1. Maximizing Coaching Moments with Young Players
#110
AYSO National Coaching Program 1

2. Help players learn more rapidly and efficiently
Workshop Objectives
Review a systematic and age-appropriate approach to train young players
Discuss Free Play and understand how it benefits coaches and players
Discuss coaching moments methods
Our Goal:
Help players learn more
rapidly and efficiently
Instructor Notes
Introduce yourself, other instructors, and any special guests.
Let your participants know how you want to field questions: 1) as you go, 2) at the end of a chart section, 3) another way.
Set the tone – “What do you expect to get out of this session?” Guide the answers to fit in with the Workshop Objectives. Spend only a minute or two on this. Don’t waste time getting everyone’s input or looking for a perfect definitions. Use the answers to gauge the mindset of the workshop participants. Are they ready to learn techniques to help them connect with training their players? This will help you tailor the discussion to drive home the overall message at the end of the workshop that using a systematic approach, observing free play, and managing the techniques and frequency of coach instruction will help you get the most of your time spent with the players.

3. Teaching/Coaching Techniques
There are required STEPS that a coach must follow in order to be an effective teacher/coach…
Introduce the first section of this workshop….Teaching/Coaching Techniques
Before showing the one line on this slide, ask the question do we need to be teachers as coaches? Then follow up with the question WHY and get answers from the workshop participants.
Get a few answers and move on…
Now show the words and let the class know

4. 10 Step Teaching Technique
STEPS 1-5
Clearly and concisely state the tactical objective of what you are trying to accomplish
Demonstrate the skill, activity or game using clear and concise instructions/details/information
Involve new players - let the players try it
Get all remaining players involved
Analyze level of play and skills being used by players…
Instructor Notes
In this section, we want the workshop participants to know that there is a repeatable process for teaching. They probably incorporate a number of these steps already. We want them to understand that they can be much more efficient in teaching if they consistently implement this process. This process is a reflection of the Say, Show, Do, and Review method of delivery.

5. 10 Step Teaching Technique
STEPS 6-10
Evaluate level of effort, commitment to training
Are the training groups balanced?
Circulate and correct (use assistant coaches to supervise play and keep the organization going)
Make corrections as needed using Positive Instruction and Encouragement (PIE)
Communicate individual instructions, using concepts of psychological motivation (remember, they are kids - don’t embarrass them)…
Instructor Notes
As we continue on, we are now more focused on the Review portion of the delivery method. We have the players engaged in the activity and we are managing the training difficulty and success levels. We are also looking at the players’ techniques and circulating to help players make corrections to perform the techniques properly. We want to make sure that our coaches are creating a positive and safe environment that allows the players to learn.

6. Games & Activities Age and skill appropriate!
A reason to play (tactical objective)
A person or team who finishes first (competition)
Manageable groups (number of groups) and suitable space
Restrictions (grid size, touch, time)
Consequences
Work to establish a match-type situation
Coaching points and corrections
Re-evaluation
Able to transfer training to the game…
Make it FUN!!!!!
Instructor Notes
Click to reveal each item one at a time. Use examples to illustrate the points. Use your own experiences or refer to the lesson plan for ideas.

7. Teaching Solutions to Match Problems
Use games/activities to create match conditions
Requires organization to repeatedly execute a specific skill and/or tactic
Teach by using the concept of Build Up
Go from the simple to the complex
Unopposed to opposed
Communicate in a language appropriate for the age group
Use coaching moments to correct or validate performance
Engage the players (mental activation)

8. Use FREE PLAY to observe
Evaluating Players
Why do we evaluate players?
Assess abilities and knowledge
Assess what they have learned
To make adjustments to our training plans
How can we create an opportunity to evaluate our players’ abilities to execute a certain skill or task?
Use FREE PLAY to observe
Instructor Notes
Solicit some answers for Why?
Gauge your audience on whether to ask the second question or just make it rhetorical.
Don’t get bogged down. You want to move on and discuss FREE PLAY

9. a relaxed, coach-free environment
What is a Free-Play?
“We (the U.S.) are producing players who are over-coached and predictable as opposed to players who can caress the ball and make you sit up and take notice. Coaches need to be secure with themselves and not allow winning games to validate their importance in the lives of their players.” -- Sonny Askew, former professional player and current youth coach, Baltimore, MD
Condition where individuals play with minimal restrictions on time or space
Players are given general directions on time or space
Players are given general directions on what they should attempt to accomplish and then left on their own
Players should play hard and stop when rest is warranted
Free play allows players to develop natural abilities in…..
a relaxed, coach-free environment
Instructor Notes

10. Benefits of Free-Play
Avoids wasting time organizing lines, capturing wandering players, etc.
Gives players freedom and encourages creativity
Allows learning through mistakes
During free play, players avoid others, seek open space, and become more aware of the action around them
The kids have FUN!
A coach’s observational powers will increase as they are forced to isolate action within a group
Instructor Notes

11. …so you can observe what they have learned
When to Use Free Play
Pre-Warm Up
Prepare players for the technical warm-up
Set the tone for the training session
As an activity or scrimmage
Gives the coach an opportunity to assess
Instructor Notes
LET THEM PLAY…
…so you can observe what they have learned

12. Preparation and Implementation
In order to Succeed:
Create a Quality Training Plan that includes:
Training objective, 10 Steps, Free Play, & Match play within the AYSO sequenced planner
Plan for Fun and have FUN!
Communicate with the parents
Expectations, Goals, Strategy, etc…
Instructor Notes
We want to make sure that our coaches are creating a positive and safe environment that allows the players to learn.
And increase the chances of success by following proven methodology…

13. Coaching Moment Methods
What do we mean?
Opportunities during training to teach or validate our players’ performance
Four Methods
Forced Stoppage
Natural Stoppage
Flow
Individual Reference
Instructor Notes

14. Avoid Lengthy Speeches Keep Instructions Simple
The 4 Methods
Forced Stoppage
Freeze play---Get In---Make your point---Get Out
Most intrusive as it breaks the flow of play
Natural Stoppage
Use break in play to teach while player reset
As in forced stoppages get in and get out
Flow
Talking as the game is playing; Avoid constant commentary
Individual Reference
Pull player aside to make observations
Avoid Lengthy Speeches
Keep Instructions Simple
Notes:
Give detailed description of each method.
Make sure the audience understand the difference between each one

15. Coaches, Players and the Game WIN!
Summary
If a coach understands how to teach using:
The ten (10) step Teaching Technique
Free Play
Coaching Moment Methods
FUN, Quality, and Communication
Coaches, Players and the Game WIN!
Instructor Notes

16. Thank you for Attending
State that this concludes the Division Coordinator course and invite them all to take additional courses like Dispute Resolution and the RMS
#110