Yate Town F.C. U18’s WCFL Season Review (A Coach’s Perspective)
Reflection is a tool coach’s regularly use to aid learning, and feedback to individuals, units and the collective Team.
So reflection on a season that has been such an enjoyable one after ex-professional Shane Cook’s formative idea of creating an introduction into higher level football for talented youth footballers is a pleasant one. Turn the dial back to June 2024, where a collection of some of the area’s forthcoming season’s local U16’s were invited to a trial match, with a small number of U17’s. A subsequent initial squad were invited to two training sessions prior to a programme of preseason friendlies.
The boys were to be under the tutelage of experienced manager John Black, whose no nonsense approach is built upon wanting to play the game the right way in an environment of enjoyment. This was allied to my own philosophy of educating and guiding players to improve and become the best versions of themselves individually and collectively. Shane was very much pulling things together behind the scenes whilst our staff was complemented by the regular attendance of first team physio Stewart Thomas.
Notable attributes at the outset was the Groups ability to play, their endeavour to work hard and a will to learn. I firmly believe that this is the reason for their success across a season playing up two years for the majority, where had expectations had been set at a sensible level.
The friendly programme showed the challenge ahead in terms of athleticism and physicality in particular. The F.A. Youth model is built on a four corner structure of technical, tactical, physical, and social(psychological). Whilst the boys challenge was to play in the environment, ours was to address these four corners predominately through games as no training programme was planned in this inaugural season.
Different formations and positions were rotated as the Team took its initial shape, whilst the boys worked at creating the right balance of play, and mental toughness. Football in early games demonstrated the ability to attack with pace and stretch the opposition, whilst decision making and team shape highlighted a need for learning. The preseason programme over, a first competitive cup game saw the boys gain recognition from a number of watching scouts. This was followed by an invitation to play a game against a Manchester City U16’s XI at their fantastic training venue. The experience was an excellent one for the playing experience, but also in addition socially very important for the boys, and families as a bond was laid down for the season. The game was quickly followed by a match against a very strong Cheltenham Town U18’s, the results of both games being immaterial to the boys, given the actual learning of playing against elite players.
So the Team moved into September’s league programme, with a system of 1-3-4-1-2 that had become most suited to the ability of those available and a template for most games across the season. The months to Christmas’s mid-season break witnessed some intelligent forward thinking football, whilst decision making and unit play showed gradual improvement. Results were inconsistent on occasion but always competitive, a testament to the team’s growing maturity.
As the season took shape, concepts of positional sense and set plays were progressively introduced to the players. Manager John Black continually managed the difficult task of ensuring game time for the squad whilst attempting to retain a team balance and an ability to contest. I personally looked to keep sewing the seed in terms of learning and tactical understanding of the individual and unit play.
The new year saw the team struggle to gain their second breath in January, but once settled, February through to season end witnessed some scintillating forward play and goals, with a continual move up the league. In terms of reflection, the need to have better balance to defend whilst in possession is one of the key learning points the team will have to master in the coming season. In fairness to the squad, regular training nights will afford the time to work on this in detail and not just piecemeal during a match-night. This will be part of a schedule that will include playing out from the back, midfield rotation and the strikers roles for example.
As the season drew to a close, the boys had gelled very much into a ‘Team’, an extremely respectable points tally of 42 saw a fourth place position attained, a point adrift of third. Whilst Shane’s preseason mandate had been a ‘free season’ for the boys to familiarise themselves with the step up in ability and challenge. We had set the Team a performance based challenge each match, but a winning mentality is a fundamental of that. The squad deserves every credit for their efforts, here is not the place to name individuals but to congratulate their collective input.
So looking forward; all season breaks witness realignments, that may mean the odd player leaving for various reasons, and players coming in but the general feeling is that the squad per se will be returning when pre season training commences in July.
The league make up has yet to be ratified, but there is an anticipation of the boys hitting the ground running after the past season’s experiences. As usual JB will be setting the standards required on match day, whilst I look forward with positivity of having the time to work with the players individually and collectively on the training ground. I am certain that Shane will again be creating the best experience possible for the boys next stage in football, whilst Stu’ will look after the players needs.
Thank you for your support this season on behalf of the Management and Coaching Team, and a special pat on the back for those of you who have helped out with various duties at Home games, it is very much appreciated.
Enjoy the Presentation Evening, the summer break, and return refreshed for what will be a testing but enjoyable preseason.
Barry