Final Project: For the sport and level you coach, develop a practice plan for one day

of practice
during the first quarter of your season.
Lesson Plan for a High School Boys Varsity Soccer Team
Date: 14 September 2015
Training Duration: 3:45pm 5:15pm
Topic: Improve your teams ability to create and exploit width in attack (Coach Goal)
Key Coaching Points: #1 Improve field vision #2 Maintain the discipline to stay wide
(touchline) #3 Accelerate off the edge culture of creativity. (Player Goals)
Time Line:
3:30pm 3:45pm

Coach Organizes Equipment for the Days Training

We train on an artificial turf field which presents a relatively new, safe training space for the
boys. I visually inspect it for foreign objects as I set up the training. I bring a walkie-talkie with
me to training so I can contact our athletic training staff quickly should there be an injury.
I carry out a sack of cones and pinnies. I have designed an economical day of training, as far as
set-up, as our first three activities will all take place in an area 30 yards by 44 yards. I mark two
identical areas using cones. I separate the pinnies into piles of red, blue and gold (12 each).
The players will be divided up between the starters and the reserves today. I will take the starters
in my group. My assistant coach will take the reserves. Both groups will receive identical,
simultaneous training.
3:45pm 4pm

Stretch & Team Reading from Soccer Brain

The captains lead dynamic stretching for 8 minutes. The dynamic stretch is comprised of
jogging with hip in and out, bounding, skipping, picking grass, lunging, and jumping. The
warm-up is modeled after the FIFA 11+ warm-up routine. The entire team organizes in a
horseshoe shape around the designed reader. One player takes the book home the night before
and selects a passage of interest to him. The reader reads a passage from Soccer Brain while the
rest of the team individually does static stretching. Everyone gets an opportunity to do a reading
during the season. Some players get two opportunities. This exercise promotes public speaking
and critical thinking. We will dedicate 7 minutes to discussing the selected passage. The topics
focus on psychological skills. Standard questions include Why did you choose that particular
selection? and then I ask the other players on the team, Does this resonate with any of you?
Why? What is the application to the game? A healthy and helpful discussion allows follows.
This is a component of training that the players are responsible for. Brunson and Vogt suggested

that empowered athletes are better learners (as cited in Huber, 2013). Developing reflective
skills is an important part of becoming empowered.
Key coaching points: Team building, public speaking, organizing thoughts, focus,
communication.
4pm 4:10pm

Visualization

I have the entire team lay down in a circle around me. They get comfortable typically, laying
on their back with their eyes closed. I take the players through a quick relaxation process
involving the 5-2-5 breathing technique reducing the stress and anxiety in their bodies. Then, I
will either focus my visualization on a team event (working the ball out of the back, switching
the point of attack, possession, etcor I have them work on their own individual positive soccer
moment (great save, great pass, great run off the ball, etc). I walk them through the process
encouraging the players to make the visualization as vivid and as rich as possible.
Key coaching points: Try and control fear of failure & minimize risk Williams (2010) stated
that empowerment can end up placing athletes in unusual, uncomfortable or awkward situations
if they come from an authoritarian coaching environment. I attempt to remedy this by teaching
the athletes how to manage emotional arousal through a variety of different techniques such as 52-5 breathing, positive affirmations, visualization, and self-talk. I feel it is critical that we teach
the athletes how to get to a steady state equilibrium as quickly as possible after facing adversity
so that they can speedily get back to performing at a high level. Visualization is an incredible
life skill and it serves to empower our student-athletes. Kohn suggested that empowered athletes
have a noticeable positive effect on their achievement, behavior, values and sense of well-being
(as cited in Huber, 2013).
4:10pm 4:20pm

Technical Warm-Up

The starters and reserves separate at this point. Both units utilize their own designated 30 yard
by 44 yards areas previously set up. The players may be a bit stiff, (although more relaxed and at
a steady state equilibrium now), after the visualization. I have the players (including keepers)
split up into 6 red pinnies and 6 gold pinnies. In groups of 3 players Iteration #1 pass & move,
Iteration #2 captain selects a dynamic stretch (everyone performs), Iteration #3 groups of 3
players still one touch, double pass, take over, Iteration #4 dynamic stretch, Iteration #5
groups of 3 players still pass and overlap, Iteration #6 dynamic stretch, Iteration #7 groups
of 3 players still pass, receive and accelerate. Equipment needed: 6 red pinnies, 6 gold pinnies,
10 cones, 4 balls, 12 players.
Key coaching points: quality of pass (pace of pass, body organization, open hips, toe up and
out, follow through, preparation touch) receiving (get in line of flight of the ball).
4:20pm 4:22pm

