The Coach Diary Football Blog

Category: Irish Grassroots Football

  • Changing The Game Project – 29th August 2014

    Changing The Game Project – 29th August 2014

    On Friday the 29th August, just a day before 11 aside football kicks off in Ireland. John O’Sullivan from Changing The Game Project will be in Dublin to talk to coaches, parents and club administrators about his project. The talk will focus on a Guide to Raising Happy, High Performing Athletes, and Giving Youth Sports Back to our Kids. It is open to parents and coaches involved with youth sports (all codes).

    John O’Sullivan is the author of the bestselling book Changing the Game: The Parent’s Guide to Raising Happy, High-Performing Athletes and Giving Youth Sports Back to Our Kids.  His writing has been featured in the Huffington Post, Soccer America, and The Soccer Wire. John is also a known speaker and coaching educator, working with schools and youth sports organisations, as well as speaking at TEDx Bend in 2014. He teaches parents and coaches how to create a player-centered youth sports environment, be better leader for our children, and create model youth sports organisations that put our players first.

    John spent nearly three decades as a soccer player and coach at the youth, college and professional level, most recently as the Central Oregon Regional Training Center Director for the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer. He holds a USSF A License, USYS National Youth License, and NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. He is a 1994 graduate of Fordham University and received his Masters degree from the University of Vermont in 2003. He currently resides in Bend, Oregon where the majority of his coaching duties consist of working with his 8 year old daughter Maggie and 7 year old son Tiernan.

    Talk Details:

    • When: Friday 29th August @7pm
    • Where: Carlton Hotel, Old Airport Road, Cloghran Co. Dublin
    • Cost: Early Bird (Includes Book) €22.50. *For group rates see below
    • General Admission €25

    *For Group Bookings (discounts) email info@thecoachdiary.com or call 087 2183837

    Supported by FINGAL SPORTS OFFICE

    John remembers when youth sports was about children competing with other children instead of adults competing with each other through their kids. Listen to John’s powerful talk on TEDx Talks.

    To find out more about John’s Project come along on the 29th August and be the change.

    BOOK NOW

    Download PDF Information Here > Changing the Game Project- 29th August 2014

    I always like to hear your opinions and views. If you feel you have something to say, please comment below or email me info@thecoachdiary.com If, you don’t have anything to add then please forward this on to a friend. As always, thanks for reading.

    I’m also on twitter  @Coachdiary

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  • New Campaign – Are you ready?

    New Campaign – Are you ready?

    With only a month to go before a another season starts, I’m sure you have already experienced the joys of new players arriving and the disappointment of ones leaving. For those at the top level of kids football this time of year can be a very stressful one. Already I have heard of some great coaches who have left the game over the madness that sometimes consume this recreational sport.

    They must want to play!

    For any parents reading this who may be thinking of putting your child into the game. My advice would be, only put your child into sport if it’s something they want. This way they will have a great experience playing sport but they must want to be there. I see so many young kids forced into sport when most would rather be out the back playing or swinging out of the monkey bars. Unless your child has asked, – keep them away from organised sport until they are at least age 7 or begging to go. If you really want to get them moving bring them down to the park, bring them swimming, cycling or even join a gymnastics club but before you bring them, ask them which sport they want to play?

    We know the number one reason kids play sports is to have fun but the number 1 reason they leave is because they’re not having fun. 

    Be open, be honest. 

    It does frustrates me when I hear so many kids moving from club to club, being promised this and that or just chasing the dream. Out of respect the player should always go to his/her current coach and let him/her know that they would like to try-out with other teams. By communicating this message, the current coach might be able to guide him/her. If you are already playing football with a team in the top division for instance; why move to one of the other top teams. If you’re doing your best and enjoying the coaching, why move? One thing players can control is their effort, how hard they try. Getting better is within their control. Regardless if the player likes the coach, or he/she think he’s not improving them. The player can still work with 100% concentration, you can still execute everything in the best possible way.

    The grass is always greener where you water it. So, instead of running around different clubs for no apparent reason, stay at your current one and work even harder. In order to improve on last years season you must be prepared to go to a level you haven’t been before. The only way to do that is to work even harder. If a player isn’t getting into a team, he/she can still be working hard for their chance and when they get that chance be ready to take it! Moving to a new team is not easy; there are many valid reasons not to move.

    #WorkHardAndThenWorkEvenHarder

    What To Look Out For

    You might be taking you child to a sports club for the first time or maybe he/she has asked to move teams or maybe you have decided they need to move to get improve and be challenged. What ever the reason here are a few tips to make sure you do the right thing for your child. The decision you make for your child or in fact the child makes for himself, must have the child best interest at heart.

    Your child may be one of the best player at his current team and enjoys having that label – moving to a another team, he/she may not be the number one player or have as much responsibility as before. He/she may find it hard not to be the center of attention anymore and they must be prepared for this change.

