One of the delights of coaching at a Professional Club is the level of debate and discussion that goes on between more experienced coaches. My session yesterday was not delivered by myself but by a coach coming in for an interview for one of the vacant coaching slots we have available for this coming season.
With the new U9's still in the early stages and most of them off on holidays, they joined the U10's again to make a better number in the group. The lad coming in to deliver, nice guy, asked lots of questions of us, the kids and the Academy; a very good start. Once into the session, he had a great manner with the boys, very impressed with that, lots of demonstrations but maybe some more learning to do.
However, whilst he was doing his thing, it gave Del, the lead coach of the U9's, Geoff, the Assistant Academy Manager and myself, the chance to throw some random ideas around, with conversation ebbing and flowing from the importance of self-reflection (hence for me, this blog), how vital it is to spend time with good coaches to learn and how to plan for flow/tempo/structure of coaching sessions. Within the mix was also a very eloquent 'rant' from Geoff about how players in this country aren't technically lacking of our European counterparts, but skilfully deficient instead.
An important part of gathering feedback on the session that took place, beyond the subjective opinion of the three of us, is to ask the children. That for me is a vital test on the session - What did they like? What didn't they like? This is a clear indicator on whether or not the session has been well received, what they enjoyed and what they found confusing.
Whilst doing my day job, I had an excellent meeting with an American child development expert I have been doing some work with; a fascinating guy. We have started work on developing a model around the interactions between coach/player/parent/game and the detail that underpins the relationships of each with the other. One of the things we started to discuss was developing a process so that players can evaluate your coaching, because if you don't know what they think of it, how can you improve right? An iPad app, for example, for there and then feedback.
For some coaches this will be scary, and quite a brave thing to do, as this will potentially open themselves up for things they don't want to wistfully hear. But how can you improve if you don't ask the children? Finding the way they can be honest and constructive in their feedback, without fear of repercussion, that produces some information to help us all get better is the challenge. Hands up who wants to pilot this?!
31 July, 2011
28 July, 2011
Coaching - The second session, first week...
As with every coaching session, the plans never quite go to the written down version you have in store. Or the version in your head.
I'd planned a number of games, using a constraints-led coaching approach, to change the task after every mini-game and rack up the challenge, getting progressively harder each time.
Well, when I say make the game harder, the boys were going to make the game harder. They were going to suggest the conditions each time, deciding what the rules were each time to build on difficulty. For example, all-in for the first game but after fifteen minutes of play (with no stopping it from me), they had to decide what was next - two changes per game. This could include; weaker foot finish, include offsides, two-touch in midfield third etc.
Let the children go wild with their imagination, within the realms of what would really happen in the game though. Give them the ownership - it doesn't have to be all about the coach.
What I also wanted to achieve from tonight was seeing how much the boys were capable of making decisions for themselves. When you start to introduce new things to children (like being allowed to think for themselves), depending on what they have been used to, this can be difficult. If they are used to just being told what to do, whether in school, at home, from previous coaches, this can be a strange world to move into.
Even simple questions - "what do you think?" - can be unusual for them. Hopefully, if they have a good teacher and a good coach before, this process can be made easier. Therefore, when asked to lead their own team talk and discuss tactics for the second half of the 7v7 at the end, one team just talked about positions they were going to play, and not HOW they were going to play. This will take a little bit of time but worth the perseverance.
However, with the Under 9's only having 5 players tonight (summer holidays etc) and being new to the Club as their first year, we decided to put them together and play mini-games with the 9's and 10's mixed up. It gave Del and Andy the chance to see the boys coping with some physical challenges (which they coped with very well in fact) as well as the other three corners of development. I was very impressed with a couple of their players in fact, two very neat and tidy lads, excellent technically, composed and confident and friendly.
The first half hour is all about movement skills and we are fortunate to have, in my opinion, one of the best coaches around for this. Absolutely top drawer, works with the first team all the way down to the U9's, and has the skills, personality, adaptability and knowledge to be excellent at both ends of the spectrum. I purposely get in early to see him work, always learning something.
Highlight of my night though was a lad from my team last year thats now an U11, that I hadn't seen for about eight weeks due to work and end of season, coming up and saying he'd missed me. He's a nice kid, and sometimes developing nice people is just as important as getting them in the first team.
