ASeasonofCoachingSessions ForYouthSoccer. A24weekcoachingprogram DARRENLAVER&GARETHLONG

Transcription

1 ASeasonofCoachingSessions ForYouthSoccer A24weekcoachingprogram DARRENLAVER&GARETHLONG

2 A season of coaching sessions for youth soccer A 24 week coaching program By Darren Laver & Gareth Long 1

3 INTRODUCTION About the authors Gareth Long Gareth is an experienced educationalist, coach, and coach educator. Having qualified from the University of Warwick, Gareth taught Physical Education in a number of schools before becoming a Senior Lecturer in Coach and Physical Education at the University of St Mark & St John. He then worked for the Football Association as the PE & Coaching in Education Coordinator for the South West of England, and now works at the Australian College of Physical Education at Sydney Olympic Park. Gareth has coached football with a wide range of ages and environments, including grassroots football and the professional game. He has co-authored several books such as Improving Teaching and Learning in Physical Education and 101 Classroom Games and presented on Small Sided Games at a number of International and National Conferences. In addition to a range of coaching qualifications Gareth also has a Masters of Coaching (MSC) from Loughborough University. Gareth believes that intelligent, imaginative, and creative footballers who possess exceptional technical, perceptual and cognitive skills can be developed by coaches who are prepared to support players tactical, social, and psychological attributes alongside their technical and physical skills. Gareth regularly shares his coaching games and practices on his twitter Darren Laver Darren is one of the most unique and creative coaches in the world. He is the Founder, of the International Street Soccer Association (ISSA), the world-wide recognized street soccer concept, and the Virtual DOC, a soccer club consultancy organization based in America. Darren is also a globally recognized expert Coach and Exhibition Performer. Darren has dedicated his life to coaching players to improve their creative skill. He provides training programs, expert advice, coach education as well as running Street Soccer Events for amateur and professional clubs, councils and communities across the world. Darren s influence has grown to be a near global phenomenon. Darren is a recognized authority on the subject, and his knowledge, performances and exhibitions have allowed coaches, teachers and those involved in the biggest sport in the world seek a more creative, efficient and dynamic way to coach the beautiful game. Darren also works as a Technical Director for Eagle Express Soccer Club (Tennessee) and as a Technical Consultant for the Tennessee State Soccer Association. Darren is recognized as one of the leading Street Soccer coaches and soccer skill performers in the world. Darren s extraordinary abilities and performances led him to being voted one of the best street soccer players in the United Kingdom and was the selected to be one of 45 star players to feature in EA Sports FIFA Street (2012 Video Game). 2

4 A SEASON OF COACHING SESSIONS FOR YOUTH SOCCER How to use the book This book provides coaches of youth soccer players with a coaching program that can be delivered over a minimum of 24 coaching sessions. However, the book should be seen as a detailed and structured framework in which the coach can modify and adapt the program and sessions based on the specific team needs and individual player s needs that they coach. To that end, each of the 6 coaching themes will be developed over 4 weeks, and challenge and prepare players to embed the technical and tactical concepts learned into game day. The coaching themes explored in this program are: 1v1 attacking In-possession Finishing Transitions 1v1 defending Out of possession The coaching themes have been chosen in order to provide a broad and balanced program for youth players and teams. Of course a coach may wish to spend longer on one particular theme based on what their team needs, and of course a coach may prefer to change the order of the program. This is to be encouraged as it demonstrates a coach who is considering the particular needs of their team. So that the coach can personalise the sessions for the needs of their team and players a menu of coaching content is provided along alongside individual player challenges. Therefore, the coach can select the specific coaching points that they wish the players to focus on within each session. Each element of the individual sessions are explained clearly so that the coach knows and understands the Set up and equipment required, how the activity/game works, and the suggestions for options, progressions and variations. Coaching evaluations templates are provided after each session so that the coach can record their thoughts on the session and how they could improve it in the future, and also so coaches can reflect on players development through the session and their targets for the future. SESSION STRUCTURE Each coaching session is structured around six key elements: 1. Starts WarmUp 2. Opening Game 3. Skill Learning 4. Problem-Solving Game 5. Zone-In Drill/Game 6. Closing Game 3

