By Mike Singleton
The offseason is near, so here are ways players can work on their skills on their own. …
1. Juggling
a) Juggle the ball with all parts of your body (left and right sides). Try not to have more than five consecutive juggles with the same body part (i.e., feet, head, etc.).
b) Juggle with a friend or friends in a similar fashion to the basketball game “HORSE” — the player who drops the ball gets a letter.
c) Play one-touch or two-touch juggling with your friends, earning letters for drops.
How to Juggle video:
2. One-vs-One
a) Only use one foot — the ball cannot touch your other foot.
b) Have a goal (or a cone) which you can score upon from all sides.
c) Same as b, but have the same goal for both players.
d) Have two goals for each player, one on an end line and one on a sideline.
e) Have three goals for each player, one on an end line and one on each sideline.
3. Wall Soccer
Just kick a ball against a wall using both your left foot and right foot. Place hard shots against the wall (with accuracy and force). Try doing this three-touch, then two-touch, then one-touch. This game helps with trapping/receiving, positioning, striking of a ball with both feet, foot speed, being on toes, and concentration.
It also will improve your passing/shooting accuracy because of the high number of touches you will have on the ball and the high number of balls you play against the wall.
Vary your shots - high, low, left, right, inside foot, outside foot, instep, etc., and make yourself work at a high pace to get your body behind the ball before it rolls past you. Get closer to the wall to improve foot quickness and move further away to increase lateral quickness.
Video on using the wall:
4. Own the Ball!
Just you competing for possession of one ball (through shielding) with one other person. If you lose possession, do whatever you have to do get the ball back as quickly as possible. Correct shielding technique — body sideways, arm providing protection, ball on outside foot, knees bent, turning as defender attacks, using feel to understand where defender is going.
5. 2v2 or 2v1 Games
Any 2v2 and 2v1 drills or games will be extremely useful. The entire game can be broken down into 2v2 or 2v1 situations. The more skilled you are at these, the more success you will have in the larger game. Playing combination passes is key!
6. Paired Tag
Pair players up, giving each pair two balls. One player starts and is given a two-second lead to break away from his/her partner. The chaser (”it”) dribbles after the first player and tries to tag him/her with his/her hand. If tagged, the roles reverse and the player who was previously “it” has two seconds to break away before their partner tries to tag them. Players must always dribble their soccer ball during this activity.
7. Marbles
Players are in pairs, each with a ball. One player plays out his ball and the partner passes his own ball in an attempt to strike the ball his partner played out. Players should keep track of how many times they hit their partner’s ball. This game should be fast-paced, because players take turns at trying to hit each other’s ball without ever stopping.
If Players 2 misses Player 1’s ball, then Player 1 immediately runs to her own ball and tries to hit Player 2’s ball (Player 2 does not get to touch his ball after missing Player 1’s ball). After Player 1 has a chance, then Player 2 immediately tries to hit player 1’s ball right back. etc.
This game is continuous and players should keep score.
(Hint: If two balls are lose to each other, a player should kick his/her ball hard at the other ball so that when they hit it, it is more difficult for the other to hit their ball back).
A video demonstrating soccer Marbles:
8. Soccer Tennis
With a partner, set up two 10×10 grids that are separated by a net (or a line, couple of bags, string tied to bags - something serving as a net). Just as in tennis, players play the ball (though with their feet) into the other’s grid and the ball must bounce once in that grid. If the receiving player(s) allows the ball to drop twice, the server earns a point. Receiving players can play volleys. Limit your touch count to two- or three-touch.
Soccer Tennis Video:
9. SLAM
Get a partner or partners and play against a wall (or turn over a bench). Use one-touch to kick the ball against the wall.
Turns alternate between partners. Players earn a letter if the ball goes over the bench or goes wide of the bench/wall until they spell “SLAM.” Once they spell “SLAM” they are out of the game.
A video demonstrating SLAM:
(Mike Singleton is the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association’s Head State Coach and Director of Coaching. He is a Region I ODP Senior Staff Coach and a U.S. Soccer and US Youth Soccer National Staff Coach. This article first appeared in Mass Youth e-News.)
Other articles focused on improving skills outside of practice include:
Getting Kids To Play On Their Own
Practicing Solo: The 720 Challenge
Improving skills on your own: wall play
Getting players to juggle
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Skill Priorities - The four letter word of soccer: KICK
Skill Priorities
Everyone knows that the game of soccer has a number of basic skills, or techniques, that players have to learn, such as dribbling, receiving passes, making passes, shooting and heading. Players also have to learn to make good decisions during the game, such as when to dribble, when to pass, and to whom to pass. These players’ decisions are referred to as tactical decisions.
Skill Factor Video containing break down of skills and live footage of the best soccer players in the world. (this is a long video in high definition, to watch it without if having to buffer freuently press play now, once it gets going press pause. The finish reading the article and watching the video below and come back to it. I highly recommend this video as a stocking stuffer or as a gift this holiday season.)
The first principle of soccer development is that players should master the basic techniques before they can learn the tactical side of the game. Technique before tactics! Think of techniques as vocabulary, and tactics as the grammar rules for forming sentences and paragraphs. Now, imagine a young immigrant who arrives in America without a word of English. It’s pretty obvious that before we can teach this immigrant about the rules for joining nouns, verbs, and adverbs to form a sentence, we have to give him a chance to accumulate enough vocabulary. The bigger his vocabulary, the better will he be able to use grammar to articulate his thoughts.
In terms of soccer development, your child is just beginning his/her ‘schooling’. We use the word ‘schooling’ here because there are many similarities between a regular school and a youth club, which can be considered as essentially a soccer school. In fact, as you might have already noticed, throughout this letter we will be using many analogies from real life schooling and the principles of growing up to explain the rationale behind the program.
As far as techniques are concerned, some techniques should be taught before others. The first technique that children should learn is dribbling. The ability to dribble is absolutely critical since dribbling is the foundation skill and preparation for all the other fundamental techniques of soccer, such as receiving, passing and shooting. When players are receiving the ball and making preparation touches prior to passing or shooting, they are essentially engaged in a mini-dribble. Young players need to learn to dribble within a variety of playing situations, such as dribbling forward unopposed, changing speed and direction with the ball, shielding the ball from opponents, dribbling past an opponent, and dribbling to get away from pressure. A limited ability to dribble leads to a limited range of passing or shooting. There are also times in the game, when the player with the ball has no passing options and the only way out of tight pressure is to dribble.
Aside from the fact that dribbling forms the foundation for all the other skills, there are many other reasons why we need to focus on dribbling at U-6/U-8. First of all, it takes years to become a comfortable and confident dribbler. Players have to learn to combine body control, agility, coordination and balance with the mechanics of dribbling and the sooner they start, the better. Just like any complex bio-mechanical skill such as skating or gymnastics, the later you start, the harder it is to achieve perfect form. Secondly, the process of learning to dribble involves trial and error. At first, the players’ rudimentary attempts at dribbling will often result in failure as they discover the contrast between a soft touch and a hard touch on the ball. The players will slowly develop a ‘feel’ for the ball as they experiment at controlling and propelling it. Young players don’t get discouraged easily if they don’t succeed. Players of this age do not possess the analytical thought process to look back or think ahead. They live for the moment, inSome of you might ask “but what about passing?” Isn’t soccer a team game and passing a fundamental team skill? Passing implies an intention by a player to direct the ball accurately towards a teammate. It implies decision making. Do not confuse passing with kicking. Kicking means using the feet to propel the ball in a certain direction. You will not see any passing in a U-6 game, and very little in a U-8 game. Passing is simply beyond the ability of U-6 the here and now, and the fact that the last time they tried to dribble it didn’t work will not even enter their minds. But if we wait for the players to mature before we emphasize dribbling, many of them will lose their confidence if they do not succeed and will become reluctant to dribble. Thirdly, In 3v3 and 4v4 play, the fields are so small that dribbling is always an option since the ball is always just a few yards away from shooting range. Once the game moves to the larger sized fields, dribbling becomes less effective on it’s own and must be combined with passing to get the ball from point A to point B. And lastly, it’s better to go through the process of trial and error when game results are not important and standings are not kept. At the U-10 and older ages, game results assume more importance, making it hard for the parents and coaches to show patience and tolerance for mistakes, and putting added pressure on players to ‘get rid of the ball’ rather than risk losing it. Once games become competitive, the resultant environment is not ideal to start learning how to dribble.
Kicking is NOT a Soccer Skill!!!
Most coaches and parents of beginner players unknowingly emphasize the wrong skills. In a typical U-6/U-8 club play, the players are encouraged by both the parents on the sidelines and the coaches to ‘boot’ the ball up the field. Shouts of “get rid of it!” and “kick it!” are all too common. The further forward a player kicks, they louder the cheers. Players are so indoctrinated to ‘kick it forward’ that very few of them dare to get out of pressure by dribbling. The fact is that the players are asked to execute a skill (kicking) that they would automatically learn anyway as they grow up, even if they didn’t play soccer. If you don’t believe it, just go outside to your back yard, place a ball on the ground, take a few steps back, run up to the ball and kick it forward. I am willing to bet you that, even if you never played soccer in your life, you would still succeed in kicking the ball forward. Your kick might look awkward and your movement lack grace, but you still would manage to kick it forward.
The reality is that players are controlled like puppets by the adults to such an extent that they are not thinking for themselves and are afraid to do anything but kick the ball. Even throw-ins are routinely thrown straight to the other team by confused players who are conditioned to play the ball forward, no matter what. The kick-offs are no better, with players kicking the ball straight to the other team, American football style. Players who clearly have plenty of time on the ball with no pressure anywhere near, are still kicking it forward without any thought or skill. And this type of mindless play is usually not corrected by the coaches and is allowed to occur time and again. The end result is that we are ‘coaching’ the skill of dribbling OUT of the players. We take away the natural ‘comfort’ with the ball - forever!
Let’s be frank here. The underlying issue has to do with how you, the adults, look at the game and analyze it. It’s fair to say that you all accept that results at U-6 and U-8 do not matter and that there is no need to keep standings. But you also instinctively know that the easiest way to get the ball from point A to point B is to kick it in that direction. It’s hard for you to watch your child lose the ball in front of his own goal and for the other team to score. So, the next time your child has the ball in his/her half, you can’t help it and shout “kick it!”. But every time they kick it, they lose another opportunity to learn to dribble. The buzz word of our program is: ‘Soft first Touch’. Every time your player goes to the ball, his/her first touch on the ball should be a soft one, meaning, NO KICKING!
Some of you might ask “but what about passing?” Isn’t soccer a team game and passing a fundamental team skill? Passing implies an intention by a player to direct the ball accurately towards a teammate. It implies decision making. Do not confuse passing with kicking. Kicking means using the feet to propel the ball in a certain direction. You will not see any passing in a U-6 game, and very little in a U-8 game. Passing is simply beyond the ability of U-6 and most U-8 players. In terms of the level of difficulty, kicking is the easiest to learn, dribbling is next, and passing is the hardest to master for young players. Think of dribbling as ‘passing to oneself’. If players cannot pass to themselves, how can they be expected to pass to a teammate 15 yards away? What young players do is actually kick, not pass, and the cheers they hear from you when they kick only serve to reinforce this bad habit. For this reason, we ask you to stop shouting to your players to Kick the ball. If game results truly don’t matter, no one should be overly concerned if a player tries to dribble and loses the ball. First touch must be a SOFT TOUCH.
SOFT TOUCH VIDEO:
Everyone knows that the game of soccer has a number of basic skills, or techniques, that players have to learn, such as dribbling, receiving passes, making passes, shooting and heading. Players also have to learn to make good decisions during the game, such as when to dribble, when to pass, and to whom to pass. These players’ decisions are referred to as tactical decisions.
Skill Factor Video containing break down of skills and live footage of the best soccer players in the world. (this is a long video in high definition, to watch it without if having to buffer freuently press play now, once it gets going press pause. The finish reading the article and watching the video below and come back to it. I highly recommend this video as a stocking stuffer or as a gift this holiday season.)
The first principle of soccer development is that players should master the basic techniques before they can learn the tactical side of the game. Technique before tactics! Think of techniques as vocabulary, and tactics as the grammar rules for forming sentences and paragraphs. Now, imagine a young immigrant who arrives in America without a word of English. It’s pretty obvious that before we can teach this immigrant about the rules for joining nouns, verbs, and adverbs to form a sentence, we have to give him a chance to accumulate enough vocabulary. The bigger his vocabulary, the better will he be able to use grammar to articulate his thoughts.
In terms of soccer development, your child is just beginning his/her ‘schooling’. We use the word ‘schooling’ here because there are many similarities between a regular school and a youth club, which can be considered as essentially a soccer school. In fact, as you might have already noticed, throughout this letter we will be using many analogies from real life schooling and the principles of growing up to explain the rationale behind the program.
