Individual Player Assessment
- Date: 2007-05-02 - Word Count: 634
Share This!
Uncovering the weakness in your soccer team does require some analysing of the team as a whole and is something many junior soccer coaches struggle with.
A question often asked is "are there any specific tips available about analysing individuals in the team?"
Well, for most of the game the majority of your players will not have possession of the ball.
Therefore, they will spend most of their time taking up a position on the pitch to either support an attack or help with defensive duties.
This is one element where you should focus some of your attention when observing your players.
Remember the old soccer saying...Pass and Move...and it's stood the test of time.
The movement element of any soccer is critical. Players should constantly be on the move, looking to support an attack or equally build a defensive line to prevent an attack.
A valid observation for soccer coaches is to look at the six players who are closest to the ball and see if their positioning in relation to the ball is ideal AND are they in positions to actually influence the game.
By this I mean, while they may be close to the play, are they in a position where they could receive the ball?
Are they aware of what's around them and where the next phase of play can built?
What's their body positioning like, is it open to the field of play or closed, limiting their options?
These are all factors when assessing the support players around the player on the ball.
However, it's when your player gets the ball, and what they decide to do with it, that highlights the strengths or weakness in their decision making process.
This process is probably the most important aspect of their soccer skills and one that you should focus your attention on.
When working on analytical skills use these two key factors...
#1 Which option is chosen?
Does the player make the right decision based on the range of options available to them?
Do your players understand what's going on around them during the game, do they read the situation and assess the options open to them.
When they got the ball where did their first touch take them, did they create space and time for themselves or do they put themselves under immediate pressure?
I always ask my players to assess SOS!
SOS stands for Space, Opponent, Support.
When players are assessing what's on I ask them to first look for the space and take the ball into it, providing its there.
If space isn't available to exploit can they take on an beat their nearest opponent?
Finally, if they can't find space, or take on an opponent, then where is their support player.
This simple three step assessment is quick for the players to do and helps them to quickly make up their mind.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing and one all sideline coaches have to hand, remember to be impartial with your feedback and thoughts.
When observing players you may think that the correct action to take was to send a pass down the wing. However, do understand that the players on the pitch may be under pressure and the course of action they took at the time may be the right one at that moment.
#2 Technical Execution
After making their decision was it the right option to take and what was the level of technical proficiency of the skill?
Choosing the right option available is easy however... but it's another to execute the correct technique while under pressure.
By taking notes about individual players, and the team as a whole, during your observations will provide with a useful guide for future training sessions.
------
Claim your complimentary copy of the 'Soccer Coaching Guide' provided by Junior Soccer Coach and receive hints, tips and techniques to improve your team's performance AND your expertise as a coach. Grab your copy now, visit the website today... Junior Soccer Coaching Guide
A question often asked is "are there any specific tips available about analysing individuals in the team?"
Well, for most of the game the majority of your players will not have possession of the ball.
Therefore, they will spend most of their time taking up a position on the pitch to either support an attack or help with defensive duties.
This is one element where you should focus some of your attention when observing your players.
Remember the old soccer saying...Pass and Move...and it's stood the test of time.
The movement element of any soccer is critical. Players should constantly be on the move, looking to support an attack or equally build a defensive line to prevent an attack.
A valid observation for soccer coaches is to look at the six players who are closest to the ball and see if their positioning in relation to the ball is ideal AND are they in positions to actually influence the game.
By this I mean, while they may be close to the play, are they in a position where they could receive the ball?
Are they aware of what's around them and where the next phase of play can built?
What's their body positioning like, is it open to the field of play or closed, limiting their options?
These are all factors when assessing the support players around the player on the ball.
However, it's when your player gets the ball, and what they decide to do with it, that highlights the strengths or weakness in their decision making process.
This process is probably the most important aspect of their soccer skills and one that you should focus your attention on.
When working on analytical skills use these two key factors...
#1 Which option is chosen?
Does the player make the right decision based on the range of options available to them?
Do your players understand what's going on around them during the game, do they read the situation and assess the options open to them.
