Athletic Soccer Club Ajax Coaches Development Curriculum
Table of Contents Chapter 1 Coach(es) Development Curriculum 3 Page # APPENDIX Coach Evaluation 14 Respect yourself, your opponent and the Game! Page 2
Chapter 1 Coach(es) Development Curriculum Respect yourself, your opponent and the Game! Page 3
Introduction: Coach John Wooden has been quoted thousands upon thousands of times but perhaps Coach Wooden s most humble and most influential quote is: In the eyes of most observes my title is Coach Wooden, but this is not what I would list first on my resume or business card. From my earliest years I have viewed my primary job as one of educating others: I am a teacher. We must view ourselves in this manner; teacher-coach, we are teaching the beautiful game to the youth of this nation and as a teacher we have a responsibility to ensure we are doing right by our players. Just as teachers demand their students to continue learning outside the walls of school, we demand our players to continue learning outside our training sessions. As a teacher-coach, if we demand our players to continue learning, we must also continue learning to ensure training, teaching and learning does not become stagnant. Thus, ASC Ajax will require each coach to obtain a certain number of Coaching Education hours per year, certain Coaching Licenses per stage and a certain number of assessments per year. We will emulate to our players what it means to be proper students of the game. Development Stages: ASC AJAX COACHING DEVELOPMENT DIAGRAM Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Age Groups: U4-U6 U7-U9 U10-U12 U13-U15 U16-U18 Coaching Hours Per Year: 50-75 75-125 150-250 150-300 150-350 Training Sessions Per Week: 1 1-2 2 2-3 3-4 Length of Training Session: 30-45 minutes 60-75 minutes 75-90 minutes 90-120 minutes 90-120 minutes Players Per Team: 6 10-12 13-15 18-22 18-22 Coach Education Hours Per Year: Coaching Assessments Coaching License Level: 20 30 40 40 40 One per Season 2-3 per Season 3-4 per Season 3-4 per Season 3-4 per Season USSF Youth Certificate or NSCAA Level 1 USSF E or NSCAA Level 2-3 USSF National D or NSCAA Level 4-6 USSF National D or NSCAA National Diploma USSF National C or NSCAA Advanced National Diploma or Higher Respect yourself, your opponent and the Game! Page 4
Stage 1 and 2 Coaching Expectations for a Stage 1 and 2 Coach: Stage 1 & 2 coaches are coaches that coach the age groups 4-9 years of ages. These coaches will more than likely have less experience with the game of soccer and be volunteers because they want to be involved with their child s sports experience. Stage 1 and 2 coaches are required to attend club sponsored coaches training sessions once per month for the first 6 months as a coach in ASC Ajax. The Technical Director of Coaching will observe at least one training session per month for the first season. The Technical Director of Coaching will discuss the observations with the coach, good, bad and indifferent, immediately following the training session and assist the coach with any correction that may be required. Stage 1 and 2 coaches will need to demonstrate their understanding of the following aspects of ASC Ajax s coaching philosophy: Developing a training plan with the four major components; (1) technical warm-up (2) technical small sided activity (3) tactical (principles of play) expanded small sided activity and (4) the final game that incorporates the technical and tactical (principles of play) aspects of the practice. Be able to define and implement the three aspects of ASC Ajax s coaching philosophy; (1) sequential (2) compound and (3) specific training; as these are a key component to the players individual development as well as the team s collective development. Be able to define and implement ASC Ajax s Four Corner Model of training; (1) technical (2) tactical (3) physically and psychological as this will be an expectation for training to assist players and teams to perform at that maximal best. The technical components that Stage 1 and 2 coaches must be able to properly demonstrate and teach for outfield players are as follows: Skill Model that the club has adopted (deceptive move, actual skill and explosive movement). Dribbling with all parts of foot (inside, outside, laces and sole) Two deceptive skills: shoulder fake and fake strike. Example skills: step-over turns, Maradona turns, Cryuff turns, inside hook, outside chop, pull back turn, v-cut outside push, single scissors with opposite foot push or same foot drag, Mathews, pull roll behind, foundation, toe touches, triangle, inside and outside roll ups and over s, base move, Redondo. Juggling; foot and thighs to include ways to pick ball off ground with feet, i.e. pull roll up. Ball striking with the inside and instep of the foot Jockeying and tackling (poke and block tackle) during individual defending Respect yourself, your opponent and the Game! Page 5
