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Limited number

Alex Combrink

Hello,

I have had to cancel a football training session, at U14 level, due to limited numbers. I feel guilty and horrible but I only 7 players were going to turn up for an 1hr session. 

I looked at adapting the session in my planning, and thought about shortening the time from an hour to 45mins, but ultimately decided to postpone training. School holidays affects player numbers and that’s out of our control, as coaches. I have advised their parents and sent out  short video about practicing ball mastery at home, so they can still practice this skill, even when training is not one,

I am just wondering has anyone else had a similar issue with player very limited players numbers? 

  • I would go ahead with 7. I have trained with 1 player in the past. I think the bottom line is that the coach always turns up if it’s possible. It sets a standard and also some players are the same and always turn up so should be given the opportunity to train. Just my thoughts. 

  • I'm only just starting out with coaching and my group are u6s moving into u7s next season, so it will be 5-a-side games and we have a squad of 9, so relatively speaking, 7 is a good number for us. I guess you are looking at it through a different lens as you were expecting many more and it meant you couldn't do what you wanted to do. I don't how many coaches you have but in my view, working with a small number, or having a high ratio of coaches to players is a great opportunity to do some technical drills such as ball mastery. It's also a great chance to get to know some of them better, I'm sure some would appreciate the increased focus.

    I would probably create some contingency plans of what you could do in future to navigate this situation - I expect the next 5 weeks or so are going to have similar issues.

  • I've definitely had that problem but I adapted that and went to defending and attacking drills. I had only 7 ( 1 goal keeper and 6 players ).

    So only used half a pitch and had 3 attacking and 3 defending then swapped them round so the others do the same.

    Then worked on free kicks etc.

    This morning had no goal keeper so put small goals in and 3 on 3 and made them have to get past defenders before they shoot to score.

    Just adjust the session and can work to the teams benefit. Can do some good drills with smaller groups Muscle

  • I endorse what the other coaches have already said.

    In some of the courses, one of the tasks is to prepare a session and then adjust if you had, say, 2 extra players or 3 fewer. It's really an exercise for coaches that may be working with a reserve side and who may be given additional players or had some taken by a 'first team' coach. But the exercise is valid at whatever level you are coaching and specifically for the reasons you mention.

    As well as matching up in, say a 3v3 or 4v4, can you overload the practice to make it more realistic to what happens in the game - eg 3 (or 2) attackers vs 4 (or3) defenders and a GK.

    In addition to technical / ball mastery options with low numbers, consider introducing small patterns of Play or combinations - eg overlaps, Up Back and Through, One-Twos, third player runs, rotations which will help in retaining and advancing the ball.

    Finally, if you don't already, consider planning the questions you may want to ask players based on the practice in order to gain their input and reflection and which will aid their learning.

    Good Luck.