Coaching Level 3 to Level 6 : Coaching from the Same Page

 

All Coaches need to be coaching from the same page etc.

 

So when you coach at TST make sure you:

• Engage players** [The games at the end for example ; I need to hear coaches actively getting involved in the games. Sometimes coaching in games, but mostly developing an energy within the game in a positive way. I know you are not meant to commentate when coaching, but being a crowd/audience/a witness to good play is enjoyed by the players - they thrive on it. By being a personality on the side you create an energy - that makes everything more important. Players enjoy and want this feeling - far more than the feeling of improvement and it is this feeling which makes players want to improve].
• Know and are comfortable with all FFPs
• Understand when they could be applied in a game
  
• Understanding to maximize game functional use of FFPs using tech games

 

After this, the coaching level needs to step up a level:

• Coaches need the ability to adapt the above to the level of the players being coached.
• Coaches need the ability to progress/simplify the 'FFP practice / tech games' to the level of the players being coached.
  
• Coaches need the ability to match all of the above to the topic (if applicable)
  

 

There is no one size fits all session plan

 

Every level, every age, every topic, every tech game - needs to be tweaked to fit the players you have in any given session. If the topic is 'whatever', and the possible FFPs to practice are 'x,y and z',  and the tech game is 'whatever' - this is only meant to be a starting point and coaches need to use their coaching experience and intuition to adapt it accordingly.

Session plans will always need to be adapted/adjusted/simplified/advanced or even better -> coaches come up their own innovative and unique ways to run the session. I embrace this as long as it is in line with the expectations of what a TST session should be (which in a nutshell is firstly Footwork (touch and FFPs), then tech games ( which amplify FFP development), and then SSGs)

Generally, coaches will not change groups during a term and if applicable the same topic will be done for a while (although i may change the wording a bit each week).

Very quickly, learn exactly where your group is at in terms of footwork. [Can they do isolated FFPs, and if so to what degree? - Does it need to be simplified (ball moving square/stand still skills/no cones/figure of 8 etc) or should they play games with specific FFP work in the game that match the requirements of the game). Tech games should never be played without reference to, or practice of, the FFPs that could be used in the tech game you are playing. [EG; Sharp turns are critical in Quick feet - so even with level 1 players sharp turns can be isolated, practiced and raced - and then players can get back into the game and see if there has been any transfer.]

As a general rule : 'From what you learn about your group/players last week,  you should then know exactly what your session should look like the next week and how the session needs to be progressed. The second week of any new topic (should be perfect), should be a perfect TST session.'

Note:

• Coaches need to think on their feet and quickly simplify or progress what they are doing to match their players, or maybe week one introduces something hard, and week 2 is maybe when players get it. This is the advantage of sticking with the same players for a term.
• Coaches also need to be able to adapt the footwork to their group.
• A FINAL note: Going to a bog standard 2v2 or a 3v3 early means that you have ran out of ideas for the tech game very quickly. This should not happen if you understand and plan your progressions.