The technical components that the Stage 1 and 2 coaches must be able to properly demonstrate and teach for goalkeepers are as follows: Four basic technical ball collection methods; (1) collect ball off ground (2) basket catch (3) W or contour catch (high and to the side) and (4) front smother Two basic tactical movements (1) angle arc and (2) ball line Two individual dynamic movements (1) drop step and (2) shuffle Methods of distribution (1) punting (2) baseball/overhead throw, (3) bowling and (4) goal kicks The tactical components (principles of play) that Stage 1 and 2 coaches should be able to clearly define will purely be based off the actual stage and ability (soccer age) in which that coach is coaching. The coach should intimately know their players and team and their overall ability in order to best implement the proper level of tactical (principles of play) instruction. The Five Stage Player Development Curriculum will assist the coach with understanding the requirements of each specific stage and what level of tactical (principles of play) instruction should be taught. The Coaching Handbook should primarily be used for the technical development of the individual player and how they are implemented into the team environment. How ASC Ajax will Assist the Stage 1 and 2 Coach: ASC Ajax will assist the Stage 1 and 2 coaches in developing a complete understanding of and ability to perform the following: How to develop and execute a successful training plan How to successfully incorporate ASC Ajax s three aspects of the coaching philosophy; sequential, compounding and specific training into training sessions How to successfully incorporate the ASC Ajax s Four Corner Model ; technically, tactically (principles of play), physically and psychologically How to successfully demonstrate and teach the three parts of the Skill Model ; deceptive move, actual skill and explosive movement How to successfully demonstrate and teach the proper techniques of ball striking with the inside and instep of foot How to successfully demonstrate and teach the proper basic goalkeeping collection methods, tactical movements, dynamic movements and distribution methods As previously stated ASC Ajax will hold monthly training sessions for all coaches; these training sessions will be 2-4 hours in duration. The aforementioned topics will be discussed and demonstrated in depth so that each coach has a clear understanding of their expectation. A youth team will be provided and each coach will be assigned 4-5 player that they will be coaching Respect yourself, your opponent and the Game! Page 6
during the training session (except for the topics of developing and executing a practice plan, the three aspects of ASC Ajax s coaching philosophy and the ASC Ajax Four Corner Model; those will be given and executed by the coaches only). As was also stated earlier, the first 6 months as an ASC Ajax coach you will be required to attend the monthly training sessions. The Technical Director of Coaching will observe training session and provide immediate feedback and instruction. The Technical Director of Coaching and coach will determine a specific plan of action that best suits the needs of the coach in moving forwards in order to obtain and maintain success. ASC Ajax will have a Coaches Repository ; the Coaches Repository will have completed training session available to each coach, these training sessions will have everything that the coach needs but may be tailored in any way to meet the specific requirements of that practice. ASC Ajax will also have various links for training ideas and activities that will also be available within the Coaches Repository. ASC Ajax will have a YouTube Channel that has every technical component of the game (skill, ball striking, goalkeeper technique, individual defending, etc.) broken down step-by-step so that the coach can have a visual aid when teaching technique to their players. The coach can visit the channel or new skill ideas that they may want to incorporate into their training sessions if the team is ready for advancement or for the use of homework given to their players to better increase ball control. Licenses and Certifications of a Stage 1 and 2 Coach: ASC Ajax will require that each Stage 1 and 2 coach obtain, at minimum, a USSF Youth Certificate, USSF E or NSCAA Level 1-3 Diploma and at least one coach per team obtain an NSCAA Goalkeeping Level 1 Diploma within the first year as a coach in the club. ASC Ajax will partner with USSF and NSCAA and schedule courses for the Club coaches, at minimum, twice per year in addition to the Club sponsored coaches training sessions. These courses will be for the coach s benefit and will assist them in their own development which in turn will assist with the overall development of the Club. Stage 3 and 4 Coaching Expectations for a Stage 3 and 4 Coach: Stage 3 and 4 coaches are coaches that coach the age groups of 10-15 years of age. This coach will typically have 5-10 years of coaching experience. Stage 3 and 4 coaches will be required to attend club sponsored coaches training sessions, at minimum, once every three months. The Technical Director of Coaching will observe training sessions, at minimum, once per month. The Technical Director of Coaching will discuss the observations with the coach, good, bad and Respect yourself, your opponent and the Game! Page 7
