Each session follows the HMT principles:

• High
• TempoMaximum
• ParticipationTotal Enjoyment

Aims:

• To provide top quality, professional coaching to children of all ages
• To help children grow both mentally & physically as an individual
• To encourage self-belief and confidence in everything the player does
• To help young players strive to achieve their goals and reach their potential
• To produce good quality players by using modern coaching techniques
• Provide an enjoyable learning environment to maximise the player’s progression
• Emphasize and encourage teamwork ethic

ROLES OF:

Coach:
First and foremost the coach is a role model for young players to look up to and aspire to. The coach is vital in setting high standards, good habits and leading by example. All humans, in particular children are impressionable and often follow the actions/advice of a senior figure. Soccer is no different. If a player sees a coach conduct himself in a professional manner it will transcend into the player’s actions. Evidence of this is clear to see when watching any junior soccer match. Having watched their idols play on TV, children replicate what their favourite player’s do during a match. These can be positives such as goal celebrations and skills but also negatives such as back chatting to the referee or diving to gain an advantage.

At Soccer X we encourage and train our coaches to have the following attributes:

• To provide top quality, professional coaching to children of all ages
• To help children grow both mentally & physically as an individual
• To encourage self-belief and confidence in everything the player does
• To help young players strive to achieve their goals and reach their potential
• To produce good quality players by using modern coaching techniques
• Provide an enjoyable learning environment to maximise the player’s progression
• Emphasize and encourage teamwork ethic

Players:

In all aspects of life, it is great to feel a sense of achievement having conquered a skill or made a vast improvement in a certain area. This is the same within Soccer. At Soccer X, we coach a wide range of ages and abilities. We aim to help each player improve in their own way and give them a sense of achievement. In order to make these improvements, it takes commitment and dedication from the players. There is no greater feeling for a coach to watch a player go from struggling with a certain technique to mastering it and accomplishing their goal. It can be frustrating at times, but by believing and practicing they will get there. Some young players give up when they can’t grasp the skills first time, others will show a great deal of determination to keep trying and master the skill. At Soccer X we encourage each player to do the latter and give them the belief to achieve their goals.

Parents/Guardians:

Parents/Guardians are the biggest role models for children. Often, children are just a younger versions of their parents. Similarly to coaches parents and guardians can set good examples in early life which will stand their children in good stead when it comes to both everyday life and also sport. Implementing values such as respect, good manners, teamwork , winning and losing graciously are things we use every day and play a big part in our lives.

Parents/Guardians can also help manage expectations of their children. By having realistic expectations themselves this will reflect on the actions of their child. Each child has different capacities for learning, some are natural sports men, and others are more academic. Adding extra pressure on children can be detrimental and have the opposite effect. At Soccer X we aim to help each child reach their individual potential. Some childrens goal would be to be able to dribble the ball successfully whilst others is to play at the top level.

About Me:

I was introduced into Soccer at a very young age and was always kicking a ball around since the age of 5. At 8 years old I joined the Swindon Town FC Centre of Excellence. I continued through all of the age groups and was offered a pro contract at the age of 15. Playing for my hometown club was great.

At Swindon I was lucky enough to work under some very experienced managers, Paul Bodin (ex Swindon Town & Wales), Viv Busby (ex Newcastle Utd & Fulham), Ian Woan (ex Notts forest). I gained a great deal of experience during that period, going through both good and bad times. All of which have helped me in more recent times. After leaving Swindon Town FC I played for both Basingstoke Town & Bath City FC in the Blue Square Conference South. The highlight of my career to date was representing Basingstoke Town in the FA Cup 2nd round against local rivals Aldershot Town. Currently, I am the captain of Palm Beach Sharks who play in the newly formed NPL QLD, the new feeder league for the A League. My preferred position is Central Midfield. My strengths are my technical ability and being comfortable using both feet. I am also calm in possession of the ball, something I always encourage young players to be.

Attributes:

I believe in order to create a top Soccer player they must be developed not just physically and technically but also mentally. Mental strength is an attribute which can easily be overlooked and is as, if not more important than physical but if you do not have it then you will more than likely fail. When you think about athletes at the top of their sports, Tiger Woods, Rodger Federer, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, they have all recovered from either long term injuries or personal problems and regained top form in their game. Lesser individuals would fall and crumble under such pressures and circumstances. I believe that by preparing children mentally from a young age will stand them in good stead for when they reach competitive age Soccer. By encouraging players and helping them play with a positive mind-set at all times will give them the upper hand on players who are less confident and have self-doubt. Research done at the University of Cologne, Germany found that participants who were encouraged and given good luck messages had improved performances.

When you look at the best players in the world, what sets them apart from the rest? Physically strong, quick, agile, mentally strong, good balance to name just a few. I believe by coaching each player to be strong in every aspect of the game will give them every opportunity to progress and reach their potential.

During each session we will concentrate on the following:

• Playing in tight spaces under pressure at a high intensity
• Encouraging each player to be comfortable in possession of the ball
• Working on using both feet equally
• Working as a team & individually

I believe by giving lots of praise and encouragement accompanied with constructive feedback is the right way to coach. All players feel good after being told they have done something well. In Soccer, if you are given confidence it gives you the freedom to go out and express yourself and that is when the greater results are gained. Only a very small percentage of children will react in a positive way to constant criticism and the majority will go into their shell and hide in game situations. Equally, players should expect to receive criticism, although this should be delivered constructively.

In Soccer, just like most things in life, practice makes perfect. By coaching the players into good habits at a young age it will make things come naturally to them as they get older. At Soccer X, we encourage young players to adopt good habits both on and off the field.

Methodology
After studying and watching many different coaching methods/techniques I have put together our very own method of coaching. Our high tempo, high intensity sessions, aims to provide maximum participation for each player which will lead to maximum improvement as both individual player’s and as a team. Each session will be made of the following components:

High Intensity – If you watch a top sports player, team, athlete they all work at a high intensity. In order to improve and become the best you can be players need to work at the top of their game at all times. By consistently working at a high intensity it becomes a habit which then transcends into their natural game.

Conditioned Drills – Each drill may be conditioned by for example, using time limits, limiting touches etc. This is to help keep the high intensity as well as keeping players thinking about what they are doing.

Short & Sharp – For younger players there is nothing worse for a player than to be doing the same drill over and over. Players become bored which leads to a drop in the quality and drop in intensity. By moving from drill to drill it keeps the interest of the players and increases their capacity for learning.

Match Realistic – Whilst practicing the basic fundamentals of passing, control, dribbling etc. is important, there comes a time when these aspects of the player game need to be put under some pressure. The difference between playing a pass un opposed to playing under pressure from a defender is huge. By providing matching specific drills it makes the players practice the basics in a game related situation. Being able to play in tight areas when under pressure is vital and there are many possession drills we use to improve this.

Match Realistic – Whilst practicing the basic fundamentals of passing, control, dribbling etc. is important, there comes a time when these aspects of the player game need to be put under some pressure. The difference between playing a pass un opposed to playing under pressure from a defender is huge. By providing matching specific drills it makes the players practice the basics in a game related situation. Being able to play in tight areas when under pressure is vital and there are many possession drills we use to improve this.