In this blog, we look at four different types of play you can use in your sessions.

Deliberate play activities

In these activities you facilitate play, but remove yourself from the ‘organisational’ role. For example: you could provide your team with a space and some equipment, before letting them decide how to use it. Alternatively, why not ask your players what they want to do for the next fifteen minutes?

Deliberate play provides the opportunity for increased investment and ownership. Stemming from a child’s intrinsic motivation, it promotes creativity, adaptability and mastery. It also enables your team to play freely despite being in a ‘formal’ setting.

If you can help your team to engage with practices that provide the feeling of ‘play’ but actually target a specific goal, then this is highly skilled coaching.

Play designed to improve performance

This refers to games that target a specific learning need. A coach who is comfortable including conditioned or constrained games in training (rather than the more formal and coach-led ‘drill’ activities) is moving towards a more playful approach. However, make sure you implement ‘rules’ that are appropriate for your players, e.g. dribbling games if your team need to build a connection with the ball.

Structured practice activities

These activities include ‘typical’ organised sport and its associated drills. This type of play may lead to short-term improvements in performance, but the key to long-term learning and permanent change is the use of game-like practices. Drills that lack an opposition or the opportunity to make decisions aren’t realistic – and are unlikely to prepare your players for matchday.

Deliberate practice activities

This refers to highly structured activities that are specifically designed to improve a particular aspect of technique, skill or performance. As a coach, you should be on hand to provide tailored feedback or (if the player is good at self-reflection) to act as a sounding board

Deliberate practice is usually associated with ‘elite’ performers and some athletes may not find it enjoyable (although working hard and seeing improvement can be very satisfying). As a result, your Foundation Phase sessions should focus on other types of play. However, if you feel that a child is ready and would benefit from deliberate practice, you could suggest an activity be attempted as homework.

Remember: play can help you to engage your team, increase intrinsic motivation and, as a consequence, promote learning. It's the perfect coaching tool.