Coach Cunninghams

27/04/2026

With my Ndinaneni PIRATES

30/03/2026

10/03/2026

We love it

23/03/2025

You don't have to bully someone verbally to help them jump higher, sprint faster or lift heavier.

You don't have to bully someone verbally to help them score more, save more or throw with greater accuracy.

To me language is a tool in coaching for explanation, for direction, for encouragement, for questioning. It's not to exercise some manipulative form of power.
That doesn't mean you can't express urgency or intensity or insistence. It doesn't mean you can't shape tone, volume, pace and content to drive players forward, to urge them on...to correct or to have players reflecting on what they may need to correct.

The coaching voice is never redundant and can be used to guide and change behaviour.
But that tired, haggard approach of coach as 'shouting machine'? Oppression and long-term behaviour change have never been delicious partnering ingredients for any soup of success.

So some ideas? Same as always:

- Set them stretched, tough to attain tasks. By doing so you shift their perceived
competence...you show them what they're capable of.
- Have players lead - monitor their leadership process from the side and reflect back your findings
- Co-create training objectives for individuals - develop deliberate practicers
- Be careful with the word mental toughness. There’s some great people researching this area and guiding practice, and they’d explain that toughness is a skill, and that mental techniques can help players develop the skill of mental toughness.

There are many ways to stretch players, and unless someone is putting another in harm’s way, or bullying them, or engaging in any kind of attitudinal ‘ism’…then I’d suggest that shouting really isn’t necessary in anyone’s coaching armoury (and that includes at the very highest level).

23/03/2025

~Dear Young Players

: Character

Play with attitude, aggression and a little bit of arrogance. Let the opponent know you were on the pitch.

Educate • Develop • Inspire

17/07/2024

Hello my people hope you are doing well 🙏

11/07/2024

That's football ⚽⚽⚽👌

10/07/2024

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Josh T Ndukwu, Ofentse Wa Bonang, Leewap Floew

06/07/2024

I recommend this page for good content pliz follow and engage

01/07/2024

RIP justin shonga a former orlando Pirates and Cape town city player