Soccer Coaching Tips (SCT)

[TonyMcFadden]

Well I won't be coaching the club team this year. My son has been selected for a local repesentative team. He's pretty stoked. I'll try and keep my hand in helping out, if they'll let me...

The team was (allegedly) only looking for two players this year, keeping most of the team from last year, so getting selected was very good. Of course he's got pace, is strong on the ball and has a fantastic left foot.

[TonyMcFadden]

I have the distinct pleasure of having a great group of 12 and 13 year olds to coach. In six games we are undefeated (5 wins and one draw) and only 2 goals against over those 6 games.

I'd like to take credit, but it's the 11 on the pitch every week producing those results. They play a very pleasing to the eye game of football. Lots of short passing into space plenty of pace, and a back four that acts like a single brick wall (last weekend's game the keeper touched the ball twice, and once was for a goal kick).

I wonder how long we can keep the clean sheet streak going. They haven't let a goal past the line in three and a half games now.

In almost all cases training involves small-sided games to reinforce a skill or technique so no player is standing around bored (or getting cold in our rapidly approaching Austrlia winter). An added benefit is that if I can keep them running for the full 90 minutes of training (excluding drink breaks), a 60 minute game should be a piece of cake.

[extelecom]

I don't see it happening. I know it would be rewarding, but not my cup of tea really. I prefer to support the other coaches as much as I can through our club. There is much more our local club could be doing than what we are.

[TonyMcFadden]

You should try it. Coaching, especially the younger ages (up to 10's) is very rewarding.

Of course, I've always wanted to be a teacher.

As long as the fun aspect of the game is stressed over the 'win at all costs' that some parents seem to push, you'll do fine.

[extelecom]

eamonshute, Sounds similar to what we do, but I do not think many attend the upper classes and the club doesn't pay for it.
The only course our local club offers id the "G" clinic.
Since my entire history of soccer is only a total of 4 years I currently have no desire to coach.
Nice picture, I hope you have a good New Year as well!

[TonyMcFadden]

To coach all you rally need is the grassroots program, half a day.

I took it upon myself to do the next two levels. And I'll do the Senior certificate next offseason (November). Fortunately the club will reimburse the fees (if you choose to take advantage of that). At about $200 - $250 per, it's nice to have that option.

Happy New Year, and best of luck in your soccer endeavours in 2008.

[extelecom]

Eamonshute, Wow you guys certainly have a much more involved certification process than our Recreational Soccer has. All we require for someone to be a Coach is to take a 1/2 day class which requires no testing... In fact if a new coach didn't take the class I doubt he would be prohibited from coaching. In my opinion our local club does not do enough to support our coaches. They are pretty much on their own.

[TonyMcFadden]

Well, thus Sunday is the last Sunday of the 4 Sunday Youth Coaching certificate...wish me luck. If I want to go for the Senior certificate in the future (and I will), I need to get an advance pass in this one.

My 'test' will be to set up a small sided game to teach "controlling and moving the ball". Should be fun. My son came along last Sunday and had a ball (in a manner of speaking). There'll be at least 10 kids there this Sunday. So, instead of a bunch of other coaches as test subjects -- who, by the way, know what I'm trying to achieve and will try to help -- I'll have a bunch of kids that will have absolutely no idea what I'm trying to achieve. Should be an honest test.

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I was chatting with another dad while we were watching our sons at their weekly academy training session and we got talking about a particular set of parents (both husband and wife shared the same traits).

They are what I would have considered bullies when I was in grade school. The dad was my team manager last year (for what it's worth -- I did most of the management, in addition to the coaching). But what he really wanted to do was coach. (The club didn't agree). His coaching style, and their game day sideline demeanor, shouldn't be tolerated by anyone. Their targets include the players (both teams), opposing coaches and officials.

A far as I'm concerned, the basic idea when coaching (kids or adults) is to help develop their game and that includes attitude as well as skill. If you're yelling at the kids you're pushing the game in the wrong direction for them. Correct mistakes (that's why you're there), be firm with horsing around, but negative comments have no place in training.

Fortunately, the negative couple are no longer on the club committee. Unfortunately, they haven't been banned from showing up at games. I'll still have to deal with them (their son is on my team and is probably the best right back in his age group that I've seen -- and remarkably balanced despite his parents.

