Philosophy

We want our players to develop a well-rounded football education, ensuring that as they get older and as the game changes, they are equipped to deal with a wide range of situations and problems, which the game of football may present.

As such, we will not pigeonhole our players into positions at an early age and we do not expect our teams to stick with rigid formations. We want all of our players to experience all of the game. We play to enjoy the game, and to develop the future players whether that be at local, non-league, semi-professional, or professional. Developing a young player into an adult player who a manager or coach wants to work with because of the work ethic and values that the player holds, is quite rightly viewed as success at Westfields FC.

Our philosophy reflects adaptability, with athletic, creative, technically good, aggressive and energetic players who play with high intensity. We employ an adaptable approach based on those effective basic skills, good team balance and flexibility to play with creativity and imagination.

Our Academy Coaches are tasked with providing the players with opportunities to experience the different playing systems such as 4-2-1-3, 3-4-3, 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 5-2-3-1. Within our min-soccer teams the Academy Coaches will play a diamond formation from the 5-a-side (1-2-1), and the 7-a-side (2-3-1). That will be the preferred system but, as stated previously, we will allow for variation in order to allow for the flexibility in our play, and the learning and development of our players.

We expect our coaches to create a positive learning environment. Their job is to encourage the players and team to buy into the Club’s objectives and this means putting the player’s needs before our own.

Our coaching philosophy is built around this firm commitment. It provides direction, purpose and guidance to the process of coaching young players. Community Coaches at Westfields Football Club will not be judged by the results in any league the team might be in. Instead, they will be judged by the children they teach and whether those children enjoy and develop in the sessions the coaches facilitate.

We have high expectations of all our coaches at the club, and we have minimum standards that each coach must meet. To ensure our high expectations are met by the junior coaches at the club, we must provide a supportive environment for our coaches to flourish.

Having quality coaches, will only benefit the child on the pitch. The minimum coaching standards for which we expect all coaches to adhere to are:

• Minimum Level 1 FA Coaching Badge (funded by the club)
• FA First Aid
• FA Safeguarding Qualified
• Proactive in developing their technical knowledge, their general knowledge on what constitutes an effective coaching session, and just as important, their knowledge on how to support and develop the personal, social, and emotional development of the players under their care.

The Club will do all it can to support and develop the coaches at the club. We have one aim, to be the most effective and progressive Junior Section within any club in Herefordshire. Coaches supporting one another, working together for the benefit of their players, will allow us to do this.

When considering what constitutes a productive session for the player, we see the following as a starting point (although this is not an exhaustive list):

• Thoroughly planned and thought out.
• Where activities flow throughout the session and the coach is not spending too much time putting cones out and moving goals.
• Where the session has purpose, that the players know what is expected of them during the session, and what the focus of that session may be.
• Being adaptable to the ongoing session, responding to the players ability to acquire the skills and techniques set out at the start.
• Planning a session which is appropriate to the ability levels of the players.
• Not talking too much. An effective coach is one that does not commentate on the small-sided game. An effective coach is one that stops the session to make a valid point for which all the players will benefit from, or where the coach speaks to individual players to highlight a success or an area of development.
• An effective coach is one that uses tactics boards and resources effectively, making sure that all players can see what is being said, and that all players understand (to a degree) what is being asked of them.
• Using phrases like ‘do you all understand?’, is not advisable, as young players will not speak up if they do not understand. Asking players open questions such as ‘how will that technique/movement/support have a positive impact on your individual game and your contribution to the team’. This will get the player thinking, and will cause the others to do so, as they may feel they will get asked the next time.
• An effective coach is one that communicates well with the parents.

We must be in a position to cause our parents to advertise their child’s Westfields coach to other parents. A young player looking for a club should want to join Westfields. Coaches are role models to the players but also to the parents. A loud and ranting coach is not one we advertise, or want at the club, an aggressive coach is not welcome at the club either. Such coaches demonstrate values not supported at the club, and should not be involved in junior football. There are more effective ways in getting a point across to a child or a team, other than shouting in a frustrated manner.