    The Player

    • Most elite teams have 2-3 players who stand out more then the rest, your child may have been one of these players at his last club and now finds himself down the pecking order. This sometimes can be hard to deal with and can hugely affect the child’s confidence.
    • He/she may have to work there way into the starting line up, again this may not have been the case previously. This could have an affect on his/her confidence or desire to play.
    • A whole set of new players and coaches to become familiar with and sometimes at the younger ages this can be difficult to adapt too.
    • Players develop at different stages, if you’re child or player is not developing as quick as you like, don’t force the process. I’ve seen so many kids go through patches of being excellent for 6 months and then they become unrecognisable only to be back to their best the next month.
    • Be patient with the players don’t expect them to think and learn like adults, when they are kids.
    • A child born at the start of the year cannot be compared to a child born at the end of the same year. In this case we must be patient with the younger ones.

    Take a look at these interesting Stats:

    On average 50 kids go to England every year;
    18 sign contracts;
    94% who are good enough to get deals with an English club, don’t get as far as a second contract;
    75% come home and never play at League of Ireland level;
    Liverpool Academy stated: 98% of players who are taken in by the English academy fall out by the time they are 18;
    Only 0.021% of u21’s players currently playing in the Barclays u12 league will make it to the premier league.

    That’s how hard it is to make as a professional footballer, it’s unlikely your child will ever reach that level. Year on year less and less Irish kids make it the English game. Let’s look at some of the things you need to be aware of:

    The Coach

    • The coaching will most likely be different and may not be as enjoyable as before or may be even more enjoyable. One way to find out is call the coach and ask him when the next training session is, you can go down and watch how this coach is with the kids.
    • Watching one session may not give you a  full picture but it will give you an idea of how the training sessions are organised.
    • Try and have chat with some parents and see what their opinion of the club/coach etc is.
    • You are putting your child in the hands of these people, you have a right to know.
    • Are the training session planned, are they organised, fun, age and skill level appropriate. Don’t expect professional level but some sort of structure should be in place.
    • Check to see what the managers plans are? Is he a win at all costs type manager or does he develop the kids properly and try to play football, allowing them to take risks and be expressive.
    • A Child centre approach is ideal. Make sure he is not just picking the bigger stronger guys over the smaller more ones.
    • Children learn by playing not watching.
    • We are in the development zone. We’re encouraging kids to get on the ball and mistakes, this is how they learn.
    • Check to see what the managers plans are? Is he a win at all costs type manager or does he develop the kids properly thus allowing them to take risks and be expressive.
    • Check to see if the training times suit, you don’t want to be missing work in order to get to training on time.
    • When you sign up to a team the commitment works both ways. Now kids can’t drive themselves to training and games, so the parent has to buy into the commitment also. It’s important that the training times don’t conflict with the family life. Lots of kids play a variety of sports and at certain levels this may not be something the coach is happy with. Work these scheduling conflicts out ahead of time so your child isn’t left paying the price (less playing time, missing a big game).
    • Take the promises with a pinch of salt.
    • If he/she can promise the kids will learn, it’s safe and will improve whilst having fun. That is more than enough for now!

    “We look at wins and losses, and fail to search for happy faces, and proper developmental environments”

    Signing Up

    • Don’t sign straight way, make sure your child is happy before you sign the dotted line (even if you do sign, most clubs will refund you if you change your mind before the season kicks off). This is possible once the paper work is completed in time.
    • Ask about the ratio of kids to coaches. Eight to ten kids per coach would be ideal. You definitely wouldn’t want it to be higher than 14 kids per coach. It’s virtually impossible to coach a team on your own for a long period of time.
    • Make sure he/she is really wanted and its not just a ploy to get his/her best friend to the club and using you as a screen.
    • They must want to move and not be forced or pressurised in any way. Change is good but it must be his/her decision.
    • If its the case that they have been asked to move from the B team to the A Team again consider all of the above. Children always want to better themselves and sometimes we just need to let them go.
    • By realising the game to them, they take control of it and embrace the process. They also find it easier to make decisions for their benefit.

    Volunteer coaches should have access to training that educates them on child abuse prevention (Welfare course are now available and mandatory), the psychology of coaching in youth sports, working with parents, fitness, nutrition/hydration and safety/first aid, as well as some sport specific training. All this stuff is much more important than teaching the technical and tactical aspects of the game. I would define a great coach on being a great leader and one who’s aim is to improve each and every player both technically and mentally.

    The Club

    • Most top clubs now-a-days have good facilities and structures and require that coaches be trained and Garda vetted but no harm in asking and checking to see where they will be training etc.
    • Does the club have a child welfare officer and what’s the playing policy.
    • Be as honest as possible with your current club, good coaches want to see their players progress even if it means moving to a better level of football. A coach/club should always leave the door open for any player who wants to see if they can move up a level or try a new club.
    • If players feels they are always welcome back, then it makes things easier for everyone concerned.
    • If you aren’t satisfied, take a look at the what neighbouring teams do. It may be worth a little extra drive time to get your kids in a better set-up.

    Respect

    • You must remember to be respectful to your current club and communicating will always make things better. People like to speculate, so best to get in there early and let the manager know. After all, he has been giving up his own time to help you.

