“The fact is that kids learn to make decisions by making decisions, not by following directions”
- Alfie Kohn
- Alfie Kohn
AARON TRAVERS
Having spent my life as a student of the Beautiful Game and having gained some fantastic experiences playing and coaching, I have taken on the challenge of writing my own articles! I will draw upon my experiences, and express my own opinions and views regarding the role and responsibilities of being an evolving Football Coach.
Personally, I have coached a range of ages from 5 years old to Senior players. The two main clubs where I have coached in Jersey are St.Pauls FC and Grouville FC, also before moving to Australia in 2009, I was part of the coaching team for the Senior Jersey Ladies Representative Squad.
My coaching pathway began at the age of 17 years old, and my first coaching badge was the Junior Team Managers Award in 1999. Things have changed in game massively since then, and I am totally committed to improving the level of football participation and quality in Jersey, not only on the playing front, but also to introduce a new wave of young coaches to the game.
My Coaching Journey - Key Events
1993 - Joined St.Pauls FC at 13 years old player
1995 - Played in Northern Ireland U16 Milk Cup with St.Pauls FC
1997 - Aged 17 became Assistant Coach to Micky Porter with St.Pauls U14s
1999 - Completed Junior Team Manager Coaching Course
2000 - Winners Cory Cup - St Pauls U14s
2002 - Runners Up Brian Becket Cup - St Pauls U14s
2004 - Complete Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Football with Jim Kelman and Brian Oliver
- Winners Brian Beckett Cup - St Pauls U14s (first time in club history)
2005 - Appointed Head Coach St Pauls U16s
- Winners Eric Amy Cup - St Pauls U16s
- Division 1 Champions - St Pauls 14s
- Runners Up Brian Beckett Cup - St.Pauls U14s
- Offered Contract by UK Elite for summer coaching in USA
2006 - Coach Oakleigh Cannons FC U16, Melbourne Australia
- Launched ID Elite/Grouville Academy
2007 - Winners Brian Beckett Cup - St Pauls U14s
- Left St Pauls FC
- Appointed Assistant Manager of Jersey Ladies Representative Squad
2009 - Coach Hampton Park FC U11, Melbourne, Australia
2010 - Completed FA Youth Module 1&2 with Richard Horner and Paul Holder
2011 - Winners Cory Cup - Grouville FC U14
- Winners Division 2 - Grouville FC U14
- Recruited to join the Jersey FA Centre of Excellence coaching programme
2012 - Division 1 Champions - Grouville FC U14
- Refresher course of the new FA Level 2 coaching course
2013 - Jeff Carter Division 1 Champions - Grouville FC U15 (first ever winners)
- Winners David Melton Cup - Grouville FC U15 (first ever winners)
- Completed the FA Youth Award licence & assessment
2014 - Launched Game Sense Soccer Coaching (9 children)
2015 - Formed GS United Football Club in January
2016 - Expanded GS United Minis Section (over 50 children participating)
2017 - Expanded GS United to U11
2018 - Expanded GS United to U12s
2019 - Expanding GS United to U13s
- Launching ‘Game Sense Girls’ development program School Years 2&3
2020 - Expanding GS United to U14s
- Expanding Game Sense Girls to School Years 1,2,3&4
- Total 120 children participating in GS United development program
Coaching Credentials
Uefa B Licence - Current study
English Football Association Level 2 Coach
FA Youth Award Module 1 - Developing the Environment
FA Youth Award Module 2 - Developing the Practice
FA Youth Award Module 3 - Developing the Player (Assessment Passed - The FA Youth License)
FA Mentor
FA Safeguarding Children Workshop
FA Basic Emergency Aid
FA Club Welfare Officer
Level 7 Qualified Referee
Jersey FA Workforce Award Winner 2011
Having spent my life as a student of the Beautiful Game and having gained some fantastic experiences playing and coaching, I have taken on the challenge of writing my own articles! I will draw upon my experiences, and express my own opinions and views regarding the role and responsibilities of being an evolving Football Coach.
Personally, I have coached a range of ages from 5 years old to Senior players. The two main clubs where I have coached in Jersey are St.Pauls FC and Grouville FC, also before moving to Australia in 2009, I was part of the coaching team for the Senior Jersey Ladies Representative Squad.
