The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO)

Presents:The AYSO Intermediate Coach

Course

Intermediate Coach Course

– The AYSO National Coaching Program is accredited by:

– The National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE)…

Overview (session one): • The Intermediate Coaching Course• AYSO 6 Philosophies• Qualities of a Coach• Principles of Play• Systems of Play• Positional Responsibilities• Coaching Cycle• Technical Aspects of various skills• Preparations for the weekend…

Intermediate Coaching Course

To teach coaches how to teach players to read the game, their players and themselves…

AYSO Philosophies

Balanced TeamsPositive CoachingOpen RegistrationEverybody PlaysGood Sportsmanship (not

gamesmanship)Player Development…

Qualities of a Coach

• Types of Coaching Styles– Hard-nosed or authoritarian– Nice guy– Intense or driven– Easy-going– Businesslike

• Some or all can be found in all coaches in varying degrees…

Qualities of a Coach

• Why do we coach?– Social approach

• To promote social interaction among players

– Self approach• Gain personal recognition

– Task approach• Achieve the team goal

• Again, these are found in varying degrees…

Qualities of a Coach• While coaching styles differ, successful

coaches have the same basic qualities

Character TraitsCharacter Traits SkillsSkills

PatiencePatience UnderstandingUnderstanding ManagerManager LeaderLeader

EnjoymentEnjoyment ConscientiousnessConscientiousness TeacherTeacher MotivatorMotivator

ResponsibilityResponsibility Positive Role ModelPositive Role Model Uses HumorUses Humor DemonstratorDemonstrator

Personal DrivePersonal Drive CommunicatorCommunicator

Qualities of a Coach

• Every coach needs– Knowledge of the game

• How?

– Ability to communicate that knowledge to the players

– Ability to observe and correct (Coaching Eye)• This is one focus of the course during this

weekend…

Qualities of a Coach

The Coaching Process

Knowledge

CommunicationObservation

Fix!...

Qualities of a Coach

• Putting qualities into practice– Planning and adjusting as needed– Organizing a training session– Simplifying complicated skill or tactic to

its basic components in language appropriate to the age of the players

– Demonstrating skills under game conditions…

Qualities of a Coach

• Putting qualities into practice– Correcting players in a positive manner– Bringing players of varying ability

together as a team– Determining and adjusting the system of

play for the good of the team first and individuals second…

Qualities of a Coach

• Putting qualities into practice– Delegating duties– Motivate players (ACTIVATE)– Building player confidence– Listening to players…

Team Management

• Have an attainable philosophy appropriate for the age being taught:– You can’t get 12 volts from a 9 volt battery!– Keeping expectations appropriate reduces

frustration for:• Kids• Parents• Coaches• Referees• You…

Team Management

• Keep practices (training sessions) organized and structured– Makes effective use of limited time– Gives parents and players a sense of competence – Give assistant coaches specific assignments– Use to work with smaller groups– Provide opportunity for player specific training– Provide opportunity for position specific training

• Work closely with Team Parent and teams parents…

Team Management

• Need time to warm-up– Even young players need a warm-up

• Check health and mental state of players– Inability to keep up or perform may be related to

• Physical problem– Recurring injury

• Emotional problem– Family– Peers– School…

Team Management

• HAVE MEDICAL FORMS!!– Must be on hand for all events

• Practices• Games• Pizza Parties

• Have ice and miscellaneous medical supplies (Band aids, gauze, ace bandage)

• Reinforce game strategy or focus for that practice…

Psychological Motivation (Activation)

• Coaches must integrate the following into their teaching:– Develop proper attitude in the players– Develop player self-worth– Keep participation enjoyable– Recognize player capacities and limitations– Proper attitudes and behaviors taught by

example rather than lecture, you are the ROLE MODEL…

Psychological Motivation

• Players responsibilities– Come with a desire to improve their

play– Show up for practices and games– Be dedicated to the game– Have determination…

