How Objective Data Changed UNC Women’s Soccer Player-Coach Dynamic

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There are 28 different categories for which a women’s soccer player at the University of North Carolina receives a score – every day, in practice and in games.

It’s part of an effort by head coach Anson Dorrance to develop what he has labeled a “competitive cauldron,” a developmental environment which encourages – even demands – competition between teammates.

“The main thrust of the competitive cauldron is to drive competition in practice,” says Dorrance, who has led the Tar Heels to 21 NCAA Championships and was the architect of the U.S. Women’s National team program. “If everyone knows that every part of practice is recorded, we are going to get a greater focus and a more competitive spirit to try to win at every aspect of practice.

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How DRIVN Has Changed the Way I Coach

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When I first started out with DRIVN, it was mainly just a communication and calendar tool for us. As the head football coach at Greenwich High School, I had six coaches attached to my Facebook account just to contact kids. I was using Hudl to get a hold of kids. I was emailing, texting, calling, you name it. I was all over the place trying to keep track of which kids used email, which kids texted, which kids used Facebook. Contacting our athletes was a very chaotic process.

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Four Things Coaches Say That Make Me Cringe

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I coach girls’ soccer and have for about 20 years. I’ve always had a good understanding of the game, and over the years I’ve learned how to teach it adequately.

The girls I’ve been coaching for the past five or six years are 11, 12 and 13 years old, and those may be my favorite ages. They want to learn and they will try to do whatever you ask of them. That’s the rewarding part. The fun part is that, contrary to popular teachings at coaching schools, sarcasm and less-than-truthful statements work. [Read more…]