How do you give your players freedom?

Hi Everyone, welcome to another edition of the Coach Insights newsletter highlighting the Top Ten articles, videos, blogs, tweets that we’ve found interesting. It’s been an interesting week of coaching, as we move away from the heavy work and move to be more game and technical focussed, I’ve been wondering how best to finish the sessions. Usually a game, however, I’m thinking of adjusting some weeks to technical challenges, mainly around shooting, because who does love shooting right! I’d love to hear your thoughts and how you’re finishing sessions. Just games or little fun challenges after a game?

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The Top Ten Of The Week

1. How do you feel about this from Chelsea FC men’s head coach Tomas Tuchel? Do you believe in this approach to creating freedom of expression for players?

   David Garcia @IJaSport

   There’s a common misbelief that if players are constrained, their creativity is stunted. It’s quite the opposite. When players are given a clear role/set of rules/game principles (the WHAT), they are free to apply the game principles in the given role or situation (the HOW).

2. So whilst this isn't an article or video it's such a simple concept that I felt like a bit of an idiot for not using it. instead of keeping the overall score in training maybe just reference the team and the lead they have! do you have any simple tips like this? let me know and I'll share it in the next newsletter.

   Macauley ⚽️ @MaccaCoaching

   Tip I’ve learnt on scoring games in training since arriving in Lithuania. Instead of keeping track of both teams & it being 11-5, 11-6, 12-6… Blue score: 1 blue Blue score: 2 blue Yellow score: 1 blue Blue score: Back to 2 blue Literally mind blown with how simple that is 😂

3. Coach Michael Loftman proposes that there are 4 types of counterattack (direct pass, direct dribble, direct switch, and combination play. Does this make it easier for you to explain to your players how to take advantage of counterattack situations? do you have players who are more suited to one or two types?

   Michael Loftman @michael_loftman

   4 Types of Counter Attacks: - Direct Pass - Direct Dribble - Direct Switch - Combination Play Multiple methods can be used in one counter attack. E.g. A Direct Switch with Combination Play on the opposite side of the pitch.

4. A lot has been previously said about coaching as a form of teaching. Well, Dan Abraham here has some places to research if you want to improve your teaching. Any other recommendations?

   Daniel Abrahams @DanAbrahams77

   To improve your coaching it's probably important to improve your teaching. How? -learn about memory by understanding John Sweller's Cognitive Load Theory -accompany this with the work of Barak Rosenshine (Principles of Instruction) -read the work of Robert and Elizabeth Bjork

5. How important are 1v1s and dribbling skills in our players? Well, the training ground guru team looks into this very topic in this article on the importance of 1v1s and skills coaching.

   https://trainingground.guru/articles/skills-coaching-and-the-importance-of-winning-1v1s

6. Have a look at this video from the England football learning team. some interesting stats from the 2020 Euro on goalscoring, which they then give you tips on how to create those same moments.

   England Football Learning @EnglandLearning

   🗣️ "This is the game I would frequently play to give a variety of experiences of crossing." Using goalscoring data from Euro 2020, @smevsey and @SBHoust discuss a practice to help your team with crossing ↗️⚽

7. Ever wanted to know more about counterpressing or Gegenpressing (German model) then Jamie Scott here has a good thread on its use, the different types, and its pro-activity.

   Jamie Scott @JamiescottUV

   📌 Gegenpressing [THREAD]: - Why do teams use it? - How to differentiate between modes of counterpressing - Why counterpressing is pre-emptive, not reactive

   

8. So whilst this quote is from a different sport and a professional level, I think it stays true for all sports at all levels, especially with the newer generations coming through. People just want someone who has the ability to translate complex (to them) information in an understandable way for them. How often do you get to the bottom of if that's what you're really doing?

   Carlon Carpenter @CarlonCarpenter

   Not a baseball guy, but this paragraph really sums up what it’s important in high level analysis across all sports: Not taking away levels of detail but also making things palatable. You simply don’t have time for paralysis by analysis.

   

   

   The Athletic @TheAthletic

   Nine of Gabe Kapler’s 12 initial coaching hires never played in the majors. The results? "(The Giants) are getting more out of their players with their coaching staff than any team in baseball." ✍️ @Ken_Rosenthal https://t.co/heFgLl7LA7

9. Some free coaching resources here from David Baird. Links to his 5 e-books. As always make sure they are relevant to your team and applied in the correct context.

   Coach David Baird @CoachDavidBaird

   Free coaching PDFs 🤝 Future At Their Feet - 20 full session plans Storybook Soccer - Sessions with fun storylines for young children Practice Through Play - 140 practices Rondos - 10 rondos Practice by Numbers - Sessions based on player numbers from 5 to 20

   

10. Another video from the England football learning team but this time looking at assists and build up from the Euros.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RANBcPABMcI

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