Season Plan

[74offsuit]

Is developing a season long training/coaching plan a good idea?

Having recently qualified as a level two coach, I want to get the most out of my newly gained knowledge, and progress my squad this season.

I plan to use the level two topics list as a starting point to plan attacking and defending sessions.

Something like:-

Week one: Technique or Skill Defending 1 V 1
Small Sided Game When and Where to Dribble

and then different week two etc.

Two questions spring to mind.

Is the choice of topics from level two too narrow?
The coaching formula, is it the most efficient way to coach?

[ian.curry]

Doing interlinked sessions is definitely the way forward in my experience.

Season before last whilst I was on the course, my team conceded something like 24 goals in 5 games. I did 4 weeks of defending, interlinked from 1v1 to 2v2, 2v1, 3v3 then 6v6(even on extra session I was doing all sorts like 4v3 etc). In the final 6 games of the season, we conceded just 6(3 in one game).
We avoided relegation due to our good run in - and fast forward as season, we have been promoted to the top division! This season, in 17 league games we conceded just 19 goals.
Obviously having good defenders and learners helped, but it's clear the effect it had on results.

It may be a good idea to try a plan, maybe shorter, say 2-3 months, and as you say, working on particular areas. It's ideal practice as this is one of the main parts of your coursework for Level 3 - to identify an area to improve and to develop and implement a plan to use over the course of 6 months.
This summer I am looking to improve quick play and beating the man(using Coerver), and will use 5/6 weeks specifically on it.

Using the coaching formula is sometimes the best way I believe, but not always. Perhaps the stop-start business needs to wait until later in the session when they are welcome of any rest! The specifics should be taught in smaller sessions.

[Jerzy]

Bravo, 74, for taking the coaching past the course work and into the coaching of your youngsters. This is the point, not the Level 2 badge, however nice it must be.

I don't generally do my lesson plan until after a couple weeks so I can see what we need to work on, but you're keeping your lads together pretty much, right? I have been convinced of the need to work a bit more, OK a lot more, on footwork, so I'm using an old vid called Soccer Stars, I've made copies for all the guys and will distribute at the first week of practice.

[Asgoodasthelast]

A good book to read is "The principles of Brazilian soccer" by Jose Thadeu Goncalves, it breaks down yearly, seasonal , monthly, weekly, absentee/injury reports and training programs, as well as player assesments.

[special-one]

i was gonna ask do you guys focus each practice on one particular side of the game like passing, or defending or shhoting, or do you usually do a bit of everything, or does that change depending on the age of the players

[74offsuit]

The age of your players is very important. It also depends on the level/seriousness.

The younger they are the more pure fun it should be.

With my (bottom of the league) U16's I alternate between attacking and defending sessions each week. I have season long programs worked out for both that I try to progress through the sesaon.

[roypaul]

A season plan is a must and more and more clubs/schools/universities are demanding more professionalism Our club has linked in to an online soccer planner diary,which links us all together.To be honest I thought it would be a bit of a hassle but its really good its called thesoccerplanner and is a dot com web site.The head coach can look in at what we do and help us which again I wasn,t looking forward t5o but he,s really been supportive.
Your choice hopes this helps

[Jerzy]

You got a link? You CAN post them here. I googled and couldn't find it and tried two or three links...

[roypaul]

link is www.thesoccerplanner.com

[Jerzy]

I tried that....

Looks interesting, but I have more than enough $8-12/month subscriptions...