Nick Levett and Roger Davies (The FA)

Today we had two guest speakers from the FA, Nick Levett and Roger Davies. Both work in the FA trying to develop youth in the game of football and came in to speak to us about how they go about and how they see the game of football at grass roots level.

Both of them were very keen on telling us about TGfU (Teaching Games for Understanding) because they believed that using the game as a teacher is the best way for a child to learn the rules and skills properly. Using TGfU allows a coach to still teach a game and the principles of it but at the same time allowing the players to work things out for themselves so there is an element of independent learning in there as well as the coaching points needed.

The following quotes were taken off the presentation done;

" In TGfU the pupil learns from the problems posted by the teacher" (Rod Thorpe, 2012)

" The beauty of games is the unscripted drama" (Alan Owen, 2012)

" There are no right ways to coach -  just ensure you do the right thing at the right time with the individual" (David Bunker, 2012)

" Whilst innovation is key you also need to make sure you get the basics right" (Sir David Brailsford)

" It is what the learner says and thinks and does that creates learning and not what the teacher says and thinks and does" (Alastair Smith)

All these quotes have given me an insight into how people see coaching and TGfU and I plan to use these quotes to help me ensure that I am maximising the individuals ability to learn and develop in every session.

When coaching it is important to check for understanding after explaining something and at the end of a session to ensure the participants took from the session what they were supposed to. This can be done at it's simplest with the use of questions and different types of questions can be structured to target a different aspect of the game.

For example;

• WHAT DO YOU think can be done to help the attackers? What do you focuses on the tactical aspects of the game.
• HOW DO YOU shoot a football? How do you focuses on the skill aspects of the game
• WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO release the ball during a bowling action? When is the best time to focuses on the timing of a specific skill in a game.
• WHERE IS/CAN you stand to help you defend the corner? Where is/can focuses on the space that could be used in a sport.
• WHICH CHOICE would you make when you see a full toss, try and smack it or make sure you score? Which choice focuses on the risk/rewards of a sport.

Also during the talk I learned a number of other definitions which I can use during the rest of my time at University but more importantly during any coaching I do:

1. Diversification - many sports young can reap rewards when specialising later in life.
2. Deliberate Practice -  Specific goals and immediate feedback
3. Deliberate Play - uninstructed play = multitude of solutions
4. 1-dimensional games - minimal direction increases vision and possibility of solutions
5. Deliberate Coaching - Don't narrow the focus of the players.

All in all, I found this session exrtremeley beneficial and have taken a lot out of it with regards to ways of coaching and how important it is to maximise the development of young participants at grass roots level.