Should you be using isolated practices?

Hi Everyone, welcome to another edition of the coach insight newsletter. This week we have the coaching pendulum or isolated to game based practice, self-reflection, preseaon, footballs complexity and more! Enjoy…

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The Top Ten

1. A debate that rages on for all coaches, should you do isolated practices, should be games based. The how of coaching will never be a straight linear answer but here is some researched evidence showing that using a continuum of practices may just be the most beneficial. What do you think?

   Nick Gearing @NickGearing1

   On Ecological Dynamics, Keith Davids (@sheffhallamuni) said at @wcss2022- there is a place for isolated practice and games based in football programmes, its just knowing when to use it + how it fits on the continuum. I created this research infographic for coaches @SundayShare10

   

2. Spielvarlagerun is one of the best websites out there for enhancing your tactical coaching theory. Darian Wilken has put together a thread on some of their best articles. Rest attack and rest defense are new to me so will be reviewing those.

   Darian Wilken @CoachDarian

   Tactical Theory: Rest-Attack spielverlagerung.com/2022/06/16/tac… via @JudahDavies

   

   spielverlagerung.comTactical Theory: Rest-AttackThe term rest-defense, translated from the German “Restverteidigung”, has become more known (and utilized) in recent years. Its equivalent on the other hand, is still rarely talked and even less (consciously) used in coaching, though more frequently by players on an unconscious level. In or…

3. Great question from Cody Royle here. I’m a massive fan of self-reflection. What do you find the hardest moments to manage in coaching? And perhaps more importantly, what are you doing to overcome that?

   Cody Royle @codyroyle

   I’m curious… What do you find to be the hardest moments to manage in coaching? Examples: ❌ Losing streak 🎢 Ups and downs of a season 🪓 Deselection 🩻 Managing injuries 🛤 Keeping everyone on track 🗺 Disrupted planning

4. Have you ever asked this from your team “what do you need from me to be successful this season?” It would be an interesting one for those 12 and above. In Luke Gromers blog post he goes through when putting together your list of non-negotiables with your team you ask this question of them. https://www.cuttingedgecoach.com/blog/one-question

5. It seems most teams play out from the back in some sort of fashion. It’s something I encourage at younger ages to get the experience of handling the ball in those areas and under that pressure. Here arte some tips from the coaching manual team on how to encurage your team to do just that. https://app.thecoachingmanual.com/Content/22310

6. With everyone thinking about planning for pre-season or for some this may already have started, here are some tips again from the coaching manual team on things to think about in pre-season. https://app.thecoachingmanual.com/Content/44025

7. New Academy rules coming in this season at foundation age for academys, including non school day release and approval needed to play grassroots football. Interesting changes aimed at reducing the amount of football played by those at the age groups and ensuring football deosn’t affect their education. I wonder what the knock on effects will be though. for example if they now can’t play with their school and club teams with their friends. https://trainingground.guru/articles/premier-league-launches-pre-academy-regulations-for-first-time

8. Rhys Desmond here with an look into the complecity of football and decision making. The ball, the opposition, team mates, and space. How do you think and coach all in specific situations?

   Rhys Desmond @DesmondRhys

   When studying football we often fail to account for the complexity of decision making based on all the factors - the ball, the opposition, teammates and space. In this analysis, I go in-depth on all four elements of the game.

   

   themastermindsite.comUnderstanding ball, opposition, teammates and spaceNothing can exist in football without perceptions of ball, opposition, teammates and space (BOTS for short if you want!). While there may never be one unequivocally correct answer to any given foot…

9. Nick Gearing here with a great infographic easily breaking down nonlinear pedagogy and constraints led approch and easy to remember points for coaches.

   Nick Gearing @NickGearing1

   With an increase in specialist coaches in football, from GK coach to ‘Set Piece’ and ‘Individual Development’ coaches, I made this infographic on a part of the brilliant work of @fab_otte on using NLP and CLA to help coaches design specialist sessions @SundayShare10 #SundayShare

   

10. How do you feel about the FA’s four corner model? do you approach each in isolation or see how an exercises encompases each corner? Rhys Desmond goes into detail on the interconnected nature of the four corner model in this blog post. https://themastermindsite.com/2022/07/02/why-the-technical-tactical-physical-and-psychological-sides-of-football-are-deeply-intertwined/

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Thanks again for joining us this week. If you know anyone who is a coach, parent, or interest in football coaching then share using the buttons below. Have a great week.