2013 Section Meeting Coaching Workshop Maximizing Coaching Moments with Young Players

Maximizing Coaching Moments … Create an opportunity to evaluate a player’s ability to execute a certain skill or task. How? Use free play to observe the player’s capabilities… Teaching the Game to Kids2

Maximizing Coaching Moments with Young Players Free Play: describes the condition where individuals play without restrictions on time or space. Players are given general directions on time or space Players are given general directions on what they should attempt to accomplish and then left on their own Players should play hard and stop when rest is warranted Free play allows players to develop natural abilities… Teaching the Game to Kids3

Maximizing Coaching Moments with Young Players Free Play: Free play avoids wasting time in organizing lines, capturing wandering players, etc During free play, players avoid others, seek open space, and become more aware of the action around them… Teaching the Game to Kids4

Maximizing Coaching Moments with Young Players Added benefit of using Free Play: A coach’s observational powers will increase as they are forced to isolate action in a group… Teaching the Game to Kids5

Maximizing Coaching Moments with Young Players Teaching and Coaching Techniques There are required STEPS that a coach must follow in order to be an effective teacher (coach)… 2009Teaching the Game to Kids6

Maximizing Coaching Moments with Young Players STEPS in teaching: 1.State the tactical objective of what you are trying to accomplish 2.Demonstrate the skill or the drill 3.Involve new players - let the players try it 4.Get all remaining players involved 5.Analyze level of play and skills being used by players… Teaching the Game to Kids7

Maximizing Coaching Moments with Young Players STEPS in teaching: 6.Evaluate level of effort, commitment to training. 7.Are the training groups balanced? 8.Circulate and correct (use assistant coaches to supervise play and keep the organization going) 9.Communicate individual instructions, using concepts of psychological motivation (remember, they are kids -don’t embarrass them)… Teaching the Game to Kids8

Maximizing Coaching Moments with Young Players When playing games (using drills): Age and skill appropriate A reason to play (tactical objective) A person or team who finish first Manageable groups (number of groups) Restrictions (grids, touch, time) Consequences Establishes a match-type situation Coaching points and corrections Re-evaluation Able to transfer training to the game… Teaching the Game to Kids9

Maximizing Coaching Moments with Young Players Teaching the Game to Kids10 Provide an environment for teaching solutions to MATCH problems (game → options)…

Maximizing Coaching Moments with Young Players The typical environment for teaching solutions to MATCH problems include using these methods : Games (drills) used to duplicate match conditions A game (drill) requires organization of the players to repeatedly execute a specific skill or tactic, or combination thereof Think static and progress to dynamic as quickly as possible The coach must always remember to go from the simple to the complex, communication in a language appropriate to that of the players with which they are working… Teaching the Game to Kids11

Maximizing Coaching Moments with Young Players Summary: If a coach understands how to teach using: Free Play The nine (9) step Teaching Technique Game related activities An environment for Teaching Solutions Coaches, Players and the Game WIN!... Teaching the Game to Kids12

Maximizing Coaching Moments with Young Players Any questions? Thank You!... Teaching the Game to Kids13