[TonyMcFadden]

I've coached informally (and without qualification, if truth be told) soccer for about 5 years. Last year I took the Grassroot and Junior certificate courses from Football NSW and became a "real" coach.



While my son went through the different soccer schools and academies I'd sit on the sidelines, notebook in hand, and poach all the good drills they had.

Turns out it was, for the most part, a waste of time.

I'm half way though the training for the Youth Football Certificate (2 of the 4 Sunday's down, two to go) and the focus, now, is a flip from what was taught in the past.

Before:
o teach the technique
o go through drill to reinforce the technique
o game play to practice the technique.

Seems like a great idea, but (and I know this from personal experience) drills are boring, kids have sort attention spans and the only fun they have is at the end of the session when the small sided game kicks in. By then, they're not interested in listening to what you are saying, and in reality, it's the application of the techniques in the game that really counts.

So, what is recommended now:
o start with small sided game play
o modify to reinforce a technique to score (i.e., if you want to work on crosses, stipulate that goals can only be scored off a cross.
o stop the play if the technique that you're coaching is going astray (and it will be). For example, if the crosses aren't getting loft, or goinging wide, or if the player doing the cross is stopping the play to set up the cross (an opportunity you would never get in a game), stop it, demonstrate how it's supposed to work, let them go through it slowly a couple of times without the time pressures of game play, then continue the game.

The 'drills' end up being an integral part of the game. And if you think about it, there's a huge gap in a kids mind between the drills you dthemo in a grid, and how to set up in game play. Reversing the order keeps the fun from the beginning and lets you set up development within the games.

I'll add some ideas through the weeks ahead -- if anyone else has any ideas, feel free to share them.

[excel]

Great! I'll contact Matt. Thanks! Soccer is fantastic game and love to see this board renewed with posts here.

[TonyMcFadden]

I'm in the middle of my next level coaching certificate course. Would love to take moderator status from you...

Cheers,

[excel]

I no longer coach soccer. If anyone would like to be mod and get this board going again that be great. Love the game and I'd like to see one of you continue the board.

[extelecom]

Yes, some of the U12 boys we have are pretty big and aggressive.
Good luck on the final. One of my good friends boy has made a U-12 select team (next notch up from recreational soccer). They have a kid on the team that is 5'11" and looks like a running back. So far I have only seen them play on small sided 4v4 games and he isn't quick enough on such a small field. I can't wait to see him on a regular field, they say nobody can keep up with him. He has some good moves. Their team got to walk on the field with the FC Dallas a week or so ago. It was supposed to be the Beckham game, but he was a no show. Didn't seem to bother the kids much. I think the team is getting to play at tonights half time game at FC Dallas.
I could have gone, but it is too hot and I have been feeling a little puny. This is my first exposure to a "select" youth soccer team it will be interesting to see how this goes. They have already given the kids a list of when they can take vacation and have been told what to drink. I think the discipline will help my friends son a lot. I have already noticed his play has improved just with him practiciong with them and playing with them in 4v4 a little.

[TonyMcFadden]

Well, we are in the Grand Final next weekend, but under the least desirable circumstances.

At the end of the regular season, the top four teams in the table compete in a round robin, and the top two from the round robin go on to the Grand final.

We ended up in third in the regular season (only lost three games, but drew 4 -- three of which we should have won.

Too many rain days through the season, so instead of a three game round robin we ended up with 2 games.

1st weekend, 1st played 4th and 2nd played 3rd.

We won our game and the team in 1st won their game, both 2 - 1.

So we go into the second leg of the RR this weekend, my team playing 1st place team and 2nd playing 4th. We've beat the 1st place team both other times we played them -- both games were very challenging, but we won.

They scored in the first 2 minutes (defensive lapse on our side, but we've come from behind against them before, so no drama). On our next attack their goalie kicked my top striker so hard in the right shin that the shin guard split in half, breaking his leg. This is an U12 competition, remember.

By the time the ambulance had finished with him (a clean break -- he'll be in plaster for a couple of months but will be able to play next year -- if he wants to) there was only 5 or so minutes left in the allotted time for the game (there were other RR games from other age/divisions that needed to be played on the same pitch).

We ended up losing 1 - 0, after playing, at most, 8 minutes of soccer. Fortunately for us (or I'd be really really pissed) the other game in our division ended up a draw. We'll meet the same team next weekend in the Grand Final...and it's going to be a hell of a game.

