Organisation is vital!
It is the first impression you give to the assessor
How many Players do I need?
In a 6 v 6 you will need one goalkeeper and five outfield players for each team
Who Plays?
Before the session begins plan who is going to play in the positions you want to coach. You must pick the right people in the right positions to help your session go smoothly.
For example:
- If you are coaching crossing make sure your winger can cross the ball or you will get stuck too long on technique.
- If you are coaching long forward passes ensure that the full backs can pass the ball long enough for you or you may not get the opportunity to coach the forwards.
You should also try to match player’s ability if possible to keep the practice realistic. For example, if a defender is a poor player the attacker may go past him every time. You will have nothing to coach.
You must also consider who is coaching before and after your session because you may not be able to use them. The coach on before you might be given a debrief and the coach after you may need time to set up and visualise their session.
Setting Up
Grid size: 60m long x 40m wide
Set up as early as possible so you can concentrate your thoughts on the key points. On assessment days the small sided games are normally grouped together to save time but if they are not measure the distance you need in advance. Prepare:
- Balls around the pitch and in the goals. You don’t want to be chasing balls because this could ruin your concentration or your time.
- Bibs in the formation you want to play laid out on the floor. For example:
Coaching Position
Visualise your coaching positions before the session starts. Where do you want to be when you coach your key points and where is the best position to see any mistakes? For example, if you are coaching spreading out, you might want to start in the defending third to start with the goalkeeper.
Introduction
Be Friendly and ask the players to come to you. If you command or shout the players may not respond well to you in the session.
This is what I say before an assessment session:
“Hello everyone can you gather round please.” I then wait for them and try to smile even though I can feel butterflies in my stomach. “Hello my name is Chris James and today I am going to coach the blue bibs, ‘Spreading out as a team’. As you can see I have laid out the bibs in the formation we are going to play. When I call out your name can you put the bib on and stand where the bib was? Thank you. We Are gong to play 6 v 6 so I will need two goalkeeper’s. Peter (best goalkeeper) can you go in goal for the blues and John can you go in goal for the reds for me? Thank you. I am going to need a left back, Sam (left footed full back-hopefully) can you play left back for the blue bibs and Simon (right footed defender) can you play right back for the blue bibs? Thank you. Terry and Nigel can you play left and right back for the reds? Thank you. I will be playing with two midfield players today, so Bill (left footed midfield player) can you play left midfield for the blues and Tim (right footed midfield player) can you play right midfield for the blues? Thank you. Charlie and Callum can you play left and right midfield against them in red bibs? Thank you. Up front Rob (best forward player) can you play centre forward for the blues and Max can you play for the reds? Thank you.
The rules of the game are: Reds you have five passes to get a shot on goal (this ensures that reds will get the ball back quickly so you can coach more) while blues can have unlimited touches. Reds when their goalkeeper has it can you drop off to the half way line please (so I can get my first key points in quickly for the defenders spreading out). When I call out stop (whistle or shout freeze), can you please try to stand still so I can make a coaching point. Ok can you please get in your positions, its reds to kick off. Thank you.”
Let them play for a bit
Don’t rush in straight away. Let the players settle into the game for two minutes before coaching. In this time think about your first key point. Don’t panic if it does not come up and don’t invent a mistake that did not happen (the assessor will mark you down for this). Coach what you see! For example, your two full backs may spread out every time but they make a mistake with the first pass. Now you can say “Sam, you were excellent spreading out but what are your priorities of passing when you get the ball?” This shows the assessor that you recognised the first key point, you are praising good play and you are now coaching the second key point.
Starting Position
You do not need to start play with a centre every time. To coach attacking topics you will need the goalkeeper to get the ball via a shot from the red centre forward as shown. Then you can start coaching from the back to the front. Make the starting position realistic and go back to it until you feel you have completed your key points. Remember to progress up the pitch if necessary.
Recommended starting positions
- Attacker has week shot at the goalkeeper.
- Winger or midfielder is tackled by full-back.
