Junior Framework

INTRODUCTION
TO COACHING

Part 7

The Junior Coach & Game Leader - Introduction to Coaching

INTRODUCTION

Our goal
The NZF Introduction to Junior Coaching aims to provide junior coaches with the right knowledge and skills to encourage
football participation and support effective player development in a fun, safe and rewarding environment.
Understand how the needs of young players can be catered for through effective management and operation of sessions.
Provide details on planning, running, and managing fun practice sessions.
Provide a complete programme of session activities for junior coaches, particularly beginner coaches, to deliver to their
players.
Support the understanding of how positive learning environments can be created for players during practice sessions
and on match days.
By delivering this Coach Development section, all First Kicks and Fun Football Game Leaders and Mini Football Coaches
will be completing the NZF Introduction to Junior Coaching programme. Any Junior Game Leader or Coach participating in
the club delivery of the NZF Junior Framework season, at any level, will therefore be recognised as having completed the
NZF Introduction to Junior Coaching.

The Role of a Junior Coach

Coaches have an amazing opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of young people. This Introduction to Junior
Coaching focuses on developing an understanding of the core roles and responsibilities of junior coaches, so coaches are
suitably prepared to make that impact.
Junior coaches need to understand the needs of the players that they are working with, and understand the management,
leadership, communication and teaching skills required to increase their enjoyment and effectiveness in the role.

Junior Framework

The Four Corner Model and how it relates to the Junior Footballer
New Zealand Football uses a Four Corner Model to help give a broad understanding of players at all levels. This approach
considers all of the different factors that influence how a junior footballer develops as a player and a person. These factors
change as a player grows older, so the Four Corner model gives insights into the different characteristics of players in each
of the junior age groups.

Four Corner Overview

TECHNICAL & TACTICAL

This is the most Football specific corner of
player development as it relates directly to the
technical requirements of individual players, and
the tactical requirements of teams as the junior
footballer grows older. It is essential for junior
coaches to understand that the ability of players
to develop technical skills and understand the
concept of team tactics is based on the other three
development corners. Pushing a player beyond
their technical or tactical capabilities too early will
result in a lack of success and enjoyment, and
may lead to the child giving up the game. Key
technical/tactical attributes are:
Coordination/agility when controlling, passing
or shooting a football

MENTAL
This corner identifies the different mental
characteristics of players as they develop from
being a First Kicks player through to becoming
a Mini Footballer. Key mental attributes that are
associated with this corner are:
Concentration/attention span
Level of curiosity and imagination
Sensitivity to criticism or positive praise
Ability to overcome mistakes/need for success
Spatial awareness
Level of competitiveness

The ability to understand team tactics such as

being in possession of the ball and being out of
possession
Awareness of the concept of team
The required level of skill when executing
football specific techniques (dribbling, faking,
turning, passing, heading, and shooting).

PHYSICAL
This corner takes into account the stage of
physical development that different children are
experiencing, and the characteristics associated
with this. Key physical attributes that are
associated with this corner are:
Agility, balance and coordination
Speed
Strength
Stamina/energy levels

SOCIAL / EMOTIONAL
As the junior player develops, their needs
from their peer group, and from coaches and
parents will change. As football is a team game
based on the individual attributes of the players
involved, it is important to consider the following
characteristics of junior players:
Awareness of the opinions of peers and adults
Awareness of the value of others
Understanding fairness/a sense of justice
Enjoyment in having fun when playing
with others

Part 7

The Junior Coach & Game Leader - Introduction to Coaching

THE FOUR FOCUS AREAS FOR TRAINING

Each junior training session will involve four training components. As the players grow older, the emphasis placed on each
of the components changes.

Focus for Training - where we spend most of our training time

GENERAL MOVEMENT
Coordination activities incorporating running, hopping,
jumping, turning and falling are fundamental for
developing effective football performance.
Provides a broad foundation that makes it easier for
children to learn more complex movements later on.
Fundamental movement is the focus for
younger children
Well developed coordination in older
children means movements can be
executed in a football specific manner

FOOTBALL TECHNIQUE
The core techniques involve dribbling,
shooting, fakes and turns and finally
passing.
Dribbling is the focus for younger players at this
age and becomes the priority
Older players need to develop the full range of core
techniques, and be able to execute them with both the
left and right feet
Motivational games that involve dribbling and shooting
are great ways to excite players at this age, as players
enjoy the success associated with scoring
Activities and games used provide the opportunity for
players to learn, rather than having an instructional
coach who limits the time the players have with the ball.

FOOTBALL COORDINATION
Junior footballers enjoy this type of practice
because it allows them to use their own
imagination and incorporates lots of contact with
the ball.
Uses games and activities that provide
players with a strong feel for the ball
Involve lots and lots of touches of
the ball with different parts of
the foot, or different parts of the
body.

