EPHE 121 - Soccer

Overview

My approach to EPHE 121 focuses on developing game understanding and technical soccer ability, with the goal of helping participants identify their personal connection with the game of soccer while forming meaningful connections with their peers and community.

Adopting a competency-based curriculum and standards-based grading, this course aims to help participants identify their personal objectives in relation to soccer, set relevant challenges for themselves, and work towards achieving them.

The weekly sessions have been designed to promote learning and engagement in a collaborative and fun environment that is welcoming of all skill levels and abilities.

Course competencies

Taking a self-directed approach to learning, learners will chart a personal course for development, challenging themselves, and demonstrating a growth mindset and continuous learning
Adopting a collaborative and cooperative approach, learners will develop their teamwork ability through peer-based learning and support networks
Learning and practicing the tactical and technical elements of soccer, i.e., developing their scientific and discipline knowledge in relation to engaging with and achieving success in small-sided games

Approach to training sessions

Small-sided games

We start with 3v3 and work up to playing 5v5. In these small-sided games, the goal is to facilitate engagement for all, creating several opportunities on the ball and in relevant game situations for all skill levels.

Strategy > Tactics > Technique

We play a lot of games! Using Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU), the emphasis is on developing technical ability within the appropriate context. Each session is developed around a particular tactical element or set of tactical elements. For e.g., we start the term with understanding how to play forward when in position of the ball.

Play - Practice - Play

Sessions are designed to start with games that bring out this tactic, progressing to practicing specific techniques related to the tactic, and then implementing your learnings in a game.

Modification by Adaptation (MbA)

Sessions are progressed and modified based on the performance of the players, adjusting to accommodate different skill levels and abilities. This approach to modifying games creates a meaningfully challenging environment for all players to engage, compete, and learn.

Fall 2025 Highlights

Fall 2025 Session plans

I designed these sessions as a framework to build on in each session, adapting to the group and their development. These session plans illustrate the approach discussed above, taking a games-based approach to teaching soccer. The goal was to create inclusive, close competition between the participants, catering to the diversity of skills, understanding, abilities, and experiences in the group.

Sessions 9 and 10 (not shown here) were built on creating specific attack vs. defence scenarios, with teams deciding their own formations and tactics, in preparation for the class tournament in session 11 where we played a combination of 3v3 and 5v5 games.

Coursework

Session reflections

Look back on sessions to reflect on individual and collective goals and performance, diving deeper into technical and tactical understandings and your own learning
Emphasis is on offering honest and critical reflections that enable personal progress and development

Team profile

Teams create a resource (e.g., slides) to show their team spirit and look back on their highlights and other experiences
Team members share their individual role(s) in the team

Individual journey

Individuals create a set of slides to reflect on your overall progress in the class
Share what you've learnt and the connection with your goals and objectives
Discuss where you see soccer play a role in your life moving forward

Extension projects

Propose a project based on your interests and goals, customizing your learning and development
Focus is on adopting a community-oriented approach, i.e., aiming to benefit others through your own learning and development
Complete the project based on a negotiated scope and approach, producing a resource that is relevant to others in the community

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