The Coach Diary Football Blog

Author: The Coach Diary

  • Keep parents in the loop!!

    Keep parents in the loop!!

    Coaches and Parents By Malcolm Cook

    I caught up with Malcolm Cook again and he gave me his views on how important it is to keep parents updated. As an experienced Coach, I have been a little alarmed and saddened to read about Junior Football clubs banning parents from watching their children practice.I find this hard to believe and think they are making a big mistake as far as their childrens ultimate footballing (and life) development is concerned.It never fails to amaze me how some Coaches and Clubs tend to treat parents or guardians as second-class citizens!

    Parents are part of the Team

    I have always seen them as a part of my coaching “team” and essential to my process of giving each child the best coaching experience we can give them as a club. As a young coach I started with my School teams.I had a meeting before the season started with any Parents who wanted to come (Mums as well as Dads!) to let them know my philosophy and to give them the chance to ask any questions about their children and the way we did things. It was an ideal way to get my ideas across about how we picked teams, the behaviour we expected from the children on and off the field and a few simple rules with the parents role at training  and matches.

    Don’t leave parents in the dark!

    This helped to form good relationships and clarified a lot of issues. Later I was appointed Director of Youth at Liverpool and found to my dismay when I first arrived that parents dropped their Boys off at the Melwood training ground and either sat in the dark and rain in their car or went somewhere else before returning to pick them back up.

    I felt this was not only bad public relations for Boys that we wanted to sign for the club in competition with others but it was completely the wrong way to treat Parents who only wanted the best for their children.

    I quickly changed it by inviting the parents in and putting on tea and biscuits  and making myself available after training to talk to them over any problems or worries they might have over their Boys.

    This is where good coaching comes in-I was given information that was sometimes personal but was very important in helping me as the boys Coach in understanding why maybe the player was not progressing as fast as we thought so we could be a bit more patient and reap the benefits. This would never have happened with the old regime.

    Being a Parent

    myself, my youngest daughter became interested in Athletics. She was only aged about 11 years and was quite a good runner. I took her to the local Athletics club two evenings a week. It was dark with little lighting,little supervision or coaching,poor atmosphere and no provision or communication with parents. As a Coach, I have enough knowledge to stand -back somewhat and let the Coaches and my daughter to get on with it and support her in the background. My girl started to go off it after a few sessions as indeed many of the children did-was it any wonder?

    Parents we need YOU

    Parents are a vital part of the development equation and need to be recognised as such. Remember, they were there long before the Coach was bringing the child up, driving them about, wiping their nose and doing all the things Parents do. The Coach, of course needs to set some limits on the roles they both take. Some Parents are not always easy to get on with and others are are frankly poor role-models for their children. The Coach needs to step carefully in such cases and mainly for the childs sake, seek to work with the Parents in a positive way. At times the Parents behaviour may go over acceptable limits and the Coach may have to ban him from attending training and matches.

    However I believe that by forming good relationships at the start with Parents you are demonstrating the art of good coaching and developing a better atmosphere for all at the club – Keep parents in the loop Coaches !!!

    Malcolm Cook is founder of Freeflow Football keep an eye out for his new site, soon to launch in the coming weeks

    Click on this link to view a previous post about Malcolm  https://www.thecoachdiary.com/?p=599

    Thanks for that post Malcolm

  • Kildare Soccer School

    Kildare Soccer School

    Kildare Soccer School

    Mike O’Toole is the coach behind this new Academy in Kildare and I spoke to him recently and asked him;

    What is the Kildare Soccer? Kildare Soccer School is an academy that aims to encourage better coaching and football education for young players. Kids can join our academy or join our club after the summer if they are not currently playing with a club.This is not a business but a community idea and anyone who does not have the money will not be excluded. It is not about training elite players but any kid that loves to play soccer. I also want to meet coaches and share our ideas and want to find young coaches that want to get involved in coaching football

    Why did you set it up? Its came out of a desire to get my ideas together and the fact that people want you to have a site to check the details of where your academy is and stuff. Its a static site not a campaign as such. I wanted to get back involved with coaching kids but I wasn’t what club I would join. Out of respect for the players I did not want to get involved with a new team and then have to leave so I was careful not to jump on board with another club!

