World Cup wisdom: advice from six head coaches

What should you do if a player is being disruptive in the camp?

LS: The team always comes first. Before the tournament I talk with each player about their roles and what I expect from them in different situations – so, in a way, I hope to prepare them so they don’t disrupt anything.

If one falls out of line, I’ll have a talk with her to solve the problem. But you can’t have too much disruption in a camp. 

 

JK: We make room for our players to be themselves and we ask each to subscribe to our values.

Players figure it out quickly and hold each other accountable. They are a great bunch to coach and I think we have made great progress since I have been coaching them.

 

DE: It is important for the coach to know the personalities of their players. You need to understand them and what makes them tick.

I have individual chats with players, an opportunity to find out what is happening with a player and how to manage them.

You need characters in football, so you never get rid of players who have personality. You have to find the balance of ensuring they are not disruptive to the rest of the squad.

 

IQ: We have created an environment where the players themselves are in charge of making a player see that these attitudes do not help us reach our objectives.

First, we have to be very empathetic and find out why she behaves the way she does. Then we make the best decision for the team.

 

How many team meetings do you think are too many?

LS: We usually only have one before each training session, where we talk about the focus of our next game - one day defensive strategies, the next offensive.

During a World Cup, the players also have other duties, like media, so you have to be careful not to overload them. We have, of course, individual meetings or meetings in small groups in addition to team meetings.

 

CB: It will depend on any given situation. Overloading can be negative but also sometimes necessary.

 

IQ: Personally I don’t like too many team meetings - I believe that less is more. We have to optimise our meetings and focus them as much as possible.

 

JK: When players are no longer engaged in the topic.

 

How do you deal with time-zone shifts and things like sleep and nutrition?

Alen Stajcic: It has its challenges but allowing players to adjust to sleep differences is something we are patient with.

 

DE: It is tough on the body as it is a 12-hour difference, the biggest we have ever had. I struggled when I went over for the draw so I am aware of it.

We will try to create the right environment at the hotel and manage player schedules before we leave South Africa. But those first five or six days in New Zealand will be very important to adjust to new sleep patterns, training schedules and recovery sessions.

Our biokinetist and conditioning coaches have programs for the girls and are aligned with the sleep patterns we will need. 

We are prepared for some adjustment and will do our best to manage all the external factors to ensure peak performance.

 

How do you handle yours and your players’ emotions on big occasions?

LS: We don’t change anything up to the big games. We prepare as normal. 

A sports psychologist takes care of the players and even coaches. Experience from big games also plays a role - I hope we have learned a lot from the Euros.

 

CB: Stay focused on the task in hand. Communication, concentration and preparation is vital in dealing with stress situations. The motto is: ’Play the game, not the occasion’.

DE: I may be softly spoken but I can get excited on the field! My assistant coach is always trying to keep me sane.

I have learned not to speak too soon while you are emotional. I tend to go back and watch video footage and then talk to players when the emotions have calmed down.

When we failed to qualify for the Olympics I thought I might get fired! I watched the video afterwards and there was nothing I could do. I felt calmer afterwards knowing it was one of those days.

 

IQ: We see stress as something positive. If we are going through these difficult moments, it is because we deserve them and we can handle them.

 

AS: International football is totally different to club football. The highs are higher, the lows are lower and you could be out of a tournament after any 90 minutes, extra time or penalty shoot-out.

Dealing with elation and despair is a critical part of a healthy team environment. I embrace big occasions and try to enjoy them. Sometimes we need to be grateful for the privileged position we are in.

 

JK: Emotions are part of the game.  We hope our home crowd brings tremendously loud and emotional support to the stadiums in support of their team.

The world’s best are coming to Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Dunedin - we need a loud crowd supporting every Kiwis player!