As far as techniques are concerned, some techniques should be taught before others. The first technique that children should learn is dribbling. The ability to dribble is absolutely critical since dribbling is the foundation skill and preparation for all the other fundamental techniques of soccer, such as receiving, passing and shooting. When players are receiving the ball and making preparation touches prior to passing or shooting, they are essentially engaged in a mini-dribble. Young players need to learn to dribble within a variety of playing situations, such as dribbling forward unopposed, changing speed and direction with the ball, shielding the ball from opponents, dribbling past an opponent, and dribbling to get away from pressure. A limited ability to dribble leads to a limited range of passing or shooting. There are also times in the game, when the player with the ball has no passing options and the only way out of tight pressure is to dribble.
Aside from the fact that dribbling forms the foundation for all the other skills, there are many other reasons why we need to focus on dribbling at U-6/U-8. First of all, it takes years to become a comfortable and confident dribbler. Players have to learn to combine body control, agility, coordination and balance with the mechanics of dribbling and the sooner they start, the better. Just like any complex bio-mechanical skill such as skating or gymnastics, the later you start, the harder it is to achieve perfect form. Secondly, the process of learning to dribble involves trial and error. At first, the players’ rudimentary attempts at dribbling will often result in failure as they discover the contrast between a soft touch and a hard touch on the ball. The players will slowly develop a ‘feel’ for the ball as they experiment at controlling and propelling it. Young players don’t get discouraged easily if they don’t succeed. Players of this age do not possess the analytical thought process to look back or think ahead. They live for the moment, inSome of you might ask “but what about passing?” Isn’t soccer a team game and passing a fundamental team skill? Passing implies an intention by a player to direct the ball accurately towards a teammate. It implies decision making. Do not confuse passing with kicking. Kicking means using the feet to propel the ball in a certain direction. You will not see any passing in a U-6 game, and very little in a U-8 game. Passing is simply beyond the ability of U-6 the here and now, and the fact that the last time they tried to dribble it didn’t work will not even enter their minds. But if we wait for the players to mature before we emphasize dribbling, many of them will lose their confidence if they do not succeed and will become reluctant to dribble. Thirdly, In 3v3 and 4v4 play, the fields are so small that dribbling is always an option since the ball is always just a few yards away from shooting range. Once the game moves to the larger sized fields, dribbling becomes less effective on it’s own and must be combined with passing to get the ball from point A to point B. And lastly, it’s better to go through the process of trial and error when game results are not important and standings are not kept. At the U-10 and older ages, game results assume more importance, making it hard for the parents and coaches to show patience and tolerance for mistakes, and putting added pressure on players to ‘get rid of the ball’ rather than risk losing it. Once games become competitive, the resultant environment is not ideal to start learning how to dribble.
Kicking is NOT a Soccer Skill!!!
Most coaches and parents of beginner players unknowingly emphasize the wrong skills. In a typical U-6/U-8 club play, the players are encouraged by both the parents on the sidelines and the coaches to ‘boot’ the ball up the field. Shouts of “get rid of it!” and “kick it!” are all too common. The further forward a player kicks, they louder the cheers. Players are so indoctrinated to ‘kick it forward’ that very few of them dare to get out of pressure by dribbling. The fact is that the players are asked to execute a skill (kicking) that they would automatically learn anyway as they grow up, even if they didn’t play soccer. If you don’t believe it, just go outside to your back yard, place a ball on the ground, take a few steps back, run up to the ball and kick it forward. I am willing to bet you that, even if you never played soccer in your life, you would still succeed in kicking the ball forward. Your kick might look awkward and your movement lack grace, but you still would manage to kick it forward.
The reality is that players are controlled like puppets by the adults to such an extent that they are not thinking for themselves and are afraid to do anything but kick the ball. Even throw-ins are routinely thrown straight to the other team by confused players who are conditioned to play the ball forward, no matter what. The kick-offs are no better, with players kicking the ball straight to the other team, American football style. Players who clearly have plenty of time on the ball with no pressure anywhere near, are still kicking it forward without any thought or skill. And this type of mindless play is usually not corrected by the coaches and is allowed to occur time and again. The end result is that we are ‘coaching’ the skill of dribbling OUT of the players. We take away the natural ‘comfort’ with the ball - forever!
Let’s be frank here. The underlying issue has to do with how you, the adults, look at the game and analyze it. It’s fair to say that you all accept that results at U-6 and U-8 do not matter and that there is no need to keep standings. But you also instinctively know that the easiest way to get the ball from point A to point B is to kick it in that direction. It’s hard for you to watch your child lose the ball in front of his own goal and for the other team to score. So, the next time your child has the ball in his/her half, you can’t help it and shout “kick it!”. But every time they kick it, they lose another opportunity to learn to dribble. The buzz word of our program is: ‘Soft first Touch’. Every time your player goes to the ball, his/her first touch on the ball should be a soft one, meaning, NO KICKING!
Some of you might ask “but what about passing?” Isn’t soccer a team game and passing a fundamental team skill? Passing implies an intention by a player to direct the ball accurately towards a teammate. It implies decision making. Do not confuse passing with kicking. Kicking means using the feet to propel the ball in a certain direction. You will not see any passing in a U-6 game, and very little in a U-8 game. Passing is simply beyond the ability of U-6 and most U-8 players. In terms of the level of difficulty, kicking is the easiest to learn, dribbling is next, and passing is the hardest to master for young players. Think of dribbling as ‘passing to oneself’. If players cannot pass to themselves, how can they be expected to pass to a teammate 15 yards away? What young players do is actually kick, not pass, and the cheers they hear from you when they kick only serve to reinforce this bad habit. For this reason, we ask you to stop shouting to your players to Kick the ball. If game results truly don’t matter, no one should be overly concerned if a player tries to dribble and loses the ball. First touch must be a SOFT TOUCH.
SOFT TOUCH VIDEO:
Friday, October 9, 2009
Infinity Director, Sherri Dever, Recognized in US Youth Soccer Blog
Thoughts on the National Youth License Course
By John Thomas, the Assistant Technical Director for US Youth Soccer.
The below article can be found on the US Youth Soccer Blog. Click Here.
I just completed a National Youth License course in Sandy, Utah in August and had a discussion with one of the candidates who passed the course. I wanted to know her thoughts and any insight she might want to share. Here is what coach Sherri Dever, director of coaching for Infinity Soccer Club in Utah, had to say.
"JT, you asked for me to share some thoughts after participating in the National Youth License course held in Sandy, Utah, in August. After attending other U.S. Soccer licensing courses, I found this course to be similar in format, class work, field sessions, testing and instructors. I think the format was good in its progression, starting with younger age groups (U-6 to U-8) and progressing to older ages (up to U-12). I found the characteristics of each age group helpful, especially when we were actually on the field with the players and had hands-on experience with each of the different age groups. It was good to have to dig deep and let yourself think on a child's level, participate with the players and have some fun.
The age appropriate exercises were really accurate, and I can attest to this with a personal experience. During the final testing I had a session assignment for 10 to 12-year-olds. Because children that age did not show up to participate in testing I was left with 7 to 8-year-old children to try to run my topic with. These younger kids really struggled with the exercises. Had this not been a test, with an outlined session already written out on paper to turn in to my instructor, I would have adjusted it to fit their needs, as this is what I do every day at training. It is important that we are able to adapt to fit the needs of the players involved. Hopefully, this didn't cause me to fail my testing topic, as the instructor did mention that it didn't seem to flow well. I was frustrated that I was put into this situation as the exercises were too complex for the age group. This was a good example to me that we need to do age appropriate exercises with our players. I enjoyed the field sessions and games that were presented. It is always good to get new training ideas and always be a student of the game, at any license level."
Dever really helped out a lot at the course by videotaping the goalkeeper session Greg Maas, technical director for Utah, put on, as well as the daily candidate's sessions with the players.
Dever really seemed to enjoy watching our guest coach Masao Naykayama, from Japan's Youth National Staff, who attended the course to observe our teaching methods and run a U-12 possession section. I also enjoyed the session. It really reinforced the coaching style and methodology we use when training and developing our youth players. Dever is correct when she stated that there are many coaches who ignore goalkeeper training. Coaches can overlook the goalkeeper because of a lack of knowledge on what to do to train them, or more frequently because there are 10-14 other players that take up the focus during training time. Maas ran the goalkeeper session. Maas' style gave all watching many ideas on incorporating the whole team and simple activities that could be done by an individual or in pairs. Thanks for the comments Sherri, and I look forward to seeing you and the other coaches from your class on the field.
For more information on the National Youth License click here.
By John Thomas, the Assistant Technical Director for US Youth Soccer.
The below article can be found on the US Youth Soccer Blog. Click Here.
I just completed a National Youth License course in Sandy, Utah in August and had a discussion with one of the candidates who passed the course. I wanted to know her thoughts and any insight she might want to share. Here is what coach Sherri Dever, director of coaching for Infinity Soccer Club in Utah, had to say."JT, you asked for me to share some thoughts after participating in the National Youth License course held in Sandy, Utah, in August. After attending other U.S. Soccer licensing courses, I found this course to be similar in format, class work, field sessions, testing and instructors. I think the format was good in its progression, starting with younger age groups (U-6 to U-8) and progressing to older ages (up to U-12). I found the characteristics of each age group helpful, especially when we were actually on the field with the players and had hands-on experience with each of the different age groups. It was good to have to dig deep and let yourself think on a child's level, participate with the players and have some fun.
The age appropriate exercises were really accurate, and I can attest to this with a personal experience. During the final testing I had a session assignment for 10 to 12-year-olds. Because children that age did not show up to participate in testing I was left with 7 to 8-year-old children to try to run my topic with. These younger kids really struggled with the exercises. Had this not been a test, with an outlined session already written out on paper to turn in to my instructor, I would have adjusted it to fit their needs, as this is what I do every day at training. It is important that we are able to adapt to fit the needs of the players involved. Hopefully, this didn't cause me to fail my testing topic, as the instructor did mention that it didn't seem to flow well. I was frustrated that I was put into this situation as the exercises were too complex for the age group. This was a good example to me that we need to do age appropriate exercises with our players. I enjoyed the field sessions and games that were presented. It is always good to get new training ideas and always be a student of the game, at any license level."
Dever really helped out a lot at the course by videotaping the goalkeeper session Greg Maas, technical director for Utah, put on, as well as the daily candidate's sessions with the players.
Dever really seemed to enjoy watching our guest coach Masao Naykayama, from Japan's Youth National Staff, who attended the course to observe our teaching methods and run a U-12 possession section. I also enjoyed the session. It really reinforced the coaching style and methodology we use when training and developing our youth players. Dever is correct when she stated that there are many coaches who ignore goalkeeper training. Coaches can overlook the goalkeeper because of a lack of knowledge on what to do to train them, or more frequently because there are 10-14 other players that take up the focus during training time. Maas ran the goalkeeper session. Maas' style gave all watching many ideas on incorporating the whole team and simple activities that could be done by an individual or in pairs. Thanks for the comments Sherri, and I look forward to seeing you and the other coaches from your class on the field.
For more information on the National Youth License click here.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sideline Policy
Utah Youth Soccer Association (UYSA) has a sideline policy for games. Please view the image and read the information below to better understand where to park that lawn chair at games. Only those with coaching passes and players passes may enter the team area. Team managers are also allowed to visit the team area when medical attention is needed or the coaching staff asks them to enter for a brief moment.
Explanation of the diagram: The Sideline/player area is as follows, Team A and their parents will be on the same sideline. The team bench will be on the assistant referee side of the field. Team B and their parents will be on the same sideline as well, and the team bench will be on the same sideline as the assistant referee.
We continue to get great feedback from opposing coaches, clubs and referees that our parents are well behaved and understand that the game is an opportunity for the players to play, coaches to coach and parents/fans to cheer. We repeatedly hear from UYSA and other club directors, board and staff members that our club has some of the best sideline behavior and well educated parents in the state. Thanks for setting the standard and letting our kids PLAY.
Explanation of the diagram: The Sideline/player area is as follows, Team A and their parents will be on the same sideline. The team bench will be on the assistant referee side of the field. Team B and their parents will be on the same sideline as well, and the team bench will be on the same sideline as the assistant referee.
We continue to get great feedback from opposing coaches, clubs and referees that our parents are well behaved and understand that the game is an opportunity for the players to play, coaches to coach and parents/fans to cheer. We repeatedly hear from UYSA and other club directors, board and staff members that our club has some of the best sideline behavior and well educated parents in the state. Thanks for setting the standard and letting our kids PLAY.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
"Experiment, Take Risks, and Be Creative"
What this means and why...
