Southampton FC run a programme that develops their first team and academy coaches and staff, helping them with technical and tactical skills, as well as the more varied human / personal skills that are essential in these roles. They wanted to support their coaches with a unique experience, rooted in practise rather than long lessons and theory, that would support their team as they develop these abilities.
The challenges they faced included how to change people’s minds and influence, how to be better at listening to people and how to have necessary, but difficult conversations, all in support of a bigger goal. The coaches do not just need to deal with players, but managers, staff, senior leaders and external parties – all with different ideas and perspectives.
The Performance Edge team designed a “similar but different” situation for the coaches to engage with. By designing each activity in this way, the coaches were able to engage with something that did not require excessive technical knowledge, but which closely mirrored the dynamics they face in their roles.
The team were coached and facilitated by the Performance Edge team in a series of conversations and interactions, and the groups created their own methodologies and frameworks to use in the future; guided and steered by Performance Edge. The conversations were also recorded and reviewed, allowing personal and group reflection in the future, as is common in football development.