    “Children who are given control over their sport experience are more likely to enjoy the game more and stay playing for longer. They’re also found to embrace the process more rather than focus on the result.  It can also allow them to focus longer on improving and develop an interest outside of training, where they will take upon themselves to work harder and get better (More success). This way children learn to value it because the game belongs to them not you”

    Check Back

    • Ask you child how he/she feels about the situation and then ask the question again after a few weeks with his new club.
    • The number one priority is to make sure your child is happy and enjoying his/her football every week.

    “As adults we expect far too much from children at a very young age”

    Winning and Playing

    1. Children don’t value winning as much as adults do. Get them involved, allow them to take control, be supportive and back off.
    2. They love competing but they value playing more than the result.
    3. Sport is a wonderful avenue to help your children learn valuable life long lessons. Do your part to insure that these lessons they are learning are constructive, positive and most importantly FUN!
    4. Children do not play to win, they like to win, they enjoy competing more, but they do not play to win.
    5. They play to have fun, to be with their friends, to feel good about themselves and for pure enjoyment.

    Don’t always pick and choose our kids’ sports team/club because it is the winning one; has the winning coach; the defending champions; and then assume that because of all the wins everything else just happens. Your child will still need to adapt and settling in can be the biggest issue of all. According to Dan Gould at the Michigan State University Institute for the Study of Youth Sports:

    • Kids want to have fun;
    • To get better, and to be with their friends;
    • They want parental support and encouragement; 
    • They want you to watch them play and praise them for their effort; 
    • They want you to be realistic about their ability; 
    • And they want you to be present, and interested in what they are doing. 

    The Parent

    Children do not want you to shout at them, shout at the coach, the officials or the opposition.  They don’t want you to put too much pressure on them, or be overly critical.  They want the game to be theirs and all they want from you is to enjoy watching them play. So, If you find yourself saying “we scored 3 goals today” or “lost by two points” chances are you have not released your child to his/her game and you are still very much in control of it.

    Time to back off and let the game belong to them. Your role is to encourage and praise or best of all just observe and let your child have their own sports experience. It’s about the kids, so let them get instruction from the coach and refrain from giving your opinion about how they played, unless of course it’s going to be positive.

    There are so many uncertainties in the world, as parents we have to do our best to keep our children safe and sports is no different. Knowing that a child is being coached by someone that received training in first aid, has done a child welfare course, coaches in a safe environment, can bring great peace of mind to a parent. Once you have a sense that your child is in safe hands, allow them to grow into their sporting experience. This is the best thing you can do for your child.

    I know all parents are interested in giving their child the best sports experience, no parent or coach ever goes out with the intention to ruin it but as we know so many do.

    Anyway, I hope this post helps parents, coaches and players make the best decision for the benefit of the child!

    Enjoy the experience and make it a positive one!!

    -End

    One for your Diary:

    ****Changing the Game!****

    The Parent’s Guide to Raising Happy, High Performing Athletes, and Giving Youth Sports Back to our Kids

    A really great talk is talking place on Friday 29th August at the Carlton Hotel, Dublin Airport.

    This 90 minute talk is for parents and coaches who’s children are involved with Youth Sport. 
    Early Bird: €22.50 (first 60pax to book will get a copy of John’s book) 

    Bio:
    John O’Sullivan is the author of the bestselling book Changing the Game: The Parent’s Guide to Raising Happy, High-Performing Athletes and Giving Youth Sports Back to Our Kids.

    He is the Founder of the Changing the Game Project, and his writing has been featured in the Huffington Post, Soccer America, and The Soccer Wire. John is also a nationally known speaker and coaching educator, working with schools and youth sports organizations, as well as speaking at TEDx Bend in 2014. He teaches parents and coaches how to create a player-centered youth sports environment, be better leader for our children, and create model youth sports organizations that put our players first.

    John spent nearly three decades as a soccer player and coach at the youth, college and professional level, most recently as the Central Oregon Regional Training Center Director for the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer. He holds a USSF A License, USYS National Youth License, and NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. He is a 1994 graduate of Fordham University and received his Masters degree from the University of Vermont in 2003. He currently resides in Bend, Oregon where the majority of his coaching duties consist of working with his 8 year old daughter Maggie and 7 year old son Tiernan.

    BOOK NOW

    I always like to hear your opinions and views. If you feel you have something to say, please comment below or email me info@thecoachdiary.com If, you don’t have anything to add then please forward this on to a friend. As always, thanks for reading.

    I’m also on twitter  @Coachdiary

    Email this page
  • Every Kids Needs A Champion

    Every Kids Needs A Champion

    and that Champion is you the coach, the teacher. As Rita Pierson say in this short talk, “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like”.  A teacher who spend her entire life in and around the classroom. Rita F. Pierson died on June 28, 2013, at the age of 61. This is truly an inspiring talk. Why do all the wise people die to young!

