He's one of the top 3 biggest kids in height (unlike his dad - he's already up to my chin) and probably the heaviest (thick legs and glutes like his dad - he's as heavy as I was when I was 12/13).
He's done 4 years of Auskick and a part year of under 8's last year before this year but he loves the training nights far more than the games.
Alas he's played every game this year where getting him to play them in the past was a battle each week.
My philosophy on youth training is forever changing but the principles remain the same:
- Make It Fun
- Teach more "concepts" than specific skills
- Make It Fun
- Design drills for them to explore the concept where it doesn't have to be sport specific at all
- Make It Fun
- Make it slightly more difficult than their current level
- Make It Fun
If you're focusing on setting your defensive zone at any age under probably 16 than you might be coaching for your success over your players development...just say'in.
Last week I put up a series of videos on Instagram that we've done over the course of the year:
VIDEO #1 + #2 - FIND THE SPACE
If you've ever attached any form of junior footy you'll know it;s a mass pack all running after the 1 ball!
Archie's coach Cliff has a team rule in the forward line to find space so I set up this drill to train it.
I simply make a circle type shape of space among the cones than he has to turn, find the space, run to it and put his hands up all within 5secs.
VIDEO #3 - GETTING THE BALL
Another Cliffy rule is to get the ball and with Archie's size he should be able to go into almost any pack and rip the ball from any kid in there, as well as bulldoze his way through most of them as well.
In this video I'm simply teaching him to hit me with his hip/side as he picks the ball up then to sprint away as fast as he can.
VIDEO #4 - CONE ZIG ZAG + BALL PICK UP + GOAL
Archie has my genetics something shocking making continuous running a nightmare for him but because he's so stocky, he hasn't quite got he coordination to move his body quickly either so to get him to do some running means I've got to disguise it into something else sometimes which we do with the cones in these next few drills.
More fun entails with a goal kick at the end of each run
VIDEO #5 - CONE QUICK FEET + BALL PICK UP + GOAL
VIDEO #6 - CONE QUICK FEET WOOPSIE
VIDEO #7 - CONE COMBO + BALL PICK UP + GOAL
Youth training doesn't have to look like a game of footy and sometimes doesn't even have to be footy related.
Essentially you're developing their OVERALL motor skills such as balance, coordination and vision which form your game and without developing them at a young age, players will have gaps in their development that they might not be able to catch up on.
Remember, coach for your players, not for you!
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