Coaching Generation Z players

Coaching is a means to facilitate learning, personal growth and development. This is a very individual process. Knowing and understanding your players and understanding the vast individual differences between the players on your team is the starting point for effective coaching. Besides that, each context, team or culture is different and unique. The same holds true for a generation. Coaches should have an in-depth understanding of each player but also the general knowledge of the generation players they are coaching. This way coaching can be individualized based on the characteristics and needs of each player.

The majority of players we are coaching belong to Generation Z. Players from Generation Z are born, roughly between 1995 and 2010. As for each generation, these players have their own characteristics, tendencies and challenges. These characteristics, tendencies and challenges should be considered in our coaching methods and strategies to get the best out of our players and therefore our teams.

?Technology

?Internet and mobile phones have been around since the day Generation Z players were born. They are always “connected” and want instant access. This is why they are also referred to as the iGeneration, the first digital natives. For Gen Z players on- and offline are not separate worlds, they are one. They were able to swipe before they could talk. This makes face to face communication harder as they prefer to communicate via app or text. They are used to looking down at their screen as opposed to eye-to-eye contact. This should not be interpreted as disrespect of lack of interest.

Being connected also means that they have all the information in the palm of their hands, being able to process this information quickly. This makes them self-sufficient when it comes accessing information. Unfortunately, the bombardment of information has led to a lacking ability to distinguish between good and bad information. Most of their time online (up to 9 hours a day) is spent on social media. Snapchat, Instagram and YouTube are the most popular platforms. They have a strong online persona, and this online image is important to them. Most (extrinsic) motivation comes from social comparison and material things. Results are almost immediately posted online.

?Visual content

The key to reaching Gen Z is visual content. They are visually inclined and love videos.

The shorter the better as the average attention span is 8-10 seconds. They are able to process information quicker and only need 8-10 seconds to determine if the content is relevant for them. They also have a ‘bullshit filter’. Clear, authentic and to the point content works best.

Learning

?Generation Z will be the best educated generation, having excellent technology skills and growing up in a totally digital environment. All information is at their fingertips. This influences the way we coach and teach our Gen Z players. They want to be included, have ownership. The worst coaches will be the ‘professors’ who dictate and tell. This kind of authority won’t be effective. The most effective coaching will be by inclusion, giving players confidence and trust, facilitating active learning by giving them a choice in solving challenges, tactical problems or team related issues. Generation Z players will respond better to coaches that provide knowledgeable information and feedback and trust them to be responsible.

Insights on Generation Z players:

?·?????Good visual learners

·?????Have a microwave mentality: we want it now. Everything is accessible

·?????Are motivated through responsibility, ownership

·?????Believe in a diverse world

·?????Short attention span

·?????Always interested in the “why”, need for explanations. Want to know facts based on research and data

·?????Are curious and open to learning when they understood the “why”

·?????Are competitive, within short term goals/ success

·?????Have a need for more frequent feedback, lack a sense of independence

·?????Want to be in charge of own destiny

·?????Have a hard time dealing with setbacks, adversity

·?????Live in digital environment

·?????Average less than 6 minutes on a task before switching

·?????Extrinsically motivated by results, material things and social comparison

·?????Need for personal interaction, mostly online (the corona pandemic has proven that live social interaction – school, sports, family & friends are also essential for wellbeing)

·?????Are compassionate, but less appreciative

·?????Active problem solvers

·?????Strong believe in authenticity (personal, content)??

Tools for coaching the Generation Z players

?-??????To develop autonomy, include your players by giving them choices and determine responsibility. Give feedback on their choices, hold them accountable with opportunities to grow

-??????Include them in the “why”, including exercises/ activities

-??????Use to the point and direct (visual) instructions, with clear expectations

-??????Use technology, visuals and data in communication and coaching

-??????Give them tools to handle setbacks. Include this in training/ coaching by challenging or stressful exercises and situations

-??????Use open-ended questions to generate discussion and feedback

-??????Include your players in finding information

-??????Show interest in their lingo, music, role-models,…..

-??????Text/ app first, talk later. Use their way of communicating but help them with yours (the old-fashioned way of face-to-face and eye contact)

-??????Want things to get done? Coach for growth and development. They don’t want to be (micro)managed

-??????Teaching a new skill? Create bite-sized, self-directed learning opportunities so they can learn on their own (terms). Include homework

-??????Facilitate and stimulate learning in all four dimensions, not only the physical component: cognitive, social, emotional and physical

-??????Set up rules in relation to phone use during team activities (for players and coaches)

-??????Involve them in shaping team values, goals, rules, direction and decisions. This way they are connected and feel confident to contribute

-??????To develop long-term motivation, it is critical to help them focus on measurable improvement. Set (daily) short-term goals to maintain motivation for long-term goals and explain the correlation between the two (‘Why’?)

?The learning environment

?Knowledge and insight of the personal environment of the player, age specific characteristics and developmental stages (e.g puberty/ adolescence and the development of executive functions), coupled with didactic, pedagogical and coaching skills, regardless of which ‘generation’ we coach, are keys to successfully coaching any age. Let’s learn and understand the general and specific dynamics in which our players grow up, without forgetting the individual differences. As a coach, club or organization it is our responsibility to create a learning environment. In a safe environment where the players experience autonomy, connection, competence, purpose and appreciation they will enjoy learning, developing and performing while having fun.

Keep in mind that above insights are generalized, based on my experience working with generation Z (and having 4 at home), literature research and feedback from my colleague coaches. In no way does this describe every individual player, especially knowing that Gen Z consists of players between roughly 10 and 26 years in different developmental stages. Understanding your players remains the basis for effective and successful coaching.

?Let’s keep guiding, supporting and inspiring the present and future generations of players.

Roger Bongaerts

January 2022

VVV-Venlo Academy