Svetislav Pesic at La Masia

Last week former Barça basketball coach Svetislav Pesic gave a talk at La Masia for the youth team coaches at FC Barcelona and the coaches at the Barça Academy. More than sixty members of the coaching staff from the Club were present to listen to the advice and opinions of the veteran coach who is currently Serbian national team coach having guided the team to a bronze medal at last summer's Paris Olympics. 

This is the sixth such workshop organised by the Barça Escola aimed at helping the professional development of its staff to ensure the best possible coaching for the national and international projects carried out by the organisation. 

Coach Pesic touched on several different aspects of being a coach during the workshop. Despite not all of those in attendance being basketball coaches, the challenges remain the same for those in charge of a sports team. During the two hour session, topics such as the role of the coach, the training process and the development of young players were discussed. 

Improving every day 

One of the most important concepts was that of being ready to improve every day. Each sport changes on a daily basis and adapting to those changes is key to success and helping to improve athletes. Pesic pointed out that a good coach has to be ready for what will happen tomorrow in all areas (technological, physical and tactical). 

The former Barça coach revealed that it is important to follow all the details and make the necessary adjustments constantly. As such, the players will know how to face situations in games having worked on them previously in training. For the Balkan coach, individual technique is always useful whilst tactics only are of use in a match. 

According to Pesic, a coach has to be modest but also have the confidence in their methods to carry out their job, without displaying arrogance in front of the players or other members of the coaching staff. Coaches need not be afraid to lead a team because confidence does not come at birth, you have to work hard for it. In conclusion, Pesic added that coaches have to faithful to their ideas but also be able to adapt to a certain group of players. 

Communication, vital

For Svetislav Pesic, coaches need to accept players as they are to get the best out of them in training and in competition. For that reason, dialogue with the players helps a coach to understand them as humans and guide them towards improvement. Furthermore, a coach should not be afraid to tell the players the truth, even if in the short term that may cause problems. 

The Serbian coach also highlighted the need to retain good relations with family, agents and players' inner circle to help guide young players in their careers.