Don Draxler’s Post

The study by Keith Davids and colleagues highlights the significant benefits of small-sided and conditioned games (SSCG) in sports training, particularly in enhancing movement and decision-making skills. SSCG facilitate continuous interpersonal coordination among players, helping them understand spatial and temporal relationships within the team. These games promote information-action coupling, enabling players to perceive key environmental cues and respond effectively, which is crucial for making quick decisions during games. Additionally, SSCG provide a representative learning environment that mirrors actual game situations, ensuring that the skills and decisions practiced transfer seamlessly to real-game scenarios. For basketball coaches, integrating SSCG into training routines offers several advantages. It encourages player engagement, adaptability, and versatility by simulating the dynamic and unpredictable nature of competitive sports. SSCG also allow players to explore different performance solutions, fostering greater resilience and strategic thinking. By focusing on coordination, decision-making, and the perception of affordances, coaches can enhance their players' overall game performance and readiness for competition. These insights emphasize the importance of creating dynamic and realistic training environments to prepare athletes effectively. https://lnkd.in/gfJTtmcB

Nothing connects a community more than sport - youth and student athletes learn tough lessons - work ethic is taught - families are brought together Only IF the sport is supported properly by people in the community Here are 3 things to avoid in your community sports ; these will absolutely tear down and defeat the purpose of the sport ❌ - Immediately confronting coaches after games with complaints and raising voices at them ❌ - Putting pressure on the youth/student athletes as if this is their end all be all and cannot fail ❌ - Spectators screaming, cursing, and being belligerent towards officials or anyone during games Here are 3 ways to help sports in your community thrive and uplift the youth ✅ - Supporting coaches and / or having productive meetings 48 hours after games to note needs for student athletes and to help ensure the best experience for the kids ✅ - Create an environment where the youth can thrive through sport and learn life lessons without being pushed away from the sport due to so much pressure ✅ - Spectators at games being respectful, creating a good environment for the youth to play in, and leading by example if a call does not go their way Sports are a powerful tool, it’s on everyone involved in the community to use this powerful tool properly!

'Fun' is arguably the most over-used and commonly misinterpreted term in youth sport. Everyone agrees that youth sport should be fun, but what does that actually mean in practice..? 🤔 Simplistic notions of fun that reduce it to something frivolous do a disservice to young athletes - and lead us to overlook the factors that make youth sport enjoyable. Given the imperative for 'fun' to reduce drop out, it is worth taking the time to elucidate what facets of the youth sports experience kids find enjoyable so we can cater to those needs and keep them engaged: https://lnkd.in/eNvUDpka

🧱 Foundations 2 thoughts on the #LinkedInSportsChallenge Day 16. Discuss how sports is evolving & what professionals need to prepare for in the future. 1. We know early sports specialisation isn’t the best path to success. But, do we actually talk about and communicate this with youth athletes and parents? Often I feel it’s only relayed as “you have to play a different sport, it’s good for development”. What does good for development actually mean to a child? As sport continues to develop and professionalise, we need to demonstrate, communicate and build multi sports models in to the conversation for all parties. 2. Do less. But do it better. It’s not as simple as 10,000 hours, we know this. IMO, those looking to move up need to be able to say no and prioritise where their energy goes. I’m not saying narrow the focus to a singular point. Rather, when you do something, make sure you focus everything you have on that task, then move on when achieved. #youthsports #schoolsports #ltad #youthdevelopment

