Transcript
Craig Birtwistle: Hello and welcome to our latest episode of Session Share, the coach's podcast. My name's Craig Burtlesaw and I'm delighted to have David Poncia as our guest this week. David is a UEFA B coach who works for Cockfosters Football Club in Barnet, England.
Craig Birtwistle: He's an Arsenal fan, but hey, we can't all be perfect. But the biggest reason I wanted to get David on was to talk about grassroots and a big passion of David's, which is self-improvement.
Craig Birtwistle: and But before we get into that, how are you doing today, David?
David: Yeah, very well, thank you. And yeah, thank you for having me on. Really, ah really overwhelmed with you reaching out to me. Didn't expect anything like this. So yeah, much, much appreciated to have me on and listen to my ah views on on football and coaching. Thank you so much.
Craig Birtwistle: Yeah, it's ah it's a lie. um For the listeners, David and I got connected via X on ah the old-fashioned Twitter, if you will. It still bugs me to call it that, but it is X, I guess.
Craig Birtwistle: um I've been able to see a lot of David's posts. He's a very um intelligent coach that has a lot of good things to say, and he's been a big fan of the channel and of the podcast as we've moved forward. So, David, tell us a little bit about your background. What got you interested in football?
David: I played when obviously growing up as a child um so all through my teenage years well actually i started playing when was nine so actually I'm 45 now so when I was nine it wasn't a lot of football about it was only really if you were you're an okay player. There was football available back then. Yeah, that was 1989. So yeah, going back a few years, it's not like it is now when it's like football opportunities for, you know, children everywhere, which is, um so yeah, that was, that was my youngest years, played all through my teenagers, twenties and stopped playing when I was 34 when done my crew shit. So yeah injury took the game away from me.
David: and And that's when sort of coaching fell into my lap. by complete mistake. ah So I'm sure that like most people probably can relate to that definitely 100%. And yeah, that's ah that's my football like history. um No particular great level early, you know, late teenage years, early 20s, knocked about for a few half decent sides, but nothing, else nothing serious or paid.
David: yeah, that's it. ah say
Craig Birtwistle: It's funny that because ah like I look back myself, and we're we're a similar age, I'm 43 myself, so I look back at my playing careers and I say playing career, I didn't play to an extensive level or anything like that, but I look back and I wish I knew when my last game was.
Craig Birtwistle: ah because it just seemed like I had my game. It was like, I'll take a break for a bit. And then 20 years later, or whatever it was, I'm just still not playing.
David: Yeah. Yeah.
Craig Birtwistle: And I think I'm probably past it now. So um obviously, see unfortunately, your playing career was cut a little bit short, as you said, with your injury.
David: Yeah.
Craig Birtwistle: um And you said you kind of like fell it into coaching by accident. um How did that start? And where did you get started?
David: So that started with just a friend. So i was just helping out literally. So they just asked me to come along and help out, just put cones out like like most people.
David: and Stayed very low key for the first like maybe three or four years. Just like didn't really any badges. Thought I knew everything, you know, the usual stuff.
David: And then, and yeah, didn't really engage in
Craig Birtwistle: Thank you.
David: learning about ah coaching or anything like that. Just thought that actually what I knew as a player was going to be enough. um And so that was that was that really it wasn't until I went to Amonio Youth where I spent a long time there that obviously much bigger set up as a club, the making you do your level one, you know, when you're involved with the cheer children and stuff. So probably really took off seriously from there. So I don't really don't count my first opening years as coaching is sort of on my record. um
David: I would love to go back to meet that David again. and you know, coached as I've probably played with way too much passion. You know, so I would love to go and meet him, you know, like from where I am now to back then. But, you know, suppose ah wouldn't be where I am today without starting like that. So, you know, ah don't beat myself up too much.
David: and So,
Craig Birtwistle: Yeah, I think that it's a likey story for all of us. like We originally start coaching in the model that we were used to as a player. Like I could name a bunch of different coaches that inspired me as I went forward. And like even to this day, there's certain coaches that I, I've got 20 years plus experience now of coaching, um but there's still some days where I'd be like, how would such and such have done this? And like, I kind of think about how they would have done it.
