AW-COACH-TEACH-PHILOSOPHY

Antony Wilshaw
Soccer Coaching and Teaching
Philosophy
NSCAA Master Coach Diploma
Tel: 203.508.5726
Email: antonywilshaw@gmail.com

Soccer Coaching Mission
To help improve and develop all players that I coach.
To develop a great social and recreational environment for the players I work with.
To provide good and safe facilities to allow the overall experience to be enhanced.
To provide an alternative for player’s who are not enjoying their soccer experience
elsewhere.
To produce competitive teams, playing Attacking possession soccer from the
youngest to the oldest ages.
To give the youngest of players inspiration to stay in the game and to want to go to
their highest levels possible.
To have players stay in the game for life, introduce the game eventually to their
children and help develop the love for the game generationally.
To potentially see player’s who have come through the system playing in University,
Professional soccer or being a National team player.
To reach the highest coaching levels I can through dedication, education and bravery
in the most testing of times.
3

Coaching Checklist
To be self sufficient when producing players (no need to poach
from other clubs).
To educate the person, not just the player. Player’s are taught
respect, the value of hard work, discipline and to focus on their
ambitions.
Prepare all player’s to be well skilled, intelligent and
interchangeable player’s within any team.
To teach player’s to respect themselves, their teammates,
coaches, officials, administrators and spectators of the sport.
To provide help for other coaches with coach education
programs and any information they require.
To promote the game to the best of my ability and spread the
game as far and as wide as I can.
4

Coaching Principals
I am committed to developing each player and their team
for developmental success.
The approach to winning is important, but, winning will not
govern my approach or sacrifice the core beliefs and
training focuses I have to achieve it.
Encourage players to be self motivated, to succeed and
invest in their own development. Determination and desire
are a must to play soccer and develop a player’s full
potential.
Player’s must be committed to play for the club/team.
Training, games and training away from the club must be
treated seriously and maintained by each player.
5

Coaching Principals
To provide a modern, player centric based training
program that helps develop player’s to levels they can’t
achieve on their own.
Emphasis on long term player development, that’s
developed through a soccer culture and environment
that’s only purpose is to educate players and their parents.
To continually be open to learning, seeking out the best
information and be able to convert that into my own
coaching personality.
To be a leader in everything I do and set the example for
players, coaches and parents to follow.
6

Soccer Culture
A soccer culture is not an easy feat to accomplish. The tone and direction must be set by the
club and the coaches. It must be sold in a way that creates a badge of honor to be inside of it. A
club with a culture is a very beautiful and competitive club!
Soccer
Culture
AMBITION
CONFIDENCE
CONVICTION
COMMITMENT
DESIREFLAIR
PERSEVERENCE
PATIENCE
PRIDE
7
From youngest to oldest
Think and live like Champions
Player’s, Coaches and
Parents

“Today’s player’s need
tomorrow’s thinking”
The game evolves at such a rapid pace, you can see a
marked difference in each season in the professional
game. The difference in speed, tactics, player’s abilities,
intelligence and capacity to do more and more is
astounding. If you watch one World cup to the next (4
years) the game seems the same but the changes are so
varied and many, we need to not only keep up, but stay
ahead of the games development.
Who is responsible for the evolvement of the game? It’s
clubs, coaches and player’s who want to push the
boundaries and stretch the imagination to make the game
better.
9

What is the Player of Tomorrow?
PLAYER OF
TOMORROW
GAME
INTELLEGENCE
SPACE AWARENESS
DESIRE,
COMMITMENT &
PASSION
GOOD
TECHNIQUE/SMART
TACTICALLY
RESILIANT
AMBITIOUS
THIRST FOR
KNOWLEDGE
QUICK THINKER
MULTI POSITIONAL
SPEED, STAMINA,
POWER, AGILITY &
QUICKNESS
10

