How To Build a Practice Plan

In the coaching courses, you learned how to coach using the technical or tactical progressions. . Whether you are building a practice session for your own team (from a match-analysis or a curriculum) or for a practical coaching test, you must make the topic of the practice fit those progressions.

Step 1: write down the coaching progression.

Step 2: ask questions to fill in the practice plan.

These are the USSF technical and tactical coaching progressions:

A. USSF technical coaching progression

  • Warm Up
  • Fundamental (no pressure = no movement and no opponent)
  • Match Related (more pressure = movement but no opponent)
  • Match Condition (full pressure = movement and opponent)
  • Game
  • Cool Down

Then ask yourself these questions:

1. In what part of the game (game situation) does the topic happen?

The answer will give you the exercise for the "Match Condition".

2. Which technique do you wish them to use for the game situation?

The answer will give you the skill for the "Fundamental" phase.

3.You fill in the "Match Related"stage by using the exercise for the "Match condition" without the defenders.

“Match Related” progresses to “Match condition” by introducing the pressure of opponents

  • First as shadow (tell opponent not to try to win the ball)
  • Incrementally adding pressure (tell opponent to play a little harder)
  • Finally live pressure (play for real)
  • Pressure of time and space (add opponents, reduce size of field, timed exercise)

4. Ideally, the warm up will have a connection with to the "Match Related" or "Match condition" phases. i.e. a much easier version.

Your warm up is your Fundamental Stage.

5.Then you can write down your coaching points for the use of the skill.

  • Fundamental: what's needed to execute the skill without pressure (while standing)
  • Match Related: consequence of movement (body preparation, timing,...)
  • Match Condition: reaction to opponent (appropriateness, body position, ...)

You can use more than one skill, but it might be easier to focus on just one skill.

B. USSF individual tactical coaching progression

Warm Up

  • Unrestricted Space (Grid = movement in any direction)
  • Restricted Space (1 goal = restriction in one direction)
  • Restricted Space with counter-attack (2 goals = restriction in two directions)
  • Game
  • Cool Down

Note: the goals can be dribbling across a line, passing into an end zone, or passing to target players.

Then ask yourself these questions:

1. In what part of the game (game situation) does the topic happen?

This is the game situation to reproduce in the “restricted space with counter-attack” stage.

2.What is the minimum number of players involved in the selected game situation?

The answer will give you the size of the grid to use in the “unrestricted space” stage.

3. Ideally, the warm up will have a connection to the "restricted space" stage. i.e. similar player movements.

4.Then you can write down your coaching points for the use of the tactics.

  • Unrestricted space: introduce the related principle of play
  • Restricted space: how does the goal change the play? (direction, distance, ..)
  • Restricted space with counter-attack: how does the counter-attack change the play?

Example 1: Receiving lofted balls (U10)

Match analysis:

When our GK punts the ball, my team lets the ball go to the opponents. We need to control the ball before it bounces.

Step 1: write down progression.

It is a technical topic so:

  • Warm Up
  • Fundamental (no pressure = no movement and no opponent)
  • Match Related (more pressure = movement but no opponent)
  • Match Condition (full pressure = movement +opponent)
  • Game
  • Cool Down

Step 2: ask questions:

1. In what part of the game (game situation) does the topic happen?

GK punting the ball. So the exercise must make the GK punt the ball a lot: each time the ball goes over the goal line, make the GK punt. Use a GK+4 v GK+4.

2. Which technique do you wish them to use for the game situation?

The top of the thigh. I thing my players might be afraid to use the chest to control punts right now. (Next week, we'll practice with the chest and see how it goes)

3. You fill in the "Match Related"stage by using the exercise for the "Match condition" without the defenders.

  • GK punts to a player. Since I want a lot of repetitions, lets use more than one player punting. How about ½ of the players punt, the others control.
  • Then I will progress by increasing the distance, the accuracy of the punts will decrease.
  • Then I will ask another player so stand in the way of the receiver.
  • Then move to 2 players competing for the punt.

4. Ideally, the warm up will have a connection with to the "Match Related" or "Match condition" phases. i.e. a much easier version.

When the GK punts, the ball might go far. Tossed balls are easier to control. So Your warm up is your Fundamental Stage.

5. Then you can write down your coaching points for the use of the skill.

  • Fundamental: joints relaxed, top of thigh horizontal then bring down at contact time
  • Match Related: adjust to flight of the ball, square to ball, avoid crossing feet
  • Match Condition: place body between ball and defender

Completed Lesson plan:

Technique: top of thigh reception
Demo: top of thigh reception
Introduction speech: “we need to keep control of the ball after our GK punts”

Warm Up:
½ of players with the ball. Call one without the ball and toss. Receive with top of thigh then toss to another player.

Fundamental:
In pairs with one ball. Toss to partner. Control then toss back.
Coaching points: joints relaxed, top of thigh horizontal then bring down at contact time

Match Related:

a) In pairs. Punt to partner.
Increase distance as they become better.
Coaching points: adjust to flight of the ball, square to ball, avoid crossing feet

b) Combine two pairs. Punt to partner
Instruct other player to challenge for the ball a little harder each time. Then competition: 1 point for each control and pass back to server.
Coaching points: place body between ball and defender

Match Condition:

GK+4 v GK+4

GK punts any ball going over the end line (no goal/corner kicks)
Coaching points: all previous

Game:

Cool Down:

Each player runs while tossing and controlling a ball with the top of the thigh

Example 2: teaching cover. (U10)

Match analysis:
Each time one of the players challenged the opponent with the ball, no one helped. All the teammates just looked.

Step 1: write down the progression.

It is a tactical topic so:

Warm Up

  • Unrestricted Space (Grid = movement in any direction)
  • Restricted Space (1 goal = restriction in one direction)
  • Restricted Space with counter-attack (2 goals = restriction in two directions)
  • Game
  • Cool Down

Step 2: ask questions:

1.In what part of the game (game situation) does the topic happen?

Occurred everywhere. Lets focus in our half.

2.What is the minimum number of players involved in the selected game situation?

I am coaching the second defender so I need at least two defenders. To make things fair, I'll also use two attackers. The grid will be a rectangle 20x10

3. Ideally, the warm up will have a connection to the "restricted space" stage.

2v2 possession

4. Then you can write down your coaching points for the use of the tactics.

  • Unrestricted space: close passing lane, close enough to help (4 to 5 steps) move to double team, communication.
  • Restricted space: start from between the goal and second attacker. Avoid being split.
  • Restricted space with counter-attack: be ready to cover the first defender when we lose the ball

Completed Lesson plan:

Warm Up + Unrestricted Space
2v2 in a grid.
Coaching points: distance and direction of cover. A few steps so close enough to support, not too close so ball career can beat both. Close the passing lane to the second attacker when moving in to double team. Tell the first defender what you are doing.

Restricted Space (1 goal = restriction in one direction)
2v2 to a small goal.
Coaching points: same as above and keep the ball carrier from scoring by splitting the defenders

Restricted Space with counter-attack (2 goals = restriction in two directions)
2v2 to two small goals.
Coaching points: Transition from attack to defense when the ball is lost. Immediately move to cover the first defender.

Game

Cool Down