    A  friend who’s u14s I coached recently asked me to get involved with them. I met the chairman and they only have a senior team and u14s team, so this will effectively be their academy if it works out.I wanted to leave it open so kids from other teams could come , because in the summer I move to the fantastic facilities at Clongowes for training.

    Who is it aimed at? Its aimed at kids who are just starting out or just want a new start, kids who want to be listened to and kids who want equal playing time. I have a diploma in life coaching as well as in interest in football so maybe I could help some coaches who want to  rethink their own coaching philosophy or ideas about coaching.

    Can any coach get involved with it? I really hope to get some young coaches involved. I had some young lads 16+ helping out when I last ran a summer camp. This is important to educate young lads who want to be involved in proper coaching and gives them a role a well. This is an important issue to bring in younger coaches.

    When is the next training session and where and how can kids join? Training is on Sundays at RedLane Sports, its 10 mins from Naas and Newbridge. From €3 euros per session,there are some free places available as well. Time: 1030am to 1130am.  see the venue at http://www.redlanesports.com

    Are you recruiting at the moment? No , I really don’t see this as a business at all. I will put up a few posters but we will fill it easily with word of mouth and then see where to take it.

    We all know how much time and effort we coaches put into coaching our own team, how will you make the time for this also and your business too? This is an issue for everyone associated with teams. At the moment I will do only one morning a week. This was another reason not to jump in and take a club team, but also because I didn’t want to buy into some of the approaches and ideas that some clubs have in how they see football in this country.We need a new playing style and new approach to coaching and that can get lost in a bigger club.

    To get in contact with Mike log onto http://www.kildaresoccerschool.com for more information.

    The Coach Diary would like to wish Mike the very best with his new Academy


  • Football for All

    Football for All

    Football for All

    Last Sunday I was down at Sundrive Park Astro football pitch which belongs to Lourdes Celtic FC. The Football for all session was getting under way. The session is run by Dyspraxia Ireland. I was truly moved to see how happy these kids were to be able to run around and kick the football, so moved that I will be signing up for the next FAI course with the aim of helping out.

    Lourdes Celtic Dyspraxia Football Team

    The training session are organised by Dyspraxia Ireland with the help of Lourdes Celtic FC coaches Jako Doyle,Valerie, Grace Jones, The Mates family, Pauline, Martin & their son Kyle

    (I hope I haven’t forgot anyone). All of the above are also involved with coaching other teams at the club and give up even more time to help with the Football for all sessions. Kyle also plays for the U15s . The Football for all section caters for kids with various special needs, with Dyspraxia suffers being a major part of them.

    The session is controlled by 3-4 coaches at anyone time and they work on all aspects of movement, touch, balance and coordination.

    What is Dyspraxia?

    Some children despite adequate teaching, a stimulating environment and with a generally normal intellect, have difficulty with movement and specific aspects of learning. Dyspraxia is a difficulty with thinking out, planning and carrying out sensory / motor tasks.

    FAI – Football For All

    The programmes aim is the delivery of football opportunities to people who may notordinarily get a chance to play the ‘beautiful game’. The Football Association was the first Sports Governing Body in Ireland to appoint a National Coordinator with this remit and the programme has been a huge success. Many agencies and groups recognise how football can contribute to the quality of life of so many thousands of Irish people.

    The FAI now has two full-time Development officers with responsibility for facilitating a clear pathway to cater for players with various disabilities. The Football for All programme is made up of players from all groups and sporting bodies that cater for people with a disability who want to play football. At the moment we have 3,500 players participating in all of our programmes. The FAI recognises that some people or communities start from a disadvantaged position and may need assistance from the Association to access all opportunities that exist in football.

    How Can I get involved?

