Understanding REAL Tactical Periodisation with David Tenney
Aug 26, 2024
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David Tenney, High Performance Director at Austin FC and a graduate of the Official School of Tactical Periodisation, shares valuable insights into coaching. He distinguishes tactical periodisation from periodizing tactics, emphasizing personalized training. The conversation explores the mental load athletes face, the importance of cognitive challenges in decision-making, and balancing physical and emotional demands. Additionally, Tenney discusses how understanding cultural coaching differences can enhance training methodologies and player development.
Understanding tactical periodisation requires coaches to adopt a flexible and adaptive training approach rather than a rigid, linear schedule.
Emotional intelligence plays a critical role in coaching, enabling better engagement and performance by addressing players' emotional states during training.
Encouraging curiosity and problem-solving in training enhances player intelligence and decision-making, preparing them for unpredictable match scenarios.
Deep dives
Understanding Tactical Periodization
Tactical periodization is critical for modern coaching, emphasizing the difference between general training and a true understanding of the game's complexity. Many coaches approach tactical prioritization with a linear mindset, imagining a strict schedule where different training focuses are categorized by day, but this limits the depth of their methods. The true essence of tactical periodization lies in understanding players as complex systems that require a more fluid and adaptive approach to training schedules and their footballing education. Through this lens, coaches can develop bespoke training regimens that cater to the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social aspects of their players.
The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Coaching
Emotional intelligence has emerged as a key factor in effective coaching, underscoring the importance of understanding the emotional state of players during training. Coaches should be attuned to the emotional highs and lows of their team, which can affect overall performance and engagement in training sessions. For instance, recognizing when players are mentally fatigued or facing emotional overload can help in designing more effective training routines. As demonstrated by successful coaches like Zidane, the ability to gauge the emotional atmosphere within the team can lead to greater performance on the field.
Non-linearity of Player Development
Player development in football is inherently non-linear, where the time taken for a concept to stick can vary greatly among individuals. Coaching sessions may yield outcomes not immediately visible during the next match but could manifest weeks later based on players' understanding and application of prior lessons. This realization demands patience from coaches as they work through complex systems of learning, which might challenge traditional beliefs about how training should align with match performance. Instead, foundational concepts may take time to integrate and require adaptive coaching strategies that foster long-term growth.
Tactical Periodization as a Flexible Framework
Tactical periodization does not prescribe a rigid game model; rather, it serves as a methodological framework that allows flexibility in coaching styles. Different teams can adopt tactical periodization methodologies while implementing varying game models—whether focused on aggressive pressing or solid defensive structures. The versatility of this approach lies in the understanding that successful outcomes depend on a coach's ability to adapt their training to the needs of the players and situational demands. Thus, practical application can vary widely, yet still remain rooted in the core principles of tactical periodization.
Curiosity and Problem Solving in Training
Encouraging curiosity and problem-solving in training is vital for developing player intelligence and decision-making skills on the pitch. Coaches should facilitate an environment that fosters curiosity by presenting players with varying challenges and conceptual problems to solve during training. This approach not only keeps players engaged but also prepares them for the unpredictable nature of matches, where quick thinking is essential. Ultimately, nurturing a sense of curiosity enables players to hone their problem-solving abilities, emulating the best in the game who are instinctive and innovative in their play.
Gary is joined by David Tenney, High Performance Director at Austin FC (MLS), former Master’s Student and Certified Graduate of the Official School of Tactical Periodisation.
David discusses the following:
- Tactical periodisation versus periodizing tactics
- Linear thinking and coaching
- Understanding mental load
- Designing exercises to create focus and awareness
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