12th November - U12 Boys. Final Session

Session Objectives

By the end of this session participants
1. Enjoyed the session
2. Used all skill learnt over the last few weeks together in game situations.

Session Evaluation.

As this was my last week with the group I decided to run a 4v4 tournament to bring all of the skill I had learned the boys together and see how they had developed. I mixed the skill levels of the group so all teams where even, I reminded them all of the skills and drills we had covered then emphasised that this tournament was for fun and no results were going to be recorded.

After the session the manager offered me a permanent role as the boy coach and I accepted. This is the first time that I have worked with an all boy group and they give me the respect and time to help them improve. Over all I have seen a great improvement in the boys skills and attitude to training, with there results improving and the team bonding I feel my self and the manager can help the team progress and become league champions.

5th November - U12 Boys

Session Objectives

By the end of the session participants will have:


1. More confidence in there weaker foot
2. Turning and passing with weak foot.
3. Communication

Session Evaluation

When setting up this week the session I decided to talk to the manager and ask how he thought the team was progressing, i asked if he wanted me to work on anything specific along side my weaker foot practice, he explained that a minority of the players never use there weak foot and may feel intimidated but do need practice. As it was a cold night I ensured all the lads did a full aerobic warm up to ensure the heart was pumping the blood to all the vital organs and muscles that they would be using to prevent injury (Reilly, 2003).



As tonight was based on weaker foot skill, as me and the manager discussed i split everybody up in to the grid system of coaching.(Hargreaves, A. 1990). The drills I carried out included passing, moving and receiving with both feet, this made the lads think and for the first time in seven sessions there was hardly any chat as it was obvious they were concentrating. In football it is very important to communicate (Wymer, 2004) so i worked with the stronger group first, once they had the game and the skills working well i progressed them on and reminded that that they needed to talk as they would on the pitch. Working down through the four groups I saw dramatic differences as the weakest players had the ball out of there grid almost constantly. I spent ten minutes with this group whist the manager watched over the others. My group progressed and whilst I worked with them one on one they started to introduce communication and movement on there own.

At the end of the session I decided to do some shooting to evaluate how they have improved over the last few weeks. I also wanted to let the boys enjoy the final part of the session as they have worked really hard throughout. I did a FA level 1 drill called Alamo, the aim of this game is to get the boys to shoot with both feet, encourage running and is also good for the goal keepers. (The F.A) In evaluation the session went well and it was possible to see an improvement in every single player.

Hargreaves (1990) Skills and strategies for coaching soccer. google.books.com [online] [Accessed 04 December 2007, 11:26]

http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=gBzD5q2T_80C&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=hargreaves+1990+soccer+coaching+drills



Reilly (2003) Science and Soccer. google.books.com [online] [Accessed 04 December 2007, 11:39]

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=zUJEnSmj8SoC&pg=RA4-PA146&dq=importance+of+a+warm+up+football&sig=u7t6DVzeraAhvto9yfcm6ueswTc#PRA4-PA146,M1

Wymer, P. (2004) Coaching Soccer Tactics.

The Fa. Level 1, Club Coach Handbook.

29th October - U12 Boys

Session Objectives
By the end of the session participants will have:

1. Talked over the previous game
2. Discussed what they want to work on
3. Work together and increase team cohesion

Session Evaluation

This session style was new to the manager, me and the team as we had not worked this way before. We started with an evaluation of the previous game and decided what we needed to work on together. Moving from defence to attack quickly was our only weakness, we felt as we won comfortably 4-1 but missed a lot of changes to get our fast forwards involved quickly rather that walking it around the pitch.

Team cohesion is important in football to avoid collapse of team commitment, team dividing and characters thinking the team success is because of there skill.(Beswick, 2000) Everybody responded well to this approach and we progressed the session quickly. I worked with the defence and attack separately whilst the keepers where getting coached by the manager. I asked both groups to give me ideas on how they think we could improve the quick ball over from defence in to attack. The defence decided they found it easier to pass out wide in to the channels and the attackers liked the ball to be played through the middle. I suggested passing the ball in a diamond formation as this shape provides more depth and width and creates more opportunity for the team in possession. (Luxbacher, 2005) I set up a drill 7v7 on a full size pitch, the team attacking had four defenders, two wingers and one centre forward. The idea was for the defence to pass the ball out to the winger and then in turn they would feed it in the middle for the centre forward to run on to and shoot. The defending team where asked to stand off, still putting defence under pressure, the team worked well at this drill and now where ready for a match.

