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At face value, soccer is quite a simple game where two teams try to outscore each other by kicking a round ball into a rectangular goal. At the end of a 90-minute game, whoever has more goals is declared the winner.
Questions for soccer players, coaches, and parents: Some straightforward questions that players should be asking to revolve around improving, learning, and tactics. Other questions, such as playing time on the field or technical advice, can be trickier.
Although simplistic, the reality is that soccer is much more complicated. Soccer systems, tactics, formations, and coaching styles are now at the forefront of the sport.
Soccer Questions
Each position and player has a crucial role in the attack, defense, and transition. With this in mind, we must acknowledge that it’s not easy to play soccer in today’s game. Communication is essential.
Coaches, players, and their families and friends must be capable of understanding each other in this regard.
This means asking the right questions to fulfill their role effectively.
Soccer Questions to Ask
A coach needs to have seamless communication with his team and its players. A coach should ask questions to evoke a response when his/her team is in need.
Or to ask questions that enable better understanding during training sessions. A coach plays a leadership role individually and should ask questions that best solve any problems or benefit the team and its players.
A coach must ensure that his/her players know their expectations.
Friends and families are the supporting pillars for people in all professions. Soccer is no different. Knowing what type of questions you should or shouldn’t ask is useful.
Throughout this article, we’ll explore different areas of the soccer world and discuss questions involving the sport’s key areas.
Whether you’re a player, a coach, a friend of a player/coach, or simply a fan, you should find something useful in the questions for soccer players, coaches, and parents below.
Questions to Ask a Soccer Team
If a coach wants to gain true insight from their players, they must phrase their questions in an open-ended fashion.
This allows the players to express themselves in their responses freely. The word “why” can be essential in some scenarios, but it’s pretty confrontational, so it should be avoided where possible.
A coach’s keys are to observe, question, evaluate, and learn.
When speaking to his/her team, a coach should ask questions to ensure that the game plan is understood and that instructions have been effectively communicated.
Tactic Questions
To evaluate the team’s understanding of the coach’s tactics:
- What are we setting out to do in our next game?
- What formation are we playing?
Certain patterns of play, both defensively and offensively, are specific to a team or coach.
A coach may quiz his/her players on their positions for set pieces, for fast breaks after gaining possession of the ball, or for defensive transition tactics.
The coach may also target specific position groups with such questions. For example:
- Where do our strikers line up defensively for corner kicks?
- What do our full-backs do after gaining possession inside our half to join a break?
- When we take a short corner, what runs do x player / y player / z player make?
Team Mindset Questions
This question is asked during training or in the lead-up to a game, not during a game.
- What do we do well as a team?
- What are the most positive aspects of our team?
- Can you name three specific things we can improve as a team?
- What are we hoping to achieve this season/this game/this training session?
Questions for Soccer Players
People can be sensitive beings, and we each have different personalities. Some players need their coach to put an arm around them and give them words of encouragement.
Others react much better to direct instruction, whether encouraging or not.
Speaking about legendary soccer manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Wayne Rooney shared an insight into his famous player management.
“So many times at half-time I had played well and others in the dressing room hadn’t but he’d come for me.
He knew there’d be a shouting match but it’d get a reaction from me. If he did it to another player, for example, Nani – he knew he’d lose the player but he just knew the right thing to do.
He’d tell me to stop dribbling, aiming it at Nani!”.
Sir Elex Ferguson
This epitomizes the role of a coach and the importance of individual player management. The way a coach speaks to his/her players is crucial. Here are some topics and questions a coach may ask his/her player.
Note that some questions targeted toward the team (above) can also be asked to an individual.
Interview Questions
Player’s attitude toward the team:
- What’s most important to you as a soccer player?
- How do your personal goals positively influence the team?
- How do you view your role in the team?
Player’s performance:
- What are your most important factors in each training session/game?
- What factors have helped you toward your current goals as a player?
