Creating well-structured training units
A clear structure is important for the annual schedule as well as for the planning of the individual training units.
- Work with parts (see monthly schedule). You should work on a special topic over a certain period of time, especially in the training of youth teams. That way, you can repeat exercises and make sure the players memorize the courses.
- Each training unit should have a clear training focus. Do not mix topics within a training unit, but make sure that each exercise has a well-defined objective.
- The players are corrected in accordance with the training unit's focus (when training the defense, defense actions are corrected and pointed out).
2. Structuring a training unit
The focus of the training should run like a red thread through the entire unit. It is advisable to follow the basic timescale below:
- Approx. 10 (15) minutes – warm-up.
- Approx. 20 (30) minutes – basic exercises (2 to 3 exercises max. plus goalkeeper warm-up shooting).
- Approx. 20 (30) minutes – basic play.
- Approx. 10 (15) minutes – target play.
1st timescale for a 60-minute training unit / 2nd timescale in brackets for a 90-minute training unit.
Warm-up practices
- Opening of the training unit: It may be advisable to start the training unit with a ritual (get together in a circle, exchanging high-fives) and to explain the contents and the objectives of the training unit to the players.
- Basic warm-up: Jogging, activation of blood circulation and the musculoskeletal system.
- Stretching/strengthening/mobilization: Preparing the body for the physical stress of the training unit.
- Short games: These should already focus on the objective of the training unit.
Basic exercises
- Ball familiarization (focused on the objective of the training unit).
- Goalkeeper warm-up shooting (focused on the objective of the training unit).
- Individual technique and tactics training.
- Technique and tactics training in small groups.
In general, the running and passing paths are predefined during the basic exercises (you may increase and vary the requirements during the course of the exercise).
Additional information on basic exercise
- Each player should do the drill (switch quickly).
- Very frequent repetitions.
- The players should rotate or do the drill on both sides simultaneously / slightly delayed to avoid long waiting periods.
- Practice individually (1-on-1 to 2-on-2 max.).
- Add additional tasks/drills, if applicable (to make the exercise more complex).
Basic play
Most of all, the basic play differs from the basic exercise in such a way that now there are several options for action (decisions). The player(s) should realize the respective options and make the correct decision. Here, the players practice decision-making in particular.
- The players should now implement what they practiced during the basic exercises under competitive conditions.
- Working with alternative actions – practicing the decision-making process.
- The players should repeat the drill frequently and try out different actions.
- Working in small groups (3-on-3 to 4-on-4 max.).
Target play
- The players now implement what they practice before in free play. To increase their motivation, you may award additional points or additional attacks for correct implementation.
- In the target play, the players implement what they practiced before (5-on-5, 6-on-6).
Depending on the contents and the objectives of the training unit, you may have to slightly adjust the timescales of the basic exercise and basic play.
3. Roles/tasks of the coach
It is mainly the personality and the behavior of the coach that makes the training a success. Therefore, it is important to observe certain behavioral rules to guarantee a successful training. The coach's social skills have an impact as important as his expertise. Especially when training youth teams, the coach serves as a role model and may influence the development of the young players.
A coach should:
- describe the training and its objectives to his team at the beginning of the training unit.
- always speak loud and clear.
- talk from such a position that all players can hear his instructions and corrections.
- recognize and correct mistakes and give advice when correcting.
- mainly correct what is part of the training objective.
- point out and compliment on individual progress (give the player self-confidence).
- support and permanently challenge the players.
- always be a role model – during training and games, but also outside the court.
- come to training and games well-prepared and in a timely manner.
Especially when training youth teams:
- The coach should react to different physical preconditions. This is especially important when training athletics. The difficulty level should always match the players' level of performance. For heterogeneous groups, you might have to present a less difficult version for physically weaker players.
- Motivate the players to hang in, even if they face certain difficulties in the beginning.
4. Training units
4.1 Improving passing precision during running movements
Description:
The objective of this training unit is to improve the passing precision during running movements, in particular. Following warm-up consisting of combined running moves and passing variants and a short game, the players practice passing while running at full speed during the ball familiarization phase. The goalkeeper warm-up shooting and the subsequent series of shots also focus on playing passes while running at full speed. A second series of shots combines double passes on a defined running path with quick passes in direction of the goal. Finally, the players practice playing precise passes under pressure in a small group game and a closing game.
The training unit consists of the following key exercises:
- Warm-up/Stretching (individual exercise: 10 minutes/total time: 10 minutes)
- Short game (15/25)
- Ball familiarization (10/35)
- Goalkeeper warm-up shooting (10/45)
- Offense/Series of shots (10/55)
- Offense/Series of shots (15/70)
- Offense/Small groups (10/80)
- Closing game (10/90)