When they got the ball where did their first touch take them, did they create space and time for themselves or do they put themselves under immediate pressure?
I always ask my players to assess SOS!
SOS stands for Space, Opponent, Support.
When players are assessing what's on I ask them to first look for the space and take the ball into it, providing its there.
If space isn't available to exploit can they take on an beat their nearest opponent?
Finally, if they can't find space, or take on an opponent, then where is their support player.
This simple three step assessment is quick for the players to do and helps them to quickly make up their mind.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing and one all sideline coaches have to hand, remember to be impartial with your feedback and thoughts.
When observing players you may think that the correct action to take was to send a pass down the wing. However, do understand that the players on the pitch may be under pressure and the course of action they took at the time may be the right one at that moment.
#2 Technical Execution
After making their decision was it the right option to take and what was the level of technical proficiency of the skill?
Choosing the right option available is easy however... but it's another to execute the correct technique while under pressure.
By taking notes about individual players, and the team as a whole, during your observations will provide with a useful guide for future training sessions.
------
Claim your complimentary copy of the 'Soccer Coaching Guide' provided by Junior Soccer Coach and receive hints, tips and techniques to improve your team's performance AND your expertise as a coach. Grab your copy now, visit the website today... Junior Soccer Coaching Guide
Related Tags: junior soccer, youth soccer, soccer training, soccer training for kids, youth sports training
Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Canadiens Early Season Struggles
Inconsistency has reared its ugly head once again. After a shutout loss to the lowly New Jersey Devi - Mens Magazine in the Toronto Market
Magazines are wonderful things. They are able to explore their particular area of interest in more d - They Won the Lottery But Then Lost it All
We all dream about winning the lottery and every time we watch those balls spin we think about what - Manchester City Imploding
Life changed for Manchester City fans the minute their club was taken over by the ultra wealthy Oil - Different Types of Sports Water Bottle
If you are an athlete and there is a competition the next day, there are a lot of things to prepare. - Poker Supplies a Person Needs to Play
There are a lot of people all over the world that enjoy playing poker on a regular basis. There are - Data on NCAA Football 11 (XBox)
EA Sports has always been the pinnacle for sports video games. The Madden franchise for NFL football - World Golf Amateur Team Championship 2012
Golf is said to be the game of nobles. Over a period of time, the game has developed into a craze fo - Will "The Decision" Yield the Result? Lakers, Heat Seen as Likely Finalists
By far the biggest moment in the NBA offseason was the hour-long ESPN special in which LeBron James - The Evolution of the Game: Table Tennis
Table tennis was probably derived from the game "Royal Tennis," a popular diversion during medieval
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Rainbow, Brown And Brook Trout
Maine fishing has Rainbow, Brown, and Brook trout. Trout are an important part of fishing tradition. - Gymnastics Floor Music
Over the last decade or two, gymnastics as a sport has undergone considerable changes in the way it - Texas Holdem Blinds - Understanding Blinds In Texas Hold'em Poker
Posting blinds is a very important aspect of the betting structure of Texas Hold'em poker. It keeps - Indoor Mobility Scooters
Mobility scooters exclusively provide assistance to physically disabled people, who don't necessaril - Texas Holdem Tournament - Learn How To Run A Texas Hold'em Tournament
Texas Hold'em is a popular game, so next time you consider hosting a social function at your house w - The Nfl Channel And The Controversy Surrounding It
If you watch TV, and especially if you are a loyal spectator of the NFL Channel, you might have hear - Texas Holdem - How To Become Better At Texas Hold'em Poker
If you know the rules, if you know the game, if you know the odds, chances are you'll do well at pok - Essential Boxing Equipment For Every Boxer
When you are training to become a boxer there are a few very important pieces of boxing equipment th - Some Advice On How To Stay Motivated To Run
Staying Motivated to Run Do you have a hard time staying motivated to run? There are a lot of thing - NCAA: Three Good Coaches
There are coaches in each and every type of sport out there, and many of them are good at what they