    Rita quotes others in this talk as well::

    Stephen Covey had the right idea…”Seek first to understand as opposed to being understood.”
    James Comer says: “no significant learning can occur without a significant relationship.”
    George Washington Carver says: “all learning is understanding relationships.”

     

    “Sport is like a double-edged sword. Swung in the right direction, the sword can have tremendously positive effects, but swung in the wrong direction it can be devastating. The sword is held by adults who supervise children’s sports. Whether sport is constructive or destructive in the psychological development of young children greatly depends on the values, education, and skills of those adults.”- Ranier Martens

    “There is very little difference in technical knowledge about the game among most experienced coaches. However, there is a vast difference between leaders in their ability to teach and motivate those under their supervision.” – John Wooden

    Quotes from Rita:

    “Parents make decisions for their children based on what they know, what they feel will make them safe. And it is not our place [as educators] to say what they do is ‘wrong.’ It’s our place to say maybe we can add a set of rules that they don’t know about.”

    “While you won’t like [all your students], the key is they can never, ever know it.”

    “Teachers become great actors and great actresses. … We come to work when we don’t feel like it, and we’re listening to policy that doesn’t make sense — and we teach anyway.”

    “Every child deserves a champion — an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.”

    -End

    I always like to hear your opinions and views. If you feel you have something to say, please comment below or email me info@thecoachdiary.com If, you don’t have anything to add then please forward this on to a friend. As always, thanks for reading.

    I’m also on twitter @Coachdiary

    Email this page
  • ECA Report on Youth Academies in EUROPE

    ECA Report on Youth Academies in EUROPE

    The ECA which stands for the European Club Association compiled a report on Youth Academies around Europe. 96 clubs from 41 countries were used in gathering the data for the Youth Survey. You can download the full report on ECA website which is ecaeurope.com.

    I have taken some of the key factors relating to the youth game, no Irish or Welsh clubs were represented in the this report, however Liam Brady was a member of the Youth Task Force. Glentoran FC from Northern Ireland were 1 of the 96 clubs used. NI had two clubs who participated in the survey, England had 6, Scotland had 4.

    In terms of the areas on which the qualitative research would focus, the task force agreed to limit the scope to the following areas of each youth academy that was observed: Vision & Philosophy, Infrastructure, Technical Approach and Education. I have selected some of key points from the report starting with vision & objectives.

    Vision & Objectives:

    • Over 75% of the academies surveyed have a well-defined youth development vision.
    • 50% define the objective of the youth academy, ‘to create economic added value’ and 60% of the clubs consider their youth academy as a source of income, rather than a cost.
    • The goal for most clubs regarding  their youth academy is to develop players for pro football, in particular their own team.
    • 50% of clubs work with satellite clubs who are mostly amateurs.

    75% of the clubs allow parents at training sessions

    It was found in the report that having a philosophy, vision and mission were the key to successful solutions. Nurturing talent for the future should be the main priority for a club. The study showed that the most successful youth academies were those who pursued their vision and their objective with perseverance. It wasn’t a question of size but a question of spirit and belief. 

    Organisation

    • 50% of the clubs have the youth academy represented on the executive board.
    • 66% of the clubs have the youth academy represented in the technical heart/board by the youth director.
    • 40& of the clubs have the first team coach represented in the technical heart/board.
    • Transition of academy players is decided by the technical heart/board (66% of the clubs)
    • 80% of clubs consider the club manager/first team coach and the youth academy director as the most important members of the technical heart/board and responsible for the transition of players.

    The biggest challenge for clubs academies was the organisation and transition of players to the first team. Many clubs struggle with the rolls of the 2nd team or reserve team. The balance of players who are not (yet) good enough for the 1st team, excessive contracted players from the 1st teams or players coming from the youth academy. Many players end up to good for the youth academy  but not ready for first team football. As we have seen UEFA have introduced the Youth Champions league to solve this problem.

    ‘It is fundamental that the academy directors main task is on the field, “Coach The Coaches”, and not the administrative management’

    Education and Scouting

    Most clubs have around 220 players in their youth academies and most work with 3-4 age groups. Success of any pro clubs starts with the talent recruitment and this is where a well organised scouting department comes in. The scout would generally be linked to the technical heart of the club in order to understand the parameters for selection of the club and also linked to the supporting function like Education, Social and psychological factors.

    • 75% come from the region (less than 1-hour drive)
    • 60% have players from abroad
    • 3% in the oldest age groups are from abroad.
    • 75% have relationships with schools, whereas 50% have relations with a university.
    • 50% have study opportunities at the club.
    • 75% of the clubs allow parents at training sessions.

    Sporting is the only club in the world that has developed and trained two FIFA world players of the year, Luis Figo & Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Studies have proven that the most successful players who have moved abroad to chase the dream did so at the right moment. After they had developed their football talents in combination with their social, educational, psychological and personality development towards adolescence.

    The principles of football education are to combine football with school in building the players character. The report found that the focus on education of players is the core philosophy in most clubs nowadays.

