The Command Style would be used when a coach essentially takes control of the session and commands what is happening. It enables the coach to establish safety and discipline parameters, control young players and large groups and make effective use of limited time. It will ensure that players work towards a theme and standard of performance established by the coach.

For example, you may be coaching a group of say 18 very young players - aged U8. They are very inexperienced and are very timid or over excited. By utilising the command style of coaching, you would command the session. This would allow you to make sure that the players understand all the health and safety issues for example you might say: "Nobody goes anywhere near the road. If the ball goes near the road, leave it and I'll get it later. "When I say stop, stand still, everybody stops and stands still until I tell you otherwise. Everybody understand"?

This style would also allow you to control the pace, tempo and organisation of the session. You would instruct the players where to go and what to do. For example, in a shooting session for the 18 players at under 8 age - your organisation and instructions might be to number the 18 players as a either a one or a two, get them to repeat back to you their number. Instruct all the players who are numbered number one to go to the centre circle and all players who are numbered two to go behind the goal. Appoint a goalkeeper from the team numbered two. Inform all team numbered two and who are behind the goal, that their role is to field / collect the balls when they are shot by team one and miss the goal. Organise them so that there is a system where they roll the ball on the outside of the shooting area and back to a collection area near team one. Ensure safety by insisting the stay away from the posts and stand at least 5 meters behind the goal. Now instruct - command - team one on what you want them to do. For example, run as quickly as they can from the halfway line and look to shoot and score a goal. Show them what you want and if you can't demonstrate very well, get one of the better players to demonstrate on your behalf. Ensure that no player starts running with the ball until you instruct him to do so. This will ensure that you are in control and you don't have players running into each other and that you can watch each player individually as they run and shoot. Explain to both groups that after 3 shots from each player the teams will swap roles and make it a little competition.

Once you have established command, control and organisation of what could be a chaotic and possibly dangerous session, then you are in a position to develop and coach all kinds of different shooting techniques.

With a group this young, you would almost certainly "command" them in respect of how you actually coach. You would explain how you want them to run with the ball, laces, quickly, knock the ball in front, head up, control when nearing the shooting zone. You would them demonstrate and show what you want. This gives them the picture. You would them let them do it. When you wanted to reinforce a coaching point, for example head up. You would explain to the player what you want and why you want it. Show them again - demonstrate and then let the do it themselves, real time. This "command" style of coaching ensures that the players fully understand what you want them to do. They see you - or another player demonstrate and they go ahead and do it themselves. At this stage of their development, they are commanded on what to do.