indifferent, immediately following the training session and assist the coach with any correction that may be required. Stage 3 and 4 coaches will need to demonstrate their understanding of the following aspects of ASC Ajax s coaching philosophy: Successfully utilize the training plan and progress the training plan and coordinate the four components of the practice plan (technical warm-up, technical small sided activity, tactical (principles of play) expanded small sided activity and the final game). Successfully incorporate and establish the three aspects of ASC Ajax s coaching philosophy (sequential, compound and specific training) Successfully incorporate and establish ASC Ajax s Four Corner Model (technical, tactical, physical and psychological). Stage 3 and 4 coaches should be able to clearly demonstrate and teach all technical components for outfield players that the Stage 1 and 2 coaches can with the addition of a few more complex technical and tactical (principles of play) components as follows: Third and final deceptive move; hip swivel Ball striking with the outside of the foot Example skills: double scissors with push or drag, elastico, reverse elastico, cap and half Cruyff Maradona turn, Brazilian toe touches, double pull roll behinds Start combining skills to make sequences more complex; i.e. fake strike v-cut outside push with scissors and step-over or shoulder fake scissors and elastico Juggling: introduce the head and start teaching tricks (around the world, foot to thigh to shoulder to head to shoulder to thigh to foot, etc.) new pick up skills, i.e. rainbow or roll over pop up Stage 3 and 4 coaches should be able to clearly demonstrate and teach all technical components for goalkeepers that Stage 1 and 2 coaches can with the addition of a few more complex technical and tactical (principles of play) components as follows: Tipping, Punching and Boxing Tactical movements: approach for flank play/corner kicks, breakaway and 50/50 balls Individual dynamic movements: power step (vertical and horizontal) Methods of distribution (1) drop kick, (2) sling throw and (3) back pass The tactical (principles of play) components that Stage 3 and 4 coaches should be able to clearly define will purely be based off the actual stage and ability (soccer age) in which that coach is coaching. The coach should intimately know their players and team and their overall ability in order to best implement the proper level of tactical (principles of play) instruction. The Five Stage Player Development Curriculum will assist the coach with understanding the requirements of each specific stage and what level of tactical instruction should be taught. The Respect yourself, your opponent and the Game! Page 8
Coaching Handbook should primarily be used for the technical development of the individual player and how they are implemented into the team environment. How ASC Ajax will Assist the Stage 3 and 4 Coach: ASC Ajax will assist the Stage 3 and 4 coaches in continuing to develop as a coach and their understanding of the game. ASC Ajax will accomplish this in the following: How to successfully progress the practice plan from warm-up to the final game How to successfully establish ASC Ajax s three aspects of the coaching philosophy; sequential, compounding and specific training into training sessions How to successfully establish the ASC Ajax s Four Corner Model ; technically, tactically, physically and psychologically How to successfully demand and expect the three parts of the Skill Model ; deceptive move, actual skill and explosive movement and advance the player to combining skills How to successfully demand and expect the proper techniques of ball striking with the inside, instep and outside of foot and advance the player to striking the ball second and third time How to successfully demand and expect the proper basic goalkeeping collection methods, tactical movements, dynamic movements and distribution methods as well as progress the goalkeeper with advanced skills How to instill the Club s attacking and defending style of play. Attacking style of play; a combination of possession and total football. Defending style of play; extreme high pressure As previously stated ASC Ajax will hold monthly training sessions for all coaches; the training sessions will be 2-4 hours in duration. The aforementioned topics will be discussed and demonstrated in depth so that each coach has a clear understanding of their expectation. A youth team will be provided and each coach will be assigned 4-5 player that they will be coaching during the training session (except for the topics of developing and executing a practice plan, the three aspects of ASC Ajax s coaching philosophy and the ASC Ajax Four Corner Model; those will be given and executed by the coaches only). As was also stated earlier, as an intermediate coach you will be required to attend the monthly training session at least every three months. The Technical Director of Coaching will observe training session and provide immediate feedback and instruction. At this time the Technical Director of Coaching and coach will determine a specific plan of action that best suits the needs of the coach in moving forwards in order to obtain and maintain success. ASC Ajax will have a Coaches Repository ; the Coaches Repository will have completed training session available to each coach, these training sessions will have everything that the coach needs but may be tailored in any way to meet the specific Respect yourself, your opponent and the Game! Page 9
