It's organised through Football West, and they've even set up award recognitions for different levels too, think it is called "Strike It" or something like that. I do agree though that many coaches think "they know best" (even at my local level). Or just do what they did when they were young.

Agree the young players coming through now are technically a lot better. I train with kids almost 20 years my junior, and their skills are amazing.

I still find that they still lack a lot of tactical awareness (especially in regards to defensive positioning), but are a lot better in providing options in attack, and presenting an easy pass ... keeping possession and the short passing game is miles ahead of what I learned growing up.

This is really good.

However, a lot of coaches don' t like changing their practices, hence low attendances.

Our state FFA coaches get out and about to assist coaches on the training track. It is making a difference.

Other coaches than Ken Morton have teams playing through the midfield and have improved against Victorian and NSW NPL teams.




Edited by Decentric: 29/4/2015 04:06:59 PM

The level I played at in 2009 was a huge jump and so the learning curve was steep, but that was when "I got it" and understood positioning, playing out from the back, changing tempo, 3rd man runs and movement as well as importantly defensive positioning and "tucking in" as a left back. Also, noticed that playing and even training at a high level improves your touches so much so that when you step down everything seems so slow and you seem to have so much space.

Coaches didn't really teach technique that much then as I was in my mid 20s then. Wht I have noticed is how much better our young players re now compared to when I went through. They are all Soooooo much better.

Agree with a lot of M.L.'s comments in regards to my experience in my local comp. The senior coaches pretty much follow that forumla to a tee. Our league coach makes the players run laps for about half the session during pre-season. He replaced an ex-NPL player/coach who was getting trained in FFA Accreditation ... but that coach was too outspoken and upset the other coaches, who continued to do the "norm".

I think the FFA's National Curriculum is a great resource, and I am currently running through it for my u11's team. Bit hard though as it recommends two nights a week for training, but the parents only wanted one. I also found a great resource by FIFA on a 11+ warm up routine (apparently scientifically designed for football players). I've altered it slightly to incorporate a ball though.

The problem is that although the NC is a great resource not everyone uses it, or knows how to use it. In WA there are also local coaching clinics run nearly every month for junior coaches to improve their skills ... I unfortunately haven't been able to make the two this season so far, but from my impression they don't get a lot of attendees.

So you've played pretty recently?

Did you always acquire new technical knowledge from your coaching?




Edited by Decentric: 29/4/2015 03:55:08 PM

Nowadays, we are supposed to do all training with the ball at all levels, other than HAL.

If it is is not with the ball, it is supposed to be game related.

Just replying from your thread on AF.

No longer play owing to a long term back injury and also family and work commitments. Have played at various levels but highest I played was in 2009 for Capital football premier league which is now the npl.

Was lucky enough to play with Tom Rogic and also Luke Pilkington who won the fox sports football superstar show that year. Played with a lot of former Cosmos juniors and also played against some other ghosts of the nsl era like Daniel Aliffi (remember him?!).

Learnt a huge amount going from amateur to semi-pro level mainly around game tactics and positioning.

So have your coaches delineated areas that you to improve in technique?

Have they also delineated your strengths - individually/as part of a collective unit?

I'm interested about your comment as to them hiding players'weaknesses. I like to provide feedback where they need to improve and how they can do it.

I find this question too generalized, when I feel a large amount of it comes down to the individual coach. Some will do drills/formations/etc straight out of the text book, some will ignore it completely.

For the most part, I find at a senior level you'll rarely find a coach work on individual attributes like your number 1. For the most part, the coach will assess your positives and negatives, and harness/hide them, in his formation/system. And he will aid you to do so, but leave the individual improvement stuff up to you.

Not a bad question Decentric.

I'll throw up some garb in my amateur kind of way.
Am still playing in the old er leagues, ex Prem 1 in my youth days, armchair expert j/k and currently have 2nd son playing U15 RYL.
I think we need to break this into 2 groups - Club and Rep levels.
Club, I would pigeon Div 1 for starters.
A mix with natural talent - some the typical good sound work horse.
Normally coached by a ex Club Rep player - or devotee non player.
Training time 1 to 1.5hrs x 1 a wk maybe 2.
Time is spent more so on fitness first 30mins, some ball work mixed into it, dribbling to staggered cones and back for eg.
Then some small sided games - backs/keeper vs halves/forwards.
Keeper taken aside for some practice with a subbie usually - some discussion with rest of team over last weeks game and onto coming game. Nothing technical enough more so to do with marking out key opponents.
Some shooting practice followed by a half pitch game, at times the fellow Div 2 team training as well or other.

At this level not much if any is spent on 1v1 Defensive and Attacking Skills imo.
Communication is only that that if their is some vocal players in the squad makes it a positive for the team as we know it, squads without a vocal player or 3 are lacking big time in that case and no coach is going to be able to correct this.

Game Sense - again I don't think its talked about enough.

My own youth experiences, when I consider the above I feel lucky that during my time management/coachs I had had the passion/knowledge of the game, taught us what we needed, skills,tackling,postion,reading the game followed by fitness.

Watching from the sidelines my U15 NYL, this again would vary by club resources but where he is currently.
The coach is early 20's, knowledgeable, covers everything in his 2 x 1.5 runs but not comprehensive enough.
Doesn't work them enough with the ball imo.
Also whilst they are doing x drill half the team is waiting doing nothing waiting their turn.
Mind you their results are pretty handy to date but just some of my observations.

Apart from NPL level , there are many players playing from age 19 onwards, who feel like they train for outdoor football twice a week, but learn little from their coaches about improving their game.

That is:

1. Technical aspects of play

First touch
Running With The Ball
Striking The Ball
1v1 Defensive and Attacking Skills


2. Game Sense


3. Communication



They know in terms of conditioning, they have to be fit to play football, but are not that clear how, and in what areas they need to improve as set out by their coaches.

Hence, training becomes a chore.



Those people reading this who've continued to play football as an adult, what are /have been your experiences as adult footballers in terms of developing as footballers?

Sadly, this lack of learning has extended to players who've won a VPL title in the past.










Edited by Decentric: 28/4/2015 05:17:55 PM