The Discovery Method

Think to understand

To play high level youth soccer there is little doubt that players need athleticism and technique.  To  compete at the highest levels, it is imperative that players learn to think as well as to play.  Thus, one of my goals is to develop the thinking player, and the best way to do this is... (drum beat please!)... to make them think.  How do I do this?  Read on, my friend... 

I am a huge proponent of teaching by discovery rather than by lecture.  This Discovery Method is the method that uses questions (posed by me) in order to solicit responses and answers (from the girls) with the desired end result being that the players discover the answer themselves rather then having me simply lecture the answer to them.  The idea is that if I can get the players to think about the problem and verbalize the solution, this goes a long way towards learning and retention.  I use this discovery method hand in hand with prompting and "Why?"

I have always used this particular teaching style, though I had no idea until recently that there was a name for it.  To me it simply made sense that in order for a player to pick up something, they needed to know about that something.  If you could get them to know about that something they would also likely better retain the knowledge taught.

If you ask most young female competitive soccer players which part of the foot they should use when trying to make the most accurate pass, the great majority of players will give the correct answer, the inside of the foot.  If you then ask why they should use their inside of the foot, not many will be able to answer it. 

Me: Can I pass the ball with my toe?

Group: Nooo!

I pass the ball to a player using my toe, but purposefully I'm not very accurate.

Me: Can I pass the ball with my toe?

Group: Yes!

Me: Was it very accurate?

Group: No!

Me: Why? ("Why?")

Group: Ah....

Me: (prompting) How big is my toe? (prompting)

Group: Not very big.

Me: So why isn't my pass very accurate? ("Why?")

Group: Because you're not using a very big part of your foot.

Me: OK, so why do you want to use the inside part of your foot for passing? ("Why?")

Group: Because it's a big part of your foot.

Me: Well, my instep (laces) is bigger than my toe, so why wouldn't I use my instep to pass? (prompting)

Group: Because your instep is not as big as the inside of your foot.

Me: OK, so why do you want to use the inside part of your foot for passing? ("Why?")

Group: Because it's the biggest part of your foot!

Me: Bingo!

Using this Discovery Method along with what I call visual engagement (see Visual Engagement) has led to accelerated understanding of the game in many of the girls.