requirements of that training session. ASC Ajax will also have various links for training ideas and activities that will also be available within the Coaches Repository. ASC Ajax will also have a YouTube Channel that has every technical component of the game (skill, ball striking, goalkeeper technique, individual defending, etc.) broken down step-by-step so that the coach can have a visual aid when teaching technique to their players. The coach can visit the Channel for new skill ideas that they may want to incorporate into their training sessions if the team is ready for advancement or for the use of homework given to their players to better increase ball control. Licenses and Certifications of a Stage 3 and 4 Coach: ASC Ajax will require that each Stage 3 and 4 coach obtain, at minimum, a USSF National D or NSCAA National Diploma and at least one coach per team obtain an NSCAA Goalkeeping Level 2 Diploma. ASC Ajax will partner with USSF and NSCAA and schedule courses for the Club coaches, at minimum, twice per year in addition to the Club sponsored coaches training sessions. These courses will be for the coach s benefit and will assist them in their own development which in turn will assist with the overall development of the Club. Stage 5 Coaching Expectations for a Stage 5 Coach: The Stage 5 coaches are coaches that coach the age groups of 16-18 years of age. Stage 5 coaches will more than likely have10 plus years of coaching experience. Stage 5 coaches will be required to attend club sponsored coaches training sessions, at minimum, once every three months. The Technical Director of Coaching will observe training sessions, at minimum, once per month. The Technical Director of Coaching will discuss the observations with the coach, good, bad and indifferent, immediately following the training session and assist the coach with any correction that may be required. Stage 5 coaches will need to demonstrate their understanding of the following aspects of ASC Ajax s coaching philosophy: Successfully determine the areas of need for the team and progress and coordinate a training plan with the four components (technical warm-up, technical small sided activity, tactical (principles of play) expanded small sided activity and the final game). Successfully establish and expound the three aspects of ASC Ajax s coaching philosophy (sequential, compound and specific training) Successfully establish and expound the ASC Ajax s Four Corner Model (technical, tactical, physical and psychological). Respect yourself, your opponent and the Game! Page 10
Successfully establish the Club s Attacking and Defending Styles of Play Stage 5 coaches should be able to clearly demonstrate and teach all technical components for outfield players of the previous Stages with the addition of a few more complex technical components and tactical (principles of play) as follows: Multiple deceptive skills Ball striking with each foot Example Skills: double step over, double pull roll behinds, pull inside/pull outside/pull roll behind, Redondo spin, Maradona pull turns, partner pull, roll and pass Continue combining skills with more complexity; i.e. hip swivel step over with fake strike v-cut outside push with Maradona pull turn Juggling: incorporate head, thigh, chest and foot and continue to teach tricks (catch on back of neck) new pick up skills, i.e. slam on ground or roll up calf Stage 5 coaches should be able to clearly demonstrate and teach all technical and tactical (principles of play) components for goalkeepers of the previous Stages with the addition of a few more complex technical and tactical (principles of play) components as follows: When to catch and when to tip, punch or box Tactical movements: setting wall for free kicks, setting defense for corner kicks (in swinger vs. out swinger) and setting defense for breakaways or numbers down situations Individual dynamic movements: when and how to use all three from previous coaching steps Methods of distribution (1) back pass (when to use feet vs. hands) and (2) first time clearing The tactical (principles of play) components that Stage 5 coaches should be able to clearly define will purely be based off the actual stage and ability (soccer age) in which that coach is coaching. The coach should intimately know their players and team and their overall ability in order to best implement the proper level of tactical (principles of play) instruction. The Five Stage Player Development Curriculum will assist the coach with understanding the requirements of each specific stage and what level of tactical instruction should be taught. The Coaching Handbook should primarily be used for the technical development of the individual player and how they are implemented into the team environment. How ASC Ajax will Assist a Stage 5 Coach: ASC Ajax will assist Stage 5 coaches in continuing to develop as a coach and their understanding of the game. ASC Ajax will accomplish this in the following: Respect yourself, your opponent and the Game! Page 11