I'd planned a number of games, using a constraints-led coaching approach, to change the task after every mini-game and rack up the challenge, getting progressively harder each time.
Well, when I say make the game harder, the boys were going to make the game harder. They were going to suggest the conditions each time, deciding what the rules were each time to build on difficulty. For example, all-in for the first game but after fifteen minutes of play (with no stopping it from me), they had to decide what was next - two changes per game. This could include; weaker foot finish, include offsides, two-touch in midfield third etc.
Let the children go wild with their imagination, within the realms of what would really happen in the game though. Give them the ownership - it doesn't have to be all about the coach.
What I also wanted to achieve from tonight was seeing how much the boys were capable of making decisions for themselves. When you start to introduce new things to children (like being allowed to think for themselves), depending on what they have been used to, this can be difficult. If they are used to just being told what to do, whether in school, at home, from previous coaches, this can be a strange world to move into.
Even simple questions - "what do you think?" - can be unusual for them. Hopefully, if they have a good teacher and a good coach before, this process can be made easier. Therefore, when asked to lead their own team talk and discuss tactics for the second half of the 7v7 at the end, one team just talked about positions they were going to play, and not HOW they were going to play. This will take a little bit of time but worth the perseverance.
However, with the Under 9's only having 5 players tonight (summer holidays etc) and being new to the Club as their first year, we decided to put them together and play mini-games with the 9's and 10's mixed up. It gave Del and Andy the chance to see the boys coping with some physical challenges (which they coped with very well in fact) as well as the other three corners of development. I was very impressed with a couple of their players in fact, two very neat and tidy lads, excellent technically, composed and confident and friendly.
The first half hour is all about movement skills and we are fortunate to have, in my opinion, one of the best coaches around for this. Absolutely top drawer, works with the first team all the way down to the U9's, and has the skills, personality, adaptability and knowledge to be excellent at both ends of the spectrum. I purposely get in early to see him work, always learning something.
Highlight of my night though was a lad from my team last year thats now an U11, that I hadn't seen for about eight weeks due to work and end of season, coming up and saying he'd missed me. He's a nice kid, and sometimes developing nice people is just as important as getting them in the first team.
26 July, 2011
Coaching - The inaugural session...
So the first session is done but whilst not officially being allowed to tell the boys I'm their coach for the season, along with another yet unknown coach, it all went well. Plus, they aren't stupid so would have worked it out! There has been a few changes at the Club so until all age groups are sorted and settled and a formal announcement is made, it's all just rumour!
Standard first session stuff really; trying to work out eleven different names. My mode of attack was by barnet, or for the northern, hair style. There is quite possibly the best afro I have seen in ages, its massive, and very bouncy. Two lads have mohawks. One has a mullet. One has half an afro. It would be a full afro but compared to the biggest one I have ever seen it will just be a half.
I knew a few of the boys from last season but not really as players. So tonight was about trying to work out what they were like as players, trying to get a very rough gage in the 4 Corners (technical, psychological, social and physical) and see what I could learn. The best way to this - let them play a game!
It frustrates me seeing coaches that meet a new group for the first time, the first week of a new block of coaching sessions for example, that on their first session to try and understand where the kids are at, they do 'ball familiarity'. What does that show?! We are developing players to play the 'game' so watch them play a game!
Therefore tonight, we did exactly that.
Whole, part, whole session; after 30mins of movement skills and warm up, into a game. Played 6v5 as the delights of an odd number, including one GK. The opposition had to score in the corners of the goals for it to count, whilst the others shot against the GK. 30mins of game, I mostly watched, asked a couple of questions here and there and mainly listened to the comments the boys were making to each other - who moaned at who when they made a mistake, who got shouted at when they dribbled too much and who called for the ball when they had found space.
From the game we went into the 'part'; two areas of different shapes. One box 15x15yards and one 20x10yards, and played 3v3 and 3v2 in each one. Questions were key for me at this stage; what do you notice about the two areas? how does that affect your attacking strategy? how does it change your defending playing in different ones? For me, the key was listening to the answers - this showed where the boys are at with their understanding. That's important.
Played around with the conditions, moved players mid-game to change the underload/overload and see if they could cope in tighter spaces. 30mins.
Then back into the big game, taking the score across with us. Another 30mins.
Conclusion after tonight - this season is going to be fun! The boys are a nice group and there is the potential to really extend their learning. Back in Thursday.