Craig Birtwistle: When you started to take your coaching seriously, what was then the motivation for you in order to make this a career?
David: So i think my biggest motivation was, suppose it's giving, trying to be the coach that I never had growing up, I guess. Like when I started to look at things in a different manner and and trying to develop and give people opportunities, it's it was morally so about, you know, growing up as a young kid, being that nine-year-old, 10-year-old who was sort being told by you know, an adult that I wasn't good enough to be part of the team or you know, I'm not going to start you this week or that typical come along on the bench, on the bench, on the bench. I think I wanted to be the opposite of that.
David: I didn't want to be, you know, that person that's comes back into someone's memory in like 20 years time and think, oh, that guy, David, never give me an opportunity, never give me a chance to shine.
Craig Birtwistle: Mm-hmm.
David: and So think that's mostly what's but inspired by sort of coaching journey once I started on the badges and that journey. um You know, that's for me, yeah, everything comes from that sort of feeling of people, you know, to be that, you know, not to be a disappointment in someone's life, I guess.
Craig Birtwistle: Yeah, it's interesting you say that, and that kind of like blends into my next question. um It's funny how you mentioned like your drives and ambition and motivations there based on the fact that you're talking about the the person first.
Craig Birtwistle: you You haven't really even referred to anyone as a player yet, which I think is wasted on a lot of coaches because they just see them as those chess pieces to move in order to win a game.
Craig Birtwistle: and And the fact is, like whether you're based in America like I am or based in England like you are, the fact that 0.01%, I think, was the latest statistic of players that actually make it to professional level.
David: Yes. Yeah.
Craig Birtwistle: um When you say it like that, you you have to kind of understand that, yes, we are developing people more than we are developing players because my... my well i've I've been fortunate enough to develop some professionals that have gone into the game and so on.
Craig Birtwistle: But for every one that I've coached, there's been thousands that haven't made it. So I hope those thousands look back fondly on how we coach them and maybe even give back to the game, even if it's just that they coach their their kids game when they get older.
David: Yes.
Craig Birtwistle: And like they say, oh, you know what? Craig did it this way or David did it this way. um So I think that's really great. um Based on that, how have you developed your coaching philosophy over the years?
David: So, yeah, philosophy, it's a really funny question for me that like these people always talk about it. But I think, um you know, it's certainly been it's an ever changing thing. that I don't really have like a set method. ah Some people take the philosophy question of you know how you want to see the game played or.
David: you know, that kind of really focus, like pitch only. But like for me, philosophy has changed so much down the years. Early on, yes, it probably was about that stuff, you know, trying to replicate things that you see on telly and all the rest of it.
David: But actually, my philosophy now, like this it really is these people first.
Craig Birtwistle: so
David: it's um It's giving opportunity to to to others. and You know, you you want to make good people, you know, before you make footballers. and you know i've I've got my own business, I employ people as well like outside of football. So we take the same same philosophy with that as well. you know We want to make good people with and give them opportunity, and you know whether that be an apprentice starting with us or you know bringing on someone you know in our age that are just starting as a new employee. So it
David: they they've kind of moulded together, you know, and that, but yeah, philosophy. Yeah. so It's a great question. you know, I want to see the game played in, a, in a passionate manner. And I, I suppose when I'm coaching the football side of the philosophy, id I just like to make good decision makers. I suppose that is my philosophy with the game.
David: You know, ah want players to be good decision makers. So, you know, that I don't have a set style of play. I don't have a set style of, how want football to look like. I just want the 11 players on the pitch to be able to make the right decision at that moment.
David: So that really is my philosophy. I don't have too much more in depth than that, but yeah, that's that's how I see it, you know.