How to link the teams developmental needs and progress the training plan from warm-up to the final game How to expound ASC Ajax s three aspects of the coaching philosophy; sequential, compounding and specific training into training sessions How to expound ASC Ajax s Four Corner Model ; technically, tactically, physically and psychologically How to expound the three parts of the Skill Model ; deceptive move, actual skill and explosive movement and advance the player to combining skills How to expound the proper techniques of ball striking with the inside, instep and outside of foot and advance the player to striking the ball first time How to successfully expound the proper basic goalkeeping collection methods, tactical movements, dynamic movements and distribution methods as well as progress the goalkeeper with advanced technical and tactical skills As previously stated ASC Ajax will hold monthly training sessions for all coaches; the training sessions will be 2-4 hours in duration. The aforementioned topics will be discussed and demonstrated in depth so that each coach has a clear understanding of their expectation. A youth team will be provided and each coach will be assigned 4-5 player that they will be coaching during the training session (except for the topics of developing and executing a practice plan, the three aspects of ASC Ajax s coaching philosophy and the ASC Ajax Four Corner Model; those will be given and executed by the coaches only). As was also stated earlier, as an intermediate coach you will be required to attend the monthly training session at least every three months. The Technical Director of Coaching will observe training session and provide immediate feedback and instruction. At this time the Technical Director of Coaching and coach will determine a specific plan of action that best suits the needs of the coach in moving forwards in order to obtain and maintain success. ASC Ajax will have a Coaches Repository ; the Coaches Repository will have completed training session available to each coach, these training sessions will have everything that the coach needs but may be tailored in any way to meet the specific requirements of that training session. ASC Ajax will also have various links for training ideas and activities that will also be available within the Coaches Repository. ASC Ajax will also have a YouTube Channel that has every technical component of the game (skill, ball striking, goalkeeper technique, individual defending, etc.) broken down step-by-step so that the coach can have a visual aid when teaching technique to their players. The coach can visit the Channel for new skill ideas that they may want to incorporate into their training sessions if the team is ready for advancement or for the use of homework given to their players to better increase ball control. Respect yourself, your opponent and the Game! Page 12
Licenses and Certifications of a Stage 5 Coach: ASC Ajax will require that each Stage 5 coach obtain, at minimum, a USSF National C or NSCAA Advanced National Diploma or higher and at least one coach per team obtain an NSCAA Goalkeeping Level 3 Diploma or higher. ASC Ajax will partner with USSF and NSCAA and schedule courses for the Club coaches, at minimum, twice per year in addition to the Club sponsored coaches training sessions. These courses will be for the coach s benefit and will assist them in their own development which in turn will assist with the overall development of the Club. Respect yourself, your opponent and the Game! Page 13
Coach s Evaluation Sheet ASC COACH EVALUATION Development Stage Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Biological Age 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 When evaluating the coach you will use a scale of 0-5; 0 = does not understand technique; 1 = limited understanding of technique; 2 = basic understanding of technique and can perform with assistance; 3 = understanding of technique and can perform with limited assistance; 4 = can explain and demonstrate technique without assistance and 5 = mastery of technique Inside Chop/Outside Hook Adv. Turn (i.e. Cruyff) Dibbling Basic (inside / outside) Running with Ball (laces) Feints and Fakes Escaping and Beating an Opponent Ground (5-10 yards) Ground (10-20 yards) Ground (25 + yards) Ground (driven) Lofted Pass (chip) Lofted Pass (long) Bent Pass (inside) Bent Pass (outside) DRIBBLING TECHNIQUE PASSING TECHNIQUE Respect yourself, your opponent and the Game! Page 14
Crossing RECEIVING TECHNIQUE Inside of Foot Outside of Foot Sole of Foot Thigh Chest Heading (defensive and attacking) BALL STRIKING (SHOOTING) Inside of Foot Outside of Foot Instep Half Volley Full Volley 1v1 with Goalkeeper PHYSICAL TECHNIQUE Body Weight Exercises Core Strength & Flexibility Dynamic Warm-UP MENTALITY Positive Demeanor Constructive Teach-ability Knowledge & Understanding Respect yourself, your opponent and the Game! Page 15
Behavior ATTACKING PRICIPLES OF PLAY (ROLES) Individual 1v1 Paired Attack (2v2) Group Attack (4v4) Team Attack Support with and without Ball Attacking from Wide Play Transition Play Finishing Positional Play DEFENSIVE PRINCIPLES OF PLAY (ROLES) Individual 1v1 Pressure Defending in Pairs (2v2) - Pressure/Cover Group Defending (4v4) - Pressure/Cover/Balance Team Defending Compactness Marking Recovery Counter Attack - Transition Positional Play GOALKEEPING Respect yourself, your opponent and the Game! Page 16
Catching Techniques Diving Distribution Advanced Technique - punch, tipping, etc. Positioning and Footwork SET PLAYS Throw-In Free Kick - Direct/Indirect Goal Kick Corner Kick Penalties Restarts UNDERSTANDING OF GAME Proper Equipment Field Dimension, Goal Sizes & Ball Sizes Fair Play Sportsmanship Rules - Offside, Advantage, Gamesmanship, etc. Respect yourself, your opponent and the Game! Page 17