Player Development Programme
Guide to PDP
New Zealand Football’s ‘Whole of Football’ framework
Our Player Development Programme (PDP) is based upon a framework developed by
New Zealand Football, consistent with world best practice. For young players the
framework facilitates more touches on the ball, emphasises the development of a
fundamental skills base and basic football techniques, and provides more opportunities to
play football - to ‘let the game be the teacher’ with minimum restrictions and intervention
from the sideline.
How PDP works
Our programme places kids in small teams of 5-7 players, with these teams participating in
a range of activities each Saturday morning. These activities have a number of focuses,
but are all aimed at providing a fun and entertaining experience each week.
‘Station Rotation’
PDP will run at Ben Burn Park this season (at least until drainage work at Karori Park is
completed). The field will be divided up into stations, with each station hosting a different
activity/game. Teams are allocated each week to a particular starting station. Every 12/13
minutes an air horn will sound, at which
point teams rotate to the next station.
Teams will complete four activities/games
each week. The stations will change each
week, as will the starting station for each
team. Instructions for the week’s activities
will be circulated before the day, and hard
copies made available on the morning.
An example of the PDP setup map.
An example of the exercise instruction sheet.
‘Festival Week’
Every third week is ‘Festival Week’.
In Festival Week teams from Super Sevens (turning 7 in 2017) and Eighth Grade (turning
8 in 2017) play an inter-club tournament. Each team will play four games against four
different teams according to a draw published the week before. Some weeks the
tournament will be held at Karori Park, and some weeks teams will travel to other locations
such as Raroa Park or Alex Moore, depending on which club is hosting the event.
For Sonic Sixers (turning 5/6 in 2017), Festival Week operates in the same way as usual
at Ben Burn, but all stations will be football games, or variations of. Occasionally we may
invite another club to
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The
Coach & Game Leader - Introduction to Coaching
Part 7
THE FOUR FOCUS AREAS FOR TRAINING
The focus of the activities
Each activity has one of four main focuses: general movement, football coordination,
football technique and small sided games. The activities are aimed at developing a wide
components
changes. Therefore some do not resemble ‘traditional’ football drills, and
range ofoftheskills
and abilities.
some may not even include a ball. Each, however, focuses on a particular skill set, and
play an important role in developing the ‘complete’ footballer.
Focus for Training - where we spend most of our training time
GENERAL MOVEMENT
Coordination activities incorporating running, hopping,
jumping, turning and falling are fundamental for
developing effective football performance.
Provides a broad foundation that makes it easier for
children to learn more complex movements later on.
FOOTBALL COORDINATION
because it allows them to use their own
imagination and incorporates lots of contact with
the ball.
Uses games and activities that provide
Fundamental movement is the focus for
Well developed coordination in older
children means movements can be
FOOTBALL TECHNIQUE
The core techniques involve dribbling,
passing.
techniques, and be able to execute them with both the
left and right feet
Involve lots and lots of touches of
the ball with different parts of
the foot, or different parts of the
SMALL SIDED GAMES
Small sided football games are
tailored to meet the development
Games will provide junior footballers with a level
of decision making that is age appropriate and
achievable
Motivational games that involve dribbling and shooting
involved in each game increases.
Optimal requirements: 2 game leaders with 2 mini areas or more available. Minimum requirements: 2 game leaders and 2 mini areas
Understanding your Players
and feel comfortable.” Horst Wein
Assistance and Coaching
We want to create a fun and positive environment for our players. The more support,
encouragement and cheering from parents the better! The success of PDP depends on
the assistance of parents.
Coaches
Each team needs a coach.
The coach is the person responsible for looking after the team gear, and ensuring it is all
returned at the end of the season. The team manager also needs to be a point of contact
for the team - they need to make sure players turn up on the day, and notify the Grade
Coordinator if you will be missing players (to the extent that we might need to reshuffle
players to ensure teams are even).
In addition, while the club will provide a number of Coaches Academy coaches to help out,
parents will be needed to run some of the stations. When your team arrives at a station
which is not being looked after by a Coaches Academy coach, someone needs to take
charge and get the activity under way.
This is not a big task. The game stations take care of themselves - get them underway and
then step back. The activity stations require a bit more input, but experience is not
necessary. A good PDP coach doesn’t need to know everything about football - they just
need to be enthusiastic! The club will even provide and pay for you to attend coaching
qualification courses.
Cancellations
Bad weather may necessitate cancellations. To check cancellations, either:
• Follow @WKAFC on Twitter
• Keep an eye on your emails
We try to confirm cancellations with as much notice as possible, but a decision might not
be made until as late as 8am on the day, depending on the weather.
Gear
Each team is provided with a bag of gear at the beginning of the season. These gear bags
include:
• Team jerseys
• Bibs
• Player of the day trophies
Players must provide their own black shorts, Karori socks, boots and shin pads.
Balls, cones and other gear required for the activities and games are provided on the day.