englandfootball.com/England Football Community - https://community.thefa.com/

England Football Learning on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCisPO86aEIhWRTnTS1vrSVwEngland Football Learning Twitter - https://twitter.com/EnglandLearning

Email - Coachcast@thefa.com

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