Elite Soccer Club
ABC Year’s (4-8 years)
Motor skills/Ball skills
Creative 1v1 players
Developing game intelligence
Developing space awareness
Develop how to play with
others
3v3/5v5/Futsal Soccer
Competitive players Phase 1
(9-12)
Technical skills within match
situations
Creative 1v1 and playing with
vision
Blue print for possession
soccer
Basic tactical concepts
Futsal/7v7/8v8/9v9 soccer
Competitive players Phase 2
(13-15)
Technical and tactical
efficiency within a game
situation Position decided for
player’s
Position specific training.
Phases of play 9v9/11v11
Soccer
Elite player (16-21) Game
preparations roles and
responsibilities preparation for
advanced men’s soccer 11v11
Soccer
12

Elite Soccer Club
ABC Years (4-8 years old)
Playing format: 3v3/5v5. No goal keepers. Progression to
5v5 dependent on player’s developments.
Player pools of 12 player’s.
Small sided fields: 3v3 dimensions are 20 yards wide x 30
yards long. Small sided goals. 5v5 dimensions are 35
yards long and 45 yards wide. Small sided goals.
Size 3 and 4 soccer balls.
Curriculum in place to develop motor skills, technical
skills, basic game understanding concepts and lots of fun.
Player ID process to start from day 1 and players and
groups adjusted as each player develops.
13

ABC Years:
Example Practices
14

ABC Years:
Small Sided Set Up
15

Elite Soccer Club
Competitive Phase 1 (9-12 years old)
Playing formats: 7v7 (9yrs)/8v8(10yrs)/9v9(11yrs). With Goal
keepers. Progression through the formats goes up each year.
Player pools of 16.
Fields are appropriate to playing formats with goals also being
appropriately sized.
Size 4 soccer balls.
Curriculum in place to continue development of motor and athletic
skills. Training moves closer to game like scenarios with the blue
print for possession soccer being established, basic understanding
of how formations and positions are played and competitive play
begins.
Player ID process continues. Player’s and parents now receive
feedback and soccer homework.
16

Elite Soccer Club
Example Warm up:
17

Elite Soccer Club
Example Playing Directional:
18

Elite Soccer Club
Example 8v8 Preparation:
19

Elite Soccer Club
Example Small Sided Game:
20

Elite Soccer Club
Playing formats: 9v9/11v11. With goal keepers. Progression
from 9v9 to 11v11 develops over the two year period. 14 and 15
years old should mainly be 11v11 competitive play.
Squads of 18 player’s.
Size 5 soccer ball.
Technical and tactical efficiency within competitive game
situations.
Positions/area of the field decided for players in general (all
player’s should be able to interchange and play multiple
positions).
Phases of play/shadow play training/Functional training
Preparation for advanced men’s soccer.
21

Elite Soccer Club
Example Warm up:
22

Elite Soccer Club
Example Technical Through Playing:
23

Elite Soccer Club
Example Functional Possession:
24

Elite Soccer Club
Example Small Sided Play:
25

Elite Soccer Club
Elite Player’s (16 – 21 years
old)
11v11 playing format. Full competitive.
Match preparations, roles and responsibilities
Fitness and strength programs
Overseas travel
Scouting reports on opponents and shared with players
Formation trainings showing multiple formations and
shapes with and without the ball
26

Elite Soccer Club
Elite player’s (16 – 21 years old)
Example Warm Up:
27

Elite Soccer Club
Example Game Related Technical/Tactical :
28

Elite Soccer Club
Example Positional Possession:
29

Elite Soccer Club
Example Phase Of Play:
30

Elite Coaching
What is a coach?
A coach is someone who can take a player to places in
their development that they can’t achieve on their own. A
coach is an inspiring, challenging and demanding person
who knows when to put an arm round a shoulder or let a
player or team know what’s needed. A coach is a leader, a
visionary and a teacher. Without the coaches of today, the
past and future, the game would not have evolved, moved
forward or be as diverse as it is. The coach can and
should make the difference to all player’s they have ever
interacted with.
31

