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Junior Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 29/09/2008 22:46:21
Posts: 11,
Visits: 14
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| I could do with some advice / opinions. I am lead coach for an U11 squad we have some children who have been with us since u7 and some who are newer and inevitably we will get some new players this year too. I became lead last season when the previous lead stood down due to work committments and was lucky enough to have 3 other coaches as part of my set up too. Two of these both played for the club we are part of which is quite a big senior English club (one in the 70's/80's the other up until last season) but all of us have good and lengthy backgrounds too. We have been discussing how we coach the new skills this season, kicking, second row etc We have a difference of opinion about how we go about this - my view is that all the children should be coaches in the core skills of kicking and as we are not lifting yet we should be doing similar in terms of all the forwards and scrummaging skills etc..The key thing for me on the kicking being that they are given the experiences to enable them to make the right decision about when to kick, what kick to use if at all. My point being that at 10/11 I should not be specialising a player too far so I do not limit their potential etc... Their veiw however, is that they should only be coaching kicking to circa 3 players (squad of 30) and we don't even get into exploring how we use it at all - conversions only. What do you all think and what do/would you do?
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 08:49:15
Posts: 163,
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| I thnk you are all correct! Yes - of course all players should have the opportunity to "learn" how to kick. But... do this as a collective concpet starting next weekend and what you will get is all players happily kicking like crazy (IME). So - perhaps the way forward is to concentrate on "the usual suspects" only at first, then expand the coaching over time. BUT - coaching is not of course only about "HOW" - it is FAR MORE (IMO!) about "WHEN" and "WHY" and "WHERE". If they can understand the when and why then they can certainly have the how. Without the when and why, how will just lead to forwards kicking cos they can, and everybody kicking all over the place because there is no "where" to make the kick worthwhile. Context is EVERYTHING. didds
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 29/09/2008 22:46:21
Posts: 11,
Visits: 14
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| Thanks for that - I think we ended up with a good compromise for now, one of the coaching team is going to provide specialist kicking coaching, initially as bookends to the main session - with a core of key players but also with anyone else who wants to be there early or stop on at the end. Our main sessions are a not unexpected mix of new skills and consolidation of old skills, lots of small game situations rather than drills with the emphasis on the players facing different situations and having to make decisions on the best solutions...the emphasis very much being on the what, when and why...
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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 05/09/2008 15:00:40
Posts: 2,
Visits: 16
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At such an early age it is important not to pidgeon hole players and to give evryone who wants the chance an opportunity to kick. However I think you are correct to concentrate on core skills.
With regards new players, I have found that converted footballers joining us can make useful conversion specialists quite quickly.
Regards Andy
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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 06/10/2008 12:11:34
Posts: 6,
Visits: 100
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| In my opinion having gone through this 2 years ago with my age group we had a 1st XV fullback come down and coach the kids in the techniques of the various kicks but ultimately resticted kicking in games as they all wanted a go because they could!! especially the forwards! For the first few weeks it became kick and chase until we were able to get them to agree that after all the hard work of winning the ball to give it straight back again was pointless. We then pretty much left it to the fly half only or near our own line. Over the next 18 months as they got older and we got a full back etc they gradully picked up the sensible times to chip/grubber/clear their lines etc. IMHO if you don't restrict it it will become a 12 a side game of tennis.......yes almost like Internetional rugby!!!!
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