CLUB COACHING PHILOSOPY COACHING AIMS Make the game safe, fair and enjoyable. Provide age-appropriate coaching (5-11, 12-16, 17+). Develop the whole player across all four corners of the Football Association s LTPD model. Improve the player s movement skills: agility, balance, co-ordination and speed (ABCs). Develop the player s technical skills. Increase the player s decision-making capabilities. Teach the player life skills (co-operation, teamwork, communication and friendship). PLAYER DEVELOPMENT A holistic approach based upon the FA s four-corner model for long-term player development: Technical, Physical, Social and Psychological. TECHNICAL Encourage players to try new skills in practice and work out where they can be used in a game. Where appropriate, practice should replicate the demands of the game, encouraging players to think and make decisions just as they would in a match. Vary the difficulty to match the needs of the individual, by altering the Space, Task, Equipment or Players (STEP). Cut down on the stop, stand still phrase and let players experience the flow of the game and practice. PHYSICAL Appropriate movement skills which develop agility, balance, co-ordination and speed should be encouraged through enjoyable games such as tag. Through well designed practice, all coaching activities can include physical outcomes. Remember players grow at different rates and may need support and patience as they develop. Children are not mini-adults and shouldn t be subjected to laps of the pitch or press-ups.
PHYSIOLOGICAL Use different methods of communication to engage with different types of learners. Visual (seeing) o Tactics boards, posters, diagrams, cue and prompt cards, as well as cones on the pitch. Auditory (hearing) o Speak with players, ask questions, encourage discussions in groups amongst the players to solve game-related problems. Kinaesthetic (doing) o Demonstration to the team by the coach or by a player to their team-mates. SOCIAL Be a good role model for the players. Create a positive and welcoming environment. Praise players for their effort and endeavour as well as their ability. Manage mistakes to the player s advantage understand what they were trying to do. Sometimes they will have the right idea but just fail in the execution of the technique or the skill. Make sure football is fun, but with a purpose. Ensure the development of skills and game understanding. COACHING TECHNIQUES
PLAYERS IN APPROPRIATE TEAMS When arranging players in teams consideration must be given as to: why youngsters play football. Which is without exception to have fun, take this away and they stop playing or seek alternative teams. be with their friends. If a friend is unhappy and leaves it can have a knock on effect. The same being true if they are separated from their friends because of their competitive ability. This can also impact parents, particularly of young children when they strike up new touchline friendships where they may not want to be separated for social reasons. their individual skill. their competitive ability. the views and desires of parents who have strong influence over players up to the age of 16. Upset a parent and touchline unrest may follow if the reasons are petty or personal leading invariably to one or more parents following suit. Players and perhaps more importantly parents MUST be informed when they enter the Club that it is Club policy to establish players in teams appropriate for their ability and this WILL involve players changing teams as they progress with Tornadoes. This communication begins when the player joins the Club and continues at every opportunity through the letter of introduction accompanying their application forms, in Club newsletters, team communication and individual conversation to make sure that it comes as no surprise when time comes to make a change. Manager and Coach MUST establish clear and regular communication with OTHER age group Managers AND their parents. Issues need to be dealt with in a timely manner and the Club's committee needs to be used to facilitate/adjudicate where necessary. Under no circumstance should Managers and Coaches allow things to get out of control and should not under any circumstances provoke a situation by making an inappropriate phone call, house visit or email. Managers should conduct and document regular player assessments at least twice per season; their strengths and weakness need to be identified and communicated and plans for further development communicated to the player with their parent in attendance. Our Director of Coaching can help with this and a suggested form is attached. Parents should be invited to fill in the initial form so as to tease out their own assessment of their child s ability and large differences should be discussed. While a parents' view should be valued, team management reserve the right to make decisions for the good of the team. In some cases this may lead to disappointment and potential conflict. Managers and Coaches, who have followed Club procedures and given reasoned feedback for their decision, would be supported by the Club in their decision. Managers who make decisions based on personality and preference will find it harder to explain their decisions to the Club Committee. For age groups playing small sided football it is less important to segregate on ability however it is important for the reason outlined above to communicate Club policy on player movement. Teams play in what the FA describe as non competitive matches, by that they mean that matches are not played to win for points, there are no leagues and hence no winners. Once they reach competitive football age players are selected to play competitive matches where leagues are formed and matches are played for points. From this age group, therefore Managers and Coaches should begin streamline players into teams for their appropriate ability so they are best equipped to compete with others.