    To get involved with “Football for All” the first thing you need to do is vist the FAI site or click on this link to see when the next course is run. http://www.fai.ie/images/stories/Disability_Football_Workshop.pdf

    Alternatively: If you are interested in attending any of the Disability Football Coaches Workshops you can email Oisin Jordan on oisin.jordan@fai.ie.

    For more information on Dyspraxia you can visit the site http://www.dyspraxiaireland.com/ Lourdes Celtic FC Dyspraxia Football Team is sponsored by http://www.dbsportstours.ie/.

    To contact Lourdes Celtic visit their site at http://lourdesceltic.com/

    DB Sports Tours are organising a Manchester United and Liverpool Legends Golf Classic with all funds raised going towards Dyspraxia Ireland football Team trip to train at Manchester United training ground. Contact David@dbsportstours.ie for more information.

    Keep up the amazing work guys!!!

  • Bibs, Balls and Cones

    Bibs, Balls and Cones

    Bibs, Balls and Cones was launched January this year 2011 .

    I spoke with Marc Lennon and Dave Dunning ask them what this was about? As the tag line states Every good trainer needs their Bibs, Balls and Cones. The first issue of the E-zine was issued at the end of January 2011, the second issue was released at the end of February and it is our intention to issue the publication monthly thereafter with a sabbatical in December.

    What is the reason behind the concept? Bibs, Balls and Cones will cost the reader nothing. All we hope is that our readers will contribute with ideas and drills, and that will let friends and fellow coaches/trainer know about Bibs, Balls and Cones. As you can imagine feedback is very important to us.

    What are coaches asked to do? Potential contributors are asked to share their knowledge/ideas, submitting full or part of a session plan, drills, ideas or even articles prevalent to training, coaching, conditioning or fitness. The deadline for submissions is one week before the end of each month to allow for editing.

    How will it help? We do not envisage that the E-Zine will be used to have a go at any organisation, or to voice an opinion about opposition clubs or referees. Bibs, Balls and Cones is there to help people who want to improve their own knowledge and importantly to improve the players in their charge.

    Can anyone contribute? We believe that all managers/coaches/trainers involved in the game, whether underage, youths or senior adult, regardless of gender, and regardless of what level, league or division they are involved in, have good ideas and good constructive knowledge which would enrich others of the same mind. Contributors do not have to have any qualifications or degrees, just ideas that they wish to share. When ideas/articles are published we will ask the readership to comment with constructive feedback, or with a variation of the piece or a progression of the idea/article.

    To receive Bibs, Balls and Cones directly, please send an e-mail with a request to be added

    to the mailing list to publications@dd-fitness.com or visit them on facebook at www.facebook.com/ddfitness.

    They’re also behind DD Fitness Strength and Conditioning Coaching.

    The Coach Diary would like to thanks Ball, Bibs & Cones

  • Top Ten Reasons “kids leave sport”

    Top Ten Reasons “kids leave sport”

    A survey done by the institute for study of Youth Sports in Michigan State, children were asked why they quit a sport or a team. For both boys and girls, the top two reasons were: – 1. They were no longer interested 2. It was no longer fun.

    They’re Kids…

    We need not forget that these players are not miniature adults or pro’s. They are children with bones that sometimes have yet to develop, with minds that are not thinking the same way that we are thinking. Of course not all the reason young people quit sports have to do with the fact they are growing up. Children explore new interest and want to exercise their independence.

    There is also the attraction of the opposite sex and other temptations in life, that we Irish only know to well. I’m sure alot of us can relate to this.  Most children, especially until about age 14, played sport for fun. However many reasons have to do with those who are already grown up – the adults who have been in charge of their games since early childhood

    The boys and girls each said the following were the Top Ten reasons they quit:-

    Boys

    1. I was no longer interested.
    2. It was no longer fun.
    3. The sport took to much time
    4. The coach played favourites.
    5. The coach was a poor teacher.
    6. I was tired of playing.
    7. There was to much emphasis on winning.
    8. I wanted to participate in other non-sport activity.
    9. I needed more time to study.
    10. There was to much pressure.

