Drugs Are Bad Mackay?
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- May 24, 2006
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Any current junior coaches out there? Footy or otherwise?
I don't want to sound like an old fossil but no doubt will. I'm finding that the kids I coach now are a long way behind kids of the same age a few years ago. Whether that's just the screen generation coming through I don't know but I've found it's impacting my coaching.
Modern kids seem behind in these areas:
Basic movement skills - running, jumping, diving, dodging, agility
Basic ball skills - catching, throwing, kicking, striking
Basic game skills - knowing where to run to get the ball, reading the play
All the latest coaching stuff across all sports involves game sense. Making training as close as possible to a match. Giving the players problems to solve and letting them explore, experiment. Minimal reliance on highly technical coaching, especially in younger age groups.
I found that this approach worked a treat 5-10+ years ago. Even the kids who were new to the sport had a basic level of skill from free play as toddlers/youngsters. These skills allowed them to be immersed in games and competitive activities straight away. They further developed their skills by playing.
But now I'm finding that kids flounder in game sense activities. Their basic skills are so poor that that simple games cannot function.
Eg can't hold a rally in tennis
Batsmen face a string of wides they can't reach
Can't practice marking because kids can't kick within a bull's roar of a team mate
A 3 vs 3 footy handball game in a confined area becomes nothing but fumbles and scrimmages.
So I've found that I need to take a step back. Make the games simpler. Include some basic technique activites to give them some hope of being able to play games.
Trouble is that by dumbing down activities for kids who are 10, 11, 12+ years old they get bored. They know what sport is so don't want to do activities more suitable for 7, 8 and 9 year olds.
But they don't have the ability to execute more complex (and fun/interesting) stuff
In yesteryear I'd be teaching a kid how to bowl an outswinger. Now it's to help them get the ball on the pitch consistently.
Has anyone found similar? If so how are you handling it?
I don't want to sound like an old fossil but no doubt will. I'm finding that the kids I coach now are a long way behind kids of the same age a few years ago. Whether that's just the screen generation coming through I don't know but I've found it's impacting my coaching.
Modern kids seem behind in these areas:
Basic movement skills - running, jumping, diving, dodging, agility
Basic ball skills - catching, throwing, kicking, striking
Basic game skills - knowing where to run to get the ball, reading the play
All the latest coaching stuff across all sports involves game sense. Making training as close as possible to a match. Giving the players problems to solve and letting them explore, experiment. Minimal reliance on highly technical coaching, especially in younger age groups.
I found that this approach worked a treat 5-10+ years ago. Even the kids who were new to the sport had a basic level of skill from free play as toddlers/youngsters. These skills allowed them to be immersed in games and competitive activities straight away. They further developed their skills by playing.
But now I'm finding that kids flounder in game sense activities. Their basic skills are so poor that that simple games cannot function.
Eg can't hold a rally in tennis
Batsmen face a string of wides they can't reach
Can't practice marking because kids can't kick within a bull's roar of a team mate
A 3 vs 3 footy handball game in a confined area becomes nothing but fumbles and scrimmages.
So I've found that I need to take a step back. Make the games simpler. Include some basic technique activites to give them some hope of being able to play games.
Trouble is that by dumbing down activities for kids who are 10, 11, 12+ years old they get bored. They know what sport is so don't want to do activities more suitable for 7, 8 and 9 year olds.
But they don't have the ability to execute more complex (and fun/interesting) stuff
In yesteryear I'd be teaching a kid how to bowl an outswinger. Now it's to help them get the ball on the pitch consistently.
Has anyone found similar? If so how are you handling it?