{"id":43719,"date":"2021-12-10T10:38:06","date_gmt":"2021-12-10T09:38:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cruyffalumni.org\/johancruyffinstitute-2026\/rens-sleegers-self-knowledge-as-a-basis-for-coaching\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T07:07:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T05:07:57","slug":"rens-sleegers-self-knowledge-as-a-basis-for-coaching","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/johancruyffinstitute.cruyffalumni.org\/en\/the-magazine\/coaching\/rens-sleegers-self-knowledge-as-a-basis-for-coaching\/","title":{"rendered":"Rens Sleegers: “Self-knowledge is the basis for coaching”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rens Sleegers, Youth Coach at VVV-Venlo, a Dutch professional football club, and alumnus of the Master in Coaching<\/a>\u00a0in Amsterdam at Johan Cruyff Institute<\/a>, assures that he now “enjoys the coaching process more”<\/h2>\n

Rens Sleegers<\/strong><\/a> has built up extensive experience as a coach at<\/strong> VVV-Venlo<\/strong><\/a>, a professional football club in the Netherlands, where he is currently training the U16 youth team. He decided to do the Master in Coaching<\/a> in Amsterdam at Johan Cruyff Institute<\/a>, to further develop his coaching because “more self-knowledge<\/strong> provides a better basis for coaching”. He successfully completed the master\u2019s program and we spoke with him about the effects on his coaching.<\/p>\n

“More self-knowledge provides a better basis for coaching”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Rens<\/p>\n

VVV-Venlo, Youth Team U16.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

What have you learned in particular through the Master in Coaching<\/a>?<\/h3>\n

The Master in Coaching<\/a> is based on the principle that you can only coach others if you can coach yourself<\/strong>. It means that during the program you learn a lot about yourself and who you are, not only as a coach, but also as a person.<\/p>\n

“If something is bothering me now, I make it discussable. That way it is solved sooner and I can more easily put all kinds of situations in their context”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Thanks to the program, I have become much more aware<\/strong> of my own thoughts and feelings. I also step out of my comfort zone<\/strong> more easily. I have especially learned to allow emotions to surface, which I used to push away. If something is bothering me now, I make it discussable. That way it is solved sooner, I experience more peace and I can more easily put all kinds of situations in their context.<\/p>\n

But the program has given me even more. It has made me think about what I currently stand for\u2014and want to stand for\u2014and what gives me energy and what doesn’t.<\/p>\n

How did that affect your coaching?<\/h3>\n

In the past, I often assumed an advisory role, to give guidance from my own perspective. But is my solution also the best for the other person? One of the most important insights that I developed through the Master in Coaching<\/a> \u2014and which I also apply the most\u2014 is NOT to project from myself onto the problem or the question of the other person, the coachee<\/em>. How you experience a situation is never the same as how someone else experiences it. Every person has a unique background!<\/p>\n

“I am more focused on helping the other person find a solution. There is more connection and I also enjoy the coaching process more”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So now I am more focused on helping the other person<\/strong> find a solution. What that solution is, I don’t necessarily need to know as a coach. It’s about the coachee. This also changes the contact; there is more connection and genuine interest. I now enjoy the coaching process more.<\/p>\n

\"Rens<\/p>\n

Rens when he was coaching VVV-Venlo U14.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

As a youth coach in a professional football world, how do you ensure a good balance between fun and top performances?<\/h3>\n

The reason kids are playing soccer is because they like it. Fun should be the basis<\/strong>. After all, learning goes faster when players experience it as light and fun.<\/p>\n

Besides fun being paramount, we also challenge players<\/strong> in their process. Each child is challenged in a different way, because each child is different. What does this player need? How can I best challenge him? These are questions we work on every day.<\/p>\n

“What does this player need? How can I best challenge him? These are questions we work on every day”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The development process is linked to the four learning lines \u2014performance, football, social-emotional and physical. The players are ultimately responsible<\/strong> for their own development. We challenge and support them in this. In the end, it’s all about players\u2019 awareness<\/strong>. The players themselves have to know what is asked of them, to become a professional footballer.<\/p>\n

\"Rens<\/p>\n

Rens talking with one of his kids at VVV-Venlo U14.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

What do you consider essential in that approach?<\/h3>\n

Our goal is to deliver players at Eredivisie<\/strong><\/a> level, the top football division in the Netherlands, on a structural basis. Aspects that we as a club find very important in coaching are:<\/p>\n