I have coached soccer my WHOLE life.
In that time I have managed national soccer, college level and even played professionally myself when I was younger.
Here are 10 key traits of a successful coach;
THREAD👇
All these teams in the knockout stages look exhausted. The IOC needs to revisit playing every three days. Putting players in a dangerous position, with very little opportunity to recover properly with travel between games.
#Paris2024
Thank you to all who supported us along this seasons journey!! It was an amazing run defeating 5 top 25 teams including 3 in the top ten, ACC Semi-Finalist, and an Elite 8 appearance! Special team of amazing women along with a great staff!!
#H2P
My mom, Laura Jeanette Waldrum, passed away this morning two years after my dad passed. She died of a broken heart, but now gets a wonderful reunion in a glorious place! I love you mom, and hug dad for me!
#RIP
#HeavenAddsOneMoreAngel
NIGERIA ADVANCES!
Coach Waldrum leads the
@NGSuper_Falcons
to a draw against the Republic of Ireland, qualifying for the Round of 16 in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup 🇳🇬⚽️
#H2P
Very excited to head up the
#NigerianWomensNationalTeam
and look forward to working with this amazing team! Gives me a chance to reconnect with some of the players I know! Big thanks to Pitt for allowing me the flexibility to work with them!
#SuperFalcons
#H2P
Blessed to have Associate Head Coach
@benwald21
and Assistant Coach
@jesse_goleman
as these guys steer the ship!! These honors don’t happen without amazing players and support staff and we certainly have that here at Pitt!
#H2P
Coaching is a calling, not just a job.
It requires passion, dedication, and a deep understanding of what it takes to bring out the best in each player in your team.
We buried our mom today, and I must say one thing was confirmed for me: that even though we compete and recruit against each other passionately, the soccer community around the world IS a family! Thank you all for the wonderful messages of condolence!
#SoccerFamily
#RIPMom
I’m going to open up my coaching community to 200 new members for FREE
-> Expand your network
-> Get 2 new resources per week
-> Learn new training processes
-> Get 1 - 1 advice from me
-> And more
To join;
Like + Comment “
@CoachWaldrum
”
Must follow so I can DM the invite
Coaching isn’t just telling your players what to do.
It’s more than that.
You’re a psychologist, cheerleader, strategist, communicator, and manager.
You need to understand each player's uniqueness.
Then come up with a shared vision, that you ALL believe in.
Thanks to Pitt and our administration..More work to be done, but on the right path! Get to continue with a great staff
@benwald21
@steind13
&
@jesse_goleman
!
🚨 Special Announcement 🚨
I'm excited to announce that I am opening a community for soccer coaches.
I made this group to;
-> Expand our networks
-> Teach training processes
-> Help coaches improve strategies
Sign up now to secure your FREE spot;
Thank you to all that have already reached out, it means so much. Lost my Dad tonight at 7:00pm, and now my family has another guardian angel. I love you Dad...Rest in Peace
#ProudSon
All the best to
@CoachWaldrum
& his team
@NGSuper_Falcons
the rest of the tournament. Randy was my first coach in the NWSL and it was so great to see him last night. A great man. Goodluck🤝
Effective soccer coaching looks like this:
- Clear communication
- Daily motivation and praise
- Giving competitive opportunities
- Critical but constructive feedback
- Pushing your players to their limits
This is what creates great teams.
Soccer can be cruel.
Injuries happen.
Sometimes decisions go against you.
Other times you’ve trained months for a big match — just for one moment to go wrong.
In these times just try to learn to focus on what YOU can control.
Everything else will fall into place.
Caught up with a former player today from the 80’s who just retired from coaching youth soccer. He told me “the game of soccer is beautiful, but the business of soccer is ugly”.
Coaching the Nigerian WNT on Friday in Austria, then coaching 5-10 year olds at Seneca Valley on Sunday back in the US! It’s what we do!
#LoveCoaching
#WhataGreatLife
To make it in soccer you have to give up a lot.
But that doesn’t mean you don’t get to;
-> See your family
-> Follow other dreams you have
->Experience life outside of soccer
Balance is key in this game.
As a coach you need to make it abundantly clear that you do not hold individual players accountable for losses.
A loss is shared by a team, even the coach.
I need all my prayer warriors out there to say a prayer for some friends of ours whose young son is in the fight for his life.
Next 72 hours are critical 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Merry Xmas to all of my followers and friends.
Thanks for the support you give me on and off this app, I couldn't do it without you.
I wish you and your families the best day.
Merry Xmas everybody! 🎅🎄
I’m giving away 3 FREE training resources
1) Foundation activity for 4-3-3 model
2) Working with CB’s
3) Developing pivot play
Want the PDFs?
Like + Comment “Me” & I’ll send them
(Must follow so X let’s me send them to you)
When your coaching a soccer team you have to stay solid to your morals.
You can’t be seen making exceptions or you’ll lose their respect and as a result lose their trust.
And you can’t teach effectively without having your players respect and trust.
Your words are powerful.
Especially as a coach.
If you let your emotions take over, it’s remembered.
Which can then lead to resentment and friction.
You can’t coach a team like this.
Focus on clearing your mind so that you can give the necessary feedback and guidance.
Soccer isn’t just sport.
-> Soccer is therapy
-> Soccer is exercise
-> Soccer is a lifestyle
There’s so much more to this game than what you see at face value.
Sometimes you have to fight for yourself.
If you have a dream and a goal, you have to prioritise it over anything and anyone.
And that doesn’t mean you’re selfish…
It just means you’re dedicated.