Children that are allowed to experiment, take risks, and be creative with a soccer ball develop the most gifted soccer skills. Unlike other countries, the United States treats youth soccer players as if they are "robots" in the words of Eric Wynalda. Many children in the United States lack the idea of creativity in the game of soccer. They are taught to defend, pass, and shoot. There is a middle game between those three important topics... space and freedom. To pass and shoot a player needs space on the field, weather the space be 6 inches or 30 yards. Creating this space is easiest when a player is extremely comfortable with the ball at his or her feet. Quick touches, tight spins, sharp turns and instantly generated ideas can get players out of tough situations. This also seems to be what is enjoyed the most by the youth soccer players as well as any other player or spectator of the game.
Eric Wynaldas "robot" statement:
Eric Wynalda has a dream of changing the way soccer is coached and played in the United States. Eric believes, that players need to develop personalities and their own style. Players should not be over-coached, play like robots or move from team to team in search of the “perfect fit”. The perfect fit is found collectively in a group of players who are loyal to each others development and the team’s progress.
Children that are allowed to experiment, take risks, and be creative with a soccer ball develop the most gifted soccer skills. Unlike other countries, the United States treats youth soccer players as if they are "robots" in the words of Eric Wynalda. Many children in the United States lack the idea of creativity in the game of soccer. They are taught to defend, pass, and shoot. There is a middle game between those three important topics... space and freedom. To pass and shoot a player needs space on the field, weather the space be 6 inches or 30 yards. Creating this space is easiest when a player is extremely comfortable with the ball at his or her feet. Quick touches, tight spins, sharp turns and instantly generated ideas can get players out of tough situations. This also seems to be what is enjoyed the most by the youth soccer players as well as any other player or spectator of the game.Eric Wynaldas "robot" statement:
Eric Wynalda has a dream of changing the way soccer is coached and played in the United States. Eric believes, that players need to develop personalities and their own style. Players should not be over-coached, play like robots or move from team to team in search of the “perfect fit”. The perfect fit is found collectively in a group of players who are loyal to each others development and the team’s progress.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Coaching Parents About Playing Time Decisions
By Jenifer Miller
Midway through a losing U-11 season, I decided to play for results with the rationale that it was more important to achieve a team success than it was to satisfy the whims of parents who counted their daughter’s playing time on a stop watch. Down three goals at halftime, the girls chipped away at their opponent’s lead and with 15 minutes left we were tied and on fire. A minute before the whistle blew, our opponent scored and we lost another heartbreaker. Nonetheless, I left the field proud of the girls’ play and the way they left everything on the field for their team.
Less than 24 hours after our best game yet, I received calls and e-mails from five different parents inquiring about the lack of playing time their child received the previous day. As it turned out, most kids played at least half the game...but who’s counting?
As coaches, we’ve all received those calls and when we do, we wonder how parents think that the playing time of their child is more important than the results of the team. As a U-12 travel coach, I believe that kids and their parents should understand that fair and equal are two different things. Fair is a term used to describe just or appropriate actions within a particular set of circumstances. Equal refers to a specified quantity. If we consider playing time as “fair” for an individual, referring to an amount of time that she plays that is more or less equal to the rest of her teammates, then it may not be “fair” to the team, especially if the child is not performing well during the game or at practice.
For the younger ages, I believe that playing time should be distributed on a more or less equal basis to provide the maximum opportunity to develop all players, not only the best kids. Even at that level, however, coaches still need to balance the good of the team with the developmental needs of the individual players. Sometimes a coach will play a child with stronger skills, more stamina and a better understanding of the game than a child who is still working to improve upon those skills. Is it equal? No. Is it fair? In my opinion, Yes.
By U-11 and U-12, the coach’s decisions behind starting and subbing players becomes more integrally related to the strategic chess match that takes place on the field. This changes at any given moment during a game. Sharing with players and parents the general rationale of why and how a coach at the travel level makes decisions goes a long way. This is especially important because many parents do not understand the nuances of soccer and therefore look at playing time with an eye biased toward their own children.
The following are various approaches I’ve taken to discuss with players and parents the rationale behind how and why I make player changes and determine playing time before and during the game.
When “Uncle Mo” is on your side, don't give him the boot
Uncle Mo, short for “Uncle Momentum,” may be a soccer coach’s best friend. Soccer is a very fluid game that often progresses and builds upon itself through time and as the on-field energy grows. When the “mojo” is flowing with a particular group of kids on the field then changing it abruptly to give a bench player his or her 15 minute quota will alter the flow of the game. Some of our less skilled players were on the field when the momentum turned for the better in our game because something magical was happening. For 15 minutes, everyone on the field clicked. The point, therefore, was not that I played my “best kids” to win but rather I had to manage the game by assessing what was working best in the moment.
Educating parents in advance that in soccer momentum builds and flows according to the dynamics of the players on the field (from both sides) will help them understand and appreciate the game from a different perspective. In addition, they’ll learn that coaches must manage the game according to the events and circumstances occurring on the field and not by whether a child has reached a quota of playing time.
Soccer's a lot like school - If you miss class are you prepared to take the test?
I make it clear at the beginning of the season that when a child misses practice for any reason (illness, school event, Grandpa’s 90th birthday, etc.) it is possible (this gives me some leeway) that he or she may not start in the next game or that playing time may be limited. I also make it clear that I am not punishing the child for missing practice, but rather looking at the situation from an educational perspective.
If this were school and a child missed class the day before a test then it stands to reason that the student might not be as prepared for the test than she would have had she attended class. It’s no different in soccer. When players miss practice, they’ve missed the lessons learned that day. Children already struggling with tactical concepts or having trouble with their skills might need additional time to understand tactical implications before the coach puts them into a pressure situation – the game. Having players sit on the bench gives them the ability to watch and observe before they enter the game. I often talk with the girls on the bench during a game and ask questions to see if they understand the tactical concepts we worked on in practice or what they’d do if they were in the game. Giving a player an opportunity to learn what she’s missed before putting her into a game is like reinforcing a math concept before taking a test.
Focus attention on positive reinforcement and not punitive behaviors
When one of my regular starters missed practice recently, I started a player that had been working hard at practice and in games but wasn’t playing much. She had come from our “B” team and was having trouble keeping up with the pace of the game at the level we were playing. I explained to the regular starter that I was not punishing her but rather rewarding the other player for her attendance and hard work. The starter understood and agreed. The new starter was so excited that she elevated her game to new heights, creating many scoring opportunities that ultimately led to a goal. Her skill level still does not put her on par with the regular starter, but giving her that one little reward, even at the perceived expense of another player, went along way to achieve positive results, both for the team and individual.
Explaining simple rules goes a long way
After another exciting and close match, not to mention a strong showing at a tournament, I received a call from a parent complaining about her daughter’s playing time. Although the player started and played quite a bit in the first two games of the tournament, she felt she was cheated out of playing time in the last two games. When I reviewed the situation with the mother, I realized the discrepancy in playing time came down to a question about our final match of the tournament, an overtime thriller in the semifinal.
Although the child complained to her mother that I didn’t play her fairly, the player also neglected to mention that I had intended to sub her at the end of regulation time but for five minutes couldn’t gain possession of the ball. Her mom also didn’t know that in a tournament only the players on the field may take PKs. As time ran out on the two, five minute golden goal overtime sessions, I didn’t have her daughter on the field because she wasn’t one of the PK takers. When I explained the rules, the mom started to understand better that I tried to play her daughter fairly, but in that given game, it simply didn’t work out because of the tournament rules and on-field circumstances.
We’ve all heard that life isn’t fair – and it isn’t equal, either. The best coaches may have different approaches when parents inquire about their decisions. I think it is better to answer the question before the problems arise. By pre-empting the situation and providing reasonable and educational rationales behind such choices at parent meetings, coaches set themselves up for successful communication opportunities.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January-February 2009 issue of Soccer Journal.
Midway through a losing U-11 season, I decided to play for results with the rationale that it was more important to achieve a team success than it was to satisfy the whims of parents who counted their daughter’s playing time on a stop watch. Down three goals at halftime, the girls chipped away at their opponent’s lead and with 15 minutes left we were tied and on fire. A minute before the whistle blew, our opponent scored and we lost another heartbreaker. Nonetheless, I left the field proud of the girls’ play and the way they left everything on the field for their team.
Less than 24 hours after our best game yet, I received calls and e-mails from five different parents inquiring about the lack of playing time their child received the previous day. As it turned out, most kids played at least half the game...but who’s counting?
As coaches, we’ve all received those calls and when we do, we wonder how parents think that the playing time of their child is more important than the results of the team. As a U-12 travel coach, I believe that kids and their parents should understand that fair and equal are two different things. Fair is a term used to describe just or appropriate actions within a particular set of circumstances. Equal refers to a specified quantity. If we consider playing time as “fair” for an individual, referring to an amount of time that she plays that is more or less equal to the rest of her teammates, then it may not be “fair” to the team, especially if the child is not performing well during the game or at practice.
For the younger ages, I believe that playing time should be distributed on a more or less equal basis to provide the maximum opportunity to develop all players, not only the best kids. Even at that level, however, coaches still need to balance the good of the team with the developmental needs of the individual players. Sometimes a coach will play a child with stronger skills, more stamina and a better understanding of the game than a child who is still working to improve upon those skills. Is it equal? No. Is it fair? In my opinion, Yes.
By U-11 and U-12, the coach’s decisions behind starting and subbing players becomes more integrally related to the strategic chess match that takes place on the field. This changes at any given moment during a game. Sharing with players and parents the general rationale of why and how a coach at the travel level makes decisions goes a long way. This is especially important because many parents do not understand the nuances of soccer and therefore look at playing time with an eye biased toward their own children.
The following are various approaches I’ve taken to discuss with players and parents the rationale behind how and why I make player changes and determine playing time before and during the game.
When “Uncle Mo” is on your side, don't give him the boot
Uncle Mo, short for “Uncle Momentum,” may be a soccer coach’s best friend. Soccer is a very fluid game that often progresses and builds upon itself through time and as the on-field energy grows. When the “mojo” is flowing with a particular group of kids on the field then changing it abruptly to give a bench player his or her 15 minute quota will alter the flow of the game. Some of our less skilled players were on the field when the momentum turned for the better in our game because something magical was happening. For 15 minutes, everyone on the field clicked. The point, therefore, was not that I played my “best kids” to win but rather I had to manage the game by assessing what was working best in the moment.
Educating parents in advance that in soccer momentum builds and flows according to the dynamics of the players on the field (from both sides) will help them understand and appreciate the game from a different perspective. In addition, they’ll learn that coaches must manage the game according to the events and circumstances occurring on the field and not by whether a child has reached a quota of playing time.
Soccer's a lot like school - If you miss class are you prepared to take the test?
I make it clear at the beginning of the season that when a child misses practice for any reason (illness, school event, Grandpa’s 90th birthday, etc.) it is possible (this gives me some leeway) that he or she may not start in the next game or that playing time may be limited. I also make it clear that I am not punishing the child for missing practice, but rather looking at the situation from an educational perspective.
If this were school and a child missed class the day before a test then it stands to reason that the student might not be as prepared for the test than she would have had she attended class. It’s no different in soccer. When players miss practice, they’ve missed the lessons learned that day. Children already struggling with tactical concepts or having trouble with their skills might need additional time to understand tactical implications before the coach puts them into a pressure situation – the game. Having players sit on the bench gives them the ability to watch and observe before they enter the game. I often talk with the girls on the bench during a game and ask questions to see if they understand the tactical concepts we worked on in practice or what they’d do if they were in the game. Giving a player an opportunity to learn what she’s missed before putting her into a game is like reinforcing a math concept before taking a test.
Focus attention on positive reinforcement and not punitive behaviors
When one of my regular starters missed practice recently, I started a player that had been working hard at practice and in games but wasn’t playing much. She had come from our “B” team and was having trouble keeping up with the pace of the game at the level we were playing. I explained to the regular starter that I was not punishing her but rather rewarding the other player for her attendance and hard work. The starter understood and agreed. The new starter was so excited that she elevated her game to new heights, creating many scoring opportunities that ultimately led to a goal. Her skill level still does not put her on par with the regular starter, but giving her that one little reward, even at the perceived expense of another player, went along way to achieve positive results, both for the team and individual.
Explaining simple rules goes a long way
After another exciting and close match, not to mention a strong showing at a tournament, I received a call from a parent complaining about her daughter’s playing time. Although the player started and played quite a bit in the first two games of the tournament, she felt she was cheated out of playing time in the last two games. When I reviewed the situation with the mother, I realized the discrepancy in playing time came down to a question about our final match of the tournament, an overtime thriller in the semifinal.
Although the child complained to her mother that I didn’t play her fairly, the player also neglected to mention that I had intended to sub her at the end of regulation time but for five minutes couldn’t gain possession of the ball. Her mom also didn’t know that in a tournament only the players on the field may take PKs. As time ran out on the two, five minute golden goal overtime sessions, I didn’t have her daughter on the field because she wasn’t one of the PK takers. When I explained the rules, the mom started to understand better that I tried to play her daughter fairly, but in that given game, it simply didn’t work out because of the tournament rules and on-field circumstances.
