zov football lifeskills coaching manual - gb

LifeSkills Education Through Football

Football LifeSkills Coaching Manual

Acknowledgements

Huge Thank you to TackleAfrica (www.tackleafrica.org),

a UK based charity using football to raise HIV awareness

in Africa for allowing us to use some of their football

drills and the continued support! Thank you also to

Vodafone World of difference Foundation, and

everyone who helped us make this project a success.

TackleAfrica

Tatyana Park is a long standing supporter and

a former trustee of ZOV UK as well as a

passionate football lover and FA qualified football

coach. She has extensive experience with

delivering HIV education through football with

TackleAfrica. Inspired by her experience in the

Sport for development sector , Tatyana decided to

create a coaching manual incorporating some

vital Lifeskills messages. Tatyana lives in London

and supports various charities by helping them

develop and implement a wide variety of projects around the world.

The manual has been designed with support from Ben Sadler. Ben has worked in Sports

Development for over 10 years, including three years with TackleAfrica in East Africa.

Like Tatyana he too is passionate about sport being used as an educational tool to

support the development of young people.

About the author

1

ZOV is a UK-based charity that supports the welfare and education of children living in care

in Bulgaria. The organisation works with a team on the ground in Veliko Turnovo, Central

Bulgaria. Whilst ZOV supports the goal of de-institutionalisation within Bulgaria, it works

to help address the many difficulties experienced by children who are in care today. The

projects focus on welfare, education and preparing the children for independent living and

provide them with new and inspiring opportunities that enhance their development as

individuals. The key to ZOV’s approach is to invest time and funds in the people who work

with the charity on the ground in Bulgaria, in order to develop the skills and understanding

necessary for projects that are sustainable in the long term. For more information on this

please refer to www.zov.org.uk

About the Manual

2

About

The Football LifeSkills Coaching Manual has been designed around the principle of using

football as a medium to teach children and young adults living in institutional care in

Bulgaria some vital life skills. Each football drill is structured in a way to deliver a message

based on various life skills topics such as Communication, Teamwork, Determination,

Supporting your friends, Commitment and Confidence. The end goal is to build a strong

leadership community amongst the children involved in the project and also teach them

important, social skills, to assist them in being able to lead a normal life outside the

institutional homes.

This manual provides basic information about football, rules of of the game, a sample

training session as well as 6 simple but effective football drills. Each football drill

intentionally corresponds to a life skill message, encouraging the participants to learn not

just a new football drill/skill but also have an opportunity to learn/start up a discussion

around a specific life skill subjects/issue(s). The football drills are simple, enjoyable and

fun. Each drill outlined in this manual will start with the football coaching aspect of the

drill, ensuring the children get used to it first. It is left up to the coaches discretion as to

when to introduce he ‘life’ skill message into the drill. Typically this would happen once the

children get used to the football element.

How it Works

Football is arguably the world’s most popular sport. Two teams play the game with eleven members

each in an area called a “football pitch” with the opposing teams’ net or goal on the opposite side.

Ten of the players run around the pitch while the remaining team member, called the goalkeeper, is

in-charge of protecting their team’s net. The basic purpose is to pass and kick the ball around and

score in the opposing team’s goal. Competitive games usually last for a total of 90 minutes, with the

team scoring the most goals declared as the winner. In the case wherein both teams have the same

score at the end of the game some rules allow for extra time and a penalty shootout. In a penalty

shootout players from each team will have the responsibility of trying to score from the “penalty

kick”. The team that scores the most penalty kicks wins the game.

Life in institutional care in Bulgaria

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Football

Bulgaria has one of highest number of children in institutions across Europe.*, institutions that

severely limit their chances in life. (May want to explain what you mean by ‘institutions) Due to a

severe lack of staff and funding, children’s homes must prioritise on the basic needs and thus

cannot provide additional services that support the childrens’ educational and emotional

development. ZOV aims to give these children the support and care they need for a brighter

future, as every child deserves. The children’s home the charity works with (name etc) relies on

its partnership with NGOs like ZOV, to help ensure that each child gets the breadth of care that

they need.