[extelecom]

That's great, seems to be a big issue in my area. Many kids come from bad/broken families. Having never actually coached a team I can't help you with a solution. I have only been involved with Soccer about 3.5 yrs. and it is very doubtful I will ever coach a team.

[TonyMcFadden]

I've been fortunate in that I have full attendance at training. A good bunch of kids, on the whole.

[extelecom]

Got it... We face the same dilemma with our coach's. Sometimes the Coach's get a little too competitive and tend to bend the rules a bit much. Of course we also have the problem of kids who fail to show up to practice enough, yet there parents still think they should get to play.

[TonyMcFadden]

Oh, all play...it's just a matter of how much they play -- and when.

[extelecom]

Eamonshute, Is this recreational or competitive soccer? Our recreational soccer mandates all kids on a roster must play, unless disciplined for some reason.

[TonyMcFadden]

I'm coacing my son's team -- top grade under 12's -- and there's a problem I've had to deal with from the first game...

Playing time.

All of the kids are good players (in their respective positions. A few are great utility players, but for the most part the backs are backs and the forwards are forwards, and never the twain shall meet). I've got 2 reserves (a squad of 13). The goalie, barring injury (knock wood) is a permanent position. He is good at it, loves it, and is better in goal than anyone else on the team.

So that leaves me 12 players to fill 10 spots. the parents seem to be evenly split -- 1/2 want a win, even if some players don't touch the pitch and the other 1/2 want an equal distribution of time on the grass.

Balancing these two as a coach is probably the most difficult aspect of my role.

Any suggestions?

[TonyMcFadden]

I'm going to start posting stuff here again. I'm coaching my son's top grade U12 team -- fantastic fun. The tactics on the game day are like a game of chess (with 11 pieces each)

[ergo sum]

That sounds a lot closer to the way things are done here. I am somewhat familiar with the Coerver program as my son’s high school coach is involved with it here.

Here basically you have recreational soccer that is coached by parents. Around U10 you can try out for competitive soccer. Competitive soccer is divided up into divisions with Elite being the highest. The top teams in each age group play in the premier group. For 16.17 and 18 teams there is also Elite I and II. Those are the top 16 teams in the state.

Beyond that is the ODP (Olympic development) These are teams that are chosen by state and region to go to camps and compete with other states. From that group a regional team is formed. There regional teams then go on to national camp where they compete against each other. From that group a national team is chosen.

There is also a high school in Bradenton Florida where the U15 etc national team kids train.

Thankfully I am done with all that now. My son is in college now. Playing on a lower Division one team. He is a freshman this year and plays about half each game usually as an outside back or sometimes as a midfield stopper.

[TonyMcFadden]

Well, been here a bit longer and have a bit of a better understanding.

Club soccer (big push to call it football now) is the recreational soccer, split up regionally, and by age and division (division 1 being the aces, division 6 needing a lot of help)

There is also representative football (rep squads). These are the teams that develop kids to get up to professional status. Serious shit.

There is also a development program put on by Soccer NSW (still haven't changed their name) that starts at age 7 (I think). It follows the Coerver program (http://www.coerver.com) and train three night a week during the 'off-season' (essentially summer. Training started last night and goes to April-ish (when club football starts)

Bottom line, it is a serious program here.

I don't coach any more. My on is in the hands of paid professionals.

[TonyMcFadden]

lost 2nd game 2-1 and third 2-0. Today they won 7-0. So far, of the 13 goals scored by the team, my son has scored 9 and assisted 2 others...

The training the past 2 weeks has focused on maintaining position and passing. Seems to have worked.

[TonyMcFadden]

First game of the season -- Hills Hawks 5 - Pennant Hills/Cherrybrook 0. My son scored 4 of the 5 goals.

The coach for the team is fantastic with kids. From the end of the first practice he set who was playing what position, and trained them for that position. we have a back 4 that are trained to defend, a couple of goalies that train at practice as goalies (they alternate halves each game) and the front 2 and mid 4 train together for attack.

They are playing on a full sized pitch now and my son really loves having the space to do the big kicks/long passes that he enjoys so much. Worked beautifully today.

[ergo sum]

Here there are private clubs that play year round until you get to high school. Then you play one season in high school and the rest of the year you play with the club. The High School leagues are no where as good as the club teams. The High Schools play a season and then those qualified play for the state tittle. With the clubs there is a league season and a State Cup. The winner of the state cup goes to regionals. There are four regions in the USA. The winners of the four regions go on to play Nationals.

