Grassrootsfootycoach

New blog

2012-10-03T15:13:00.001+01:00

Please check out the new blog. Davessportsworld.wordpress.com for all the latest Sporting news from myself

Thank you for all your support on this site over the years and if yo could check out new site would be much appreciated.

Feedback always appreciated

Dave

Footy Review Show Episode 4

2011-10-26T17:53:00.000+01:00

Episode 4

Episode 3 of The Footy Review Show

2011-10-24T17:59:00.000+01:00

Please take a listen to the latest edition of The Footy Review Show

Episode 3

Please like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Footy-Review-Show/276975979000173

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/footyreviewshow

Connect with us on Linkedin http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Footy-Review-Show-4127417?gid=4127417&trk=hb_side_g

The Footy Review Show

2011-10-12T10:28:00.000+01:00

CALLING ALL FOOTBALL FANS

The new Football review show provides weekly updates from the Premier League, football league, National and European competitions and other european leagues. With Phil Munns, Dan Norton and myself.

Its available to download from our website or via itunes.

http://footyreviewshow.podomatic.com/

You can also follow us on twitter @footyreviewshow and on facebook search The Footy Review Show and click like, to be kept up to date with all the developments

Your feedback is gratefully appreciated

I need your help

2011-06-07T19:39:00.000+01:00

After the successful first year of my coaching blog with thousands of hits from every continent in the world, I am looking for other forward thinking coaches to join the team.

If you have a passion to provide coaching sessions to other coaches and are happy for it to go through this site, please contact me at grfootycoach@gmail.com

Kind Regards

GRFootycoach

Football Review Show

2011-05-15T18:54:00.001+01:00

http://www.divshare.com/download/14696531-17d

I have attached the new Football show created by myself, Danny Norton and Phil Munns

The show looks at the English football leagues, Champion league and a European roundup of all the on and off field dramas.

As its new in its creation, I would be very grateful for any feedback as this will become a permanent weekly show for the 2011/2012 season.

Interview with David Hunt

2011-04-23T14:54:00.000+01:00

Playing background?

Started at Crystal Palace. Signed for them at 8 and stayed there until 20. Then went Leyton Orient 2yrs, then Northampton Town FC 2 yrs, then a bad spell at Shrewsbury town and now in my 3rd season at brentford but currently on loan to Crawley town

Position?

Center mid and right back

Most memorable moment in football?

This season playing against man utd at old Trafford in front of 75,000 in FA cup for Crawley town

Most embarrassing moment?

None really but never nice to score an own goal

Best player played with and why?

Played with would be Ian Taylor true Villa legend and great mentor

Best coach you have worked with?

Best coach would be John Cartwright who I now believe is scouting for Arsenal which says it all. This guy is a genius and lives up to the expectation of Total Football

How many hours do you train a week?

Usually train 2/3 hours a day except Wednesday's and Sunday's off for rest.

What do you normally focus on between matches?

I focus on training hard in the gym an on the pitch. Work on my weaknesses and sometimes just rest

As a player what would you expect from your coach?

Honesty, leadership and guidance. The quicker you learn the better you'll be.

Background to Indian Football

2011-04-23T13:38:00.000+01:00

Population:

1.21 billion (as estimated in 2011)

Main Nation Sport:

Cricket (However, Hockey is the national sport)

Approximate numbers Participating in Football Grassroots:

Exact figures are unknown because there has never been a serious effort to look into it. However, estimated numbers of children in organized grassroots’ initiatives would be less than 25,000. More children play football at school, in summer camps and in pick-up games, however there is no exact figure that can support this statement.

Governing Body:

All India Football Federation (AIFF) – established in 1937, the AIFF gained FIFA affiliation in 1948. There are 33 state associations under the AIFF, each controlling the football activities in their state. These state associations have their own structure & constitution, which is, at times, against the regulations of the AIFF. Depending on the size of the state, there are a particular number of district associations affiliated to each state association. In smaller states, there are no district associations, and clubs are directly affiliated to the state associations.

Each association is headed by a political figure and hardly involves any ex-players/-coaches in administrative or executive positions. The AIFF has little or no control over state associations, which run as they please. The state bodies and AIFF is amateur, with people holding office for 30 to 40 years, without bringing about any good changes.

