T
he ‘traditional’
coaching method is
based on repetitive
drills relating to
technical skills of the
game, with very little practice
of the game itself.
This is not the best way young
people learn and makes sport
less fun. Players of all ages
should be encouraged to play
the game, or modified versions
suited to their level of
development, to learn the
necessary game sense.
The ‘traditional’ approach
The ‘old school’ session format
(Warm up > Teaching a skill >
Repeated practice > Game) has
a number of drawbacks.
The coach normally tells the
players what to do, rather than
players being given situations
where they must discover the
best methods of success for
themselves.
There is an over-emphasis on
practising technique at the
expense of teaching and
practising decision-making skills.
Many of the drills don’t require
players to think and often have
little relevance to the actual
game. Players get bored.
Mindless drills take the skill out
of the context of the game. Is
tackling a tackle bag the same
as tackling a nimble half-back?
Is running unopposed,
predetermined sets the same as
playing against a well-organised
and reactive defence?
Tactical skills
The difference between a good
tactical player and a player who
has tactical knowledge is that
the former is able to execute the
appropriate tactics correctly in a
game, whereas the latter may
have the appropriate knowledge
but is unable to apply it.
Some players are often accused
of being unable to perform
under pressure due to mental
weakness, when the real reason
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may be that they’ve not been
exposed to the decision-making
and tactical skills within their
programme.
A player who possesses good
tactics knows where to go and
how to use space and time
intelligently, both alone and with
teammates. This ability to make
tactical decisions