Hi Marc

The first thing is, is she happy? If she loves coming along and is getting equal time/opportunity, then you are doing a fantastic job! 

I have a similar player (u12) but she loves coming along. In fact, several parents took their children elsewhere because they didn't think she was good enough or shouldn't be picked to play!!

Chat to the parents and see if it's a problem for the girl. Beyond that, check that she doesn't have any co-ordination issues. Again the parents will know from conversations with GP, school etc.

Pete Sturgess has some great ideas for body weight exercises/games etc Lots of tag games, hand ball...

Keep trying and well done for caring

Hi Marc Hollis , thanks for sharing you current challenge within your coaching of Under 11 girls.

In wanting to provide some guidance, I am interested to know a few things:

- what does a typical practice session look like with your group?

- how many girls attend practice sessions?

- What size pitch space do you have?

Regards,

Vinny Halsall

FA Grassroots Coach Development Team

Hi Vinny,

I'll answer the questions in reverse as it will probably be easier.

The area is about the size of a 5-a-side pitch.

We have a full squad of 14, and typically a minimum of 12 can make training each week.

Sessions I try to split it into three mini sessions. The first to be a warm-up and chat/catch up opportunity, typically up to 15 minutes. Then a 25 minute progressive part, focusing on specific things. Finally ending in some form of competitive game.

As an example, the progressive part could start as a simple passing corner to corner of a box, moving into more complicated pass and move routines and then replicating game scenarios.

The competitive game might be a mini game or sometimes a point-scoring system that gets them to incorporate what we've been working on.

Hope that is clear.

Thanks,

Evening Marc,

in the warm up/catch up does she integrate, chat laugh etc or does she tend to be in the background?

Hi Lee,

She is one of the quieter girls but she still chats and has a laugh with the others.

She will also call for the ball and be vocal that sort of way.

As a positive her calling for the ball and wanting it, is a massive win. showing she really wants to be part of the game even if some of her actions may not seem like it.

Do you have IDP for the players, if not try and make a bespoke one for to work on in her own time and at training.

Have you tried something like a small SSG with a 4v2 the girl being part of the 2 and trying to get her to win the ball and either keeping it for so long or scoring ASAP. but make sure to start with they are easy big wins.

really to build her confidence has much as possible 

Yeah, I'm happy with her desire to be involved and her effort to get involved. Her actions definitely don't suggest she doesn't want to be part of the game. The problem is more finding ways to make that possible.

I have tried handicap teams. When she is on the team with less players she can't win the ball. When she is on the team with more players, she can't get the ball for more than a split second before she is tackled.

When I say the ability gap is large, I mean it is like they are different age groups. For lack of a nicer way to say it, all the other girls are mentally stronger (better concentration, faster reaction times, higher awareness and more game knowledge), physically stronger & faster and technically better.

I have no problem with doing what I can to keep her involved at training and, as much as possible, in games but I'm worried about it holding the other girls back. Over the last few months I have started to see the other girls are aware of the gap and have overheard some make comments to themselves (which I've nipped in the bud).

Sorry for the long response, just want to give as much clarity on the situation as possible.

Really interested in any tips here. I have a similar situation. We're an U10 team and we have 4 players who are miles behind the others, and the gulf is just getting bigger.

Have you tried to make her a leader from design to practice to give more ownership in training this could help with her seeing the process work better if shes had an input in it.

Also have you worked on how to shield the ball to keep it longer and maybe 3 stages of control touch pass

its really hard but investment and confidence building is a big thing which i can see your trying.

what about her age is she one of the younger ones in the group

Hi Marc & Nicholas, To echo some of the other comments on this thread the benefits of keeping young players involved in sport are massive across all areas of their development so well done to you both for the great work you are doing to engage some of the less able players at your clubs. In addition to advice offered already you could divide your session between individual activities, small group work and whole group work or games. This will allow the players to get appropriate physical movement and contacts with the ball during individual work; for you to use grouping effectively during small group tasks and to continue to use STEP principle during whole group work so that the players are supported as much as possible. It should also be acknowledged that where the differences in ability are significant it's not always possible for even the most skilled coaches to bridge this gap. In such circumstances the best you can do as a coach is to show all players you genuinely care about them and their development and to continue to adapt activities, rules and conditions to make the practice as inclusive as possible.