Structure of Leagues (any variation to English game):

The national football league – the I-League, is the 14-team top tier in the country. There are two divisions in the I-League. The league lasts 6 months, without a break; matches are held on random days, unlike the predominantly weekend kickoff in most countries. Then there are state leagues which are divided into various divisions. Each division has its own format – however the concept is the same. Each division has between 8 to 10 teams, with two teams going up and two going down each season. The top-most division, called A-Division in some states and Super-Division in others, has its matches over three months in the summer.

The number of lower state division depends on the state association’s funds to organize these tournaments as well as the number of teams available for them. For e.g. the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) has not held its C-division league for a long time now. Teams, new or old, are not allowed to enter directly into the B-Division (which also goes un-organized every now and then). As a result, new teams cannot enter the league structure, despite having the money to pay the registration fee.

There are other tournaments that are created and run by state associations at the state level while tournaments like the Santosh Trophy is a competition between the various state teams. Players are required to forego their clubs and train with their state teams for this tournament. There are other tournaments like the Federation Cup (equivalent to the FA Cup) and the Durand Cup (a 125-year old tournament), which is similar to the Carling Cup. All cups are held separately, and not during the league season.

Under-21, Under-19 and Under-16 tournaments are only for state teams, selection for which happens through summer camps held at various centres across major cities.

Media Coverage:

Is abysmal, to say the least. Indian journalists have little or no idea about football. They are happy to carry a small 2 x 2 inch piece about the latest results in most newspapers. There is just one magazine, in the entire country, about football (that’s HalfTime, by Cleat Beat) and the other general sports magazines have little about Indian football. Major European tournaments and Leagues are given significant importance but most is through paid-articles, i.e. the club/organizations pay the newspapers to carry these articles.

There is very little journalistic capability, in terms of sport, and most journalists have very little awareness of the basics of the game.

National Coverage:

Football is an extremely popular sport in school however, that is primarily due to the low cost of equipment. Goalposts and a ball are enough to play football, however, in school is where the action stops. College football is more about egos clashing than football. The game is rough, played on terrible pitches with more pebbles than grass, while the players are all about hard tackles and no skill. There is no natural progression between school and college football with trials being farcical.

Facilities and infrastructure is absent at the top level. While every state has regular football leagues and tournaments, only the top 10 to 12 teams have all the equipment required. Practice facilities have to be hired, as with match stadiums.

Biggest Achievement:

Qualified, by default, for the 1950 World Cup due to withdrawals by Philippines, Indonesia and Burma. Placed in a group with Italy, Sweden and Paraguay, India withdrew due to the large travel costs involved as well as due to the low expectation from the team. It is wrongly believed that it was due to the lack of boots that India withdrew. In fact, it was in 1954 that FIFA refused to accept India’s entry due to their new rule making it mandatory to wear boots.

Besides this, we’ve come second at the 1964 Asian Cup, won the 1951 Asian Games Gold Medal and also came fourth at the 1956 Summer Olympic Games.

5 Year Plan (if known):

According to the Secretary of the AIFF, they want to see India amongst the top-10 Asian teams. There is, however, no other plan or objective that has been shared with the public in general.

Best Player:

Gouramangi Singh (Wingback) and Steven Dias (Box to box midfielder).

Most Popular Team:

East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Churchill Brothers.

I would like to thank Asit Ganguli, Founder of Cleatbeat website and Halftime football magazine for providing the background to Indian Football

Improve your player’s core skills

2011-03-15T17:26:00.001+00:00

Simple running with the ball

Equipment

· 4 cones
· 4 balls
· Grid 10m x 10m

Skill

· Move on your toes
· Control ball speed
· High frequency of the body
· Use your team player as your imaginary opponent
· Speed of action
· Good balance of the body to control the ball

Progressions

· Both feet
· Speed up into race
· With a cone in the middle
· Without a cone in the middle
· Increase grid size to 12m x 12m

Interview with Sherron Charles

2011-02-26T21:39:00.001+00:00

Football background

I played football at school at the U14 and U16 level stopped for a while and played one year of amateur football as an adult. I've been recreational football since I was a youngster up to now.

Other Interests

Watching other sports Listening to music Biggest achievement in Sport:-I didn't win any competitions in my limited time as a player. As a coach I'm yet to go into any competitions with my team due to lack of organized competitions for U9's.

Most Memorable Moment

When my country (Trinidad and Tobago) played in the World Cup in 2006. Hearing our anthem played on the world's stage before the Sweden game has to be my most memorable moment.