5 INTRODUCTION Starts WarmUp At the start of each session we recommend your players adhere to the vdoc Starts Warm Up Program. For more information on Starts visit ccatraining.com OR thevdoc.com Opening Game The session will start with a game. For the players this means that they can begin the session free of instructions and can just play. It is also an opportunity for coaches to develop players self-organising skills as they set up pitches and organise teams. For the coach this can be seen as an arrival activity and they can welcome players as they arrive at training, and if needed assist players to get the games going. We recommend that the opening games are kept small (e.g. 3v3) as this allows players to get lots of touches on the ball and engage in decision making with their team-mates. The opening game also allows the coach to observe the players in an open, free playing environment. The coach can observe their players individual understanding, confidence and ability in the session topic and content which will follow. This is also a good time for the coach to identify potential individual challenges for players in the rest of the session. As such, we recommend that coaches focus during this section of the session is largely on observation and that verbal feedback and instructions are kept low. Skill Learning During this part the players are encouraged to practice and develop some of the skills related to the session topic. Whilst the focus in this section will usually be on technical skills it may also be appropriate to begin to introduce some of the tactical content developed late in the session. The pairing or grouping of players is an important consideration in this section. The coach may want to match players randomly, by size, by ability, by position and so on. However, a target for this section may be for players to get opportunities to work with and against different team mates. It is also useful in this part of the session to model the skill so that the players see what it is they are attempting to achieve. Commonly this modelling may be done by the coach, but video and the use of team mates can also be as effective. Typically, the skill learning will be achieved in small groups so that the players gain repetition in the skill learning. Observation is still an important part of this phase of the session but also the coach will identify and work with players who require more coaching support and more challenge. Problem-Solving Game This is the part of the session where players face an increasing range of demands. These demands will of course be physical, technical and tactical, but will also require players to use their communication, collaboration, perceptual and decision-making skills in order to solve football problems. The problem-solving games place players in realistic, motivating, enjoyable and challenging situations where they can become thinking players. Problem-solving games still relate closely to the session s coaching objectives but are usually more chaotic and more mentally demanding than a normal game. Therefore, it is this part of the session where players may be given timeouts to discuss and evaluate their plans and tactics with their team-mates. The social objectives of youth soccer will be prevalent here as players learn about the intricacies of working with others. 4

6 A SEASON OF COACHING SESSIONS FOR YOUTH SOCCER In this part of the session a skilled coach can strike the correct balance between accelerating players by giving answers, whilst providing players time and choice to discover expected, and innovative solutions themselves. A coach will often utilize a questioning approach to assess players understanding, and to prompt their decisions. Zone-In Drill/Game This aspect of the coaching session will most resemble a situation where the coaching topic happens in a match. It is important that this replicates situations that your players and team face, rather than necessarily a situation from the professional game. Therefore, the players should experience realistic game contexts so that they recognize the pictures from previous and future match days. The focus here will likely be on tactical principles of play, but of course the players relevant technical skills will be challenged. It is usual that aspects of attack, defense and transitions will all be integral to the zone-in game or drill. The coach will use a variety of coaching behaviours and methods to best help their players understand and implement the principles of football, and support their players to become increasingly independent and football wise. Closing Game This is a competitive game which draws together all the elements of the session so far. It may replicate the opening game, or may be larger regarding pitch size and numbers per team. Here the players are expected to express their skills and understanding in a game setting. As such, technique, perception, judgement, decision-making, speed, physicality and psychosocial elements come into their own during this final part of the session. For the coach this is the section where coaches observe their players individual understanding, confidence and ability in the session topic, assess player s progress and begin to consider what the team needs to work on next game day and next coaching session. The coach may also begin to reflect on the effectiveness of the session, and whilst it is not expected that all players will improve in all aspects of the session, the players improvements from the opening game may provide some clues for the coach. 5

7 CONTENTS CONTENTS INTRODUCTION COACHING CONTENT FOR 1v1 ATTACKING SESSIONS Session 1 : 1v1 attacking - A Variety of Skills Session 2: 1v1 attacking - BEAT A PLAYER QUICKLY Session3: 1v1 attacking - TIGHT SPACES SesSion4: 1v1 attacking - BEAT THE DEFENDER COACHING CONTENT FOR IN POSSESSION SESSIONS Session 5: IN POSSESSION - HEAD UP AND SCAN Session6: IN POSSESSION - VARIETY OF FIRST TOUCH SesSion7: IN POSSESSION - RECEIVING ON THE BACK FOOT Session 8: IN POSSESSION - RANGE OF PASSING COACHING CONTENT FOR FINISHING SESSIONS Session9: Finishing - Different Ways to Score SesSion10: Finishing - FIND SPACE AND SCORE Session 11: Finishing - TEAM GOALS Session 12: Finishing - DECISIONS AND SCORE COACHING CONTENT FOR TRANSITIONS SESSIONS SesSion 13: Transitions - Attack to Defence Session 14: Transitions - DEFENCE TO ATTACK Session 15: Transitions - AVOIDING TURNOVERS SesSion 16: Transitions - COUNTER COACHING CONTENT FOR DEFENDING 1V1 SESSIONS Session 17: Defending 1v1 - Defending Behind the Attacker Session 18: Defending 1v1 - Attackers Running at You SesSion 19: Defending 1v1 - Recovering Session 20: Defending 1v1 - INTERCEPTING COACHING CONTENT FOR OUT OF POSSESSION SESSIONS Session 21: Out of Possession - Defending when organised SesSion 22: Out of Possession - Defending out of Balance Session 23: Out of Possession - Defending around the penalty box Session 24: Out of Possession - Helping the Defence

