The Coach Diary Football Blog

Author: The Coach Diary

  • Enjoy the football this weekend KIDS!

    Enjoy the football this weekend KIDS!

    Firstly best of luck to all the kids (kids means anyone u18s) playing this weekend. I hope they all get to play and enjoy this recreational sport!

    Could you imagine an under 8s/9s/10s etc game on a Saturday where we just let the kids play and didn’t shout at them every time a player touched the ball. Why do we get so caught up in a kids game, where the only thing at stake is a few points! Only 1 team can win the league….so why put some much pressure on these young kids and expect them to play like the pro’s

    How many games, did you win….who cares!

    I mean, do you actually remember how many games you won as a kid?, I certainly dont and I can assure you that all kids playing on a Saturday and Sunday don’t either, in fact they forget soon after the final whistle  and sometimes quicker, all depends on how long their parent goes on about how “they should have done this or that”.

    Its time we just “let the kids play”, its time to stop all this competitive football at under age, its wrong and all its doing is giving the parents and coaches satisfaction, its not good for the game, its certainly not good for players development.

    Lets change this now, for once lets follow structures that actually work and will benefit the Kids & the game in the long run. In work in Europe and in South America they produce vast about of technically gifted kids by allowing the kids to think for themselves whilst providing age appropriate coaching in a safe environment.

    Can our kids not be competitive?

    Non Competitive doesn’t mean the kids can’t be competitive, they always will and that will never change. Its means coaches and parents have nothing to play for, no league, no points; which means the kids can play and enjoy the game without being shouting at every-time they touch the ball! Parents and coaches can sit back and enjoy the game because that’s all it is….and a kids game at that!

    In the meantime whilst we push for Non Competitive at certain ages, age appropriate games, goals and balls…try and sit back and enjoy the experience of watching your child play. So when you start you pitch side prowling and barking this weekend, think about how this is effecting the kids in a negative way! It’s best to say nothing and don’t allow a certain few to control the line. The only voices that should be heard are the kids.

    “you don’t shout over your kids teacher at school, so why shout over your child football coach”

  • Manchester Bound

    Manchester Bound

    Last June we organised a Golf Classic with Man U and Liverpool legends to raise much needed awareness for Dyspraxia Ireland. The funds raised that night went towards bringing The Football for all kids to Manchester and this morning they set off for Old Trafford. The kids will spend 3 days in Manchester, where they will be coached by Manchester United Coaches and spend some time at the cliff. They will also take in a premiership game.

    Wishing all the kids a great time and fairplay to DB Sports Tours and Dyspraxia Ireland for organising the trip of a lifetime!

    The Football for all Logo belongs to the FFA campaign in Scotland

  • My Radio Debut on 2fm

    My Radio Debut on 2fm

    This Saturday 27th August I make my radio debut on 2fm Ballbusters, doing a slot discussing European Football. Tune in from 12 to 2pm every Saturday. The show is presented by Andrew O’Connor and Fiona Looney assisted by Diarmuid Byrne. I have to say I am very excited about this!!!

  • The Irish Sun – Coaching Section

    The Irish Sun – Coaching Section

    The Irish Sun are starting a coaching section in Saturdays Paper you will find it in the GOALS section. They hope to focus on Youth Development and keep readers and coaches up to date with events and coaching seminars. UEFA B coach Gavin Fleming is the man pushing the Coaching column.

  • Wim Koevermans FREE Session

    Wim Koevermans FREE Session

    Wim Koevermans doing a session tomorrow night. Details below

    Presentation: Wim Koevermans

    Date: Monday 22nd August – 7.00pm – 9.00pm

    Registration: 6.30pm Sharp

    Venue: Oscar Traynor Coaching Development Centre

    Session: Technical warm up, Functional Practices, Phases of play leading into 11v11 all relating to the 4.3.3 shape

    Please note that there is no charge for this event

    If you have any queries regarding the event please contact John Farrell for information on 0866860415 or NDSL 01-8488802

  • Tip….

    Tip….

    let the kids be the decider of who wins and who loses; all kids want to win, all kids are competitive…..Kids learn by doing, not just by listening, and they learn by being spontaneous, creative and by taking chance. Thus, training and games do not serve children’s needs if they discourage those natural instincts and create fears about making mistakes.

    “Winning isn’t everything, but the will to win is everything.”

    “If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not taking risks, and that means you’re not going anywhere. The key is to make mistakes faster than the competition, so you have more changes to learn and win.”

  • Apply now – Add to your coaching resume

    Apply now – Add to your coaching resume

    I’m looking add to my soccer CV this season and had wanted to do the intro to Futsal and the Disability, however due to cutbacks the FAI have no dates scheduled for these two workshops. I suppose it goes with the current times.

    I did ask them how many coaches they would need to do either of the workshops and for the Futsal one to be run, there would have to be  a minimum of 20 and up to 30 pax. For the disability workshop only a minimum of 8 and up to 16.

    Which brings me to the point of this post!! If anyone is interested in doing either of the workshops could you get in contact with me and if any clubs wants to take it on even better. I don’t work for the FAI, I just want add to my coaching CV and if this is the quickest way to get one of the above workshops going then I’ll do anything for it to happen (within reason).

    The Disability Workshop (I prefer football for all)

    AIM: The workshop is designed to assist coaches to work with players with disabilities by applying their coaching

    knowledge, skills and competence.

    Objectives: To provide coaches with the ability to:

    • Increase awareness that people with disabilities participate in football
    • Examine one’s personal reaction to the issue of disability
    • Identify the broad disability groupings and Communications to each
    • Apply one’s knowledge of coaching and skill development towards participants with disabilities in practical sessions
    • Consider the Inclusion Spectrum and apply it

    Entry Requirements:

    Workshop candidates will need to have completed kick Start one/Senior Intro courses

    Duration/Format:

    6 contact hours / There are practical aspects of the course, therefore please bring appropriate attire for indoor use.

    Assessment: No formal assessment – Full attendance is compulsory to gain certification.

    Fee: €35pp (2010)

    More info see the FAI homepage

    Futsal

    AIM: The course is aimed at coaches who already have a basic knowledge of Futsal and who may be already involved in coaching a Futsal team.

    The objectives of the course will enable coaches to:

    • Understand and appreciate the fundamentals of Futsal
    • Appreciate and understand the “Laws of the game” of Futsal
    • Organise and coach the basic skills and techniques of Futsal
    • Understand the basic principles of attack and Defence of Futsal
    • Understand basic Futsal tactics including player / team rotation movements and the creation of space
    • Have an appreciation of the use of set pieces in Futsal
    • Have an appreciation of the physical fitness and mental demands of Futsal.

    Entry Requirements: Coaches MUST have completed at least an FAI Kick Star 1 course or equivalent. Experience of coaching a Futsal team is desirable and will be an advantage but is not compulsory.

    Duration/Format: 9 Hours contact hours divided over three x 3 hour sessions. Futsal theory sessions and twelve practical sessions are delivered.

    Assessment: No formal assessment.

    Coaches will have the opportunity to practise during course. Participants MUST attend ALL sessions in order to be certified.

    COURSE FEE €75pp (2010)

    That’s basically the 2 course I want to do next, only there is no course scheduled for this year or 2012 at present, unless the FAI get the numbers to be able to run them.

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    If anyone thinks they might be interested in doing any of the above email me info@thecoachdiary.com with your location and if your willing to travel to Dublin?

    All in the name of football