FA Coaching

Good players play with their heads up. They are aware of where the space is on the pitch, where their players are, where the opposition are. They know what they want to do next with the ball, they have pictures in their heads. They play one, sometimes two or three steps ahead of everyone else.

One of the messages that came out of the FA Level 2 Youth Award is that for players to learn and improve as players, they have to repetitively practice techniques and skills. But, if coaches only put on sessions where the players repeatedly practice the same thing, then very quickly, lose motivation and become bored. As a result, they become disinterested and sloppy and the whole process becomes self defeating.

Strikers are primarily judged on the goals they score. There are lots of skills that strikers need to possess, both from a goal scoring perspective and in general play and over the course of this series of blogs we will look at those skills and how coaches can improve and develop them.

Strikers need specific games and sessions that give them lots and lots of opportunities to create and take shots and finishes at goals.

UEFA B Coaching - This is a phase of play practice to work on attack v defence with a focus on coaching forwards to play in the hole between the defence and midfield.

The best football players do the simple things in the game the best. Passing and support, should be simple, but how often does it break down because a player can't pass the ball accurately over 5 - 10 yards?

8 simple steps Grassroots football coaches can take and make a huge difference to the defensive effectiveness of your team.