GEORGIA SOCCERCOACHING SCHOOL

‘F’ COURSEFor U-10 and U-12 Recreational Coaches

October 2009

OUR CHALLENGE: CHANGE THE CULTURE

• Change from a Coach-centered approach to a Player-centered approach

• Change from a ‘Drills mentality’ to ‘Game-like activities’ approach

• Change from a ‘result-oriented’ philosophy to a ‘process-oriented’ one

• Adults need to learn to view the game through the child’s eyes

THE PLAYER-CENTERED APPROACH

• The Player is the central focus• Understand players’ characteristics• Allow players to take ownership• Allow players to make own decisions• Allow players to solve problems• Avoid over-coaching. Let go!! • Avoid coaching in absolutes• Avoid coach-controlled choreography• Avoid imposing adult agenda/expectations on kids

“THE GAME IS THE TEACHER”• Players enjoy game-like activities as opposed

to ‘drills’• Players learn from ‘doing’, not

from listening to lectures• Players learn best from activities

that replicate the real game• ‘The Game is The Teacher’ means more

game-like practices, not more league games• The Small-sided games are most appropriate

OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE• Understand characteristics of U-10/U-12• Understand their needs and capabilities• Able to organize appropriate practice sessions• Acquire the tools to evaluate players’ skills• Learn the key coaching points for basic skills• Understand rationale of Small-Sided Soccer• Become a comfortable and confident coach

UNDERSTAND PLAYERS’ CHARACTERISTICS

• U-10 Players – Motor Skills

• Boys and girls begin to develop separately• Motor skills starting to refine• But diversity in playing ability, coordination and

physical maturity (Select vs Rec)• Rapid gains in learning new skills• Prone to heat related injuries• Lack adult level stamina but recover quicker

UNDERSTAND PLAYERS’ CHARACTERISTICS

• U-10 Players – Cognitive Skills• Less egocentric – more cooperative• Start to think logically, but related to concrete objects• Still live in the ‘here and now’ world • Start to understand ‘Team’ concept• Able to sequence thoughts and start to think ahead• But ability to think limited by ball skills• Start to understand concept of time and space• Attention span still short. Players are fidgety• Demonstrates increased responsibility

UNDERSTAND PLAYERS’ CHARACTERISTICS

• U-10 Players – Psycho-Social Skills• Enjoy competition• Respond to ‘Cooperative’ and ‘Competitive’ activities• Begin to appreciate the need for Rules and Limits• Peer pressure and team identity is important• Still look up to adults and seek approval – Role models• Still fragile psychologically and avoids being

embarrassed in front of peers• Start to compare their ability to others• Acquire sport heroes

UNDERSTAND PLAYERS’ CHARACTERISTICS

• U-12 Players – Motor Skills• Motor skills continuing to refine – almost adult like• Increased diversity in playing ability and physical

maturity (puberty begins at 10 for girls and 12 for boys)• Rapid gains in learning new skills – can execute more

complex skills sequence• Still prone to heat related injuries• Lack adult level stamina but recover quicker• Athleticism is genetic and fitness has a ceiling

UNDERSTAND PLAYERS’ CHARACTERISTICS

• U-12 Players – Cognitive Skills

• Begin to acquire adult logic• Start to think in abstract terms• Able to sequence thoughts and start to think ahead• But ability to think limited by range of skills• Full-sided game is still information overflow• No longer follow adults blindly – it has to make sense• Start to understand concept of time and space• Attention span still short. Players are fidgety

UNDERSTAND PLAYERS’CHARACTERISTICS

• U-12 Players – Psycho-Social Skills• Enjoy competition• Spend increasing time with peers, less with parents• Popularity and self-esteem important (enter puberty)• Watch TV more and engage less in unstructured play• Start to compare their ability to others and question

their participation in sports• Still look up to adults and seek approval – Role models• Acquire sport heroes but migrate towards friends of

similar socioeconomic status and hobby interest

UNDERSTAND PLAYERS’ CHARACTERISTICS

• U-10/U-12 Rec Soccer Skills

• Still learning basic techniques• First touch a problem• Passing range vs kicking range• Crossing a problem• Shooting off a dribble, pivot and shoot• Implications for Field size• Athletic development & coordination• Randomness of play

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PHILOSOPHY• Must focus on technique• Max ball touches (ball ratio, small groups)• Must be fun• Players exposed to different positions• Rules modified to accommodate players’ level• Activities vs drills, to promote thinking• De-emphasize winning/losing• Values, life lessons, positive self-image• Bill of Rights for young athletes

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PHILOSOPHY

• Philosophy of Equal Opportunities• Increase number of potential growth experiences at

each practice and game• Each participant challenged and grow at their own

ability level• Better players contribute to growth of players who are a

level below• More turns, more ball contacts, less down-time

Choose activities that allow everyone to play and accomplish above stated goals/philosophy

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PHILOSOPHY

• Slanty Line Theory• Replace traditional rope game of high water-low water

where everyone jumps over straight line rope• The traditional straight line rope eliminates the weakest

players early (those who need the activity the most)• Use slanty line rope so each player can engage at

his/her level and experience success• When players feel comfortable, secure they seek out

new challenges.

