Definition
The Constraints Led Approach is an approach to coaching soccer that emphasizes the importance of the environment and the manipulation of variables in the environment placed upon the athlete in shaping their performance. In the game of soccer, this approach can be applied in a variety of ways.
By manipulating the variables, coaches can create a training environment that helps players develop the skills, decision-making abilities, and physical abilities necessary to succeed in the game of soccer without giving the player implicit(direct) instruction.
Variables/Constraints
The Constraints Led Approach is a framework that emphasizes the importance of changing variables (or rules) in shaping the behaviour of players and teams during activities and games. By manipulating the variables, coaches and players can alter the game’s characteristics, forcing the participants to adapt and develop new strategies to achieve their objectives.
Below are examples of different variables that could be changed or constraints that could be placed on a soccer game/activity and what effect or outcomes they could potentially have. The goal is to place rules or change variables to encourage the actions or outcomes you want from your players.
Change The Field Size
By reducing or increasing the size of the playing field, coaches can encourage different styles of play, such as a more direct approach with long balls or a possession-based strategy.
Number Of Players
By playing with fewer or more players on the field, coaches can alter the balance of the game, create more space, or restrict the areas of the field that players can access.
Change The Goal Size
By increasing or decreasing the size of the goalposts, coaches can challenge players’ accuracy and force them to adapt their shooting techniques.
Number Of Touches
By limiting the number of touches each player can take on the ball, coaches can promote faster decision-making and encourage players to move the ball quickly.
Passing Restrictions
By restricting the type of passes that players can make (e.g., only short passes or only long passes), coaches can develop players’ technical skills and improve their decision-making abilities.
Game Objectives
By changing the objective of the game (e.g., scoring a certain number of goals, keeping possession of the ball for a certain period), coaches can promote different styles of play and force players to adapt their tactics.
Rule Modifications
By modifying the rules of the game (e.g., allowing or disallowing certain types of tackles, changing the offside rule), coaches can alter the dynamics of the game and force players to adapt their strategies.
Scoring Systems
By changing the way points are scored (e.g., giving more points for goals scored from outside the box, reducing the number of points for a win), coaches can encourage different styles of play and force players to adjust their tactics.
Benefits Of The Constraints Led Approach
Game Realism
The Constraints Led Approach creates a training environment that replicates the challenges of the game, which can enhance players’ learning and transferability of skills to the game.
Decision Making
By creating situations that require players to make decisions, Variables Based Coaching can help players develop their problem-solving skills and make them more adaptable to different game situations.
Player Engagement
The Constraints Led Approach encourages players to take ownership of their learning by creating a more player-centered and interactive learning experience.
Fun
Creating challenging and engaging training sessions can enhance players’ enjoyment of the game and promote a positive learning environment.
Creativity
The Constraints Led Approach can stimulate players’ creativity by encouraging them to explore different solutions to the challenges presented in the training sessions.
Implicit Learning vs Explicit
Implicit instruction refers to a teaching approach in which the learner is not explicitly instructed on how to perform a task or skill, but rather learns through observation, exploration, and trial and error. The focus is on creating an environment that allows the learner to naturally develop skills and knowledge without being explicitly told what to do.
Explicit instruction, on the other hand, refers to a teaching approach in which the learner is provided with clear and direct instruction on how to perform a task or skill. The focus is on providing the learner with step-by-step guidance, rules, and procedures to follow in order to achieve a desired outcome.
Implicit learning refers to the acquisition of knowledge or skills without conscious awareness of the learning process. The constraints-led approach achieves implicit learning by promoting a form of self-organized learning that emerges from the interactions between the individual, the task, and the environment.
The Constraints Led Approach achieves implicit learning by promoting self-organized exploration and adaptation in response to environmental and task constraints, leading to the development of implicit knowledge structures that guide movement and action in a flexible and adaptive manner.