majura coaching mag 3 2010

Coaching @ Majura FC Contact: [email protected]

Hello again from Majura FC and from me, Paul Whittingham, the

Technical Director at Majura FC.

Contact: [email protected]

This is Coaching @ Majura FC bulletin number 3 and the final edition for this season. In

this edition I have included a summary of the development activities that we have been

running. Don’t forget, if you as a Majura coach have any questions or just want some

advice, please feel free to email me.

Coaching News

• Majura Technical Working Group We had a small but committed attendance for the

working group and we provided some feedback and suggestions to the MFC Committee

around trialing policies and coach education. The Committee is considering our

suggestions as they are looking at next year’s Club Policies. Majura FC intends to

continue this working group into next season and we will be looking for you as coaches

to once again provide your input to our Club policies. If you want to see a summary of

the working group’s discussions, please follow the link.

• Goalkeeping Skills for under 10 and under 11 Majura FC players Two skills

sessions for beginner keepers focusing on basic goal keeping were advertised through

the under 10 and under 11 coaches. I have had a small number of interested keepers

attend the first clinic last Sunday and the next one is one Sunday 22 August from 11.15

to 12.00. Goal Keepers and Coaches are welcome to come along to the second session

(email: [email protected] to register their interest).

• U7 Saturday Skills training sessions were very well received in the first half of the

season. More than 50 players attended, both boys and girls. In the second half of the

season we have kicked off more skills sessions for interested players. The 5 week

program was for 16 players to be run over 5 consecutive Saturdays, commencing 31

July. The level of interest was such that a second clinic was made available for another

16 players. The sessions are going very well and we have targeted basic skills in

running with the ball and control. I hope you have seen some improvement in the

players – they have been having a great time.

• U10 Development Squads. The development programs are running through the

second half of the season and attendance remains high. Players and parents are

supporting the concept and we have received some comments about the demonstrable

improvement in our player’s basic skills. The boys’ squad entered into the Kanga Cup

this year and had a great time even though they missed the finals. The squad has been

cut down to 15 players for the last few weeks as we run into the end of the season and a

tournament interstate. The girl’s squad has dwindled in numbers a bit with the cold and

wet weather, but we have introduced some more advanced control skills which the girls

are taking to quite well. These squads have been a real winner and the Majura FC


Committee is committed to continuing and possible expanding the development squads

next year.

• Coerver Program for under 11 to under 13 Majura FC players The program is

running on Sunday at Hackett playing fields from 10.00 to 11.30. It kicked off on 25 July

with 14 players for the first session. At a cost of just $150 per player this is an excellent

opportunity and many thanks go to Jason from Coerver. If you are interested in the

Coerver program, there are Coerver Academy trials on – see the Majura Website for

further information. I heartily recommend Coerver as an excellent way to develop

individual skills and flair.

Q & A

This section is devoted to the questions that you have asked over the last few weeks. Please

keep the questions coming because other coaches may be puzzling over the same things.

Q: I'm coaching an u8 team and each week it seems there are more things to

work on. What should I be focusing on?

A: A common mistake that many coaches make, particularly new coaches, is trying to

teach players too much all at once. Up to under 9s, running with the ball should be a

major focus – every player likes to have the ball at their feet. Teach them some little

tricks they can practice (like step overs or drag backs). If you can’t do it yourself, get

one of our older players to help you out or ask me for assistance. Along with running

with the ball, spreading out should be emphasised. As players get more comfortable,

you can introduce control and basic passing skills. Main thing to remember is focus on

just one or at the most two things at any training session and make all of your drills

focus on that skill. Majura FC has a booklet that can help you out with some drills and

the Grassroots Coaching book is another excellent resource. Never forget it should be

fun!

Q: My team wants to win but I have some players who are not up to the skill

level of other players and I’m finding it hard to introduce those players into a

tight game, Any advice?

A: This may sound a little trite, but every player should have equal time on the pitch. If

they have turned up to play, they shouldn’t be sitting on the sideline for all but 10

minutes. Try putting them on at the start of the game so that they can get into a rhythm

– sometimes it is simply that those who are perceived as your less skilled players are

introduced after the game has been going a while and it may just mean that they haven’t


caught the pace of the game. You need to let players know that it is junior football and

how they perform and grow is more important than winning every time they play. Try

partnering up a more skilled player with a less skilled player at training and encourage

support. Junior football at Majura is all about participating.

Further useful links:

FFA Coaching Resources. Including Optus Small Sided video with simple techniques from Lucas

Neill for our younger players.

Coerver Skills and drills presented at FFA Coaching Clinic in March. Can be adapted to suit most

age ranges.

Capital Football Coaching Resources Aimed at the older teams.

More drills for all ages. From Soccerspecific.com.

majura coaching mag 3 2010

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