Traits a coach and coaching staff should demonstrate in an
Elite Soccer Club:
Provide the right and best learning environment for player’s.
Must be intelligent, quick thinking, plan all they do and show
flexibility and a willingness to change and learn.
Have an interest in the player’s well being and off field life.
Be supportive and understanding to the person, not just the
player.
Must be educated and pushing themselves to constantly be
educated with the most up to date coaching and teaching
information.
Have self belief in all they do, which will give confidence to all
around them.
Must love the game and show genuine enthusiasm for the sport
of soccer.
32

Elite Club Coaching
ContentAn Elite soccer club must have a way to teach it’s playing
philosophy through a well thought out, progressive and age
appropriate plan or curriculum.
The curriculum must cater to levels of players, ages, competitive
levels and be fully understood by all coaching staff members.
The curriculum must cover the “four pillars of the game” yet be
appropriate within this for players who are 4 years old or 18
years old.
Four Pillars of the game:
Technical
Tactical
Physical
Psychological33

Elite Soccer Coaching
Philosophy
34

Everything must revolve around the game of soccer in training
and be aimed at developing the style of play that fits the players
and coaches plan, as well as deliver to the player’s a chance to
practice all four pillars of the game in any one training
Train/Game learning: Why is this important?
Having training replicate the game as closely as possible gives the
players the keys to their own development. It allows for player’s to
solve problems for the four pillars of the game and over time
develop into smart and rounded player’s who are comfortable in
game situations.
Small sided games, scenarios and individual training: Why is this
important?
The smaller you break the game down and attention to the details
that develop the four pillars within a player, the quicker they can
transfer the knowledge in to match play. Small sided and individual
training gives player’s more time and more ways to figure out
solutions, which then develop a more skilled and intelligent player.
35

Why is pushing a player and having them be constantly
challenged important?
Settling for low expectations or things being just OK isn’t
good enough. Coaching is about stretching a player to their
limit, but also knowing when to step back and allow for the
player to figure the solutions out too. Training sessions must
constantly push, pull and test a player’s ability to figure out
the four pillars of the game in game situations. When the
coach settles for just OK, then the players will start to regress
and develop poor habits.
Why is physical development important?
Today’s game demands athletic and dynamic player’s to be
quick, powerful, show agility and toughness. Without one of
these traits the player will quickly become a passenger on
the field. Player’s should develop all of their physical abilities
to keep pace with the game and allow for their body to
deliver the skills or movements their brain is calling for.
36

Teaching Philosophy & Procedures
Connecting with players is as important as having a wide
breadth of knowledge of the game. Connecting with
players can create a joint cause for the same goals.
Namely to improve, enjoy the game and be successful in
achieving the goals we set out together.
That connection now opens up the flood gates for
teaching and helping players understand the training
sessions, information and willingness to be open to learn
and try things. It’s a direct link to being creative and being
inspired to improve and apply new found knowledge.
37

Teaching Procedure
COACH
Open
Questions
Guide players
Don’t tell
Mistakes are
allowed
Players own
the game and
their
development
Fun and
engaging
training
sessions
Positive feed
back &
constructive
criticism
Tell me I
forget, show
me I
remember,
Involve me I
understand
38

Training Periodization Planning
It’s important to plan ahead. Planning ahead gives the
coach the time to organize, prepare and be flexible so that
no time is wasted and the players needs are met and
maximized.
I set out 10 week cycles for my training periodization
which affords me the time to get across the style of play I
want, specific game topics I want to share with the
player’s and allow players to digest the information. This
will help the player’s apply that information at a high
speed and quality in training to then go into match
situations.
Periodization can be done for all stages of player
development from the ABC years up to the Professional
level. The organization and planning is the same, but the
contents and training focuses are appropriate for the ages
and levels I teach. 39

