You’re Probably Coaching Too Fast

Ever run a session, whether on the pitch or in the gym, where everything looked great but nothing really stuck?

The plan made sense on paper. The session flowed. But when you came back for the next session, it felt like you were back to square one again.We’ve all been there. And more often than not, the issue isn’t the drill or the plan. It may be the pace and speed of your coaching.

As coaches, I think we tend to move things on too quickly at times. We explain, demonstrate, run a few reps, and then progress. New variation, new challenge, on to the next thing, and it feels productive in the moment.

But is it really?

Because learning doesn’t happen at the speed of your session plan. It happens at the speed the player can understand, process, and apply. And that usually takes longer than we actually think. You’re trying to keep the session moving, keep the energy up, and before you know it, you’ve moved on before the athlete has actually figured it out.

They’re still thinking about the first rep, and you’re already on the third progression. Does this ring a bell with anyone?

Sometimes the best thing you can do in a session is slow it down. Stay on the same drill a bit longer. Ask the question instead of giving another cue. Let the athlete figure it out instead of stepping in straight away.

And here’s why this matters.

When you slow things down, athletes actually get time to understand what they’re doing. The movement becomes clearer. The intention becomes sharper. And instead of just repeating reps with a new stimulus, they start improving. That’s where real progress comes from. It might feel like you’re doing less, but you’re actually getting more out of the session. So the next time a session feels rushed, don’t think about what you need to add. Think about what you can slow down.

Because better coaching isn’t always about doing more. Sometimes it’s about giving things time to hit home.

Food for thought

Michael