This document discusses managing time as a coach and provides suggestions for prioritizing coaching activities. It recommends that coaches take both a reactive and proactive approach in planning sessions. Coaches should also be flexible and get input from players on what they want to focus on. When working with limited time with players, coaches are advised to get the most out of each session by prioritizing skills like decision making, core skills, fitness, and game understanding. Alternative coaching approaches like games for understanding are presented that use games to develop players' decision making through manipulating rules and asking questions.

1. Managing Time as a Coach
David Elliott – England Academy Manager

4. How Do You Plan Your Time as a Coach
• Reactive- respond to what happened at weekend
• Proactive- plan sessions in advance
• Flexible in what you deliver
• Do you Wait to see what the players want to do
• Split into groups and discuss how you operate as a coach, be honest about what you do
there are no right or wrongs.

5. What Would a Head Coach Want in a Player?
• Decision Making - The capacity to ‘read the play’, to assess what's in front of his eyes.
• Select the right option and execute good technical & tactical decisions
• Core & Fundamental skills don’t break down under pressure….games or practice
• Good thinkers, know what they are doing
• Naturally motivated independent thinkers
• Physically fit, psychologically smart.
• Game Understanding/Management

6. Managing Limited Time with Players
• Only see the player for a few hours a week Part time/jobs priority
• Limited interaction time with them
• How do we manage that- Get the most out of our time.
• In your groups discuss your current sessions at training – the format and make up of a typical
session- no right or wrong answers

7. • Why do we Prioritise.
– 10 min discussion
• What do Coaches Prioritise.
– 10 min discussion
Managing Time as a Coach, both for YOU and YOUR Players.

8. What Effects Decisions?
Opponent
Experience of
Situation
Physical Attributes Skill Qualities
Psychological
Attributes
Team Plan Conditions Score line
Level of competition Outside influences
• How do we Prioritise.
• 10min discussion & Task

9. Task Work

10. Alternative Approach
• Game Sense
• Games for Understanding
• Game Centred Approach
• Constraints Led Approach
All different names used for very similar concepts of using games to develop decision makers

11. Brief Statement on Games for Understanding
• Essentially, TGFU organises the teaching of invasion games programs around issues
relevant to the team/students; ensures that the practice environment closely simulates the
invasion game context; engages students as stakeholders in the learning process; and
enhances the development of positive learning outcomes such as critical thinking, problem-
solving, decision-making, better Understanding of tactical knowledge, leadership and
interpersonal skills, and more enjoyment of the games experience.
Hubball, Lambert & Hayes

12. What actually is a Game Centred Approach?
• The player is the thinker – decision maker
• The coach is the organiser– manipulates the rules & questions the players
• The Game is central to the learning
• Scoring systems are created to reward the desired outcomes
• Be prepared to deal with the unexpected
• Other factors to consider – numbers, time, rules & Questions

13. Common Misconceptions
• This approach is not about the sacrifice of technique – however due to lots of elements these
techniques maybe different – how many top sportsmen do the orthodox way – Fosbury Flop;
Cruyft Turn……Benji Marshall….Shaun Johnson
• The Coach is a bystander – really needs to observe, ask questions, manipulate the situation

14. Small Sided Games
• What’s your understanding of them
• Do you use them and if so how?
Discuss in your groups the relevance of small sided games

16. Any Questions