Psychological Motivation

• Motivational Techniques– Praise the attempt or effort– Correct or reinforce in a positive manner– Encouragement to try even when not

successful– Avoid favoritism– Encourage player support for each

other…

Psychological Motivation

• Motivational Techniques– Get player feedback and opinions regarding how

they feel about their performance– Teach better players how to be leaders– Set goals and standards for individuals and team

• Important enough to be added as a fourth element of every practice in the “Coaching Cycle” (tomorrow night)…

Characteristics of Various Age Groups

13 to 14 Year Olds:• Physical changes are occurring• Changes create mental unrest (instability?)• Peer acceptance is very important• Desire to become better players• More vocal and opinionated…

Personality Traits of Successful Athletes

• Drive• Aggression• Coach-ability• Determination• Responsibility• Conscientiousness

• Mental Toughness• Self-confidence• Leadership• Emotional control• Trust and Respect…

Injuries

Because AYSO is committed to providing a program that benefits youth, preventing injuries must be one of the coach’s chief concerns. Many factors influence the number and severity of injuries. Injury prevention can be increased by the following:

In handling injuries, the coach must look competent and in control.

Injury Management

• Proper warm-up• Sufficient physical conditioning• Correct soccer techniques• Knowledge and application of

the Laws of the Game• Sufficient rest and fluids • Equipment• Maintained facilities…

Injury Management

Do not:• try to diagnose a serious injury. • touch the injury, but ask the injured

player to move the affected area. • A serious injury will not allow

movement by the injured player and will give the coach a clue to the seriousness of the injury.

Injury ManagementDo:• Seek professional help for all but

minor injuries. • Put the child’s welfare ahead of the

team’s needs. Playing youngsters with serious injuries is incompatible with the best interests of the children.

Injury Management

Returning to Play:• Can the player walk without limping? • Can the player run in a straight line? • Has the player been cleared by a

doctor?• If the answer is no to any of these, do

not return player to the game.

Heat Trauma

• Players experiencing heat exhaustion need:– Fluids in them– To be placed in shade– Cooled down quickly…

Systems of Play

4-4-2

K

Systems of Play

4-3-3

K

Systems of Play

K

3-4-3

Positional Responsibilities

• POSITION

– Goalkeeper

– Defender

– Midfielder

– Forward

• OPPONENT WITH BALL– Stop scoring

attempt

– Stop scoring attempt

– Regain possession

– Delay attack– Regain possession

– Regain possession– Delay attack

OWN TEAM WITH BALL– Begin Attack

– Maintain Possession

– Advance Ball

– Advance ball

– Maintain Possession

– Score– Advance ball– Maintain

possession

Objectives/Principles of Play

• Objectives»Ambition»Purpose»Intent»Endeavor»Goals…

Objectives and Principles

• Principles»Management of play»Laws of play»Conditions of play»Used to achieve Objectives…

Principles of Play

• Coaches must UNDERSTAND the “Principles of Play” to be successful

• Coaching introduction to tactics

• Youth players are not concerned with “Principles of Play”, just playing…

Principles of Play

• Used as the measuring stick for the coach as to how well the team is performing– No absolute correct decisions– Score or record are NOT accurate

measures of team performance or improvement

– The coach needs to assess performance from moment to moment to determine proper application of principles…