SMALL SIDED GAMES

Small sided football games are

tailored to meet the development
needs of junior players (i.e. small
numbers playing in small areas)
Games will provide junior footballers with a level
of decision making that is age appropriate and
achievable
Initially Small Sided Games involve only a
few players (e.g. 2v2 or 3v3), but as players
become more capable the number of players
involved in each game increases.

Optimal requirements: 2 game leaders with 2 mini areas or more available. Minimum requirements: 2 game leaders and 2 mini areas

Understanding your Players

The coaching programmes and competitions for children should be like their shoe size they should fit perfectly
and feel comfortable. Horst Wein
As players pass through the stages of development, their physical and mental characteristics change. Many junior coaches
fail to recognise or understand these changes and as a consequence they focus on coaching football rather than children.
In other words, they often concentrate on the practical aspects such as the drill, the grid or the equipment giving little
attention to the childrens psychological and emotional developmental needs. (Cottrell et al 1999)

Junior Framework

Coaches working with young players should first understand the physical and mental characteristics of their players. Through
developing an awareness of how children perceive their world and an understanding of key developmental characteristics,
coaches can provide a football environment where children experience success.
It may pay to remind yourself of the following before delivering practice sessions:

Dont tell me off when I get things wrong I may be trying my best!
I love playing football so give me the chance to play!
Dont expect me to get it right first time but praise me for trying!
Dont slap me down when I ask a question your answer may help me learn!
Dont expect me to produce what we practise in a game straight away I may not be ready!
Try other ways of teaching me if I seem to be struggling I can learn if you find the right way!
Look at me when I talk to you it lets me know you are really listening!
Remember I am a young person, not a small adult sometimes I dont understand what you are saying!

Effective Coaching Styles for Junior Players

Due to the social and mental attributes of young players, the junior coach must use a coaching style that is age-appropriate.
Consider if what players are doing is of maximum benefit to their enjoyment or learning.
This means the coach must ensure the needs of the players are the focus at all times, rather than the coach dominating the session.

Coaching Styles Continuum

The players are

the central focus
of the session at
all times

The coach
dominates and
controls sessions
at all times

THE COACH
Values all players as individuals who can contribute
to the team
Listens to the players and takes them seriously
Makes sure each player is capable of succeeding
Asks questions of his/her players and encourages
them to solve problems on their own when possible
Learns about the players, takes a personal interest
and gets to know each one of them

Creates players who rely upon the coach to

solve all their problems
Expects the team to conform to his/her way of
doing things
Speaks to rather than listens to players
Treats the team as one rather than as a group
of individuals
Asks very few questions and tells the players
what they should do
Promotes a win at all cost attitude rather than
the development of players

For different age groups, coaches will need to develop different coaching styles. In each age group section of the Junior
Framework, you can find more specific hints and tips about coaching and communicating with the players of all ages.

Part 7

The Junior Coach & Game Leader - Introduction to Coaching

Crafting a Positive Training Environment

Children should at the very least feel valued and have a positive and worthwhile experience while in the care of a junior
coach. With any session, the following key ideas should always be considered:

1 Secure

Players should feel secure enough to try new techniques, make mistakes and ask questions.

2 Safe

All learning environments should adhere to health and safety guidelines players safety is paramount.

3 Enjoyable

Enjoyment comes from an appropriate challenge successfully met.

4 Challenging

Within positive learning environments, challenges should be difficult but not unobtainable.

5 Ownership

Players should be allowed to take ownership of the work and, if appropriate, take practices to another or more individual
level.

6 Choices

Learning environments need to reflect the game, where exactly the same thing never happens twice, but lots of very similar
things happen often. Within this environment, players need to experience repetition of opportunity, to be given chances to
make decisions.

7 Inclusion

No player should be left out of a practice. Organisation should be flexible enough to cater for odd numbers. On match days
the starting line-up should vary, as everybody needs to learn how to be a substitute and starting is different from being a
substitute. Players views and reviews should be treated with respect.

Junior Framework

Guiding Principles for Beginner Coaches

Allow players access to well-organised practice and competition environments.
Players should be treated with respect and dignity by the coach, teammates and their opponents.
Focus on enjoyment both in practices and competition, with a wide variety of activities that promote fun and achievable
learning.
Treat players as children and not mini-adults.
Provide players with the opportunity to play with children their own age, with similar chances of achieving success.
Recognise individual differences and respect the developmental needs of the players in your care.

Training Hints and Tips

The Introduction to Junior Coaching Manual provides a wide selection of activities across each of the four training components.
In particular, training sessions for the first four weeks of the season are provided, with activities and games prescribed for
these four weeks. Weeks five to eight will also be prescribed, and for the remainder of the season you can dip back into this
selection of activities and games to build your own sessions between weeks 9 20. All of these prescribed activities and
games are available online as part of the NZF Coach Development website.
Although the session format and content has been prescribed for junior coaches, some of the following tips and hints may
prove to be helpful.

