What to wear to your first coaching session

A coaching outfit should be two things: practical and comfortable.

It should facilitate you to coach in the relevant conditions, move as you wish to and make you feel empowered.

Keeping those principles in mind, what should you actually wear?

Club kit or no club kit?

Often, the club you are coaching with will provide you with a kit to wear.

If you are really fortunate, it could be the full thing - from tracksuit bottoms to rain jacket and everything in-between. Or it could be a few simple items – a couple of t-shirts and a sweater, for example.

If you do get given some kit, try to wear it whenever you are doing things with the club. It shows you are a club official to players, parents or anyone else looking at you.

Don’t be afraid, though, to let the club know if what they have given you is the wrong size or a bad fit. Remember – you need to be comfortable.

Be prepared for all eventualities

The beauty - and curse - of coaching a predominantly outdoor sport is that the conditions can change at any time.

Can you have a few staple items in your coaching bag to cover all possible conditions?

A good list of basics is:

• T-shirt
• Sweater/hoodie
• Light waterproof jacket
• Warm waterproof coat
• Shorts
• Tracksuit bottoms
• Socks
• Gloves
• Cap
• Warm hat
• Sunglasses

Piece together an outfit from the items listed above based on the expected conditions, but perhaps take the rest with you in an ‘outfit change bag’, in case conditions change while you are coaching.

Some spares are also useful to keep with you in case it gets wet.

Keep it simple

Your outfit doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy. In fact, you are probably better wearing stuff you have had for a while as it is likely to get muddy or wet.

Don’t worry too much about brands. If you want to, you can look for soccer-specific items from sporting brands, such as Nike’s Academy Football Pants range, but a pair of non-branded tracksuit bottoms will often do the job just as well.

Go for darker colours if possible. In the absence of a club kit these will mark you out as a club official. Dark colours are also easier to keep clean.

Make sure there is nothing too offensive on your clothing, be it image or slogan.

If you have a shirt for the professional soccer team that you support, you might be thinking about wearing it. There are pros and cons to that – on the one hand, it could be a conversation starter with players, but it could also become a distraction. Consider wearing it to a more informal occasion – maybe a club social or outing.

Footwear

What you put on your feet depends on the surface you will be coaching on. Ask that question before you turn up.

There are specific shoes for indoor soccer but trainers will suffice – some venues may have rules on what is likely to mark the floor.

If you are on artificial grass, AstroTurf sneakers can be worn - though, again, so can trainers. If it is grass, cleats/boots might be best. You can get different ones based on firmness of ground. If in doubt, go in a pair of
trainers you don’t mind getting a bit wrecked.

Build your kit up

Don’t feel you need to go out and buy everything brand new for your first session.

It is probably a better idea to start with what you have got, and build up your wardrobe as you continue coaching. If in doubt, ask someone at the club what they would recommend.

And remember: Your kit should be practical and comfortable, but the real value you bring is in how you show up as a coach.