U11=U14 play only club.

[TonyMcFadden]

Not sure what you mean by 'club soccer'. The "Hills Hawks" will compete with other teams in the same division (division 6) and same age category (U11).

I understand that there are state level tounaments later in the year, but I'm not all that clear on the structure yet.

Half the games are home games (Hayes oval -- huge cricket pitch painted for 2 soccer pitches) and half away...

I will be interesting for my sone. Playing in Singapore he was one of the bigger players. Not so here.

[ergo sum]

How is it done there? Is it club soccer?

[TonyMcFadden]

Well, tonight's the first practice for my son in his new soccer team. We've been in Australia for a couple of months now. Soccer season starts in April.

He's starting in the U11 and I will (again) be helping out with the coaching. Should be a blast. With Australia in the world Cup Finals this year, interest in soccer is at a (sorry) fever pitch here in Roo-Land

[ergo sum]

Part of it is that I don't think about school soccer. High School soccer is not nearly as competitive as league soccer here.

[TonyMcFadden]

That it is. Arsenal youth coaches are down 2 - 3 times a year to train the kids, and (more importantly) to train the coaches. This is the first Arsenal affiliated school in Asia. They will be looking at Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam for others.

[ergo sum]

Oh I see that's cool.

[TonyMcFadden]

Son out grew the team his school fields (under 8 age group).

He's now on the JSSL-Arsenal school team http://www.jsoccerleague.com/main/index.html

Just re-read that message and you're right, I wasn't clear...

This month is an off month. League games start again Jan 8

[ergo sum]

Sounded like you son had no team to play on. Is it just not the season?

[TonyMcFadden]

lots of youth leagues. did I give the impression there wasn't?

[ergo sum]

I have seen that only you have to pass the ball before you are touched.

My son's team is practicing right now in the snow. They are getting ready for a Tournament at the Home Depot Center in LA where they will play and also get to watch the final games of the NCAA tournament.

There are no youth leagues there?

[TonyMcFadden]

HANDBALL

It plays like soccer, except they kids run while holding the ball. If they are touched by an opposing team player they MUST stop and pass.

This part of my son's training confused for a second, then it became immediately apparent ehat the aim was.

By not having to worry about controlling the ball with their feet, the kids started playing pretty good positional ball. Running into space, looking for open players when you are playing on the defensive side, it was brilliant.

There are 90 minute training sessions. The last 30 minutes are 10 minutes of hand ball, then 20 minutes for a game.

Try it with your kids...

[TonyMcFadden]

My son grew out of the under 8's that his school ran (he's 9) so while I still coach that (and my son assistant coaches -- when he feels like coming along) I needed to find an outlet for him.

There's a soccer school about a 10 minute bike ride from where I live that recently became affiliated with Arsenal Football Club (of the Englich Premier league)

http://www.jsoccerleague.com/main/index.html

That would be like having a little league team affiliaetd with the Yankees.

Last Monday (two weeks ago, almost) was a public holiday here and two youth coaches from Arsenal (flew in from England) gave the kids a 90 minute training session. I'm so far out of my league I just watch now. But if any cool training tips arise, I'll share them here.

[DCschmoeka]

That was last week. Yesterday was the game in Madrid. bayern lost ((((((((

[TonyMcFadden]

And speaking of coaching tips, we've all agreed (at the parents level) to call this a "rebuilding year" (since we're sitting firmly at the bottom of the table)

The fact that our best (as in hardest working) midfielder is 6 in an under 9 league, and perhaps a foot shorter than the average opponent...

And that our oldest player (my son) is still only about average height/weight compared to most of the other teams makes it kind of dispiriting if you're going into a game looking for a win.

[TonyMcFadden]

missed that game. Is that the one that Kahn let the ball slide past him?

(btw, soccer chat -- as infrequent as it is -- can be found at #board-1884 This is more for coaching tips)

[DCschmoeka]

Bayern München - Real Madrid ..... anybody?

