40: Grow Coach Newsletter
40: Grow Coach Newsletter
Football Coaches: Develop your Coaching Craft.
Welcome from JustCoachMD. We are happy to have you on board and look forward to providing you with helpful content.
Here is what to expect:
Coaching Craft: Are you saving your players too quickly from failure?
Full 60-Minute Practice: Controlling Possession.
Coach Project: Learning from mistakes.
“The best players don’t just make the right decisions, they learn from the wrong ones.”— Jurgen Klopp
Can Saving Players from Mistakes Hinder Development? (7 Ways it Might)
1. They Don’t Learn from Mistakes
When players are constantly corrected before fully realizing their mistake, they miss out on learning from it themselves. Learning through trial and error deepens understanding and helps players retain concepts long-term.
Positive Action:
Allow players to struggle for a few moments before stepping in. Afterwards, ask guiding questions like, “What could you have done differently in that situation?” This encourages critical thinking and self-reflection.
2. Reduces Accountability
When players know the coach will always jump in to fix things, they might feel less responsible for their actions. This can lead to a lack of ownership over their decisions on the field.
Positive Action:
Instead of immediately correcting, give players ownership by assigning them a role in solving the problem. For example, “How can you organise your teammates better next time?” This builds leadership and responsibility.
3. Limits Risk-Taking:
Players may become afraid of making mistakes if they feel like they will be corrected immediately. This can discourage creativity and risk-taking, both crucial for player development, especially in attacking situations.
Positive Action:
Encourage risk-taking by praising attempts, even when they fail. Try saying, “I loved that you tried something new. What could make it work next time?” This reinforces that mistakes are part of the process.
4. Reduces Ball Rolling Time:
Constant stoppages to correct mistakes take time away from actual play. The more time players spend standing around listening to instructions, the less time they have to practice the game in real, fluid scenarios.
Positive Action:
Use coaching interventions like the “freeze” method sparingly. Let the game flow as much as possible, and provide feedback during natural breaks in play (like after goals or water breaks), so players get maximum ball time.
5. Prevents Problem-Solving Skills:
When a coach solves every problem, players don’t develop the ability to think critically and solve challenges during the game. They may struggle in high-pressure situations without guidance.
Positive Action:
Introduce constraints in practice that require players to solve problems themselves. For example, limit touches or add scoring challenges, then step back and let the players figure out the best approach.
6. Creates Dependency on the Coach:
Players may become dependent on the coach for guidance, looking to the sidelines for answers during the game rather than trusting their instincts and taking initiative.
Positive Action:
Empower players by letting them make decisions in-game, even if it leads to mistakes. You could say, “I trust you to make the right choice on the field. What do you think is the best option here?” Building autonomy fosters independence.
7. Stifles Confidence:
Constant correction can erode a player’s confidence. If they always hear what they’re doing wrong, they might hesitate and second-guess their actions, leading to lower self-esteem and decreased performance.
Positive Action:
Balance corrections with praise. After a mistake, highlight something they did well first. “Great effort! You were in the right spot; let’s work on your first touch next time.” This maintains confidence while focusing on improvement.
By allowing players the space to make and learn from their mistakes, you’ll be enhancing independent thinking, accountability, and resilience. Implementing these positive actions helps players develop technical skills and the mental and emotional strength to thrive on and off the field.
“The biggest things in life have been achieved by people who at some point were told they were making a mistake. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. It’s part of life.”
— Arsene Wenger
Full Practice: Controlling Possession.
2v1s | Escaping Pressure | Scoring Goals
⚽️ Created On: @SSPlanner
Aim:
Retain the ball under pressure.
Set-Up:
30 by 30 space with coned mini goals inside the playing area and a pair of escape gates (red) on the outside of the playing area.
Place a pair of goals offset on opposite sides of the playing area.
👕 Teams:
⚫️ Attackers
🔴 Defenders
How to Play:
⚫️s Work in pairs to escape through a central gate, complete a pass then score in the goal.
🔴s win the ball and escape through the red gates.
♻️ Swap the roles of the players.
🚧 Constraints:
🏆Reward: Additional goals for every gate the ⚫️s travel through before scoring
👨🏫 Review: Dribble or pass to control possession.
🚫 Restriction: Change the demands before scoring. Pass through a gate, dribble through a gate, then score.
Controlling Possession | 3v2’s to Goal.
⚽️ Created On: @SSPlanner
Aim:
Working the ball to goal.
Set-Up:
Set up the playing area as shown so its age appropriate for the players you work with.
1 large goal with a GK, at the opposite end of the pitch, has 2x mini goals plus two escape gates.
