Coaching

[Irish_Mark]

Hello all

Apologies for starting this in the Liverpool section but it's the best way I can get your attention.

I'm only 20 myself but recently I have been given the job to coach the Castlebar Celtic (my local club) Under 16 A team. The club has an incredible history and record at underage, I can't stress that enough, so I'm very surprised I've been given this rather than an under 12 C team or something!!

What I hope to gain from any of you who have experience is a few pointers and some advice. I hope you can help, I'd appreciate it all  Cheers!! I start next Wednesday and I'm just a tad nervous 

[I am The Egg Man]

Hello all

Apologies for starting this in the Liverpool section but it's the best way I can get your attention.

I'm only 20 myself but recently I have been given the job to coach the Castlebar Celtic (my local club) Under 16 A team. The club has an incredible history and record at underage, I can't stress that enough, so I'm very surprised I've been given this rather than an under 12 C team or something!!

What I hope to gain from any of you who have experience is a few pointers and some advice. I hope you can help, I'd appreciate it all  Cheers!! I start next Wednesday and I'm just a tad nervous 

Don't take advice of Irish priests!

[Tes]

Hello all

Apologies for starting this in the Liverpool section but it's the best way I can get your attention.

I'm only 20 myself but recently I have been given the job to coach the Castlebar Celtic (my local club) Under 16 A team. The club has an incredible history and record at underage, I can't stress that enough, so I'm very surprised I've been given this rather than an under 12 C team or something!!

What I hope to gain from any of you who have experience is a few pointers and some advice. I hope you can help, I'd appreciate it all  Cheers!! I start next Wednesday and I'm just a tad nervous 

Don't be nervous. You've been given the job you have because they believe you have something to offer. Believe in yourself.

At that age group they start to believe in their own hype and that they're legends in their own lunch hour. Keep on top of that, instill in them that learning and improvement is a career long thing. Praise them when they do well, encourage them when they make an error. You'll soon have them eating out of your hand. Good luck.

[Irish_Mark]

Thanks Tes  That's actually top advice, best I've recieved on any forum 

[the dude abides]

congrats on the appointment, Mark.

Tes offers some top advice above.

I'd maybe add that with you being 20 and only 4 or 5 years older than the players, you may need to make them aware that you know what you're about.

The key advice I'd give is keep on top of the lad/s that think they are primadonnas and hog the ball.  Some lads will take five touches when two would suffice.  Football is an easy game - pass and move. 

It's a team thing - there is no *I* in the word 'TEAM'

Oh and everybody should be working their bollocks off.  If you spot a lazy sod - make him aware that it hasn't gone unnoticed.

But try and be positive and give good constructive feedback.  If you have to be negative with one or two lads - might be best having a quiet word later. 

Enjoy it. 

[FlotionPotion]

Truth be told mate you have possibly the worst age group of any sport.  Too many distractions, drink, girls and girls and drink and girls.  I coach U12 GAA but have involvement at u16 too. 
The advice given so far is sound - never ball out an individual, always encourage.  Identify short comings and deal with them, don't point them out.
Stop the snipers, you know, the ones that think they know it all and have no problem shooting down players of lesser ability

Training can be fun and if they are having fun they will train harder.  Always take an opportunity to steal, I mean observe, drills from other coaches and age groups. The coach that knows it all hasn't been born yet.

Be aware that you are dealing with minors and its a sad indictment of todays society, but never get isolated with a minor.  Its not child protection its adult protection.  Commonsense at all times

[Irish_Mark]

Thanks Dude and Flotion  Some more top advice and I genuinely feel better about starting tonight. I'm actually off right now!!

Thanks again and talk to you soon 

[Irish_Mark]

Thanks for all the good advice lads, first training session was ruddy brilliant - textbook 

Nice bunch of lads, some top players, and can't wait to get going. First game is away to Westport United - the oldest rival 

[Tes]

Mark, how's it going? Anybody Rafa should be looking at?

[Irish_Mark]

To be honest Tes, there are some really, really talented footballers here... But they have the wrong attitude. Some nice lads, quiet lads, but my God.... FAR TOO QUIET!!! They will not talk on the pitch... It's so frustrating telling them again, and again. They HAVE to support each other and talk to each other. There's no communication. We lost the first game 5-3 in a thriller. Went 3-1 and was 3-3 by half time, but we conceded with 7 to go.

We'e gonna run them ragged tonight until they start listening, because if they don't listen we won't get anywhere. I'll keep ya posted on our season, thanks for the interest 

Gwan Celtic 

[the dude abides]

Mark, it (the silence thing) just goes with that age of kid.

If they are still not talking on the pitch, then start dropping/making substitions, until they do.  They HAVE to talk to each other. 

Of course you and the other coaches could start getting provocative - or get one of the kids that does talk, to start being more verbally in their faces.  That would mean the kids would have to react. 

What would the achilles heel of such an age group be?  Their hairstyle?  Their posing on the ball?  Get in amongst them re such windups.  Get a reaction.  Once they start to react and talk, then you're half way there.