My coaching pathway began at the age of 17 years old, and my first coaching badge was the Junior Team Managers Award in 1999. Things have changed in game massively since then, and I am totally committed to improving the level of football participation and quality in Jersey, not only on the playing front, but also to introduce a new wave of young coaches to the game.
My Coaching Journey - Key Events
1993 - Joined St.Pauls FC at 13 years old player
1995 - Played in Northern Ireland U16 Milk Cup with St.Pauls FC
1997 - Aged 17 became Assistant Coach to Micky Porter with St.Pauls U14s
1999 - Completed Junior Team Manager Coaching Course
2000 - Winners Cory Cup - St Pauls U14s
2002 - Runners Up Brian Becket Cup - St Pauls U14s
2004 - Complete Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Football with Jim Kelman and Brian Oliver
- Winners Brian Beckett Cup - St Pauls U14s (first time in club history)
2005 - Appointed Head Coach St Pauls U16s
- Winners Eric Amy Cup - St Pauls U16s
- Division 1 Champions - St Pauls 14s
- Runners Up Brian Beckett Cup - St.Pauls U14s
- Offered Contract by UK Elite for summer coaching in USA
2006 - Coach Oakleigh Cannons FC U16, Melbourne Australia
- Launched ID Elite/Grouville Academy
2007 - Winners Brian Beckett Cup - St Pauls U14s
- Left St Pauls FC
- Appointed Assistant Manager of Jersey Ladies Representative Squad
2009 - Coach Hampton Park FC U11, Melbourne, Australia
2010 - Completed FA Youth Module 1&2 with Richard Horner and Paul Holder
2011 - Winners Cory Cup - Grouville FC U14
- Winners Division 2 - Grouville FC U14
- Recruited to join the Jersey FA Centre of Excellence coaching programme
2012 - Division 1 Champions - Grouville FC U14
- Refresher course of the new FA Level 2 coaching course
2013 - Jeff Carter Division 1 Champions - Grouville FC U15 (first ever winners)
- Winners David Melton Cup - Grouville FC U15 (first ever winners)
- Completed the FA Youth Award licence & assessment
2014 - Launched Game Sense Soccer Coaching (9 children)
2015 - Formed GS United Football Club in January
2016 - Expanded GS United Minis Section (over 50 children participating)
2017 - Expanded GS United to U11
2018 - Expanded GS United to U12s
2019 - Expanding GS United to U13s
- Launching ‘Game Sense Girls’ development program School Years 2&3
2020 - Expanding GS United to U14s
- Expanding Game Sense Girls to School Years 1,2,3&4
- Total 120 children participating in GS United development program
Coaching Credentials
Uefa B Licence - Current study
English Football Association Level 2 Coach
FA Youth Award Module 1 - Developing the Environment
FA Youth Award Module 2 - Developing the Practice
FA Youth Award Module 3 - Developing the Player (Assessment Passed - The FA Youth License)
FA Mentor
FA Safeguarding Children Workshop
FA Basic Emergency Aid
FA Club Welfare Officer
Level 7 Qualified Referee
Jersey FA Workforce Award Winner 2011
What inspired me to start coaching?
I got involved in coaching from a young age through my passion for the game and wanting to learn more about it. I loved talked football with my coach and understanding tactics and different positions from the age of 14.
The older I got, the more I learnt and the more I realised that my real passion is about child development. Helping young people learn something new, succeed in a new tasks, a new skill, to recognise a problem and overcome it.
Guiding young people achieve something they never thought they could, to support them grow in confidence, increase their self-esteem and believe in themselves is an absolute privilege and it keeps me coming back for more.
I got involved in coaching from a young age through my passion for the game and wanting to learn more about it. I loved talked football with my coach and understanding tactics and different positions from the age of 14.
The older I got, the more I learnt and the more I realised that my real passion is about child development. Helping young people learn something new, succeed in a new tasks, a new skill, to recognise a problem and overcome it.
Guiding young people achieve something they never thought they could, to support them grow in confidence, increase their self-esteem and believe in themselves is an absolute privilege and it keeps me coming back for more.
How has my Coaching changed?