    Infrastructure ( Facilities, Medical, Social)

    • 75% have combined facilities for youth and first team.
    • On average there are 4 pitches per youth academy.
    • 66% have transportation for their academy players to training sessions.
    • 75% carry out antropometric assessment( refers to the measurements of the individual human)
    • 50% + work with psychologists, mostly for mental screening and about 60% of the clubs provide social support.
    • Many clubs are using a mix on natural grass and artificial grass.
    • Most clubs train senior and youth teams in close proximity to each other. However there is sufficient separation between the two to allow for tailor-made private utilisation processes.

    In the youngest age groups, all the individual  creativity unwinds through fun and play without coaching interference, the middle age groups see introduction of more specific technical development for defence, midfield, and forward positions and , in the older age groups there is more focus on tactical (u16s+) playing systems.

    Technical Content & Coaching

    • Most play a consistent formation 1-4-3-3 (52%) and 1-4-4-2 (28%)
    • 66% focus on individual progression rather than team development; however nearly all training sessions are organised with the team.
    • Most clubs have defined learning objectives and most work with 3 age groups: u12s, 13-15 age, 16 and above.
    • Team Sessions: U12s 41-42 weeks, 3 x per week, 4-5 hrs per week. U13-15s 44 weeks, 5 x per week, 7hrs per week. U16s and above, 5 x per week, 7-9hrs per week.
    • Individual Sessions: U12s once per week 30-60 minutes and 12 and above at least 2 per week 90 to 2hrs sessions.
    • Game time: U12s, 22-26 matches of 50-60 minutes. U13-15s, 30 matches of 70 minutes and above u16s, 30 official matches of 90 minutes.
    • Number of tournaments decreases from 10 to 6 per year but International tournaments has increased 1 to 2 per year.
    • 75% work with video analysis and coaching syllabus and physical fitness training starts at most clubs from age 14.
    • 99% of clubs youth teams follow the example of the first team.
    • Many clubs have no individual training whilst others are focusing a lot more in this area.
    • As the game is getting faster the main focus for many clubs is the technical development of the player in all age groups.
    • Most clubs have academy directors but it was important also to have the right balance between coaches who have a background as players and coaches educated through academies universities.

    Finance & Productivity

    • 50% of the clubs spend less than  6% of their budget on Youth Academy.
    • 30% of clubs spend up to 0.5million on YA.
    • 30% spend between 0.5m and 1.5m on YA.
    • 30% spend above 3million on YA.
    • Average spending in YA was only 6% of the clubs total budget.
    • In general there are 6 academy players that are regularly playing for the first team.
    • 8.6% of academy players signed 1st pro contracts at the club in the last 3 years.
    • 50% of the clubs have a minimum of 2 first team players who were registered at the YA for at least 5 years.
    • In almost 50% of the YA, the budgets increased significantly over the last 5 years.
    • Staff (26%), facilities (15%) and players’ contracts (15%) are the most important costs of the youth academy.
    • Of the clubs visited on average they produce between 30 and 50 players per year playing in the national championships.

    Youth Development

    Whats shows from this report is that is makes sense to invest in youth programmes. In professional academies money is saved by not having to pay large sums in transfer and massive salaries. I for one no longer enjoy watching professional football, not being able to recognise the local players. If English and Irish clubs had proper structures like they do in Europe, I think we would see much more local kids making it.

    The report also found that the average spend on YA was 6% of the clubs budget, but 60% of the clubs consider that their YA is a source of income, rather than a cost. Financial fair-play (cost of academy excluded from the break-even requirements) should now play a part in clubs investing more in their YA. You can see why Ajax, Sporting, FC Barcelona have been so successful in producing players, they each have their own philosophy and even when a new academy director comes in the ethos, the values and beliefs of the club never change.

    Let take a look at the Organisation Of The Youth Competition around Europe. 

    Team / Game size per age Group

    • 11v11 : Age 13 was the most common age and a large percentage at u12s
    • 9v9: Age 12 mostly but also U13s
    • 8v8: This varied from u10s to u13s with u10s having a large percentage.
    • 7v7: Mostly played at u10s and u11s
    • 6v6: u5s to u9s
    • 5v5: U5s to U9s mainly. U8s mostly
    • 4v4: U11s

    Age Group When Start On Full Size Pitch

    • U15s: 5% & U14s: 25%
    • U13: 28%
    • U12s: 29%
    • U11s: 11%
    • U10: 1%, U9s: 1%,

    Number Of Players & Game Format Per Age Group (U5 up to U9) 

    • 4v4=45%; 5v5= 40%; 6v6= 5%; 7v7= 10%

    Number Of Players & Game Format Per Age Group (U10 up to U11) 

    • 7v7= 55%; 8v8 = 23%; 9v9 =12%; 6v6=5%; 5v5= 4%; 11v11= 1%

    Number Of Players & Game Format Per Age Group (U12 up to U13) 

    • 11v11 =52%; 9v9 =29%, 7v7 =14%, 8v8 = 7%; 10v10 =1%; 6v6 = 1%

    Number Of Players & Game Format Per Age Group (U14 up to U23) 

    • 11v11 =98%; 9v9 =2%

    To find out more go to European Club Association 

    Content for this post was gathered from the ECA  report on Youth Academies In Europe and I want to thanks OlivIer Jarosz supplying me with the information. Follow the ECA on twitter @ECAEurope

    -End

    I always like to hear your opinions and views. If you feel you have something to say, please comment below or email me info@thecoachdiary.com If, you don’t have anything to add then please forward this on to a friend. As always, thanks for reading.

