Formative Phase for Youth Footballers

Friday, 19. June 2009 - Dr.L.S.Singh/Dr.S.R.Singh (GW)

Youth players go through a lot of development in their teenager years to become professional footballers.

Young adolescents experience significant developmental changes (physical, psychological, and emotionally) during this Phase. Coaches need to identify these changes and help players come to terms with these challenges and provide support throughout this period of time.


Player characteristics

• Mood swings
• Varied growth spurts
• Better understands technical and tactical aspects
• Matures into individual personality with own opinions, needs and expectations


Considerations for coaching

• Communication with players is most effective when built on mutual trust, respect and understanding
• Explain expected behaviour
• Promote self awareness and responsibility
• Understanding and empathies with players personal problems and concerns
• Treat players fairly and equally
• Provide corrective and constructive feedback
• Never ridicule an individual player in front of the team
• Involve team representatives when dealing with team issues


Considerations for training

• Analyse and evaluate previous performance of player/team
• Suggest ideas to improve training sessions and emphasize on the positive aspects of performance
• Always present a well prepared training session
• Contents should include all aspects of individual skills, technical and tactical play
• Motor skills and coordination work should be integrated in the warm –up and occasionally be included in other parts of training
• Training games are the main method of improving conditioning except coordination
• Rehabilitation and individual weakness need specific training
• Integrate the soccer training excises into games


When explaining new skills and practices use the following method

EXPLAIN > DEMONSTRATE > PRACTICE > FEEDBACK > PRACTICE


Considerations for games

Players at the age of 13 to 15 start to develop an understanding of the more developed tactical aspects of play and are keen to learn how to operate as a unit within the various zones of defence, midfield and attack on the field.
Coaches are encouraged to allow players to experiment with a variety of team formations and tactical strategies and also the experience to play in various areas on the field in order to fully develop their talent.
 
(with inputs from AFC Youth Handbook)