Hi flt. I'd definately read a blog about your coaching experiences if you did write one. Few questions though:
- How far are you willing to go to teach kids 'the right way'? Do parents give you much grief?
- Have any of the kids you coach gone on to play professionally?
- What do fellow coaches think about the way you operate?
- Do you like the idea of using smaller, slower footballs like they do in Spain and South America to encourage patient play and close control?
- How do you make training sessions fun?
Hi Matt.
Let me answer some of those questions;
1 - As far as I feel necessary and yes, some parents "grumble" at me, but they can't really moan as I write to them all each season to explain the approach of the next season. This includes things like; from 7-11, every boy that comes to a game is guaranteed to play at least 50% of each half (it is roll on roll off subs). I don't care if we are winning, drawing, losing or what the game is, no boy from 7-11 should stand on the side for all but the last two minutes of a game. Their ability does not come into it. In those early years, I rotate the players positions. I do not believe that you can say "johnny is a centre forward" when he is 7 or 8. I change their position so they understand other parts of the game. I also rotate who the subs are, so the best players don't start every game. Parents at my team, are aware that I follow the RESPECT campaign fully and that I won't tolerate any questioning of decisions by officials.
2 - I'm not that old and I have only been coaching these boys for 4 years!!
3 - What do other coaches think of me? That is a good one! Some say they admire me, but look at me as though I am crazy. I remember last summer standing outside the school to pick up my son, when there was a conversation going on with three Dads who were also coaches of teams in our league. We wre moving from 7 to 9 a side and they asked if I had signed anymore players. I had, two. They said are they any good and where did they come from. My reply stunned them: I said that I had no idea. They were two boys who had wanted to join when it was 7 a side, but we had no spaces (squad sizes are limited). They couldn't believe that I had two new players and I didn't know how good they were. I said it is simple. Fun first, develop them second. I will also speak to a coach after or during a game, if I believe they are being too aggressive in their shouting, particularly at the referee or the linesman.
4 - We have one "futsal" and use it in the winter when we train on an astro pitch. I wish I had one for each boy. Futsal is the way forward for coaching young kids.
5 - It is hard to keep it fun, but you must keep the kids moving. The old way I was coached is dated now, with boys stood in two lines passing or shooting. In four years, they have only done one session where they "ran". It always, always, always has to involve a ball. Minimum ball between two. I also ty and change the session each week, and prepare ahead. This can be hard with a day job, but variation is important. One of their favourite sessions is when I bring the space hoppers to training. They love that. Thre are zillions of coaching sessions available online for free or very cheap.
When they are young, keep it simple, and keep the information they are given to a minimum. Boys have a very low attention span.
We were very poor against Sweden and for twenty minutes of the second half, looked like a pub team. That would have taken a serious turn around from that to go and win the tournament. Don't let the result get in the way of how the performance was. The reuslt is important and they battled hard to get back in front, but they did not play well and that was against a very poor team.