- Defensive header to midfield player. Throw the ball up for the defender.
- Full-back is tackled by midfielder or winger.
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Coach the Key Points Logically
You cannot coach everything at once! Try to number your key points and go through them one at a time in a logical sequence. This will help you to remember the points and it will show you can progress the session
Simple and Clear Explanations
Talk to the players and not the assessor! Face the players and keep focused.
Use the Coaching Formula!
The Coaching Formula gives you a structure on how to deliver information. It is a basic four rule system:
STOP!
When you identify a mistake step onto the pitch and “Shout Stop” (freeze or whistle whatever you agree beforehand). Take a mental note of where the key players were and move quickly to the area you need to be in because the players will drift towards the ball. Ask them (don’t order) to move back to the position they were in when you called out Stop! Check that they have gone back to the correct positions or you coaching point may not be realistic now. Correct the players if you think they are not in the right positions, for example, “Sam can you just move back another ten metres for me, thank you.”
Do not wait for the ball to go out of play and bring the players back because the moment will be lost and the players will not be able to visualise what you are saying. Coach as the ball rolls!
Now tell the player/s what they did wrong and give them a simple explanation using question and answer if possible. For example, the goalkeeper has picked the ball up and thrown it straight to the full back even though the centre forward has made a great run into space. You could say, “Stop, Peter, that was a good pass to Sam but what are your priorities in passing?” Wait for the answer then add, “That is right, Rob made a great run into space but you missed it?”
Demo (you do it)
Set the scene and demonstrate exactly what you want. Ask the players to get back into the positions they were in when the ball was played to the goalkeeper (this is your starting position). Now you become the goalkeeper! Ask the players to make the same runs and the defenders to let it happen (sometimes the players don’t want to look poor so they try to not let it happen again). Ask the player who shot to pass the ball into your hands and demonstrate looking up to the attack first and passing the ball into space for Rob to run onto.
Make sure you are happy with your demonstration before continuing.
Rehearsal (now the goalkeeper does it)
Get the players back to the starting position and ask them to make the same runs. This time ask the goalkeeper to rehearse what you have demonstrated to see if he understands what you have shown. Check to see if his first look is forward.
Make sure you are happy with the rehearsal before continuing. Don't settle for average performances
Live
Get the players back to the starting position and ask them to make the same runs. When the goalkeeper passes the game starts again (live). Play on and wait for your next key point!
Get in, show them, let them do it, play again.
Progressing the session
Try not to get stuck on one point for too long because it could ruin your session! If a player simply cannot do as you ask then you must have a contingency plan in your mind. I would give the player 3 -5 chances and then say, “Ok, Sam, do you understand what I am asking you? We can work on this again at another time so I am going to move the session on. Peter can you pass the ball back into Sam? After the pass we are live!”
Key Points
1. Decision of Goalkeeper
Starting position is a red shot into the goalkeeper’s hands from 15-20yds. Coaching position 1.
Look up - Can you pass forward? Don’t force the ball and give it away!
The best passes from the goalkeeper are:
- Behind the defence.
- To the feet of the furthest forward.
- Into midfield
- To the defenders
Coaching
Look to see if the goalkeeper looks forward first – a lot of times the goalkeeper will play it short into the defenders feet. Stop the play and coach the goalkeeper’s priorities. Don’t invent play – Encourage it.
For example, “Rob, if the goalkeeper’s first decision is looking for you, how can you help him?” You could also coach the goalkeeper how to pass.
2. Full Backs Spreading Out Side to Side
Starting position is a red shot into the goalkeeper’s hands from 15-20yds.
The two defenders should not relax when the goalkeeper wins the ball back. They should think quickly about creating space for the goalkeeper to pass to them and move as fast as possible into that position. The defenders should create space side to side (give width) but they should not run directly to the touch line. This will invite the forwards to close them down quickly therefore condensing play in their own half. They should make a run so that they exploit as much space as possible therefore the ideal run would be diagonal.
