In the past we have lost players from the program because of the following basic issues / problems that either players / parents had with the program.
Sometimes this was because coaches who were new to TST and didn't fully understand what the focus of what we do was, but not always.
Hopefully this page will get us all on the same page, and make sure we all meet the players and parents expectations of the program.
Historically these have been the issues / problems
(Note : I have not seen these being an issue now but always good to learn from the mistakes the program has made in the past).
Simple do's and dont's :
- Coaches always engage with players when they are playing games. Coaches should not stand together and chat at any point during a session.
- Coach need to use a 'watch' to track time etc. Do not use a phone as a stop watch (parents think you are cchecking tik-tok)
TST vs a Team Training Session
Historically, Some coaches at TST changed the session to be more like a team session and tried to cover the usual team based stuff ; (Namely - First touch, Passing, Elevated ball stuff (Juggling, throw and lay off etc). No doubt these are critical for players, but they will always be done at team training. Even the worst team coaches will do control and passing with players. But what they don't do is footwork development. Parents often bring their child to us because we do footwork in a way that on one else does. Control and passing should be covered / done in the tech games part of the program. So all tech games should have elements like control / passing in them, so they can be coached.
TST buidls FFP [Fundamental Footwork Patterns].
Some coaches at TST did footwork but didn't base it on or build towards FFPs. There would be a lot of old school ball mastery (ding dongs ; Tap dance : Samba) and old school '1v1' moves (Think co-erver). This is more about the TST curriculum [ as parents don't care if a player learns a Ding Dong or an elastico]. I am happy to chat to you about why they are not on the TST curriculum. Any ball mastery or 1v1 moves done at TST must link to the FFPs and be easily used and useful in games.
TST is more about the ability to move the ball around the feet in game-like ways (Patterns that use space) : [So ball mastery (even if it links to FFPs) has a small window of benefit when young and is only ever a stepping stone to game functionality as it, by nature, isnt interested in space or game functionality].
We also don't teach '1v1' moves. Instead we develop the ability to move the ball around the feet, with the head up, (think Iniesta) so that players can see defenders, and use what defenders do against them, to win 1v1 moments. Rather than thinking of 1v1s as a function of 'moves', think about '1v1s' as function of the realtionship* between attackers and defenders. Moves are only a part of this relationship, and are only used when needed.
*As far as TST is concerned - 1v1s are not about moves - they are about being able to watch the defender, and work against what a defender does using instinctive efficient and effective footwork patterns. 'Moves' only become necessary at a high level when defenders don't commit - and therefore '1v1 moves' force the defender to commit when they otherwise wouldn't. [But 'moves' only really suit a certain type of player (think Neymar) - so teaching these to 'all' players doesn't make sense]. Teach patterns and the player who naturally get 1v1s will use patterns as a base for therir 1v1 moves. Different types of players will use patterns to find space and play, rather than actively looking for a 1v1 to win.
General Footwork Rules
This is a big one : Footwork at TST needs to be the following above all else.
Footwork Rules
- You should be teaching all the main FFPs and deliver them at the appropriate level.....See levels #1 to #7 and decided what level your players are at.
- Vary the footwork patterns and exercises regularly. Players will get very bored doing the same thing each week, and especially if there is no fun or intensity in it. [Footwork development is a lot like trying to develop neat handwriting. My handwriting is a mess and I have been doing it for 50 years. Trying to get neat handwriting would require a lot of boring repetition - I simply wouldn't think it was worth the effort and would quit. If your repetition of footwork practice is boring then similarly players will not think it is worth the effort and will quit. Hide the repetition behind fun and interesting activities. You can change the order of the session to make it work better [EG : 10 minute fun game : 10 minute footwork practice etc And link the game and the footwork practice together so it makes more sense to young players; What ever you think works best].
- Keep footwork interesting
- Keep footwork fun.
- Always build intensity...
- I am happy for you to incorporate Fundamental Agility Patterns into the session too. This in fact might be of huge benefit to the younger players who struggle to move their body and feet well. I have hoops/ladders. Let me know if you would like to combine agility with the footwork and want some equipment.
- Use races to add an element of intensity. Think : Inrtoduce it : practice it : Race it : Move on.
Players will lose motivation to come to TST if the footwork isn't fun for them.
The young players especially will struggle to accept that the practice is of huge benefit if they get bored doing it. Learning requires attention and motivation. No attention, No motivation = no learning. So I guess, we as technicians at heart, need to step back, and see the kid and remember that they need to feel like practice is a game. Practice is fun. If it is not fun then player quickly lose attention and motivation ans will not learn.
I know that my kid stopped any practice of football due to TST : We used to do juggling at the start of TST - which he hated and so he refused to come for about 4 years. One day when he was 13 he decided to learn to juggle. It took him a coupe of days to get past 50. Prior to that his record was 4. The key here is, we need to not scare players away, because one day when they are old enough and mature enough they will break down a technical barrier that is in their way now. It doesn't always work...but I think it is the best way to keep players engaged.
With the above in mind i have attached a couple of tables to look at :The next page will go into more detail :
Table 1 :
This is a breakdown of the footwork levels players work through at TST. There are no set rules. You have to work out what level the players you are working with are and build from there. If you do players for the first time, quickly learn their footwork level (play a game) and pitch the session accordingly.
Table 2 :
This is a list of all the FFPs (or ball mastery exercises that build towards the FFPs) that all players need to be developing at TST. You can do other things too and add in your own footwork flavour, but all players need to be comfortable with FFPs before they move up to the 3.45 session, and masters of FFPs by the time they move to advanced older groups that Boris does.
Player Feedback
Some times parents ask for feedback on their child (at the end of the term) and i try to use the levels and FFP tables above when i do this. I probably will never need to ask you, but if i need to, would you be able to say what level (table #1) each player you work with is, and would you be able to say what level (slow and clunky, smooth and comfortable, fast with the head up etc) they are for each of the FFPs in the table above?