Craig Birtwistle: I couldn't agree more, to be honest. I feel like with the term philosophy, like I think on all our coaching courses, we were told that it should fit on a postage note and stuff like that. Like you should be able to say it as soon as someone asks and stuff like that. But after doing the podcast, after years of experience, if you asked me what my philosophy was when I was 20 and you asked me again when I was 30 and you asked me again when I turned 40,
Craig Birtwistle: And hopefully I'm still doing this by the time I turn 50. But I'm sure they're all going to be very, maybe a little bit connected at least. I would hope so. But they are goingnna it is going to be organic because you grow as an individual. And we're going to talk about that a little bit more in a little bit because I know you're very strong on individual growth.
Craig Birtwistle: um So meaning that is the case, we're going to take a short break and we'll continue with our conversation.
Craig Birtwistle: Peace.
Craig Birtwistle: Welcome back and yes, if you're interested performing your own ah podcast, I do recommend Zencastr. That is what we use here at SessionShare. If you do choose to do that, if you refer to us, then the channel gets a little reward it's as well as itself. So please feel free to do so.
Craig Birtwistle: So welcome back. um I'm here with David and we're now going to switch gears a little bit and talk about grassroots, see where it all begins for some players and how we can develop play both children on and off the pitch. So, David, would tell us what you think is the focus, at least your focus, when developing players at grassroots level.
David: Yes, again, we we you we want to develop the person first. like We want to make them understand just simple things in life, and like good manners, you know, being on time, punctual, you know, showing and a true interest in your hobbies. You know, like I think sometimes we see it a lot of time with coaches say to me, or they come along, but they're not that interested, you know, so we we have to really try and home in on that and get them to really buy into that interest. know, they wouldn't be there if they didn't want to be and So, you know, but then it's about now bringing that out of them even more. I think some people just expect them all because they're there, they're going to love it, but it's not quite the case. So, we won but want, we, we want the player to to become a good person before, you know, all of the rest of it happens afterwards. So I normally say to lot of people, people first, everything else comes afterwards. So, you know, don't beat yourself up and, you know,
David: working with the seven, eight-year-olds and, you know, they're not they're not the footballers. It doesn't matter, but let's teach them, you know, the rights and wrongs of, you know, pleases and thank yous and and all of that stuff that, you know, really does go ah long way in life, you know, because like like you said earlier, but the chances of them actually being paid to play that game football later in life is so slim, but actually but good the good things that we can teach them, you know, later on in football,
David: in their life will will help them so much down the line you know whether it be that first job interview whether it be you know meeting new friends could be any of that stuff so really for me like that that's always been you know my main driver throughout all of it it's never been about like the football side of it the grassroots too much you know we put so much pressure on ourselves as coaches to you know to playing the perfect game by their 10 and all the rest of it.
David: Actually, it's it's really not about that. You know, like we're here in so many FA courses, you could literally be that only person that week, you know, that child's going to meet that's actually trying to teach them some manners or, you know, to be punctual, whatever it is in like life skills.
Craig Birtwistle: Mm-hmm.
David: You know, they're exactly that, aren't they? The skills that you take right through from, you know, playing at under eight to the day you retire from work. You know, is for me, that's the that's that's my drive, um you know, with all these things.
Craig Birtwistle: I agree. I always liken it to when you're talking about those six, seven and eight year olds, like you mentioned there, the fact that um I've always likened it to the fact that if you're a married man, for example, your wife then drags you off to like a ah cookery class or like a party that you didn't want to go to or anything like that.
Craig Birtwistle: And when you're there, If it's not something that you will enjoy, you'll be miserable and you'll say to them, I never want to go again. So the way I look at it for a child is the wife is now the parent.
Craig Birtwistle: It's as simple as that. They're dragging them to some sporting event on a field with a bunch of kids they've never met with an adult now telling them what to do that they've never known before playing a game that they're not even sure they're interested in.
Craig Birtwistle: So I think when you're coaching a six, seven, eight year old, it is fundamental that you make it enjoyable for them to want to learn. ah So and then it's a case of once you gain that confidence and that you understand that every time I go to practice, hole Coach David's there, he's going to make it fun and
David: Yeah.
