Nottingham Forest’s Jody Caudwell: why there is no substitute for time when getting to know your players
Player | Needs| Jody Caudwell | 04.06.2021
Time, experience and non-football tasks can help coaches gain a better understanding of individual players and their needs, explains Nottingham Forest’s Jody Caudwell.
Learning:
• The benefits of staying with one age-group through their development journey
• Using non-football tasks to understand player personalities
• Basing retain or release decisions on long-term experience with an individual
There are no substitutes for time and experience when getting to know your players, explains Jody Caudwell, head of coaching at Nottingham Forest academy.
“I envy the grassroots coach – whether that’s a mum or dad - that goes through the journey from U7s and U8s all the way through to U16,” says Caudwell, who has also worked as Coach Developer for the FA and coached at Burton Albion.
“If it’s the same kids along the whole journey the coach will know absolutely everything about each individual.”
Caudwell has been associated with Forest’s academy for over decade, meaning he has seen the full developmental journey of a number of current first-team players or those sold on to other clubs.
“All the players, like Arvin Appiah and Brennan Johnson, that we see in the media or who have been sold on, you have an insight into their journey because you've known them for so long. You get to know that.
“All that time helps you understand the individual because of the amount of social and psychological interactions that you have had with them.
“The way you build trust and rapport with the individual and really get to know them, only comes with time.”
