A GOOD TRAINING SESSION!

A GOOD TRAINING SESSION!

As coaches we are always looking to facilitate learning for our players. Training is one of the means to establish learning. But what makes a good training sessions or series of training sessions, so players are learning? But also, what is learning and what kind of environment stimulates learning? What coaching behaviors (pedagogical and didactical) are important?

Many (and more) aspects to consider for a good training session but let’s focus on learning and training.

?What is learning?

?Learning means (re)organizing neural networks in your brain.

When we talk about learning in the sports context, we are talking about motor learning. Motor learning is described as a relatively permanent change in the ability to execute a motor skill as a result of practice or experience. Practicing and training are not the same as learning. Without making this article scientific, let’s see how learning relates to football and training. (for more expert information on motor learning refer to Ben van Cranenburgh)

?Football can be characterized as a brain game in motion. It is about movement, perceiving, problem-solving and decision-making, interacting with other players. All in all, complex. Learning in the football context is multi facet. Players are attaining knowledge, insight, skill and attitude. The best way to offer this in training is as a whole, not as separate parts because we want the players to transfer the acquired (and sustainable) knowledge, insight, skill and attitude as a whole into training and games. How do we do this so learning is maximized in training?

Training

?In organizing a training sessions we can choose different learning strategies. The most known strategies are differential learning, imitation learning, spacing, errorless learning, implicit and explicit learning. Most important is that, as a coach you facilitate learning, not hinder it.

What criteria are important in organizing a good training session?

The first one is that we plan a training session with a clear learning objective. This objective has a cognitive (problem-solving and decision-making) and skill component. The player has choices related to time, space and options and the outcome isn’t already programmed. Isolated exercises restrict choices and information. There is little transfer to game situations.?When the learning objective is clear, you can give feedback to the player on his/ her decisions (or the player will get feedback from his actions). This allows for efficiency.

Please mind that this learning objective does not need to be achieved in one session. It might take multiple sessions. Learning will also take place even when the outcome isn’t what you expect it to be.

?Action --> Reflect/ Measure --> Learn --> Improve --> Action --> Reflect/ Measure --> Learn --> .... ?

The second criteria for a good training session are challenges. These challenges can be individual or per team. When we talk about challenges (see TSM Variation Model) we talk about constraints you can place on a player, a team, the environment and rules. The golden rule is that it is challenging, not too easy or hard with a 15% error margin.

The third criteria is competition. Training should be fun, it should have the right intensity and players should experience an element of winning or losing. If players are enjoying the training, the learning process is more effective. Intensity allows for focus and winning/ losing is part of the game we play. Competition in the right environment brings out the best in players.

?Finally, a good training session or series of sessions is cyclical. This means that there is effectiveness: transfer, retention and feedback within the learning objective from exercise to exercise or session to session. As a coach you can offer the learning objective in different ways or via different strategies. When using implicit and explicit coaching, find the sweet spot between both to benefit learning by the player (very individual).?Another strategy to use cyclical within an exercise/ training or series of exercises/training is the following concept:

?Facilitate --> Correct --> Complicate --> Confuse

The goal of every training session should be to facilitate learning for your players. The above-mentioned criteria are very structured. This does not mean that within a training session there is no room for unstructured play. When we understand how players learn and we organize training, there should be plenty of room for unstructured play or free play. As a coach we aim to organize training as an efficient, effective and fun learning process. So whatever structure or strategy we use, if all three (efficient, effective, fun) are present and one is not disadvantageous to the other two, we are facilitating learning.

?#learning

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