Before:
Before:
- Win at all costs
- Best team starts the game
- Substitutes only play at certain times
- Laps as punishment for being late
- Ignoring the substitutes
- Over emotional on the side line
- Planning sessions focusing on sole success of one team
- Lack of understanding about players
- Playing the same way 4-4-2
- High ratio of technical content to sessions
- I only talk during team talks (and probably too much and too long!)
- Stop – Stand Still – Lots of Demo’s
- Terminology and focus on performance and competing (experience proves if this works the victories usually follow)
- Mixed ability team to start games – ideally more balanced all round rather than a strong team and a weak team (managing substitutes)
- 50% minimum playing time for all players (tailored as appropriate to individuals)
- Challenges, tasks and discussions with substitutes during play (they may give feedback at half time)
- Small 2vs2 game for substitutes to play whilst game is in progress
- High level of emotional intelligence on the side lines during ‘big moments’ in the game
- Ensure there are successful outcomes for all players during practice sessions. (i.e if defenders work hard to the win the ball they get to do something with it rather than stop the play and re-start with attackers again)
- Get to know the kids more through pre-season questionnaires, talking about other things other than football, knowing their parents and families
- Pre-Season Parent Meetings
- Educating players in different system and tactics – Team Challenges, Positional challenges, Individual player challenges
- More game based practice sessions
- Utilise the 5 coaching interventions better, however have steered away from Stop, Stand Still Demo’s (probably too much and need to bring this back in balance)
My Core Values
To encourage a life long love of sport!
By being a positive role model by meeting with parents and children on arrival; introducing them to coaching staff; building relationships by communicating with parents what GS United is about and who we are; allowing parents to observe sessions; ensuring children and their parents feel safe and secure in a positive, fun and engaging learning environment. Modelling good behaviour
Child development first, football second.
By focusing on the individual person and supporting their learning of life skills through football (holistic approach) by using the FA Four Corners model and having a philosophy built around development.
Respect.
Ensuring coaches follow our ‘Best Practice Policy’. By developing positive relationships through effective communication gaining trust and understanding. Shake hands policy for all players and coaches, ensuring coaches meet and greet every player on arrival getting to know the player by talking about other things in life aside from football. ‘
Continuous education.
By gathering more knowledge to help educate all involved. Having a professional approach and dedication to learning, striving to be better always. Growth mind set. By attending CDP events, Webinars and being a member of FALCC I cascade information to parents and players through writing articles and passing on information from the FA through Social Media and email.
Hard work.
By being prepared. By planning, organising, delivering and reviewing with players, parents and coaches to ensure all are included. Self reflection. Encouraging the same in others. By responding quickly and appropriately to any queries; Plan, Do, Review practice sessions with coaches and players giving feedback. By working to improve on all aspects of coaching.
Integrity.
By having the moral and ethical conviction to do the right thing. Setting an example. By ensuring all registered players’ parents complete Codes of Conducts and challenging inappropriate behaviour swiftly and effectively.
To encourage a life long love of sport!
By being a positive role model by meeting with parents and children on arrival; introducing them to coaching staff; building relationships by communicating with parents what GS United is about and who we are; allowing parents to observe sessions; ensuring children and their parents feel safe and secure in a positive, fun and engaging learning environment. Modelling good behaviour
Child development first, football second.
By focusing on the individual person and supporting their learning of life skills through football (holistic approach) by using the FA Four Corners model and having a philosophy built around development.
Respect.
Ensuring coaches follow our ‘Best Practice Policy’. By developing positive relationships through effective communication gaining trust and understanding. Shake hands policy for all players and coaches, ensuring coaches meet and greet every player on arrival getting to know the player by talking about other things in life aside from football. ‘
Continuous education.
By gathering more knowledge to help educate all involved. Having a professional approach and dedication to learning, striving to be better always. Growth mind set. By attending CDP events, Webinars and being a member of FALCC I cascade information to parents and players through writing articles and passing on information from the FA through Social Media and email.
Hard work.
By being prepared. By planning, organising, delivering and reviewing with players, parents and coaches to ensure all are included. Self reflection. Encouraging the same in others. By responding quickly and appropriately to any queries; Plan, Do, Review practice sessions with coaches and players giving feedback. By working to improve on all aspects of coaching.
Integrity.
By having the moral and ethical conviction to do the right thing. Setting an example. By ensuring all registered players’ parents complete Codes of Conducts and challenging inappropriate behaviour swiftly and effectively.