Training Periodization Planning
Example: U11 Boys (Premier Level)
Time
Subject
Week
1
Week
2
Week
3
Week
4
Week
5
Week
6
Week
7
Week
8
Week
9
Week
10
SAQ/Fo
undation
Ball work
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
1v1
Direction _ _ _ _ _ _
2v1/3v1/
3v2/4v2/
4v3/5v3
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Possessi
on _ _ _
ATT
Phase
Play
_ _ _ _
DEF
Phase
Play
_
Techs
Small
Sided
_ _ _
Tactical
Small
Sided
_ _ _ _ _ _
40

Training Session Plan
A Training Session plan is imperative for a successful training session. The plan
should be clear, concise and flow easily, like you envision the training session.
A training session plan should include all relevant set up information, such as how
much and what type of equipment is needed and the space sizes you plan to use
for the playing areas. The objectives for the training session are very important, as
well as key points you want to make in the training session. It’s also very important
to add what alternate ideas and plans you have if you need to change the flow or
direction of exercises or the session if numbers or the players are not buying into it.
It’s also very important to document your plans and store them for reference
purposes, to develop a catalogue of training plans and to help you develop
more/better ideas off the work you have done in the past.
Training sessions are also a great chance for “incidental learning”. Each session
should have a core focus, but be very open and flexible towards the game whereby
other topics and solution's to problems are clearly apparent to the players/team.
This is covering more information and giving players a chance to sample a “live”
situation over a manufactured training session that will not be realistic or prepare
players to think quickly when problems arise. For example, I may have a focus on
teaching playing out of the back zone vs. 3 forwards. I predominantly focus on the
team playing out of the back zone, but can also ask the forwards to defend in
different ways to challenge the players I am teaching and this gives the forwards
and other players ideas and experience of other things they can use in trainings
and games. It now creates a learning environment for all concerned.
41

Carousel Method
The carousel method is set up so a coach can move from
practice to practice with a quick flow and bring out different
focuses within the lesson time.
Example: As in the illustration in the slide before this one. Two
small sided fields are set up. Area A is focused on individual ball
work and building up to a 1v1 exercise. Area B is also set up
and focuses on passing and receiving and builds in to a small
sided possession game. Once the practice focus is over, the
coach can quickly remove the equipment inside the field, set up
the small sided goals and then play small sided games.
The beauty of this format is that players get in a very
economical practice that’s high in technical repetitions, game
type scenarios and it’s a highly motivating way to practice.
This method is ideal for the youngest of players who are not
practicing every day.
45

WHOLE-PART-WHOLE
Whole-Part-Whole is a French Football Association concept that is a
brilliant way to teach the game through the game.
Practices begin once players are warmed up with games of soccer (whole).
This can be small sided, futsal, 8v8, 9v9 or 11v11 and the coach will explain
what the focuses of the training will be. The player’s will play with the
focuses, challenges and conditions the coach has set and try to execute.
Players are then moved to exercises (part) that will give a break down to
the training focuses the coach set out before the earlier game (whole). The
coach will coach the topic in here and relate it back to the game so the
players can think how to apply the knowledge when playing in a game
(whole).
Players then move back to the soccer game they were playing, that can be
under similar conditions and challenges and try to use the knowledge from
the previous parts of the training to show the improvements they have now
made.
This method is extremely useful with players of all ages. The motivational
aspect is there because there is a lot of game time and there is still a good
amount of time and focus on being able to break the game down so players
are getting the best of both worlds. Playing and practicing.
47

Traditional “topic” based session
48

Traditional “topic” based session
This method is the most commonly used within the coaching world.
Its simple, builds up to a game situation and allows for one topic or
focus to be used and coached in the allotted time.
The technical warm up will be based on the theme of the day. For
example, if the practice focus improving passing and possession,
the warm up will incorporate passing techniques and the type of
movements that are typically associated with passing and
possessing the ball, but with no or limited pressure from defending
players.
The game related topic builds on from the technical warm up and
now involves practices and small sided games that are based on
the theme of the day.
Functional training and or Phase of play is now training the players
in specific ways that relate to positions, team organization or tactics
the coach is looking to share with the players. This can take place
on 2/3s of the field or in a specific area of the field to make the
training focus realistic to the players who are training. A functional
training focus example: Training the full backs to develop a
partnership with their wide midfielder or a Phase of play example
could be to “teach the back players when to run with the ball and
when to pass”
49

