As coaches, we have to consider some aspects that will help to improve the learning process of our players.

The player is the main subject of all training and educational actions. Therefore, the game will have to be adapted to their characteristics and needs, using a training and competition format according to that to guarantee a correct training.

These key points are what we call psychopedagogical principles, and they are the following ones:

1. Adapting the game to the child

2. The individual perspective of learning

3. The division of the program into periods

4. Consideration of motivation

We present their meaning and how they contribute to the learning process:

1. Adapting the game to the child refers to use a training and competition format which guarantee the right development and formation. Therefore, it does not make sense to play and train as the adults do, since children cannot be trained in a context that they are not able to understand. How can we do it? For example, using 3v3 or 4v4 formats instead of 7v7 or 11v11; to adjust the spaces to the reduced number of players and to the training content; shorter training times with more variability; to reduce the size of the goals, etc.

2. The individual perspective of learning is focused on training in each player what it is believed to be most needed to continue progressing. In youth, the focus can be put on the coordinative skills with and without the ball and the simplest tactical contents. With this, the evaluation of the players will be focused on the individual performance and less to the team as a group. How can we know which contents we can train every time? We will see it next.

3. The division of the program into periods organizes the teaching and learning process of the players according to their level of game understanding. This makes it easier for the coach to know what objectives and training contents are related with each stage. For example, in youth we should increase the participation of any child in the football practice, which will allow them to use their abilities in relation to the game and start the specific football learning from the basic tactical concepts.

4. The motivation is very important in the learning process because the player will be motivated when training what he/she is interested in. Consequently, this player will be interested in anything he/she is capable of doing. On the other hand, what this player is not able to learn will be out of his/her interest and motivation. The player will have to understand the why of his/her actions, because when someone do not understand something, this person automatically become demotivated.

   According to neuroscience, emotionally linked learning is much more powerful than any other. So, if a player has fun, he/she will be opened to learn. The more the player learns, the better this player will perform and succeed. This success will provide more fun and this, at the same time, will provide more learnings, which will allow the player to compete better, and this loop will continue to play constantly.

With all that, it is crucial to understand the main characteristics and needs of the players to be able to adjust the training contents and contexts to what they are able to learn and in an attractive and rewarding way that motivates them to keep learning.

Do you want to make your players better?

In the Expert in youth football online course you will learn how to identify the main characteristics of the young players and to clasify them according to their level of game understanding. It will allow you to select the correct training contents according to their necessities and, consecuently, you will learn how to create and design training sessions and tasks which respect and benefit their learning processes to help them become better players.

Click here to get more information.