Craig Birtwistle: the kids start learning by accident, if you will. And then once they buy into it a little bit and say, you know what?
David: yeah
Craig Birtwistle: One, I'm out having fun. Two, when he showed me something, I got better. And then like I saw dad's eyes light up. I saw coach David's eyes light up. um I want to do more of this. I think that's kind of what you're getting at, right?
David: Yeah, that absolutely. Yeah. ah Patience is key. You know, like it's, you've got have patience, you know, with when you're working with young people, and you know, you're not going to, they're not the finished article.
David: You know, I'm 45. I'm still not the finished article. and I'm trying my best every day to be better.
Craig Birtwistle: Thank you.
David: But, you know, so patience is key. And, you know, if you don't want, you're never going to, you know, especially at grassroots level, you get literally an hour with these children mostly a week.
David: But actually when you break that hour down, what learning are you really going to get in that hour? Probably the time you've had breaks and chit chat and blah, blah, blah, you probably actually only get like 25 minutes with these kids really.
David: And, you know, if you What are you actually you learning in 25 minutes? Any subject, you're going to struggle. It's going to take time.
Craig Birtwistle: Yeah.
David: yeah know and and and people really do, you know i think they they don't really calculate that side of it you know how little that hour is actually proper learning goes in.
David: yeah I think you know that for me so small steps at a time is is what you're looking for. you know And that's like the journey starts at under sevens, but actually me, the fruits of your labor, you probably start to see when they're 16, 17, when it all starts to click together. what And that's why that patience is is is massive in that journey. you know You've got to give these these his players a chance to really understand what what what they're being asked of.
David: It's not like in the academy game where they're training four or five times a week and, you know, they've got lots of stuff, information for them, different coaching, blah, blah. You know, you're working with a bunch of kids on a Friday night, you know, for an hour. That's it.
David: And, you know, at my club, I'm one you where I was, most of the training went on on a Friday. And always used to say, actually, you know, as coaches, you're being just the worst night of the week.
David: Literally, like these kids have had a whole week of being told what to do.
Craig Birtwistle: That's true.
David: And then they get there for that hour on a Friday and they're just like, let's go mad.
Craig Birtwistle: Yeah.
Craig Birtwistle: yeah
David: yeah And it's, you know, and you you know it's ah it's a tough bag Friday night coaching with the youngest kid. Again, another thing, people probably don't really put that into their head.
David: You know, it's ah yeah definitely, um for me, if you're training Fridays and you're not getting much luck, maybe shift it to another night. ah so It might change things a little bit.
Craig Birtwistle: It's true. I've always said that with what we refer to in America as like an arrival scrimmage. So basically a game once the kids arrive. ah So the way I've always done it when I'm coaching those young players is because I 100% agree with you. They've been sat in a classroom all day, stuffy environment. They finally get home. They get homework done super quick so they can get to practice.
Craig Birtwistle: and then all of a sudden we've got to put them back in a structured environment again. So I always like, as soon as the... I usually get to my field at minimum 30 minutes before a practice, so I'm all set up.
Craig Birtwistle: So I find that's a really good time to greet the players as they come in then as well. And you know what it's like. If you say to a bunch of kids, there's no rules, there's nothing going on, it's going to be chaotic.
Craig Birtwistle: So when you get to a practice and you're five minutes beforehand and then you have to set up and the kids all arrive in there, kicking your equipment, they're kicking balls at each other and so on, give them something to do. So we always start with the younger ones. We get them into 1v1 games as soon as they arrive. Then that builds to to and then to games essentially then.
Craig Birtwistle: and then to two to two four four games essentially then because we want them to have that freedom. We want them to gain that love of the game, if you will. And one thing that you you mentioned there kind of reminded me of a, you're going to hate me for this being an Arsenal fan, but a yeah ah Roy Keane quote.