We’ve all heard that life isn’t fair – and it isn’t equal, either. The best coaches may have different approaches when parents inquire about their decisions. I think it is better to answer the question before the problems arise. By pre-empting the situation and providing reasonable and educational rationales behind such choices at parent meetings, coaches set themselves up for successful communication opportunities.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January-February 2009 issue of Soccer Journal.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Infinity players in the Herald Journal representing their respected high schools
Solid 2nd halfBy Jason Turner
Published:
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 4:41 AM CDT
It’s amazing the difference 10 minutes can make.
For the first 50 minutes of Tuesday night’s intra-valley showdown, the Sky View girls soccer team had a difficult time creating good scoring opportunities against Logan’s backline.
From the 50th to the 60th minute, though, the Bobcats were on fire in the attack, and that made the difference.
Stacy Bair buried a pair of perfect through balls during that timespan, leading Sky View to a 2-0 victory over Logan at Crimson Field.
“It was just like one of those little squalls,” SV head coach Doyle Geddes said. “That’s what it was, it was like a 10-minute squall where we were just all over them, and that was the difference tonight.”
It was the kind of intensity and ball movement Geddes was hoping to see from his club, especially after watching the Grizzlies (3-7, 1-4 Region 5) get the better of the Bobcats (7-4, 3-2) in the first half.
“It was a product of what we talked about at halftime because we were not happy at all with our possession in the first half,” Geddes said. “They outhustled us, they outpossessed us and they were basically beating us at our own game.”
Logan certainly didn’t look like a team that’s been down on its luck in Region 5 play. The Grizzlies held the Bobcats to zero shots on goal in the first half and had a few dangerous scoring chances themselves.
Sam Emmett darn near gave the hosts a 1-0 lead midway through the half when she drilled a swerving left-footed shot just outside the 18-yard box that appeared to graze the far post.
“Absolutely, this is the best game we’ve played all season when you look at the dynamic play and the hard work coming together,” LHS head coach Mitch Peterson said.
Peterson just wishes he could turn back time and take away the aforementioned 10-minute span. But, unfortunately for the Grizzlies, a poor five-to-10-minute span has made the difference in all four of their region losses this season.
“That’s the pattern we have, that’s the trend we have,” Peterson said. “It’s very close all the way through, zero-zero at halftime, maybe 1-0 at half ... but we’re competitive and then we lose something for eight minutes, six minutes and (the other team) gets a goal or two, and then we come back and fight again, but we can’t make up the difference.”
As dynamic of a finisher as Bair was in the second half, it was her teammates in the midfield who set the tone. Central midfielders Haley Voeller and Krista Whittle elevated their level of play a great deal, and both players were rewarded accordingly.
On Bair’s first goal, in the 55th minute, Whittle slid a through ball to the sophomore, who beat LHS goalkeeper Taylor Anderson on a perfect shot to the far post. Two minutes later, Voeller served a world-class through ball to Bair in tight space, who, once again, used her speed from the right wing to tack on an insurance goal.
“I was thrilled with Haley and Krista in the midfield because that’s where it begins, and they just settled the ball and started knocking it to free space and the whole team just seemed to embrace that,” Geddes said.
As for Bair, she proved why she is one of the region’s best offensive players, scoring her eighth and ninth goals of the season. In Sky View’s previous match, No. 30 had a goal and two assists.
“It feels good just to be there for the team and know that they support me,” Bair said. “It was a lot of fun.”
Sky View almost scored a couple more goals around the time Bair was heating up, as Macken Brady headed a Mia Felts corner kick off the crossbar, and Anderson had to make a nice diving save on super-freshman Jessica Brooksby’s low shot to the right post.
Logan struggled to find good scoring opportunities after halftime. Perhaps the host’s best chance came on a Katie Sorensen through ball to Tonya Anderson (pictured above - yellow #23), which SV keeper Megan Allred aggressively came off her line to break up. Allred was a bit shaken up on the play, but still helped lead the Bobcats to their fifth shutout of the campaign.
Although the Grizzlies were unable to find the back of the net, Peterson was pleased with how they “played for each other,” and, like Geddes, singled out the play of a few of his athletes.
“KD Tilley’s played amazing soccer the last three games,” he said. “She’s just coming alive. Hillary in the back, she was amazing. Hillary just works so hard all game. ... And I think Katie Sorensen and Jordan Houston, first half it was beautiful to watch the two of them work together.”
Mustangs 1, Tigers 1 (2OT)
Mountain Crest (6-1-1, 3-1-1) fired shot after shot at Ogden (4-3-2, 2-2-1) keeper Keri Lammert in the two overtime sessions, but Lammert was up to challenge — “my hat’s off to her,” MC head coach Dennis Giles said — preserving the draw for the hosts.
“I told the kids, ‘If you would have played this way the entire match we would have never went to overtime,’” said Giles, who added his squad struggled to adjust to Ogden’s narrow and short field . “I mean, we just dominated. It was incredible. ... These kids are capable of playing like that. It just seems like we cannot find that intensity that we need to find all of the time.”
Cassidee Nelson gave the Mustangs a 1-0 lead in the 34th when she got behind the Tigers’ backline on a Jessica Hoskin through ball. Hannah Lythgoe scored the equalizer for Ogden nine minutes into the second half.
Mountain Crest had a couple of shots find the woodwork after Lythgoe’s goal, but none were good enough to strengthen the Mustangs’ hold on second place in the league standings.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Infinity players in the Herald Journal representing their respected high schools
SV notches key region win
By Jason Turner
Published:
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 2:47 AM CDT
SMITHFIELD — When Haley Voeller found the back of the net in the 74th minute, it almost seemed like the weight of the world was lifted from the Sky View girls soccer team — players, coaches and fans alike.
In a Region 5 match the Bobcats desperately needed to win, Voeller’s picture-perfect finish gave them that ever-so-important insurance goal as Sky View shut out Box Elder 2-0 Tuesday afternoon at Hansen Field.
“You just keep praying for the insurance goal, especially against a Box Elder team that we just seem to struggle with,” SV head coach Doyle Geddes said. “That was a relief to have that one, and the way it happened was really nice, too.”
It was one of Sky View’s best goals of the season as Krista Whittle served a spot-on 15-yard square ball to Voeller at the top of the 18, and Voeller one-timed a shot just over goalkeeper Natasha Litchfield’s head.
“It was nice because we work on it in practice, knowing that somebody is down there for the through ball,” Whittle said. “It’s good to know that when your team works hard at practice it’s going to show in a game.”
It’s the kind of goal that could potentially give the Bobcats (5-4, 1-2 Region 5) more confidence in the attack down the road.
Sky View dominated the possession battle and created a lot of scoring opportunities, unofficially outshooting Box Elder 25-7. However, the Bobcats struggled to put those shots on target as only nine of them were on goal.
Whittle pinged a shot off the crossbar at the 70-minute mark and, less than a minute later, Robin Hansen hammered a volley off the right post. Even Meagan Payne’s goal in the 43rd deflected off the near post before going in.
Missed chances like that gave the Bees (1-4, 0-3) hope late in the match as they only needed one good play in the attacking third to steal a point on the road. That’s why Voeller’s fourth goal of the season was such a relief.
“It’s a relief because we did take a lot of shots and we need to put more on goal, but when we have two goals up there, it feels like we have a lot more leeway, even though we want to do everything we can to keep our shutout,” Voeller said.
Sky View responded from its heartbreaking double-overtime setback to Mountain Crest last Thursday by taking it to Box Elder the first 20 minutes of the opening half. The hosts took the majority of its 11 first-half shots during that time frame.
Jessica Clements, Jessica Brooksby and Hansen all missed scoring by a matter of inches in the first 20 minutes. Clements sent a perfect cross to Brooksby from close to the left corner flag midway through the half, but Brooksby’s shot inside the 6 went right to Litchfield, who made some good saves.
“The big thing for us is we just needed to get three region points on the board,” Geddes said. “... We had a rough halftime because we’re sitting there nil-nil in a game where we know if we bring more effort and more intelligence we’re going to win, but we only have 40 minute to take care of that and that was nerve-racking.”
Megan Allred made five saves to preserve Sky View’s fourth shutout of the season, and center back Macken Brady stymied a handful of potentially dangerous Box Elder scoring chances.
“There are times where we just feel like, ‘OK, we just need Macken in defense, push everybody else (forward),’” Geddes said while laughing. “She’s just such a complete player.”
By Jason Turner
Published:
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 2:47 AM CDT
SMITHFIELD — When Haley Voeller found the back of the net in the 74th minute, it almost seemed like the weight of the world was lifted from the Sky View girls soccer team — players, coaches and fans alike.
In a Region 5 match the Bobcats desperately needed to win, Voeller’s picture-perfect finish gave them that ever-so-important insurance goal as Sky View shut out Box Elder 2-0 Tuesday afternoon at Hansen Field.
“You just keep praying for the insurance goal, especially against a Box Elder team that we just seem to struggle with,” SV head coach Doyle Geddes said. “That was a relief to have that one, and the way it happened was really nice, too.”
It was one of Sky View’s best goals of the season as Krista Whittle served a spot-on 15-yard square ball to Voeller at the top of the 18, and Voeller one-timed a shot just over goalkeeper Natasha Litchfield’s head.
“It was nice because we work on it in practice, knowing that somebody is down there for the through ball,” Whittle said. “It’s good to know that when your team works hard at practice it’s going to show in a game.”
It’s the kind of goal that could potentially give the Bobcats (5-4, 1-2 Region 5) more confidence in the attack down the road.
Sky View dominated the possession battle and created a lot of scoring opportunities, unofficially outshooting Box Elder 25-7. However, the Bobcats struggled to put those shots on target as only nine of them were on goal.
Whittle pinged a shot off the crossbar at the 70-minute mark and, less than a minute later, Robin Hansen hammered a volley off the right post. Even Meagan Payne’s goal in the 43rd deflected off the near post before going in.
Missed chances like that gave the Bees (1-4, 0-3) hope late in the match as they only needed one good play in the attacking third to steal a point on the road. That’s why Voeller’s fourth goal of the season was such a relief.
“It’s a relief because we did take a lot of shots and we need to put more on goal, but when we have two goals up there, it feels like we have a lot more leeway, even though we want to do everything we can to keep our shutout,” Voeller said.
Sky View responded from its heartbreaking double-overtime setback to Mountain Crest last Thursday by taking it to Box Elder the first 20 minutes of the opening half. The hosts took the majority of its 11 first-half shots during that time frame.
Jessica Clements, Jessica Brooksby and Hansen all missed scoring by a matter of inches in the first 20 minutes. Clements sent a perfect cross to Brooksby from close to the left corner flag midway through the half, but Brooksby’s shot inside the 6 went right to Litchfield, who made some good saves.
“The big thing for us is we just needed to get three region points on the board,” Geddes said. “... We had a rough halftime because we’re sitting there nil-nil in a game where we know if we bring more effort and more intelligence we’re going to win, but we only have 40 minute to take care of that and that was nerve-racking.”
Megan Allred made five saves to preserve Sky View’s fourth shutout of the season, and center back Macken Brady stymied a handful of potentially dangerous Box Elder scoring chances.
“There are times where we just feel like, ‘OK, we just need Macken in defense, push everybody else (forward),’” Geddes said while laughing. “She’s just such a complete player.”
Infinity players in the Herald Journal representing their respected high schools
Much better start for MC
By Jason Turner
Published:
Friday, September 11, 2009 2:37 AM CDT
HYRUM — In its previous Region 5 match, the Mountain Crest girls soccer team got off to a horrid start, allowing three goals in the first nine minutes to Bonneville.
Needless to say, the Mustangs were determined to rectify their early-game struggles two days later, and they did just that.
Mountain Crest put relentless pressure on Box Elder in the opening 10 minutes and it paid off with a Randi Kendrick goal at the 4:15 mark, which propelled the Mustangs to a 2-0 victory Thursday at Lynn R. Miller Field.
“It was very important that we started off strong because we felt like we kind of gotten taken advantage of (by Bonneville) because we were flat-footed, but we did really well coming out really strong today, and we knew we had to prove a point that we don’t play like that,” MC wing Mindi Beckstrom said.
In the first 10 minutes alone, the Mustangs (6-1, 3-1 Region 5) peppered Bees goalkeeper Natasha Litchfield with six shots on goal and earned four corner kicks. Litchfield narrowly punched out attempts by Beckstrom and Juliette McCann, but couldn’t stop Kendrick’s powerful shot from the top of the 18.
