As a club, TillsonburgFC strives to provide an excellent developmental setting for our youth, both as players and as people.  We are grateful for coaches who volunteer their time to build into the lives of our youth, and we encourage them to continually be learning and improving, employing the best evidence-based approaches and resources.  To this end, coaches are asked to take the certifications that Ontario Soccer deems essential for the age level they are leading.

Supplementary to the coach certification that Ontario Soccer provides, there are a host of excellent online resources from which coaches can learn.  As our coaches are developing their own knowledge base, we want to support their access to the most useful training ideas and methods, to aid their efforts.  Links to some high quality technical training pages have been provided here, so that our coaches can be continually providing each player with exposure to the skills and training they need to succeed on the field.

Additionally, on this page coaches can view the Ontario Soccer Grassroots Standards for age groups.  Ontario Soccer Grassroots Standards provides a "best practices" structure that is designed to promote player participation in soccer in the ways that are most likely to benefit player progress, physically, technically, tactically, psychologically and socially.  

As well, Ontario Soccer has set out the player pathway structure for talented individuals who are identified as prepared to take on the challenge of a higher level of the game.

Additionally, on this page coaches can view the Ontario Soccer Grassroots Standards for age groups.  Ontario Soccer Grassroots Standards provides a "best practices" structure that is designed to promote player participation in soccer in the ways that are most likely to benefit player progress, physically, technically, tactically, psychologically and socially.  

https://www.ontariosoccer.net/player-grassroots

As well, Ontario Soccer has set out the player pathway structure for talented individuals who are identified as prepared to take on the challenge of a higher level of the game.

https://www.ontariosoccer.net/player-talented-pathway

Technical Training

Yael Averbuch—Former US women’s national team player who has done a great job of putting a whole bunch of youtube content . . . great footwork pattern stuff.  I’ve given you the general heading, but go through it and pull out what’s useful.
https://www.youtube.com/@YaelAverbuchYFutbol/videos
An example from her that I used regularly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBZnUBNqNu4

Michael Cunningham—a former pro, 7mlc, provides some very well-presented individual skills development training
https://www.youtube.com/@7mlc

Coerver Coaching—is the “granddaddy” of progressive technique training, and the official methodology of a number of football associations; you can take licenses in this, and it’s very useful
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=coerver+method+soccer+training

Thomas Vlaminck—is a professional youth coach who has coached with Club Brugges, Gent and other top level Belgian clubs, and the Belgian system has been a leader in player development.  He puts a lot of excellent content on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/@CoachThomasVlaminck/featured

Possession and Passing

Rondo Variations:  
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfsY9sf-gc4
This is essential.  Until your team can play Rondo well, they will struggle with possession.

Dutch Diamond Passing Pattern: 
ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR_hORBCHSQ
The demonstrators here aren’t great, but they will give you some ideas and variations, and you can add your own game-specific ideas
NB—When kids get older, I also like to add the “wineglass” pattern to emphasize the idea of finding a higher target, and a lay-off player getting in position under the target

Useful Fitness Stuff and Measures of Physical Ability

FIFA 11+ Dynamic Warm-up:   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSJIp7e7fyY
This is part 1 in the 11 part series, each about a minute long

Yo-Yo Test:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0LKPFT9loE
This is essentially the world soccer standard for endurance

Nike SPARQ Agility Test:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfkZReiQTIo
Nike uses this to test multi-directional speed and it’s a recognized standard

The Most Fundamental and Accepted Explanation of Tactical Principles

The 10 Tactical Principles of Soccer: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX6X-jg3Bh4
These were first laid out as the “essentials” by Alan Wade for the British FA.  HOW these are accomplished varies, but IF they are accomplished, these are what generate attacking and defending success.

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