    I’m also on twitter @Coachdiary

    Email this page
  • Perfect Practice

    Perfect Practice

    One practice at a time but making that practice a perfect practice (doing to best of our ability) every time your practice. With that practice or session the aim is to improve, the aim is to get better. When we think about practice how many of us are improving each and every-time. How many of us just go through the motions, like arriving at training, participating but not doing it intentionally, not doing it with the conscious mind?

    ‘Perfect Practice Makes Permanent, so make sure you strive to Practice Perfect’

    Practicing has to become a habit for you to be successful. No athlete or coach ever got to the top without practicing and improving every-time he/she trained. The great late John Wooden always stressed, to do your best because that is one thing you can control and doing it each time (well) will give you success and satisfaction. Nothing is more important or satisfying then preparation for the game. Preparation is really where success truly lies. So when you practice, make sure you practice well and intentionally.

    How many of us set training goals or targets each and every time we train and that includes making mistakes?

    25 Lessons Learned from John Wooden

    Here is a collection of lessons learned from John Wooden from ‘sources of insight.com’:

    1. A doer makes mistakes.  If you’re not doing, you’re not learning.   Everybody makes mistakes.  It’s what you do with them that counts.
    2. Academics are enduring.  Getting an education is a #1 priority.  Wooden made it a point to his players that they were first and foremost a student (the student part of “student athlete”).  Wooden said, “If you let social activity take precedence over the other two (education and sports), then you’re not going to have any for very long.”   Wooden also said, “Sports are kind of like passion and that’s temporary in many cases, but academics — that’s like true love and that’s enduring.”
    3. Agree to disagree, but don’t be disagreeable.  According to Wooden, “We can agree to disagree, but we don’t need to be disagreeable.”
    4. Be on time, no profanity, and don’t criticize.  Wooden learned this from his Dad.  He had three rules for the students he coached: 1) never be late (start on time and close on time), 2) not one word of profanity, and 3) never criticize a teammate.
    5. It’s not whether you won or lost, it’s if you played your best game.   If you won, but didn’t play your best, then you didn’t really win.  If you lost, but you played your best, then you didn’t really lose.  Wooden said, “Never mention winning.  My idea is that you can lose when you outscore somebody in a game, and you can win when you’re outscored.”
    6. Coach for life, not just the game.   Wooden promoted the idea of a “teacher coach.”  Wooden said that as a coach, you “teach” sports.  However, according to Wooden, a coach has to be more concerned about the overall learning, than just the sport or just winning the game.  Wooden said, “It can be done in a way that’s also helping them develop in other ways that will be meaningful forever.”  It’s about building habits and practices that support students for life.   Wooden credits the fact he was a teacher before he became a coach, helped him organize his time better and learn that he has to work with each individual a little differently.
    7. Don’t let your limits limit you.   Don’t let limits get in the way.  Wooden — “Don’t let what you cannot do, interfere with what you can do.”
    8. Don’t whine, don’t complain, and don’t make excuses.  This is another trio of rules Wooden learned from his Dad — “Don’t whine, don’t complain, and don’t make excuses — you get out there and whatever you’re doing do it to the best of your ability.  No one can do more than that.”
    9. Everybody is unique.  As a teacher, Wooden learned early on the importance of paying attention to each individual.  He learned that he had to work with each individual a little differently, and that no two are identical.  They can be alike in many respects, but they aren’t identical.  He learned that each student or player would have different strengths and weaknesses and that he would have to vary his approach to help them unleash their best.
    10. Failure is not fatal.  Keep going.  Don’t let setbacks stop you.  Carry your lessons forward, and change your approach.  Wooden said, “Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.”
    11. Focus on character over reputation.  Your reputation may vary.  It’s your character that counts and it’s what you can control.  Wooden said, “If you make the effort to do the best of which you’re capable, trying to improve the situation that exists for you, I think that’s success and I don’t think others can judge that, and I think that’s like character and reputation.  Your reputation is what you are perceived to be, and your character is what you actually are, and I think the character is much more important than what you are perceived to be.”
    12. It’s the company you keep.   Wooden enjoyed being a teacher and a coach because he felt he was in great company and he was shaping the future.  Wooden would say, “those under your supervision are the future.”  According to Wooden, “A coach is like the teacher who once was asked why she taught; they asked me why I teach and I replied, where could I find such splendid company …”  They aren’t just students or players, they are future doctors, etc.
    13. It’s the journey.  It’s the getting there that’s fun.  Wooden said, “Cervantes said, ‘The journey is better than the end.’ And I like that. I think that is — it’s getting there. Sometimes when you get there, there’s almost a letdown, but it’s the getting there that’s fun.”  Wooden would say, ““I liked our practices to be the journey, and the game would be the end … the end result.”
    14. Journal for reflection and growth.   According to Wooden, he journaled for all his players, and this is a difference that made the difference.   The journal is how he could focus on little distinctions and really fine tune the practices and drills to be more specific and relevant for each player.  It’s how he personalized the practices.  It’s this personalization and paying attention to strengths and weaknesses that really helped him bring out the best in each player.
    15. It’s courage that counts.  Courage is what keeps you going.  Wooden said, “Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.”
    16. Keep your emotions in check.   Wooden was strict about keeping his players’ emotions in check.  He didn’t want anybody to be able to tell whether his team had won or lost, just by looking at them.  He didn’t want his team to get overly emotional about their wins, or overly emotional about their losses.  Instead, he wanted a focus on whether they played their best and that only each person would know whether they really gave their best for the situation.
    17. Make each day your masterpiece.  Wooden made the most of each day, by design.  Wooden – “Make everyday your masterpiece.”
    18. Make the effort to be the best you can on a regular basis.  According to Wooden, “If you make your effort to do the best you can regularly, the results will be about what they should be, not necessarily what you’d want them to be, but they’ll be about what they should, and only you will know whether you could do that … and that’s what I wanted from them more than anything else.”
    19. Never try to be better than someone else.  This is another lesson Wooden learned from his Dad – “You should never try to be better than someone else.  Always learn from others and never cease trying to be the best you can be.  That’s under your control.  If you get too engrossed and involved and concerned in regard to things over which you have no control, it will adversely affect the things over which you have control.”
    20. Patience is a part of progress.   Success comes slowly.  Expect change to happen slowly and to have patience along the way.  Wooden said, “Whatever you’re doing, you must have patience” and “there is no progress without change, so you must have patience.”
    21. The score is a by-product.  The score is hopefully a by-product of doing the right things.  Don’t focus on the score, focus on what you’re doing and give your best.  Wooden said, “I wanted the score of a game to be a by-product of these other things, and not the end itself.”
    22. The best player is the one who gets closest to reaching their full potential.  According to Wooden, whoever gets the closest to reaching their full potential is the best player.
    23. Success is “peace of mind.” Wooden had a simple measure of success – peace of mind.  According to Wooden, “Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”
    24. Lead by example.  Wooden said that way back, during his early years of teaching, a specific saying made a great impression on him – “No written word, no spoken plea, can teach our youth what they should be, nor all the books on all the shelves, it’s what the teachers are themselves.”
    25. You’re part of a team.    Wooden truly believed that the sum of the whole is more than the parts.  Wooden would say, “A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player.”