Kendrick received a pass from Beckstrom and fired a right-footed shot at Litchfield, who got her hands on it but couldn’t stop it from tucking inside the near post.
It was all the offense Mountain Crest would need as the hosts dominated the possession battle the majority of the game. The Mustangs unofficially outshot the Bees (1-5, 0-4) 28-7, but the visitors were able to get behind the MC backline on a few occasions.
The Mustangs recovered in time to break up most of the plays, but keeper Janelle Shorts had to make an aggressive play off her line in the first half, and Box Elder’s Quinnce Johnson missed a wide open look after halftime.
“We’ve got to make sure that our D-line keeps dropping so they don’t get behind us,” said MC center back Shelby Rudd, who made several good plays in the attack. “We need to stay close to them all of the time.”
Defenders Randi Edvalson and Karlee Campbell both took some big hits and were shaken up a bit, but should be OK, MC head coach Dennis Giles said.
“We’re banged up, beat up and thrashed a little, but we’ve just got to step up and play, and I think they will,” Giles said. “I’ve got some young kids who can come in, but they’re inexperienced.”
The Mustangs got an insurance goal in the 55th minute when Beckstrom rebounded a shot by Jessica Hoskin from about six yards out. Mountain Crest took 16 shots after the break, but only put three on frame.
“We’ve got to finish, we’ve just got to finish,” Giles said. “And that just comes with time, we need more time. We may run out of time, but the kids are doing great and they’re getting in there (in dangerous scoring positions), and that’s what I like.”
Mountain Crest could have easily dented the scoreboard a few more times in the second half. For starters, Makelle Eggleston (pictured above) pinged a point-blank pass from Hoskin off the crossbar, and Beckstrom misfired on a penalty kick in the 65th.
Litchfield dove to deny a shot by Cassidee Nelson in the first half. Morgan Olsen set up the attempt by dribbling right through the heart of the Box Elder backline.
“We had three or four point-blank shots that should have went in, but we’ll get it,” said Giles, whose squad notched its third shutout of the season. “Like I’ve said, one day this is all going to come together. One day, but I hope it’s sooner than later.”
Bobcats 4, Tigers 1
After spotting Ogden (4-3-1, 2-2) a 1-0 lead five minutes into the match, Sky View (6-4, 2-2) made the most of its trip to Weber State’s home pitch.
“It was just a speed bump, really, because we did a great job of just controlling this match,” SV head coach Doyle Geddes said. “It was a beautiful field, great venue ... and really, I think it gave us an advantage. ... We were able to spread them out, ping the ball around and when we started figuring out that our best scoring chances would come by putting the ball across the face (of the goal) from the wings, we ended up with some really nice goals out of it.”
Stacy Bair played a big part in three of Sky View’s goals, converting on a penalty kick in the 24th, and then delivering a pair of textbook crosses from the wing, which were headed in by Krista Whittle and Jessica Clements, in the second half.
“I know she was frustrated (in the last couple of matches), and so it was really good to she the ball go through her a bit more,” Geddes said of Bair. “And I think she helped the process by being very unselfish, and so the balls that she gave up came right back to her.”
Jessica Brooksby scored the Bobcats’ other goal on a great through ball from Robin Hansen in the 18th, said Geddes, who also singled out the play of reserves Shakiah Saltern and Jaden (J.D.) Larsen.
By Jason Turner
Published:
Friday, September 11, 2009 2:37 AM CDT
HYRUM — In its previous Region 5 match, the Mountain Crest girls soccer team got off to a horrid start, allowing three goals in the first nine minutes to Bonneville.Needless to say, the Mustangs were determined to rectify their early-game struggles two days later, and they did just that.
Mountain Crest put relentless pressure on Box Elder in the opening 10 minutes and it paid off with a Randi Kendrick goal at the 4:15 mark, which propelled the Mustangs to a 2-0 victory Thursday at Lynn R. Miller Field.
“It was very important that we started off strong because we felt like we kind of gotten taken advantage of (by Bonneville) because we were flat-footed, but we did really well coming out really strong today, and we knew we had to prove a point that we don’t play like that,” MC wing Mindi Beckstrom said.
In the first 10 minutes alone, the Mustangs (6-1, 3-1 Region 5) peppered Bees goalkeeper Natasha Litchfield with six shots on goal and earned four corner kicks. Litchfield narrowly punched out attempts by Beckstrom and Juliette McCann, but couldn’t stop Kendrick’s powerful shot from the top of the 18.
Kendrick received a pass from Beckstrom and fired a right-footed shot at Litchfield, who got her hands on it but couldn’t stop it from tucking inside the near post.
It was all the offense Mountain Crest would need as the hosts dominated the possession battle the majority of the game. The Mustangs unofficially outshot the Bees (1-5, 0-4) 28-7, but the visitors were able to get behind the MC backline on a few occasions.
The Mustangs recovered in time to break up most of the plays, but keeper Janelle Shorts had to make an aggressive play off her line in the first half, and Box Elder’s Quinnce Johnson missed a wide open look after halftime.
“We’ve got to make sure that our D-line keeps dropping so they don’t get behind us,” said MC center back Shelby Rudd, who made several good plays in the attack. “We need to stay close to them all of the time.”
Defenders Randi Edvalson and Karlee Campbell both took some big hits and were shaken up a bit, but should be OK, MC head coach Dennis Giles said.
“We’re banged up, beat up and thrashed a little, but we’ve just got to step up and play, and I think they will,” Giles said. “I’ve got some young kids who can come in, but they’re inexperienced.”
The Mustangs got an insurance goal in the 55th minute when Beckstrom rebounded a shot by Jessica Hoskin from about six yards out. Mountain Crest took 16 shots after the break, but only put three on frame.
“We’ve got to finish, we’ve just got to finish,” Giles said. “And that just comes with time, we need more time. We may run out of time, but the kids are doing great and they’re getting in there (in dangerous scoring positions), and that’s what I like.”
Mountain Crest could have easily dented the scoreboard a few more times in the second half. For starters, Makelle Eggleston (pictured above) pinged a point-blank pass from Hoskin off the crossbar, and Beckstrom misfired on a penalty kick in the 65th.
Litchfield dove to deny a shot by Cassidee Nelson in the first half. Morgan Olsen set up the attempt by dribbling right through the heart of the Box Elder backline.
“We had three or four point-blank shots that should have went in, but we’ll get it,” said Giles, whose squad notched its third shutout of the season. “Like I’ve said, one day this is all going to come together. One day, but I hope it’s sooner than later.”
Bobcats 4, Tigers 1
After spotting Ogden (4-3-1, 2-2) a 1-0 lead five minutes into the match, Sky View (6-4, 2-2) made the most of its trip to Weber State’s home pitch.
“It was just a speed bump, really, because we did a great job of just controlling this match,” SV head coach Doyle Geddes said. “It was a beautiful field, great venue ... and really, I think it gave us an advantage. ... We were able to spread them out, ping the ball around and when we started figuring out that our best scoring chances would come by putting the ball across the face (of the goal) from the wings, we ended up with some really nice goals out of it.”
Stacy Bair played a big part in three of Sky View’s goals, converting on a penalty kick in the 24th, and then delivering a pair of textbook crosses from the wing, which were headed in by Krista Whittle and Jessica Clements, in the second half.
“I know she was frustrated (in the last couple of matches), and so it was really good to she the ball go through her a bit more,” Geddes said of Bair. “And I think she helped the process by being very unselfish, and so the balls that she gave up came right back to her.”
Jessica Brooksby scored the Bobcats’ other goal on a great through ball from Robin Hansen in the 18th, said Geddes, who also singled out the play of reserves Shakiah Saltern and Jaden (J.D.) Larsen.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Infinity players in the Herald Journal representing their respected high schools
Kendrick powers MC
By Jason Turner
Published:
Wednesday, September 2, 2009 3:16 AM CDT
As fast as Jessica Hoskin is, it’s really easy for opponents of the Mountain Crest girls soccer team to focus on containing the senior forward.
That’s when players like Randi Kendrick have been able to rise to the occasion so far this season.
Kendrick scored two goals in the final 10 minutes of the match, propelling Mountain Crest to a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Logan in the Region 5 opener for both teams Tuesday night at Crimson Field.
“We’ve been working on that for quite some time ... because we know they’re keying on Jess because she’s fast, and they were watching her and they were doubling her,” MC head coach Dennis Giles said. “And here Randi steps up the way she did, and that’s what we need. And we’ve got a lot of kids capable of doing it, there’s a lot of them out there.”
The Mustangs have indeed proven they have a lot of players who can be dangerous in the attack, and that’s a big reason why they are now 4-0 on the campaign. Seven different players have already scored for Mountain Crest.
“Every single person on our team wanted to win,” Kendrick said. “This is a big game for us and our first region game, so we just came together as a team and everybody said they were going to work their butt off and just do their part.”
As for the Grizzlies (2-4, 0-1 region), it wasn’t the ending they were hoping for, but they improved substantially after setbacks to Morgan and Springville last week.
“I think we did a lot better,” LHS goalkeeper Taylor Anderson said. “In our practices lately, we’ve been focusing more on making it harder for each other and pressuring each other more, and I think our unity is getting better.”
Anderson was certainly a big reason why it was anyone’s match when the 70th minute rolled around. The senior was outstanding, coming off her line on a handful of occasions, with no regard for her body, to thwart dangerous Mustang attacks.
“That’s what we’ve been talking about is ... owning the goal, and no matter who’s shooting at you, you are telling yourself you are going to deny them that goal,” LHS head coach Mitch Peterson said. “It could be your teammate in practice, it doesn’t matter who it is. I mean, you have to take ownership of (the goal), and Taylor did that tonight.”
Unfortunately for Anderson and the Grizzlies, Kendrick was also up to the challenge. Logan spent the majority of the final 25 minutes or so chasing Mountain Crest, and Peterson felt his players got a little winded.
As a result, Kendrick was able to get behind the Logan back line on a through ball at the 71:35 mark. Kendrick’s initial shot was stopped by Anderson, but No. 10 stuck with the play and scored.
With less than two minutes to go in the game, Kendrick settled a pass from Hoskin and buried an absolutely perfect shot into the upper 90 of the far post.
“Logan, they were much better than I thought they were going to be,” Giles said. “... They’ve got some great players out there. I’m impressed with them, and they’ll be coming at us again, I’m sure. They put it together and they did well, but we finally came through and got our timing down and got them in the goal.”
Mountain Crest’s first goal was equally as impressive as the last. Kendrick tracked down a corner ball on the right side of the pitch, laid it back to Hoskin, who immediately crossed it to Mindi Beckstrom. Beckstrom then one-timed a volley just inside the far post.
The Mustangs were controlling the possession battle until the 21st. That’s when Maddie Daines headed a ball to Tonya Anderson behind the MC backline, and Anderson fired a shot past keeper Kjersty Cook from 12 yards out.
Logan then proceeded to win the possession battle for the rest of the opening half.
“I think all it did was give us the little confidence that we needed, and the realization to slow down and get back into our game,” Peterson said. “... Right then, we realized, ‘Oh, OK, we are in this thing.’”
Like her counterpart, Cook was solid in goal. The junior made four saves, including two in which she had to dive to deny well-driven shots by Sam Emmett.
Logan welcomed back senior Jordan Hartman, who had missed the first five matches recovering from surgery on her left arm.
Lakers 3, Bobcats 1
Take away the first 20 minutes and visiting Sky View outplayed the defending 4A state champions, SV head coach Doyle Geddes said. However, a trio of goals by all-staters Ally Shaw and Jaiden Thornock in that timespan proved to be too much to overcome.
Shaw and Thornock have now scored 14 of Bonneville’s (4-1, 1-0) 17 goals this season.
“We just had a lousy 20 minutes,” Geddes said. “Once we settled in, the game looked really nice, but that first 20 was absolutely ugly ... and you can’t do that against a team like Bonneville.”
The Bobcats (4-3, 0-1) trimmed the deficit to 3-1 in the 22nd when Robin Hansen scored on a pass from Megan Payne. Unfortunately for Sky View, it had a handful of near misses that would have changed the tide of the match.
For example, Stacy Bair and Shaylee Saxton both took shots that found the woodwork, while Haley Voeller narrowly misfired on a shot from about six yards away.
“We got one (goal) back,” Geddes said. “We could have gotten eight or nine back, but they have a solid keeper. It could have been a 5-3 or 6-3 game for us after our wake-up call.”
By Jason Turner
Published:
Wednesday, September 2, 2009 3:16 AM CDT
As fast as Jessica Hoskin is, it’s really easy for opponents of the Mountain Crest girls soccer team to focus on containing the senior forward.
That’s when players like Randi Kendrick have been able to rise to the occasion so far this season.
Kendrick scored two goals in the final 10 minutes of the match, propelling Mountain Crest to a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Logan in the Region 5 opener for both teams Tuesday night at Crimson Field.