Meeting the Assistant Academy Manager on Saturday for an hour after the session to discuss a creative approach to their learning this year too. Will post more about that if and when we get the go ahead!
Standard first session stuff really; trying to work out eleven different names. My mode of attack was by barnet, or for the northern, hair style. There is quite possibly the best afro I have seen in ages, its massive, and very bouncy. Two lads have mohawks. One has a mullet. One has half an afro. It would be a full afro but compared to the biggest one I have ever seen it will just be a half.
I knew a few of the boys from last season but not really as players. So tonight was about trying to work out what they were like as players, trying to get a very rough gage in the 4 Corners (technical, psychological, social and physical) and see what I could learn. The best way to this - let them play a game!
It frustrates me seeing coaches that meet a new group for the first time, the first week of a new block of coaching sessions for example, that on their first session to try and understand where the kids are at, they do 'ball familiarity'. What does that show?! We are developing players to play the 'game' so watch them play a game!
Therefore tonight, we did exactly that.
Whole, part, whole session; after 30mins of movement skills and warm up, into a game. Played 6v5 as the delights of an odd number, including one GK. The opposition had to score in the corners of the goals for it to count, whilst the others shot against the GK. 30mins of game, I mostly watched, asked a couple of questions here and there and mainly listened to the comments the boys were making to each other - who moaned at who when they made a mistake, who got shouted at when they dribbled too much and who called for the ball when they had found space.
From the game we went into the 'part'; two areas of different shapes. One box 15x15yards and one 20x10yards, and played 3v3 and 3v2 in each one. Questions were key for me at this stage; what do you notice about the two areas? how does that affect your attacking strategy? how does it change your defending playing in different ones? For me, the key was listening to the answers - this showed where the boys are at with their understanding. That's important.
Played around with the conditions, moved players mid-game to change the underload/overload and see if they could cope in tighter spaces. 30mins.
Then back into the big game, taking the score across with us. Another 30mins.
Conclusion after tonight - this season is going to be fun! The boys are a nice group and there is the potential to really extend their learning. Back in Thursday.
Meeting the Assistant Academy Manager on Saturday for an hour after the session to discuss a creative approach to their learning this year too. Will post more about that if and when we get the go ahead!
The early steps...
So, this is like my nephew right now, just turned one years old yesterday and learning to walk...i'm in the same place as him but learning to blog! I would guess that the first post will be seen by one person, me, and the rest by potentially more, as they get better and more interesting. I will try and work out how to send out via Twitter, being in the modern world and all that.
The plan is going to be to use this blog as a reflective journal; for both my daily life within The FA and things that are going on there, and for that of my coaching hobby, working with the Under 10's at Fulham FC Academy.
I'll try and keep it updated as best I can, with information on the future of youth football, some of the discussions we are having nationally, sharing some of the feedback from around the country on my travels and general information that might be of interest. If its not of interest, i'm sorry, skip on past those bits!
I will also use it to update on my coaching sessions, things that have worked or not worked, and some feedback from the season. That way, I can use it to effectively reflect on performances of both myself and the boys and use it as a tool for my own personal development too. Ten years coaching without reflection is like one years coaching, repeated ten times, said Gilbert and Trudel a few years ago, and incredibly true sentiments there indeed.
Any help and guidance from people of more experience in the blogging world, please feel free to suggest away, as all help welcomed.
So, time to hit "publish post" and see what happens...
The plan is going to be to use this blog as a reflective journal; for both my daily life within The FA and things that are going on there, and for that of my coaching hobby, working with the Under 10's at Fulham FC Academy.
I'll try and keep it updated as best I can, with information on the future of youth football, some of the discussions we are having nationally, sharing some of the feedback from around the country on my travels and general information that might be of interest. If its not of interest, i'm sorry, skip on past those bits!
I will also use it to update on my coaching sessions, things that have worked or not worked, and some feedback from the season. That way, I can use it to effectively reflect on performances of both myself and the boys and use it as a tool for my own personal development too. Ten years coaching without reflection is like one years coaching, repeated ten times, said Gilbert and Trudel a few years ago, and incredibly true sentiments there indeed.
Any help and guidance from people of more experience in the blogging world, please feel free to suggest away, as all help welcomed.
So, time to hit "publish post" and see what happens...
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