As a volunteer, producing a season plan for your group of players often requires a length of time that is not present in your day to day life. We all want to give our players the best education and sometimes it is not just possible to do that. With the current worldwide pandemic seeing all youth football fall by the way-side, now is the time that we can do just that.
Season planning allows us to put in place a curriculum for our players to follow and develop accordingly. Teachers have followed a curriculum for as long as I can remember, to help their students progress gradually and football is no different. With only an hour a week, sometimes 2, to work with out players, chopping and changing from topic to topic gives them little chance to gain any kind of mastery at it. Putting the building blocks in place to master 2/3 things over the season will help your players develop their all-round game over the long-term.
I've been using season plans since 2008 and to think I reacted game by game before that has me cringing. Over the years, I have learned how much detail is needed per team. Whether "elite" players or recreational, the following 3 factors play a big part in all season plans that I produce.
Technical & Tactical Outcomes
What do you want each player to be able to perform by the end of the season? I'm sure we would like them all to be able to pass, dribble and score goals, but these are very vague terms. Passing could equate to any number of things - what part of the foot is used, what type of distances do they cover, is it to feet or into space. Having a clearer picture of the technical outcomes allow you to design your sessions as such.
Similarly from a tactical standpoint, what game model do you want your players to follow? Do you want them to move the ball forward wit short passes or do you want them to be more direct? How about their decision-making as individuals when faced with a 1v1 situation? These are all questions that you need to answer to have a picture in mind as to what the players will look like on the pitch when the season ends.
Both of these considerations can be taken 1 step further and be done on a player by player basis. Obviously some will be able to easily perform what you ask, while others may struggle. Having individual challenges in place will help push each player at their own pace.
What Is The Focus Of Your Group Like
In 15+ years of coaching, it's fair to say that every group I have ever worked with has had players with varying attention spans. It is also fair to say that attention and focus at practice is determined by a players' age. While some players turn up to practice with laser-like focus, others have been diagnosed with ADHD and can barely stay quiet for 10 seconds. All of this can play havoc with a single session, let alone a season.
It is important that we consider the level of focus that our players "generally" have throughout a season. I say generally as players will have up and down days, as we all do. If you consider your group to be hyper, then spending 10 weeks on a single topic might not be best for their needs. Instead, limit this to 4-5 weeks. Likewise, if you have a group that hang on every word you say, developing a topic over a longer period of time will be suitable.
Gender should also be considered when developing your season plan. Studies have shown that males are likely to be more attentive than females, and this could impact how many topics you cover over the season.
What Methodologies & Ideas Are Important To You And Your Players
While associations and federations have tried to push their preferred coaching methodology, many of us have our favoured way of coaching. This may be an overriding session idea such as whole-part-whole or unopposed, opposed, game, or it may be an isolated style of practice such as a rondo or wave practices. Whatever it may be, it is important you plan your season with these in mind.
If rondo's are a big part of your coaching philosophy, developing a season plan that is focused towards playing direct football won't be in sync. For me, 1v1's form a big part of my belief in how to coach foundation age players. As such, my plan for the U9's next season will incorporate these in the majority of practices.
U9 Season Plan
The initial outline of my season plan is in place for when we start up again. I will be working with U9 girls, who have shown they learn best by working on a topic for an 8 week period. 1v1's are enjoyed by the players and I believe that if the girls can master all varieties of those then it will benefit them in later years.
Topic 1 - Creative Play In and Around the Penalty Area
1v1's - back to goal, facing opponent, side on to the defender - creating space to shoot
2v1's - Give & Go, overlap, diagonal run behind defender
Finishing - left foot, right foot, first time finish, inside of foot
Principles - understanding of width, penetration, mobility, support and individuality
Topic 2 - Building Through The Thirds
1v1's - back to goal, facing opponent, side on to defender - safe side/shielding for opportunity to move the ball
2v1's - Give & Go, overlap - pass or dribble to move the ball forward
3v1's - possession play, playing sideways or backwards to move the ball forward
Passing & Receiving - inside of the back foot, lifting head, checking shoulders, playing on the half turn
Principles - understanding of width, penetration, mobility, support and individuality
Topic 3 - Defending as an Individual
1v1's - Close/slow/low/show down, patience when winning the ball
Principles - discipline, delay