The WSA Way includes a timeline of elements of the comprehensive "pre-match" routine (see below).
This routine is modified (shrunk) for youth academy ages. The routine should be applied from U11 onward, with the purpose of forming proper habits in athletes. By U14 onward, each step of the pre-match routine is critical for the purpose of performance and health of the athlete.
Within certain WSA programming, ideally, the club's Sports Performance Coach will help teach and/or guide portions of the pre-game preparation.
This routine is modified (shrunk) for youth academy ages. The routine should be applied from U11 onward, with the purpose of forming proper habits in athletes. By U14 onward, each step of the pre-match routine is critical for the purpose of performance and health of the athlete.
Within certain WSA programming, ideally, the club's Sports Performance Coach will help teach and/or guide portions of the pre-game preparation.
THE TEAM TALK
Just prior to kickoff there will usually be "final instructions" from the coaching staff. It is important that these instructions are brief, and that they do NOT introduce any new concepts (exceptions being cases where the match result consequence may have changed due to other results, or a personnel change required revising a game tactic).
PREGAME TALK TENETS FOR MAXIMAL PERFORMANCE
Brief, little detail
Direct
Simple
All Info is a Review (no new info)
Empowering
PREGAM TALK TENETS FOR MAXIMAL LEARNING
Brief but more detail
Can be indirect
Might include complicated challenges
Limited New Information which is relatable to previous taught concepts
Challenging
PREGAME TALK TENETS FOR MAXIMAL PERFORMANCE
Brief, little detail
Direct
Simple
All Info is a Review (no new info)
Empowering
PREGAM TALK TENETS FOR MAXIMAL LEARNING
Brief but more detail
Can be indirect
Might include complicated challenges
Limited New Information which is relatable to previous taught concepts
Challenging
THE WSA TEAM BREAK-OUT
WHERE WE GO ONE.... WE GO ALL!
The WSA Way culture builders request that a team learn to behave and act as a team. The break-out is significant to this.
When the coach calls all players in to "break it out" this may require certain teammates to forego their own individual prep to unite to the team timeline. It may require other team members to patiently wait for late arriving teammates. These seemingly imperceptible behaviors, can produce profoundly powerful team synergy effects.
The team should "break-out" after the activation or warmup stage of the pre-game routine and/or prior to those stages. And of course the team should "break it out" prior to the kickoff.
The pregame chant is also a significant culture builder. Stay tuned in to the club-wide break-it-out chant, which helps grow sense of belonging and purpose. And be open to your team adapting a unique break-out chant that reinforces team messaging.
The WSA Way culture builders request that a team learn to behave and act as a team. The break-out is significant to this.
When the coach calls all players in to "break it out" this may require certain teammates to forego their own individual prep to unite to the team timeline. It may require other team members to patiently wait for late arriving teammates. These seemingly imperceptible behaviors, can produce profoundly powerful team synergy effects.
The team should "break-out" after the activation or warmup stage of the pre-game routine and/or prior to those stages. And of course the team should "break it out" prior to the kickoff.
The pregame chant is also a significant culture builder. Stay tuned in to the club-wide break-it-out chant, which helps grow sense of belonging and purpose. And be open to your team adapting a unique break-out chant that reinforces team messaging.
THE CONTACT POINTS, PALM POWER
Studies indicate that teams who high-five and fist-bump more more before games, are more successful (reference UC Berkeley, 2014).
Simple "human touch" reduces stress and tension, and enhances confidence, improving athletic performance.
It has also been demonstrated that more interactions, verbal and non verbal, between teammates, can have a similar impact on team chemistry and culture.
Coach leading the game day (and training ground) environment to reinforce and empower these interactions, is one way to improve overall team morale.
Giving or Receiving the Palm Power Perseveres:
IMPROVES MOOD - Release of endorphins helps reduce pain and stress, and makes people feel confident & happy
CREATES SENSE OF WELL BEING - Helps athletes focus and stay engaged in the task
ENHANCES BONDING - Gestures like high-fives or fist bumps enhance psychosocial bonding amongst teammates
EXPRESS GRATITUDE - Sending a high-five is a way to express gratitude, which develops trust, leading to positive emotions.
Simple "human touch" reduces stress and tension, and enhances confidence, improving athletic performance.
It has also been demonstrated that more interactions, verbal and non verbal, between teammates, can have a similar impact on team chemistry and culture.
Coach leading the game day (and training ground) environment to reinforce and empower these interactions, is one way to improve overall team morale.
Giving or Receiving the Palm Power Perseveres:
IMPROVES MOOD - Release of endorphins helps reduce pain and stress, and makes people feel confident & happy
CREATES SENSE OF WELL BEING - Helps athletes focus and stay engaged in the task
ENHANCES BONDING - Gestures like high-fives or fist bumps enhance psychosocial bonding amongst teammates
EXPRESS GRATITUDE - Sending a high-five is a way to express gratitude, which develops trust, leading to positive emotions.
THE TEAM SHEETS VISUAL REMINDERS
The team sheet is a tool to help organize your team on game day. It should reflect your format and age division. Below are samples of team sheets used for 11v11 teams.
The team sheet can be posted in the technical/bench area, or it can be contained in a notebook possessed by one of the staff. We recommend posting at least the summary version so it is easy to reference for players.
If you utilize multiple visuals (advanced level, U14+) for various restarts, or game management situations, then these could be contained within a notebook kept in a coach's possession. The visuals would only be shared when relevant to the game or substitution.
The team sheet can be posted in the technical/bench area, or it can be contained in a notebook possessed by one of the staff. We recommend posting at least the summary version so it is easy to reference for players.
If you utilize multiple visuals (advanced level, U14+) for various restarts, or game management situations, then these could be contained within a notebook kept in a coach's possession. The visuals would only be shared when relevant to the game or substitution.
SAMPLE TEAM SHEET
EXAMPLE OF TACTICAL VISUAL: DEFENDING LONG RANGE FK
This tactical representation was used for a team in preseason which was struggling to create proper shape in defending obvious long range free kicks (FK) from the defending half. It was posted in the team area so that players would have an easy "reminder" of the team's starting positions and responsibilities in those game situations.
EXAMPLE OF TACTICAL VISUAL: DEFENDING CORNER KICK
This team sheet game tactic reminder, shows the team's Defensive Corner Kick (CK) Zone, starting positions. On the training ground each role had 3 responsibilities attached to it. These are not outlined in this team reminder to keep the information "brief" and "succinct". This serves the purpose of a "visual reminder" to help create some cues for athletes to remember responsibilities for this particular game management situation.
