My aspiration is to work at a professional club again. I really have a passion for developing players and producing them for the elite level. I am currently searching for jobs at every club I was wondering if anybody knew of any jobs or could help in anyway? Your help would really be greatly appreciated.
Many Thanks.
Lee
Here is my new website – http://coachleehodge.com/
I hope you find it useful and I will be willing to help anyone. If you are doing good work in football I will promote you and if you need anything such as coaching resources just ask.
As I am coaching nearly 30 hours a week working with 2 year olds up to 18 year olds it has allowed me to constantly experiment and gain more ideas on how to develop players. Now I am not saying I have the answers as I still have so much to learn and strive to continuously evolve. However, my philosophy is now becoming much clearer to me. Therefore, I thought I would share my views.
As stated many times before my coaching philosophy is that each training session should aim to develop the players perceptual, cognitive and motor skills. It is evident what differentiates the expert player to the average player is their ability to make fast, accurate decisions and then translate this into well executed technique.
I am an admirer of Michel Bruninckx work as I believe his ideas of training the brain is the key. Training needs to be challenging and constantly get the players ‘thinking’ about each situation. Players have to ‘see’ what they are trying to achieve and ‘know’ what they are supposed to do or what is best in a certain situation. You can’t coach this but by providing a game based environment it at least exposes players to different situations. The key is then to reflect on the learning that has taken place. A situation remains unique unless some learning from it takes place. Thus, it is important that the coach is able to facilitate in getting the players to find solutions. Furthermore, in each game the coach must be able to stimulate the athlete in every area, i.e. technically, tactically, psychologically and socially.
It is important that the coach sets up conditions that players are unfamiliar with. The step for them then is to learn from it and the role of the coach should be to guide the players to find solutions. Then when the players experience the next similar situation they will be able to reflect on the strategies and techniques they have learnt to combat that situation. Thus, I am always looking to help players create a thinking pattern with individual and collective references.
Game knowledge for me is the underlying factor. We need to produce players who can read the game and ‘think outside the box’. Therefore, we need to set up games in training that have all the game ingredients, i.e. ball, goals, opponents, teammates, options, finishing etc. As you can see in a couple of my videos the players are playing games with multiple goals. The more goals they have to score in the more decisions they have to make. Additionally, it promotes unpredictability and for me we need to produce more players who have an element of surprise when they are playing. However, it is also important that players can anticipate what their teammate on the ball is going to do.
I have found from using tag games, then games such as 1v1, 2v2, 3v2, 3v3, 4v2, 4v4, 5v3 6v4, 7v7 etc. that the players not only have to ‘think’ about the game but they are also motivated as they are doing what they want to do which is play games. Furthermore, training is realistic to the actual match and as stated the players will experience many situations that they can reflect
on. I want the players to have to ‘think’ the entire session so they develop more of an understanding, can analyse the game so they can think two to three phases ahead and have the ability to quickly change their decision if necessary. I have come to the conclusion that spending hours on a player’s technique in isolation such as setting up a pretty drill is not going to benefit the players long term. Now, coaches may set up a passing drill for 5-10 minutes at the start of the session to refine technique and I am not saying it is wrong. I have sometimes set up an exercise where they are practicing in isolation. But it is becoming less frequent and when they are performing in these types of practices I aim to ask open questions or add a stimulus to promote their thinking and quicken up their footwork etc. Additionally, I add an element of competition as it motivates the players and develops their mentality. However, I rather now include ball manipulation exercises in games such as tag. I then progress the session by including defenders. This is because I want players in my training sessions to constantly have to make decisions.
On a final note after each session I believe we must encourage the players to reflect on what training aimed to develop, the situations they experienced, what they did well and what they need to improve on. I even get players to watch a match and get them to focus on the area we worked on. I believe by encouraging them to this this they may during their reflection process find solutions. Thus, they are developing as a player even when they are away from the training ground.
Objective of Youth Academy
Primary objective is to get players ready for professional contact with the club.
Sub Objective
Career as professional player either with the club or with another professional club.