Football is often considered as an international language, a game which brings people together

regardless of differences. It is watched on a global scale on TV and has a massive following of

fans. The essence of the sport is not just a game, but a game which can incorporate many core

values, such as team spirit, respect, tolerance, inclusion, organization and understanding of one

another, It can teach individuals how to react and deal with losing or winning, how to

communicate with team members, work together and take responsibility for the end task. . If

applied correctly and positively football can help children not only acquire these positive skills but

also transfer these directly into their day to day lives. In the short term football programmes can

offer physical and psychological relief and joy whilst participating in them but also in the long

term, they can instil the participants with self-confidence, critical thought and other valuable

“tools” necessary for an overall healthy journey through life.

Why use football for social change?

The Rules of Football 5

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Contents

Coaching football - Hints and Tips 8

Drill 1 - Call & Pass - Communication 9

Drill 2 - Support Play - Teamwork 11

Drill 3 - Keepy Uppy - Determination 13

Drill 4 - Support Your Friends - Support 15

Drill 5 - Pass or Shoot - Confidence 17

Drill 6 - Dribbling - Commitment 19

A coin is tossed and the team which wins the toss decides which goal it will

attack in the first half of the match. The other team takes the kick-off to

start the match. The team that wins the toss takes the kick-off to start the

second half of the match, and the teams change ends.

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The start and restart of play

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The ball in and out of play

The ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed the goal line or

touch line whether on the ground or in the air, or play has been

stopped by the referee. The ball is in play at all other times.

The method of scoring

The method of scoring – A goal is scored when the whole of the ball

passes over he goal line, between the goal posts and under the crossbar,

provided that no infringement of the laws of the game has been

committed previously by the team scoring the goal.

Offside A player is in an offside position if she or he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent, and involved in the play, when the ball is played. A player cannot be offside from a throw in, corner kick, goal kick or in their own half.

The Penalty Kick

The penalty kick is awarded against a team which commits any of the ten

offences for which a direct free kick is awarded, inside its own penalty

area and while the ball is in play. The penalty kick is taken from the

penalty spot, 12 yards from the centre of the goal.

A throw in is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the touch

line, either on the ground or in the air from the point where it crossed

the touch line to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball.

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The throw in

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The goal kick

A goal kick is awarded when the whole of the ball, having last touched

a player of the attacking team, passes over the goal line, either on the

ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored.

The corner Kick

A corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball, having last

touched a player of the defending team, passes over the goal line,

either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored.

Direct Free kicks

A direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offences, and is taken from where the offence occurred: • Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent • Trips or attempts to trip an opponent • Jumps at an opponent • Charges at an opponent • Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent • Pushes an opponent • Tackles an opponent, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball • Holds an opponent • Spits at an opponent • Handles the ball with her or his hands deliberately

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Indirect Free kicks

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An indirect free kick (a goal cannot be scored from an indirect free kick) is awarded

to the opposing team from where the offence took place if:

• The Goalkeeper takes more than 6 seconds to release the ball from her or his possession.

• The Goalkeeper touches the ball again with her or his hands after it has been released

from her or his possession and not touched another player.

• The Goalkeeper touches the ball with her or his hands after it has been deliberately

kicked to her or him by a team mate.

• The Goalkeeper touches the ball with her or his hands after he or she has received it

directly from a throw in taken by a team mate.

• If any player plays in a dangerous manner.

• If any player impedes the progress of an opponent

• If any player prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from her or his hands

• If any player commits any other offence for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a

player

Utilise the K.I.S.S. principle (Keep It Short and Simple) when introducing new skills;

Give short, effective demonstrations while briefly explaining the new skill or

concept;

Keep coaching sessions short, clear and well-planned;

Be positive - focus on what the player does correctly (“catch them being good”);

Make the sessions meaningful, fun, challenging and exciting;

No static line drills! Play fun, football-like games instead;

Don’t play “elimination games” – the players most in need of improvement and

repetitions are usually the first to be eliminated;

Don’t play large sided games for more than 10 minutes per hour. In 8 v 8 or 10 v

10 etc. players don’t get enough touches on the ball, the weaker players tend to

get the fewest touches and bad habits can be reinforced because players tend to

do the same things they have always done.

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Hints and Tips

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Hints & Tips - Do!