“We’ve been working on that for quite some time ... because we know they’re keying on Jess because she’s fast, and they were watching her and they were doubling her,” MC head coach Dennis Giles said. “And here Randi steps up the way she did, and that’s what we need. And we’ve got a lot of kids capable of doing it, there’s a lot of them out there.”
The Mustangs have indeed proven they have a lot of players who can be dangerous in the attack, and that’s a big reason why they are now 4-0 on the campaign. Seven different players have already scored for Mountain Crest.
“Every single person on our team wanted to win,” Kendrick said. “This is a big game for us and our first region game, so we just came together as a team and everybody said they were going to work their butt off and just do their part.”
As for the Grizzlies (2-4, 0-1 region), it wasn’t the ending they were hoping for, but they improved substantially after setbacks to Morgan and Springville last week.
“I think we did a lot better,” LHS goalkeeper Taylor Anderson said. “In our practices lately, we’ve been focusing more on making it harder for each other and pressuring each other more, and I think our unity is getting better.”
Anderson was certainly a big reason why it was anyone’s match when the 70th minute rolled around. The senior was outstanding, coming off her line on a handful of occasions, with no regard for her body, to thwart dangerous Mustang attacks.
“That’s what we’ve been talking about is ... owning the goal, and no matter who’s shooting at you, you are telling yourself you are going to deny them that goal,” LHS head coach Mitch Peterson said. “It could be your teammate in practice, it doesn’t matter who it is. I mean, you have to take ownership of (the goal), and Taylor did that tonight.”
Unfortunately for Anderson and the Grizzlies, Kendrick was also up to the challenge. Logan spent the majority of the final 25 minutes or so chasing Mountain Crest, and Peterson felt his players got a little winded.
As a result, Kendrick was able to get behind the Logan back line on a through ball at the 71:35 mark. Kendrick’s initial shot was stopped by Anderson, but No. 10 stuck with the play and scored.
With less than two minutes to go in the game, Kendrick settled a pass from Hoskin and buried an absolutely perfect shot into the upper 90 of the far post.
“Logan, they were much better than I thought they were going to be,” Giles said. “... They’ve got some great players out there. I’m impressed with them, and they’ll be coming at us again, I’m sure. They put it together and they did well, but we finally came through and got our timing down and got them in the goal.”
Mountain Crest’s first goal was equally as impressive as the last. Kendrick tracked down a corner ball on the right side of the pitch, laid it back to Hoskin, who immediately crossed it to Mindi Beckstrom. Beckstrom then one-timed a volley just inside the far post.
The Mustangs were controlling the possession battle until the 21st. That’s when Maddie Daines headed a ball to Tonya Anderson behind the MC backline, and Anderson fired a shot past keeper Kjersty Cook from 12 yards out.
Logan then proceeded to win the possession battle for the rest of the opening half.
“I think all it did was give us the little confidence that we needed, and the realization to slow down and get back into our game,” Peterson said. “... Right then, we realized, ‘Oh, OK, we are in this thing.’”
Like her counterpart, Cook was solid in goal. The junior made four saves, including two in which she had to dive to deny well-driven shots by Sam Emmett.
Logan welcomed back senior Jordan Hartman, who had missed the first five matches recovering from surgery on her left arm.
Lakers 3, Bobcats 1
Take away the first 20 minutes and visiting Sky View outplayed the defending 4A state champions, SV head coach Doyle Geddes said. However, a trio of goals by all-staters Ally Shaw and Jaiden Thornock in that timespan proved to be too much to overcome.
Shaw and Thornock have now scored 14 of Bonneville’s (4-1, 1-0) 17 goals this season.
“We just had a lousy 20 minutes,” Geddes said. “Once we settled in, the game looked really nice, but that first 20 was absolutely ugly ... and you can’t do that against a team like Bonneville.”
The Bobcats (4-3, 0-1) trimmed the deficit to 3-1 in the 22nd when Robin Hansen scored on a pass from Megan Payne. Unfortunately for Sky View, it had a handful of near misses that would have changed the tide of the match.
For example, Stacy Bair and Shaylee Saxton both took shots that found the woodwork, while Haley Voeller narrowly misfired on a shot from about six yards away.
“We got one (goal) back,” Geddes said. “We could have gotten eight or nine back, but they have a solid keeper. It could have been a 5-3 or 6-3 game for us after our wake-up call.”
Friday, August 28, 2009
Infinity players in the Herald Journal representing their respected high schools
MUSTANGS 6, BEARS 0
Thursday at Hyrum
Bear River 0 0 — 0
Mtn. Crest 3 3 — 6
First Half
MC — Morgan Eggleston (Mindi Beckstrom), 19:95
MC — Jessica Hoskin (Juliette McCann), 24:35
MC — Hoskin (Cassidee Nelson, Makelle Eggleston), 38:47
Second Half
MC — Nelson (Randi Kendrick), 56:05
MC — Karlee Campbell, 66:20
MC — McCann (Hoskin), 69:10
BOBCATS 3, MINERS 0
Thursday at Smithfield
Park City 0 0 — 0
Sky View 0 3 — 3
Second Half
SV — Stacy Bair (Jessica Brooksby), 42:00.
SV — Bair (Meagan Payne), 77:00.
SV — Brooksby (Haley Voeller), 79:00.
Thursday at Hyrum
Bear River 0 0 — 0
Mtn. Crest 3 3 — 6
First Half
MC — Morgan Eggleston (Mindi Beckstrom), 19:95
MC — Jessica Hoskin (Juliette McCann), 24:35
MC — Hoskin (Cassidee Nelson, Makelle Eggleston), 38:47
Second Half
MC — Nelson (Randi Kendrick), 56:05
MC — Karlee Campbell, 66:20
MC — McCann (Hoskin), 69:10
BOBCATS 3, MINERS 0
Thursday at Smithfield
Park City 0 0 — 0
Sky View 0 3 — 3
Second Half
SV — Stacy Bair (Jessica Brooksby), 42:00.
SV — Bair (Meagan Payne), 77:00.
SV — Brooksby (Haley Voeller), 79:00.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Infinity players in the Herald Journal representing their respected high schools
Logan 1, Morgan 2"The Grizzlies initially scored the equalizer late in the first half on a well-driven Maddie Daines (pictured to the left in yellow) free kick from 19 yards out, which tucked inside the near post. Nicky Bennett was ruled to be fouled just outside the box — the Logan faithful was hoping for a penalty kick — setting the stage for Daines."
“We had some great, great play from Sam Emmett, Ali Noorda came in off the bench and played very solid for us the second half.
Mustangs 5, Jayhawks 2
The Mustangs (2-0) struck quickly against the host Jayhawks (3-2), scoring in the 6th on a 25-yard free kick by Mindi Beckstrom, and the 9th on a point-blank shot by Juliette McCann. Jessica Hoskin assisted on the play.
Kasandra Anderson gave MC a 3-0 halftime lead when she buried a 30-yard shot off of a pass from Cassidee Nelson.
However, goals by Morgan Eggleston — assisted by Randi Kendrick — and McCann made sure Mountain Crest was never seriously threatened.
Giles raved about McCann’s second goal. Morgan Olsen dribbled to the end line and crossed it to McCann, who used the back of her foot to beat the St. Joseph’s keeper from inside the 6.
Read entire article here: http://hjnews.townnews.com/articles/2009/08/26/sports/sports01-08-26-09.txt
Monday, August 24, 2009
Infinity players in the Herald Journal representing their respected high schools
Brooksby propels Bobcats
By Wade Denniston
Published:
Thursday, August 20, 2009 2:40 AM CDT
Sky View’s girls soccer team didn’t let the loss to powerhouse Alta keep it down very long.
The Bobcats bounced back less than 24 hours later.
Freshman Jessica Brooksby scored the first two goals of her career, as well as added an assist, to lead the Bobcats to a 3-1 road victory over the Orem Tigers on Wednesday afternoon.
“It was a really solid game for us, a consistent effort and it was really good for us to not have a letdown, especially after playing a real tough one with Alta at (Real Salt Lake’s) Rio Tinto (Stadium),” said Sky View head coach Doyle Geddes, whose team fell to the Hawks 2-1 on Tuesday night.
“... It was a good bounce back for us.”
Brooksby gave Sky View (2-2-0) a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute when she scored her first goal of the match. Sophomore Stacy Bair had the assist.
That duo hooked up again 10 minutes later when Bair, who was on the receiving end of a Brooksby pass, found the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.
“(Brooksby) returned the favor,” Geddes said. “... There’s a nice, kind of invisible thread between the two of those players.”
Brooksby, on an assist from Mia Felts, made it 3-0 in the 62nd when she scored her second goal of the match.
The Tigers (3-1-0) avoided the shutout courtesy of a Megan Sackett goal in the 75th.
For Orem, this was its second match in as many days. The Tigers are also in action today against Lehi in their region opener.
“I think what Orem did is they kind of looked past us because they open their region (today),” Geddes said. “I was surprised they even played us.”
By Wade Denniston
Published:
Thursday, August 20, 2009 2:40 AM CDT
Sky View’s girls soccer team didn’t let the loss to powerhouse Alta keep it down very long.
The Bobcats bounced back less than 24 hours later.
Freshman Jessica Brooksby scored the first two goals of her career, as well as added an assist, to lead the Bobcats to a 3-1 road victory over the Orem Tigers on Wednesday afternoon.
“It was a really solid game for us, a consistent effort and it was really good for us to not have a letdown, especially after playing a real tough one with Alta at (Real Salt Lake’s) Rio Tinto (Stadium),” said Sky View head coach Doyle Geddes, whose team fell to the Hawks 2-1 on Tuesday night.
“... It was a good bounce back for us.”
Brooksby gave Sky View (2-2-0) a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute when she scored her first goal of the match. Sophomore Stacy Bair had the assist.
That duo hooked up again 10 minutes later when Bair, who was on the receiving end of a Brooksby pass, found the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.
“(Brooksby) returned the favor,” Geddes said. “... There’s a nice, kind of invisible thread between the two of those players.”
Brooksby, on an assist from Mia Felts, made it 3-0 in the 62nd when she scored her second goal of the match.
The Tigers (3-1-0) avoided the shutout courtesy of a Megan Sackett goal in the 75th.
For Orem, this was its second match in as many days. The Tigers are also in action today against Lehi in their region opener.
“I think what Orem did is they kind of looked past us because they open their region (today),” Geddes said. “I was surprised they even played us.”
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Guided Discovery
By Sam Snow, US Youth Soccer Technical Director
The traditional way sports have been taught is with the coach at the center of attention. The coach told the players what to do {command style} and expected them to produce. With the command style, the coach explains a skill, demonstrates the skill and allows the players to practice the skill. In contrast to 'reproduction' of knowledge in the coach-centered approach, the guided discovery approach emphasizes the "production" of new talents. The approach invites the player to think, to go beyond the given information and then discover the correct skills. The essence of this style is a coach-player connection in which your sequence of information and questions causes responses by the player. The combination of information and question by you elicits a correct response, which is discovered by the player. The effect of this process leads the player to discover the sought tactic or technique. Guided discovery simply means that you raise questions and provide options or choices for the players, guiding the players to answer the questions for themselves because they become curious about the answers. The novice player in a command style setting thinks too much about what they are trying to do, a form of paralysis by analysis. Instead if you guide the players in a player-centered training environment then they gradually become capable of holistic thinking in their soccer performance.
Holistic thought is opposed to the analytical type of thinking. Analysis means to divide the whole into parts which can be studied more closely. Holistic thinking considers the thing as a whole. Soccer performances {training sessions and especially matches} are better suited to holistic than analytical treatment because they involve an integrated set of movements which must all happen at the same time. There simply is not enough time during a match to perform each of the movements separately and then string them together. Holistic thinking has been linked anatomically to functions carried out in the right hemisphere of the brain. The brain has both a right and left hemisphere connected by a bundle of nerves called the corpus collosum. The right hemisphere coordinates movements and sensations associated with the left side of the body and the left hemisphere does the same for the right side of the body. In addition, the left hemisphere is known to control analytical thinking, which includes verbal expression, reading, writing and mathematical computation. The functions associated with the right side of the brain are nonintellectual ones or those having to do with sensory interpretation, coordination of movement, intuitive or creative thinking and holistic perception of complex patterns. This hemisphere can grasp a number of patterns simultaneously.[i]
Sports tradition has emphasized left-side brain functions to the exclusion of the other. We acquire pieces of knowledge one at a time. In soccer, the traditional coach teaches separate points of technique, ignoring the 'flow' needed in actual performance. Some coaches use the holistic approach. In soccer we draw upon right-hand brain capabilities of holistic perception, rhythm, spatial relationships, and simultaneous processing of many inputs. Left brain functions are largely uninvolved. Novice players often go wrong in trying to control their movements with a constant, specific internal awareness. They engage the left-brain functions of analysis and sequence to interfere with holistic coordination of physical movement, which is a right-brain function. Obscuring a player's awareness with too many instructions {over-coaching} will make him or her so preoccupied that he or she can't 'chew gum and run at the same time!' It's called 'paralysis through analysis'.