Principles of Play

• Attacking– Penetration– Depth– Mobility– Width– Creativity

• Defending– Delay– Depth– Balance– Concentration– Composure…

Principles of Play

D A

Penetration 1 v 1

Principles of Play

D

AD

A

Depth 2 v 2

Principles of Play

D

D

D

AA

A

Mobility/Balance 3 v 3

Principles of Play

D

D

D A

A

DA

Width/Concentration

Principles of Play

D

D

D A

A

DA

Composure/Creativity

A

A

D

Principles of Play

D

D

D A

A

DA

No Composure/Creativity

A

A

D

Coaching CycleTo Develop Match Characteristics

ShootingShort/long play

RiskTransition

Coach PlayersOn ballSupportingOpposition

Build Upthe Practice Warm-up Free play DrillsSmall games

EmployingCoaching Techniques

while using the Principles of Play

Use Elements of PracticeSkills, TacticsConditioning, Motivation

And ControlMatch Pressure

Space, Speed and Opposition

THECOACHING

CYCLE

Coaching Cycle

• Match Characteristics– Shooting– Short play combined with long play– Risk

• Shooting vs advancing vs possession

– Transition• Attacking to defending• Defending to attacking…

Coaching Cycle

• Elements of Practice– Skills

• Dribbling, ball control, passing, shooting, etc.

– Tactics• Principles of play

– Conditioning– Psychological development– Limited in time…

Coaching Cycle

• Conditioning– Soccer players are always (ideally!)

sprinting or jogging during a match– Players run as much as 3-5 miles

depending on match duration and age– Sprinting (anaerobic alactic) occurs in

sudden spurts of short duration– Jogging (aerobic) occurs most of the

time…

Coaching Cycle

• Conditioning– Lactic acid buildup (fatigue)

• Occurs when high levels of energy are expended for short durations (2 minutes or less)

• The higher the energy level the greater the acid buildup

• After strenuous workouts lactic acid in the muscles may be reduced through easy aerobic motion (jogging) and stretching…

Coaching Cycle

• Match Pressure– Created by adjusting

• Speed• Space• Opposition…

Coaching Cycle

• Build-up– Start from a warm up and end up in

match conditions– Progression

• Static• Dynamic• Dynamic with pressure• Game simulation…

Coaching Cycle

• Organizing the Practice– Warm up to prepare for the session– Free play

• Given general directions on what they should be working on

• No restrictions on speed or space• Develop natural abilities and touch

– Skill work using buildup…

Coaching Cycle

• Organizing the Training Session (Practice)– Match conditions

• Small groups 3v3, 4v4, 5v5, 6v6• Set conditions to reinforce skill

practiced/needed• Remove condition if success is observed

– Always observe skills and abilities to determine topics for next practice…

Dribbling

• Five Technical parts of dribbling– Vision– Touch– Turning– Beating a defender– Shielding…

Passing

• Five characteristics of a good pass– Pace– Accuracy– Timing– Deception– Maintains possession or advances

ball…

Player Decision Making

• Players must make decisions relative to the position of:– Ball– Opponents– Teammates– Themselves– Time– Goal…

Types of Speed

• Technical– How quickly a player executes a

technique

• Tactical– How quickly a player takes advantage of a

situation

• Physical– Fast (Genetic speed)…

Things for this Weekend

• Hydration is critical– Drink lots of water TONIGHT

• Fluids and lunch will be provided• Bring shade and chair• Bring sunscreen…

Things for this Weekend

• Clipboard or notepad for taking notes

• Sign in each day• Have book for final test on Sunday

at end (This is a must pass test!)…

Laws of the Game

• How many are there?– 17

• Why do coaches need to know?– Understand the game– Know where to gain advantage

• Quick restart• Player position

– Teach players how to prepare for restarts…

Laws Of The Game

To truly understand officiating, we recommend strongly that you “walk a mile in his shoes”. That is, try your hand at actually refereeing some matches. Experience as a referee can only improve your skills as a coach and is well worth the effort…

Laws Of The Game Law 1: Field of PlayLaw 2: The BallLaw 3: The Number of PlayersLaw 4: The players’ EquipmentLaw 5: The RefereeLaw 6: The Assistant Referees Law 7: The Duration of the MatchLaw 8: The Start and Restart of Play

Laws of the Game

Law 9: The Ball In and Out of PlayLaw 10: The Method of ScoringLaw 11: OffsideLaw 12: Fouls and MisconductLaw 13: Free Kicks

Laws of The Game

Law 14: The Penalty KickLaw 15: The Throw-InLaw 16: The Goal KickLaw 17: The Corner Kick