Reader,
How often do you arrive at training feeling stressed? You are racing from work, the traffic is bad, and you are worried about setting up cones before the first player arrives. Being an organised coach and following a session plan are fundamental to good coaching, but knowing how to efficiently set up can be the hardest part of the job for volunteers.
To minimise stress and increase “ball-rolling time” for the players, we recommend using a simple framework developed by Rob Sherman (Current Fiji Men’s National Team Coach and Former Technical Director of Football Australia, and author of the online course Introduction to Soccer Coaching) called the N.E.A.T system.
N.E.A.T stands for Numbers, Equipment, Area, and Time. Utilizing this simple checklist ensures that when you step onto the grass, you are ready to facilitate learning immediately, rather than wasting the first 15 minutes setting up grids while players stand around waiting for you to finish.
Four Things to Consider
1. Numbers (N): We all want certainty around attendance, but in reality, players run late or get injured. Don’t stress about exact numbers. Be adaptable and plan for scenarios where you have odd numbers by using “neutral” players or overload games (e.g., 5v4) so you aren’t scrambling to change the session.
2. Equipment (E): Ensure you have the essentials ready before you start. Simple details like having at least two colours of bibs allow for 3-team games (e.g., yellow, green, and non-bibs).
3. Area (A): When marking out your areas, start from the outside in. Mark the largest area first (like your final 8v8 game pitch) and set up your smaller arrival activities inside that space. This allows you to transition quickly to the final game simply by lifting the internal cones.
4. Time (T): Maximise every minute you have. If you have a 60-minute practice, try to get the ball rolling for at least 75% of the time (45 minutes). Be highly aware of how long your interventions are; are you talking for 2-3 minutes when your point could be made in 30 seconds?.
One thing to try this week
Time your own interventions. Set yourself a “ball-rolling” target (like the 75% mentioned above) and either time your interventions yourself or ask a colleague to do it.
Work out exactly how much the players actually get to play within your session; this can be a powerful tool for reflecting on your coaching approach and ensuring the ‘Time’ aspect of your N.E.A.T setup is working
One Critical Resource on the Topic
Check out our online coaching course, Introduction to Soccer Coaching, taught by Rob Sherman.
The course covers everything you need to get started coaching, from creating a positive culture and communication techniques, to what to do when the players arrive at training, and a range of different activities you can do during the session.