8 1v1 Attacking Content (4 sessions) Potential Coaching Content for these 4 sessions Over the NEXT 4 sessions players will start to do some of the following: Observe space and defender Create space and time with their first touch Move the defender and create space to attack Attack with speed but in control - dribble with confidence Show willingness to try new ways to beat the defender - happy to take risks Be able to beat the defender on both sides, through and over the defender Use fakes and disguise Ability to accelerate and decelerate - speed change Change of direction Variety of moves Protect/shield the ball/maintain possession Comfortable with either foot Movements to set up 1v1 opportunity and to receive the ball Correct choice of end product - pass or shot? Go past a defender in front of them Go past a defender behind them Go past a defender at the side of them Find ways to escape danger Stay on the ball Experience opposition pressure from the front, side, behind and on the angle Player Challenges During this Program Explain one of these to the players during the session or let them choose which challenge they wish to work on. Try to beat players on both sides (right and left) Try to practice a range of ways to beat a player Try to panna (nutmeg) a player Try to annap (nutmeg from behind) a player Try to beat a player at speed Try to disguise what your first touch will be Try to change the direction of the ball with your first touch Try to receive with different parts of your foot/ body Try to protect the ball with/after your first touch Try to beat a player by getting the ball over them Try to turn quickly Try to invent a new way to beat a player Try to see and recognize when the defender is about to attempt to tackle you. Try to change your speed and direction when beating a player Try to dribble to draw opponents towards the ball Try to find ways to escape danger Try to stay on the ball under full pressure 7

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10 SESSION 1 1v1 ATTACKING - A VARIETY of SKILLS SESSION DURATION:1 HOUR AND 30 MINUTES 1. Starts Warmup (10 Minutes) 2.Game (10 minutes) 3.Skill Learning (20 minutes) 4.Problem Solving Game (20 minutes) 5.Zone In (20 minutes) 6.Game (10 minutes) 9

11 SESSION 1: 1v1 ATTACKING - A VARIETY of SKILLS SKILL LEARNING PROBLEM SOLVING ZONE IN OPENING START: Discuss with players: Outline the session topic. Explain why the topic is important and relevant to them as players, and to the game of football. Let them know what you are looking for. : Players will play an open game: Observe your players individual understanding, confidence and ability in the session topic. This is a good time to identify individual challenges for players in the rest of the session. You might like to grade the players on a score from 1-5 this grade can help you see if they have improved in the closing game (make sure that these grades are based on what you observe rather than how your perceptions of the players). Observations What are your initial observations on what the players are doing well in relation to the session topic and coaching content? Which player challenges do you anticipate will be most relevant? 10

12 OPENING 11

13 SESSION 1: 1v1 ATTACKING - A VARIETY of SKILLS SKILL LEARNING PROBLEM SOLVING ZONE IN SKILL LEARNING 1 Start: Players watch a video of Alexi Sanchez. Look at how many different ways he beats a defender? Game: 1v1 game where players each attack and defend two goals. Do they favour one goal, or do they attack either? 12

