This week on the Soccer Geek podcast, we spoke with Benoit David, the U-15 coach for LA Galaxy; when we had our conversation, he was the boys’ Academy director at San Diego Surf. Benoit played in France, and while visiting a friend in San Diego in 2004, he was invited to attend the United States International University. Several years later, he returned to France to study coaching. Benoit shared that during his time there, “the instructors are really trying to get coaches to think about their session, to plan all the conditions, the field size, etc... [to] think about all the details, and really be observing what’s happening.”
The shift in how to approach coaching included not only more observation and less yelling (from the field) but also a personal transformation. He told us, “My best years as a coach have really come along when I started to grow as a man and opened up certain aspects that we as a society try and keep under wraps. Like telling a player I love you, I’m here for you, I’m willing to help you. We’re going to go through these difficult moments together.”
How does this play out with the parents of players? Benoit believes it’s important that parents allow their kids to slow down and focus on what it means to develop day in and day out. Players have to have time to grow and make mistakes, to sit on the bench sometimes, and start other times. Coaches who develop relationships with their players’ parents will build trust and relationships—but this takes time. It doesn’t happen quickly.
Here are some of the steps that Benoit talked about.
Some Steps You Can Take to Create a Winning Culture
- Ask more questions and really listen — don’t think ahead to the next question. Pay attention to the answer you’re listening to at the moment.
- Pay attention to body language — notice what’s happening with your players or coaches. If you see someone dragging, tell them to take a break and rest.
- When in doubt, care for your people.
Our conversation was filled with powerful insights and practical, actionable recommendations. Listen to the full episode on YouTube or wherever you stream your podcasts!