US YOUTH SOCCERadidas Annual Workshop and

Coaches Convention 2006Teaching Games for UnderstandingTeaching Games for Understanding

Some opening thoughts

There is no ‘single’ right way to coach – There is no ‘single’ right way to coach – there are approaches that do not deliver our there are approaches that do not deliver our outcomes.outcomes.

Most coaching approaches are Most coaching approaches are developments, not ‘eureka’ moments.developments, not ‘eureka’ moments.

Development is often most productive when Development is often most productive when coaches work together.coaches work together.

Theory and practice can mutually informTheory and practice can mutually inform

Why did TGfU start?

An apology to PE teachers – pre 70s/ post 80sAn apology to PE teachers – pre 70s/ post 80s Traditional approach Warm up, skill , game (with Traditional approach Warm up, skill , game (with

the emphasis on skill - technique) oftenthe emphasis on skill - technique) often - failed less and most skilled.- failed less and most skilled. - failed to exploit intrinsic motivation.- failed to exploit intrinsic motivation. - failed to develop perception and decision - failed to develop perception and decision

making. making. - teacher/coach dependent- teacher/coach dependent

Why Do People Play Sport?

You sayYou say

Why do people play sport?

AffiliationAffiliation

CompetenceCompetence

SensationSensation

TGfU – the model (1982)

Player entersPlayer enters• Game Form (selected with below in Game Form (selected with below in

mind)mind)• Game AppreciationGame Appreciation• Tactical AwarenessTactical Awareness• Decision Making -What to do How to do Decision Making -What to do How to do

it (embraces when and why)it (embraces when and why)• Skill (individually based)Skill (individually based)

TGfU and ‘skill development’

This is not just what the soccer players call ‘roll This is not just what the soccer players call ‘roll the ball in’.the ball in’.

The games are carefully chosen and progressive.The games are carefully chosen and progressive. Certain key points can be addressed to the group Certain key points can be addressed to the group

(usually tactically)(usually tactically) Once the games are underway the coach is able to Once the games are underway the coach is able to

step in and help individuals or small groups with step in and help individuals or small groups with appropriate challenges.appropriate challenges.

TGfU

What to coach arises from the game and is What to coach arises from the game and is always related to the individual(s).always related to the individual(s).

But isn’t this what happens at World level?But isn’t this what happens at World level?

Time for the cycle could be a lesson, or Time for the cycle could be a lesson, or years. Key is readiness.years. Key is readiness.

A word about learning

My soccer pedigreeMy soccer pedigree Don Bradman’s pedigreeDon Bradman’s pedigree

To be skilful – you have to repeat the skill To be skilful – you have to repeat the skill many thousands of times – why would you?many thousands of times – why would you?

Intrinsic motivation – coach dependence.Intrinsic motivation – coach dependence.

How did you learn to play soccer? Consider how much play, how much Consider how much play, how much

coaching.coaching.

If play how did you know what to do?If play how did you know what to do? Observational LearningObservational Learning

Did you always want to do what the coach Did you always want to do what the coach was doing???was doing???

The Game is on-going – so?

Only step in if you are sure your coaching is Only step in if you are sure your coaching is going to be positive.going to be positive.

Traditional approach to coaching and coach Traditional approach to coaching and coach education has been to identify faults and education has been to identify faults and expect the coach to set to work.expect the coach to set to work.

Key have you the time to correct, or, add.Key have you the time to correct, or, add. Is it relevant to the player. Is it relevant to the player.

Learners Learn

coaches only help this process - sometimes

The Coaches Skill Level

Games Sense – Australia – coachingGames Sense – Australia – coaching Reactions to Aussie and Kiwi sport Reactions to Aussie and Kiwi sport

Making Sense of Games – TGFUMaking Sense of Games – TGFU It makes sense to play games – play sport It makes sense to play games – play sport

that became TOP play and TOP sport that became TOP play and TOP sport (YST)(YST)

Some thoughts from other sports

New Zealand Rugby New Zealand Rugby USA BasketballUSA Basketball Brazilian Football – UK coaches!!!Brazilian Football – UK coaches!!! Australian Hockey Australian Hockey and what of Pakistan Cricketand what of Pakistan Cricket Proposition ‘play’ and ‘situational practice Proposition ‘play’ and ‘situational practice

with player responsibility’ are common.with player responsibility’ are common.