BEFORE THE SESSION

DURING THE SESSION

Know how many players you

are likely to be working with
to help you plan (ask club
coordinators or parents to warn
you in advance if a child is
unavailable).

Get off to a good positive start

with all children active and
moving with or without a ball

Make sure you know what

equipment is available and that
it is in good condition (balls
pumped up, and the correct
size, goals safely in place and
bibs clean)

Explain new tasks clearly and

simply (show and tell)

Arrive early to set up the

session if possible.
Provide children with an
opportunity to demonstrate
anything they have been
practicing at home
Make sure you, or your club,
have everyones emergency
contact details, who will normally
collect them, medications, any
injuries etc.

Use drink breaks to help

transitions between activities
and games

Ask players to help set up and

take down the equipment used
in the games they have played
Use positive re-enforcement and
avoid focusing on the negative
e.g. Well done Marissa youre
dribbling the ball really well with
your right foot! Can everyone
keep the ball that close while
youre dribbling?
Take a step back and let the
players play. Avoid talking too
muchkeep the explanations
short and concise and show
what you mean to support
understanding

AFTER THE SESSION

Finish on time (parents and

children often have other
commitments). Allow a few
minutes at the end to get
players into the habit of cooling
down. Teach a new stretch
every week
Re-cap the learning with your
players
Ask players to demonstrate
or discuss the things that they
have learned
Set a fun and challenging
homework task for the players
Ask the players to thank the
parent helpers
Reflect on your session; think
about the things that you
enjoyed about your session
and the things that you would
improve for the future.

Part 7

The Junior Coach & Game Leader - Introduction to Coaching

Solutions to Some Common Problems

1 Lack of footballs

Make children responsible for bringing their own football or use activities that involve pairs/small groups that encourage
maximum touches on the ball. Inform your junior club coordinator of the need for more balls.

2 Abusive parents on the sideline

Organise a parents meeting and develop a parents code of conduct for sideline behaviour. Use the ideas in the Junior
Framework as a foundation for discussion.

3 Odd numbers for practices

Rotate players to rest and work. Rotate quickly. Call on any parent helpers to fill the gaps and support the practice. Improvise
ask players to work in odd numbers and adapt the task.

4 Bullying or fighting

Identify the problem and address it. Look for support from the parents involved and together create a plan of action for the
players to follow.

5 Limited support from parents

Develop a parent support roster for those parents who may have time to commit, but on a more casual basis. List some of
the jobs that may need to be completed at training sessions and on match days.

6 Injury during the session

Stop the session and ensure the safety of all other players. Have a cellphone handy at all times to ensure a caregiver can
be contacted. If possible have a parent helper at each session who can manage these situations. Ensure you or they always
have a First Aid Kit.

7 Your team gets defeated every week and motivation is disappearing

Set weekly process goals within the game: i.e. shots at goal achieved, tackles made, successful dribbling. Disregard the
outcome and scoreline. Accentuate the positives.

8 Too many players and not enough game-time

Plan the rotation of players prior to the game and ask a support parent to manage the rotation of players during the game.
Develop a parent group strategy to ensure all players get even playing time.

Junior Framework

Adult Role Models and Child Protection

What can children expect from adults?

The junior football coach is also a role model to the players, as children are likely to model their behaviour on the coachs
behaviour. This provides a great opportunity to influence childrens values and ethics positively.
Remember that children are often easily led, anxious to please and prone to over-enthusiasm. Plenty of praise and positive
reinforcement is therefore needed, especially with beginners. Children find it hard to understand negative instructions
and easier to understand positive reinforcement. This can frequently mean playing down the result and playing up the
performance. This reduces the childs anxiety and decreases their worry about failing. Remember that children do not mean
to make mistakes, so we should accept mistakes as a necessary part of learning.
Make sure the players play by the rules. The majority of children at these ages will not knowingly infringe the Laws of the
Game. Finally, work with other adults, not against them, and by doing so, you will reinforce positive attitudes among the
children.

Interference from the touch line

While the fun and friendly atmosphere created by football should keep such instances to a minimum, there may be situations
where comments and abuse from adults, parents and team coordinators are made from the touchline. These could be
directed at the referee, but also at the players. - What can be done?

1 Stay calm
2 Dont get into disagreements
3 Report the matter to relevant club officials
4 Set a positive, responsible example

Editorial staff: John Herdman, Bev Priestman, Johan Koutstaal, Simon Eaddy, Tony Readings, Cesar Meylan, Michael Rumpf, Peter Ohara, Aaron McFarland,
Michael De Bono. Imagery supplied by Photosport. Printed March 2011. Design by Sidekick Creative Ltd. New Zealand Football.

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