Player Development Plan
- Intro
- Academy
- U8’s to U11’s
- U12’s to U14’s
- U15’s to U19’s
Intro
At the youth level Howth Celtic AFC has teams play in the Dublin District Schoolboy/Girls League (DDSL), The North Dublin Schoolboys/Girls League (NDSL) and The Metropolitan Girls League (MGL).
All underage leagues follow the FAI player development plan, which is based around a Player focused philosophy:
- A uniform playing style and coaching style to produce creative & skillful players;
- Minimum playing time per game per each player;
- Roll on Roll off subs apply at all age levels;
- Uniform pitch size and goals;
- The retreat line for U8-U11’s
- Uniform size 5 ball, weighted according to age group
The Howth Celtic Player
At Howth Celtic we have a Holistic approach to player Development. We want to provide kids with the tools and resources to help them succeed in and outside of football. We strive to create an environment with values, respect, and fun. We are developing people.
Everything we do is about player development. We want to fulfil the football potential of the player. We want to educate them in ‘Our Game’. Our playing structures and Player development plan are about creating players with technique, game intelligence, physical ability and Attitude.
The 4 areas we focus on when developing players:
- Technique;
- Game Intelligence;
- Physical Ability;
- Attitude;
Player Development Plan – Academy
It’s all about FUN!
It is hugely important to understand your players at this stage of their development. Use the traits and characteristics to create a fantastic environment that the kids want to be part of. Academy kids are:
- Self-orientated;
- Starting school so being introduced to a daily routine and some discipline;
- Need to move around;
- Want to please their parents;
- They have ambition;
- Learn through play;
- Limited in the amount of time they can focus;
Coaches must have:
- Garda Vetting ;
- Safeguarding 1 Cert;
- PDP 1 Cert;
- Agreed to Coaches Code of Conduct;
Development Focus:
- Equal playing time
- Positive Environment
- Ball Mastery
- Encourage kids to show off their Skills
- 1 v 1 interplay
- Let them make mistakes
- Transitional element to all practice
Training Session Structure:
- Fun warm up games
- Ball Mastery
- Game
Player Development Plan – U8’s to U11’s
| Players | Training | Limit in Training |
|---|---|---|
| Children are self-focused at this age, but this behaviour decreases as they move to U10’s | Focus training on individual actions (e.g. dribbling) | Complex actions involving cooperation |
| Individual games and games with friends | All football concepts should be individual-based (e.g. when defending keep the attacker far away from your goal) | Team tactics |
| Technical movement | Training should develop elementary technique. Dynamic technique comes as they move to U8’s and U9’s | Children have limited focus and get bored quickly so keep repetitions to 4 or 5 of each technique per session |
| Make everything a game | As many fun games as possible – make sure they leave happy! | |
| Child’s need for praise | Children at this age want to please their parents and coaches. They feed off praise and encouragement. Use this in training | Refrain from criticism of results and mistakes |
| Imitation | Children copy everything so demonstration is key in training. Get them to identify with a football idol to copy and watch | |
| Energy levels | Watch the child’s energy levels – if they need a break let them take a break | Do not push beyond endurance limits |
Coaches must have:
- Garda Vetting ;
- Safeguarding 1 Cert;
- PDP 2 Cert;
- 7v7 Workshop;
- Agreed to Coaches Code of Conduct;
Development Focus:
- Equal playing time;
- Positive Environment;
- Ball Mastery;
- 1 v 1 skills;
- 2 v 1 interplay;
- Transitional element to all practice;
- Introduce basic Rondos at U10’s;
Training Session Structure:
- Ball Mastery;
- Technical;
- Game;
Player Development Plan – U12’s to U14’s
| Players | Training | Limit in Training |
|---|---|---|
| Children start to compare themselves to others | Training should introduce elements of competition | |
| Social skills start to develop | Training should start to become more group orientated. Passing and receiving become more important | Only basic set pieces and team tactics |
| Accelerated physical growth | Coaches need to take into account loss of coordination in players and injury prevention | |
| Increased ability to focus on tasks | Training starts to shift from fun towards disciplined learning | Free play now moves to structured play |
| The Child’s ability to anticipate and read the game | The coach can now explain the game in detail and why things work and don’t work. Ask the players questions | |
| Child’s need for praise | Children still want to please parents and coaches. A coach must focus on positive comments. Important to praise the correct decision making even if execution of decision is unsuccessful | Do not pressure kids on results |
| Energy levels | Do not push beyond endurance limits | |
| Social structures | Players try to fit in within the group. Leaders need to be identified in the group. Use them to set the right tone |
Coaches must have:
- Garda Vetting;
- Safeguarding 1 Cert;
- U12’s – PDP 2 Cert / 9v9 Workshop;
- U13 & U14’s – PDP 3;
- Agreed to Coaches Code of Conduct;
Development Focus:
- Equal playing time;
- Positive Environment;
- Introduction to football principles of play;
- Game intelligence;
- Transitional element to all practice;
- 11 aside teams play 1,4,3,3 formation;
Training Session Structure:
- Warm Up;
- Technical;
- Tactical;
- Game Related;
Player Development Plan – U15’s to U19’s
| Players | Training | Limit in Training |
|---|---|---|
| Players become very competitive | Competition should be used in training as much as possible. Winning now becomes a primary priority | Fun element of training reduces |
| Teamwork is now the focus | Team tactics. Systems of play. Everyone should understand how the team plays in the 6 phases of football | Team comes before individual objectives |
| Players trying to establish their identity and their place within the group | Coaches need to create a Team culture within the group. Rules and standards expected. Identify leaders within the group | |
| Players start specialising in specific positions that suit their strengths | Training must be specific and relevant to the role of positions on the pitch. So game-realistic training | Freedom to play outside of the team system is to be limited |
| Player development is now more competition-based and the experience they gain from it | Players now need the maximum amount of game time to develop as players | |
| Need for praise | Teenagers now focused on what their peers think of them. Coaches need to monitor the group dynamic towards individuals | |
| Energy levels | Coaches can now push football fitness and endurance limits |
Coaches must have:
- Garda Vetting;
- PDP 3;
- National D Licence;
- Agreed to Coaches Code of Conduct;
Development Focus:
- Injury Prevention;
- Positive Environment;
- Football principles of play;
- Game intelligence;
- Physical abilities;
- Specialisation of positional roles and responsibilities;
Training Session Structure:
- Warm Up;
- Technical;
- Tactical;
- Game-Related;