GOOD PLANNING PERFECT PRACTICE
HOW TO CREATE AN EFFECTIVE TRAINING SESSION
JEFF VENNELL United Soccer Coaches, Academy Senior Staff + United Soccer Coaches Foundation, Inc.
Coaches at all levels have to develop the skills to plan a practice session that will effectively prepare their team for matches. The United Soccer Coaches Academy courses provide a good framework that coaches can utilize when considering what to practice, why a main topic of each practice is needed and which methodology best presents a systematic approach to reaching practice goals to prepare their teams.
It is assumed that coaches are cognizant of safety factors involved prior to every practice, such as making sure the goals are secured and checking to be certain the field surface is ready for training.
STEP 1 – SELECT THE TOPIC
Youth-level coaches can select their topic from their adjusted seasonal plan. If the team needs to work on dribbling this week, then the practice plan should include dribbling. Because, other than possibly alerting the team about“ how fast Nicole is as the opposing striker,” which team will be the next opponent is not important. More experienced playinglevel coaches base their practices on observation of the team’ s last match:
• What did we and didn’ t we accomplish in the last match?
• When do we play our next match?
• Who do we play next and what challenges do they create for our team?
The focus of the practice session should be as specific as possible. The clearer a coach defines their goal, the clearer it will be for players. equipment is important— soccer balls, cones / disks / flags, vests, portable goals, etc. Practice should begin with playing areas already defined, soccer balls and vests ready for the team, and players should know who will be in which group during the starting practice exercise. Remember the Mechanics:
• Are the exercises appropriate to the topic?
• Exercises details: o Number of Players o Restrictions o Number of Touches o Amount of Time o Number of Goals o Number of Balls
• Proper use of space( approx. 10 yards / offensive player)
• Practice spaces— don’ t share boundaries
The coach should consider the following questions when choosing what topic to select for a training session: Is the focus of the training session on individual exercises, groups or blocks( backs + GK, midfielders, attackers) or team( 11v11 or small-sided exercises that mimics the team shape)? Should the focus be technical or tactical? What players are involved from your team? The opposing team? How will the coach start and restart the exercises to get maximum repetitions? Don’ t try to accomplish too many targets during the practice; generally, two to three are enough.
STEP 2 – ORGANIZE THE EQUIPMENT Once a coach has decided on the focus of the practice, the organization of practice
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