How To Design Practices | Football Coaching Advice

Introduction

This tutorial provides a structured approach to designing effective football training practices. Drawing from insights shared by FA youth coach developer Chris Sulley and FA coach development officer Samantha Griffiths, you'll learn how to create engaging training sessions that cater to players’ needs and enhance their skills.

Step 1: Understand the Practice Spectrum

• Familiarize yourself with the practice spectrum to design sessions that are varied and effective.
• The practice spectrum includes:
  • Free Play: Unstructured and game-like scenarios that encourage creativity.
  • Conditioned Games: Modified games with specific conditions that focus on certain skills.
  • Functional Practices: Drills that target specific skills or movements relevant to the game.
  • Small-Sided Games: Smaller teams that increase touches on the ball and improve decision-making.
• Each type of practice serves a purpose and can be incorporated into your training sessions.

Step 2: Structure Your Training Session

• A well-structured session enhances learning and keeps players engaged. Follow this format:
  1. Warm-Up: Start with light activities to prepare players physically and mentally.
  2. Skill Development: Introduce specific skills through functional practices.
  3. Conditioned Games: Transition into games that apply the skills in a competitive yet controlled environment.
  4. Match Play: End with a larger-sided game to simulate real match conditions.
  5. Cool Down: Finish with light exercises and discussions to reflect on the session.

Step 3: Set Clear Objectives

• Define clear objectives for each session:
  • Focus on specific skills or concepts you want players to learn.
  • Communicate the objectives to players at the start of the session.
  • Adjust practice based on players’ progress towards these objectives.

Step 4: Make Adjustments Based on Player Feedback

• Encourage player input during sessions to tailor practices to their needs.
• Use questions like:
  • What did you find challenging?
  • How can we improve this practice?
• Be flexible and willing to modify the session in real-time based on player responses.

Step 5: Evaluate the Session

• After each training session, take time to evaluate:
  • Did the players meet the learning objectives?
  • What worked well, and what could be improved?
  • Use this evaluation to refine future sessions.

Conclusion

Creating effective football practices involves understanding the practice spectrum, structuring sessions thoughtfully, setting clear objectives, and being responsive to player feedback. By applying these strategies, you can enhance player development and make your training sessions more engaging. For further resources, consider visiting the England Football Learning website or exploring their articles on structuring training sessions.