Reader,
Coaching can be a lonely place when all of a sudden your best-laid plans start turning “pear-shaped” right in front of your eyes on the grass.
When we plan our sessions, often ideas can look good on paper, but when it comes to bringing them to life, this can be a different story.
When the practice fails, sometimes it’s hard to know where to go next when the players are confused, the session is failing and you have a mental block on how to fix it. This is even worse when parents or colleagues are watching. But don’t worry, we’ve all been there and these can be powerful learning moments.
The more I coach, the simpler my sessions get. 10 years ago when I first moved to England, I found myself on a UEFA B licence course and working in a professional club for the first time.
I went through a period of observing dozens of coaches and experimenting with many different types of practices. What I can promise you is that plenty of these went wrong.
Coming out the other side of this period took a long time, but it meant that I had tested and experimented with lots of different practices, and over time, I became clearer in my own mind about what works, and what practices I value or believe in the most. It also gave me more confidence to adapt on the run.
I believe coaching is a craft that is never mastered, but we can get to a point where we can take the ingredients in front of us and deliver a good session.
Three things to consider
- If the session is failing and you cannot find a fix, the players are frustrated and you don’t have a solution, don’t be afraid to just stop it and move on. Modelling vulnerability in front of the group, putting your hand up and acknowledging you tried something and got it wrong can be powerful in setting an example that you’re learning too. Often our ego can be the reason we stubbornly continue, when in fact, we are better to just let it go.
- Stick to simple principles of task design. Does the practice have direction, opposition and consequence? For example, is there a goal, a target or an end zone? Is it fully or semi-opposed? And is there a consequence for losing or winning the ball in transition (scoring or conceding a goal or point).
- Learn by doing. Take risks and try things on the grass! We want our players to be brave and creative. Don’t just copy and paste sessions, create your own based on team or individual needs and reflect on how they went.
One thing for you to try this week.
Design a practice from scratch that you’ve never done. Tell the players it’s new and you need their support or feedback.
In your design, consider the moment of the game, or technical/tactical outcome you’re after and work backwards. Ask yourself, “What do I want the players to leave the practice having experienced and (hopefully) improved?”
One critical resource on the topic.
Check out this Masterclass Webinar on Small Sided Games for Youth Football with the PDP team. Small-sided games are a simple and effective way of allowing the players to play, the ball to roll and ensure maximum enjoyment!
And if you need help planning your sessions, check out Coach Frank for instant session plans based on your players, desired outcomes and environment.
