Greg's Top 10 Tips

HK Dragons’ top 10 tips on success in football and life 

Greg Ewins, owner and coaching director of the HK Dragons Football Club, has a number of youth sports coaching qualifications and has been working with children for 10-plus years. He and his club are known for their positive and motivating approach to coaching children, and have won the reputation as one of the best youth football clubs in Hong Kong. Here Greg gives his coaching tips for kids on succeeding in football and in life.

1. Never, ever give up

In football, I coach my players to never give up, in tournaments and in lessons. When you go the extra mile and refuse to give up, that’s when you turn defeat into victory – on the pitch and in life. And if you don’t win that time, at least you know you gave it your best shot.

2. Practice, practice, practice

How good you are as a player is not just about what happens at training – it’s what you do afterwards. The more you practice, the better you’ll be – at football, at school, at music…at whatever you do in life.

3. LISTEN to your coach

To do your best at anything, you have to listen hard to your coach, teacher, parents – whoever is teaching you. The more you concentrate and listen, the more you’ll understand what you need to do, remember it, and do it well. If you have trouble paying attention, sit up front when the coach is talking or at the front of the class to hear the teacher.

4. Aim to win

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars.” Go into a match aiming to win and believe you can do it. Try your absolute best and you might be surprised what amazing things you can achieve – on the pitch, in the classroom, anywhere in life.

5. Accept losing and learn from it

Understand that everyone has to lose sometimes. And it’s great experience because you learn from your mistakes. If you look at why you lost a match, failed a test, didn’t do well on a project, you can learn what you need to do differently next time. And that’s how you get better.

6. Team work and collaboration

You can’t win a football game on your own. To succeed on the pitch you have to be a team player - work with your team, support your teammates, pass, pass, PASS, and be a good team member. It’s a great life skill to work well with people – work at it.

7. Be positive and believe in yourself

Did you know that optimistic sportspeople usually do better than pessimistic ones? We all have our bad days, bad experiences and tough times. But if you can be ‘resilient’, see the bright side, believe it will get better, and bounce back from a knock – in sport, at school, with friends, wherever - you will go far.

8. Be a good sport and a good citizen

Good sportsmanship is important. Be gracious when you win and when you lose. Support your team mates, help them and encourage them – and your team will do better and be more fun to be part of. This applies to your friends, your classmates and your family too. Life is better for everyone when you are good to other people, and expect them to be good back to you.

9. Always give 110%

This is similar to ‘never giving up’, but goes a step further. I remind my players that even when they are tired, even when things aren’t going their way, always give your best effort - give 110%. Pushing yourself to do your best, keeping up your speed, enthusiasm and focus and keeping a good attitude - even when you are exhausted or things aren’t going well – helps you on the pitch and in life.

10.  Enjoy what you do and do what you enjoy

Look for activities you love to do, then give them your best. If you have to do something, such as your least favourite subject at school, accept you just have to do it and try to find something about it you can enjoy or appreciate – it will help you give it your best effort.