Choose activities that allow everyone to stay engaged without getting eliminated early

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PHILOSOPHY

• Flow State Model• Flow is the period of time in which the activity or task

matches your ability• If too easy – it becomes boring. If too hard – it becomes

frustrating.• When in a state of flow, players lose track of time and

experience happiness and success• When not in a state of flow, other behavioral states may

occur (misbehave, inattentive, bored, anxious, etc).

Choose activities that allow everyone to reach a state of flow quickly, with action, opportunities & challenges

ROLE OF THE COACH

• As a Facilitator• As a Positive Role Model• As one who understands who he is coaching• As a Teacher (learning process, guided

discovery)• As one who knows the Components of Soccer

• Technique • Tactics• Psychology • Fitness

ROLE OF THE COACH

• COACHING STYLE TO MODEL:• Father/mother figure, friendly, caring, giving• Exudes confidence• Comfortable dealing with people of all ages

• COACHING STYLE TO AVOID:• Drill sergeant, in your face shouter, self-absorbed• Often result of lack of confidence

» Inexperience in coaching soccer and trying to hide inexperience behind aggressive coaching style

» Personality traits» Can’t handle misbehavior, dis-obeyance

TEAM MANAGEMENTSAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT

• Coach has responsibility for safety of players• Safe environment (field, goals, equipment)• Free of physical, sexual, or verbal abuse• Coach proper technique• Safe activities and proper warm up• Supervision of players, size mismatch• Quick and sufficient medical response• Common sense with weather/lightning

TEAM MANAGEMENTSAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT

• Calmness during games & keep cool head• Do not meet with individual players alone• Frequent water breaks• Use practice vests rather than play skins• Get certified with Coaching License• Get certified with First Aid course• Know the laws of the game• Coaches membership US Youth Soccer/NSCAA

TEAM MANAGEMENTETHICAL ASPECTS

• Standards of behavior (moral & ethical)• In the best interest of the individual player• Respect all participants (opponents, ref, etc)• Respect others’ confidentiality/privacy• Provide feedback in caring/sensitive manner• Developing players’ character, values, positive

self-image, self confidence more important than soccer skills and team results.

TEAM MANAGEMENTCARE AND PREVENTION

• Always ERR on the side of caution• First Aid kit• Prevention is key• Player Safety Information Card• Rule of Thumb when handling injury:

• Avoid panic. Inspire confidence and reassure player.• Check for history of injury (how it happened)• Check for Breathing, bleeding, deformity, discoloration• Avoid moving the player if potential injury to back/neck• Use common sense and seek professional help

TEAM MANAGEMENTCARE AND PREVENTION

• Coaches need to know:• Rest – Ice – Compression – Elevation• Strains and Sprains• Blisters• Broken bones and recognition of them• Cramp• Heat exhaustion• Concussions and head injuries

TEAM MANAGEMENTTEAM ORGANIZATION• Players play every position• Equipment needs (cones, extra balls, air

pump, bibs, First aid kit, Ice, goals)• Parent Meeting pre-season• Duration of practices (60-90 minutes 2/week)• Plan practice (enjoyment, objectives, realism)• Progress from simple to complex (warm-up,

individual activities, small-group, large group)

Georgia SoccerCoaching Education Program

Practice Planning

& SoccerROM

Practice Planning & SoccerROM• SoccerROM is an online application, not just a web site

– Designed to work for coaches of all levels– Makes it easy for coaches to plan practices and bring new ideas

to their players– Extends education beyond the clinic (before the course and after)

• Georgia Soccer is providing FREE SoccerROM subscriptions to coaches who attend a coaching course– It is very important that you have a WRITTEN practice plan with

you every time you step on the field– Having a plan in your head isn’t enough!– Your sessions don’t have to come from SoccerROM, but this

makes it easy!

When you have finished your plan, simply print it out using the “Print” feature of your web browser, and you’ll get a one- to two-page plan that you can take with you to your session.

When you have finished your plan, simply print it out using the “Print” feature of your web browser, and you’ll get a one- to two-page plan that you can take with you to your session.

To get started…

1.Go to www.SoccerROM.com2.Click on “Subscribe Now!”3.Go through the registration process, and enter the following “Program ID Code” when prompted:

GA09CED716

4.When asked for payment, pick “Check”5.Your account will be activated within a few hours!

To get started…

1.Go to www.SoccerROM.com2.Click on “Subscribe Now!”3.Go through the registration process, and enter the following “Program ID Code” when prompted:

GA09CED716

4.When asked for payment, pick “Check”5.Your account will be activated within a few hours!

GEORGIA SOCCERCOACHING SCHOOL

‘F’ COURSE

October 2009