The Pros and Cons of Training the Football Friendlies Way
The Pros and Cons of Training the Football Friendlies Way
In our last blog, we introduced the idea of training the Football Friendlies way, rooted in football's universal principles. Today, we delve into the pros and cons of this approach, clarifying why even the best methods can have drawbacks and how understanding these can help us improve.
Why Discuss Pros and Cons?
You might wonder, if the Football Friendlies method is the best way to train, why discuss any cons at all? Shouldn't there be only benefits? Let's explain.
A few years ago, after one of our football camps, a parent sent an email with a long list of complaints. One key point was that her son felt exhausted after camp, to the extent that he couldn't return the next morning. This prompted us to reflect on our approach. Instead of dismissing the complaint, we investigated and identified both the strengths and weaknesses of our training method. This blog outlines the lessons we learned, aimed at educating other coaches who might want to adopt our approach.
The Benefits of the Football Friendlies Way
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Communication, Decision-Making, and Execution (CDE): Our camps are designed to immerse players in real-game situations, allowing them to continuously practice CDE. This approach ensures that players are always engaged in collecting information, making decisions, and executing actions, thereby developing their overall football skills.
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Football Fitness: As discussed in our previous blog, football fitness is an integral part of CDE. By repeatedly practicing CDE for extended periods, players naturally build their football fitness. This holistic development is a significant advantage of the Football Friendlies way.
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Game Realism: Our method focuses on real gameplay rather than isolated drills. This realistic approach helps players understand the game better, develop instincts, and learn to adapt to various match situations.
The Drawbacks of the Football Friendlies Way
Despite its many benefits, our method has some potential drawbacks:
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Overload: A key lesson we learned from the parent's complaint is the risk of overloading players. If players, especially young ones, are not fit enough to handle the demands of continuous play, they can experience fatigue and muscular soreness. This can lead to decreased performance and even injury.
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Physical Demands: The high physical demands of our training method mean that players need adequate recovery time. Without proper rest, players can become overworked, leading to burnout and prolonged fatigue.
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Individual Variability: Every player has a different fitness level and capacity for workload. Our method must be adapted to ensure that each player is challenged appropriately without being overwhelmed.
Balancing the Pros and Cons
To maximize the benefits of training the Football Friendlies way while minimizing the risks, it is crucial to understand and apply football's universal principles effectively. Here are some strategies:
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Gradual Progression: Introduce players to the demands of continuous play gradually. Start with shorter sessions and progressively increase the duration and intensity as their fitness improves.
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Monitoring and Feedback: Regularly monitor players' physical condition and provide feedback. Adjust training loads based on their responses to avoid overloading.
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Recovery Time: Ensure that players have adequate rest and recovery periods. Encourage proper hydration, nutrition, and sleep to support their physical development.
Looking Ahead
In our next blog, we will provide detailed strategies on how to maximize the pros of the universal football principles (CDE) while avoiding the cons, particularly the negative effects of overload. By understanding these principles deeply, coaches can create training environments that foster development without risking player well-being.
At Football Friendlies, our goal is to continually improve our methods to provide the best training experience for young players. By sharing our insights and lessons learned, we hope to contribute to the broader coaching community and help other coaches enhance their training practices. Stay tuned for more valuable tips and strategies in our upcoming blog posts.
