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RE: Teaching Games For Understanding

GTQ — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:24:40 GMT

When in doubt play 4 v 4! This has all of the ingredients of the real game in that it provides opportunities to develop width, depth, improvisation and penetration in attack as well as depth, delay, balance, and concentration in defence. In addition the players have numerous opportunities to get on the ball and express themselves.

The four-goal version s.s.g. is good for developing 'head-up' on the ball and switching play.

Other than that you need to consider what your prioritied are for improving your team or individuals in your team. i.e. you may wish to increase goal-scoring - in which case design your s.s.g. to maximise shooting opportunities (e.g. play 4 v 3 and condition the game by demanding players shoot at goal when within a certain distance or on their second touch etc).

Think of what situations happen in the real game and amend your s.s.g accordingly.

GTQ

RE: Teaching Games For Understanding

CoachMark — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 05:29:10 GMT

Davey18,

Your philosophy sounds very similar. I appreciate the comments. I go for a more immediate reward (they are kids, right? ;>) ) after practice, but your monthly award could certainly be something they look forward to and strive for.

Great job. Keep up the good work! It's all about the kids.

Coach Mark

RE: Teaching Games For Understanding

davey18 — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:59:40 GMT

I agree completely with what you're suggesting. I keep a points system thats based upon how they begin their first practice which is a scrimmage and write down everything I can about the player eg Speed, Vision, Determination, Ball Control, Power etc and use that as a benchmark. But I base it over a month as kids can have off days too. And then hand out monthly awards. The kids after the first month then push themselves to acheive more and realize some awards are better than others but each and every kid due to the intial benchmark can win the big prize. And then adjust the benchmark at the end of the month according to what they've shown they're capable of over the month. Its a lot of work but the kids and the parents realize the even handedness of it and appreciate it.

RE: Teaching Games For Understanding

CoachMark — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:15:18 GMT

I think it gets down to the age group you are coaching. For younger ages, I use a points system during practices, whereby I award points to individual players and teams when they do things as instructed. At the end of practice, the point leaders get prizes, which may be food treats, gifts, coupons, etc. They can be anything of value as perceived by your players. You'd be amazed how those points reinforce behaviors that show up in games. An article I saw may help.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Coaching-Youth-Soccer-Players?-Abide-by-the-All-Important-Rule-1-and-Everybody-Wins&id=1903241

Try it, you and the kids will like it!

Mark

Teaching Games For Understanding

djasha68 — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:01:35 GMT

How do you go about using all the different ssg that are out there, do you only use a few games with young children or are you likely to play many different games over a season?

I am curious to know if you use different games each week, how do your players learn what the games are supposed to be teaching ? Is repetition of the games not an important issue??

I have used the Liverpool game, 4 goal game, playmaker game and the 1-0 game regularly and I have seen the benefits of the games in our 11 aside league..