Travis Kikugawa, Head Coach of the National Finalist U16 Real So. Cal Boys Team, On Team and Player Mentality, Mental Preparation, Communication, and Setting Goals
Travis Kikugawa, Head Coach of the U-16 Real So. Cal Boys Team
Q – How to you prepare your teams mentally for tournament play?
A – I stress singleness of purpose and commitment. Team building activities, like trust exercises, can be really helpful. We actually had a team weekend before we came here where we did a lot of trust activities … It’s also important to get players to look at the picture — beyond the field. Soccer is a metaphor for the game of life. It’s an opportunity to learn the lessons of commitment, responsibility, accountability, and doing things the right way.
Q – How do you get your players to focus on that “singleness of purpose”?
A – I have them write down goals or talk about their goals for the day in a team setting at the beginning of training. One of the things that I’ve done in the past with teams is to have them go around while stretching and tell their teammates a thing or two they’re going to do in the game that is going to make the team successful. They say it out loud and they are now they are accountable. It could be as easy as ,”I’m gonna get back in transition on defense.” But it’s out there, and now everyone expects that from you for 90 minutes, no excuses. Another method I’ve used is to write down a few points of emphasis for each player on a slip of paper and hand it to them to read during stretching. They look it over, then put it in their socks for the game. I’ve gotten good feedback, and it helps players stay focused on the little details of the game and their position. If you can get eleven players to focus on their individual responsibility throughout the game, chances are you’ll experience success more times than not.
Q – What’s the ideal mindset for a player heading into a practice or a game?
A – Improvement. Specific improvement. When talking to my players at the start of training, I try to get them to focus on improving one area of their game. For example, one player may focus on his footwork and preparation for a majority of the training session, while another player may focus on his angle of pursuit on defense. One player may focus on his [passing] completion rate, while another focuses on his one versus one ability.
Q – How do you reach your players? Get them to understand what you’re asking of them?
A – Communication is critical. You need to communicate with the players before you place the expectations on them. Explain to them why you are asking them to do specific training tasks and what they’ll get out of it before the exercise. This approach help bridge the gap that often takes place between coaches and their players.
Q – How do you handle a player who is losing focus or struggling during a game or practice?
A – I try to pull them over and see what’s going on. Maybe they had a long day at school or are going through some personal stuff. You never know unless you ask, and in my experience the players will not be the ones to approach you. Sometimes a little break in the action helps – taking a water break or short walk. I’ve sent players home. I might call them after training or the next day. Do everything you can to reach out and communicate with your players, in every way possible, and at the end of the day, you’ll have peace of mind.
Q – Any other tips for coaches on how to start or end practice on a positive note?
A – Try to start practices talking about the exercises coming up, the goals of those exercises and what you’re looking for. Ask for feedback. Get the line of communication going between the players. After a practice, have the players rate the session. Talk about it. Figure out what worked, what didn’t, what they liked, and what they struggled with. Answer any questions. Sometimes it’s fun to end a practice with something light and loose, like a team relay race, to get the energy back up. Use music. We also try to have them shake hands after sessions to make sure that everyone knows what goes in training stays on the field, and that we are all here to make each other better. We also shake hands before games to say good luck and to have fun and enjoy each other on the field, to enjoy being present in the moment, to enjoy the journey. The result will be the result. It will be a byproduct of the journey.
* Travis Kikugawa works as a Physical Education Teacher at Viewpoint School in Calabasas, CA., where he also coaches Varsity Boys and Girls Soccer and Girls Tennis. Kikugawa has coached high-level club soccer for the past 11 years, working primarily with the Valley United Blast, the West Valley Samba, and the Real So. Cal Blues. Kikugawa recently helped lead his U-16 Real So Cal Boys team to a National Final at the US Youth National Championships in Little Rock, AR. He works with all of his teams to develop a positive individual and team mentality.
