How self-reflection can transform your coaching with Darel Tidman-Poole | Coachcast S7 Ep2

FA Learning 08/07/2026

Before the new season begins, many coaches are busy planning sessions, setting goals and thinking about their players. But one of the most valuable things you can do is to take a step back and reflect on yourself. In this episode, pathway coach developer Darel Tidman-Poole joins us to explore the power of self-reflection and how it can help develop your skills and prepare you for the season ahead. Darel shares practical ways to reflect on your experiences and understand your behaviours so that you can show up better for your players. Reflection isn’t all about focusing on past mistakes, though. Darel explains how coaches can use reflection to build on existing strengths and become more intentional in the way they coach. If you're preparing for a new season, this is a perfect time to reflect, and this episode will help you reflect in the way that’s right for you. Covered in this episode: 0:00 – Intro. 1:30 – Top coaching tips. 2:11 – Darel's route into coaching. 4:47 – Tips for coaches leading a session for the first time. 7:45 – Advice for coaches on the coaching pathway. 10:27 – Why copying other coaches isn’t the answer. 12:23 – How coaches become role models. 12:59 – What coaches should do as they wait for the new season. 16:19 – Understanding self-reflection and the three questions to ask yourself. 18:10 – The reflection reframe that can help you progress as a coach. 19:16 – Reflecting on behaviours and actions as a coach. 22:45 – Taking control of behaviours and understanding your triggers. 24:20 – Tools available to help coaches reflect. 27:00 – The importance of getting feedback from others. 32:05 – The most important thing to remember when self-reflecting. 33:37 – A self-reflection challenge for coaches. 34:49 – A session idea utilising overloads and underloads. For more coaching videos, visit https://learn.englandfootball.com/ Follow the England Football Learning Instagram profile: https://www.instagram.com/englandfootballlearning/ Follow the England Football Learning X profile: https://twitter.com/EnglandLearning Follow the England Football Learning Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/englandfootballlearning Follow the England Football Learning TikTok profile: https://www.tiktok.com/@englandlearning

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