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How To Set-Up and Run An Effective Soccer Session

 

Coaches often ask me “What is the best way to set-up and

run a soccer practice?” or “How do I keep all my players

involved at a training session; sometimes they just seem to

lose focus?”  These questions and others of a similar

nature, appear to relate to issues many coaches wrestle

with in their on-going coaching activities.

 

Many of today’s soccer coaches have not coached the game

before; still others did not grow up with the game and

therefore, have never played soccer.  Mostly, the above are

volunteers, Mom and Dad coaches.  They are noble in the

 

donation of their time and are coaching because they want their kids to have a positive

experience with soccer.  In many cases they coach because nobody else volunteered!

 

For these coaches, the “X”s and the “O”s, the “4-4-2 formation” and the “high-pressure

defense” might as well be Greek!!  They’re dealing with the type of situations posed by our

questions opening this article.  Setting up a good practice session, or keeping all kids

involved, and keeping the whole thing “fun” in the process, is really where their inquiries lie.

 

Mind you, I’ve watched ex-players sometimes struggle with the transition from player to

coach!  Even experienced coaches “run aground” occasionally.  They too, are looking to

freshen up their training sessions or for new and different ideas to introduce at training.

 

There are only so many ways “to skin a cat”, so coaches do find themselves doing lots of repetition sessions. Reinforcing the basics over and over again is what the top professionals do and recognize as necessary.  Our problem is that the kids don’t always grasp this concept and so we find ourselves going to great lengths to keep training sessions interesting and fun, but still efficient.  In fact, this becomes a major task for us as coaches.

 

So, when all is said and done, what better way for Brilliant Soccer Coaching to launch its first-ever newsletter, than with some ideas for coaches on setting up and running efficient, effective, soccer practice sessions?!  We share some ideas on the subject with you,

the inquiring soccer coach!

 

Always plan your session!  This way you can track your progress against your projected goals.  Keep each session filed.  You can always re-use a session later in your season.  Come to each training session ready and dressed to coach!!

A.        Consider the age group you coach:

i.)        Short attention span.

ii.)       Lots of short activities.

iii.)      Keep them focused with fun content.

B.        Consider their skill level:

i.)        Are your objectives achievable?

ii.)       Are they realistic?

iii.)      Will the activities help improve skill level?

 

C.        Coaching topics:

i.)        Are they relative to the age and abilities of your players?

ii.)       Do they relate to the game?

 

D.       Field space and equipment:

i.)        Do you have the space necessary to address your topic?

ii.)       Do you have/need goals and nets?

iii.)      Cones, bibs, balls, etc. are things you can control; always have them with you.

 

E.        Duration of training sessions:

i.)        Should be appropriate to their age and close to their actual game time.

ii.)       Allow time for warm-up/stretch and cool down/stretch, and for water breaks

          and or team talks.

 

F.        Your plan of action, remember - no lines, lectures or caps!

i.)        Team talk first – if necessary with older players, include their input.

ii.)       Warm up and stretch – movement with the ball/ every player should have a ball;

          intersperse dynamic stretching with individual ball skills.

iii.)      Activities:

1.        Focus on previous game if necessary to correct or address aspects.

2.      Address improvements necessary – technical, tactical, fitness or psychological

          – as applicable.

3.        Focus on next game – formation, style of play, practice to project the outcome.

4.        Apply all of the above in realistic, game situations.

5.        Finish your session on a positive; go to goal as much as possible!

6.      Cool down and stretch (deep, static) and do recap and or short team talk

          while cool down is on-going.

 

G.       Recap for yourself:

i.)        Did you get your objective point(s) across?  Getting it right at training helps

          get it right in the game.

ii.)       Did you allow for feedback from your players (olders not youngers).

iii.)      Did they understand and buy into your objectives; did they have suggestions

          of their own?  Did you implement them?

iv.)      Did you observe and correct mistakes; did you offer solutions to their problems?

v.)       Is your coaching style effective?  Are you firm but fair; positive and inspiring?

vi.)      Do you have a good relationship with your players, do they enjoy playing for

          you?

vii.)     Are you enjoying your coaching?  Your infectiousness rubs off on your players?

 

Focusing on the above pointers will help you run

more effective training sessions.  Don’t do the

same things day in and day out; your players get

bored and you lose them! Planning your training

helps you to be more efficient.

 

You should have a seasonal plan outlining the

technical and tactical development you want to

implement through the season.  Factor into your

play physical fitness and mental toughness too. 

They are a big part of our game.

 

The last piece of advice I would give you is, join in with them too!  Become a kid again and have fun with your players at their own level.  They will love it!!!