Most Embarrassing Moment

When I played for the amateur team we played against an elite school football team who were better trained and coached than us. We were ran ragged by the younger, fitter team much to the dismay of our supporters. It was embarrassing!

Ambitions for next 5 years

My primary goal is to complete my B.Sc. Sport Management degree. I would also like to complete two more coaching badges and be a professional youth coach by 2016.

Best player played against/with

The player/manager of the amateur team which I played with. He was an astute central midfielders who was like a Xavi to our team and when we were fit and started to click as a team, he was the catalyst of our passing game.

Best player coached

Ibrahim Cromwell. He was eight years old when I coached him, very agile and excellent with a ball at his feet all the kids wanted him on their team because no one could have taken the ball from him.

If you could change one thing in football, what would it be?

Goal line technology

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Interview with Pavl Williams

2011-02-21T21:22:00.000+00:00

Background in football

I'm a Football Development Centre Coach in Manchester and the editor of grassroots coaching website BetterFootball.net. I write for FourFourTwo Performance in Austrialia/NZ (where my parent live) and have also coached in the USA, Ghana and China.

Other Interests

Whether to coach or otherwise, I travel a lot and have been to over 30 countries. Aside from that I'm very bookish, I studied Philosophy at University and I'm a Physics geek.

Biggest achievement in Sport

Finishing 3rd in a NW ten-pin bowling tournament, finished ahead of 29 fully-kitted out players despite using a house ball and borrowed shoes.

Most Memorable Moment

When a very introverted player from one of our junior teams - who had lost every game so far that season - collected the ball from our goalkeeper and dribbled all the way up the pitch, around the opposition keeper and passed the ball in to the net for his first ever goal. You could see his confidence growing with every touch and by the time he reached the opposition box he was moving like Messi and it was obvious he was going to score. We'd been working on close control the session before and it was if he'd found the thing he was comfortable with.

Most Embarrassing Moment

I was delivering a session which was supposed to demonstrate the advantages of our training style to a group of assembled grassroots coaches. But I was so wrapped up in the explanation to the coaches that I completely forgot to pass in the extra balls which were required. So whilst I pontificated about the extra number of touches players would be getting, they were - as I turned around and realised to my horror - just a huge pack chasing a single ball around the area.

Ambitions for next 5 years

On a personal development level I am looking to get on the earliest available FA Youth Award Module 3 as I've really enjoyed the previous Modules and would like to attain an age-appropriate Level 3 qualification. I'm also going to continue along the traditional coaching pathway and take some of the supplementary modules which I've heard good things about.

I'm fully intent on continuing to spread new ideas and examples of good practice to grassroots coaches and emphasis on youth development and enjoyment over the short-sighted win-this-weekend mentality.

Best player played against/with

I was fortunate enough to play in a friendly match in Barcelona along with a number of Spanish ex-pros whose touch and vision was exceptional. But by far the best I've played with is Andrew Cole; he took part in one of the coach development evenings I was a part of and was a model of attacking movement, awareness and sharp finishing.

Best player coached

At our development centre we're involved with a number of boys who are in and around the academies at Manchester United, City, Liverpool and Bolton so there is a lot of talent which we think has the potential to go far but it would be unfair to give their names out!

Approaching the question from a different angle, the most enjoyable players to coach are often those who have no delusions of grandeur but are merely there for fun or to play with friends. Helping these players to realise they can pull off some of the skills they see their heroes perform on TV - and which they never imagined they could coerce their bodies in to - is more rewarding because it is the kind of change which might make the difference between them drifting away in their early teens and playing for life.

If you could change one thing with the FA what would you do?

Overnight I'd divert 25% of the FA Cup prize fund and 100% of England senior side's appearance payments to educating grassroots coaches. I think we should expect any lead coach in an FA-affiliated junior club should have, or be working towards, a minimum Level 2 or Youth Award 2 qualification. We should also expect every FA Charter Standard club to have at least one UEFA 'B' (or higher) coach involved in their set-up.

Undoubtedly this would be better for the players, but the only way we can approach anything like this standard is by subsidising coaching courses and running them in more convenient times. The people who already give so much to volunteer at their local clubs shouldn't also be burdened with costs of £300+ and need to take a week off work if they want to improve their skills.

