Giving young players the opportunity to work things out for themselves can be a very empowering experience for both the players and the coach involved.
In the following practice session, we will look at how players in the 5-11 age range can become immersed in their own learning by taking ownership of the practice session.
Allowing young players the opportunity to make their own decisions and try new things out without the fear of making ‘mistakes’ are the key principles which underpin the session. How the coach guides the practice through the use of effective questioning, asking the right questions at the right times, is the main focus for delivery.
Have a read and see where you can take the practice next.
FA Skills Programme 5-11: ‘How to be a good passer and a good mover.’
- All Players to get opportunities to experiment with and gain an understanding of:-
- How to move into different positions to help make and receive passes.
- Finding out different ways of getting the ball to other members of their team.
- Finding out the differences between using their hands and feet to make passes.
- How to keep the ball away from a defender and move it towards a goal.
The following session template is outlined using 16 players – however the framework can be adapted and changed according to the numbers of players available and age and ability
Set up and organisation of the session
Organisation: ‘The What…’
1. Four squares are organised as shown in the diagram (use cones, or jumpers, etc to mark out the areas). The squares can be any size – simply adapt according to the number of players you are working with and the age and ability of the players. Experiment with a variety of different sizes of areas (two big squares and two small squares).
2. Bibs are placed on the floor in each square. These will act as a visual cue for the players when organising their own teams and trying to work out which space their team is working in.
NB: Bibs aren’t essential and neither are two teams of the same colour as shown in the diagram. Work with what you have.
Organisation: ‘The How…’
1. Using a white board/tactics board, draw out the four squares whilst the players are watching. (If you don’t have access to a whiteboard/tactics board you might use cones on the floor, draw on a poster or a notepad or make marks on the floor. Be creative!)
Explain to the players: “I’m drawing you FOUR football pitches – you are going to be working with your team on one of these pitches.”
Let the players name each pitch after a stadium they know – Wembley, Old Trafford, White Hart Lane, Nou Camp, etc.
2. Then ask the players:-
- "Look at what I have set up with the cones and see if you can work out where the four pitches are? Keep checking the tactics board for help."
- "Can you see them? Can you count them? Point them out for me.”
- "If you want, you can go and have a walk around the four pitches to work it out ” (Give a time limit).
3. Then give the players the task of organising their own teams.
- "What we are going to do now, is see which team can get onto their pitch the quickest…"
- "….You have 20 seconds to split yourself into four equal teams – England, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, etc."
- "…. Let’s see which team will be on their pitch and doing their team’s warm up the quickest – GO."
- Once the players have organised themselves into teams and successfully split off onto their own pitch, they are then encouraged to explore their area.
- "Find out how long and wide your pitch is – What is it like to move from the side of the pitch into the middle and the middle of the pitch out to the sides?"
- "How many different ways of moving can you use to explore your pitch? –Try some moves you have seen in the game of football? Can you go away and show the rest of the team?"