Building a Team

A good place to start is to get to know your players.

Right at the start run your own skills assessment drills and games and note down against each player what they are best at as well as any characteristics.

What you want to be looking for is what they can do now. If they are good at something then you want to ensure they get a chance to do that something in a game. If you get every player bring their best strength and applying it in every game you will have a very good team.

You are also looking at what sort of coaching approach that player may need. Some kids may just need a stern voice to have them focus on the skill being practiced. Others may learn better in smaller groups. Don't be surprised to have 13 players and 9 different 'requirements'. The main thing is that you know which means you can plan to do your best.

With these two pieces of knowledge look to enhance and continuing growing what they do well while looking to enhance a complimentary skill.

Little Fred, small guy and a little bit conscious of that. A good tackle technique but struggles with bigger opposition.

Set up some tackle training where he tackles the coach. Then the biggest player in the team. Have that big player use two hands to hold the ball close to his chest. (Impedes running skill, balance and fending). Encourage Fred to move forward to the tackle rather than let the player run at him. You want to build his belief that his size is not an issue.

Add to his skill by teaching him to get to his feet and try steal the ball.