David: no
Craig Birtwistle: so So he said about um as coaches, yeah, plug brosas ah
David: yeah
Craig Birtwistle: um as a coaches, we're not actually teaching the players, we're actually teaching them to love the game. So it's essentially give them that love affair with the ball, let them develop, let them grow.
Craig Birtwistle: And then they'll, they'll run through brick walls with you and brick walls being a very good quote for Roy Keane, who would literally do that with everyone or,
David: and yeah absolutely yeah yeah or someone's kneecaps that's it yeah absolutely no
Craig Birtwistle: There you go. Or Patrick Vieira in your terms. um So you mentioned a lot of things there, like especially I think one of the biggest things our listeners should take away is being exceptionally patient with those younger players.
Craig Birtwistle: um From your experience, what are the biggest mistakes coaches make at grassroots level?
David: Yeah, again, like that that rush, um that instant by, you know, it's almost like they want gratification for what they're doing, you know, on the pitch as well, you know, while coaching them, you know, where's my gratification of results or whatever it might be.
David: But actually the gratification comes with, you know, again, the simple things than just being on time, you know, saying, you know, please, hello, coach. How are you, coach? You know, that sort of that should be your gratification of the work that you're doing.
Craig Birtwistle: Right.
David: um You know, I think, you know, we we get so driven by it and and I get the result pressure. you know, it takes a very, very brave person stick to stick their guns and say, I'm going to develop, the results aren't going to matter to me.
David: I'm going to go through that process, but I know along the way that I'm going to have all the parents on my back. We're going to have other other coaches possibly on my back, of players on my back that are not winning. It takes, you know, to stick to your guns and go, you know, I'm going to do the long haul journey,
David: um you know, it's, I think that's probably where some coaches maybe make that mistake because, you know, what looks like a particularly underdeveloped player at nine, we don't know what they're going to look at 14.
David: you know then it's think You know, you have to take that time with them and and give them every opportunity to shine, you know, and and take your ego out the room.
Craig Birtwistle: Thank you.
David: You know, it's, we it gets tight it gets said a lot, you know, hear it on podcasts or whatever, ego, ego, you've got to leave it in the car, you know, you really haven't, don't get me wrong, there's nothing, like, you should have something about you in that sense, that you know, you should feel confident that you can deliver and you should feel confident that you can put on, you know, sessions that are engaging for players, but when the ego takes over, you know, this generally that's when you lose your weight, I think, you know, and you're a little bit blinded by by that, you know,
David: so important for me. Yeah, I know your feelings on that.
Craig Birtwistle: I totally agree. I would say that my biggest motivation when it comes to coaching, I see this as being, as we were talking about, like the mistakes that coaches lead to is the fact that thinking the score is all that matters.
Craig Birtwistle: um because my biggest motivation as I mentioned is the fact when I see something happen on the pitch that I've worked on in practice whether it's being a switch to the point of attack whether it's like ah a move in a 1v1 whether it's crossing and finishing everything like that those are the moments that really motivate me from a week to week basis and I think some coaches don't get that and like i I'm actually of the opinion that scores do matter, but they're not the end goal, right?
David: yeah yeah yeah
Craig Birtwistle: And what I mean by that is the fact that I don't go out there with the the aspect that I don't want to win. I go out there with an aspect that I want to win. My own philosophy is I want to win, but I want to win beautifully, right, is the way I would refer to it.
Craig Birtwistle: Because I just want to see the see the way my players develop, and I won't sacrifice small wins for the end goal. And that's kind of what you've been getting to, is the fact that talking about how um the bigger picture, essentially, right,
David: yeah
David: Yeah, absolutely. It's massive. um Often I advise people, you know share, like, the session share, like, podcast, great, it's that word, isn't it? But share, like, you know, when I was coaching through the age groups, still do now, but not so much, but definitely when I was a more of a grassroots club, I used to share everything with the parents.
David: You know, this is what I'm doing with the players.
Craig Birtwistle: All right.
