HI all,
It is impossible to cover everything necessary in a TST session. So it is essential that players do as much work at home as their enthusiasm and motivation allows.
When developing, it is not only a case of being exposed to technique, or even having a decent grasp of technique. It is about developing a precision and dexterity of touch which is way beyond what is normal, even to the point that the eyes become unnecessary when dealing with the ball - all the information is sensory and not necessarily visual.
Think about how you type. You know where the keys are and your fingers get to where they need to be and you do write what you need to write.
Most players develop technique in the way you probably type. Make it up as they go and as long as it gets the job done they are happy (not knowing that their technique may not be anywhere to close to being the best it can be)
To begin the process of developing more advanced technique all players need to
[* Players - you need to check that you can do all these patterns without too much conscious thought. These can be practiced in one spot, in a straight line or using a million different cone setups. There can be a strike at the end if needed to make the practice a bit more fun etc - but there must be practice for there to be accelerated improvement].
If players don't have a good grasp of these FFPs) by the time they are 10 or 11, not only will TST be hard (as everything we do is built on the back of footwork fundamentals) but developing past being a good junior player will be very difficult.
After this footwork becomes about speed, intensity, the precision of touch, the ability to move the ball with the head up, to improvise - and all done at a sub-conscious level.
Hopefully, your child has the enthusiasm and motivation to embrace the fundamentals first and then build on top of these be perfecting them (to a sub-conscious and mostly sensory level) and improvising around them when necessary.
Darren