How do your young players feel about talking to the media?
Effective communication is a crucial skill for footballers.
Players need to be able to pass on information to their teammates to help them make better decisions in and out of possession, warn of dangers and encourage each other when the match is not going to plan.
But good communication isn’t just important on the pitch.
Communication is also a vital life skill.
Whether academy players go on to become professional footballers or pursue other careers, they will need to be able to get their thoughts across with confidence, persuade, negotiate, inspire and share information efficiently.
Whatever they go on to do, they will need good communication skills to shine.
As their career progresses, young footballers may be asked to carry out television, radio and print interviews, appear at press conferences, and be a guest on YouTube videos and podcasts.
But there’s a problem. While we all know how to communicate, not all of us have good communication skills.
The good news is that, just like football skills, communication skills can be developed and enhanced.
The media training we offer through the Premier League’s Lifeskills programme equips young players with the skills to speak to the supporters of the club, fans of the sport and people who look up to the player, through the media.
And these skills are transferable.
Those who have been on our training with our experienced training team, tell us they also use the skills we taught them in other workplaces, social settings and with relationships.
You can find out more about these sessions here.
In the meantime, here are some tips your young players can start using now to develop their communication abilities:
Watch and learn from the body language of others
Here’s a statistic that may surprise you – 93 per cent of communication is non-verbal.
When we talk, we always look for non-verbal cues.
Things like facial expressions, eye contact, gestures, posture, and tone of voice all impact communication and how we are perceived.
Watch some post-match interviews featuring your favourite players. Do they make eye contact with the journalist? Do they seem confident? Does their body language suggest they would rather be somewhere else? What could you do differently in their position?
Find your inner confidence
People are attracted to confidence.
No, we are not going to tell you to ‘be more confident’. That’s too simplistic.
But there are some things you can do to feel more confident and create the impression of confidence. Or, to put it another way, fake it until you make it.
Body language is critical. If you don’t make eye contact with the person you are speaking to, you can look unsure, indifferent and shifty.
A smile also conveys confidence. Don’t slouch or fidget. Positioning your feet in a wide stance can stop you from swaying – a common sign of nerves.
Preparation lies at the heart of good communication. If you know what you are going to say, you will feel more confident. And that, in turn creates clarity in what you say.
If you have a team meeting coming up, a one-to-one session with a coach or anything where you need to share your thoughts and opinions and contribute to the conversation, think in advance about what you want to say.
Are you really listening? Fully? Sure?
Communication is a two-way process.
It is not just about what you say.
Active listening basically means focusing on what the other person says, observing their body language and understanding what they are trying to tell you.
It also means not becoming distracted by other people (or your phone) – be present in the conversation.
And show an interest in what they say. One easy way of doing this is by asking a relevant question.
Learn by doing
People remember 90 per cent of what they do.
To put that in context, people remember 10 per cent of what they read, 20 per cent of what they hear and 30 per cent of what they see.
So, just like you would with training, try to put what you learn into practice.
Try different body language approaches. Make an effort to improve eye contact with people when you speak. Plan what you want to say in advance.
Go beyond your comfort zone
And this leads us nicely to our final tip. Don’t be afraid to push yourself and go beyond your comfort zone.
A bit like facing Real Madrid away, being asked to share opinions and ideas can feel intimidating.
But don’t shy away from it. The more you push yourself to do it, the more comfortable you will become in the long run.
You learn to believe in and trust your communication skills and knowledge just like you do your abilities on the pitch.
Want more advice? Speak to us about the Premier League Lifeskills courses and other training options for your academy players.