Pavl is a fantastic grassroots coach and another excellent coaching website please check out http://betterfootball.net/

Pavl is always on Twitter and can be found on Twitter

25 recommendations the FA believe will help improve the English game

2011-01-30T15:45:00.000+00:00

I have listed below the recent announcement by Sir Trevor Brooking recently, I would be very interested to hear everyone's views on this 25 point action plan, and if you believe this will improve our game, which point will have the biggest impact and do you think any are just unrealistic.

1. Agreed mandatory pathway for grassroots youth football playing formats

2. Promotion of The Future Game as a best practice guide to player development

3. Public communications campaign to target teachers, parents and volunteers about the importance of player development

4. The FA to continue work with the other football authorities on whole game youth development issues, and to consider how youth development could be given greater prominence in the game’s governance

5. Expansion of The FA Tesco Skills Programme nationwide

6. Work with policy makers to ensure the protection of football provision in primary education sector

7. Work with the professional game to understand the impact of the ‘relative age effect’ and what solutions might be developed

8. Identify opportunities for grassroots clubs to provide talent identification and development support to the professional clubs

9. Update The FA coaching strategy and promote The FA’s coaching philosophy across the whole game, including the development on an online resource

10. Ensure that age-appropriate qualifications are included in rules and regulations for the appointment of coaches

11. Establish a Coaches Academy network to bring together outstanding coaches of different levels and experiences on a regular basis for coach education opportunities

12. The FA to launch the Licensed Club for Coaches to kite-mark qualified and up-to-date coaches in the grassroots and professional coaching workforce

13. Work with the professional game and grassroots to ensure The FA supply of coach education staff is in tune with the demand across all levels of the game (seniors)

14. Work with the professional game and grassroots to ensure The FA supply of coach education staff is in tune with the demand across all levels of the game (youth)

15. The FA should undertake to report on an annual basis the latest available research on coaching techniques as well as an assessment of performance in terms of coach education, retention and development

16. Develop further opportunities to ensure that England international development team coaches work closely with clubs on the identification, development and transition of young England players into the U16 England development set-up

17. Expand and coordinate club visit programmes for the international to ensure that the international programme for individuals players is appropriate and consistent with their club-based development programmes

18. Encourage England teams at all developmental age groups to play with a consistent playing philosophy to ensure transition amongst teams is consistent

19. Overlay the transition of coaching staff individuals across age groups to provide continuity to young players progressing through the international teams

20. Require future England senior team coaches to have significant input into exposure to the national development team structure

21. Work with the professional game to consider ways to support the U17 – Under-21 age groups of developing young English players to ensure they maximise their opportunities for playing elite level football and their chances to experience the Club England environment

22. Agreement between The FA and the professional game on the mandatory release of players for international duty

23. Agreement to work with the professional game to collect and collate match performance, fitness and medical testing data to consider the impact of the English football calendar on pre-tournament fitness levels

24. Undertake research to better understand the ‘player experience’ of international tournaments to inform future decisions on preparation and environment

25. Formally engage with the leading professional clubs to share their experience on establishing the optimal preparation and environments to encourage player performance.

Taktifol Tactics sheet

2011-01-22T17:41:00.000+00:00

As a coach have you ever written your team sheet on the back of a fag pack?

Have you given your team talk using cones to represent players?

Do you ever give a team talk and notice two players who still dont know what to do?

When I completed my level 1 course, my assessor advised all coaches to invest in a coaches board to help when planning and presenting sessions to your team. I have tried a few methods over the past 5 years but never found a method that suited my style until I discovered Taktifol.

Taktifol is a product which incorporates electrostatic sheet with a football pitch marking. I have trialled this product over the past 2 months. I have planned my sessions with the sheet on my office wall, explained the session to my coaches on my car bonnet, and presented the formation and tactics to my team on the side of a portacabin using the scenarios in the photos below.

Over the past couple of months the sessions I have done have been windy and very wintery, probably the worst weather to coach in, and I haven’t experienced any issues.

To make this product even more desirable to coaches, once you have finished presenting your tactics, the sheet folds away and can be put into your coat pocket, ready for when you need it next. The sheet also comes with a marker pen which can be rubbed away, if needed.

Below a several photos of the Taktifol sheet being used.

Depending on your coaching needs there are a few different products available from a simple Taktifol Football Tactics sheet, to starter, coach and Pro Sets.