🟢 Gk
⚫️ Attackers
🔴 Defenders
How to Play:
The coach serves into 🟢 to start practice. 🟢 distributes with hand or feet to ⚫️s. ⚫️s try to score in the large goal.
⚫️s attack as a three to score they must make at least one pass before they can shoot.
🔴s defend as a pair. They win back the ball and score in mini goals or escape through the side gates via runs with the ball.
🚧 Constraints:
🏆Reward: A touch finish in the 6-yard box is worth two goals.
👨🏫 Review: Movement off the ball to create problems for defenders.
🚫 Restriction: ⚫️s only get a max of 4 passes to score or 🔴s get served the ball ⚽️ to attack.
Pressure vs Possession | Small-Sided Game.
⚽️ Created On: @SSPlanner
Aim:
To lock in a goal by placing a value on keeping possession.
Set-Up:
40 by 30 pitch, with normal goals and GKs🟢 plus a support player 🟡.
Split the pitch into thirds.
👕 Teams:
⚫️s and 🔴s compete are both attacking and defending based on game conditions.
How to Play:
Teams play a normal game until a goal is scored (makes the game 1-0). To lock in their goal the scoring team has to achieve a pass target 🎯 (4-6 passes).
If the pass target is completed the possession team can then work the ball back into their defensive third then the game resets back to a normal game with both teams trying to score.
The defending team after conceding a goal becomes the pressing team they try to win possession within 4-6 passes and score in ANY goal 🥅.
If the defending team is successful (win the ball and score or get the ball off the pitch) the game resets back to a normal game from their GK 🟢.
🚧 Constraints:
🏆Reward: Locking in goals for achieving pass targets
👨🏫 Review: When to slow down or speed up the possession.
🚫 Restriction: To encourage spacing out the possession team players could be locked into zones with only the 🟡 free to roam.
"The mistake is part of the process. Football is an unpredictable game, and if you punish the mistake, the player will not be creative. You have to encourage them to play, not to fear making mistakes.” — Pep Guardiola
Coach Project
Objective:
Empower coaches to implement ideas that allow players to learn from their mistakes, and take ownership of their decisions on the field.
Task Overview:
Over the next week of training, focus on creating an environment where players can learn from their mistakes without immediate intervention. Use the following framework in your sessions:
Step 1: Identify Key Moments for Learning
Recognise situations where players typically struggle or make mistakes (e.g., decision-making under pressure, positioning, or technical errors).
During games, take note of common mistakes your players make. Instead of stopping play right away, let the game flow for a bit longer and observe how they react.
Step 2: Create Problem-Solving Scenarios
Encourage players to solve challenges themselves and develop critical thinking skills.
Set up practices with specific constraints (e.g., limited touches, smaller goals, or uneven teams) to create problem-solving opportunities. Step back and let the players find solutions before you offer guidance.
Step 3: Use Guided Discovery
Help players reflect on their performance and find their own solutions.
After mistakes, ask open-ended questions like: “What options did you have in that situation?” or “What could you do differently next time?” This helps players analyse their actions and come up with solutions independently.
Step 4: Encourage Risk-Taking and Creativity
Create an environment where players feel comfortable trying new things, even if it leads to mistakes.
During attacking practices, praise players for taking creative risks, such as trying a new move or pass, even if it doesn’t work. Reinforce the idea that mistakes are part of the learning process by saying things like, “Great attempt! Let’s figure out how to make it work better.”
Step 5: Balance Corrections with Praise
Maintain player confidence by using a balanced approach to feedback.
When correcting mistakes, always start with something positive. For instance, “Good positioning to receive the ball; now let’s focus on your first touch.” This helps maintain their confidence while still focusing on improvement.
Step 6: Delay Interventions to Maximise Ball Rolling Time
Minimise stoppages to keep players engaged and active, allowing for natural play and problem-solving.
Avoid stopping the session for every error. Instead, save your interventions for water breaks or natural stoppages in the game. Provide quick feedback and then get the ball rolling again.
Step 7: Empower Players to Take Ownership
Encourage accountability and leadership by giving players responsibility for their development.
Allow players to self-organise during small-sided games. Let them set up their formations or decide on tactics, then discuss their choices afterwards to reinforce their ownership of the game.
Reflection & Feedback:
At the end of each session, take 5 minutes to reflect on your interventions. Did the players begin to solve problems independently? Were they more willing to take risks? Share your observations with an assistant coach or write them down.
By following these steps, you’ll actively promote learning through mistakes while building more confident, accountable, and independent players!
Please feel free to get in touch or share your ideas, actions, and interventions. We would love to hear from you. If you have any questions, post them here; we will do our best to answer them.
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