Introduction
“I’ve been reflecting a lot more since joining this community.”
“I’ve definitely made positive changes to my coaching.”
The connection isn’t coincidental. Reflection creates change.
Why Reflection Matters
The Busy Trap
Most grassroots coaches:
- Work full-time jobs
- Manage family commitments
- Squeeze coaching into evenings and weekends
There’s rarely time to think. Sessions happen, matches happen, next week arrives.
Unreflected Practice
Without reflection, you:
- Repeat mistakes
- Miss improvement opportunities
- Develop blind spots
- Stagnate without noticing
You’re doing, but not learning.
Reflection Creates Learning
When you stop and think:
- Patterns emerge
- Problems clarify
- Solutions appear
- Growth accelerates
The session you think about teaches more than the ten you don’t.
What to Reflect On
Session Quality
After each session:
- What worked?
- What didn’t?
- Why?
- What would I change next time?
Two minutes of thought beats two hours of unexamined repetition.
Player Development
Periodically:
- Who’s progressing well? Why?
- Who’s stuck? What’s blocking them?
- Am I giving appropriate attention to each player?
- Who might I be overlooking?
Your Own Coaching
Honestly:
- What am I good at?
- What am I avoiding?
- What feedback am I getting?
- What development do I need?
Team Culture
- How’s the energy at training?
- Are players enjoying it?
- What’s the parent dynamic?
- Is this sustainable?
How to Build Reflection Habit
Immediate Post-Session
Three minutes in the car before driving home:
- One thing that went well
- One thing to change
- Overall feeling
Voice memo if easier than writing.
Weekly Review
10-15 minutes at a consistent time:
- What happened this week?
- What did I learn?
- What’s the focus for next week?
Monthly Deep Dive
30-60 minutes to step back:
- Is the season going as planned?
- Are players developing?
- Am I developing?
- What needs to change?
Community Processing
“You give a lot to this community and in a mostly productive way. I always learn something from your posts.”
Sharing reflections with other coaches:
- Clarifies thinking
- Invites perspective
- Creates accountability
- Accelerates insight
Tools That Help
Coaching Journal
Physical notebook or digital document. Something you’ll actually use.
Record reflections consistently. Review periodically.
Voice Memos
If writing feels like a barrier, speak your thoughts. It still counts.
Community Posts
Writing for others forces clarity. Community discussion adds perspective.
Mentor Conversations
Regular conversations with experienced coaches structure reflection.
The Transformation
“I’ve definitely made positive changes to my coaching.”
Notice: not “made the right changes” or “made perfect changes.”
Positive changes. Movement in the right direction.
Reflection doesn’t make you perfect. It makes you better, continuously.
Conclusion
“I’ve been reflecting a lot more since joining this community.”
The community provides prompts, perspectives, and accountability for reflection.
But the reflection itself is available to everyone. You don’t need a community to think about your coaching.
You do need to make it a habit.
Start today. What worked this week? What didn’t? What will you change?