Many coaches make mistakes as they want players to buy into their views at all costs. No one likes to listen to advice and instructions, not even the players. We would all prefer to work according to our conscience and feel that our decisions are respected and praised. Players prefer when coaches respect them as a person, when they’re asked about their hopes and when their work and effort is respected. As I often say to you, Maxi, during my visit to Croatia I spent a lot of time talking with Croatian football coaches. In addition to talking about topics the two of us are talking about right now, we would often go back in time remembering our former coaches and their styles of training. We remembered one particular late Croatian coach, who coached us when we were just young lads. He was a gentleman and a great pedagogue, who never gave direct commands. He would never have say to players “do this and that!” or “don’t do this and that”! The “instructions” from our favourite coach were always given in the form of advice and suggestions such as “I suggest you do this”, “maybe you could try it another way”! Only today and that’s a good thirty years later, can I realistically perceive the quality and greatness of his communication. With such a distinctive way of communication he was building our self-criticism as young players and encouraging us to train hard and cooperate with others. It’s an interesting question to ask why today’s “modern” coaches don’t act in the same way.

He was a gentleman and a great pedagogue, who never gave direct commands. He would never have say to players “do this and that!” or “don’t do this and that”! The “instructions” from our favourite coach were always given in the form of advice and suggestions such as “I suggest you do this”, “maybe you could try it another way”! Only today and that’s a good thirty years later, can I realistically perceive the quality and greatness of his communication. With such a distinctive way of communication he was building our self-criticism as young players and encouraging us to train hard and cooperate with others. It’s an interesting question to ask why today’s “modern” coaches don’t act in the same way.

Source: https://www.amazon.com/Marijan-Hizak/e/B01LZOEWVT