It is often argued that effective coaching is as much an art as it is a science. Guided discovery in coaching soccer is a balance of the two. In a broad sense our coaching style of the American soccer player must move away from the 'sage on the stage' to the 'guide on the side'.
""I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand.""
Confucius
CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THIS
The traditional way sports have been taught is with the coach at the center of attention. The coach told the players what to do {command style} and expected them to produce. With the command style, the coach explains a skill, demonstrates the skill and allows the players to practice the skill. In contrast to 'reproduction' of knowledge in the coach-centered approach, the guided discovery approach emphasizes the "production" of new talents. The approach invites the player to think, to go beyond the given information and then discover the correct skills. The essence of this style is a coach-player connection in which your sequence of information and questions causes responses by the player. The combination of information and question by you elicits a correct response, which is discovered by the player. The effect of this process leads the player to discover the sought tactic or technique. Guided discovery simply means that you raise questions and provide options or choices for the players, guiding the players to answer the questions for themselves because they become curious about the answers. The novice player in a command style setting thinks too much about what they are trying to do, a form of paralysis by analysis. Instead if you guide the players in a player-centered training environment then they gradually become capable of holistic thinking in their soccer performance.
Holistic thought is opposed to the analytical type of thinking. Analysis means to divide the whole into parts which can be studied more closely. Holistic thinking considers the thing as a whole. Soccer performances {training sessions and especially matches} are better suited to holistic than analytical treatment because they involve an integrated set of movements which must all happen at the same time. There simply is not enough time during a match to perform each of the movements separately and then string them together. Holistic thinking has been linked anatomically to functions carried out in the right hemisphere of the brain. The brain has both a right and left hemisphere connected by a bundle of nerves called the corpus collosum. The right hemisphere coordinates movements and sensations associated with the left side of the body and the left hemisphere does the same for the right side of the body. In addition, the left hemisphere is known to control analytical thinking, which includes verbal expression, reading, writing and mathematical computation. The functions associated with the right side of the brain are nonintellectual ones or those having to do with sensory interpretation, coordination of movement, intuitive or creative thinking and holistic perception of complex patterns. This hemisphere can grasp a number of patterns simultaneously.[i]
Sports tradition has emphasized left-side brain functions to the exclusion of the other. We acquire pieces of knowledge one at a time. In soccer, the traditional coach teaches separate points of technique, ignoring the 'flow' needed in actual performance. Some coaches use the holistic approach. In soccer we draw upon right-hand brain capabilities of holistic perception, rhythm, spatial relationships, and simultaneous processing of many inputs. Left brain functions are largely uninvolved. Novice players often go wrong in trying to control their movements with a constant, specific internal awareness. They engage the left-brain functions of analysis and sequence to interfere with holistic coordination of physical movement, which is a right-brain function. Obscuring a player's awareness with too many instructions {over-coaching} will make him or her so preoccupied that he or she can't 'chew gum and run at the same time!' It's called 'paralysis through analysis'.
It is often argued that effective coaching is as much an art as it is a science. Guided discovery in coaching soccer is a balance of the two. In a broad sense our coaching style of the American soccer player must move away from the 'sage on the stage' to the 'guide on the side'.
""I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand.""
Confucius
CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THIS
Monday, August 3, 2009
July Coaches Meeting Agenda & Powerpoint Presentation
To view agenda click the following link: http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddp5t87f_116cp6kfqcb
To view the power point click the following link: http://www.infinitysc.com/page/Powerpoint--july-28th-2009.aspx
When viewing the power point please click each image as many of them have videos linked to them.
To view the power point click the following link: http://www.infinitysc.com/page/Powerpoint--july-28th-2009.aspx
When viewing the power point please click each image as many of them have videos linked to them.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Infinity SC fares well in Utah's State Cup
By Jason Turner
Published:
Sunday, May 24, 2009 2:33 AM CDT
It wasn’t the ending they were hoping for, but a pair of youth girls soccer teams from Cache Valley took a significant step forward in challenging the best clubs in the state.
Locally-based Infinity Soccer Club had two teams advance to the championship round of a prestigious state tournament. The two-week 2009 Spring State Cup concluded Saturday in Orem, and it’s the first time a local club — girls or boys — has ever played for a State Cup title.
“It’s kind of a neat thing because we kind of made history here in Cache Valley,” said Sherri Dever, Infinity’s director of coaching. “... It’s a great accomplishment.”
Unfortunately for Infinity’s U11 and U12 squads, they struggled a bit against a pair of teams from the renowned Utah Avalanche club in the finals.
The U11 Infinity SC 98 Premier team was defeated by Avalanche 98 Premier, 6-1, while Infinity SC 97 fell to Avalanche 97 Premier Black, 3-0.
However, both teams made plenty of noise at the tournament before bowing out. For starters, both squads were dominant during pool play. The U11 squad outscored the opposition 18-3 over the course of three matches, while their U12 counterparts didn’t allow a goal in three pool games and found the back of the net an eye-popping 19 times.
“The girls worked very, very hard,” said Robson Chaves, who coaches both teams. “They pushed it to the limit, their parents too, and look at the results. It’s very exciting.”
In the quarterfinal round, the U11 squad beat Hobble Creek Storm 98, 5-3, and then edged Sparta 98 Premier, 2-1, for the right to play for all the marbles. There were 14 teams in the U11 bracket.
It should be no surprise the 11-year-olds made it to the finals, considering they won the regular-season title with a record of 8-2 and had two of the top three goal scorers in the league.
Demi Lopez and Takesha Saltern netted a combined 31 goals during the regular season, with Lopez leading the way with 17. Other team leaders for Infinity SC 98 Premier are goalkeeper Samantha Loosli, defenders Brianna Sims and Berkley Hellstern and midfielder Hannah Anhder.
Evidently, the U11 team also displayed good sportsmanship at the Spring State Cup as none of the players were issued yellow or red cards.
As for the U12 squad, it rolled over Avalanche 97 Premier White, 5-2, in the quarterfinals before pulling out a 3-2 overtime victory over LaRoca Premier — one of the state’s most respected clubs — in the round of four.
Unfortunately for Infinity SC 97 Premier, it couldn’t replicate its strong play in the finals against the Avalanche team — a squad the local girls beat at home 4-3 during the regular season. In fact, this Infinity squad is 4-2-1 against Avalanche Black over the past two years, Chaves said.
When talking about the U12 team, Chaves gushed about the play of offensive leaders Erin Richenbach, Alexis Sims, Annalee Davidson and Hayley Oldham, midfielder Madison Siddoway and backline stalwart Katelyn Whipple. Sims also logs in some minutes in the back, while Viridiana Gomez and Rebecca Jenson shared the GK duties.
The U12 squad went 6-2-2 during the regular season and competed against 15 other teams at the Spring State Cup.
And while a chance at capturing that elusive State Cup championship will have to wait a little while longer, the possibility certainly became that much more realistic.
“The teams from smaller places can beat the teams from big places with proper training and proper technique,” Chaves said. “... I think we showed that this season ... and it’s a big thing for Cache Valley.”
For more information about the tournament, go to www.uysa.org and click on the Tournaments State Cup link.
Published:
Sunday, May 24, 2009 2:33 AM CDT
It wasn’t the ending they were hoping for, but a pair of youth girls soccer teams from Cache Valley took a significant step forward in challenging the best clubs in the state.
Locally-based Infinity Soccer Club had two teams advance to the championship round of a prestigious state tournament. The two-week 2009 Spring State Cup concluded Saturday in Orem, and it’s the first time a local club — girls or boys — has ever played for a State Cup title.
“It’s kind of a neat thing because we kind of made history here in Cache Valley,” said Sherri Dever, Infinity’s director of coaching. “... It’s a great accomplishment.”
Unfortunately for Infinity’s U11 and U12 squads, they struggled a bit against a pair of teams from the renowned Utah Avalanche club in the finals.
The U11 Infinity SC 98 Premier team was defeated by Avalanche 98 Premier, 6-1, while Infinity SC 97 fell to Avalanche 97 Premier Black, 3-0.
However, both teams made plenty of noise at the tournament before bowing out. For starters, both squads were dominant during pool play. The U11 squad outscored the opposition 18-3 over the course of three matches, while their U12 counterparts didn’t allow a goal in three pool games and found the back of the net an eye-popping 19 times.
“The girls worked very, very hard,” said Robson Chaves, who coaches both teams. “They pushed it to the limit, their parents too, and look at the results. It’s very exciting.”
In the quarterfinal round, the U11 squad beat Hobble Creek Storm 98, 5-3, and then edged Sparta 98 Premier, 2-1, for the right to play for all the marbles. There were 14 teams in the U11 bracket.
It should be no surprise the 11-year-olds made it to the finals, considering they won the regular-season title with a record of 8-2 and had two of the top three goal scorers in the league.
Demi Lopez and Takesha Saltern netted a combined 31 goals during the regular season, with Lopez leading the way with 17. Other team leaders for Infinity SC 98 Premier are goalkeeper Samantha Loosli, defenders Brianna Sims and Berkley Hellstern and midfielder Hannah Anhder.
Evidently, the U11 team also displayed good sportsmanship at the Spring State Cup as none of the players were issued yellow or red cards.
As for the U12 squad, it rolled over Avalanche 97 Premier White, 5-2, in the quarterfinals before pulling out a 3-2 overtime victory over LaRoca Premier — one of the state’s most respected clubs — in the round of four.
Unfortunately for Infinity SC 97 Premier, it couldn’t replicate its strong play in the finals against the Avalanche team — a squad the local girls beat at home 4-3 during the regular season. In fact, this Infinity squad is 4-2-1 against Avalanche Black over the past two years, Chaves said.
When talking about the U12 team, Chaves gushed about the play of offensive leaders Erin Richenbach, Alexis Sims, Annalee Davidson and Hayley Oldham, midfielder Madison Siddoway and backline stalwart Katelyn Whipple. Sims also logs in some minutes in the back, while Viridiana Gomez and Rebecca Jenson shared the GK duties.
The U12 squad went 6-2-2 during the regular season and competed against 15 other teams at the Spring State Cup.
And while a chance at capturing that elusive State Cup championship will have to wait a little while longer, the possibility certainly became that much more realistic.
“The teams from smaller places can beat the teams from big places with proper training and proper technique,” Chaves said. “... I think we showed that this season ... and it’s a big thing for Cache Valley.”
For more information about the tournament, go to www.uysa.org and click on the Tournaments State Cup link.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Winning is Great, but it’s Not the Goal!
By Pam Richmond Champagne, MCC, The Sports Parenting Coach
Recently the parent of an aspiring athlete told me it seemed “almost un-American” to say winning is not the goal. In fact, many would say we compete in a “win-at-all-costs” environment. Is this helping or hurting our kids’ performances and lives? Naturally we all prefer to win, but this is a critical distinction: winning is a byproduct or a consequence, not a goal.
Paradoxically you increase your odds of winning when you place 100% attention, not on
winning, but on the process – the learning and development, the continual movement toward mastery. During competition this means having a moment-to-moment, concentrated focus on executing skills and maintaining a positive attitude.
John Naber, a four-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming, exemplifies this vital concept. He shares, “My goal was never to win a race. My goal was to be the best I could be that day.”Disturbing news stories and studies show a focus on winning can produce un-sportsmanlike behavior, outright dishonesty, and unethical use of dangerous drugs.Focusing on the outcome also decreases performance. It leads the performer away from the power of the present moment and creates performance-lowering tension by putting attention on something not under a player’s direct control.
I vividly recall one of my tennis matches that is a perfect illustration. In a close three-set final, I was just one game away from winning my match when all of my attention went to the outcome – winning the tournament. My strokes fell apart, I made a series of dumb errors, and the championship title slipped away.
As a parent you can help your child stay focused on the process. How? Be interested in
what she’s learning about herself and what skills she’s developing. Find out what he enjoys about his sport. Most importantly, model this process orientation for your child. You certainly don’t have direct control over how well your athlete performs, but you do have control over how calm you are during and after your child’s performance, what you say, and how encouraging you are. Next time you find yourself getting frustrated or annoyed at your child’s performance, ask yourself, what am I trying to control that I don’t have control over? Then zero in on what you do control. And remind yourself the winning focus is on the learning and the fun!
Pam’s Point: There’s a huge gap between loving to win and having to win, between
competing to do our best and competing to be “the best."
Friday, May 1, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tryouts in Youth Soccer
Recently I received this note from a youth coach.