When looking at Football ConneXions’ recent ‘10 questions’ post, I thought about how I might approach question 3 from the perspective of Technical Director of both an Amateur Youth Club & a Professional Club. Q3. ‘How do you define and measure ‘Success’ for on-field aspects of the club, and how regularly are these assessed?‘ Amateur Youth Club - Individual & Team Development Focus. Here is how I would define a successful programme and the assessment frequency: 1) Player Development: - Individual skill progression. - Positive attitudes, teamwork, sportsmanship & high work rate. - Gradual advancement through age groups & levels. 2) Team Performance: - Improvement in match performance in-line with club philosophy & style. - Improving performances in youth leagues & tournaments season after season. - Feedback from coaches to players regarding strengths & areas to develop. 3) Retention & Graduation: - High retention rates of players. - Graduation to higher age groups, levels & senior teams. 4) Community Engagement: - Positive impact on the local community. - Active involvement in grassroots initiatives. Assessment Frequency: - Continuous assessment throughout the season. - Formal evaluations at the end of each season. - Regular feedback sessions with coaches, players & parents. Professional Football Club - Performance-driven approach with a focus on competitive achievements. Here's how I’d approach things: 1) Competitive Achievements: - League performance, aiming for high league position. - Progression into the late rounds of cup competitions. - Consistent qualification for regional & continental competitions. 2) Player Development & Transfers: - Developing players for the first team progression or for lucrative transfers. - Successful integration of youth academy graduates into the first team. 3) Strategic Goals: - Alignment with the club's long-term strategic vision. - Achievement of specific milestones or targets set by the board. 4) Financial Performance: - Generating revenue through player transfers, ticket & merchandise sales. - Maximising commercial & sponsorship opportunities. Assessment Frequency: Continuous monitoring of league & tournament performances. Quarterly strategic reviews with the board. Ongoing coach & player assessments in regards to club philosophy. Season-end evaluations for overall performance & adjustments to strategic plans as needed. #Football #ClubDevelopment #YouthDevelopment #GrassrootsFootball #StrategicPlanning #Consultancy #FootballConneXions

Sports are a universal language understood by many, bringing fans who come from diverse backgrounds together. The globalization of sports shows the influence that different cultures can have on the popularity of sports worldwide – and sports are as much about cultural expression as they are about competition! 🌍 Let’s take basketball as an example – what started by a Canadian in the United States has now become one of the most powerful sports worldwide, with the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s influence stretching from America to China, the Philippines, and beyond. Similarly, Formula 1 – a European favourite and the fastest growing sport amongst Canadian youth – has been gaining popularity at high speed in the US too, thanks to effective marketing that appealed specifically to American audiences. When you envision soccer you might think of Europe, when you think of football it might remind you of the National Football League (NFL) in the US – and there is continuous growth happening with sports all across the globe! ⚽ At Kidzsmart, we understand the cultural importance of sports and how they help fans interact on a higher level of interconnectedness. We love seeing youth have access to a wider variety of sports to help them grow, learn, and develop the skills they need to be successful in life! 🏀 Our strengths lie in helping sports brands to connect with youth – the next generation of loyal fans. The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Formula 1 are dedicated to promoting STEAM education, and we create programs that highlight the importance of this too! You can join the club today 🏈 #STEAM #sportsindustry

I grow evermore condeming of Competitive Sport. We too often overvalue it to the detriment of our youth. Having raised two higher level athletes grassroots folks at our soccer club sometimes ask me for advice. Hindsight being a real liability sometimes I have realized I moved them each from recreational sport "upward" to Competitive levels seeking Better Sport. My girls each have a passion for motion and ease with physical literacy - agility balance, coordination and speed - they always have had. I actually think it's been the language of origin at our house. It stood out when they were wee so when they were old enough to start participating in organized sport they were often outliers. They soon became restless and even critical of teammates...and eventually recruited. Having been their first coach I participated in as much, and for as long as it worked for us, so I was available to temper their influences more than average. I safe guarded their mentorship for as long as possible giving each of their coaches copies of the 1990s Catch Them Being Good as we journied the perils of pre-LTAD youth sport. What struck me was always the amount of poaching over coaching in youth sport; it's disgusting really - but that's another story.... With both in their 20s now I can only say that we needed a pathway for elite level athletes more than we needed Competitive Sport. Running a grassroots soccer club now keeps my nose in the LTA(P)D progress of it - going on 10+ years now for LTPD. Our club runs PSO and NSO required coaching courses annually. The content extolls it's virtues but it's still not reaching enough Camp Chair Coffee Clutches. Too many are not happy until the BEAT their opponent such a word,..."beat". As I roam the fields watching my winters work roll out every team still has adults yelling at 8 year olds like they're watching a dog fight. I see well intentioned coaches give in and start up too. Likely influenced by the pressure on the facing sidelines or from other benches they slowly amp up to Joystick Coaching even when they know better and can recite the liabilities to the youth player of it. So what I offer parents who ask now is that I wish I could have just found my kids sport pathways that offered them a higher level of participant more so than a Pathway of Pressure. I ask them to put down their cups (I've been watching you; you don't need more caffeine) and participate. Give up their point of view and adopt their childs'. One of discovering boundaries of their own instead of seeking out the limitations of the opposition so they can Beat them.