Why now for coaching – 24years after the first publications? Fitness, nutrition, technical analysis, etc – Fitness, nutrition, technical analysis, etc –

the machine is primed.the machine is primed. Some approaches to sports psychSome approaches to sports psych

BUT have we looked at decision making and BUT have we looked at decision making and skill acquisition carefully enough.skill acquisition carefully enough.

Have we developed logical long term Have we developed logical long term programmes to develop these aspects?programmes to develop these aspects?

Decision Making

The limited concentration channelThe limited concentration channel

Where is attention?Where is attention? Perceptual – response couplingPerceptual – response coupling

Practice outside the game?Practice outside the game? Time and pressureTime and pressure Dominant ResponsesDominant Responses

Do we coach too much?

The LessonThe Lesson Improved performance or improved learning?Improved performance or improved learning? Are we disobeying some basic skill acquisition Are we disobeying some basic skill acquisition findings – 2 examplesfindings – 2 examples The playing career – or the winning juniors?The playing career – or the winning juniors? Are age group coaches developing the attributes Are age group coaches developing the attributes

the senior player requires? the senior player requires? How do we judge an effective coach?How do we judge an effective coach?

The Learning Environment

If the keys to development are appropriate If the keys to development are appropriate challenges, appropriate models and lots of goes – challenges, appropriate models and lots of goes – surely much of your coaching task is to set the surely much of your coaching task is to set the learning environment.learning environment.

Shifts coaching style toward questioning and don’t Shifts coaching style toward questioning and don’t forget the game sets the question. forget the game sets the question.

The players solve it – they learn. The players solve it – they learn. The Inner Game – Gallwey (Whitmore)The Inner Game – Gallwey (Whitmore)

So – with this in mind?

The key is to set the appropriate gameThe key is to set the appropriate game For the mum and dad helping – we For the mum and dad helping – we

(experienced youth coaches) set the (experienced youth coaches) set the games and give some clues as to games and give some clues as to progression.progression.

For the experienced coach, the key is to For the experienced coach, the key is to develop the games that challenge the key develop the games that challenge the key elements required.elements required.

So what game? - early

Mini GamesMini Games Is an invasion game the best way to start?Is an invasion game the best way to start? Target Games, Fielding Games, Court Target Games, Fielding Games, Court

Games.Games. Possession v DistributionPossession v Distribution

So what game? Moving on

Small sided soccer games – adapted to meet Small sided soccer games – adapted to meet need – the game sets the problem and need – the game sets the problem and provides the solution.provides the solution.

Use other game with other skills to Use other game with other skills to emphasise tactical awareness.emphasise tactical awareness.

Games – more advanced – full sided games EmpoweringEmpowering Non-threatening risksNon-threatening risks Leaders on the fieldLeaders on the field Individual programmes.Individual programmes.

Graeme Robson Coach Support Manager, NZ Academy

Perhaps with our community coaches we Perhaps with our community coaches we should concentrate on Games sense in the should concentrate on Games sense in the lessons and bring back the backyard games.lessons and bring back the backyard games.

Darren Shand NZ All Black Manager … … austere, narrow minded, coach austere, narrow minded, coach

dominated regimes have gone the way of dominated regimes have gone the way of the dodo.the dodo.

Coaching

If we are to propose that coaching is a ‘profession’ we If we are to propose that coaching is a ‘profession’ we should reflect and develop.should reflect and develop.

You do not get the edge by copying, but you can learn You do not get the edge by copying, but you can learn from others.from others.

I hope the session has given you a few things to think I hope the session has given you a few things to think about.about.

Thank youThank you