The female technical director at Banksia Tigers, Zainab Jaber, said that the key to success as a coach is by instilling values such as hard work in players – as well as making sure they are having lots of fun.
Jaber was in conversation with CommBank Junior Matilda Talia Younis as part of the OUR GAME x LEGO Mentorship Series, where Younis had the opportunity to speak to five different mentors throughout the industry.
The Tigers U16 coach had grown up loving the game before developing an interest in coaching as an adult.
She told Younis about her coaching philosophy, how she overcame challenges to keep her players engaged and loving the game, and what Play Unstoppable means to her.
Read the full conversation between player and coach below!
What is your role and what do you do?
I’m the U16 girls coach at Banksia Tigers, and I’m also the Female Technical Director. Part of my role is planning and executing session plans, as well as running the girls academy for our juniors at the club. I also assist coaches at the club, whether that be through sharing resources or assisting them at training or game days.
What is special about the club room here?
We’ve created a lot of memorable moments in this room. A lot of post-game celebrations are here. It’s the home change room for our club, so when you walk in here, you never want to let our supporters down.
What do you love about what you do, and why do you do it?
I’m very passionate about football. It’s a sport that brings people of all ages and different backgrounds together. Coaching is just another way to keep me involved in the game.
Why do you love football so much?
For many reasons! I love the competition, the competitive nature of the sport and what it brings out of players and teams. I was a big football fan growing up, I didn’t start playing until I was older, but I love the different ways you can be involved – being a part of people’s journeys on the football field, and seeing people grow and reach their potential.
What is one of the main challenges you face?
One of the biggest challenges is dealing with females of different personalities. That can be very challenging. Taking the right approaches and dealing with those emotions is probably the biggest challenge as a coach.
How did you get to where you are today?
I owe a lot of credit to two people who have really pushed and supported me. One of them is our Club President, Hassim Chebli, who has really supported and pushed me to take on not only the role of coaching, but also Female Technical Director at the club. The other one would be Brian Dene, who is the Football St George technical director. He’s really helped me in obtaining my coaching licence and pushed me to gain more knowledge. I also coach with him in the SAP program.
What was the lowest point in your career, or a memory that you really had to dig deep to overcome, and how did you overcome it?
In my first year of coaching, we took my team to the Grand Final and they copped a heavy defeat, 6-0. As of recently, we can joke about it with my girls, but the biggest challenge was that a lot of the girls wanted to give up the game after that loss. We did a lot of work in the off season to try and motivate and get them back. The last thing you want is girls giving up the game off the back of a loss – there’s so much more to the game than winning and losing.
What are the key areas of your role on a day-to-day basis?
Implementing sessions that focus on the individual technical development and growth of each player, as well as the team. Also instilling good, positive habits within our players that they take off the football field – things like discipline, commitment, good work ethic. But ultimately, creating an environment for the players where they are enjoying themselves, and they love what they’re doing.
What does it take if someone like me wants to become a coach like you, and how would I do that?
For anyone that wants to start off as being a coach, you have to do it for the right reasons. That’s working towards the development and growth of players on the football field.
Tell us about your coaching philosophy.
As a coach, my primary goal is developing players so they can reach their full potential. In order to do that, you have to instil that commitment, and they have to be enjoying what they’re doing. If players are enjoying what they’re doing, naturally they’re going to be working hard to achieve their goals, and they’re going to challenge themselves. Instilling values such as commitment, good work ethic, things that would improve not only their development and growth on the football field, but also off the field.
How do you prepare for, or deal with, injuries?
With injuries, it’s really important that you keep your players involved, whether that be – when they come to training they can help set up, they can give their input into the team, just making sure that you also support them in their rehabilitation, and motivating them so that when they do come back from injury they’re ready to go.
In terms of cultural diversity in the game, what are you trying to do as a coach?
It’s important that we are welcoming to everyone and making sure that everyone feels welcome, and it’s a safe space, regardless of your background. At this club we are very welcoming of all sorts of different players from different cultures.
What does Play Unstoppable mean to you?
Play Unstoppable means that you’re giving everything 100%. You’re working hard, putting the team before yourself, and that you try your best. I think that summarises it for me.
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