Playing Environment
Playing
Environment
SAFE
PLANNED
SUCCESS
SOCCER RELATED
COMPETITIVEFUN
CHALLENGING
LEARNING
MISTAKES
ALLOWED/CREATIVITY
51

Understanding your Player’s
Coaching is not only knowing the game and developing the player, it’s also knowing
the personalities and learning styles the player’s you coach have. More so than
ever, as science is discovering the complexities of the human brain, coaches need
to be adaptable, observant and prepared to then maximize the teachable moments
we have with player’s.
Players can have a range of learning needs. This can include behavioral, physical
and emotional needs. Players may have trouble processing the information and
may need further break down and explanation. For example they may have
Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder which impacts a
player’s ability to focus and coaches need to know this information about their
players and prepare so they can help and cater to the players learning difficulties
and again maximize the teachable moments that will arise.
Ignoring this or trying to work round these issues will not help the player involved,
the rest of the group and can strain relations between the coach, the player and the
player’s parents. It’s advisable to approach any signs with the players family
discreetly and form a plan of action to move forwards.
Players may also come from a difficult home situation. It’s normally not hard to
figure out as a coach and important to identify and plan out your strategy to help
the player/player’s through it when in your care. Players in these situations more
than anyone else use the game as a release, a place to forget their issues and it’s
important to remember this and show understanding to them. Knowing your players
is so important!!
52

Understanding your Player’s
Coaching player’s is also a personal relationship. It’s important there is a line that’s
not crossed, you shouldn’t be the player’s friend, but you need to form a bond with
your players. Coaches must get to know their players, their likes, dislikes and
understand the whole person.
Find out what player’s like away from the field. Do they watch Soccer at home? Which
team do they follow and who are their favorite player’s? You can also ask about
school, other hobbies, music and things of this nature. It shows the player’s you have
a vested interest in them as a person and not just as a player. This “connect” is vital
and as the relationship grows, the bigger and stronger the trust becomes and the
more open and willing a player will be to your Soccer ideas.
Feedback is also important. Players want to know how they are doing, what they are
doing well and what they can do to improve. It’s a delicate line and knowing your
players and how they react to certain situations can be a massive help in your
feedback getting across in the manner you want it to. Some players appreciate
honesty, some players struggle with honesty, some players need their ego’s boosting
at times and others need to be pushed and pushed to succeed. You have to know
which approach for each player. If you don’t learn this and get the approach wrong
with the wrong player, you might not get them back.
Self reflection for player’s is also a great way to get to know the players and gives
them a chance to express in the open how they feel they are doing, what they want
out of their soccer experience and what they want to ultimately achieve. This can all
be a positive and give many more chances to interact, find common ground and give
the coach a better platform for future planning for the person, the player and the
soccer education.
53

Team Philosophy
55
TEAM
PHILOSOPHY
HARD
WORK/DEDICATION
CONFIDENCE
WANT THE
BALL
TRUST EACH
OTHER
WINNING
MINDSET
SACRIFICE
POSITOVE
ATTITUDE
WORK ETHIC
PLAY OUR
WAY
IN IT
TOGETHER

In Possession:
Look to score and attack at every opportunity
Possession domination and fast ball circulation is a must
Show bravery and ability in 1v1 situations
Quick and penetrating player combinations with a view to
always being in overload situations
Don’t be intimidated by being patient, the more we have the
ball, the more likely we are to find the opportunity to score
and the opponent can’t
Be fluid and interchange positions with balance and
organization
Constant movements off the ball into pockets of space or
between lines of opponents or between opponents
(windows) to receive the ball and unbalance our opponents
58

