Small-sided games

1
Small-sided games

• Create an environment in which children are fully
  motivated and practice with enthusiasm by playing
  soccer
• Create the game of soccer for the young players
  who may lack soccer exposure
• Include as many elements (ingredients)
• of soccer as they can handle

2
Small Sided Games -- 2

• In simplified, modified games, players learn to
  be aware and to improvise, to concentrate and to
  recognize the situation.
• Skills are important , but the value of skill is
  to be able to use them efficiently in a fraction
  of a second.
• Practices should be one quarter skill training
  and three quarters applying those skills in
  endless situations.
• --- Rinus Michels Former Dutch National Team
  Coach and the FIFA Coach of the Century

3
Small Sided Games -- 3

• Think of 3 moments
• 1 -- give just enough directions to get
• the game going
• 2 -- what are the big mistakes
• can they solve the soccer problem
• 3 -- fine tune, introduce changes

4
Coaching Points

• Freeze the moment
• Dont over coach
• Coach those that need coaching
• Ask questions, avoid statements
• Coach what is real
• Stand where you can see
• Bring the game to life

5
Soccer Development in 4 stages

• 1. Preliminary stage ( 5 to 7 years old )
• learning to control the ball ---
  (coordination)
• 2. Basic proficiency (7 to 12)
• develop basic skills and apply them in
• more pressured environment --- (skill)
• 3. Competitive proficiency (12 16)
• more complex soccer situations --- (tactics)
• 4. Team proficiency (16 18)
• team organization next step adult soccer

6
Coaching Young Players

• Advance from the simple to the complex
• The youngest age groups consists mainly of giving
  advice
• A coach wants his team to win, BUT
• Winning should be secondary ..
• .. to development

7
Age - Appropriate

• Coaches should remember that age, sex and
  individual differences bring special attention to
  soccer coaching
• Young children are not miniature adults
• Too often young players are introduced to complex
  activities that they are not physically and
  mentally ready for

8
Age - Appropriate -- 2

• All too often, current coaching practices work
  against the players developing mind and body
• They are not coached in an appropriate manner for
  their age and stage of development
• Frustration and failure result when children are
  not ready for certain tasks

9
A Good Coach Must .

• Have a thorough understanding of the game
• Know how to get the best out of players
  (motivate)
• Explain clearly what is needed by word or
  demonstration
• Set high standards and demand quality
  (discipline)
• Plan according to strengths weaknesses of his
  players
• Decide on priorities
• Be consistent
• Care about the players
• Keep up with the modern game
• Try to win fairly

10
Principles for Good Coaching

• Start with the learning process ---
• age appropriate activities
• Simplify for teaching, learning
• Keep it real soccer
• Organize the team and their roles
• Read the game -- what is happening
• Evaluation and analysis -- what needs to be
  improved
• Planning of practice sessions in relation to
  the game
• Structure and organization
• Progressions add more elements appropriately
• Make it fun while they are learning

11
The Vision of the Coach

• Develop a Coaching Philosophy
• a personal approach to your way of coaching
  --- what is important to you ?
• Beliefs -- Motivation -- Methods - Results
• Determining a Style of Play
• how your team will play play for results
  only ?
• play attractive soccer (skillful with team
  play) ?
• Short term or long term approach