Long Term Objective
A good reputation of high quality training and educational centre national/international
(They believe that the most important aspect to concentrate on is that players have pleasure when playing the game.)
Structure
(They also play amateur teams so they play teams a year up.)
The club’s oldest age group is U23’s who play on a Monday evening in a completive league. This ensures that they keep hold of players who have not matured physically or mentally.
Structure in Scouting
They work with 25 amateur clubs and those clubs bring the best players to the club. They also visit these clubs and educate the coaches. This ensures that the level at amateur clubs is not too far behind the level of training at professional clubs.
14-19 year age groups involve scouting internationally. They do not recruit players locally at these age groups as it is too late for a number of reasons. The club’s scouts will travel to Denmark, Sweden etc.
School and Soccer
If the players do not attain good grades at school they are not allowed on the training pitch. This is due to the small chance of the players making it as a professional football player.
If the mentality is not good in school it won’t be in football. They want to create individuals who work hard at everything not just football.
(Study and Soccer go hand in hand.)
Individual Development Programme
Players have to develop their own plan. Coaches ask each player what their long term goal. They then have to write down what they want to achieve each year to help them reach their ultimate goal.
When writing their plans the parents are in the room as well. Therefore, coaches and parents can provide them guidance.
Releasing Players
EVERY PLAYER STAYS AT THE CLUB FOR TWO YEARS. THEREFORE, COACHES NEED TO MAKE SURE THE PLAYERS THEY ARE RECRUITING ARE RIGHT FOR THE CLUB. THEY REALISE RELEASING PLAYERS AT U8 & U9 CAN BE DETRIMENTAL. FOR INSTANCE, PLAYERS CAN NOT HANDLE BEING RELSEASED AT SUCH A TENDER AGE)
This statement was refreshing to hear as I have known coaches to recruit a player and then release them that same year or the following season. If you recruit a player you must see something. Therefore, you must have the patience to work with them when they are going through a period where they are not developing as quickly as others.
This club has two teams at U9 and U10 and three teams at U11. Therefore, they are able to move players up or down accordingly. This is more effective than releasing players. For instance, the club keeps hold of players and it helps develop the players’ intrinsic motivation.
I think the most valuable information I gained from this club is that the coaches will go to amateur clubs and educate their coaches and provide demonstrations. I strongly believe this need’s to happen in the UK so the standard of grassroots clubs is not as far behind the level at professional clubs.
Final note is that the youth department at this club has a 4 million budget each year.
Aims
What they want to develop
(We need to put ourselves in the players place – what do they want?)
Main focus is on individual development – Play players up if required. They are willing to lose to win in a few years’ time when it matters.
They believe when working with children it is essential to show you care. Then they will be willing to learn – BE THEIR FRIEND!
The club also do one on one training with each player every week to improve these areas.
When the teams are playing the coaches limit the players when they don’t have the ball but not when they have the ball.
At the club they strongly believe in having a club vision. Therefore, they promote coaches after training to sit together and discuss the vision and develop ideas on how to achieve the clubs aims.
Specific Contents
Technique
Defensive Techniques
Under 9’s Syllabus
Under 13’s
(Results are important as the games are reported in the papers).
Session Model
1st Phase – They do not believe in warm ups. Therefore they will play games such as tag.
2nd Phase – 1v1, 2v1, 2v2, 3v1
3rd Phase – 4v2, 4v3, 4v4, 5v2, 5v3, 5v4, 6v3, 6v4
4th Phase – 6v4, 7v5, 7v6
Final Phase – 7v7 with no coach intervention
In the past few months I have seen two young players who were produced by Plymouth Argyle Centre of Excellence play for Wales U18′s, one player scored in the FA cup final and several players have made a few appearances in professional football at such a tender age. Furthermore, this week two players produced by PAFC played for England U18’s and one of them scored. Now Plymouth and Cornwall are not renowned for producing players. In fact I am struggling to think of a few now. I know that Plymouth Argyle FC have always had talented staff. However, when Mike Pejic, Gordon Bennett and Allan Evans took charge I feel they gave us direction. It does not surprise me that many players from the Centre of Excellence are doing well. Mike Pejic instilled in the club a forward thinking philosophy and educated the staff how they should teach the players and the style he wanted the teams to play. He was not concerned about results. Instead, his aim was to develop individuals. Furthermore, he wanted us to produce mavericks that had the ability to change a game.
