Using Statistics for Youth Player Development

Using Statistics for Youth Player Development

I have read about coaches in Sweden asking parents to count how many times there kid touches the ball in training and in games.
If we think about coaching technical skills to kids aged 5 to 12 then having more touches on the ball is typically a good thing. It is very important they are learning good habits and what type of touches they have but if you told me that a 7 year old had touched the ball 2000 times with Coach A and only 40 times with Coach B, I would take a gamble on Coach A having carefully planned a modern ‘ball at their feet’ style training session. Keeping a note of touches on the ball is a good way to test if the players are getting enough ball contact and such a simple thing to do.

For players over say 12, the stats have to tell you something more. What do you want to learn from the stats and how are you going to use these stats to make the player better.

Take a Centre Midfield playing for a youth team in Scotland. I would want to know the following;
 How many headers do they win?
 How many times do they break up play? (Tackle, interception)
 How many times do they create space to receive ball? (Movement, awareness, checking away then to the ball, hook or curved run?)
 How smooth is control and first touch? (in air and on ground)
 Do they normally turn when they receive the ball or play the way their facing?
 How many times do they dribble with the ball? (And then pass or shoot? or do they get tackled?)
 How many passes do they make passes to feet (what are the speed of their passes)
 How many creative passes do they make (through balls, reverse passes etc and how successful are they?)
 How many loose passes do they make?

How do they react when team lose possession, get ballside? Goalside or press ball quickly?
How many runs do they make near or into Opposition box
are they involved in build up play that leads to a goal?
Do they assist a goal or score a goal?
How many times do they encourage teammates?
Shout for ball?

From these statistics you would get a good indication about the player’s technical ability, decision making skills, teamwork and performance. But we don’t all have access to prozone so it is easier to isolate certain techniques that may be seen as a strength or weakness and improve the player one stage at a time.

Simple Integrated Stats for Training and Games and ultimately Player Development

A, Identify one or more key aspects from above
For example, Player A won 2 headers and lost 8 (20% winning ratio)

B, Work on them in training
Work on technique of winning a header, timing, jumping or leg strength and power and then challenge player in game like situations.

C, Measure successes
how have the stats changed after 4 to 8 weeks?

Is Player A now winning more headers?