AYSO & PCA National Partnership

All coaches must be able to create an opportunity to evaluate a player’s ability to execute a certain skill or task so that what training is required can be achieved.

More simply put, at what level is the player performing a particular skill?

One of the best ways to evaluate the level of competency is to use Free Play.

Good coaches use free play to observe a player’s capabilities.

Free play describes the condition where individuals play without restrictions on time or space.

Players are given general directions on time or space.

Players are given general directions on what they should attempt to accomplish and then left on their own.

The players should play hard and stop when rest is warranted.

Free play allows players to develop natural abilities.

Free play avoids wasting time in organizing lines, capturing wandering players, etc.

During free play, players avoid others, seek open space, and become more aware of the action around them.

A coach’ observational powers will increase as they are forced to isolate individual action in a group.

Provide an environment for teaching solutions (options) to match problems.

Typical methods include:

	Training Games (drills) are used to duplicate match conditions.
	A training game (drill) requires organization of the players to repeatedly execute a
	specific skill or tactic, or combination thereof.
	As a coach you must think static and progress too dynamic as quickly as possible.