Finally I let the boys play football, it was nearly a full game situation at full speed apart from the wingers had to stay in a marked out area along the wing. The ball had to be played to the winger before a goal could be scored. This was to encourage the formation we had been working on through out the session.

Beswick, B (2000) Focused for Soccer, Develop a winning mental approach.

Luxbacher, J.A. (2005) Soccer: Steps to Success.

22nd October - U12 Boys

Session Objectives
By the end of this session participants will be able to:

1. Complete a short and long pass.
2. Control a pass coming at pace.
3. Dribble, look up and shoot.Work effectively as a team player.

Note 1:Players where asked to play against each other counting how many times they got they pass on target. This encourages the development of an internal locus of causality and increases motivation (Deci & Ryan, 1985)

Session Evaluation

Over all this session went well, I decided to use a guided discovery style of coaching identified by Woods, (1998) which allowed the players to have the freedom to explore various options of drills resolving around all the elements that we had previously looked at in the session. I did this by giving the whole team three options of drill for each area i wanted to work through. We as a whole decided to combine three drills; passing between small groups working through a coned area, then dribbling down to the goal, finishing with a cross and a shot.

All objectives where met during this session and the whole team participated to the best of there ability whilst having fun. I decided to do this for the entirety of the session as I felt the participants where showing how well they could work together and as they improved they were adding in there own personal skill, progressing the drill at there own pase with my guidance. As I have covered the basic skills needed in the first few sessions I wanted to bring them all together and see how they would react with the freedom and more game like situations i was placing them in.

Over the next few weeks I am going to be developing there team work and not giving definite objectives. All sessions will be worked on improving problems from the match the day before and trying to increase there work rate for each other, working as a team.

Deci, E.L., Ryan, R.M. (1985) Intrinsic Motivation and Self-determination in Human

Woods, B. (1998) Applying psychology to Sport, Hodder & Stoughton.

15th October - U12 Boys

Session Objectives
By the end of this session participants will be able to:

1. Head the ball confidently.
2. Demonstrate the difference between a defensive and attacking header.
3. Head the ball under pressure.

Session Evaluation

Today it was raining but as it is not windy i feel it is still apropreate for a basic heading session. The astro turf is quiet slippy so as I warmed up the group and reminded them to be careful. With help of the manager I split the group in to pairs with averagely the same height and ability, I then explained how to head a ball and the difference between a defensive and an attacking header. I decided as I didnt want to lose control of the group so early in my training session I would leave the questions to the end of the demonstration to ensure everybody understood. As the session went on i decided the pupils with more confidence and skill where to be given a harder target to try and improve concentration and motivation (Lavallee, 2004) to the task.

This session when well, as I worked with a democratic style last week I decided to do the same this week. They respond well and worked through out the session giving inputs when asked. I feel all objectives where met and there heading and control is improving which has been an on going problem over the last three weeks.

Lavallee, D. (2004) Sports Psychology: Contemporary Themes

8th October - U12 Boys

Session Objectives
By the end of this session participants will be able to:

1. Control a moving ball in the air.
2. Shoot in to designated areas of the goal.
3. Have confidence in front of goal.

Session Evaluation

This week I decided to take a more democratic style of coaching, (Lyle, 2002) listening to feedback whist inviting there suggestions and ideas but still ensure I had control of the session. I set out coned areas first so for the start of the session they worked in small groups on control. After most of the group had become confident it was time to move on to the main area of the session, shooting. To incorporate control into this drill I set up the ball at different heights and angles for the on coming players. I think this worked well and I began to get the most positive results in training so far.

In this session I noticed on of my players no playing to there normal standard, when approached they explained they had experienced a bad day at school. They were aggressive towards the football with out thinking of the skills and knowledge they had previously gained. This was then linked to a large decrease in skill level. (Weinberg, 2006) To ensure they did not injure any other boy in the session in the concluding match I advised him to work on his control through out the match, giving him self two points for good control and minus one if its bad control. I think this person goal took his mind off school and his football improved through the later part of the session.

All objectives where met but feel that control is still letting some of my players down due to lack of concentration. I will continue to work on this aspect of football over the following weeks, involving it in every session mixed up with other drills. I explained this to the manager and he agreed but also offered to work with a small group of players if they do not improve, I agreed as this can only benefit the team as a whole in the long run.

