As an example of this, the provision for music to be on whilst they play a football match with a focus and challenge is fantastic. Another great way to get the youngsters interacting socially during the sessions is to allow them to decide which challenge out of a selection they will do each week. Finishing off with a keepy-up challenge every other week has also allowed me to see just how supportive these young people are to one and other. With year 9's actively encouraging and supporting year 7 and 8 children to have a go and improve week on week.
The challenges go from scenarios of league champs V relegation all to way to 'is it on' where you can only pass forward, fantastic for developing the decision making and movement skills of the young people. One of my favourites is '5 goals, 5 ways' in which there is 4 set goals and one of their choosing, if the team score all 5 before the alloted time is up they win the game, a great way to encourage team work and practice of all different types of finishing including weaker foot, volleys and headers.
I am finding that being able to work at a community level in the foundation phase, now with the older children and the young adults at U18 level, as well as my work at the Academy with the U8's and 11's, I am really starting to become a more well rounded coach that is able to deal with more scenarios and draw on my experiences of all the different age groups to be more effective in each of them when dealing with the children and helping them to problem solve within the sessions.
My advice to all coaches at all levels would be to get out and coach as many different teams at as many different ages and as many different levels as possible. Especially early on in your coaching career. Then when you settle on an age that your are best suited it will be an educated decision and you will ultimately be a better coach and be able to deal with the different spectrum of maturity within your group or team.
Until next time.....
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