A Common Language

As we work through the training session plans in the class and on the field, you will see that each plan has ‘key words’.

• Instead of saying ‘run fast with the ball to the goal’ the keyword is DRIVE.

• Instead of saying ‘support your team mate so they can pass to you’ the keyword is OPTIONS.

You get the idea.

The value, as outlined by communication experts, is that the information is concise and translates to the moment.

“Options, JoJo”

Take OPTIONS. How do you get to the point that in a game you can say OPTIONS (or any word) to a player and they react positively?

• It’s quite simple, if you remain focused when coaching:

  • Review the training plans for the PPP methodology.

  • Become familiar with the keywords as they relate to the training plan, and when you might see the opportunity to say OPTIONS in the practice.

  • Keep this in mind as your main priority.

  • “Good to see you all at practice today kids. Our keyword is OPTIONS. We will use it when we need to support our team mate. Now go play.” (play 1)

  • Watch for the moments when a player could be providing support to their team mate.

    • You can use this with players who might be unengaged for whatever reason

      • “Hey, Sean - OPTIONS!”

  • And through the play intervals (2-3 minutes), use this word as many times as you can when it is relevant.

• During stoppages, reflect with the players. “How can you be an OPTION?” or “Tell me when you were an OPTION. Why?”

  • Feel free to recreate a moment when a player was an OPTION - Players are visual learners too.

• Move into the practice part of the plan.

  • Introduce the activity. Play

  • Use ‘coaching in the flow’ to help the players understand when they could be an OPTION.

    • Here you might use more words to guide. “Get closer, JoJo so you can be an OPTION for Lucy”. Then, “excellent OPTION, JoJo”. Reinforce the behavior.

• Move to play 2.

  • 5v5, 6v6, 7v7 etc.

    • Reinforce OPTIONS when coaching in the flow.

• Finish practice and summarize.

  • What was our keyword today?

  • Someone give me an example of it in action?

  • Excellent. Thank you. See you at our next practice.

From here. Make your own. Keep it concise. Maybe your club already has it for you. Maybe work with your mentor or co-coaches to develop your own. You could also ask your players what words they like for paticular moments. Instead of OPTIONS, I use SUPPORT, for example. Same same, just the language I have developed uses that instead.

Or you can buy mine, right here.