Coaching session “flipped’ by players

Northern Suburbs Football Association side Berowra FC hosted a Game Training Coach Workshop of a different kind when the U15 Division 1 squad took charge of the coaching session.

On a cold and chilly Monday evening, Football Coach Education Manager Oscar Gonzalez helped facilitate an informative and practical session with the young squad alongside 25 local coaches who also attended the event.

Gonzalez demonstrated how to facilitate a player led national curriculum based game training session.

Both player and coach feedback was very positive with the players enjoying the opportunity to take some ownership of the training session.

Then there was the “flipped” session that was well martialled by the young Berowra players.

The “flipped” coaching session describes a reversal of traditional coaching where players used their exposure to games outside of training. Following on from this, the training session is then used to do the harder work of assimilating that knowledge through strategies such as problem-solving, discussion or debate where the players play a key role. 

The recurring theme through the night was active learning, which means engaging the players in two key aspects – doing things and thinking about the things they are doing.

One of the coaches on site on the evening, Lee Surace, pointed out the positive effects the “flipped” approach had on the seminar

“Thanks to both Oscar and for having arranged this.

“The feedback from the coaches I have spoken to was extremely positive.

“The boys really enjoyed the session as well.

“I was particularly impressed by how Oscar encouraged the boys to design the session and then tweak where required.

“This completely engaged the boys and certainty offered a different perspective on coaching. “

Gonzalez was captivated with how the boys went about facilitating the session.

“I was really impressed with how the boys with no notice were able to plan a cohesive session that only required minimal guidance and input to achieve a very worthwhile session.  

“I am keen to see how the boys use this experience in the future and how they think about the game and training differently.  In addition, having their coach be as supportive as he was is instrumental in the success of the concept.

“Working with NSFA is always enjoyable as our collaborative approach to Coach Education is very motivating and the attendance of nearly 30 coaches on a very cold wintery night is testimony of the success.”