David: This is our plan. This is why we this what match day rotation is going to look like. and inna share it all to them, because I could never get any comebacks at that point, you know, had things in my back pocket to say, if you're going to challenge me, I've got stuff to back it up with, you might not agree with what my backup is, but I've got proof there to show you that actually, you know, I'm thinking about this, you know, you might, again, you may not agree with my thinking, and that's fine, that's football, that's what it is, but, you know, are always, ah always say to people, just shared share that stuff, and, you know, obviously in the UK, we have
David: no results published, you know, in the non-competitive age group. So i I do say to those coaches, okay, so if we can't talk about the win, you know, what what is your win today then?
Craig Birtwistle: Thank you.
David: and and And if you share that with the parents, so, you know, like you say, we might have been Friday night, we were working in coaching. We were trying to get the kids to dribble forward. So you might be saying, okay, well, my win today is how many successful dribbles can we make into the attacking half?
David: Every time we do that, we're going to score a goal in our head mentally. So we may have lost the game, won the game, drawn the game, but that was actually my real focus on the day. And we successfully managed to do that 15 times, say, you know, so that's our goal there. And if If you share that with the parent group, you know, this is what me as a coach, this is what I'm sharing success. This is what success looks like for me on this match day. It's not us winning 7-0, losing 7-0, drawing 8-0.
David: Like, that's why, there like you say, you know, we want those things to happen. The game is competitive in its nature, but I'm taking my focus away from that.
David: This is where my focus of success comes from. And, you know, and and I do think, like, a lot of coaches really just get bogged down in, oh, I'm not going to share anything.
David: yeah But actually, it can can be a problem, yes, but it can also be a massive tool in the toolbox. you know So everyone's just on board with what you're up to. you know And some people won't be on board, of course, you know that's just the way it is. But yeah when you've got ammo at your disposal to to prove what you're up to, it's you know for me, it's priceless.
Craig Birtwistle: I love that. And I've actually written down a quote of you there because I'm certainly going to be using this one myself. what was When you said, what was your win today? I think that's such a great quote and that players and coaches really need to put in their tool bags themselves.
David: Mm-hmm.
Craig Birtwistle: That's ah real great stuff. Dave, we're just going to take a short break and we'll be right back.
Craig Birtwistle: Welcome back. We've just spoke about David's day-to-day work coaching grassroots, developing the players of tomorrow. However, it's not just players that David is extremely passionate about developing.
Craig Birtwistle: David's also passionate about ensuring he develops at the same rate. So David, you feel very strongly about coaches spending time developing themselves. Can you go into a bit more detail on the things you do and recommend our coaches do to help them self-improve?
David: Yeah, absolutely. I think like I've only been coaching like 10 years, so not a decent amount of experience, I suppose. But I think in that 10 years, the stuff that's now available is has changed, has come on massively, you know, like especially I suppose maybe the lockdown drove a lot of that, you know, like people, you know,
David: thinking oh how can i be creative with my coaching ideas if i can't get on the field i'd start sharing everything you know so yeah i think there's never been a ah better time to be a startup coach as you were like there's so much good stuff they're wrong there's plenty of bad things we know that but there's so much stuff out there that you can you know dive into and end up in rabbit holes that be books podcasts x formerly known as Twitter you know so there's there's great things out there for for coaches to you know that's when I first started that's was my biggest issue like I fell in by mistake didn't really know oh well maybe I'll type something in YouTube and see what it comes up with and at that point there wasn't really a lot there you might see the occasional academy ah posted stuff
David: he said There was a guy at Southampton that used to post a lot of his videos on YouTube. I used to watch that for 10 minutes and go, I'm going to do that tonight. And then, you know, so and it's and and that's the thing. He's come on so far.
David: like i think you've had Ray on before, haven't you, Ray Power.
Craig Birtwistle: I have, yeah.
David: That's
Craig Birtwistle: 100%.
David: you know, if you're a grassroots coach, like just, you know, get involved with pretty pretty much everything he does. yeah right so yeah You know, whether it's his books, whether it's his CPD stuff that he does, and you know, he really gets it.
