Lorem Ipsum FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LEVEL 2 COACHING FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LEVEL 2 Improve the Skill of Support Play Improve the Skill of Support Play
INTRODUCTION Mike Trusson, who is a very experienced Football Association Level 2 Tutor and has tutored on over 50 Level 2 Courses, has written the content for the Skill of Creating Space. Mike is also the owner of www.grassrootscoaching.com which has over 300 animated, interactive 3D coaching sessions and a comprehensive section on the FA level 2 practical coaching curriculum with videos and downloadable PDF s. The graphical content has been designed using Coaches Chalkboard, which is a very simple to use online football training planning software tool, which is available FREE at www.grassrootscoaching.com/freefootballcoaching/ WHAT IS A SKILL A skill is a progression from the technique. The technique is unopposed, allowing the players to develop their techniques and confidence in performing these techniques successfully without pressure from opposition players. The skill session introduces opposition players to create pressure, not only on the players technique, but on their decision making now that they are under pressure from opposition players. So for example, the Skill of Support Play now introduces opposition players that will try and close space down and make it difficult for the team in possession of the ball to pass the ball easily. The players will have to not only employ the Techniques of Support Play that they learnt and practiced in the technical session, but be able to make the right decisions under pressure on when, how and why they would use these techniques to provide support around the ball when opposition players are trying to pressure the ball and space. PROGRESSIONS Ideally a coach would have coached the Technique of Support Play prior to coaching Skill of Support Play. The progression would be to play a small sided game with the coaching focus on improving Support Play in a Small Sided Game. There are E Books available covering the Technique, Skill and Small sided games for all the FA Level 2 Practical Curriculum.
1. ORGANISATION. Suggested area size. 45 x 25 yards, with a central area of 10 x 25 yards Play 7 attackers v 3 defenders, one ball Adjust the size of the area to suit the age, ability and number of players. The practice can be adjusted for 8-14 players Objective is for the 7 attackers to keep the ball away from the 3 defenders. If the defenders win the ball they try and keep possession Rotate attackers and defenders EQUIPMENT Supply of footballs, cones to mark out areas and bibs. PURPOSE To improve the Skill of support play. To keep the ball away from the defenders and provide support behind the ball, in front of the ball and between the lines and for the support to change as the ball is passed 2. START The ball starts with one player in the attacking team The 7 attackers must look to keep the ball away from the 3 defenders. The attacking team to try and keep a structure to their play, with at least one player in each of the 3 areas. Attacking players should be encouraged to rotate their positions. The attacking team to constantly adjust their support positions so that there is always support behind and in front of the ball In this example, support is provided behind and side of the ball so that the ball can be passed safely across the front of the defenders
3. SUPPORT OPTIONS AROUND THE BALL As the ball is passed, the support around the ball will change. The player on the ball should always have support behind and in front of the ball. The support should be at an angle and distance to make it difficult for the defenders to intercept or pressure and win the ball. 4. SUPPORT AS THE BALL MOVES As the ball is passed, support players will need to move early to support the player on the ball, both behind and in front of the ball. Try and encourage at least one of the players to provide support for a longer pass that takes the defenders out of play and one player to support between the lines. Communication, both verbally and with body language will be very important from the support players. As will the decisions of the player on the ball as to the best passing options.
5. KEEPING POSSESSION There will be times when the ball is switched or played quickly, which will result in the defenders being unable to pressure the ball quickly. The attackers should recognise this situation of little or no pressure on the ball Encourage the attacking players to look to keep possession in this situation with support needed closer to the ball This short passing with close support around the ball will draw the defenders to the ball The support will then be needed further away from the ball to enable the ball to be switched away from the defenders with support away from the ball and in space. 6. THINKING AND BEING ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE GAME Players should try and be one step ahead and time their movement before the player receiving the ball actually receives the ball Encourage players to think about not just where the ball is, but where it is going to be
7. CHALLENGES A challenge might be to see how many passes the attackers can make without the defenders winning the ball. 8. PROGRESSION 1 Make the practice 6 attackers V 4 defenders see example graphic - and see how many passes the attackers can make without the defenders winning the ball. 9. PROGRESSION 2 Progress to a small sided game 10. KEY COACHING Early movement to support the player on the ball Good angles and distance of support to create support positions away from the defenders Good, early communication from support players Recognition from the support players of the requirements of the player on the ball with regards to support behind or in front of the ball Decisions of players on the ball on the pass to the best support option Support movement as the ball is passed. Encourage players to think about not just where the ball is, but where it is going to be. On the next 4 pages there is an FA level 2 Coaching Session Planner Template. Please feel free to print it out and use. You will need to complete the details relevant to your session and needs.