For every purchase of either the Taktifol starter, coach or pro set from my website will receive a £5 discount, just click the link below and when entering the details at checkout add the code GRFC to take advantage of this fantastic discount.

http://www.playnasium.com/acatalog/Taktifol.html

Goalkeeper warm up session

2011-01-21T20:41:00.000+00:00

Always make some time for your goalkeeper when planning your sessions, from my experiences in a match, for every 10 fantastic saves my keeper makes, they always remember the 1 mistake. This could affect the keepers confidence short and long term.

This session can be done before a match or at the start of a session and only takes 10 minutes.

This session is very simple to do, but very effective.

Get the keeper to sprint to the first cone

Needs to side step across to the end

Get the keeper to sprint into the final cone

Once the keeper reaches the end, play the ball into the middle for the keeper to make a full length save.

Repeat this exercise going the opposite way to avoid creating a weaker side. Use your own judgement when working on this session to make it right for the keepers ability but improving the difficulty each time

This will allow the keeper to improve speed, agility, and movement.

Interview with Nuno Ferreira

2011-01-17T18:29:00.001+00:00

Background in football

My name is Nuno Ferreira, i´m 35 years old and i live in Portugal (Lisbon). I´m a school teacher and i´m a Soccer coach.

In the last four years, i´ve been working on Benfica (Major Club) with the young players of the academy (U-19, U-18, U-17, U-16 and U-15).

I have worked in other clubs here in Lisbon, some more popular, others less famous.

I already participated in many international tournaments, like Milk Cup on Northern Ireland and others in Europe (Spain, Italy).

I have 10 years of experience, my certification and licensing is (UEFA-B) but (UEFA A (soon).

The players from Portugal and his coaches have good skills and a lot of potential, some of them are recognized all over the world. (José Mourinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and others)

Other Interests

I love music, I love going to concerts, I love cinema and I'm a chess player. I like study and find out about the religions of the world.

Biggest achievement in Sport

National champion (under-17) in 2008 (with Benfica)

Regional Champion division 1 (Lisbon) with Tenente Valdez ( u-19) in 2009

I was voted coach of the year in the City Hall of Odivelas. (2010).

Most Memorable Moment

We were playing (Benfica U-17 team) a tournament in Northern Ireland, Milk Cup in the semi final, we played against Man Utd at the stadium of Coleraine, I remember the stadium being filled to see a game U-17 teams, I got goose bumps, was one of the best moments I lived until today.

Most Embarrassing Moment

the most embarrassing moment that I lived so far in football, a tournament that was invited to Benfica and when we got to the Algarve (Tournament) all other teams were sub-15, someone was wrong to send our team would have to go the U-15 team Benfica and sent our U-17. Obviously we won the tournament, but it was very embarrassing because our team was older.

Ambitions for next 5 years

Right now I am 35 years old, I work with youth teams for over 10 years, I would jump to professional football, but also would like to work at a club outside of Portugal.

Best player played against/with

The best player I played against perhaps Adrien (Sporting Clube de Portugal)

Best player coached

The best players I coached, Roderick Miranda (Benfica) and Carlos Canedo (Estrela da Amadora)

Any players you have coached at youth level playing top flight football nationally or internationally.

Roderick Miranda, Nélson Oliveira, David Simão and Carlos Canedo (Soon)

Tunnel Vision

2010-11-30T22:14:00.000+00:00

I have recently looked at a way at getting my players to lift their heads whilst running with the ball, as most kids are unable to do two things at once I found this session very useful as it forces the player to rely on their ball skills and lift the head up avoiding bumping into others.

The session itself can be used for any number of players and has to be as quite compact, maybe 20 yards in length and 10 wide with 3 rows of players

Keep the progressions to 2 rotations of the course and then move onto next progression.

The different progression can be:-

• Stronger foot

• Weaker foot

• Kick ups

• Other skills

• Both feet

Click to enlarge image

To move this session on further, move 2 players to the sides and their objective is to complete a successful whilst the other players carry on running up and down,

Click to enlarge image

4 Corners Model
Physical

• Running
• Turning
• Stretching

Psychological

• To understand when and where to use an appropriate turn to avoid another player
• Understand movement on and off the ball

Social

• Discussing what worked well

Technical

• Use of both feet
• Skills
• Changing direction with the ball

Interview with Justin Jose

2010-11-14T20:14:00.000+00:00

Name

Justin Jose

Background

Semi-Pro football playing career ended early with a bizarre injury. Graduated in Aeronautical Engineering and worked for a year. Quit the job because I wanted to follow my heart, and that was football.

