Dakota Gold Soccer Club

Your Practice Routine as a Rehearsal for Game Day

Karl Dewazien(California State Director of Coaching)

"Keeping It Simple!"

By Karl Dewazien, Your FUNdamental Soccer Coach

Your Practice Routine as a Rehearsal for Game Day.

SAMPLE TIMETABLE:
	GAME DAY				PRACTICE SESSION
PREPERATION:				PREPERATION:
Mental/Physical Warm-up			Mental/Physical Warm-up	
			20 min.					20 min.
________________________________________________________________
1st HALF of GAME			One + One  (Cooperative Play*)
			
			    	One vs. One (Competitive Play*)		
			30 min.					30 min.
________________________________________________________________
HALF-TIME				HALF-TIME		
			10 min.					10 min.
________________________________________________________________	
2nd HALF of GAME			SMALL SIDED GAME(s)	
					(Cooperative & Competitive*)
					SCRIMMAGE		
					(Cooperative & Competitive*)
			30 min.					30 min.
________________________________________________________________
CLOSING:				CLOSING:
Mental/Physical Cool Down			Mental/Physical Cool Down	
			10 min.					10 min.
________________________________________________________________
TOTAL 'GAME' TIME			TOTAL 'PRACTICE' TIME	
			100 min.					100 min.
============================================================

Remember: Practice is Rehearsal for Game Day!

*COOPERATIVE - FOR THE PLAYERS…
Players understand that the coach may stop or interrupt play to make 'Points of Refinement'.

Beginning Stage:

Perform 'Theme' at controlled speed vs. walking opponent(s).
Environment that allows players to experiment with the 'Theme'.
Allowing ample time to concentrate on perfect execution of the 'Theme'.
At a speed where movement/action is slower to allow learning to take place.

Intermediate Stage:

Perform 'Theme' at controlled speed vs. jogging opponent(s).
Environment that challenges players while experimenting with the 'Theme'.
Allowing players less time to concentrate on perfect execution of the 'Theme'.
At speed where movement/action is faster to challenge learning taking place.

Advanced Stage:

Perform 'Theme' at controlled speed vs. game speed opponent(s).
Environment that tests players while experimenting with the 'Theme'.
Allowing player to concentrate on perfect execution of 'Theme' at game speed.
At speed where movement/action is dictated by the pressure of the opponent.

*COOPERATIVE - FOR THE COACH>…

Prepare to stop the action and make 'points of refinement' on the 'Theme'.
When in doubt put players back into previous Stage - Success is the Key!

*COMPETITIVE - FOR THE PLAYERS…

Players understand that the coach will not stop or interrupt play to make 'Points of Refinement'.
'Free' games controlled by the players.
'FUN' games controlled by the players.

*COMPETITIVE - FOR THE COACH…

Prepare to allow the action to continue without stopping or interrupting play.
Discipline yourself to know when to leave the players alone!
Over coaching can often be worse than no coaching!
Be careful, that in the haste of competing, technique does not deteriorate.
Recognize fatigue and when it becomes a factor in learning.
Include active/inactive rest periods when the activity is at a high pace.
Take mental or written notes on who will need help (with the 'Theme') in future practices!

It's as simple as that…! Portions of this editorial are taken from Karl's new book: "FUNdamental Soccer - Practice of Champions" A truly unique book that will introduce you to the 'Revolutionary' nine-step method guaranteed to dramatically improve your players. Yes, we guarantee, that patient consistent-sequential exposure to the 'FUNdamental Practice Routine' will produce real results in all your players!