Water/Nutrition Break

Players briskly jog to the bench area. The captains have brought out snacks. The athletic
trainers have provided water in a jug. Players use their individual water bottles to fill/refill and
drink.
Key coaching points: Teach proper nutrition and hydration.
4:22pm 4:37pm

Small-Sided Activity

The starters and reserves are still separate at this point. Both units utilize their own designated
30 yard by 44 yards areas previously set up. The game is a 4v4 + neutral to 6 goals. The goals
are evenly spaced on the long width (44 yard side), 3 goals per side. Objective: Goals are scored
by dribbling through the cones (goals). One point is awarded for each goal. Make it take it.
Losers do leg lifts. Equipment needed: 12 flags, 4 red pinnies, 4 gold pinnies, 1 blue pinnie, 10
cones, 1 ball, 9 players.
Key coaching points: Switch point of attack (body position and balance, select controlling
surface to use, turn with one touch), Support movement of players (verbal and visual
communication, angle and distance of support), Attack from the wing (first touch, open hips).
4:37pm 4:55pm

Expanded Small-Sided Activity

The starters and reserves are still separate at this point. Both units utilize their own designated
30 yard by 44 yards areas previously set up. The game is 5v5 with goalkeepers playing to big
goals. Players attack across the 30 yard length and the width of the field is 44 yards. Equipment
needed: 4 flags, 1 ball, 5 red pinnies, 5 gold pinnies, 10 cones.
Key coaching points: Rhythm of play (open hips, 1st touch to space, organize body), Support
and movement (field vision), Attacking mentality for wide play (acceleration, be bold)
4:55pm 4:57pm

Water/Nutrition Break

Players briskly jog to the bench area. The captains have brought out snacks. The athletic
trainers have provided water in a jug. Players use their individual water bottles to fill/refill and
drink.
Key coaching points: Teach proper nutrition and hydration.
4:57pm 5pm

Position Big Goals for 7v7 Activity

Request boys that finish hydrating early move one goal to half field.
5pm 5:14pm

7v7 Activity

Starters and reserves come together for the final activity of the training session. Split into 3
teams of 7 players. The game is 7v7 plus goalkeepers, played to regulation goals, half-field.
Two teams battle each other until a goal is scored. The team in reserve is brought on to replace

the conceding team. I do not insist that the players adopt a specific style of play on the field.
They are encouraged to try different things. Invariably, the players come to understand their own
strengths and weaknesses. Problem-solving on their own results in a rich educational
experience. The players are largely responsible for figuring out the best way to be successful on
the field. Equipment needed: 1 ball, 23 players, 7 gold pinnies, 7 red pinnies, 7 blue pinnies.
Key coaching points: Overlapping movements (field vision, first touch, angle of attack), Retain
possession (relax controlling surface, weight of pass, exercise patience).
5:14 5:15pm

Dismissal

Players gather around coach. Coach asks questions to highlight the main coaching topic of the
training session. Coach teases out the key coaching points. Team cheer. Dismissal.
Key coaching points: Team building, communication.
5:15pm

Equipment Storage

Captains are responsible for getting the equipment stored under the equipment shed.
Key coaching points: Hammermeister (2010) stated that coaches can empower athletes by
delegating responsibility. Most athletes will live up to a coaches expectation if the expectation
is based on a realistic assessment of the athletes maturity.

References
Hammermeister, J.J. (2010). Cornerstones of coaching: The building blocks of success for sport
coaches and teams. Traverse City, MI: Cooper Publishing Group, LLC.
Huber, J. (2013). Applying educational psychology in coaching athletes. Champaign, IL: Human
Kinetics.
Kirkendall, D. (2011). Soccer anatomy. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
USSF (2013). Best practices for coaching soccer in the U.S.: Player development guidelines.