P1 : TST Coaching Process, Style and Format;

If you are keen to coach at TST you will need to take everything below on board and be up to speed and ready to go when/if you do coach.

TST Coaching Standards
 
This comes from 3 directions;
  • One: Is the energy and attitude of the coach :
  • Two : Is the content of the session.
  • Three : The level of feedback and interaction between the player and the coach needs to be way above anything they would normally get

Energy and attitude of the coach
TST Coaches need to coach with a high energy and be passionate about being there. Coaches need to make the players believe that what they are doing is important, and that it's important to do it well. Players will follow the lead of the coach. If the coach is dour, quiet, reserved, laconic, laid back, distracted (phone), energy less (sitting down) - then this spreads to the players. If the coach isn't into it, then there is no way the kids will be. Some of what we do is hard and challenging. Some of the repetition can be boring for players, so it's critical that coaches are creative, and coach with energy. Challenges should come thick and fast, and players should work hard, so that before they know it - the footwork is done.
 
What about fun? Fun comes from the hard work and the feeling of being pushed (in a nurturing and positive way).

Make sure you have fun in the session. Have a personality. Coach like you are having more fun than the players. Be passionate. Raise the energy levels. Drive the players to do better - but always in a thoughtful, caring, respectful and nurturing way.

You do not need to be the court jester (that is not the fun we are talking about), just make sure it is apparent you care about the session from both, yours and the players perspective. Players will sense this and step up for you, but they wont just step up unconditionally. You need to be their role model and they need to be believe that you are the person who will help them improve, and be there for them when it gets hard and they fail.

Players respect a respectful voice of authority - be this voice.
 
Having said this, if a player isn't meeting their end of the deal - if they are not interested or worse 'mucking about' - and it is affecting the session and your ability to coach,  then if you cant get them to where you need them to be mentally -  ask them to sit out and let me know.

Content of the session.

TST has a very strict syllabus centered around what i call Fundamental Footwork Patterns(FFPs). These are at the heart of TST. In every session no matter what the level of the player - these play a significant part.

  • Really young players (levels 1 and 2) - who mostly play specific games (based on technique, space and decision making)  - still get introduced to the FFPs (although they wont do much isolation) even if it's just the terminology.
  • Next level up (Level 3) - players start doing isolated foot work (sometimes the footwork is simplified before the full FFPs are introduced).
  • Next level up (level 4) - players are exposed to all FFPs and are challenged to improve .
  • Next level up (level 5) - maybe combinations of FFPs, or add speed or get the head up, or have a topic in mind (aggressive 1v1s).
  • Next level up (level 6) - Level 4 and 5 combined

We teach footwork, but we must always remember the game is about the manipulation of time and space (not footwork - footwork is just a tool in this process - can tech-games reflect this).

Parents and players expect this. This is why they come to TST. We offer something they will not get anywhere else (in fact it doesn't exist anywhere else) and it makes a difference. We do what their team coaches don't do and can't do.

The feedback Cycle

A huge part of the TST coaching process is feedback. This is a critical element. The interaction between coach and player needs to be at level far greater than they would get anywhere else. Coaches need to provide feedback that the players need to improve. Without this feedback it is not TST. If players are challenged it is not TST. TST is not 'try this, try that'. TST is try this, fail, get feedback, try again and improve, get more feedback, improve more...etc.

Tech games

Once the footwork has been done (level 3,4,5) then the tech games can start.

  • Tech games get the players to solve problems and manipulate time and space and the FFPs should slowly become a natural way of moving the ball when solving problems.

SSGs at the end

Finally the free play games at the end are a chance for players to just play - we coach on the run and help them recognize learning moments in games. But we are very attentive. We don't talk to each other. We don't kick back, check the phone. Parents even at this stage - expect that their child is watched, that every game is watched, ref'd fairly and managed so that all games are played in a friendly, non physical but competitive way.

Different levels of Players at TST

There are up to 7 different levels of Players at TST. Click on this link to see how these different levels affect how and what you coach. Also note that, apart from the players at level 1,2 and 7, the session is split into 3rds as follows.

Levels 3,4,5,6

  • Footwork
  • Tech Games - play games that develop football intelligence and in which footwork becomes a tool
  • SSGs (2v2s or 3v3s)

And each component leads into the next, whereby the progression through the session starts with the individual and technical isolation (footwork practice), and ends in a game that requires team work.

Coaching at TST

I can only use coaches who are able to coach as outlined above. So if you are in, then you need to make sure you coach as described above and come to every session prepared to give what all involved, expect from TST.

If you don't think you can coach at the level above i would prefer you let me know rather than just go through the motions.

If you coach but are clearly not meeting expectations then I cant use you on a regular basis.

I am happy to pay you more (up to a point) if you can coach this way and are reliable throughout the term.

If you are clearly meeting the level and the feedback form parents is positive then i will definitely pay you accordingly, but it is conditional on you always meeting the standards expected.

So with this said : Are you ready to coach at TST?

You will need to know all the FFPs, how to simplify them, how to correct errors whilst doing them and and how to make them more challenging. You will need to know the a number of tech games that help develop footwork, and problem solving. Each tech game should also have progressions.

Due to the coaching team we have had in the past the parents have high expectations. We have lost some long term coaches over the last year which will mean that there is going to be a transition period so I do not expect new coaches to be amazing, but i just need them to try really hard to meet the expectations of the TST brand.

 
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