The North Berwick Colts FC – FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
AIMS & PURPOSE:
• to create a simple structured Club Pathway
• raise football standards and create consistency throughout the Club’s players & coaches
• a one stop place for coaches to share ideas, tips, their experience of training resource
and overall best practices
Scope
Characteristics
In January 2013
each NB Colts team
to implement a simple
S.M.A.R.T. plan
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/northberwickcoltsfc/a/coach-zone22002.html?page=6
In September 2011, NB Colts:
• Awarded ‘SFA Quality Mark’ accreditation
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football.cfm?page=2988
• NB Colts fully supports our coach’s development
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football.cfm?page=2582
• Launched a new website with access to valuable resource in
‘Coach Zone’ http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/northberwickcoltsfc/a/coach-zone-22002.htm
In January 2011, the SFA launched:
• The National Player Pathway http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?page=2595
• Developing Talent Strategy http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football.cfm?page=2589
• Positive Coaching http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football.cfm?page=2597
NB Colts signed up to this national structured plan where the ‘youth recreational
game across Scotland is now structured in a pathway proven to provide the right environment and
challenges for each player at their age and stage of development’
BENCHMARK OF WHERE PLAYERS SHOULD BE WHEN TRANSITIONING
INTRODUCTION TO FOOTBALL - P1 & P2 (Age 5-6)
North Berwick Sports Centre Hall > outdoor 4 a side fixtures
Coaches: refer to SFA’s Early Touches course, book, or DVD
• Fun games / keep all kids involved / small sided games
• Teaching the basics technical skills:
- Passing with correct technique (instep)
- Receive & control the ball (with instep or trap with sole)
- Dribbling and keep the ball under control
- Shooting with correct technique (instep or drill with laces)
SOCCER ACADEMY – P3 & P4 (Age 7-8)
Moving from 4 a side to 7 a side fixtures (ELSSDA and or ESSDA)
Coaches: refer to SFA’s Coaching Young Footballers course material
• Fun Festivals v other teams/ keep all kids involved / small sided games
• Understanding team diamond shape – width, depth, finding space
• Developing technical skills with both feet:
- Passing with the appropriate weight and accurately
- Receive & control the ball (inside/outside of foot, thigh, chest, head)
- Dribbling the ball while jogging and developing an awareness of
the surrounding area
- Shooting with accuracy and proper technique (instep or drill with laces)
LEARNING THE GAME – P5 to P7 (Age 9-12)
COMPETITIVE FOOTBALL – S1 + (Age 13 + )
Moving from 7 a side to 11 a side matches (ELSSDA and or ESSDA)
Coaches: refer to SFA’s Coaching in the game course material
11 a side league and cup format (SERYLA) with SFA referees on full pitch
Coaches: refer to SFA’s Youth programme
• Friendly fixtures v other teams – Development Football
• Introducing goalkeeping as a specialist position
• Developing team shape positioning and tactical awareness
• Players demonstrating confident expressive skills and
good decision making:
- Passing into the path of a running team mate + long passes
- Receiving & control the ball (with foot, thigh, chest, head + Keepie Uppie )
- Dribbling at speed with a range of skills to turn direction
- Shooting with accuracy and proper technique (attacking headers +
• Competitive Cup knockout + league promotion & relegation format
• Players organisation skills are demonstrated through an
understanding of team shape positioning and tactical awareness
• Clear and confident communication with team-mates
• Making sound decisions concerning the pitch’s expansive space
• Developing Aerobic attributes and utilising appropriate aggression to
win back and keep the ball
• Refining the technical skills and ensuring each player has a couple
of skills to beat a player
instep or drill with laces with the body over the ball
- Aerobic attributes
i.e. speed, agility, strength, balance
* PLEASE NOTE *
• The Club uses Googledocs as a one stop place for sharing information.
• Your Head Coach has the Username and Password to enable your access
• Each team has a folder for their own reference (Player contact details / subscriptions e
• Here you can find examples of recommended drills and a list of the specific valuable
coaching points to help with specific training sessions
• You are encouraged to build a library of appropriately age related drills / information he
which will help teams in the future benefit from your knowledge and experience
• i.e. share your Team’s Football Development Plan and any coaching resource