After a series of conversations with Andy Burgess, manager at PNEWFC, I have my plane ticket and I will be joining the squad for training on Wednesday, 1 December.
On Tuesday, I will meet with Andy and we will go over the squad, some of the training and match issues, and I will get video of the season thus far to begin studying. The task ahead is daunting: can we move from mid-table to the promotion spots?
Already, one difference in the game culture I recognize: Andy, as manager, wants to be much more hands-off in training than an American head coach. As a head coach, that is certainly one of my weaknesses: I spend so much time and energy training that I don´t necessarily see ¨big picture¨ items, as a manager would. I did find this past season that video taping sessions helped me considerably. In American soccer, we don´t make a clear distinction between the manager, who guides the squad, and the coach, who implements training. It´s not that one person can´t fulfill all those roles, but it´s difficult to compartmentalize.
We use different parts of our brains when determining over-arching vision (such as playing philosophy, developmental philosophy, or program identity), match and training strategy (organization and design), and finally mechanical, hands-on training and implementation. The great coaches, Bear Bryant in American football, Bill Shankly in football, John Wooden in basketball, Anson Dorrance in college soccer, all recognize that need for compartmentalization and surround themselves with a staff that can fulfill those roles.
I hope that I can implement Andy´s vision and help move us up the table.
