Farrugia, M, Olthof, S, Roberts, SJ and Cronin, CJ (2025) Making the Best Use of Time: Analysis of Practice Structure in Maltese Football Coaching. MCAST Journal of Applied Research & Practice, 8 (3). pp. 61-75. ISSN 2523-0433

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Abstract

Practice design is an important part of the coach’s role and can influence player development. Yet, we have little analysis of how football sessions in Malta are structured and what types of activities take place within sessions. Sport coaches in Malta are therefore confronted with a gap in the literature that may limit their ability to design effective, efficient, and evidence-based coaching sessions. To address this gap, football sessions from the Maltese talent development pathway (n = 20) were analysed during the period of January 2023 to April 2023. The analysis recorded the proportion of time players spent in drill-based activities (non-active decision making, e.g., unopposed technical or tactical skills practices, fitness training), game-based activities (active decision-making, e.g., small- sided games, skills practice with opposition), and transition periods (moving between exercise, coaches’ intervention, and water breaks). The results demonstrated that, on average, players spent more time in transitions than game-based or drill-based activities. Transition activities are also significantly more frequent than game-based and drill-based activities. Suggestions for reducing transition periods and increasing time spent on games- based activities are provided to support football coaches in Malta and beyond with their practice design.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV561 Sports > GV711 Coaching G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV561 Sports
Divisions:	Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	MCAST Applied Research & Innovation Centre Colleges' Administration Wing
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	27 Feb 2025 15:48
Last Modified:	27 Feb 2025 16:00
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/25744

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