Coaching Education - Travel
Joel will be sending out Coaching Education emails twice a month as one of his roles as our Assistant DOC. The goal is to help improve and update our trainers and coaches with the most modern ways of coaching and player development so our players benefit from new studies, fresh training ideas and philosophies.
October 9, 2009
This is an U11 session addressing the first defender. We should be treating defending as a technique or skill. Meaning defending is not ONLY about effort. There are techniques like foot position, body posture, and distance that can only be improved by practice. Juggling is a skill that only gets better with practice. Defending is the same way. u11first_def.pdf
The article is titled Getting Rid of Laps. It goes along with the basic rule - No Laps, Lines, or Lectures. It explains the different kind of fitness a soccer player needs, as well as gives you some ideas on how to get your players fit without the dreaded Laps. Getting Rid of Laps.pdf
As always, look at both of these links and take what you like from them. After all, coaching is about being open to using other peoples ideas, yet still changing it to make it your own. Enjoy!
Coaching Tip: During a game, try not to yell out instructions like "switch" or "pass it". Instead, wait to see what your player decides to do then correct it if it was a poor decision or praise good decisions. When they make decisions they learn, and isn't that the goal?
September 3, 2009
This is the first of many educational emails you will be receiving this year. The purpose of this is for you to see modern coaching philosophies and training sessions and use them as you see fit. Some of the ideas and activities you will like and others you will not. Please be open minded (an essential quality for a good coach) and enjoy.
Attached is a session designed for U8 players, but is excellent for the novice player of any age. If you are currently coaching more experienced players you could use one of the activities as a warm-up or modify it to fit your needs. U8 Dribbling
Also attached is a training session geared toward U13/14 players. If your players are not capable of running this session exactly please change it and use it however you can with your team. The topic is Changing the Point of Attack, but you could use it for long passing or recognizing space as they are easier topics for the younger players. U14 Change Point of Attack
The informational attachment is an article about Guided Discovery by Sam Snow. Sam is one of the top educators in the country and I personally learned a great deal from him at the National Youth License years ago. This is a teaching method which gives the players more ownership of their learning and challenges them mentally. Guided Discovery
Coaching tip 1: Focus on one topic for the entire training session. It may seem difficult to let some things go, but if they are off topic leave them for another day. The players will respond to this and they will work on improving a specific skill set each session.
Coaching Tip 2: Each session you run should end with a game situation. If you do not have enough players it should be as close to a real game as possible.
and...... HAVE FUN! its contagious! Please ask any questions you have. I am here for you.
Joel Chalkley, Assistant Director of Coaching
Fishers Soccer Club
