Coaching leadership on the field and in the workplace

After playing hockey for 18 years, Maarten wanted to try something new during his time as a student in Utrecht. That became lacrosse at the Domstad Devils. Lacrosse has many forms, but Maarten's simple explanation is: ‘It is hockey through the air but with full body contact’. Soon he was playing international tournaments across Europe in addition to league games. Maarten had a lot of experience giving hockey training and he also coached at first-class level. Before he knew it, he was coaching the Dutch men's under-21 lacrosse team and under his leadership they achieved surprising results internationally. In 2028, lacrosse will be a pilot at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Who knows, we might see Maarten there as a coach as well. Until then, Maarten is coaching the Dutch women's Box lacrosse team in preparation for the European Championships in 2026!

Maarten has a clear view on coaching: ‘I am not someone who tells you very directly what to do. I often drop a team into a game situation first to discover what works and what doesn't. Then I ask how they can adjust their game so that the minus points are improved.’

Here Maarten draws parallels with his work: ‘I am very much in favour of coaching leadership. I like to awaken self-solving ability. In doing so, I always take the same approach. What are you doing and what is not working in it? What is going very well now, so what do we not need to look at? And what are the obstacles you are struggling with? I always call them obstacles and not problems, because a problem demotivates and an obstacle you can overcome. What do we need to overcome such an obstacle? Whether it is players in the field or people working at a company. Nine times out of 10, the people doing it have the best idea on how to improve something. Solutions devised by the team always stick better than something told from higher up.’