Find out what the children expect to get out of sport with you

Be firm, fair and organised Give credit where it is due and give

help where it is needed Be consistent

Provide learning experiences: teach Make practice and competition fun; it

needn’t be silly

Recognise the value of friendships between children

Show your approval whenever you can Listen to the children

Relax and enjoy yourself with the kids

Emphasise learning skill, not

competing

Reward children for effort

Help children over the realisation

that they might not have the ability

of others

Build confidence by being positive

Reduce competitive expectations

Help those who do not want to

compete

Remember that mistakes are part

of learning

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Call & Pass Football Drill Set Up

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This example uses 20 players, with 10 players forming a circle about 30 metres in

diameter and three defenders inside the circle wearing bibs. The remaining seven players

on the bib team are waiting outside the circle. This is a simple ‘keep ball’ drill where the

defenders must try to intercept the passes made by the players in the circle. The players

in the circle can pass to any other player in the circle except for those either side. If the

players in the circle can make ten passes in a row then one of the bibs leaves the circle.

Play starts again 10v2 (easier). If any of the bibs touch the ball or the ball leaves the circle

then a new bib player enters the game to play 10 v 4 (harder). The game ends when

there are no bib players in the circle or when a defender makes an interception.

Drill 1

Football Progression

You can introduce one

touch only, left or right foot

only. If players don’t call for

the ball and pass the ball

they then go in the middle.

Tips

Be creative and use

initiative, call out for the

ball. Be motivational and

inspirational, lead by

example and help others,

make a difference!

Coaching Points

Communication, good first

touch, ready to receive

the ball, call for the ball,

positive attitude.

Any Age

Passing 6 Cones, 1 Ball, 10 Bibs

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LifeSkill Message

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Communication

Communication is one of the most important skills in life as well in football. We all

apply communication every time we speak/listen to our friends, teammates,

teachers, in the shops, on the football pitch etc. Effective communication can help

you succeed in life.

LifeSkill Drill Set Up

The player with ball in the outside circle represents a positive and confident individual

who is looking up for a similar player to pass the ball to in the outside circle. However

he/she is unable to seek a similar response and passes the ball randomly to another

person in the outside circle. As a result the ball gets ‘out of play’ and another person

takes a bib and goes in the inside circle. The pressure increases for the players on the

outside circle as more players go in the inside circle.

Another person starts with the ball on the outside circle but gets a call out from a

teammate; the ball gets passed easily and accurately due to good communication and

good attitude. This encourages the rest of the players to improve their communication

and focus on the task they need to achieve and succeed as a team, which results to less

errors and better team work as well creating a bond between the players. It soon

becomes harder for the players on the inside as the ball gets passed very accurately in

the outside circle LifeSkill Progression

The coach can talk about different

scenarios where communication can

help. Use an incentive where if the

players make 10 continuous passes they

get special recognition. When they get

10 continuous passes using only their

left or right foot they get another point.

This highlights that communication will

help to improve progressively each day!

LifeSkill Lesson

If you communicate effectively, reach

out and take the right approach your

chances to succeed are always higher.

Don’t be shy to speak up, seek advice

and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Create opportunities for yourselves

and help others where you can.

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Support Play Football Drill Set Up

Set up a small sided game (i.e. 5 a side)

Team A can go anywhere on the pitch.

Team B must stay in their own half, with the exception of one team member, who can go anywhere.

Progression

Reduce the space that Team B can occupy e.g. they are only allowed in the third of the pitch nearest their goal.

Stop the game and let Team B move anywhere on the pitch.

In addition, give them a minute to discuss and choose their positions

Drill 2

Support Representation

Team A can go anywhere

representing that when everyone

works together it helps out and

shares responsibility. Team B

represents a family or a group

where one person does

everything on their own.

Tips

Develop player respect,

teamwork and trust. Continually

get players to support each other

and to show good sportsmanship

towards all players and respect

for others’ attempts and efforts.

Coaching

Points

Teamwork,

passing,

defending,

communication,

awareness

Age 10+ SSG

10 Cones, 1 Ball, 3 Sets of Bibs

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LifeSkill Message

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Teamwork

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is

success”- Henry Ford


Team A represents a group of friends who are always assisting and supporting one

another in everything. They have the advantage of working well and organising one

another. Team B isn’t as closer a group and 1 individual in particular feels he/she needs

to tackle/deal with day to day challenges on their own. However when he/she get

possession of the ball it doesn’t last long as there aren’t many team members the ball

can be passed to. If however the rest of the team members spread out on the football

pitch and support their friend the teams even up and they begin to progress. This is all

thanks to team work and group support.