CLUB GUIDELINES FOR PLAYER NUMBER IN EACH SQUAD SIZES ARE: Small Sided: o 10, (max 12) where 7 players are on the pitch at any one time and any number of subs are allowed. 9 A Side o 12, (max 15) where 9 players are on the pitch at any one time and any number of subs are allowed. 11 A Side o 15, (max 18) where 11 players are on the pitch at any one time and 3 subs from 5 can be used rolling on/off. o While it s possible to adopt a rota system, it is not feasible to be absolute when rotating players or making substitutions. Player availability, strength of the opposition and score line in tight games all impact on when substitutions are made. What you want to avoid are those helpful parents pointing out that young Defoe has only had 23 minutes playing time in the last month while Master Terry never gets substituted. It is also uncomfortable for a Manager and perhaps more so for the Player to not be selected for a Sunday game. In the Committee s opinion the ideal model is: 4 squads at Small Sided (5 or 7-a-side) o Non-competitive teams in either the RWBL or PHYL as: Thatcham Tornadoes Amber (10, max 12) Thatcham Tornadoes Black (10, max 12) Thatcham Tornadoes Stripes (10, max 12) Thatcham Tornadoes Tigers (10, max 12) 2/3 squads at 9-a-side o Non-competitive teams in either the RWBL or PHYL as: Thatcham Tornadoes Amber (12, max 15) Thatcham Tornadoes Black (12, max 15) Thatcham Tornadoes Stripes (12, max 15) 2 squads at 11-a-side o Thatcham Tornadoes Amber to play in the RWBL/SCML (if available) or PHYL as: Thatcham Tornadoes Amber (15, max 18 players) o Thatcham Tornadoes Black to play in the PHYL and cross register consenting players to play as: Thatcham Tornadoes Black (15, max 18 players) o Managers can decide that both teams play in the same league in which case the cross registration is not allowed. o If there are sufficient players to form a 3 rd squad they would be known as Thatcham Tornadoes Stripes To select players in appropriate teams one method is an end of season trial where all players in the age group are mixed together and independent Coaches advise on player selection. The Club committee are not in favour of this approach unless ALL age group Managers agree to this method AND there are sufficient volunteers to run ALL proposed teams. The concern being that while the Club rely on Managers and Coaches who are themselves parents there is a risk that teams will be left without Manager and Coach should certain players be selected in the same team, leaving behind others to fend for themselves.
WHY DO PLAYERS LEAVE TORNADOES? It s no longer fun o A parent falls out with the Manager. They feel their child should be treated the same as others irrespective of football ability, they monitor how often they are left out, when they are the substitutes, how often they are substituted and how much playing time they get. (remember club fees do not guarantee Sunday matches) o Their Manager says/does something they don t like. o They fall out with their peers and feel they have no friends. o If they are decent players in the wrong team they get disillusioned - as they get older they criticise peers who they see as not contributing as much as them to the team because they are not as good at football as they are. Other Clubs offer something that we can t They chase success o One of the first external pulls on our young players comes through Newbury District School s when they form the U11 Representative team. Players are put forward by their local Junior School for trials where they meet players of similar ability from other local schools. If selected it is not too long before players and in some cases parents get approached by others to move teams. Parents will strike up new friendships etc. The attraction being the prospect of playing in as strong a team as possible and winning medals! The pull of peers on a young player with ambitious competitive parents can be a strong one. The Tornado Manager soon finding himself with a depleted squad devoid of his best players. They are attracted at too early an age to join U18 teams who play midweek. o We believe that it s OK for an U17 to be part of an U18 squad, of course it is the players and parents decision with school, work and other commitments but some compromise is necessary on the Managers part as the player cannot be expected to train and play for both sides in the same week as well as play in away matches which can sometimes result in them not getting home before 11pm. Competent players at this age are also likely to be selected for U18 County matches which are initially played on Sundays early in the season but soon move to a regular Saturday afternoon slot. o We feel that it is OK for an U16 to be part of an U18 squad but are mindful that this is their first year of GCSE studies. They are generally not sufficiently physically strong enough to compete with other players who could well have turned 18 on 1 st Sept. There is no problem with them attending training and getting to know other squad members as this will make their transition to U18 in time easier. We would recommend to parents that such players DO NOT make themselves available for away games. Competent players at this age are also likely to be selected for U16 County matches. As U16 it is likely that if they did attend matches they would spend much of their time as a substitute.
MATCH DAYS Let the players play. Playing Time All players should have equal playing time during matches if possible - There may be occasions, when because of poor attendance or attitude, this is occasionally altered, but this would always be done after discussion with the child and parent/guardian. Rotation of Playing Positions - Players will be asked to play in a variety of positions - again using a rota would represent best practice. There may be exceptions for this for goalkeepers. Players should know at the start of the match when and where they will be playing. Attitude of Coaches and Touchline Behaviour - Coaches will be required to strictly follow the coaches code of conduct and must let the players play during matches, with positive encouragement from parents and coaches. Information from the line is in a series of occasional questions from the coaching staff. Patrolling the touchline giving continuous shouted instructions must not happen. Players always try their best. They will learn from their mistakes without being told they have done wrong. Teams must not play longer matches than the league rules allow. Feedback at the end of the game should be balanced and delivered in such a way as to not undermine self-esteem or respect but to encourage reflection, self-awareness and improvement. TRAINING SESSIONS For training sessions the age group trains together on a regular basis - 50% of training sessions should be held with squad players mixed together. Larger age groups will have to plan carefully how to train perhaps 40 odd players together but this is easily done with a little advanced planning, cooperation and communication between coaches. When training together as a group coaches will work with different players each week. Coaches and Team Managers will get to know and work with all of the players in the age group not just their own League squad players. Coaches must recognise that understanding the way children learn is more important than an advanced knowledge of football (Refer to FA Youth Award). Players should be allowed to develop skills and tactics themselves with the coaches giving guidance as appropriate. More touches means greater improvement. For age groups up to and including U15, Coaches should not take part in practice drills and games, other than to demonstrate. Coaches should always have a session plan that is part of a season plan. There is no need for tactical training sessions as such at mini soccer the emphasis is on the players discovery of the game and working matters out for themselves in a fun environment. Team Managers and coaches are there to supervise and to organise fun sessions for the players and not to try and impart match tactics. CLOSE SEASON The close season is an important time for players (and coaches) to rest and recharge. Long term injuries and burn out can be avoided by ensuring this is implemented. Any training sessions during the close season should focus on development of other skills rather than football. Junior teams should have a minimum of 6 weeks close season in the summer with no practice sessions or matches. Typically this will run from the End of June to the Middle of August. Thatcham Tornadoes FC Committee