PLAYER DEVELOPMENT: HOW TO CHALLENGE YOUR PLAYERS

This is taken from an article in my files but again I didn't note who it was by but lays out a process using an athlete-centered approach and in it they outline a basic progression of pushing your players to higher levels over and over again for continued long term development.

It all starts with this image:

Level 1 is a low level challenge requiring low skill and is where a novice starts their developmental journey.

Level 2 ups the ante on the challenge level while maintaining the low skill status from level 1.

Level 3 now increases the skill level to match the challenge level increase from level 2

Level 4 is the end result if all goes to plan as both skill and challenge have both increased in difficulty and there has been success at that new level of performance.

Here a few things to be aware of throughout this process though.

When a player has reached level 2 then they have shown that they have the basic skill level required to complete the task so the coach now needs to up the challenge just at the edge of the player's ability so that boredom doesn't set in from repeating something considered easy to the player and motivation to improve is maintained.  

There will be some trial and error to find the right challenge at this point but I would always err on the side of easier v harder as if it's too hard then it can create anxiety and that can trickle down to skills players have been competent at in the past (goal kicking yips for example).

A coach can do this by changing the constraints of the game which could drop them back to level 1 but performance decreases are often followed by performance increases when the learning process has been successful. 

A coach can also remove the player from the current activity and give them a different acticvity that works the same skill aspect through a small sided game or individual coaching, than bring them back in the original activity.

Once at level 2 and you have enough skill level to meet most challenges, a lot of times players can move from level 2 to level 3 on playing the game in various forms.

You'll see a diagonal zone called flow zone which is hopefully where you keep your players as the training is just hard enough to challenge their current skill level but no so hard they a complete roadblock and drop in confidence and motivation - this is why finding the edge of each players skill level is crucial and is something paid ZERO attention to at local/amateur football clubs.

The days of everyone doing the same drill and the coach expecting the same result from everyone HAS TO GO.

With decreased salary cap and less player points allowances from local leagues in the coming years, the shifting of player development at junior/youth levels of football is going to be the main feeder of your senior playing group in the future.