We are changing our format this week, because for me this week the focus is on developing the coaches. As an 0rganization, our coaching staff has done very well and I am thankful for every coach who has dedicated all their time to coaching our boys. As you have focused on improving your players and teams, I want to take this week and focus on the coaches' coaching skills. The area this week I want to especially focus on is coaching the game.
We will follow this basic framework Tuesday and Thursday.
My Coaching Focus for this Week of Training
There are two main areas I want to focus on regarding our coaching. The first is leadership and the second is tactical engagement during the game.
Leadership
- Motivating players - lifting them up and ensuring they are having a great time playing the Beautiful Game.
- Direction - rapidly issuing clear guidance to enable the players and team to effectively and rapidly move through transitions and maximize the opportunity of every minutes
- Leadership by example - we should model the behavior we want from our players. If we want them engaged we must be engaged. If we want them to strive to improve we must strive to improve.
Tactical Engagement
- Player rotation - Effective substituting of players that ensures the team effectively plays the entire game and their is a fair balance of playing time
- Tactical learning - during the game help coach players to improve tactically as individuals and a team
Training Session Overview
The practice will be divided into two 20 minute scrimmages. Each scrimmage will consist of two ten minute halves and a five minute half-time. Half way through practice teams will rotate and we will have a second scrimmage. During each scrimmage each team (excluding the Bumblebees) will send one goalie over to train with Alex J and Bryan.
Game 1
All teams start on the regular fields. Lions versus Pumas and Bears versus Tigers. Tigers will have a total of 7 players on the field (6 field and one goalie).
Prep
5:00-5:05
Coaches prep their teams and get them on the field ready to play. Lions and Bears wear pennies.
Coaching expectations:
- Rapidly assign positions
- Get the team on the field in the right uniform ready to play on time
First Half
5:05-5:15
This is a regular half of soccer with the following exception. During each corner kick coaches will go out on the field and train their team on how they want their team to play the corner kick. This is a "freeze" moment where coaches take the time to go over how they want their teams to play the corner kick. Other than this, this is a regular half of soccer even though it is only ten minutes.
Coaching expectations:
- Team has the right number of players on the field with every player knowing what his assigned position is
- Coaches are engaged teaching players and the team during the game how to improve tactically
- Coaches positively motivate their players
- Coaches model good sportsmanship and enforce that with their players
Half Time
5:15-5:20
Coaches will pick one skill or tactical improvement to focus and walk the players through it. If the team needs to spread out the coach will walk them on the field and demonstrate by placing the players where they should be and have them pass the ball around. If the players are not legally doing throw ins the coach will take the players on the field and have them practice throw ins. Half time is not for talking. Half time is for showing.
Coaching expectations:
- Identify one tactical or skill focus to improve
- Demonstrate and train that improvement on the field
- Start second half on time
Second Half
5:20-5:30
Once again Coaches get their teams on the field and ready to play on time. This is another regular half of soccer with the exception of freezing play for teaching during corner kicks and that the half is only ten minutes.
Coaching expectations:
- Team has the right number of players on the field with every player knowing what his assigned position is
- Coaches are engaged teaching players and the team during the game how to improve tactically
- Coaches positively motivate their players
- Coaches model good sportsmanship and enforce that with their players
Second Game
The Bears and Lions rotate. Bears plays Pumas on the Puma field and the Lions play the Tigers on the Tiger field. Teams send their send a second goalie to train with Alex and Bryan. The first goalie they sent returns and plays goal applying what he learned.
Prep
5:30-5:35
Coaches prep their teams and get them on the field ready to play. Lions and Bears wear pennies.
Coaching expectations:
- Move team as required to new field with all of their equipment (jackets, water bottles, balls, etc)
- Rapidly assign positions
- Get the team on the field in the right uniform ready to play on time
First Half
5:35-5:45
Same as first game. This is a regular half of soccer with the following exception. During each corner kick coaches will go out on the field and train their team on how they want their team to play the corner kick. This is a "freeze" moment where coaches take the time to go over how they want their teams to play the corner kick. Other than this, this is a regular half of soccer even though it is only ten minutes.
Coaching expectations:
- Team has the right number of players on the field with every player knowing what his assigned position is
- Coaches are engaged teaching players and the team during the game how to improve tactically
- Coaches positively motivate their players
- Coaches model good sportsmanship and enforce that with their players
Half Time
5:45-5:50
Same as first game. Coaches will pick one skill or tactical improvement to focus and walk the players through it. If the team needs to spread out the coach will walk them on the field and demonstrate by placing the players where they should be and have them pass the ball around. If the players are not legally doing throw ins the coach will take the players on the field and have them practice throw ins. Half time is not for talking. Half time is for showing.
Coaching expectations:
- Identify one tactical or skill focus to improve
- Demonstrate and train that improvement on the field
- Start second half on time
Second Half
5:50-6:00
Same as first game. Once again Coaches get their teams on the field and ready to play on time. This is another regular half of soccer with the exception of freezing play for teaching during corner kicks and that the half is only ten minutes.
Coaching expectations:
- Team has the right number of players on the field with every player knowing what his assigned position is
- Coaches are engaged teaching players and the team during the game how to improve tactically
- Coaches positively motivate their players
- Coaches model good sportsmanship and enforce that with their players
Bumblebees
The Bumblebees will follow their standard format and modify as their coaches see fit.
Keeper Training
Alex J and Bryan will conduct two thirty minutes sets of training for the four goalies they will receive. They will focus:
- Rolling the ball in to make it easy for the field player to trap and play
- Long throwing to take advantage of tactical opportunities
- Positioning in the goal
- Basics of saving the ball
Post Practice Scrimmage
6:00-6:30
We will once again scrimmage the GU10 teams for those who are interested. The Pumas will stay in place and scrimmage a team. The Lions will stay in place and scrimmage a GU10 team. Any Bears or Tigers who choose to stay will be integrated into those teams.