Moment of loss of possession (Transition)
1st defender must impact the opponent on the ball
Covering defenders get organized and quickly assist with
pressure and pressing to quickly win ball back
Positive attitude to 1st moments ball possession is lost and
see this as opportunity to attack an unbalanced opponent
when we regain possession
Defending if out of possession longer than 6 seconds
Understand individual roles/does my role change with new
situation/ball moved to different area?
Confrontation lines are set if we drop to cover space in
behind back line and 1st defending line knows when to press
again
Stay compact, communicate and ready to trigger our counter65

Defending if Counter or High Press in Ineffective
67

Moment of Positive Transition: Regaining possession
Quick and efficient movement to opponents goal with
numbers
Commit unbalanced defensive players and use overloads to
capitalize on situation
Team must move as a unit to stay connected to circulate ball
in opponents defensive half if counter doesn’t result in strike
on goal
Secure own back line/space in organized way just in case we
are countered
68

Formations are debated about by all coaches and fans alike.
The one thing that cannot be disputed is that a formation
should suit the players over the players having to fit the
formation.
The advantage to being a coach/club that develops it’s own
players from the youngest ages up to Elite men’s soccer is
we can mold the player’s with how we teach the game,
information we share with them, influences we coax them to
follow and what we inspire the player to want to play like.
The modern game has evolved from the early days of half
backs and front 5’s through to 1-4-4-2 to -1-4-5-1 to the 1-3-
5-2 to the 1-4-3-3 to the 1-4-2-3-1 and many more variations.
There are many variations within each formation and this
depends on how flexible player’s are and how imaginative a
coach can be with the players at their disposal.
71

A coach/club should have a guide line for all the formations
and variations that they can think of and work with the
coaching staff to find a way to play the style of soccer we
want each team to play, but with a formation that suits the
current players of that time. One year we may have some
squads who are perfect for the 1-4-4-2 and another year we
may have the perfect player’s for a 1-4-3-3. However the
club and its coaches should give the players many
opportunities to practice and play in different formations to
grow the player’s knowledge, allow the squads to be more
flexible and get as close as we can to the soccer philosophy
the club has of expansive, attractive and possession based
soccer.
While formations are important, they are not the be all and
end all. The teams with the best players, who are flexible,
tactically smart, adaptable, can interchange positions and be
comfortable in all situations normally are the players who are
the most successful. 72

1-4-3-3 Formation Starting
Point
73

1-4-3-3 changed to 1-3-4-3
within game flow
74

Antony Wilshaw
Closing Comments
78

While there isn’t a perfect way to do anything as a soccer
coach/club, this document acts as guideline of things to
consider when forming a club with Elite aspirations or if
you’re a coach looking for a change of direction with your
career or coaching ideas.
Soccer is always evolving, changing with more and more
access to more information. There are more player’s playing,
more coaches coaching, more arm chair coaches voicing
their opinions and more and more money coming in to the
game. With the explosion of social media, the way the world
is getting smaller and smaller, the future is bright and exciting
for the sport of soccer.
The challenge is to stay current and think ahead, develop
player’s who are well rounded and be competitive in the ever
growing game.
79

Antony Wilshaw
NSCAA National, Advanced, Premier & Master Coach Diploma’s
Currently studying BSc (HONS) Coaching & Performance in Football
16 years as a professional Soccer coach
Coached all levels of the youth game in the US, including Recreational,
travel, Premier, Academy, High School and summer camps.
Currently have 19 players I have coached as youth players for over 5
years playing Div1 or Div2 University Soccer in the US and one player
playing professionally in South America. Also, currently I have 22 boys
who I developed from u9 now playing US Academy Soccer and US Pre
Academy Soccer this last 2 years and this coming year.
TEL: 203:508:5726
Email: antonywilshaw@gmail.com
80

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