When I first joined Plymouth as the U10′s assistant coach I could not believe my luck. I had attended many Continues Professional Development days prior to joining Plymouth Argyle. However, I had never seen a coach like Mike Pejic. He was a great teacher of the game and a very forward thinking coach. When I attended my first CPD delivered by Mike I just kept thinking that I knew very little about the game. Therefore, when I had a day off university I would travel up to Plymouth and spend the day observing him coaching the U18′s. Also, during lunch I would ask Mike many questions and listen to him attentively. What I see FC Barcelona doing now is what Mike educated us how he wanted his players to play. For instance, he wanted the keeper to be a sweeper and play from the back. He encouraged the full backs to push up high and did not care if the Central Defenders were left exposed as it would teach them to learn how to deal with 1v1 situations. He wanted a CD when possible to drive with the ball and push into the midfield so there was an overload of attackers. Furthermore, he taught the players to be fluid in their movement when they had possession of the ball.
Mike wanted our players to be able to deal with the ball in any area of the pitch. He did not condone players kicking the ball into touch. Instead, he wanted them to ‘take care’ of the ball. Even if a defender was under pressure he wanted to see him protect the ball instead of giving the opposition a throwing. He educated the players many ways of how to be ‘cute’ on the ball so they could maintain possession. The aim was each game for our teams to have 60 – 70% possession. However, this does not mean they just kept possession without hurting the opposition. We had to teach our players how to be positive when in possession of the ball. Mike wanted our players to be creative. Thus, it was essential we created an environment so our players had the freedom to express themselves.
When watching the U18’s games I was often impressed how patient his team were on the ball and how they would suddenly change the pace of the game. Moreover, they were very creative in the final third. There was one game where they must have had 70% possession. However, during the game Mike demanded lots from the players by constantly asking questions of them. For instance, he would get the player in the ‘hole’ to think where to position himself when defending so when PAFC won possession he was in a position to hurt the opposition. The players had no chance to switch off the whole game. However, he did not ‘tell’ them what to do and the players were encouraged to express themselves. Mike just ensured that they were always ‘thinking’ two to three phases ahead.
His half-time team talk in this particular game was rather unorthodox as he kept the players on the pitch and did shadow play with them. He asked each player questions on how they could improve their performance. He provided them ideas by showing ‘pictures’ and then made them practice what he just showed them. It was a fascinating team talk and was wonderful to watch the players practice in the second half what he had demonstrated to them at half time.
Mike’s training sessions were very creative and he provided each individual ‘fine’ detail on how they could improve their performance. For instance, he did many sessions where they the players would receive the ball in a tight area so they had to take care of the defender and the ball. Additionally, the players would have to think of things such as where and how to take their touch, how to take a player or two out of the game, which foot to pass to etc.. He would show the players ‘pictures’ throughout the session and had the ability to make the complicated sound incredibly simple. It was the detail he provided and how he transferred his knowledge to the players that impressed me most. He would teach his players techniques that many coaches would not even think about.
I remember him delivering a session before an FA youth cup game against West Ham FC and during the training game he provided the players different scenarios. Together they worked out how to combat each situation. For instance, West Ham had wide player who was very quick and skilful. Therefore, Mike got the players thinking how they could prevent him from receiving the ball. They had a great footballing education that night and when they played against West Ham FC they did extremely well. The wide player did not play to his usual standards as he could not get on the ball. Plymouth managed to compete with them during the 90 minutes and the game went into extra time. Unfortunately, West ham scored in extra time and knocked them out of the cup. However, I think it was remarkable that he took them so far in the cup and they were able to compete with academy sides such West Ham FC. Furthermore, they tried to play attractive football in every game.