Craig Birtwistle: and
David: And, you know, for me, yeah, he, he was definitely a big influence in, you know, content that I've you know sort of followed myself down.
David: talks about light bulb moments and rabbit holes and but he'll take you down all of them and and all the rest of it. But yeah, you know, as I said, this for me, you know, put yourself out there you know get on x and you know great coaching content on there people you can hook up with i i myself you know i've if it wasn't for x i didn't join until 2019 i just said i'm just going to keep this for football i've heard good things about it and you know i've met so many great people, you know, seen ideas, seen lots of things I didn't like, and, you know, and you and you turn off to that, and that's fine, you know, but this, you know, I wouldn't be where I am without that, like, you know, concentrating on, you know, social media football stuff that i follow, you know, it's a massive influence on me, definitely.
Craig Birtwistle: Yeah, it's definitely a different world now, that's for sure, with the um the amount of opportunities you can to learn from stuff. I remember when I was like 18 and I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do for a living and everything, my dad kept saying to me the same thing.
Craig Birtwistle: He would say, if you love your job, you'll never work for the rest of your life. And like, then as soon as I heard that, it was like, well, I love football and I'm not fortunate enough to play the game at a professional level.
David: Thank you.
Craig Birtwistle: So what am I going to do? So decided to coach. And similar to yourself, like um I started off on a low scale, didn't really get anywhere super fast. But then once I got the the drive for it, I really pushed on.
Craig Birtwistle: And I feel like... if you If you really want to, you have to engulf yourself in everything. It has to be a passion. It has to be a hobby. It's not something you can just switch off.
David: Hmm.
Craig Birtwistle: um It's not like I do nine to five, I come home and then I'm just with the kids. I work in the office during the daytime. I'm on the field at night. and I somehow find space in between to do a podcast as well.
David: Hmm. Hmm.
Craig Birtwistle: But like ah this has given me great opportunities to meet excellent coaches like yourself and shoot the breeze and in order to help me personally grow. And also for me to be able to give back some of the information I've learned, just like you, giving ah information back to your coaches, finding a way to get them to figure out what their win was today. did tell you I was going to use it again.
Craig Birtwistle: So ah ah in that in that respect, um when you were growing as a coach and you were on this ah developmental journey, if you will, what was the advice that you were given that really helped you in your career?
David: A couple of things really, like once once I worked out it wasn't about me, that's when...
Craig Birtwistle: Hmm.
David: for me that everything really sort started to fall into place. So, you know, that that was my biggest downfall early on. So it was all about me, you know, was what I could bring or, you know, this this is an attack on me if this team isn't winning, you know. so once once I released that pressure from myself, you know, it then become about, okay, how do I get better?
David: How do I learn? How do I understand that actually, you know, for my players to get better, I need to be better?
Craig Birtwistle: Yes.
David: You know, so that's the two for me run parallel. You know, we want again, like a grassroots level, we, we, we give the most, you know, hardest age groups, seven, eight year olds to the most inexperienced coaches.
David: You know, most of them are dads never coached in their life and they're not teachers. So they're not used to dealing with, you know, eight, i nine, 10 year olds and a big group of them, you know, with loads of energy.
David: And, you know, for me, that's like, it's literally, that is the, the, the dungeon, is the Dragon's Lair, isn't it? Literally, I'm going to give you the seven-year-olds. You've got no experience coaching.
David: I'd rather say to those dads, you know what? Take the 16s. Because they're playing the game that you probably recognise when you watch it on telly or you go to the stadium, so you'd probably get on with that, you know, if you didn't have much experience.
Craig Birtwistle: Mm-hmm.
Craig Birtwistle: and
David: But, you know, so, yeah, for me, like I say, once I... got rid of the the ego, you know, a lot of things just fell into place for me.
David: You know, that's definitely where that's gone as far as, you know, personal education. And and then, let's say, you you open up to to different different things, you know, got read I've never been a big reader growing up, like this kid, but, you know, like you say, I was interested in football and coaching, so there's books about it, we'll read it, you know. like Exactly like what you say, you you've got to love it.
