How do you coach the player without stopping the whole game?

Question

I am trying to reduce how often I freeze our U8 practices. The problem is sometimes one player needs a really clear bit of help and I end up stopping everyone to make the point. How are people using individual coaching without the rest of the group standing listening?

Verified Coach · Accepted Answer

You do not need to stop 11 players because one player needs ten seconds of help.

If the practice is safe to continue, step alongside that player while the game goes on. Keep the information short and connected to the next action: “Have a look before it comes” or “Can you get goal-side this time?”

Another option is to speak during a natural restart rather than creating one.

I’d save full group stops for something most of the group genuinely needs.

The nice thing about individual coaching is that the player can often try the idea immediately while everyone else keeps playing. You then get to see whether your help actually worked.

If you find yourself giving a mini speech to one child while the rest wait, it probably needs to be shorter.

MattT · Answer

I use throw-ins and drinks as my little one-to-one moments. Ten seconds with the player, everyone else keeps moving. Much better than freezing a 5v5 so one child can hear a paragraph.

How do you coach the player without stopping the whole game?

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