CLUBSKILLSGUIDE
It is not about team-play skills (concepts
and principles of play, such as game style),
it is more about training and developing the
basic skills.
The key is not focusing on the product
of winning, but on the process of
training and development.
The process for clubs and coaches is the
training; that is the frequency, the quantity
and the quality of training. Coaching at
youth level is focused on the player and
how to acquire and develop skill. It is
short-sighted to think that it is the outcome
of the game for the team or the club, and
not about the players and the team’s
collective skill level.
Everyone knows that to be successful you
must fail before you succeed. We maybe
fail because we are doing the wrong
things, not because we are not trying to
help. Unfortunately within the UK, we have
restricted our success through an over focus
on, and time dedicated to, competition in
comparison to training and skill
development. Our current approach to club
coaching or forming teams to play in
competitions must have sufficient meaning,
with a clear context of training, skill
development, time and preparation.
A coach or club must produce skilful
players for all levels. To do this they must
refocus on the skills, their mastery, and
each and every player’s development
through training. The game is simply the
cream on top of the well-baked cake – too
much cream is not healthy!
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