In this episode of Deep Dive Drive, recorded on my morning commute, I dive into one of the most important — and often overlooked — aspects of coaching: understanding environments.

As coaches, we often talk about the environment we create in our sessions.

But the truth is, you can only truly understand that environment if you first understand your players.

In this episode, I explore:

• Why it’s vital to understand why players are there — fun, friendship, development, competition, or achievement
• How different motivations require different coaching approaches
• The importance of understanding players’ home environments
• How factors like family setup, sleep routines, household noise, and daily structure can affect punctuality, energy, and behaviour
• Why being late isn’t always a discipline issue — sometimes it’s an environment issue

I also touch on environments away from home and training, including:

• School life and friendship groups
• Peer influence as players get older
• How negative environments can impact behaviour, focus, and decision-making on the pitch

Instead of jumping straight to judgement or punishment, this episode is about asking better questions, building trust, and gaining context.

Because what happens off the pitch always shows up on the pitch.

This is a powerful reminder that great coaching isn’t just about sessions, drills, or results — it’s about understanding the whole person and creating environments where players can genuinely thrive.

One of the biggest values we live by.

One drive at a time.

🚗🧠