Did FA level 1 and started coaching. Next year will do coaching degree under Arsenal FC.

Favourite Team

Arsenal FC

Most memorable moment in sport

When 2 of my boys from the Vision India Project got selected to attend the U-14 National Camp.

Most embarrassing moment in sport

Failing to connect with my team during the play-offs. Everyone was excited about the match. We conceded 3 crazy goals in the first 3 minutes, and my players wanted to quit the match. I couldn’t motivate or inspire them from the shock. Managed to keep them on field, and lost 7-1.

Hobbies

Reading, Music & Football

Current Job

Working with the AFC Vision India Project.

Best Player played against/coached

Blaise Mathew, gifted boy, good attitude and comes from a very poor family. With luck, one day he will play at the highest level for India.

Interview with Andy Brown

2010-11-14T19:48:00.001+00:00

Name
Andy Brown

Background

I spent most of my life working in call centre/sales management. I took up coaching about seven years ago as a favour for the club my son started playing for and have loved nearly every minute of it. After being made redundant 3 times in 5 years I decided to get paid for doing what I enjoy. Now as well as coaching voluntarily at a Grassroots club, I work as a Sports coach running after school clubs and P.E sessions and not just in football, but also martial arts and multi-sports.

Favourite Team

Millwall

Most memorable moment in sport

In professional sport it is without a doubt seeing Gary Alexanders wonder goal for Millwall at Wembley against Scunthorpe. I saw the greatest ever goal at Wembley!

In Grassroots football it would be seeing my son score a very rare goal, he was playing right back for the U11 team I was coaching, he picked the ball up just inside his own half, ran down the wing beating everyone for pace, cut in level with six yard box and from just inside the 18 yard box smashed the ball into the far top corner. He then ran all the way back to where he started his run and skidded along the floor.

Most embarrassing moment in sport

Having to replay a game that a side that I was coaching was losing 5-0 with only a couple of minutes to go, one of our players suffered serious knee damage and was taken to hospital by ambulance. Because the game wasn’t finished we had to replay it - Leagues and their decisions…eh!

Hobbies

Just football and I write the http://youthsoccerlessonplans.blogspot.com/ blog.

Current Job

Sports Coach

Best Player played against/coached

Not coached any stars yet, as most of my career had been with young kids who would not have progressed and at school most of the talented players actually went into athletics rather than football.

If you could run the FA, what 1 thing would you change?

I would add regular assessments for coaches at Charter Standard clubs and start to progress it from the tick box exercise it has become.

Interview with Tim Wareing

2010-11-09T17:55:00.001+00:00

Name

Tim Wareing

Background

Played to Amateur Level in Northern Ireland before getting involved in coaching. I hold my UEFA A Licence & run my own coaching business, TWSports.Org Group.

I set up a successful Academy with Irish Premiership Club, Lisburn Distillery.

More info about me here; www.TWSports.Org/whois

Favourite Team

Manchester United

Most memorable moment in sport

Has to be 1999! Treble winning season for United

On a personal level it was seeing youth players I had worked with secure a move across the water, seeing them represent their country & simply moving up into the reserve team / first team.

Most embarrassing moment in sport

Fortunately nothing too major. I have slipped & landed on my backside demonstrating a session much to the amusement of many watching children & parents!

Hobbies

Football, coaching (even though it is my job!) & spending time with my family + travelling.

Current Job

Run my own coaching business, www.TWSports.Org & www.ToddlerSoccer.Org. I also have 6 other products including my coaching website, www.TrainingSoccer.Org. I published my first book at the start of the year, Toddler Soccer – The Essential Guide.

Best Player played against/coached

Best player played with / against has to be Bert-Jan Heijmans. Great Dutch coach that played to a decent level in Holland.

In terms of coaching I have worked with many players who have moved to England. Many others now play in the Irish Premiership & youth internationals including Mark Cooling & Stuart Thompson to name but a few.

I’m currently working with a number of talented kids at the minute. One is attracting interest from over 7 English, Scottish & European clubs.

If you could run the FA, what 1 thing would you change?

