Ryan HodgsonRyan HodgsonDIRECTOR OF COACHING AND DIRECTOR OF COACHING AND

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PLAYER DEVELOPMENT COON RAPIDS SOCCER COON RAPIDS SOCCER

ASSOCIATIONASSOCIATION

PLANNING A PRACTICE SESSIONPLANNING A PRACTICE SESSION

LENGTHLENGTH

• Equal to the length of a game (MYSA Law 7-Equal to the length of a game (MYSA Law 7-Duration of a match)Duration of a match)• U9-U10 Two-25 Minute periods-50 MinutesU9-U10 Two-25 Minute periods-50 Minutes• U11-U12 Two-30 minute periods-60 MinutesU11-U12 Two-30 minute periods-60 Minutes• U13-U14 Two-35 minute periods-70 MinutesU13-U14 Two-35 minute periods-70 Minutes• U15-U16 Two-40 minute periods-80 MinutesU15-U16 Two-40 minute periods-80 Minutes• U17, U18, U19 Two 45-minute periods-90 U17, U18, U19 Two 45-minute periods-90

MinutesMinutes

• Generally add another 10-15 minutes for the Generally add another 10-15 minutes for the halftime intervalhalftime interval

focusfocus

• Pick a topic Pick a topic

• What are your objectives?What are your objectives?• SeasonalSeasonal• Previous gamePrevious game• As players get older, observing games tells As players get older, observing games tells

coaches what the needs arecoaches what the needs are

• STAY ON TOPIC!!!STAY ON TOPIC!!!

FlowFlow

Do the activities flow from one to the next?Do the activities flow from one to the next?

• Why?Why?• Minimizes down timeMinimizes down time

PROGRESSIONPROGRESSION

• Simple to complexSimple to complex

• Clear and ConciseClear and Concise

Breaking the practice into sectionsBreaking the practice into sections

• Warm upWarm up

• Main ThemeMain Theme

• Conclusion of activityConclusion of activity

• Warm DownWarm Down

Breaking the practice into sectionsBreaking the practice into sections

• Warm up-20% of practiceWarm up-20% of practice

• Prepare players physically and psychologicallyPrepare players physically and psychologically• Make sure they are ready for the demands of Make sure they are ready for the demands of

the practicethe practice

• Should be related to theme/main activity of Should be related to theme/main activity of practice practice

• Movement is key to learning skillsMovement is key to learning skills• Keep them moving versus talking with them in Keep them moving versus talking with them in

length about the practicelength about the practice

Main themeMain theme

• 50% of practice time50% of practice time

• 2-3 activities relating to the game will have the best 2-3 activities relating to the game will have the best successsuccess

• Progression of main themeProgression of main theme• Increase/decrease size of spaceIncrease/decrease size of space• Number of players-Adding for pressure/reducing for Number of players-Adding for pressure/reducing for

successsuccess• TimeTime• Number of touches-1, 2, 3 touchNumber of touches-1, 2, 3 touch• Increase/Decrease Number of goalsIncrease/Decrease Number of goals• BallsBalls

• Size, Number of balls, placement of serviceSize, Number of balls, placement of service

Conclusion of activityConclusion of activity

• 25-30% of practice time25-30% of practice time

• Game like-It’s what the players look forward toGame like-It’s what the players look forward to

• Relate previous training points to the gameRelate previous training points to the game

• Should be to goals-Full size with keepers if possibleShould be to goals-Full size with keepers if possible

• Smaller numbers give clearer coaching points, larger Smaller numbers give clearer coaching points, larger numbers reduce frequency of teaching pointsnumbers reduce frequency of teaching points

• Use restrictions to paint pictureUse restrictions to paint picture• Remove them for at least 2/3 of this activity and as Remove them for at least 2/3 of this activity and as

soon as possiblesoon as possible

Conclusion cont…Conclusion cont…

• Observe for 2-3 minutesObserve for 2-3 minutes

• Correct if neededCorrect if needed

• Pause activity if coach see’s the coaching point the Pause activity if coach see’s the coaching point the game is designed to train with reinforcing positive game is designed to train with reinforcing positive performanceperformance

• Or correcting an individual or team mistakeOr correcting an individual or team mistake

• Let them play, the activity can self teach and make Let them play, the activity can self teach and make less frequent coaching pointsless frequent coaching points

• Pose questions to help players problem solve, Pose questions to help players problem solve, involving them more in the teaching/learning processinvolving them more in the teaching/learning process

Warm downWarm down

• 5% of practice time5% of practice time

• Stretch, including upper bodyStretch, including upper body

• Reinforce the efforts of all players positivelyReinforce the efforts of all players positively

QuestionsQuestions

“Give them a ball and set them free, young footballers have a great way of working the rest out for themselves”

Michael Beale-Chelsea FC