Technology For Player And Coach
At the United Soccer Coaches convention in Baltimore in January, technology was on full display in all areas of the game. A first was the Innovation Hub, a designated area showcasing demos of wearable tech vests, reality training devices, and analytic systems.
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Coach Controlled Practice
I have been guilty of failing to incorporate technology into my practices. Often times it is my intuition or observation which serves as content. Last fall I experienced moments where the use of technology could have helped improve the learning environment.
David a talented player on a U14 team, is comfortable with the ball likes to make the fancy pass. During previous sessions, I told him that he makes the game too difficult for his teammates by chipping the ball with spin and in the air, instead of playing on the ground to their feet.
During a cone knock game, David had a teammate in the ideal position to score. He opted to dribble around to shoot instead of passing (chip) over the cones.
‘Freeze!!’ was my immediate command. I started to ask why he did not pass the ball to his teammate. That was the only way he could have played to his teammate. He complained displaying his frustration, that I always criticized him for chipping the ball.
What Technology Do You Use in Coaching?
What technology tools do you use to help your players learn? How can you improve their decisions, choices, and execution?
TacticalPad App
At the convention, Neil Hull of United Soccer Coaches National Staff presented a session using the TacticalPad App along with an IPad. The app was used to prepare the off-field training session, for training on the field. The design used animation and graphics.
TacticalPad can show players movement, positions, area of the field, the position of coach. From a tactical point, you can further imprint a style of play and formation.
Hot & Cold Review Using IPad
With your IPad, you can record your session. You can reflect post-session on the designed animations/graphics teaching tool and the actual play from the video.
Most important, you can carry out a ‘hot’ review. This involves recording your training session as it’s being played out.
You would then identify a player that demonstrated actions of success or leading to success, and pull that player from the game.
You would ask that player to review their choices of the last 25 – 30 seconds of play. You would record those comments on IPad, and have them return to the game.
At the end of the session, carry out a ‘cold review’ as players stretch and cool down. You would review with players independently, by having them watch the video of their ‘hot’ review before they watch their comments that was provided earlier.
Player Controlled Practice
With the use of an IPad for recording player’s actions and comments, combined with the use of TacticalPad App, you can effectively create a learning environment that supports:
- Player self-assessment of their own game
- Player self-reflection
- Player accountability
- Player decisions, choices, and execution
- Imprint a system and style of play
What form of technology have you incorporated into your practice or games, that support the choices, decisions, and execution of your players?
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