LifeSkill Lesson

Teamwork is all about coming

together, sharing together, working

together, succeeding together and in

certain occasions failing together.

Make sure you are committed to your

friends and team members and you

will soon feel the benefits.

LifeSkill Progression You can talk about different scenarios in life where you have attempted to do

something on your own and as a group and compare the results. How much easier it was to do it as a group as

opposed to on your own. What were the challenges you faced?

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Keepy Uppy

Football Drill Set Up

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The aim of this drill is to move on from playing the game in small circles to a relay format as pictured below.

1. Set the teams up 15 meters apart or a suitable distance for the ability of your group of players. The first player on each team must attempt to keep the ball up in the air as they walk from the starting position to their team-mate 15 meters away. When they get there, they pass the ball without it touching the ground and the second player keeps the ball up in the air as they walk back to the starting point to pass it to the next player, and so on.

2. If a player drops the ball, they have to go to the coach and take a piece of paper from the coach/helper with the number representing the number of times they kept the ball in the air. They then join the opposite queue and continue play.

Drill 3

Coaching Points

Good first touch, keep your eye

on the ball, be ready to receive

the ball, communication – tell the

player you are about to pass the

ball to them

Tips A good coach doesn’t talk for too long

before a drill. Try to get it going as quickly

Age 12+

Technical 1-6 balls, Paper, pen

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LifeSkill Message

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Determination

“The determination to win is the better part of winning.”


Ask each person in the group to think of one thing they want to achieve. Get them to

write it down and break it down in 3 stages and set a mile stone for each stage in the

scale from 1 to 10. For example an aim could be “Getting accepted into University”. The 3

miles tones could be 3 = graduating school with good enough results, 5= achieving good

results at the university exam and 10= being accepted into University. Explain that when

you first start with the ball, although you may try to keep it up in the air, the ball may

drop after your first touch. This represents your first attempt. When you have a few goes,

you might find that you could keep the ball up in the air 3 times. This is representation of

an improvement due to your determination of wanting to get better and get closer to

your final goal. You may find that you might need a lot more practice to get from keeping

3 balls up in the air to 10, but if you don’t give up you are likely to get there no matter

how long it takes you.

LifeSkill Lesson

If you are determined, sooner or later

you will achieve your goal. Don’t give

up, no matter how hard it might be.

LifeSkill Progression You can introduce alternating feet, one foot only, headers, knees only etc. Make sure there is a good balance between the drill being “challenging” and “too easy” and everyone is comfortable with it.

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Support Your Friends

Football Drill Set Up

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This game is a simple 1v1. To score you must control the football to the opponent’s line.

When you have possession you are allowed to give and receive passes to two players on the side.

The side players can move freely along their line.

Drill 4


Stage 1: When you and your friends are supporting each

other everything works well. In this game the side

players can move along the line and pass in any

direction.

Stage 2: This shows that you are doing everything on

your own, without any support from friends. The side

players cannot take part in the game and the players

with the ball must try to score on their own.

This game could be played 2v2 or more, over a larger

area.

Coaching Points Encouraging the attackers to draw the defender and then play around the opposition by using the players on the side. When the side players become stationary, a trick is needed to go past the defender – which method is more

successful?

Age 10+

Marking 4 Cones, 1 Ball

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LifeSkill Message S

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Support Your Friends

Friendships are some of the most important relationships you will have in your life.

Encouraging and helping your friends can have positive effect on your friends but

also on yourself.


The person in the middle represents an individual who has just graduated and trying to

get a job, the defender is an obstacle in life preventing you or trying to distract you from

getting to your end goal. The goal is your aim, i.e. getting a job.

Stage 1- The player gets the support he/she needs from friends - help with writing your

CV, getting recommendations from friends, helping you improve your skills. There is no

guarantee you will find a job right away but having your friends help and support is likely

to increase your chances of success, improve your skills and support you through

challenging times.

Stage 2 – The player is on their own trying to write his/her CV and distribute to the

places they know best. Being on your own is always difficult and proves challenging as

the individuals don’t get the desired results which could lead to unnecessary frustration.

LifeSkill Lesson

Nobody has ever achieved great things

alone. If everyone moves forward as a

team, success is inevitable.