Mike also demanded a lot from us coaches and if we did not have a good performance he would ask questions of us and if we showed signs of complacency Mike became very strict. Thus, our minds could not be ‘still’. We had to constantly deliver effective sessions and be open-minded to learn more. I have to thank Mike for this as I am now a student of the game looking for the ‘fine’ detail to improve an individual’s performance even if it is by 1 %. I still have lots to learn. However, now I am coaching every day of the week working with children from 2-18 sometimes up to six hours a day I have started to identify more of what he expected from me. For instance, I have started reflecting more on what I should teach each age group and how I should communicate to each individual. Moreover, I am watching games differently now and seeing little bits of detail each game I watch which he tried educating us.
I strongly believe we need more teachers of the game like Mike Pejic in the UK to have a chance of producing individuals who can deal with the ball in any area of the pitch and make effective decisions. If we had more teachers of the game like Mike I am sure we would start producing players that compare to our foreign counterparts. The coaches at Plymouth Argyle FC are doing great work. But I am sure they would all state how much they appreciated Mike’s expertise. I certainly have and even though I have not seen him for two years I am still learning from him now as he has made me think so deeply about the game. I have a long way to go in my development as a coach and I have so much I want to achieve. However, I know for a fact if it was not for Mike I would not have been given the opportunity to coach the U16’s at PAFC and be working as full-time coach now.
http://www.facebook.com/lhodgey11 - Football Coaching ideas and resources. My aim is to help as many coaches as I can so together we can start producing more technically proficient, intelligent & creative players.
Below are just a few books/websites I recommend all coaches to read. I will post more great coaching resources soon.
Websites
http://keeptheball.wordpress.com/ - Fantastic blog site. The coaches who have written articles for this site are certainly very forward thinking. I always ‘pick up’ ideas when reading this webpage.
http://www.ted.com/talks/john_wooden_on_the_difference_between_winning_and_success.html - I read anything that involves Coach Wooden’s work. He not only helped players improve at Basketball but he also taught his players valuable life skills.
http://betterfootball.net/soccer-coaching/interviews/your-kids-your-say-gareth-southgate-nick-levett/ - Pavl is a very insightful coach and his website is a great resource for all coaches.
http://youthfootballdevelopment.blogspot.com/ - Nick Levett is certainly a ‘player centred’ coach and has great ideas on how to improve coaching practice.
http://www.coachtim.org/ - Tim Wareing is a very effective coach. I am very fortunate to be working for Tim. He is also a top man who is willing to help anybody.
Books/Journals
Barbuto, J.E. & Burbach, M.E. (2006). The Emotional Intelligence of Transformational Leaders: A Field Study of Elected Officials. The Journal of Social Psychology, 148, pp. 51-64. Heldref Publication
Cassidy, T., Jones, R.L., & Portrac, P., (2009). Understanding Sports Coaching: the social, cultural and pedagogical foundations of coaching practice. Oxon. Routledge
Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success – This has helped me think about my coaching behavior and has taught me the importance of teaching players life skills.
Denison, J. Dr (2007). Social Theory for Coaches: A Foucauldian Reading of One Athletes Poor Performance. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching. Vol.2, No.4, pp. 369-383
Ericsson, A.K., Prietula, J.M., & Cokely, E.T. (2007). The Making of an Expert. Harvard Business Review. [Online] Available at: http://harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.harvard.edu/hbsp/hbr/articles/article.jsp?articleID=R0… [Accessed on – 14/03/2011].
Honeybourne, J. (2006) Acquiring Skill in Sport. Oxon: Routledge.
Jones, R., Armour, K., & Potrac, P. (2004). Sports Coaching Cultures. Oxon: Routledge.
Jones, L., Potrac, P., Cushion, C., & Ronglan, L.T., (2011). The Sociology of Sports Coaching. Oxon: Routledge
Kidman, L. (2005). Athlete-Centred Coaching: Developing inspired and inspiring people. Christchurch, New Zealand. Innovative print communications Ltd