    I’ve started to read a great book called Perfect Practice teach like a champion, the first few pages already have me hooked and inspired me to write this post today. In this video Doug Lemov talks about what they do:

     In Practice Perfect, Doug, Erica, and Katie articulate 42 rules for designing practice that produces excellence. What are the goals that matter most to you? As Dan Heath writes in his foreword to the book, “To practice is to declare, I can be better.”

    The message here is not to neglect the journey (training and preparing) in our anxiety to get better. As John Wooden also said, ‘Success and attention to details, the smallest details usually go hand in hand in sport and in life’

    -End

    I always like to hear your opinions and views. If you feel you have something to say, please comment below or email me info@thecoachdiary.com If, you don’t have anything to add then please forward this on to a friend. As always, thanks for reading.

    I’m also on twitter @Coachdiary

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  • Take a break!

    Take a break!

    I don’t know about you but I’m enjoying this much needed break away from our football team. Even if the kids are itching to get back; I suggest you stay away for as long as you can. It will benefit the team and you in the long run.

    I made the mistake of training through the summer some years back and by October we were spent and everyone needed a break; Christmas couldn’t come quick enough. I won’t make that mistake again!!

    Another Season Over

    Our season finished back in May, so this year I’m taking an extra long break and we won’t go back until the end of July, the new season will start late August so in-between then I will research, devise new coaching methods, strategies and sessions. I’ll be relaxing and focusing on myself for a change. I will also do some work around the club, meeting with coaches and whatever else needs to be done. The break away from everyone involved with the team will be good for all concerned, including you.

    “Texas Health Resources Dr. Damond Blueitt said soccer can take a toll on feet ankles and knees–not to mention the occasional concussion–but most injuries are the product of simply playing too much soccer”

    The Kids

    Many of them only play football, so this a great opportunity to try new sports or new activities. Specialising in just one, won’t benefit them in the long run. In fact children who specialise in just one sport can become ‘vulnerable to burning out both physically and mentally’ said Dr.Alan Goldberg a sports & child psychologist. Playing a single sport all year round can be very tiring (Kids who play GAA) and kids can even get tired of playing the game altogether. In many cases the joy and passion they had at the start of the season can diminish and playing can become a chore. Too much of anything is not good for you. In sport to much use of certain parts or too much movement in the same direction can lead to over-use injuries. That’s why study after study has shown that moving in various directions is much more beneficial but as we know more and more kids are moving less and less….that’s another topic for discussion.

