Football
Football is played mainly in the spring term with 9 teams representing the school across the 11-18 age range. We have a healthy fixture list against local schools, with most of our games being played on Wednesday afternoons. In recent years we have expanded our fixture list, entering The English Schools Cup, (ESFA) and The Independent Schools Cup, (ISFA). These matches take place in the Autumn Term, and have given us the opportunity to play the likes of Millfield, Charterhouse and Eton College.
We have access to seven pitches with the picturesque 1st X1 pitch overlooking Truro Cathedral.
Teams are coached by experienced and enthusiastic staff with the help of qualified coaches.
Objectives
1. |
To produce players for our First Team, County teams OR players that get recognised at professional level. |
2. |
To create a learning environment where players enjoy their football and feel free to experiment without fear of failure |
3. |
To maximize the potential of every player within the School who participates |
4. |
To encourage players to achieve as much as possible in their education |
5. |
To put the development of the individual player above any ‘team goals’ |
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Football Fixtures & Results - Spring 2010 |
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Football 1st XI Captain’s Report |
Part of the U15 Team |
Philosophy and strategies
Philosophy
Why are we here?
For coaching staff the answer must be “to improve footballers”.
For players the answer must be “to fulfil their potential in footballer”.
Strategies
1. |
Teach players ‘HOW’ to think not ‘WHAT’ to think |
2. |
Encourage good habits at all times - A good attitude is imperative because it is very rare that a lazy or unmotivated player will improve |
3. |
Stop training sessions to point out good practice more often than you stop to correct faults - Everybody learns better through ‘positive reinforcement’ rather than through ‘negative criticism’, this is true of adults but is especially pronounced in children |
4. |
Make training fun and enjoyable - In order for players to develop they must want to be with us |
| 5. | Eliminate the fear of failure as much as possible - If a player feels criticized for making mistakes then they will only try things that they know will succeed |
| 6. | Encourage players to try things and to learn from mistakes - use phrases like “no problem” and “onto the next” to minimize the feeling of failure and to emphasise the importance of reacting to a mistake rather than dwelling on it |
| 7. | Failure is a necessary learning tool, remember that ‘learning is what occurs when we don’t already know what to do’ |
| 8. | Try to say ‘Well Done’ to players as often as possible |
| 9. | Use phrases like “You’re better than that” instead of “That’s not good enough” to put a positive spin on errors and mistakes |
| 10. | Encourage players to use their ‘voice’ as often as possible
- Voice is a technique that needs training and practicing in the same way as passing and shooting - Have a descriptive or helpful word that players say when performing a particular technique e.g. crossing = “whip” or shooting = “down” |
| 11. | Encourage sharpness and high tempo - Work in short bursts that allow things to be done at ‘match pace’ |
| 12. | Inspire players to practice at home
- Set a ‘homework challenge’ after each session - Make players understand that the time they have at the training sessions isn’t enough by itself, they must practice what we coach them - Encourage players to practice specifically ‘Shooting into corner of goal' not just to practice ‘shooting at goal’ |
| 13. | Encourage ‘player awareness’
- know where your space is i.e. where to take your first touch - know what you’re going to do before you receive the ball - know what’s happening off the ball as well as on it |
| 14. | Encourage players to show in a match things covered in training
- in games at the end of training give a goal for re-creating things worked on in that session |
| 15. | Encourage players to expect the ball
- Regularly look at what is happening off the ball and encourage players to be ready at all times - Ask players to be thinking about ‘what might happen next’ and keep their ‘engines running’ rather than switching off when the ball is not in their area |
| 16. | Encourage good reactions
- Get players to ‘do the next job’ at any stage they give the ball away, that might be after a tackle or even after a shot goes wide |
| 17. | Encourage players to ask questions |
| 18. | Remember there are 3 learning styles
- Some of your players will learn best from hearing an explanation, some will learn best from seeing an explanation and some will learn best from actually doing and practicing. - Remember to cater for all and try to put things in a different way when a player doesn’t understand something |
| 19. | Encourage imagination
- A great player is one who can produce the unexpected on a regular basis - Encourage players to try things |
| 20. | Encourage competitiveness
- In all drills look for ‘the best’ player and encourage players to want to be the best - In all training matches make sure the game is realistic and played at match pace, no half tackles just because it’s training - Train like you play and play like you train |
Mr Glynn Hooper
Head of Football
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1st Team Report 2009 |
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Under 12 Football Report 2009 |
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Under 13 Football Report 2009 |
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Under 16 Football Report |
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Football Fixtures & Results - Spring Term 2009 |