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!