Coaching Session Planner Candidate Coach Coach Educator Date Produced Time Available Information on Players No. of Player Age Ability Level Medical Info. Particular Needs Information on Facilities and Resources Location. Session Date Facility Needs Equipment Needs Goals, safe and suitable playing area. Toilets Balls, bibs, cones, Poles for goals Health & Safety Check Players for injury and for personal health and safety. Suitable footwear, clothing, shin pads, jewellery, Complete pitch check and ensure first aid kit and mobile telephone are on site. Risk assessment carried out prior to session start. Action Plan, Points from previous Sessions: Give good demonstrations and intervene as appropriate. Ask questions of players. Use Guide and Discovery style of coaching with players. Progress the practice to the players needs Session Aim Session Plan To improve the Skill of Support Play Warm Up Activities Gradual increase of warm up activities with the ball. Looking to increase the pace and intensity of the players movement to game intensity prior to the session. Looking to increase heart rate and blood flow. Also looking to tune the players in mentally to the upcoming session. Stretching of the main football muscle groups Timings 10 minutes Cool Down Activities Gradual decrease of physical activity run to jog to walk. Gentle stretching of the main muscle groups. Gravity led exercises to rid the body of lactic acid. 10 minutes
Session Plan Session Title Key Technical Aspects/ Factors Improve the Skill of Support Play Early movement to support the player on the ball Good angles and distance of support to create support positions away from the defenders Good, early communication from support players Recognition of the support players of the requirements of the player on the ball with regards to support behind or in front of the ball Decisions of players on the ball on the pass to the best support option Support movement as the ball is passed. Encourage players to think about not just where the ball is, but where it is going to be. Timings ORGANISATION Suggested area size. 45 x 25 yards, with a central area of 10 x 25 yards Play 7 attackers v 3 defenders, one ball Adjust the size of the area to suit the age, ability and number of players. The practice can be adjusted for 8-14 players Objective is for the 7 attackers to keep the ball away from the 3 defenders. If the defenders win the ball they try and keep possession Rotate attackers and defenders CHALLENGE A challenge might be to see how many passes the attackers can make without the defenders winning the ball. PROGRESSION Make the practice 6 attackers V 4 defenders - and see how many passes the attackers can make without the defenders winning the ball. Progress to a small sided game
LTPD 4-Corner Model Outcomes When planning your session you will need to consider what outcomes you are trying to achieve in relation to the 4-corner model. You should aspire to identify outcomes for all 4-corners for each of your sessions. Technical Passing Receiving Ball control First time passing Decisions Defending Linked play Psychological Imagination Decision making Confidence Self Belief Spatial awareness Physical Running Turning Balance Agility Changes of pace and direction Social Decision making Fair play Communication Team work Challenges Some players are struggling to cope with the session, how would you adapt it to make it more achievable for them. Development of the Session Make the area bigger to give the players more space and time. Slow down the practice to walking pace, and then increase the pace, as the players get better. Spend more time on the technique with the players. Some players are finding the session to easy, how would you adapt it to make it more demanding for them. Progress to 6 v 4 quicker Make the area smaller Introduce the challenges sooner Identify what sessions you would ideally have coached prior to this session Identify what the session content might be for the next session. Create Space Forward runs / forward passing
Candidate Coach Were the arrangements and organisation of the session appropriate? Was the health and safety of the environment and session maintained? Did the session content deliver the outcomes of the 4-corner model? Did the session content meet the player s needs and expectations? Was your coaching style and communication appropriate to the players? Did the player s performance improve as expected? What feedback have you had from other people involved in the session? If you were to coach this session again, what might you change? Coaching Session Self Evaluation Session date Size and pitch appropriate for the age group. All equipment ready and organised Risk assessment carried out prior to session start, no issues. Discussed with the players and let them come up with the answers, which they did very well? Pretty much. They can all master the technique of support play. They need to focus on timing and angles of support movement and decision making I gave good clear instructions and used the EDI formula when coaching. I also asked players questions on their performance and used Guide and Discovery to help players find out their own solutions to problems There were improvements as individuals and as a group. Although one or two players need a bit more individual help I had pretty positive feedback from the players and the parents watching. I also asked a Level 2 qualified coach on their views and they were very positive about the session I would have spent more time initially getting the pattern of the practice right, so that players understood what they were doing better. I could have stepped in and shown them this The aim of the next session might be: Forward runs / forward passing Personal Action Plan: Particular points that you think you should address at the next/future sessions: Progressed quicker to the challenges, which the players really enjoyed. Observe more and coach sometimes from good practice when players had done well, rather than from coach from mistakes.
PERSONAL NOTES:
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