[excel]

GGraessle. Welcome to the board! Some excellent advice there.
I agree with most of what you said.
But sometimes you need to tell the player while he's on the field during a game.
Take my goalie for instance. I found out with all 3 of my goalies they need to charge the offensive player when he is coming in to goal area. Not let him play the goalie.
I tell them if you get scored on I don't care.
Just don't let him control you.
When my goalies charge about 98% of the time they stop the shot on goal.
When they stay in the goal they get scored on.
So when they forget to charge I remind them from the sidelines as I really can't wait until half time.
I understand what you are saying.
But done in the correct way I think the other boys can learn from other boys mistakes.
I like to always remind my boys when I'm correcting you it isn't because I'm mad at you, it's because I know you have the talent to play the game in such a way that you will excel in the game of soccer.

The travel soccer along with select softball is really getting out of hand imo.

The cost eliminates a lot of players who have the skills, but can't afford the travel costs, and all the other costs that go with it.

I find that to be a continuing dividing factor.

If your child isn't able to play against the best once they are at highschool level the other players who have over the years been able to do so have an advantage over that player.

The case of the have and the have nots.

It has become a big problem up here. I have read letters in the papers here about certain highschool teams being completely made up of all the same select players because the coaches were going to the select games and activities like that and it turns into a seperate community of people.

BTW. I like your 8 week schedule. Ours is to long and my boys attention span really starts to lag in last few weeks.

[GGraessle]

I have a moment and can share what I've found over the years to be one of the most important changes I've seen while coaching soccer.

I've coached soccer for 10 years now. I've coached 2 of my sons from 1st grade through 8th, both are now in high school and now I am coaching my 2nd grade son and kindergarten daughter.

The is all "rec" (recreational) soccer, which is different than travel soccer. I've coached that as well, but let me stay on the subject of "rec" soccer as it applies to all children, regardless of ability.

Some towns hold rec soccer in just the fall and some hold it in both fall and spring. However, the key element is that all children on the team get equal playing time regardless of their ability.

I have seen schedules and systems in place that count wins and losses and only the top so many teams make the playoffs and I've seen schedules and systems in place where all teams make the playoffs. In my opinion the latter is best.

Winning and loosing should not be empathized over having fun and learning the game.

I like an 8 week schedule and then all the teams make the playoffs which becomes single elimination. You should view the 8 week schedule as practise (outside of course also holding regular weekly practises) teach your players the rules, moves, plays and work on making them play as a team.

I have seen teams not win a game over those first 8 weeks and them sweep through the playoff and win everything.

Alway provide positive feedback to children. Don't yell at them in a negative way. Sure you can yell, "run" "shoot", "pass", but don't yell at them if they make a mistake. Just explain to them on the sideline when they've been substituted for, how they could have done it differently.

Anyway, just some thoughts as I stumbled across this board. Good idea for a board.

[excel]

Eamonnshute. Excellent example!
We are expecting snow here on Sunday. LOL!
And it's my daughters fast pitch tryout day.
I'll never understand why they don't wait a bit.

[TonyMcFadden]

Just recently Manchester United (who was at the top of the Premier League table) was beaten by the Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) who were at the bottom of the table. Biggest upset in decades.

Our season starts up again this Sunday, and I will be reminding the kids of this (most are Man U fans), reinforcing the idea that NO team is invincible.

[excel]

Eamonnshute. Wish I could say the same.
Biggest mistake I've made yet as a coach?
I don't know?
I told the kids in practice they would be playing the top team this week. I see nothing wrong with that. That's life and you need top be ready for challenges in my book.
I used it to try to inspire them to have a good practice.

Well.............My wife was at the school volunteering and had lunch with my daughter.

While doing that she heard a few players talking about how they were going to get their butts kicked this game. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

So imo they were beat before they stepped on the field.
I tried the pep talk but they got out there and most of them played scared.

We got beat 11 to 2. I've never seen them play so bad.

Daughters team lost 2 to 1.

Next week I'll be able to see her play. Our games at the same time most weeks. Breaks my heart not to get to see her play.

[TonyMcFadden]

Well the kids won today, 2 - 1.

My son scored the first goal in the first half (an opportune toe poke) and his best friend scored a beautiful shot in the second half.

They really played like a team. My son, his friend and a third boy play forward and they were executing beautiful passes into space. The defense kept between the opposing player and their own goal (most of the time...we did concede one late in the first half).

All in all it was a great day for all...

[TonyMcFadden]

I'm in Singapore, about 1.5 degrees north of the equator...hot and muggy year round

[excel]

Eamonnshute. How is your weather in December? We lucked out with blue skys today for our game. Should be around 62 game time. Playing the best team in the league today. Our last game is November 15th.