University of Glamorgan Faculty of Health, Sport and Science Department of Science and Sport Division of Sport, Health and Exercise Science Lesson / Coaching Plan Date: 18 Nov 11 Day: Friday Class: U8 s Pupils: 14 Ability Level: Intermediate / advanced Duration of lesson: 1 hour 30 mins Topic / Learning Outcomes: Pass, move into space and keeping possession. Dribble the ball into space and beating a defender with a trick Close control. Encourage and develop communication and leadership skills. To improve on the abc s (agility, balance, co-ordination and speed). Perform different types of control (ground and aerial control). Use different surfaces (inside, outside, sole). Equipment: Size 3 footballs. Cones, markers and mini goals. Coloured bibs. Stop watch and a whistle. Hazards / Health and Safety: Appropriate footwear / clothing. No jewellery. Players play within specific area. If the ball goes out of the area, the player must wait the ball is returned. Environment (surface and space is appropriate). Play sensibly (no pushing or bumping). Make sure players have a signal to stop. Ensure the players have breaks in between practices. Equipment is returned.
Technical Practice Mastery of the Ball Organisation Mastery of the ball involves players doing keep ups, dribbling with the ball and turning. The keep ups practice allows players to improve their 1 st touch, which is the most important touch in football. You can use it to beat a player, create space to pass, get yourself out trouble and etc. Dribbling and turning practices can improve player s close control, and spatial awareness, as they need to keep their head up to evade players Prior to a session, check area and equipment are safe and in good working condition. Set area 30 x 20 yards. Set bibs on the floor. Set time duration for the technical practice to 30 minutes. Progressions Kick Ups Using all surfaces of the foot and body. Use combinations such as; low, low, high and bring the ball down with laces or outside foot (making sure the ball is in a player s box the ball mustn t travel further than your reach of your arms). Play the Ramsey & Bale kick up challenger game. Dribbling Players on each cone perform close dribbling with a Cruyff turn or inside chop in the middle. Dribble towards a player and push off to the left or right. Dribble within area and create shapes, using as many touches. Key Technical Points Keep head up and focus on the ball. Arms out for balance. Keep a soft contact small touches. Maintain close control with both feet. Be agile and stay on toes. Be a friend with the ball.
Skill Practice Pass and Move Organisation One of the most fundamental skills of playing football is the ability to pass the ball accurately, with the correct timing and weight of pass. This practice will focus on improving passing techniques and skills across a range of distances, develop support play and movement to create space to receive the ball. Set time duration for the skill practice to 30 minutes. Rules Points Players aim to hit the cone. Bonus points are rewarded if a player can receive a pass inside the triangle at the sides. The feeder behind the cones supports the team in possession, creating a 4 v 2 overload. The emphasis of this guided discovery practice is for players to understand in order to score the most points the team must keep possession of the ball and aim to score in the sides. This creates a diamond formation and players can pass and move making it difficult for defenders. Key Technical Points Passing & Receiving Look at target. Focus on ball. Non-kicking foot alongside ball in a comfortable position. Strike centre of the ball with inside/outside of foot. Follow through towards target. Go to the ball to be in a position to control early open body. First touch out of feet but keep the ball close, don t stop the ball completely. Before the ball arrives, the player should know the position of opponents and teammates.
Small Sided / Conditioned Games Rules / Key Objectives Pitch Dimension: 30 x 20 yards Players: 7 v 7 Team aims to keep possession. Team aims to produce combination of passes, and play quick football. Team aims to accelerate into space. Team aims to defend as a unit, leaving no space for threaded balls. Ground passing only. Encourage dribbling past a player in 1 v 1 situations. Use of guided discovery and develop decision-making. High contextual practice. Conditions / Targets Must have 4 defenders stay back in their area and 3 attackers in the attacking area. If a player receives a pass inside the triangle at the sides, their team scores a point and that player can advance forward into the attacking area creating a 4 v 4. Changes / Modifications Max 5 passes can be made before scoring a point If a team uses up the 5 passes and don t manage to score a point then the opposite team is now in possession of the ball.