The defender should:
- Keep his eyes on the goalkeeper
- When receiving the ball, the defender should open up his body so he can see as much of the pitch as possible. If the defender is facing the goalkeeper he will not be aware of the movement behind him.
- Control the ball with the outside foot (foot nearest the touch line) so the ball is played into his path. This will enable the defender to see the whole pitch and to exploit the space in front of him as quickly as possible. If we come out slowly it will give the defenders time to settle and get into shape.
- Look up - can you pass forward?
This is the wrong way to spread out because the defenders can get forward more
Starting position is from the goalkeeper
The best passes out of Defence are:
- Behind the defence for the forwards to run onto
- To the feet of the furthest forward
- Forward so the ball takes out defenders
- Simple ball to retain possession either sideways or backwards.
Long diagonal passes are best when the Defence has lost its shape or been pulled over.
Coaching
- Look for defenders stopping and loosing concentration. Do they move quickly enough and are their runs the best to exploit space? You could demonstrate the runs and highlight the importance of concentrating when the ball changes team.
- Look for how the defender controls the ball. Has he opened up his body and does his first touch place the ball is the best position. You could demonstrate opening out and the importance of first touch.
- Look at his pass selection. Was it the right pass?
3. Midfield Spreading Out Side to Side
Starting position is a red shot into the goalkeeper’s hands from 15-20yds.
The two midfield players should not relax when the goalkeeper wins the ball back. They should think quickly about creating space for the goalkeeper to pass to them and move as fast as possible into that position. The midfielders should create space side to side (give width) but they should not run directly to the touch line. They should make a run so that they exploit as much space as possible therefore the ideal run would be diagonal.
The midfield player should:
- Get wide and forward as quickly as possible.
- Keep his eyes on the goalkeeper
- When receiving the ball, the defender should open up his body so he can see as much of the pitch as possible. If the midfielder is facing the goalkeeper he will not be aware of the movement behind him.
- Control the ball with the outside foot (foot nearest the touch line) so the ball is played into his path. This will enable the defender to see the whole pitch and to exploit the space in front of him as quickly as possible. If we come out slowly it will give the defenders time to settle and get into shape.
- Try to run behind into space.
- Come short and show for the ball. The midfielder does not have to hug the touch line! he can move inside to receive the ball.
- Use opposite movement to create space for himself. If he wants the ball played short, then he should run forward, to move the defender, then turn and sprint into space to receive the ball.
Coaching
- Look for at the midfielder’s runs. Do they move quickly enough and are their runs the best to exploit space? You could demonstrate the runs and highlight the importance of concentrating when the ball changes team.
- Look for how the midfielder controls the ball. Has he opened up his body and does his first touch place the ball is the best position. You could demonstrate opening out and the importance of first touch.
- Once in position is he static or does he make movements off the ball. How can he help the goalkeeper? Demonstrate one movement e.g. coming short.
4. Forward Creating Space – End to End or Side to Side
Starting position is a red shot into the goalkeeper’s hands from 15-20yds or from one of the defenders
The forward should not stand still and wait for the ball to come. He should try to stretch the defence as long and wide as possible by pushing up. We want to open up as much space as possible to play in.
If the defender:
- Drops back and marks. Look for the forward giving opposite movement by running towards their goal, turning and coming short into space.
- Is in line with the forward. Look for the forward running in behind the defence.
- Out of position. Look to exploit the space behind, in front or to the side.
If the defenders are too close together then look for the forward to run into wide positions.
Coaching
Look at the defenders position. Where is the space? Coach the forward how to run into that space.
5. Quality of Pass
- If passing to feet hit the ball too hard rather than too soft. Don’t ‘Dolly’ the ball or it will be intercepted! Remember weight, accuracy, timing and disguise of pass.
- If passing into space play the ball for the player to run onto the ball
Coaching
Look at the runs and who is in the best position to receive the ball. Now demonstrate how you would like the player to pass the ball.
6. End Product
You should finish with a shot or cross.
Ask your assessor for help with this topic
Option Two: 2, 1, 2 Formation |