David: coaching especially at grassroots when you're volunteering um you know you have to love it you have to have that passion if you're just doing it because oh i'm stepping up because nobody else will or you know that kind of thing then it will grate on you you know, it's of it can be the most lonely place, coaching.
David: You know, when you've got that team that's not doing great or, you know, and everyone's on your back and or if you're a very small club where it's maybe only one team in the age group, you know, and you can't go and talk to your peers and stuff like that, it could be a very lonely place.
Craig Birtwistle: Thank
David: um You know, so I think for me that it's just that, you know, choose that journey that, you know, I'm learning If I get better, I can make the players better. we We're going to run parallel together.
David: You know, so don't don't expect that, you know, what you know with the eights, under eights is going to, you know, work all the way through to 16s. You've got to say they're on their journey to get better as players. I need to go on my journey as a coach so I can help them improve as they get older.
Craig Birtwistle: And it's true. The kids will literally see through you as well.
David: Yeah.
Craig Birtwistle: if you If you're not into it, like if you turn up like hungover or like just not into it that day or whatever, those kids will see right through you and they will not be back.
Craig Birtwistle: That's for sure. So 100% agree with that. um David, I like to end our podcast with a simple question that...
David: Yeah.
Craig Birtwistle: that That really gets the to the the personality of the person, if you will. um What's your favorite moment in sports? It can be anything as a player, fan, or a coach.
David: um um Do you know what? like I had a thought about this. um I think, as an Arsenal fan, definitely watching it as a kid, I'll never forget of the 89 Anfield.
David: of eighty nine anfield I remember begging my dad to let me stay up and watch that game with him.
Craig Birtwistle: Winner at the end, yeah.
David: as on It was on a Friday night in, you know, springtime, May, weather's perfect. Begging my dad, please, please let me watch it. Please, please. um just I'll never forget that. Even like now, you could play that video back to me, that goal, and it just puts like hairs on the back of my neck, stand up.
Craig Birtwistle: Yeah.
David: you know And it's, I suppose, it's just... that's it really, it's that passion that the game brings to you and joy, you know, it's been very cruel, don't get me wrong, like, you know, with an injury to my knee, like, you know, that really, like,
David: done some damage like here as well like not being able to go back on the football pitch so it's it can be but but that passion that you know so whenever I think back to that night just you know just with dad the couch just you know the unforgettable moment for me you know all those years so there you I forget something in Arsenal for mocking me for that earlier on that's yeah
Craig Birtwistle: had to be done right that's awesome well david thank you so much for your views and insights uh i found this very beneficial and i'm sure our listeners will agree um david i mentioned that you're on x is there any other social medias or is it essential
David: Yeah.
David: That's the only one. Yeah, that's the only way you'll find me. So yeah, I say anyone's free to reach out, drop me a message. Like I say, the Sunday share thing that everyone's involved in.
Craig Birtwistle: Thank
David: If anyone wants to pick my brains on anything or reshare some content, happy to do that. So yeah, be great to to connect with other like-minded people. And thank you, honestly, means so much to invite me on.
David: um really, really appreciate it. Great. Cheers. Thank you, man.
Craig Birtwistle: It's been an absolute pleasure. And what we'll do as well is in the podcast description, we'll leave David details. So feel free to give him a follow. Like I say, seen so lots of great things on his X profile.
Craig Birtwistle: That's why we got him on the podcast. I'm so glad we did. Well, that's all about we have time we have for this episode of Session Share, the Coaches Podcast. Once again, thank you for David Poncia for joining us.
Craig Birtwistle: Be sure to get in touch across all our socials to offer your opinions on all that we've discussed today. You can find the social media platforms that we use in the podcast description, as I mentioned, David's details too.
Craig Birtwistle: This has been Session Share, the coach's podcast. Thank you for listening and thank you for coaching the beautiful game.
