10  top-tips for working effectively with young players

Coach | Approach | Technique Journal | 19.08.2022

A selection of Technique Journal contributors provide their top-tips for working effectively with young players. Image: Getty Images

Learning:

-   How to create a safe, but challenging, learning environment for young players

-          Understanding each player as a unique individual with their own experiences and preferences

-          Providing young players with opportunities to practise without fear of judgement and assessment

A selection of Technique Journal contributors provide their top-tips for working effectively with young players.

1.   Create a ‘safe’ learning environment for young players to grow and develop

‘Safe but uncertain’ practice environments are the best way to help young players learn and enjoy the game, says Professor Keith Davids, expert in skill acquisition at Sheffield Hallam university.

“Safety, in this context, means that children feel free to try something, to have a go and to know that they're not going to get shouted out, told off or humiliated,” explains Davids. “Uncertainty is where the coach is looking at each individual and adding a bit more information to make things a little bit more challenging.”