Coaching Toolbox
Introduction
Included below are a number of reference materials which may assist in your role as coach. These include information on how to ensure your players are safe and fit; an online coaching course for Small Whites and an instruction on conducting player profiling.
Coaching and Injury Prevention
Playing the game isn’t enough to develop the fitness required for peak performance and injury prevention. If you’re not already, now is the time to start preparing your players for a safe, successful and enjoyable season. It doesn’t matter how good a player is, if they’re not fit, or they get injured, they won’t perform at their best, if at all. And if one player's performance suffers, the team's performance suffers. Click here for a full summary on coaching smart.
For more helpful tools and information on health, nutrition, equipment and environment (see also Players Toolbox):
Fit for Football - Warming Up, Cooling Down and Stretching
A thorough warm-up and cool-down is crucial to prepare the body for the activity to come, this time and next time. The most important thing is to gradually increase body temperature and then get the body in to the positions it will need to adopt during play. Jogging, side-stepping, skipping, etc, followed by dynamic stretches (leg swings, walking lunges, etc.) is ideal. Ball work and then some higher intensity movement should then follow. Build up to maximal sprinting gradually and don’t let anyone take shots on goal until they're all fully warmed-up.
After play, some light jogging and static stretches will reduce muscle soreness later and start the preparation for the next game or training session. For full details of dynamic and static stretches for. For more explanation click here.
Stretching Guides:
ENHANCING PERFORMANCE THROUGH PREVENTION
New Zealand Football and Federations have partnered with ACC and FIFA to implement a nationwide roll out of the FIFA 11+ injury prevention programme.
What is the FIFA 11+?
The FIFA 11+ is a complete warm up programme designed to reduce injuries among female and male players. Developed by an international group of experts the programme should be performed as a standard warm-up at the start of each training session at least twice a week by team coaches. The FIFA 11+ takes around 20 minutes to complete.
It has been scientifically validated and has been proven to reduce the risk of all injury by 30% and severe injuries by 50%.
How does it work?
The programme is designed to replace a traditional warm-up. It is divided into three parts with a total of of 15 exercises. It is easy to learn and only takes between 15-20 minutes to complete. Part one of the programme involves some slow speed running, active stretching and some controlled partner contacts. Part two involves a number of exercises to improve core and leg strength, plyometrics and balance. There are three levels of difficulty for these exercises. The final component involves further running exercises. These are done at a higher level of intensity and involve change of direction. The injury prevention benefit is seen when the programme is done twice a week (or more).
How can the FIFA 11+ help my team’s performance?
In addition to reducing the risk of injury the FIFA 11+ has also been shown to enhance performance. Athletes who do the programme regularly can expect to see improvements in their speed, agility and balance. Individual teams will also benefit as we know, from a study in the UEFA Champions League, that teams who have less injuries perform better.
For more information, contact your local Injury Prevention Officer or go to the Fifa 11+ website.
Player Profiling
Developing a player profile for yourself or your players helps to:
There are two parts to a Player Profile:
Ideally, profiling should be done at the start and end of pre-season, midway through the season and again at the end.
Coach Developement Resources
FREE RESOURCES
New Zealand Football Junior Framework
New Zealand Football Youth Framework
New Zealand Football National Curriculum
2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup Technical Report
COACH DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY
Take a look at the at coaching courses we have on offer throughout New Zealand as part of our pathway here.(PDF)
COURSE AVAILABILITY
Contact your local federation to find out more details about NZF Community Coach Education course scheduling.
RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (ROPL) INFORMATION
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