Visual Engagement
Do more than paint them a picture
It is important for coaches to understand the following.
Young players do have some chance of understanding coaching concepts that are simply dictated to them. I call this verbally educating the player. I've seen my share of coaches coach use this style and only this style, running 10 year old girls though military-type practices that not only severely stunt learning, but also are not very fun for the kids as they feel that they are being yelled at constantly. Don't forget that for a young girl, you don't even have to raise your voice or use a negative tone to give them the perception that they are being yelled at. For coaches like this, it's my way or the highway. I feel for kids in this situation as I'm almost certain that coaches like this are screamers during games.
Young players’ chances of comprehension and retention increase a bit if they are allowed to ask questions of coach. The kids are now verbally engaging and can ask questions in order to get individual help for their own problems or issues with the concept. Again, better than just being verbally educated, but not yet at the ideal learning atmosphere we seek.
I believe there is considerable data out there proving that young players have an increased chance of comprehension and retention by being shown the concept. This is why you hear many instructors at coaching courses and seminars preaching "paint them a picture". To me, this is WAY better than simply sitting the players down to talk at them and try to explain certain technique or a specific tactical idea. This is why I feel that one of the prerequisites of a high level training atmosphere is a coach who is competent at playing the game him/herself. The ability for them to demonstrate proper technique is a huge benefi/t to young players. Coaches are now visually educating the players and this goes a long way towards player understanding.
I've found the absolute best way to help players grasp new or important technical and tactical ideas is to teach through what I call visual engagement. This method combines the "paint them a picture" idea with the Discovery Method and is much more in depth and complete as the young players are seeing something done first hand while also being forced to think and process rational for certain technique or tactical ideas based on answering questions posed by the coach in order to discover answers themselves. That was a long sentence.
Let's look at a quick, base example. I'll use the situation of a coach trying to teach a Scissors move for the first time to a young player.
Verbal Education
Coach OK, Lauren, here's what you do. You dribble the ball forward, swing your right leg around the ball one way, then take the ball away in the opposite direction with the outside of your other foot. Off you go!
Verbal Engagement
Coach OK, Lauren, here's what you do. You dribble the ball forward, swing your right leg around the ball one way, then take the ball away in the opposite direction with the outside of your other foot. Got it? No? Why not?
Little Lauren Which way do I swing my leg?
Coach From the inside of your body to the outside.
Little Lauren Ummm, OK. Why would I do that?
Coach To beat a defender. Got it? Good! Off you go!
Visual Education
Coach OK, Lauren, here's what you do. You dribble the ball forward, swing your right leg around the ball one way (coach swings their right leg around the ball), then take the ball away in the opposite direction with the outside of your other foot (coach takes the ball away with their other foot). Off you go!
Visual Engagement
Coach OK, Lauren, here's the Scissors move. The idea is to fake that you’re going to go in one direction then take the ball in the other. Why would you ever want to do that against an opponent?
Little Lauren Um, to get by them?
Coach Right! And it would be easier to get by them this way (point to your left) if you make the defender move… <pause>
Little Lauren That way! (Pointing to your right)
Coach Correct! So I’m going to fake around the ball with my right foot, pretending to pass the ball with the outside of my foot where?
Little Lauren To your right.
Coach Right! Then when I get the defender moving that way (point to your right) what do I want to do now?
Little Lauren Go the other way!
Coach You’re on fire girl! Do I want to get away from the defender as fast as possible or as slow as possible?
Little Lauren As fast as possible!
Coach Right. So if my right foot that faked the… <pause>
Little Lauren Outside of the foot pass…
Coach (nodding) … lands here, what part of which foot would be the easiest to use to push the ball in that (pointing left) direction?
Little Lauren The left foot.
Coach Correct, but which part of the left foot?
Little Lauren I don’t know?!?!
Coach OK, does it look easier for me to move my left foot like this (demonstrate moving your left foot around the ball to push it away with the inside of your left foot – it looks awkward), or if I move my foot like this (demonstrate moving your left foot behind the ball with your toe pointed down and push the ball away with the outside laces of your foot – looks easier and more fluid)?
Little Lauren The second way.
Coach I think so too. So I want to use what part of which foot to take the ball away to my left?
Little Lauren The outside of your left foot!
Coach Correct! Again. So fake like you’re…
Little Lauren making a pass…
Coach with the…
Little Lauren outside of your right foot…
Coach to make the defender think that you’re…
Little Lauren going that way… (pointing to her right)
Coach then…
Little Lauren move your left foot in position…
Coach to…
Little Lauren take the ball away…
Coach how…
Little Lauren quickly…
Coach using…
Little Lauren the outside part of your left foot.
Coach Awesome! Give it a shot girl!