Disappointed our journey ended early but great memories made ☘️
So much pride in representing our amazing little country 💚
This is only the start for the WNT 🇮🇪
Thanks to all for the best wishes! So many friends, family, and peers reached out, so TY. To
#PantherNation
thank you for welcoming me! Can’t wait to get to work!
#thanksfornewfollowers
#H2P
You should explain to your team exactly why this particular drill is going to be necessary Before every drill and exercise.
Try to give them an real in game example that helps people understand the “why”.
Context is clarity.
#Pitt
head coach Jeff Capel opened his press conference with a shout-out to the Pitt women’s soccer program and head coach Randy Waldrum for making the NCAA tournament:
The future of soccer is bright…
The community is unbreakable.
The players are obsessed.
And the game continues to improve.
This sport won't EVER stop growing.
It’s not all about skill.
You can learn skill.
What really matters, is having heart.
If you have a passion and make a lot of effort, then you can be sure that it’ll pay off in the long run.
Just stay positive and NEVER stop trying.
Your time will come.
It's a new era for these Panthers as the
@ACCWSoccer
winless streak is SNAPPED!!
@amanda_westt
header in OT gives Pitt its 1st conference win since Oct. 9, 2016.
#H2P
Coaches shouldn’t ever blame their players for losses or mistakes in soccer games.
Any problem on the pitch is due to the fact it wasn't practiced enough off the pitch.
It's a leader's job to teach, not to place blame.
One of the most valuable lessons I've learnt from coaching soccer teams is the importance of communication.
Learning to communicate effectively is crucial in order to progress.
This is why I encourage all my students to speak their mind, freely, with no risk of judgment.
Sent an email out today to women’s coaches regarding the men’s two semester model. Coaches from 12 conferences so far have replied. Out of 12, 11....let that sink in..11 have not had a meaningful discussion on this model. Most haven’t even looked at it!!
#SeriouslyCoaches
So incredibly proud of this team! Equally proud of our staff, support staff, and administration for believing in us! This team has overcome so much including some very key injuries! They have fought every step of the way which epitomizes Pittsburgh!
#H2P
You do see luck in soccer.
But it’s pretty rare.
Usually when something great happens, many hours have been put in to ensure it occurs.
It’s easy to forget the time that is invested by soccer teams from the sideline.
But 9 out of 10 times it’s dedication, not luck.
One thing you can't teach is hunger.
You can definitely help people unlock it.
But you can't MAKE them want it.
If the desire isn't there, it's because that person hasn't found their why yet.
Showing that you value each and every one of your team just as much as the other is imperative as a soccer coach.
Having a “favourite” creates an instant divide that can easily destroy your teams cohesion.
Make it abundantly clear that everyone has an equal part to play.
Being a soccer coach doesn’t just involve training your teams players.
We also have to study our oppositions game meticulously in order to exploit and pinpoint their weaknesses and strengths.
Without this being done by a coach, winning becomes a much less likely outcome.
As a soccer player you have to have a healthy balance of confidence and humility.
If you’re too modest you lose momentum.
If you're over confident your ego takes control.
Finding that balance is key.
It’s your job as a coach to inspire.
You NEED to find your unique way to do that.
1) Start by connecting with your players.
2) Discover what motivates them.
3) Once you grasp what makes them tick and what makes them feel rewarded you can then unlock the best in your players.
The power of a strong mind is unmatched.
You’re the only enemy when it comes to your challenges and fears.
The more you train the mind the less you can be effected by those things that set you back.
It’s no overnight process.
But it’s one worth working on every single day.
The top 1% are persistent.
They keep knocking at the door until somebody answers.
Whatever the set back.
They pick themselves back up and carry on.
That’s what a winning mentality looks like.
If you want to improve your craft
Then spend more time with people who are better than you at what you want to improve.
You don’t learn by being the best.
You learn by being around the best.
The best part about coaching?
Tapping into a soccer players potential
Seeing them fail, win, grow and thrive
Experiencing their journey with them
That’s what makes this worth while
If you quit when it gets tough you're never going to get that big win you're chasing.
“Nothing good comes easy.”
So embrace the tough times and remember what's on the other side of them.
The rewards of not quitting completely outweigh the negatives of the difficult moments.
Every year I see 32,000 plus at a lacrosse national championship it leaves me smh!
We cannot draw over 7-9,000 at our national championships because we play it at the absolute worst time of year- between Thanksgiving and Xmas!
When will our coaches learn that we have it all
If you don’t provide equal opportunities as a coach then you won’t get 100% back.
Your WHOLE teams progression is damaged even when one player is less engaged.
So make sure it’s known that everybody is important.
Inclusion is crucial to a successful dynamic in soccer.
Video analysis is a goldmine for a soccer coach.
I can’t have eyes on each corner of the pitch.
So being able to go back, analyze and appreciate every player's efforts has tremendous rewards for my coaching ability.
If your players do well you should always explain what impressed you and why.
When you do that, there's a higher probability that they will repeat that action.
So always focus on giving praise.
But only when it's been earned.
Your words matter.
You should never underestimate the power of your praise and criticism as a coach.
Making the extra effort to admire even the smallest improvements can be the difference between a win and a loss in a real game.
Commitment- how do we define it? Today I saw one definition when I looked out on our field & saw 5 of our players training in snow & 15 degree weather!
#H2P
#NoOneWatching
To think where we were as a program when we took over in 2018..now finished in the Elite 8, ranked 6th nationally, and seeing players who believed in us fulfill their dreams! ❤️❤️
🚨 Special Announcement 🚨
I am re - opening my soccer community.
I made this group to;
-> Expand our networks
-> Teach training processes
-> Help coaches improve strategies
Only 100 FREE spots left so be QUICK👇