New on the NSID Youth Sports Blog! 🏅 Help your kids handle wins and losses with resilience and respect. Check out our top tips for parents on fostering sportsmanship and positive growth in youth sports. Read more here! #YouthSports #NSID https://zurl.co/VYMt

🔵⚽️ IT’S MY GAME ⚽️🔵 Dublin’s Q102 and DDSL Launch Campaign to Tackle Abusive Behaviour at Kids’ Football Matches. Dublin’s Q102, in partnership with the Dublin & District Schoolboys’/Girls’ League (DDSL), proudly announces the launch of “IT’’S MY GAME” a cross-platform campaign designed to bring awareness to the issue of abusive behaviour at grassroots football matches across Dublin. In recent years, reports of abusive behaviour towards young players, referees, and coaches have surged, creating a concerning trend within the youth game. “It’s My Game” looks to tackle this by reminding adults and young people of the importance of respect and sportsmanship and of just letting the children play. The initiative seeks to create a positive, supportive environment for young athletes, coaches, referees, and spectators, fostering respect and sportsmanship on and off the field, with Dublin’s Q102 and DDSL committed to taking a proactive role in changing the culture around youth football. Q102 will support the initiative with radio ads, social media content and on-air segments aimed at bringing awareness of the issue and reminding parents, coaches and spectators of their roles in fostering a positive environment and helping to eradicate abusive behaviour in the youth game. LET KIDS BE KIDS JUST LET THEM PLAY FOOTBALL IT’S THEIR GAME

https://lnkd.in/dGQq7gcP If they love what they - they'll do what they love. Probably the most important video I've ever done. It still breaks my heart to see so many sporting systems around the world hanging on to the outdated, out of touch model where every child who picks up a tennis racket or jumps in a swimming pool or kicks a football - should be, must be, has to be on the "pathway" to being an elite athlete. We - and I include my former self - have got this so wrong. Create the sports experience where kids fall in love with sport. Why? Because if you love what you do - you will do what you love - i.e. they keep coming. The only kid who doesn't improve is the one who isn't there! and increasingly - again supported by research all over the world - organzied, competitive sport is dying. It has been dying for many years - covid merely accelerated the decline. So this is my plea: Coaches, parents / carers, sports administrators, sports leaders - PLEASE move on from the "every child must be an elite athlete" version of sport. Put it to rest. It's the 1970s model of sport. Let it go. Instead, focus your energy, your passion and your resources on creating wonderful, connected, engaging, safe sports experiences for every child, inspire them to believe in themselves and give them the opportunity to fall in love with sport. Then - the ones with talent and passion and commitment and resilience - will - if THEY choose - become high performing athletes. It's time we all shifted our mindsets, our attitudes and our focus from the performance pathway to the participation playground. #waynegoldsmith #wgcoaching #sport #sportsparticipation #juniorsport #sportscoaching #sportingsystems #sportsparenting #sportsadministation #sportsperformance #highperformancesport