14 SKILL LEARNING SKILL LEARNING 1 13

15 SESSION 1: 1v1 ATTACKING - A VARIETY of SKILLS SKILL LEARNING PROBLEM SOLVING ZONE IN PROBLEM SOLVING 1 Can players win their 1v1 battles to join their team mates on the main pitch and help win the game? SET UP & EQUIPMENT One main pitch with 2 teams on (here 4v4 is shown, but this could any appropriate sized game) Smaller 1v1 pitches (here 4 x 1v1 pitches are shown). Goals are shown here but obviously cones, lines, zones could be used for goals. A ball for each pitch. HOW IT WORKS The winners of the competition are the team that wins the match on the main pitch. All games start together and scoring on the main pitch starts straight away. However the main pitch becomes a timed game (e.g. 5 mins) as soon as a new player from one of the outside 1v1 pitches joins the game. Players on the outside 1v1 pitches achieve this, and can join the main pitch by scoring 2 consecutive goals against their opponent. In the diagram Yellow player no5 has scored twice in a row so joins the main pitch (creating an overload for the yellow team). Their opponent Red no5 now has to join any of the remaining outside pitches (in the diagram they join red no6 and creates a 2v1 overload). So the rules on the outside pitches are; If you score two in a row join the main game. (In the case of a 2v1/3v1 the players decide which player joins the main pitch). If you concede two in a row join another outside pitch. The main pitch can therefore end up as anything from remaining a 4v4 game to potentially an 8v4 game or anything in between! What is the score on the main pitch after the timer has run down? Do teams adapt their tactics/formations depending on the score and whether they have an overload/are outnumbered/evenly matched up? OPTIONS, PROGRESSIONS & VARIATIONS Let teams decide which of their players start on the main pitch/1v1 pitches. A panna/nutmeg on the outside pitches also enables a player to join the main pitch straight away. If a player scores two in a row they join the main pitch and can score goals. The player which conceded two in a row also joins the main pitch but cannot score. 14

16 PROBLEM SOLVI NG PROBLEM SOLVING 1 15

17 SESSION 1: 1v1 ATTACKING - A VARIETY of SKILLS SKILL LEARNING PROBLEM SOLVING ZONE IN ZONE IN 1 In this game players have to win their 1v1 and win it quickly! SET UP & EQUIPMENT Two teams (reds and blues) are split into two smaller teams and stood either side of the goal (as in the diagram) Yellow players shown are optional Coach at the side with the footballs HOW IT WORKS The 4 players at the front of each line know that they will be playing. The coach starts the game by passing in two footballs to any of the lines. In the diagram the coach passes to blue 1 and red 3. The coach can pass to both red players, or both blue payers if they had wanted to. The players who receive the ball attack the goal opposite them as soon as they receive the ball. The players not passed to (red1 and blue 3) know that they start the game as defenders; they try to tackle their opponent and score. So in effect the game becomes 2x1v1s. Games are timed (e.g. 40 secs) and a goal must be scored in that time for it to count. After a goal is scored, or it is the end of the time, players return the ball and join the back of their line. Keep overall score of blues v reds. If a coach passes to both red players then blue players have to communicate to decide which players they are defending against. By changing who they pass to the coach can ensure that players play against different teammates. The coach can pass more often to the team currently losing to give them an advantage. Which team has the most goals after a set time period? OPTIONS, PROGRESSIONS & VARIATIONS The player that scores first can then join in to help their team mate (2v1). Score quickly and help your teammate! A player must be across the half way line to score. Use GKs Sometimes only pass in 1 ball for a 2v2. After 20 secs send in the yellow players they can gain possession of any ball and score in either goal they can work together if they like (e.g. 2v1v1). 16

18 ZONE IN ZONE IN 1 17

19 SESSION 1: 1v1 ATTACKING - A VARIETY of SKILLS SKILL LEARNING PROBLEM SOLVING ZONE IN CLOSING : Players will play an open game. Observe your players individual understanding, confidence and ability in the session topic. This is a good time to assess whether players have improved? What are they doing differently? You might like to grade the players on a score from 1-5 this grade can help you see if they have improved from the opening game (make sure that these grades are based on what you observe rather than how your perceptions of the players). You may also begin to think about how the session content will be incorporated into your match/game day plans FINISH: Discuss with players: What did they enjoy? What did they least enjoy? What did they find hard? What did they improve on? What do they want to do next? What will they practice? What challenges are they setting themselves? Observations Which aspects have the players improved on? Which aspects still need reinforcing over the next few sessions? How does this relate to our next game? 18

20 CLOSING 19

21 SESSION 1: COACH AND SESSION EVALUATION Changes I made to the above plan What went well? What did I do well? What could have been better about the session? How could I have been better? What would I change about this session next time? What will I do differently about my coaching next session? 20

22 SESSION 1: PLAYER EVALUATIONS Player Name Comments from this session. What did the players do well? What is their challenge/objective for next week? 21

23 SESSION 1: COACH AND SESSION EVALUATION Player Name Comments from this session. What did the players do well? What is their challenge/objective for next week? 22