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Soccer Coach Smart Sessions - a dynamic new weekly coaching plan to improve your soccer team’s performance.
Soccer Coach has appointed former FA Acting Technical Director Les Reed as editor to Soccer Coach Smart Sessions – a new practical weekly service for soccer coaches launched today.
Les spent eight years as one of the FA’s regional coaches before leading Charlton Athletic into the Premiership. He was also a coach for the England team. Now Les is back at Charlton as assistant head coach.
Based on Les Reed’s own unique research and experience, each plan provides soccer coaches of teams of all ages the following.
- Clear and powerful objectives
The plans outline the objectives of the session. You tell the players how to achieve these at the beginning, or tease it out of them as the session goes on. At the end, return to these objectives to see if they have reached the goals.
- Explanation of how the session will work
Depending on the aim of the session, see the exercises or moves the players need to practice. Try them in slow motion until the drill is right. Then speed it up. “What to shout” prompts are also given to keep the players focused. Plus “What to look for” prompts so the coach can keep their eye on why players might be failing Les will show how and when to step up the pressure to get the most out of it.
- Answers to vital tactical questions
Every session will throw up questions like: “Where do I stand as coach? Do I throw the ball into the grid? How would I put this into a game situation?” These are all answered in the training plan. Each one will prepare the coach to use what has been learnt in a proper game.
- What to shout and what to look for
Apart from the usual words of encouragement, it’s good to shout key instructions to players. Les tells the coach when, how and what to shout for maximum impact. The coach also needs to keep their eyes open for mistakes. The session will help identify quickly where players might go wrong so they can quickly be put right.
- Ways to get good feedback
Each session gives the chance to challenge the players and the game situation, either by using feedback or asking oneself the most vital questions.
Each plan fits onto a single page, so it can be printed out and taken onto the pitch. They cover 20 minutes of solid activity. But they’re flexible enough to stretch to over an hour’s worth of training.
This way, coaches can tailor them to the demands of their team, whatever age or standard. It should take less than five minutes to read the instructions and set up the session. A minimum of six players are needed. The only extra equipment needed is a set of cones (or trainers or tops) as markers and a couple of balls.
Here are some of the comments from coaches around the world who have already taken a look at Soccer Coach Smart Sessions.
“To be able to log on and just print the next session on Friday nights really helps. I can recommend them to all coaches as its great to have fresh ideas and advice from someone who clearly knows what he’s talking about.”
Darren Garwood, U9s Coach, Netherfield Boys & Girls FC, Nottingham
“Well worthwhile to have in your kitbag at all times.”
Eric Gilson, WJSA, Chesterfield, England
“What a difference the sessions have made to our training nights. I can mix and match the clear and simple to follow routines with ease and focus on getting key messages across to the lads.”
Andy Thorogood, Stamperland U15s, Glasgow
“When my daughter asked me to coach her soccer team, I have to admit I was scared. That was until I got hold of Soccer Coach Smart Sessions by Les Reed. Now, I run skilled drills that make sense to the girls. I am having parents come up to me and indicate their girls are learning so much!”
David Martinez, Rancho Cucamonga, California
“So far for the first 4 games we are undefeated based on what I have learned so far.”
Rob Moschak, Washington County Sports Authority, Washington
“Since I joined Smart Sessions, I never get stuck for things to do on training day. I find the sessions easy to relay to the boys, and they pick them up quickly too.”
Neil Robert Walker, Barnet, London, England
“A very compact and digestible format with just enough of the really useful how-to’s to be really useful.”
Dean Halfacre, Bookham FC
Soccer Coach Smart Sessions are available online at:
www.soccer-coach.com/sessions
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