a) Training in Bad Weather

Drills and games that see players to wait in line or stand for any significant period should be avoided at any time, but this is especially true when conditions are cold, wet or both.

 

Instead of “boring” drills give every player a ball and challenge them to perform a skill correctly several times in a short time period. This can also be adapted so that there is a ball between two for passing and/or finishing skills.

 

Play small-sided games where every player is involved at all times, this could mean setting up a number of simultaneous 2v2 or 4v4 games

BUT……….. Don’t be afraid to scrap a game that isn’t working and don’t be too precious about getting through your scheduled topic.
 

One of the things that really good coaches have is to know how your players are feeling about a particular exercise and in wet or cold weather you should be especially aware of player’s looking distracted (or just bored!).At this time trust your own judgment, rather than stick to a pre-determined session!!
 

If you plan ahead, you will be aware that the weather might be bad at your training session, so, mentally prepare a back-up game that you know your players understand and enjoy.

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Good coaches want players to develop and enjoy themselves in every coaching session; but it is far better to send players home having had fun without learning anything, than the other way around.
 

Turn the situation around by making the conditions a positive.

One of the best sessions I have ever coached was on a pitch so heavily waterlogged that the ball wouldn’t roll more than a couple of metres.

So, we played eight 1v1 games on a pitch with six pod goals around the perimeter. Our players were forced to twist, turn and shield the ball continuously and then accelerate a few yards at a time when they could.

1v1 is a game lots of players love, but make sure, where possible, you match abilities of the two players involved!

This way, the game keeps the energy level incredibly high and every player develops skills that come in handy in any match.

 

b) Playing Matches in Bad Weather

Much as, as coaches, we would love it, it isn’t always possible to pass the ball on the ground and/or play “pretty football”.

When the pitch is very wet the ball will not reach its target, and when it is very cold (because the pitch is often hard/frozen) the roll won’t be true and the ball will bobble all over the pitch.

As a result, is always worth highlighting the conditions to your players before the game and prepare them to make allowances for the conditions.

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Ask your players to take more shots on goal (especially if the wind is “end to end” and in your favour, but insist on accuracy as the conditions will assist the shot taker, rather than “smashing the cover off the ball” and losing accuracy!)

A FACT IS THAT A SHOT, HOWEVER TAME, THAT IS ON TARGET MAY SCORE, BUT A POWERFUL EFFORT, WITH REAL VENOM, THAT IS OFF TARGET WILL NEVER SCORE, HOWEVER IMPRESSIVE IT LOOKS!!!!!

and also look to play the ball behind the defence more often than normal.
 

Players (especially defenders, running backward) are prone to slipping and misjudging bounces, so balls behind the defence can exploit these mistakes – a defender facing his own goal on a wet pitch is in a (literally) sticky situation as passing back to the goalkeeper (especially on grassroots pitches!) is a very risky way of defending.
 

However, when out of possession, tell your players to drop a little deeper when defending and, if the ground is “unhelpful” to controlled football, ask your midfielders to pressure the opposition ball-carrier more intensely than normal.

But don’t “DIVE IN” unless absolutely sure of wining the ball as this will make a referees life easier and freekicks will be conceded to relieve the pressure on your opponents.
 

The ball will tend to stick to the surface, so the ball-carrier’s passing options are reduced at the same time, as running with the ball is much more difficult.
 

In bad weather, coaching from the side-lines is also slightly different.

Players will make ‘mistakes’, and errors of judgement; so, as a coach, don’t draw attention to them (Good players KNOW!).

If you notice that some players are repeatedly misjudging balls or playing poor passes, mention (at half-time, in the solitude of the changing room) that opponents are misjudging balls and playing bad passes.

 

Your players will recognise the same aspects in their own play and will probably make different decisions in the second half, but they will not perceive your comments as criticism and this will not then damage their confidence.
 

Instructions during the game are often “drowned out” by rain and carried off by the wind (especially with players a fair distance away) so they need to be directly addressing the players(s) that you are speaking to.

And all instructions need to be individual, very short and very simple.

 

Before shouting, try to think about exactly what the purpose of your instruction is, and what is the most basic way you can communicate this, whilst being specific.

If you cannot give a very specific instruction to an individual, then save it until half-time, or after the game.
 

There you go - coaching, and playing, in "bad weather"!!!