     “I had been coaching pretty much nonstop for the previous seven years, and this is as a volunteer who also had a job, a family of six and other commitments. Simply, I just burnt out from the schedule demands. I felt like I wasn’t being as good a coach as I should be, and I felt like I wasn’t as good to my family as I could be. Who knows, maybe my burnout contributed to the issues with parents during that last season” – Unknown

    That’s why rest and taking time off is so important to the development of any player and the coach. Coaches can suffer mental burn out, leading to becoming disillusioned with the game, or even anger on the sidelines. That’s why a big break will help your body and mind relax also by engaging in other activities can help you de-stress from the sport you coach or play the most.

    This time is for you.  It might even be spending more time with your own family in a coaches case or parents devoting more time to the other kids or a player just taking time away from the pressures of the game and having fun doing other things. Many of us devote so much times to other peoples kids, we tend to forget about our own. If you’re a parent coach you might want to stop talking about the team to your son or daughter. Leave the team issues to during the season and try not to discuss team matters when you’re away from team set-up. By not doing this you will never get the break you badly need.

    Time away from anything you love doing, will make you want it even more when you go back. Players can still improve away from the organised coaching by practicing with their friends and on their own. After all, that’s how the games began and the kids did fairly well without us.

    Take a break, we all need one and we all deserve one!

    Enjoy that break!

    -End

    -End

    I always like to hear your opinions and views. If you feel you have something to say, please comment below or email me info@thecoachdiary.com If, you don’t have anything to add then please forward this on to a friend. As always, thanks for reading.

    I’m also on twitter @Coachdiary

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  • Workshops

    Workshops

    Changing the Game (August 2014)

    • Friday 29th August
    • Talk Time: 7pm
    • Venue: Carlton Hotel Dublin Aiport
    • Early Booking Rate €22.50 includes book.
    • Late Booker rate €25.00 (Does not include book)

    John O’Sullivan is the author of the bestselling book Changing the Game: The Parent’s Guide to Raising Happy, High-Performing Athletes and Giving Youth Sports Back to Our Kids.

    He is the Founder of the Changing the Game Project, and his writing has been featured in the Huffington Post, Soccer America, and The Soccer Wire. John is also a nationally known speaker and coaching educator, working with schools and youth sports organizations, as well as speaking at TEDx Bend in 2014. He teaches parents and coaches how to create a player-centered youth sports environment, be better leader for our children, and create model youth sports organizations that put our players first.

    John spent nearly three decades as a soccer player and coach at the youth, college and professional level, most recently as the Central Oregon Regional Training Center Director for the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer. He holds a USSF A License, USYS National Youth License, and NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. He is a 1994 graduate of Fordham University and received his Masters degree from the University of Vermont in 2003. He currently resides in Bend, Oregon where the majority of his coaching duties consist of working with his 8 year old daughter Maggie and 7 year old son Tiernan.

    Buy Your Ticket Now for John O’Sullivan’s Talk and get a copy of ‘Changing The Game’ for 60people to book

    (This offer will expire in August 2014)

    TICKET PRICE



    Join the Facebook Event Page for John’s talk 

    =======================================================================

    Steve Biddulph Talks (September 2014)

    *******EVENT CANCELLED*******

    • Raising Boys: Friday 5th September @ 7pm
    • Raising Girls: Sunday 7th September @ 2.00pm

    Steve Biddulph is one of the world’s best known parenting authors. A psychologist for 25 years, he is now retired but continues to write and teach. His books, including The Secret of Happy Children, Raising Boys, The New Manhood and now RAISING GIRLS are in four million homes and 31 languages. They have influenced the way we look at childhood and especially the development of boys and men. Today though, the exploitation and misuse of girls and young women globally are his major concern. Steve’s live talks have had a remarkable public response, reaching 130,000 people over almost 30 years.

    Many people express surprise at how moving and emotional these talks are, as well as how much fun. Steve has sold out a number of theatre tours across the UK and will return there again in 2014. Steve also led and funded a human rights project – the SIEVX Memorial Project that was part of a (sadly, brief) sea-change towards more compassionate government in Australia’s 2007 election. He also supports ChilOut (Children Out of Detention) and Sanctuary Refugee Trust. He was voted Father of the Year in 2000 for his work encouraging the role of fathers, and is Adjunct Professor in the school of psychology and counselling at Cairnmillar Institute, Melbourne. He has two grown up children, and lives in Tasmania with his wife and co-author Sharon, and assorted wombats.

    -End

    I always like to hear your opinions and views. If you feel you have something to say, please comment below or email meinfo@thecoachdiary.com If, you don’t have anything to add then please forward this on to a friend. As always, thanks for reading.

    I’m also on twitter  @Coachdiary

    Email this page