The boring, outdated coaching methods! Get down to the kids level, make the sessions fun & challenging & encourage our kids to be brave & play with flair & creativity – let them play. The FA (& IFA) need better relationships with Grassroots coaches & clubs if they want to make a real change.

Extreme Coaching - Not recommended for Youth Football

2010-10-31T20:12:00.002+00:00

Extreme Training For Uzbekistan Football Victory

Click on this link, well worth it!!!

Simple but effective shooting session plan

2010-10-25T19:49:00.001+01:00

This is a simple yet effective session that I have used in the past 2 weeks, the week before, my team played a match and had endless attempts at goal and never scored, I practiced this session for 20 mins, can be longer or shorter depending on your session. Our next match we won 15 – 0, whilst I cant put that massive result down to the session alone, I did see more sharpness, better placement and more confidence.

I have attached several screenshots to show you the layout and flow of the session.

Click on picture to see enlarged

Let me know how the session works for you.

Steve Brown Interview

2010-10-22T20:30:00.001+01:00

Name

Steve Brown

Background
Ex Professional Football Player, Played over 650 games, played for Northampton Town & Wycombe Wanderers

Favourite Team
Nott’m Forest

Most memorable moment in sport
Playing in the FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool in 2001

Most embarrassing moment in sport
Scoring an own goal playing for Wycombe against Rotherham

Hobbies
Coaching, Match Analysis, Fly fishing

Current Job
Recruitment for Adidas, National Scout for Everton

Best Player played against/coached
Alan Ball, the best 0ne-touch player in my opinion. Coached was Angelo Balanta at Q.P.R, currently on loan at MK Dons

Best Trainer
Too many to mention, but most of them never played come Saturday.

Improving Turning Skills

2010-10-04T21:51:00.001+01:00

Warm Up Session
Use a square pitch and get the players jogging around the area and shout key phrase to get them to change direction making sure they don’t bump into other players

Introduce a ball per player and ask the players to demonstrate their favourite skills, I normally ask one player to show a turn and then all players practice the turn, then ask a different player to demonstrate second turn, practice both turns before introducing third turn. I normally call the turns 1, 2, 3 turn. Once the players pick the session up and are producing the 3 turns well, use 3 cones to represent the different turns, ask the players when the cone is shown to do the same turn. This will encourage the player to produce the turn with their head up

Tactical Session

4 players in outside squares and 6 players in the middle, Players pass the ball into a free player for the player to produce a turn through the gate before passing into another free outside gate. Ask the players to use the different turns learnt in the warm up, introduce different amount of touches to maximise the turn, 0 to 2 touches. Encourage the players to run away at pace after producing the turn

Skill

Remove 3 bibs from the players leaving 3 bibbed and 3 non bibbed, goals are scored when making a turn through a gate, players without the ball need to win ball back

Key skills used with this session is maximising body position, creating space, keeping head up, communication with the team,

Match

Remove the outer squares and leave one big square, move the turning goals to each corner, one per each corner. The aim to score through the gates with a turn, you can either nominate two goals per team or leave each goal open to each team, either way will encourage the players to keep head up and look to switch play, an excellent skill to learn for mini soccer.

Warm Up - Piggy in the middle

2010-09-17T17:07:00.001+01:00

Create a circle 20 yds across and mark out with cones. Very simple concept, one or two people in the middle, keep the ball away from the people in the middle.

Start off with one player on a cone and stick to positions, this will make the player with the ball look for a pass,

First advancement: - Allow each player to move left or right if the cone next to them is spare,

Second advancement:- Make the outside players take 2 touches, which will increase the pace and improve the players first touch

Third advancement:- Increase the defenders if needed

Target Man

2010-08-03T21:12:00.001+01:00

This is a session which is very popular with younger player, it involves a 20 yd long and 5 yds wide.

Have 8 players at one end and 2 players as throwers, The aim of this warm up is to get the 8 players from one end to the other without being hit below the knee from the throwers, as this is a football warm up, the throwers have to take proper throw ins, and the team goalkeeper either use proper throw ins or can throw the ball as if he would if distributing the ball to defenders in a match.

Once the player is hit by the ball below the knee they then become a thrower and join the sides. The last person standing wins.

Keep this game going and keep swopping the throwers around. Once the players are getting good, stop them from stopping at each end, this increases the run rate and also they have to think quicker at each end forcing potential errors.