Can creating problems create solutions?
Hi Everyone,
A big welcome to those who are new to this newsletter, I saw an uptick in sign-ups. You can get all the previous back issues here. For all who’s been here longer, thanks again. The international football fixture list has finally finished with some interesting results and lots of injuries, mostly to Liverpool players it seems! In regard to the title, it’s part of my top ten. it focuses on a study into learning and one method of creating problems for your players. I’m not talking about getting them into trouble but problems to solve on the pitch. Putting them into situations where they have to think and solve. Do you do that enough? Anyway, on to the top ten…
Top Ten of The week
This is a very heavy academic paper, however, I'll try to summarise as much as I can because this is an important one. essentially the papers look through past academic research into learning within sport and say the best learning happening when we as sessions designers create rich problem-solving situations for our players, that allow them to make their own decisions through experimentation. They show two versions of this. The first is general, they give the example of the primary school PE teacher using a variety of exercises (ball sports, climbing, jumping, tumbling). The second is specific to a particular sport. In this example, it would be the defending team playing with a reduced number to cope with someone being given a red card in a game. Why I chose to highlight this one is that it confirms that creating sessions that create problems for your players to solve, specific problems they are likely to come up against will enhance not only their ability to solve that specific problem but their overall problem-solving skills on the pitch.
https://sportsmedicine-open.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40798-020-00280-9
A podcast episode explaining how brain maturity affects performance. Gain an insight into how this may affect your players and your expectation of their performance.
If anyone remembers where current England manager Gareth Southgate first cut his teeth in management, it was at once Premier League club Middlesbrough. What was one of the most unique circumstances during his reign? He fielded an eleven that were all from Middlesbrough. The academy was fairly prolific at the time and still continues to produce players of premier league potential. here an article back in 2012 gives you an insight into what it takes to play at their famous academy
https://www.vice.com/en/article/bmq7w4/inside-middlesbroughs-academy-how-youth-soccer-actually-works
Sport Psychologist Dan Abrahams on his thought for the day. Here he is giving tips on how to help your players achieve more mastery than ego through your communication
Legendary Basketball player (part of the successful Chicago bulls team of the Michael Joran era) and coach (NBA championship-winning team Golden state warriors) Steve Kerr talking her about connecting to people as a coach and how this helps bring the best out of people.
Really thought-provoking piece from former Arenal player and now Academy manager Per Mertesacker. 'every player should be a leader of themselves@ talking through discipline and how the player must take the initiative to improve. Which I absolutely agree, my question to him and to everyone would be how to you get to a place where we can help our players to get this attitude?
https://trainingground.guru/articles/per-mertesacker-every-player-should-be-a-leader-of-themselves
Another great video from the FA learning team. If you haven't subscribed to their YouTube channel then I highly recommend you do now. This one is on how to help players improve their receiving skills
Former England GK coach talking about advice he would give to a young coach coming into the game. 'the technical and tactical knowledge of the game underpin everything'
For those with players who are still in lockdown, 3 areas they can practice and you can challenge them for when you get back to playing.
One for those in the YDP or PDP. If you haven't heard of or are following Carlon Carter then I suggest you do. He's brilliant at explaining elements of the game and breaking them down through video. definitely helps when trying to implement practices and know the outcomes you're looking for.
That’s everything for this week. Thanks again for joining and don’t be afraid to give your feedback, either by replying to this email or find me here. Also if you feel brave enough to be interview by me for our coach’s corner then again let me know. Please share this newsletter with your friends and fellow coaches by using the buttons below. have a great weekend and week.