Soccer (Futball)

Soccer Coaching - Teaching Soccer Lessons Using Laughter From Surefire Soccer

Diego Maradona of Argentina was arguably the best soccer player during the 1980s. Apart from his amazing and probably the best goal in the history of World Cup, the 1986 “Hand of God” goal, Maradona is deemed as someone who can create scoring opportunities where there is none. The angrier he gets, the better played. Basically, he was an unstoppable scoring machine. Or so many thought he was. 

The coach of Peru found a way to break down Maradona during a qualifying game for the World Cup series. Instead of pitting his best defensive player against the wily Argentinean, Maradona was marked by the least defensive-capable player from Peru’s line up. The thing was, Maradona’s defender was one funny fellow and throughout the game, he quipped the Argentinean superstar with jokes and funny stories. Oddly enough, Maradona didn’t perform up to par, while Peru was able to pull the upset. This goes to show that emotional intelligence, as well as laughter, can impact the game in more ways than one. 

Laughter Speeds Up The Learning Process 

So what does laughter have anything to do with soccer? 

For one, laughter increases the endorphins and serotonin levels of the body, both of which can help relieve the body from stress and fatigue as the enjoyment and recreation part of the brain takes command. Thus, the “thinking” department of the human brain increases its learning activity, which helps the player grasp some lessons and learn a few things. Indeed, there is some truth to the saying that a team that is having fun is hard to beat. 

Several researches have revealed that intense emotions that are associated to teaching skills in fact boost learning. Pianists trying to remember a musical piece have been known to surprise their bodies and emotions by taking a very cold shower and immediately playing right after. Such shocking of the body (and emotions) exponentially increases a person’s learning processes. The same can be said with emotions associated with joy and laughter. 

Players Don’t Join Teams To Just Win 

Children who play soccer are considered winners if they get to play while having great fun. Enjoying the game helps keep things in a positive perception. That said, every game and every practice is not always a laugh-fest. But by making sure that the game is really enjoyable, it will always be as it is, a game. 

In soccer, children win when coaches make the game as fun as possible. This keeps the game in perspective. Of course, a practice and a game is not always a laugh-fest, but a coach can set a great example to players by making sure the game is what it is, a game. A secret of a great soccer coaching is that the coach has an enthusiasm for the game and makes it fun for every player.
 

No matter what sport a player may play, ask them why they do it and the most common response would be “to have fun.” Winning may be one of the highest priorities but fun is something that tops any list any time. If you are a coach, you would want to know what fun is for your players and use them to make a training regimen. If a coach can inject fun, laughter, and a sense of humor, then what you have is indeed a happy team and by happy, the learning process is augmented greatly. 

By creating practice sessions that seem like fun or silly game eases tension and creates camaraderie for any team of youngsters.  A very entertaining training exercise like a relay race is a useful break to remind kids that they are into the sport because they want to have fun.