Another weeks coaching ahead

Try smaller sided games

Try set up lots of pitches

Try 3v3 or 4v4

Try stand back & observe

Try not to give instructions

Try let them make their own decisions

Try let skills flourish

Try let them ref their own matches

Try let them own it

Serious standard of point taking in the Ulster final. Great to see.

8 tips for coaching children that we should never lose sight of.

1. Fun games in the warm up

2. No long lines

3. Positive body language

4. Lots of ball contact

5. Minimise queuing behind a cone

6. Speaking in a positive tone

7. Smaller sided games

8. Lots of scoring

A Games Based Coaching Environment.

1. Communication
2. Problem solving
3. Decision making
4. Peripheral vision
5. Autonomy
6. Critical thinking
7. Enjoyment
8. Creativity
9. Inclusivity
10. Skill development
11. Spatial awareness
12. Scoring

There's lots of learning there.

5 considerations on game day for kids.

1. Shorter team talks. After a while, they're not listening!

2. Smaller numbers on the pitch

3. Equal game time, regardless of the score.

4. Quieter sidelines. Let the coach coach & let the children play.

5. Value effort over results.

Over the years coaching, observing other coaches has often given me some great new ideas.

Keep an open mind & you'll always pick up something new.

And above all else as coaches, always stay curious.

6 solutions to tackle the issue of unplayable pitches.

1. More all weather pitches

2. More multi sports municipal facilities

3. Flexibility on times of games

4. Domes

5. Utilising local sports halls

6. Schools making pitches available to local clubs at weekends/evenings

Unprecedented levels of unplayable pitches recently.

Traditional morning games for kids may now require flexibility.

All weather pitches are often under-utilised at wknd afternoons.

E.g.
Could u10s play at 4pm?
Or u12s at 5pm?

Just a thought but solutions required. Any more?

Delighted to deliver this workshop to Laois Coaching on games based coaching.

Lots of exciting research happening in relation to Game-Based Coaching with an Irish context. Here's an overview of a recent informal meeting of projects hosted by SHPRC:

tgfu.info/blog/a-busy-ti…

TGfU Carmen Barquero-Ruiz Kevin Gavin Paul Kinnerk Luke Barrett niall o mahony

Good read for anyone with an interest in coaching, facilities & player development.

A snippet.
'Since 2000, Iceland has built 7 full sized indoor football halls, 20 outdoor heated fields, a handful of half sized indoor arenas & 150 mini pitches'
urbansoccerpark.com/iceland?s=09

Another wash out for kids in sports this wknd with adverse weather conditions 🌧️.

Some may only have had a handful of games so far in 2024, some may not have played at all.

Investing in appropriate sports facilities is a sound investment for the future.

We badly need it.

🚨Coaching Workshop🚨

Targeted at U7 - U11 Go Games Football & Hurling Coaches

📅Saturday 16th March

⏲️10am - 12.30pm

📍LOETB Centre of Excellence

🗣️Shane Smith

Cost: €10

To book click link:

universe.com/events/go-game…

Coaching kids becomes very enjoyable when you accept that results are largely irrelevant.

Coaching kids⬇️

Strive for effort, not results

Strive for their best, not the win

Strive for creativity, not conforming

Strive for chaotic movement, not linear

Strive for retention, not trophies

Strive for inclusion, not exclusion

Strive for progression, not perfection

Winning a match for a coach should not take precedence over equal game time for a child.

Thank you kindly Sixmilebridge GAA for the warm welcome & great discussion. Fantastic evening with the coaches.

The best 10 year old may not be the best 16 year old.

The best 12 year old may not be the best 20 year old.

Predicting future success for children in sport remains difficult.

As coaches across sports, we should never lose sight of this.

And give equal opportunity to play.

Nice read on Belgium FA

'The key for change was coach education'

7 key aspects ⬇️
1. Player centred approach
2. Small sided games
3. Multimove
4. Giving players freedom
5. Game based practice
6. Winning doesn't matter
7. Look after the late developers

trainingground.guru/articles/coach…

The best way to learn the game is to play the game.