No coach I know wants to deliver dull, drab, funless sessions. I also know plenty of coaches who are unsure where discipline, structure, and rules sit within their practice.
Here are two key constraints worth considering when coaching kids:
Without governing constraints, basic boundaries, sessions can quickly descend into chaos, with the group dynamics being controlled by the loudest, or most influential (certainly not the coach).
An enabling constraint could be that everyone on the team needs to touch the ball at least once before the team can score. You are not telling them “how” to play, but you are helping kids think about cooperation. communication and problem-solving.
When the situation is chaotic, you’re missing a governing constraint.
A chaotic situation is often the result of not having clear, simple rules. Without these non-negotiable boundaries, the group’s energy isn’t channelled—it just spills out in all directions. This is where you see safety issues, kids ignoring instructions, and a few dominant personalities taking over.
When the situation is complex, it’s time for an enabling constraint.
A truly complex situation is a game or a drill with many moving parts and unpredictable outcomes. This is the environment where kids learn and grow, but they still need some guidance.
Herding cats is an option, but I’m not sure it’s much of a career.
A question worth asking is: Am I making this a chaotic situation, or is it really complex?