Springfield Ramblers – FAI Small Sided Games Workshop

The Springfield Ramblers Schoolboys Football Club hosted an FAI Small Sided Games Workshop at their new Astro Turf facility at Carrignafoy on Monday 31^st January last. This comprised of a workshop for coaches in training large groups of youngsters in smaller groups where they get more touches of the ball in 3, 4 or 5-aside games. The aim of the workshop is to train coaches to concentrate the younger age groups in this way to improve the player’s vital skills such as first touch, passing and shooting. The smaller teams encourage the weaker players because they are exposed to the ball much more than in the normal game situation. This improves their confidence as well as their skills. The course was run by FAI Regional Development Officer Dave Bell and was attended by a large group of coaches from the Springfield Ramblers Club and various clubs from the Cork Schoolboys League.

The objectives of the course as set out in the FAI guidelines are as follows:

OBJECTIVES:

To provide coaches with the ability to:

•         Promote the use of SSG practices earlier in the training session.

•         Understand the importance of development of children between the age of 7-9 rather than winning at all cost.

•         Improve the knowledge of coaching styles working with 7-9 year old age group.

•         Have a better understanding of the characteristics of the 7-9 year old football player.

The young players of the Springfield Ramblers Academy were delighted with the extra attention and it was plain to see that even for the duration of the session that their enthusiasm and skills visibly improved. The course comprised of practical sessions on the pitch and a classroom session in the Cobh Community College.

www.springfieldramblers.ie

springrams@gmail.com