I joined a coaching community and immediately felt overwhelmed.
Hundreds of discussions. Resources everywhere. Coaches posting questions with terminology I did not fully understand. Answers that assumed knowledge I did not have.
I lurked for three weeks. Reading posts. Watching conversations. Never participating.
My question felt too basic. “How do I structure a session when only eight players show up?” Surely everyone else knew this already. Surely I would look foolish asking.
After three weeks, I asked anyway.
Within hours, I had twelve responses. Specific suggestions. Personal experiences. Encouragement from coaches who had been exactly where I was. One coach shared a session plan he had used the previous week for the same situation.
Nobody judged me. Nobody made me feel stupid. Everyone helped.
That is when I understood what coaching community actually provides.
What I Expected Versus What I Found
I expected a resource library. A place to find drills and session plans.
I found that, but I found more. Help when I had specific problems. Encouragement when I was struggling. Perspective from coaches who had faced the same situations. Accountability to follow through on my intentions.
“I need help with X” received actual help. “This happened and I feel terrible” received understanding and suggestions. “I am thinking about trying this” received feedback and support.
The Breakthrough Moment
My breakthrough came not from consuming content but from participating.
I answered another new coach’s question. Something I had learned the hard way. Nothing expert. Just sharing what had worked for me.
He thanked me. Said it helped. Asked a follow-up question.
That interaction mattered more than a hundred articles I had read passively. I was not just receiving value. I was contributing. That changed my relationship with the community completely.
What New Coaches Should Know
The first weeks feel overwhelming. Information everywhere. Uncertainty about where to start. Hesitation to engage. Observation mode. This is normal. Every experienced member started here.
The questions you are scared to ask are the same questions others have. “Is my question too basic?” is a question everyone asks. The answer is always no.
The longer you wait to engage, the harder it gets. Observation feels safe. Participation creates value. Post something in the first week. It does not have to be profound. Introduction is enough.
Specific questions get better answers. “Any session ideas?” is hard to answer. “I need a session for U11s working on pressing when only eight players show up” is easy to answer. Specificity generates helpfulness.
What I Learned To Do Differently
I started giving before taking. Sharing what I knew, even as a beginner. My experience. My perspective. My questions, which often helped others too. My encouragement to coaches who seemed stuck.
I started following up. When someone helped, I thanked them. I tried their suggestion. I reported back on results. I continued the conversation. Closed loops build relationships.
I started being patient. Community value compounds. The first week is about learning how it works. The first month is about getting comfortable. The third month brings established presence. The sixth month brings deep connections. The first year makes you an integral member.
What Happened Over Time
After one month, I was posting regularly. After three months, people recognised my name. After six months, newer members were asking me for advice. After a year, I could not imagine coaching without the community.
The help I received became help I gave. The encouragement I received became encouragement I gave. The knowledge I gained became knowledge I shared.
The compound effect surprised me. Small contributions over time created relationships that provided enormous value.
The Mistakes I Made
I lurked too long. Those three weeks of observation could have been three weeks of participation.
I asked without searching sometimes. Most questions had been answered before. Searching first and then asking with context about what I found would have been more respectful of others’ time.
I compared myself to long-term members. They seemed confident and knowledgeable. I felt uncertain and basic. But they had been there longer. Given time, I would be there too.
I expected instant transformation. “I joined a month ago. Why am I not a better coach?” Development takes time. Community accelerates it but does not eliminate it.
The Question I Was Scared To Ask
That first question about structuring sessions with eight players opened months of learning.
The coaches who responded became people I regularly interacted with. The session plan one of them shared became the basis for how I handle low attendance now. The confidence from that positive response made me post again and again.
All of that started with asking a question I thought was too basic.
Your question is not too basic. The community is waiting to help. The only mistake is waiting too long to engage.
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