MYTH
Shouting instructions helps children learn faster.
FACT
Quiet support allows children to make decisions and develop understanding of the game.
On the surface, shouting feels like coaching. It feels active, engaged, and helpful. But every instruction shouted from the touchline takes away something vital: a child’s chance to think for themselves.
Children need ownership of their decisions. The match is their classroom. If we constantly script their actions, they never truly learn how to read the game or adapt when pressure changes. Instead, they become dependent on external direction.
And the cost isn’t just technical. Psychologically, constant noise creates stress and uncertainty. It shrinks confidence. It makes mistakes feel dangerous, not developmental. Yet mistakes are where learning happens. They are the building blocks of problem-solving, resilience, and growth.
A quieter sideline doesn’t mean a disengaged coach or parent. It means trust. Trust that children can figure things out. Trust that preparation in training gives them the tools. Trust that their voice matters more than ours once the whistle blows.
If we want adaptable, resilient players who understand the game, we need to let them experience it. That means stepping back, lowering the volume, and creating an environment where mistakes are not punished but welcomed as part of the process.
📌 Takeaway for coaches: Children don’t need constant direction. They need space. They need freedom. And they need adults who are brave enough to stop shouting and start trusting.