For each of the scenarios listed, decide your confidence level.
Imagine you have been asked to mentor different players as they seek to develop.
Use the scoring scale to assess how confident you would be if presented with a particular scenario. Tick the most suitable category.
Assume that all players are coachable.
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Scenario 1
An U7 player is right-footed. He is finding it difficult to learn how to kick the ball with his left foot. He stands on his right leg and, without moving, flicks his left foot at the ball. Often it can hit his knee and sometimes he doesn’t make contact with the ball.
1. Very confident I can help
2. Reasonably confident I can help
3. Not sure I can be of help
4. Certain that I cannot help
Scenario 2
An U15 player isn’t scoring regularly when taking part in shooting drills (unopposed). He is left-footed and tends to miss to the left of the goals when he shoots for a point. Distance isn’t a problem and all practice is within the scoring zone and not from narrow angles.
1. Very confident I can help
2. Reasonably confident I can help
3. Not sure I can be of help
4. Certain that I cannot help
Scenario 3
An athletic U14 player can confidently field a ball above her head, but is unable to jump any higher than a couple of inches off the ground when doing so. Her fielding would be so much better if she was able to add a higher leap.
1. Very confident I can help
2. Reasonably confident I can help
3. Not sure I can be of help
4. Certain that I cannot help
Scenario 4
An adult footballer is struggling to make successful tackles, whether this be in the wide open spaces of a game or in the narrow confines of a tackling square. Any situation that involves facing an opponent who has the ball, generally ends up with the ball carrier getting past him quite easily. S&C is definitely not the issue.
1. Very confident I can help
2. Reasonably confident I can help
3. Not sure I can be of help
4. Certain that I cannot help
Scenario 5
An U17 footballer, playing as a corner forward, is very good at moving away from the centre to make room as an attack builds. He holds this wide position quite well, but tends to jump the gun and run ‘from out to in’ a second or two early. This leaves him in a spot where he (with his marker in tow) is often getting in the way of the attack rather than helping it.
1. Very confident I can help
2. Reasonably confident I can help
3. Not sure I can be of help
4. Certain that I cannot help
Scenario 6
An U13 player has been attending training sessions for quite a while now. Twice weekly he turns up, already togged out, because it’s easier to do that than to be in the changing room where there are always lots of conversations going on, none with him included. He steps out of the car just as training is about to start, because that’s easier than standing about or chasing a stray ball while others get in some pre-session shooting practice. The manager always says hello. It may be the last time he will hear his name called during the session. He knows he’s making mistakes during the drills and games but he’s never corrected. Others are corrected and mentioned by name. Not him.
1. Very confident I can help
2. Reasonably confident I can help
3. Not sure I can be of help
4. Certain that I cannot help
Scenario 7
An U16 player likes to solo run. She is quick and has good control when soloing. Unfortunately, the player can choose to carry the ball when it is not the best option; a pass would be much better and she doesn’t appear to see available teammates. Sometimes her runs end with a score; more often than not, the ball is turned over.
1. Very confident I can help
2. Reasonably confident I can help
3. Not sure I can be of help
4. Certain that I cannot help
Scenario 8
An U20 footballer, who has played most of his career as a close-marking defender, has been moved to play midfield. He has now played a number of games in that position. His best work has been when the opposition has the ball, marking and tackling in the middle third. However, he appears to be all at sea when his own team has the ball. His passes are often unsure, his runs are hesitant and his positioning is poor.
1. Very confident I can help
2. Reasonably confident I can help
3. Not sure I can be of help
4. Certain that I cannot help
A big thanks to Philip Kerr for the piece. Philip shares brilliant resources and coaching tools over on Twitter @playergaelic
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