LifeSkill Progression

You can introduce a middle stage where you get some support

by instructing the players on the side not to move or only pass

the ball backwards (as in rugby). This will represent how

patricidal support acts as a stepping stone for improving your

skills and helping you get to your end goal, i.e. making sure

your CV is written in the correct format etc.

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Pass or Shoot Football Drill Set Up

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Two attackers take on one defender and a goalkeeper in an attempt to score.

Drill 5

Football

Progression

The coach stops play at

a vital moment in the

attack and lets the

attacker with the ball

decide whether to shoot

or pass to the team-mate

to shoot

Gender Representation One attacker is the man.

The other attacker is the woman. Scoring a goal shows you have a

good relationship. The teams that evaluate the situation, work

together, and decide who is best placed to shoot will be more

likely to score.

Coaching Points

Attackers:

shooting, passing,

communication,

decision making

Any Age SSG

2 Cones, 1 Ball, 2 Bibs

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LifeSkill Message

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Confidence

Confidence is the gateway to success; to the life that you wish to lead and to the

dreams that you desire to live


An example of this football drill could represent a couple that are having a nice dinner

and enjoying their time together. After dinner the boy wishes to go to a bar but the girl

wishes to go home and rest. In this scenario both the boy or the girl should feel

confident and comfortable to make their choice without being pressurised into doing

anything they don’t want to do. There should be equal amount of confidence and

respect between the couple and the decision made by each party.

LifeSkill Lesson

Confidence represents who you are and the belief that you have.

Don’t shy away, speak up and act confidently but always respect and consider others in the

process.


You can add another member of the group, perhaps a

friend who tries to persuade the woman to go to the bar.

This represents peer pressure and the fact that confidence

is even more important to help you stand your ground and

do what you believe is right.

Follow on discussions:

• How is a couple like a team? • How does good teamwork

make a relationship better? • What everyday examples can

you give that show the benefit of teamwork for a couple?

• Why is communication and confidence important in a

relationship?

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Dribbling Football Drill Set Up

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1. Split the players into teams with two footballs per team. Rotate the dribblers in each team.

2. The attackers attempt to dribble into the central square to collect ONE bib (several are placed on the ground inside the square) to take back to their base, where they give the ball to a team-mate.

3. The defenders stay outside the squares, trying to tackle as many attackers and clearing as many balls as possible. The defenders cannot tackle an attacker who has retrieved a bib.

4. The team with the most bibs at the end of the game wins.

Drill 6


Increase the difficulty level for the

defenders by giving each attacker a

ball, making the central area larger,

or by reducing the number of

defenders.

Coaching Points Encouraging the attackers to exploit space at speed and to use tricks in a 1v1 situation.

Any Age

Dribbling 1-8 Balls, 8+ cones, Bibs

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LifeSkill Message

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Commitment

Commitment is determined and carried out by individuals.


The representation of an attacker in this drill is an individual who is committed to

succeed. The defenders are the obstacles or the people trying to stop the attackers.

When the attackers start and aim to get to the square, they face difficulty due to various

factors – having a defender, not knowing the best tactic to get to the square etc. If the

player commits to and sticks with the drill they will soon starts to come up with different

tactics of how to get through the defenders more effectively. Collecting one bib only at a

time shows that to succeed you need to commit and achieve certain goal multiple times

consistently, i.e. step-by-step not at once.

LifeSkill Lesson

There is no long lasting success without

commitment.


Make the central area bigger which represents that the

more committed you are the easier it gets to get to the

central area, i.e. central area becoming bigger is caused by

continued commitment and determination. You could also

reduce the number of defenders which should make it a lot

easier for attackers to get to the end goal.

Add a defender, representing other factors, which can

jeopardize individual’s commitment, although the attackers

should be encouraged not to give up.

Bibliography

http://www.fundsforngos.org/latest-funds-for-ngos/football-for-social-change-

changemakers-new-competition/

http://www.managementstudyguide.com/importance-of-team.htm

http://www.slideshare.net/bright9977/10-lessons-about-teamwork-8815203

http://www.recovery.awh.org.au/self-help/friendship/supporting-your-friends

http://www.success.bz/articles/1660/advantages_of_being_confident

zov football lifeskills coaching manual - gb

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