Ok so last month I completed the FA Youth Award – Module One, Developing the environment. Here is a quick review of the module, and what you can expect/learn from taking it. Perhaps more importantly I want to try and explain how this has changed my approach to coaching and my coaching style, especially with players under 11.
After registering for the course (cost £140) you are sent a booklet titled “Pre-course information for the physical corner”, which takes about 3 hours to complete. Much like other FA courses you have to read the chapter and answer some basic questions about youth players and an introduction to the FUNdamentals . This hammers home the ABC’s (Agility, Balance, Co-ordination and Speed) and how these attributes can affect the performance of youth players, and the different challenges players face through there Physiological and physical development.
Once the 4 day course starts it is virtually a 50/50 split theory to practical, which I thought was a good balance. Here is a list of learning outcomes:
· Understand how to manage players motivation and self-esteem in positive and appropriate ways
· Recognise how your players learn and encourage you to focus on supporting them to develop maximally
· Importantly, support you to manage your players mistakes, encouraging a ‘can do’ approach from your players
· Experience a series of new game related exercises that support your players to develop technique and apply skill in environments where they make decisions
So after the 4 day course I believe it has made some significant improvements to my coaching style/approach. Here are few examples of things the course challenges you to think about, and the outcomes I took:
· How players learn, some will need to be shown, some will listen and do, some will want to see it drawn out. Does your coaching style match the needs of all your players?
· Managing difference – Each session should challenge/develop every player in the session, not just the more able but the players struggling to achieve.
· Is every session Inclusive? Fun? Challenging? Appropriate to the age? True to the game?
· Motivation – what motivates your players? Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Some players want to be man of the match, some want praise, some want to master technique – Is your coaching style motivating or de-motivating your players?
· Managing mistakes – Failure is OK, as the saying goes “The man who made no mistakes, never made anything”. Players should learn through mistakes, it’s good to coach and highlight good practice, but children will learn from doing, let the game be the teacher. If the session is true to the game, the players will learn the topic, when to dribble? When to pass? When to shoot?
· Language – is your language age appropriate and understood by your players?
· Players taking ownership of the session – is the session for you or the players? Are they involved in planning, preparation or the decisions made in the session. I have seen a marked improvement in some children (in schools particularly) if they set their own area to work in, or keep their own score, or decide what the next progression is. It might not fit the coaching handbook but you can always incorporate it.
My tutors……
Dan
Twitter: @coachdanwright Email: [email protected]
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