What's your session planning process?

Welcome and Happy New Year everyone! I hope you’re all safe, well, and ready to get back to coaching after the holidays, covid permitting of course. Unfortunately, Covid hit my house, so this edition of the newsletter has come a week late. Anyway on to the top ten.

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The Top Ten

1. David Hinchliffe here with his process for planning sessions. What do you think of his process, do you do the same or is there anything you do that he doesn't?

   David Hinchliffe @davidhinchliffe

   How to plan sport coaching sessions I’ve been a coach for nearly 30 years (professionally for 14). Here’s how to *really* plan sessions 🧵👇🏻

2. Have a listen to this podcast from the training ground guru team with Chris Ramsey. What does he look for in coaches? passion for development, team players, empathy, drive, and open-mindedness. How many of these qualities do you have?

   https://trainingground.guru/articles/chris-ramsey-educating-the-educators

3. A nice thread from Cody Royle about the importance of a coaching team. Hear how England Rugby coach describes his relationship with one of his former coaches.

   Cody Royle @codyroyle

   I coach head coaches in elite sport. If you're wondering that looks like on a day-to-day basis, here's how England Rugby head coach Eddie Jones describes his relationship with his coach, former AFL head coach Neil Craig. Thread 🧵

   

4. Have you been looking for ways to improve composure in your players? well the top tekkers team has 5 tips including repetition, positivity, training speed, perception, and building confidence

   https://www.toptekkers.com/blog/5-ways-to-improve-composure

5. Sports can be demanding both physically and mentally, the Grey Matters team has some tips and strategies on having a strong mental outlook and its effect on performance.

   https://www.greymattersuk.com/news-hub/pacing-your-fear

6. Shady Elabody with a breakdown against different defensive formations and what he does to overcome them.

   https://shadyeelabody.medium.com/the-art-of-possession-various-movements-to-progress-the-ball-under-pep-guardiola-8a7e29968509

7. Penalities can be such a game of wills, it's amazing how players and goalkeepers can affect the penalty takers. Geir Jordet goes through what to do to help you penalty taker remain calm and focused and what to do to put one off!

   Geir Jordet @GeirJordet

   Placing the ball at the penalty mark too early makes the penalty taker a sitting duck for opponents’ mind games, because one's position now is locked to this location. How did Mohamed Salah successfully change his penalty mark arrival strategy this season? A detailed analysis 1/7

   

8. Eric Laurie usually pops up in the newsletter, this time it's a really good infographic on elements of out of possession shown on a pitch map. what exercises can you think of to develop those elements?

   Eric Laurie @EricLaurie

   Out of Possession - Pitch Map

   

9. Really good interview with Xaxi. something that's really important to pass on to players, especially those who either want to do everything or feel overawed by the challenge of defending.

   Julian Stavrianos @JulianStavriano

   It's about understanding how to defend ''the table'' and not ''an entire garden'' or hitting somebody or running a lot etc. #xavi #johancruyff #sergiobusquets #iniesta #football #coaching #scouting

10. Scott Martin here talking through the evolution of goalkeeping with lots of links to different articles about elements of goalkeeping. Goalkeeping is such an understudied part of coaching but such an important part of your team. I really recommend going through it and thinking of the type of keeper you have and how you can help them improve.

    Scott Martin @CoachScottCopy

    THREAD🧵on goalkeepers The keeper position has evolved. No longer JUST a shot-stopper, they're now required to use their feet well and contribute to the build-out. How do the intelligent movements of GKs benefit their teams in the build-out? Here's what I found. 👇

    

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Thanks again for joining me. As always if you know anyone who would love this newsletter share using the buttons below. Have a great weekend and week.