Lyle, J. (2002) Sports Coaching Concepts: A Framework for Coaches' Behaviour

Weinberg, R.S. (2006) Foundations of Sport And Exercise Psychology

1st October - U12 Boys

Session Objectives:
By the end of this session participants will be able to:

1. Dribble slow and at pace
2. Keep head up
3. Change direction whilst dribbling

Session Evaluation

In my second session I still wanted to ensure I had the full control and attention of the group at all times so still used the autocratic coaching style.(Horn, 2002) I ensured that I kept the group fully motivated by setting target through out all the dribbling drills. As I was only working on one skill in the session I understood that it would be quit repetetive so I ensured that everybody was busy during the session with out anytime to think and talk to others about social issues. With help of the manager I progressed the higher ability player on to more difficult tasks whilst the weaker player where quit happy at doing the basic drills. I ensured that everybody understood the basics of dribbling with a short question session at the end then evaluated them through out the long match at the end.

One of my players was anxious of there running style and felt he was been socially evaluated (Endler, 1987) by others. I tried to give him positive feed back and will continue to do so over the coming weeks to try and improve his confidence as he is a good skilful player.

All the learning objectives were met but a lot more work will be needed to be done before players properly appreciate the importance of footwork. All session objectives were completed but I do feel over all control could be improved when running with the ball.

Horn, T.S (2002) Advances in Sport Psychology.

Endler, N.S (1987) Journal of Sport Psychology.

Introduction to U12 boy coaching

The Group
The group I coach are aged between 11 – 12 and male. There are boys with many different abilities that take part in my sessions. The reasons that they participate also vary with some coming along to be with there friends and others who want to eventually progress to hopefully national level. All of the boys that participate in my session are interested in football and have a basic level of understanding the game and the rules. The fitness levels of the group are quit high as they take part in all other sports teams in there school as well as the football club I run.

Skills
The group all have a good level of knowledge and skill at football. 80% of the group are young sport leaders, learning how to demonstrate good social and team cohesion. The team have set targets for where they would like to be in the next year and how they are going to reach each of there goals.

What do they want to do?
When taken over this team as coach i was told they did not play well together after a season coaching with them they now stand second in the table with a game in hand. In the long term they wish to be champions of there league then move on up. There short term goal is to regain there concentration and prepare for the next match against the league leaders in the following week ahead. They also have a local 7 a side tournament coming up which gives the team there first real chance of some silver wear.

The Coaching Sessions
In the sessions over the eight week period i hope to progress the sessions on at a pace where everybody can learn and not get bored. As the session is held the day after match day, a Monday evening this will allow us to work on points that went wrong in the match whist still fresh in out heads. All of the participants take part in after school clubs on a Tuesday and Thursday night, a football session and a circuit training session with matches sometimes on a Wednesday for there school team. Therefore i understand it is possible that some participants will experience burn out and i will try to ensure this doesn't occur by allowing breaks and time out for players that are finding there sport time table difficult.

Programme Objectives

By the end of the six week coaching plan the intention is that players will

1. Be able to control a football with all parts of the body confidently and skilfully and then complete a pass both long and short.
2. To be able to dribble confidently keeping head up and awareness of the surrounding area.
3. Been able to shoot from all ranges on target – working towards a more powerful shot.
4. Having the ability to head the ball both defensively and attacking also been able to differentiate between the two.
5. To have a basic understanding of defensive techniques; closing down and showing inside and out.
6. Basic understanding of the rules and regulations.

24th September - U12 Boys

Session Evaluation

• I did not set any objectives for this session, just to evaluate skill level.

As this was my first session I utilised a fairly autocratic coaching style (Weinberg, 2003) in order to maintain control. I decided what the session was going to be on and the boys had no input to the drills and the session as a whole. Many of my players had a good level of skill and where able to control the ball well with out much input and coaching points by me. Two of the players showed the following weaknesses co-ordination, motivation and the ability to take part in the session constructively. They struggled to grasp the concept of been at the session to enjoy and learn new skills. These issues will be addressed in the next session as I will involve him in collecting and setting out of the cones, ensuring that I use her for demonstrations therefore leaving her no time to be disruptive to other team members.

Players struggled with the 3v3 drill and this will need modifying on to a larger pitch with changes of rules to more simple instructions if it is to be used again. I think this happened as the boys were almost in a game situation, leaving them with two much freedom and rule braking. I feel that all of the learning objectives were met but a lot more work will be need to be done before players properly appreciate the importance of control and how important it is in a game situation.

Weinburg, R.S (2003) Foundations of Sport And Exercise Psychology