Four stages of learning soccer

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Coaching WithCoaching WithSmallSmall--Sided gamesSided games

Larry PaulLarry Paul

Four Stages of LearningFour Stages of LearningPrepared for the Newfoundland Labrador Soccer Prepared for the Newfoundland Labrador Soccer

AssociationAssociation

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IntroductionIntroduction

When using When using smallsmall--sided sided games think of games think of four different four different stages of stages of learning.learning.

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IntroductionIntroduction

Each stage Each stage offers different offers different challenges and challenges and opportunities.opportunities.

Players will move through these stages at different speeds.

Players will move through these stages at different speeds.

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Stage OneStage OneOrientationOrientation

Learn the Game by Playing the GameLearn the Game by Playing the Game

Take as little time as Take as little time as possible to get the possible to get the game going.game going.

No lectures.No lectures.

The first stage is the The first stage is the orientation or warm orientation or warm up.up.

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1.1. Teams.Teams.

2. The field.2. The field.

3. The goals.3. The goals.

4. Any special 4. Any special rules.rules.

What do you need What do you need to know to start a to know to start a game?game?

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Don’t “coach” the Don’t “coach” the players.players.

Now, let them go Now, let them go and observe how and observe how they interact.they interact.

Instead “coach” the Instead “coach” the game.game.

With the game With the game and each other.and each other.

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The bottom line The bottom line is, you can’t fix is, you can’t fix the player’s if the player’s if they are playing they are playing in a broken form.in a broken form.

Fix the game, Fix the game, thenthenfix the players.fix the players.

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Coach the field.Coach the field.

The The Goldielocks Goldielocks rule.rule.This field is too This field is too big.big.

This field is too This field is too small.small.

This field is just This field is just right.right.

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It’s only on a “just It’s only on a “just right” field that right” field that the game is going the game is going to work.to work.

Experience will Experience will teach you what teach you what size is best.size is best.

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Bigger fields Bigger fields benefit attackers benefit attackers and make for and make for slower games.slower games.

Smaller fields Smaller fields benefit defenders benefit defenders and and make for and and make for faster games.faster games.

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Coach the goals.Coach the goals.

Change the size.Change the size.

Change the number.Change the number.

Change the type.Change the type.

Change the position.Change the position.

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Evaluate the Evaluate the balance.balance.

Are they set up for Are they set up for what you want?what you want?

Coach the teams.Coach the teams.

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How are they How are they affecting the affecting the lesson?lesson?

Do they add or Do they add or distract?distract?

Coach the rules.Coach the rules.

Change the Change the resistance.resistance.

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Stage TwoStage TwoStructureStructure

Insight and CommunicationInsight and Communication

Look for the Look for the biggest problem biggest problem inside the game.inside the game.

Focus on the team Focus on the team that’s struggling.that’s struggling.

By comparison, By comparison, their opponents their opponents are doing well.are doing well.

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Do the player’s Do the player’s understand the understand the objective of the objective of the game?game?

Do they have a Do they have a plan?plan?

Are they working Are they working together?together?

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After you address After you address their biggest their biggest problem see if it problem see if it changes the changes the balance of power.balance of power.

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Stage ThreeStage ThreeRefine, Increase ResistanceRefine, Increase Resistance

Technique and Speed of PlayTechnique and Speed of Play

Fine tune an Fine tune an already well played already well played game.game.

Increase the level Increase the level of difficulty and of difficulty and demands.demands.

Introduce new Introduce new problems and problems and solutions.solutions.

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Stage FourStage FourAnswers Have Been InternalizedAnswers Have Been Internalized

A Permanent Change in BehaviorA Permanent Change in Behavior

The player’s response to The player’s response to the problem has been the problem has been internalized.internalized.

The solution is transferred The solution is transferred to different games.to different games.

“Learning is a permanent “Learning is a permanent change in behavior.”change in behavior.”

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The EndThe End

Thank you.Thank you.

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Four stages of learning soccer