    Girls

    1. I was no longer interested.
    2. It was no longer fun.
    3. I needed more time to study.
    4. There was to much pressure
    5. The coach was a poor teacher.
    6. I Wanted to participate in other non-sport activities.
    7. The sport took to much time.
    8. The coach played favourites.
    9. I was tired of playing.
    10. Games and practices were scheduled when I could not attend.

    Yeah its a US study but it can relate to Ireland too, after all kids are the same everywhere; they enjoy and dislike the same things throughout the world. Most of the reasons have to do with adults not meeting the wants and needs of the children.

    Adults creating to much pressure, demanding to much time and failing to support and motivate the kids.

    All the reasons why children quit sport are all reasons that can be solved by adults to prevent turning children away. A bis issue is whether the children see the process as fair or participation fun. How many times have you asked your team, did they have fun?

    Do you think your sessions are fun?

    In this study the children who answered the survey were also asked, “what kinds of changes would make them consider playing again?

    ” The Top change, according to both boys and girls was “If practices were more fun”.

    The second reason on the boys’ list, and number 5 on the girls’ list: “If I could play more”.

    Sports Systems continue to fail children in many ways at different ages, but puberty is a vulnerable age for kids and this can be the most common age for kids emotional upheaval and physical changes. Their self-esteem is fragile at this time in their lives, and they have an intense desire to feel as though they belong, thus they need for safe sporting activities.

    Chances are, a fair number of parents never really understand why their own child decided to quit a sport, there are some parents who don’t even ask why?

  • The Future of Football

    The Future of Football

    ‘Small-sided games are the pathway to success’

    Sir Trevor Brooking told Special Report on Sky that more must be done to foster technical ability in youth football.

    Brooking, the FA’s Director of Football Development, wants to change the way children are coached in order maximise their potential. Plans to stop under-13s playing traditional 11-a-side games on full-size pitches are included in the Young Player Development Review that he presented to the FA last month.

    “We want to take the pressure off the youngsters who get that intensity from the sidelines, whether it be the mums and dads shouting or the coach or the manager”. Brooking Explained 

    “I could win, perhaps, a mini soccer league by playing two or three big lads at the back who could launch it to the end of the pitch, pick up the pieces and we’d win more games than we’d lose but over a three or four-year period we’d never develop them technically”.  “So we are just saying forget that. Yes, every game is important but it doesn’t mean [winning] is the be-all and end-all.”

    Child Centred

    Converting a full-size pitch into four smaller-sized ones is a relatively straight-forward process.

    It takes little time and carries minimal costs, but FA Development Officer Nick Levett said it could reap significant benefits. “The main idea behind the proposals is to make the game more child-centred,” he explained.

    “We have very much an adult-based structure that we put onto children assuming that the adults want the same as the children. “But the children’s expectations within the game are very different from the adults; they value fun and participation and engagement at a different level to the adults that have a lot of ego-driven values within youth football”

     Format

    “So we are trying to make sure that youth football in the future reflects what the children want from the game because it’s their game and not necessarily what the adult values are.

    “So some of the format changes we are looking at for under-sevens and under-eights, making the game five-a-side as mandatory so they get more touches, more shots, more dribbles and more fun within the game by just being involved more.

    “Then at under-11 and under-12 level, we are talking about making nine-against-nine mandatory, which again is a similar thing; the jump from mini-soccer to 11-against-11 at the moment is huge for many children and nine-against-nine gives us, we feel, the natural stepping stone in terms of development so that we don’t have 10-year-old children playing on the same size pitches as 26-year-old internationals.”

    Pathway

    The move will bring England more in line with Scotland, under-eights play four-a-side games and 11-a-side games aren’t introduced until players reach 13.

    Neil Mackintosh, SFA Head of Youth Development, said:

    “The new national player pathway is something we’ve been working hard on for probably about two years now, although Andy Roxburgh said it actually started 27 years ago – so that’s maybe a sad indictment that it has taken us this long. But small-sided games were introduced in Scotland 27 years ago”.

