Undoubtedly for coaches, knowing about the game of football and understanding it's ever-changing environment is crucial. Equally important is how coaches communicate with their players.

Consider it the job of the coach to help players understand the message and not only for the players to 'Get the Message'.

Communicating can take on many forms, some subtle, some less so. A research gentleman by the name of Kurt Lewin discovered that 3% of people change their behaviour as a result of being lectured to; however, 33% changed their behaviour as a result of having an involvement in their learning. Two things to think about then......

1. Try to involve the players in their learning (Set challenges, allow time for self discovery, let the players sometimes choose the conditions, boundaries, rules & expectations)
2. You may not always get an outcome around learning for every player in every session (the penny may drop later in the week, month, season)

Another research project, by a lady named Carol Dweck, demonstrated that effective learners with, what she refers to as 'Growth' mindsets, often develop the ability to struggle with tasks and, as a result, build resilience to difficulty and failure, which helps them to be interdependent and more durable.

With this in mind, sometimes remaining silent and allowing players to 'have a go' and encouraging them to 'trial and error' is as valuable as directly instructing them and/or asking them a question.

'Live it To Learn It'

Whatever your or your players preference - the following resources may help you pose challenges to your players, guide them towards discovering divergent answers or ask questions to channel their thoughts towards a particular line of thinking. Remember it's a spectrum of styles, practise using as many different approaches with your players:

Developing a Coaching Syllabus - Document on constructing a coaching syllabus that's responsive to players

The following articles from Total Football Magazine may be of interest:
Is Talk Cheap?
Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder
Play the Long Game
Nature vs. Nurture
Running the Risk
Foundations are Fundamental
Curriculum for Our Game
Measures of Improvement
League of Gentlemen
More or Less an Expert?

Resources to Support Communicating With Players
Challenges to help your players

Communication Styles - Passing
Communication Styles - Running with the Ball
Communication Styles - Defending
Communication Styles - Finishing
Communication Styles - Creating Space & Support Play

These articles were completed for Soccer Coaching International - Number 54 & Number 61:
Soccer Coaching International Article - Coaching Behaviours
Soccer Coaching International Article - Coaching Philosophy - Player responsive syllabus