Coaching Corner

Many thanks to Paul Hardcastle (Coaching co-ordinator 2008) for some of the fantastic info filed in this section.

All of our coaching is delivered by volunteers. At the beginning of each season, once teams are decided, parents need to decide amongst themselves who will coach the team during the season.

Whether you stepped forward waving your arms with unboundable enthusiasm, or whether you had your arm twisted across your back – you are now the one responsible for the development of every one of your team. Whether they learn to enjoy and love the game, whether they learn to play to the best of their potential – you are now a key influence!

But rest assured – support is at hand for: -

• YOUR DEVELOPMENT
• SKILLS ACADEMIES
• ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

Coaching Planners, Tips and Tricks

Session Planner - Up to U8

Session Planner - U9 & U10

Session Planner - U11 & U12

Session Planner - U13 & U14

Session Planner - U15 & U16

Fun Coaching Routines 1

Fun Coaching Routines 2

Fun Coaching Routines 3

Fun Coaching Routines 4

Fun Coaching Routines 5

First Touch Control

Every time that our players make a poor first touch in a game we are likely to give the football away to the other team so it is important to keep on improving. Click Here for tips and drills to help coach this important skill.

Essential Information

Please click here to access all the information you and your manager will need to know. You will be invited to an information evening where the club will go through this information with you.

If you are a new coach please bear in mind three very important principles. Every year we have a few isolated incidents in these areas – often with new coaches.

Equitable rotation

You cannot give your more capable players more game time than your less capable players. How you choose to make this work is up to you. So for individual matches some players may play longer than others – but over the course of the season everyone must be treated equally. This is part of our constitution and reflects our commitment to the development and enjoyment of all players – not just the most talented.

Winning at all costs

If you are coaching a sub-junior or junior team, then remember that the development of your players is more important than winning. Berating players, humiliating players, shouting or even swearing at players is absolutely not acceptable behaviour. Your goal as coach should be to nurture and encourage such that at the end of the season your players are better skilled and have a deeper love of the game than when the season started.

Fair Play

As coach you are a role model for your players. You should instil in them the desire to play fair, even if faced with a team that isn’t playing to the same standards as you. On no circumstances should you question a referee’s decision or challenge a referee’s decision. Referees do make wrong decisions sometimes – it’s up to you to help your players understand that that is part of the game. We encourage parents to let us know if they feel that any of these principles are being transgressed – for the sake of the players.

Coaching for Under &'s and Younger

Have a look at this document for some great insights into coaching our young'uns

Key messages for young players

1. Always play fairly, according to the spirit and letter of the rules.
2. Stay calm under difficult conditions. It's easy to maintain composure when things go right; when they don't real athletes step forward and stand up to the test.
3. Support and encourage your teammates at all times. All of us make mistakes at times and they are not done on purpose. Encourage your teammates to be the best they can be.
4. Play as hard as you can in practice and in games. Never be beaten because of lack of effort. Even opponents who are bigger or more skilled than you can be beaten if you out-hustle them.
5. Show respect to your coaches, referees, and your opponents; win or lose.
6. A good soccer player must have conditioning, skills and tactical knowledge. A player must work on all three to be the best they can be.
7. When your team has the football, everyone is an attacker; when your opponent has the ball everyone is a defender.
8. No matter what position you are in, you are first a soccer player and you will have to be able to receive, shoot, pass, dribble, head, make space, etc., regardless of your position.
9. Do not just "kick" the ball unless it is in a dangerous position in front of your goal. Instead take a " picture " of the situation before you get the ball. In this way you can perceive the situation, determine the best solution, and act accordingly when the ball arrives. Develop Field Vision. Always send the ball to someplace or someone.
10. Always maintain your position. Don't run following the movement of the ball. Know where you are on the field in relation to where the other players and positions are on the field.
11. Don't run forward when your team has the ball unless you are willing to run back when the other team has the ball.
12. If you lose the ball, you should be the first person to defend. Giving immediate chase is the first rule of defence.
13. When changing from attack to defence, sprint to get between your opponent and the goal you are defending.
14. When defending close to your goal, the player closest to the ball should attack the ball. The other defenders should "mark" other opponents who could receive and shoot the ball. In "marking up" your opponent, you should position yourself between the ball and your opponent and prevent them from receiving the ball. A common error on defence is to have too many defenders move to the ball leaving opponents open to receive a pass and score an unopposed goal.
15. On the defensive side of the field, always move the ball toward the touchlines and away from the middle of the field. On the offensive side of the field move the ball toward the centre, where your teammates can take a good shot on goal. This is "centering" the ball.
16. Good ball handlers pass the ball before they get into trouble not after they are in trouble.
17. Make no small strikes on the ball. Whether clearing, passing or shooting MOVE the ball. Proper technique on striking the ball will enable even small players to effectively move the ball a good distance.
18. Take your shot! Don't hesitate to fire a shot if you feel an opportunity. Shoot into the back of the net. Shoot where the keeper isn't.
19. Don't limit yourself to shots taken only near the goal line. Good opportunities for goals are hard shots taken further out from the goal. Keep your head down, strike and follow through the ball for the goal.
20. Most players are right-footed. At this level, when playing defence against an opponent with the ball especially watch and attack against the right foot.
21. When playing offence with possession of the ball, anticipate your defender attacking your right foot. Use your left foot. It is imperative that you develop your passing, dribbling, and shooting skills with both your left and right foot.
22. Always be aware of protecting possession of the ball. Resist "kicking" the ball directly into the shin guards of the defender in front of you. Passing or dribbling the ball laterally or even backwards can be a better choice if it maintains possession of the ball.
23. Use your body to shield the ball, control the ball with the foot furthest from your opponent extend you arm so you can “feel” your opponent whilst looking for your next move.
24. When attacking always "support" your teammate with the ball. Supporting your teammate means being in a position where they can pass the ball to you. Stay far enough away so the pass effectively neutralizes the defender. Stay close enough so they can make a good pass. If you are too far to make a good pass to your teammate, then you are too far for your teammate to make a good pass to you, and you are not supporting.
25. Don’t tackle unless you are sure the ball can be won or played away, stay on your feet and jockey the opponent with the ball making them look down at the ball and not where they are going to pass or shoot – you are no good laying on the pitch after missing your tackle
26. Win, lose or tie; if you have given 100%, when you walk off the field you have nothing to regret and no reason to be ashamed.
27. Don't be afraid to be a star… in the opponents end of the pitch!