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Grassroots Coaches

How to Plan a Complete Session Using Whole-Part-Whole

Use this template to plan every session. It removes the guesswork.

The Coaching Blueprint·1 min read·

Session planning is simple when you follow the Whole-Part-Whole template.

The Template

  1. Choose your Club Language outcome (one phrase, one concept)
  2. Design the opening game (15 min, tests whether players can already do it)
  3. Observe the baseline (note where they struggle)
  4. Design the Focused Practice (20 min, easy version)
  5. Plan your STEPs (space, task, equipment, people changes)
  6. Design the closing game (15 min, same as opening)
  7. Plan your drive-bys (1-3 phrases, max)

Real Example

Outcome: Find the free player

Opening game: 4v3 rondo, 25x25, 10 minutes

Observation: Players force the ball into traffic instead of scanning

Focused Practice Block 1: 4v2 (easier overload), 25x25, 10 minutes, condition: 'look before you receive'

STEP: Reduce overload to 4v3, keep condition

Focused Practice Block 2: 4v3, same condition, 10 minutes

Closing game: 4v3, 25x25, 10 minutes (same as opening)

That is a complete session. Total planning time: 10 minutes.

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