Session Date: 18 Nov 2011 Details: CCFC U8 s Description: What Happened? Coaching Session Reflection Sheet Venue: HOS Coaching Academy, Leckwith Topic: Passing, Moving and Dribbling The aim for the session was to work on improving the player s understanding of pass and move and focuses on quick ball movement and combinations. The session focuses the players to learn - supporting the player with the ball including early support, moving without a ball, and good angle and distance of support. The warm up practice allows the players to refresh what they learned from previous weeks and continue to improve their first touch and competency with the ball. The skill practice was set up for players to solve problems on patterns of play. The players were told about the scoring systems and at the start player s were concentrating on hitting the cones only. After a few coaching points about passing and moving. I stopped play and gather the players to sit back down. I used this opportunity to explain; 1. If a team are able to switch play, and a player receives a pass inside the triangle that team scores a point and continue to play. 2. If a team approaches to the cone but can t find an opportunity to score; the player without the ball can drop back into the triangle and a scoring opportunity is made. 3. If defenders surround a player, the feeder must shout for the ball the player passes to the feeder and moves away from the defenders, creating space and demands the ball back. As players began to understand the game, they were working really hard whilst having fun and the patterns of play were quick. From the warm up practice, the players showed signs of performing quick turns or changing direction and creating space for the player on the ball to exploit. The small sided/conditional game was good as players manage to replicate what they learned from the technical and skill practice. However, as the defenders know how to score the most points by keeping possession the players on the opposite side weren t receiving the ball or getting enough time on the ball. So the game was modified still keeping the quickness of play, if players don t score a point and used up their maximum passes, the possession is switched and the ball is played from the opposite side.
Feelings: What were you thinking and feeling before, during and after? I arrived at the venue 15 minutes prior to the start of the session. I was expecting a better attitude and performance from the players. After reflecting Wednesday session, the players were too slow and play was sloppy for academy level. I was prepared to encourage players to work hard and willing to stop play to correct faults. During the session, I felt the practice was good for players to develop their understanding of passing, moving and dribbling into space. If different scenarios occur I came in and corrected these faults using the coaching process. The coaching process was quick, as I wanted the players to play as soon as possible but enough time to explain what I want from them. But if the players did not understand the purpose of the practice I was willing to stop play. Overall the session was really good and was please with the attitude the players have showed. After a few coaching points and explanations, the players were having fun and demanding the ball and playing quick football as they want to score as many points as they can. Evaluation: What was good and bad about the experience? Having evaluated the session, there were both good and bad points, listed below: Good The session was fun and was age appropriate. Aims of the session were met. The planning of the area set up was organised and adaptable to change. Good demonstrations. Players were able to communicate loudly, build team cohesion. Players understood the purpose of the session. Bad Players tend to force their passes or try the difficult pass, instead of passing the ball to the feeder or looking for the easy pass. Players wanting to dribble past 2 players at the same time must learn when to dribble with the ball.
Analysis: How did your thoughts, feelings & practice influence what happened? Having analysed the session, I feel that my interventions allowed the players to improve their skills. The practice was good because the players understood the purpose of the practice. After giving hints on why the players must move into certain spaces, the players had enough free play to understand when and how to drop or advance forward with and without the ball. I believe showing a positive attitude and enthusiasm encourage the players to play quickly as I set the challenge to all players to score 10 points or more as this was a record. I created a target, to improve the quality of play from the previous session on Wednesday. The bad experience happened because I feel the player s must do everything to impress the coaches and often, us coaches come in and emphasise on keeping possession and look to pass if a player is in a difficult situation.. Conclusion: What else could you have done to improve the session? Below are some of the things I have concluded may have improved the session: Ask the players to look over their shoulder before receiving the ball if the player sees an incoming defender, the player can pass the ball back to the feeder and move away to create space. Ask player s who are not involved in play to stay active and look for the ball, instead of standing still with hands on hips. Get the players to communicate loudly and encourage each other. Often during play, it is quiet. Action Plan: If it arose again how could you maintain the positive aspects and improve the limitations? Below are some of the things I could do to improve myself as a coach: Ask more questions about how the players could deal with different scenarios and how they are able to understand and relate to the coaches conditions/targets.
Supervisor Statement I confirm that the above evaluation relates to a practical coaching session that I can confirm took place on the date stated below. Date: 18 Nov 2011 Supervisor name: Signed: