Grassroots Coaches Support Book

Introduction

When I first started coaching over 30 years ago, I thought my job was to have all the answers. I believed that a good coach was someone who could step onto the pitch and immediately fix every problem, correct every mistake, and know exactly what to do in every situation.

It didn’t take me long to realise that this isn’t how coaching works.

The truth is, none of us ever have it all figured out. Nobody ever has, and nobody ever will.

Coaching is a journey - for the players, but also for us.

We are all simply at different stages, still learning, still improving, still trying to make sense of things.

Over the past two decades, I’ve been lucky enough to not only coach but also support other coaches as a developer.

In that role, I’ve seen the same themes come up time and again: new coaches worrying about making mistakes, feeling pressure to be perfect, or thinking they don’t know enough.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

This book is for grassroots coaches - the ones giving up evenings and weekends to help players enjoy the game, learn, and grow. It’s not a technical manual full of drills or session plans. There are plenty of those already.

Instead, this is a collection of thoughts, reflections, and lessons I’ve picked up along the way, written in the same style I’ve shared with coaches in workshops, mentoring conversations, and online posts.

Think of it as a guide you can dip into when you need reassurance, perspective, or a reminder of what really matters.

Coaching is about people, not perfection. It’s about creating environments where players can thrive, where mistakes are seen as part of learning, and where both players and coaches enjoy the ride.

So, wherever you are on your journey — whether you’re brand new to coaching or years into it — I hope you find something here that helps you.

Take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and always remember:

You don’t need to have all the answers.