- How would you rate your performances of late?
Questions to Ask Soccer Players
- What aspect of training or coaching has helped you improve as an individual player?
- What aspect of training or coaching has helped you improve as a team player?
- Do you find our training sessions challenging?
- Do you find our training sessions technically beneficial?
- Do you find our training sessions tactically beneficial?
- What aspects of training or coaching have impeded your progress as an individual and team player?
Perhaps one of the most important questions a coach can ask is, do you’ve any questions for me? This opens up the dialogue and makes the coach a lot more approachable.
Questions to Ask a Soccer Coach
A player has to demonstrate to their coach that they’re committed. Certain approaches can display this better than others.
Sometimes a player may be unsure of his/her role or responsibility on the field. Although it can be difficult to speak up, players must ask their coach to help them with their issues.
The team performance is more important than the ego of one player. These questions are team and player-specific, but here are some examples:
- What’s my role for defensive corner kicks?
- What position should I take up when we have the ball?
- When should I time my runs to join the attack?
A player should always strive to improve their game from a technical or physical standpoint.
There’s no better way to achieve this than by seeking the advice and guidance of a coach. This also demonstrates determination and willingness to get better.
Questions about Technique
As such a technical sport, there are many techniques and areas that a player may want or need to improve. Here are some questions they might ask their coach to help:
- What extra drills can I do to improve my speed and agility?
- What should I practice to improve my weaker foot?
- Can you show me some individual drills to help improve my first touch and ball control?
- Can you assess my striking technique and give me some areas to work on?
- Are there technique changes necessary for me to improve my shooting and finishing?
- What’s the best way for me to get better at heading the ball?
- What should I work on to enhance my dribbling ability?
Questions for Soccer Parents
The main role of family and friends in this instance is to provide support, to be an outlet for the player, and to give advice and encouragement where possible.
The support system should avoid “me too” type responses and focus on listening.
Here are some questions parents can ask to help support a soccer player:
- What are your goals and plans? How are they coming along?
- How’s training going?
- How was your last game?
- Are you enjoying playing soccer at the moment?
- How’s your relationship with your coach?
- How are you feeling mentally?
- Is there anything you want to talk about?
- What can I do to help out with your soccer schedule/career?
These questions may not appear significant, but they show support and care. This is often all a person needs, particularly soccer players.
Soccer’s Goal Question
There is no perfect list of questions to ask in soccer. Different situations, players, and coaches require unique approaches.
Perhaps the most important thing is to ask the question that best serves the goals of the individual or team.
The questions should have positive intentions and aim to extract useful information.
As mentioned earlier, use these 4 words as a guide: observe, question, evaluate, and learn.
Ask questions for soccer players, coaches, and parents to get the most out of the game. For more useful guides, see the articles below or visit our home page.
Related Questions
What are good interview questions to ask a soccer player?
Questions should revolve around the team, preparation, opposition, and match-related topics in the lead-up to or after a game.
If the interview takes place at another time, the questions can vary but should remain professional.
Some good topics to cover are training, nutrition, diet, strength, conditioning, or significant matches that a player has been part of.
What type of questions should aspiring players ask professionals?
Professional soccer players should inspire their young fans.
Aspiring players should be trying to gain an insight into what it takes to be a top professional when given a chance to speak with them. Some questions could be:
• What motivates you?
• What advice can you give to an up-and-coming player?
• What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
• What’s the biggest secret to your success?
• What’s the hardest thing about being a pro soccer player?
Should a player’s parents ask their children questions about soccer?
Yes, absolutely. A parent should be involved, whether they’re showing support or trying to learn about the sport.
They should ask questions and show interest in training and games.
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Joel is a seasoned soccer journalist and analyst with many years of experience in the field. Joel specializes in game analysis, player profiles, transfer news, and has a keen eye for the tactical nuances of the game. He played at various levels in the game and coached teams - he is happy to share his insight with you.
