Why Plan?
Coaches agree that teaching skills, rules, and strategies of soccer are among their primary responsibilities. Most coaches would also agree that improving the physical condition of the players, promoting enjoyment of the game, teaching good sportsmanship, and injury prevention are also outcomes they wish to achieve. Many coaches, however, fail to recognize the importance of planning to accomplish these goals. Organized practices are vital to maximizing the benefits of soccer. Disorganized practices often result in players failing to obtain desired skills, knowledge, fitness, good attitudes, and contribute to injuries and inappropriate skills. Organizing your season and planning your practices prior to going on the field can result in the following benefits.
effective use of limited practice time
choosing season objectives based on team needs
appropriate sequence of season objectives
focus and direct practice activities
enhanced preparation of the team for competition
easier adjustments in practice objectives
deterrent to lawsuits involving coaches’ liability
DEVELOPING A SEASON PLAN
Use these three steps to develop a season plan:
1) Identify the goals and objectives of the season (i.e. skills, strategy, knowledge, fitness, personal and social) appropriate for the age and ability of your team.
2) Sequence the season objectives into the pre-, early, mid, and late portions of the season.
3) Identify practice objectives. Select, teach, and practice the key areas that are essential to your team.
ROLE OF THE COACH
The two most important decisions in planning for the season are deciding what objectives to teach and how much time you should spend teaching them. You will spend less total time planning for your season and practice if you use the approach suggested here than if the task is done practice by practice. This process will also help you verify which topics you believe are most important. In addition to the good feeling and confidence that comes with completing a season calendar, you will have developed the base necessary to systematically change your plans as unexpected events develop. A completed plan that has been implemented and refined is also an invaluable resource for next year’s coaching assignment.
FAIL TO PREPARE, PREPARE TO FAIL
Your role as a coach can be best filled through the leadership and instruction you provide in practice and game situations. Clearly, those coaches who are most effective in helping their players acquire the necessary physical skills, knowledge, fitness, personal and social skills are those who have clear objectives and who organize to achieve them. Planning for the upcoming season is a major step towards helping players acquire the benefits of soccer.
Adapted from The Youth Sports Manual (1992).
Youth Sports Insititute Publication, Michigan State University.