    “But what became apparent was it was a random development; there was a lot of good practice in Scotland and we had teams and associations playing in different leagues and in different formats, in different age groups with different rules and it became messy” (Sounds like a place I know)

    “So we decided to have a look at a national player pathway that had best practice. For us we are starting with four-a-side, so we now have six to eight-year-olds playing four-a-side football; that’s the smallest number that you need to teach the principals of the game and that’s shown throughout the world to be one of the best teaching tools for young children”.

    “Seven-a-side football is the next step; we’ve been doing it for a long time and it’s very well resourced in Scotland. People believe in the small-sided game and it’s a logical step.”

    Proper

    Mick Dennis from the Daily Express, a guest on Special Report by Sky Sports, admits that he has been won over by smaller-sided games for children.

    “When I started playing football in primary school, you played on an 11-a-side pitch and I thought that was proper football,” he reflected. “So when I first heard Bobby Robson talking about restricting the size of matches, I thought ‘that’s not proper football’.

    “But I’ve refereed youth football for 15 years and I’ve watched the introduction of small-sided games for younger age groups and there’s no doubt at all that the kids get better at football but, almost more importantly, they enjoy it more.”

    Keep following The Coach Diary on his path to change for better coaching systems throughout Ireland. We need proper structures and we need to get the adults with only their own egos in mind out of the game for good. This game is for kids not adults, if you want to get involved in adult football then over u19s football is not for you!

  • Small Sided Games in England

    Small Sided Games in England

    Interview with Samantha Sharman from the English FA

    Nearly every nation in Europe is making changes to their small side game to promote better development and get away from teaching kids that winning is more important.

    What changes are being made to the small sided game in England?

    First off let me explain our current situation within England’s football structures: Currently in our youth football, leagues can play in the formats of 5 v 5s, 6 v 6s, or 7 v 7s up to the age banding of U8’s.

    Do you print results?

    These mini soccer/youth leagues do not print results of the fixtures, do try and take away the emphasis of winning and encouraging the development of the young players. This was made mandatory across all youth leagues 3 seasons ago.

    From U11’s the player format moves to 11 v 11 and moves to a formal league where league tables are introduced and results can be printed.

    Who is behind these changes?

    A lot of research has been conducted through the Youth and Mini football manager Nick Levett, who has been travelling across the country speaking with County Football Associations, leagues and children (players). This research does support some of your views from your email.  From this research Nick has put forward recommendations to The FA Youth Development : –

    Review of the below:

    5v5s at U7 & U8

    7v7s v at U9 & U 10

    9v9s at U11 & U12 onwards

    11v11s from U13 (natural progression as this is when the children move from primary to secondary schools)

    U7’s to U11’s are known as development football, from 12s+ leagues to be known as development leagues

    According to the format above, the size of the pitches and goal posts will also change. (To come in line with Europe)

    I have read about RAE, what is it?

    Another area that may interest you in your research is Relative Age Effect. RAE is an area Nick is also researching into to overcome the problem. A player born in September is grouped together with a child born in August, however physically the player born in September is (majority of the time) a year more advanced (physically) than that of the player born in August, therefore being stronger, faster.

    Due to the emphasis of winning coaches/managers tend to pick the players that are bigger and faster to increase the chance of winning; therefore the player will have more playing time than others, hence an increase in development.

    As you can imagine this is fairly hard to overcome and is another piece of research that Nick is currently co-ordinating.

    “Some of the format changes we are looking at for under-sevens and under-eights, making the game five-a-side as mandatory so they get more touches, more shots, more dribbles and more fun within the game by just being involved more” FA Development Officer Nick Levett

    Are the British nations talking to each other? To make you aware, a Home Nation Youth Development meeting was created in 2010, that have met up twice and a meeting is set for this year.

    All home nation FA’s are represented (English, Irish, Welsh and Scottish FA) to discuss each other’s current developments in youth football and to discuss any issues that have arisen and how we believe they should overcome them from our previous experiences.

    I have a few copies of the FA Football Development Programme Mini-Soccer Handbook, if you want one?