Session 4 - receiving to pass - 15 players under 12 age group
Warm up
Used the warm up games to concentrate on the basics of raising the body temperature plus also added a number of simple games that were designed to activate the players decision making processes - worked a treat. Also included the group questioning methods to set the scene and to test understanding. The kids have adapted to this approach, very noticable the quality of the answers to the questions are significantly higher
Session
The session comprised a series of progressive small sided games that centred on passing and movement - Great session, tempo excellent, kids loved it
Skillful neglect
All our groups have now accepted this approach - we wait and see if the error is self correcting if not we make a note of it then discreetly discuss it with the player without anyone knowing, Tonight there were 5 interventions (all related to slowing the attacks down by having too many touches) all delivered discreetly - very interesting to see the reactions of the children - far more receptive, always delivered via questions with heavy positive spin
We have organised sessions for our parents to illustrate the blue dot exercise and to show how sideline coaching shuts down the learning system
11 comments:
I'm reading your entries wondering what course it is that you took?
What are the basis and implementation of these techniques?
I see now that the course is the FA Youth course. For the benefit of those across the pond, could you give a little more detail on the techniques when you mention them?
Can you please explain the blue dot exercise?
Thanks
Apologies for not expanding on the details - if you give the specific items you would like me to expand I will happily comply
The Blue dot exercise
This exercise is meant to illustrate how conventional coaching processes i.e. Diagnose the problem, intervene, demonstrate success, restart the drill are counter productive to player development
How to run the blue dot exercise
Equipment needed
pens, paper, some blue and yellow self adhesive dots
Audience
parents and coaches
Task
1.Place a yellow or blue dot on each individual - blue dot on their left hand - yellow on their right hand - this can be randomly selected but only 1 dot per person
2. Each person is asked to write a series of sentences using the hand with a dot on it
3. Emphasise we are after neat writing
4. After a period of time select someone who is struggling and tell the group to stop because someone is not forming their letter a's correctly. Show them how it should be done, ask them to repeat it. When they get it right let the group carry on
5. Occassionally ask them to increase the speed
After 10 mins stop the group and ask all the people who had to use the hand they don't usually write with to explain how they felt during the exercise - you will receive a plethora of negative comments
Then ask the people who using their normal hand how they felt -These comments usually revolve around easy, boring, etc:
You can then explain you have just replicated the coaching process yet the overwhelming response is negative in terms of individual development
Every time children are confronted with sideline coaching/comments you have this same effect on their learning systems - If you want to know more about this look up Limbic system and see how this mechanism in the brain neutralises rational decision making
Blue Dot response - thats great! thanks.
Im interested in taking this course next year. Do you have notes you could email?
Sorry to be nosey but what is your coaching background / qualifications?
Sorry no electronic copies of the notes, only hard copy but generally the message was in the doing.
Probably the best course of any type I 've attended, the insights were profound.
With regards the coaching background, I've been coaching kids football for the last 11 years, prior to that I was an 800m runner, couldn't believe the difference in approaches.
initially i coached at grassroots level. 3 years ago bought a Brazilian Soccer school franchise, I now coach approx 150 kids a week and deliver 1 session a week for Cardiff City pre-academy under 8's. The whole emphasis of the approach is to maximise the number of touches per session, mainly by the use of small sided games - see the bit on the 10,000 hour rule in the first entry
What about you
I work at a Primary School. I have been a grassroots coach for 18 years - lev 2 qualified. Done work for Coerver and various coaching projects. Have my own side under 10s.
Hoping to undertake the NEW! UEFA B YOUTH AWARD (once it comes out) also the FA YOUTH COACHES AWARD next year. I am also a development coach and a youth scout for a premiership side.
Which part of the UK are you based and which club do you scout for
Bit of a strange answer mate -I am based in Chelsea - Chelsea fan.
I work in the Fulham dev centre and as a scout for Fulham! Under 10s play in the SELKENT league in South East London.
Thank you for your reply.
I am coaching a u10 team here in Maine, USA. I could go on and on about my lack of qualifications, but the team needed a coach and I wanted the kids to have an opportunity to play.
I'll try to be more specific with questions.
Thank you.
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