Mr. Snow,
I have been working with a recreational soccer organization the past two years. We have been focused on player development and getting all of the kids out there involved. Our program is over 60 percent Under-8, with the rest spread out over the U-10, U-12, and U-14 ranks.
After this past season, parents of one team of U-8 boys complained that they didn't think that all three U-8 boys' teams in our organization were balanced amongst each other even though they all had nearly identical records. Long story short, the parents are demanding a tryout scheme be step up before spring soccer starts.
There are three USSF certified coaches in the organization and we keep telling the parents and the organization's Board members that the idea of having tryouts for U-8 in a recreational league is silly, but no one seems to be listening to us. Is there anything that the US Youth Soccer Association may have in writing we can show them that may drive this point to them home? We have been having great success by focusing on Player Development and working with all of the kids on all of the skills. The three of us coaches that have gone through training think that the idea of tryouts on such a young age will hurt the program overall because it implies a win at all cost mentality.
Hello Coach,
The 55 state Technical Directors agree with your stance and have stated so in the Position Statements. Here are the ones pertinent to your situation.
PLAYING NUMBERS – SMALL SIDED GAMES No. 1
The intent is to use small-sided games as the vehicle for match play for players under the age of 12. Further we wish to promote age/ability appropriate training activities for players' nationwide. Clubs should use small-sided games as the primary vehicle for the development of skill and the understanding of simple tactics. Our rationale is that the creation of skill and a passion for the game occurs between the ages of six to 12.
With the correct environment throughout this age period players will both excel and become top players or they will continue to enjoy playing at their own levels and enjoy observing the game at higher levels. A small-sided game in match play for our younger players create more involvement, more touches of the ball, exposure to simple, realistic decisions and ultimately, more enjoyment. Players must be challenged at their own age/ability levels to improve performance. The numbers of players on the field of play will affect levels of competition.
Children come to soccer practice to have fun. They want to run, touch the ball, have the feel of the ball, master it and score. The environment within which we place players during training sessions and matches should promote all of these desires, not frustrate them.
• We believe that players under the age of six should play games of 3 v 3. This will provide a less cluttered and more developmentally appropriate playing environment. No attempt whatsoever should be made at this age to teach a team formation! These playing numbers should be implemented by September 1, 2009.
• We believe that players under the age of eight should play games of 4 v 4. This will provide a less cluttered and more developmentally appropriate playing environment. Players in this age group can be exposed to a team formation at the start of the game, but do not be dismayed when it disappears once the ball is rolling. The intent at this age is to merely plant a seed toward understanding spatial awareness. These playing numbers should be implemented by September 1, 2009.
• We believe that players under the age of ten should play games of 6 v 6. This will provide a less cluttered and more developmentally appropriate playing environment. The coaching of positions to children under the age of ten is considered intellectually challenging and often situates parent-coaches in a knowledge vacuum. Additionally, premature structure of U-10 players into positions is often detrimental to the growth of individual skills and tactical awareness. This problem is particularly acute with players of limited technical ability. We also believe that the quality of coaching has an impact on the playing numbers. We recommend that parent-coaches would best serve their U-10 players by holding a Youth Module certificate. These playing numbers should be implemented by September 1, 2009.
• We believe that players under the age of twelve should play games of 8 v 8. This will provide a less cluttered and more developmentally appropriate environment. The U-12 age group is the dawning of tactical awareness and we feel it is best to teach the players individual and group tactics at this age rather than team tactics. These playing numbers for the U-11 age group should be implemented by September 1, 2011. These playing numbers for the U-12 age group should be implemented by September 1, 2012.
REALIZING PLAYER POTENTIAL No. 3
To maximize player potential, we believe that State Associations and progressive clubs should work to expose their better coaches, who should hold the ""Y"" License, to their youngest players. It is also seen as important that mentoring programs be established for community soccer coaches to improve the quality of youth soccer training.
The developmental approach emphasizes the growth of individual skills and group tactical awareness. We feel too much emphasis is placed on ""team"" play and competition in the preteen years. We believe in an inclusion model for preteen players. From this perspective, the goal of youth soccer programs at all levels is to include players in matches at an age when experience is more important than outcome.
Further options for players in their teen years that are not interested in competing at the highest level, but still have a love for the game should be created. Perhaps older teen coed teams or high school based teams on a recreational basis.
AGE OF COMPETITIVE PLAY No. 4
While it is acknowledged and recognized that preteen players should be allowed to pursue playing opportunities that meet both their interest and ability level, we strongly discourage environments where players below the age of twelve are forced to meet the same ""competitive"" demands as their older counterparts therefore we recommend the following:
1. 50% playing time
2. no league or match results
3. 8 v 8 at U-12
FESTIVALS FOR PLAYERS UNDER-10 No. 9
We believe that Soccer Festivals should replace soccer tournaments for all players under the age of ten. Festivals feature a set number of minutes per event (e.g., 10 games X 10 minutes) with no elimination and no ultimate winner. We also endorse and support the movement to prohibit U-10 teams from traveling to events that promote winning and losing and the awarding of trophies.
I also recommend that you cite the information from the U.S. Soccer document Best Practices to educate your club membership. http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_280734.html I suggest you also contact your state Technical
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Playing Up
I was recently asked by a few of the parents on younger Infinity teams about players "playing up." I found an article that shares the view of the club and I have used it to educate these inquiring parents in regards to the philosophy of player development. I feel it is important to share this information with each of you as well. The below article is dead on. Please recognize when it says player instead of team or players. I also added some post article thoughts below the article as well.
Playing Up
by Bobby Howe
It has been ten years since I left Washington State Youth Soccer Association. The landscape has changed during that time and undoubtedly, the game is improving. Clubs with professional coaches are emerging.
Therefore, as we develop further, clubs must bear more responsibility for the development of play within the state. Not only must we be responsible directly for the improvement of the most talented players, but we must also play a role in the playing environment of all the players and an important role in coach education for our youngest players.
One of my first observations on joining the Emerald City club last year was that our club and others had a vast number of players playing above their age group - obviously with the intention of gaining an advantage in competition and experience.
The following are my views on this topic.
Soccer development will occur through the improvement of individual players at their levels of challenge. While chronological age is generally the vehicle to monitor progress academically and on the sports field, and while many children fall within that spectrum, there are some that rise above and some that fall below the expectations of the age group. It is the responsibility of every soccer coach to recognize the standard of each individual player within his/her team and place that player where he/she belongs.
I have asked our coaches in the club to observe players carefully and to talk regularly on the topic of player movement within our club. Should a player move up from a "B" team to an "A" team or should a player move up from one age to another?
The criteria always must be to challenge the player at his/her level. The questions the coaches must ask are:
Is the player physically able to play up?
Is the player psychologically able to play up?
If the player moves up the process should be monitored and discussed. If a player is asked to move from an "A" team to a "B" team or back down to his/ her own age group, the player must not feel or be made to feel that the move is a demotion. The decisions always must be in the best interests of the player, not the team.
The greatest enjoyment for any player is to be challenged at his/her level of competency. Anything below may lead to boredom and bad playing habits. Anything above may lead to disenchantment, losing a love for the game and ultimately, leaving the sport.
At the ages of U-11 to U-15 size plays a huge role in a player's effectiveness and often, size plays an important role in player selection. At the younger ages many bigger players are able to compete because of strength and physical presence. As a result, they do not have to try as hard, or work on their skills as much or think about the demands of the game to the same extent as their less physical colleagues.
While some of these players progress to a high standard, most do not. Bigger players can compete regardless of their playing habits at a young age. Unfortunately, if those habits are poor, they will not be able to compete at the age of sixteen at which time size is much less relevant and when total soccer ability and awareness is much more important.
Smaller players that can compete at a young age have a much better chance of being successful at the age of sixteen, because they have had to use their soccer talent and understanding in order to compete with the bigger players.
Most teams that dominate a league at a younger age rely on the abilities of bigger players. If those players are also very talented, they should play up to test their skills. The remainder of the team should stay at their own level to allow those players to improve.
It is important to note that, in most cases, the success of any young team in competition is due to the performance of some players, not the whole team. Therefore, the better players should move up, but the whole team should not.
All of our club decisions must be based upon the enhancement of the playing environment and ultimately, what is best for the player.
In conclusion, in the future at Emerald City Football Club, we shall discuss and allow the movement of players to a higher level, but we shall not permit the upward movement of teams.
More about Bobby's final paragraph in future World of Soccer Newsletters. "Not playing a whole team up? Hogwash!" I can already visualize some coaches beginning to foam at the mouth.
Ginn's after thoughts:
We will soon see players moving from team to team during the the winter break. The trick is to not look at the team aspect so much as the individuals (your child) development. If your team is scrimmaging older/better teams from the club and the rest of the valley they will develop faster. One more quote from the US youth soccer organization is found below. I have also put a link to the full 70 page document that you can download. This is the newest movement in youth soccer across the country.
CONSIDER THIS: At the younger ages (6 to about 10), soccer is not a team sport. On the contrary, it is a time for children to develop their individual relationship with the ball. The fact that younger children are placed into team environments is not their fault. Do not demand that the more confident players share the ball. Encourage them to be creative and go to goal. Do the same with the rest of your players.Work to bring all your players up to that level of confidence and comfort with the ball. Coaches should avoid the impulse to “coach” their players from “play to play” in order to help them win the match. Coaches should not be telling their young players to “pass rather than dribble,” to “hold their positions” or to “never” do something (like pass or dribble in front of the goal).
http://images.ussoccer.com/Documents/cms/ussf/Best_Practices.pdf
Ginn's final contribution:
Below is a video that i am sharing with the Infinity Coaching Staff this month. It is focused on player development philosophies and shares an insight of the contrasts between American philosophy & Brazilian philosophy. It is a very low quality production, but the efficiency of educating parents and coaches is very high. Please find the time to watch the video.
Please enjoy the video
Playing Up
by Bobby Howe
It has been ten years since I left Washington State Youth Soccer Association. The landscape has changed during that time and undoubtedly, the game is improving. Clubs with professional coaches are emerging.Therefore, as we develop further, clubs must bear more responsibility for the development of play within the state. Not only must we be responsible directly for the improvement of the most talented players, but we must also play a role in the playing environment of all the players and an important role in coach education for our youngest players.
One of my first observations on joining the Emerald City club last year was that our club and others had a vast number of players playing above their age group - obviously with the intention of gaining an advantage in competition and experience.
The following are my views on this topic.
Soccer development will occur through the improvement of individual players at their levels of challenge. While chronological age is generally the vehicle to monitor progress academically and on the sports field, and while many children fall within that spectrum, there are some that rise above and some that fall below the expectations of the age group. It is the responsibility of every soccer coach to recognize the standard of each individual player within his/her team and place that player where he/she belongs.
I have asked our coaches in the club to observe players carefully and to talk regularly on the topic of player movement within our club. Should a player move up from a "B" team to an "A" team or should a player move up from one age to another?
The criteria always must be to challenge the player at his/her level. The questions the coaches must ask are:
Is the player physically able to play up?
Is the player psychologically able to play up?
If the player moves up the process should be monitored and discussed. If a player is asked to move from an "A" team to a "B" team or back down to his/ her own age group, the player must not feel or be made to feel that the move is a demotion. The decisions always must be in the best interests of the player, not the team.
The greatest enjoyment for any player is to be challenged at his/her level of competency. Anything below may lead to boredom and bad playing habits. Anything above may lead to disenchantment, losing a love for the game and ultimately, leaving the sport.
At the ages of U-11 to U-15 size plays a huge role in a player's effectiveness and often, size plays an important role in player selection. At the younger ages many bigger players are able to compete because of strength and physical presence. As a result, they do not have to try as hard, or work on their skills as much or think about the demands of the game to the same extent as their less physical colleagues.
While some of these players progress to a high standard, most do not. Bigger players can compete regardless of their playing habits at a young age. Unfortunately, if those habits are poor, they will not be able to compete at the age of sixteen at which time size is much less relevant and when total soccer ability and awareness is much more important.
Smaller players that can compete at a young age have a much better chance of being successful at the age of sixteen, because they have had to use their soccer talent and understanding in order to compete with the bigger players.
Most teams that dominate a league at a younger age rely on the abilities of bigger players. If those players are also very talented, they should play up to test their skills. The remainder of the team should stay at their own level to allow those players to improve.
It is important to note that, in most cases, the success of any young team in competition is due to the performance of some players, not the whole team. Therefore, the better players should move up, but the whole team should not.
All of our club decisions must be based upon the enhancement of the playing environment and ultimately, what is best for the player.
In conclusion, in the future at Emerald City Football Club, we shall discuss and allow the movement of players to a higher level, but we shall not permit the upward movement of teams.
More about Bobby's final paragraph in future World of Soccer Newsletters. "Not playing a whole team up? Hogwash!" I can already visualize some coaches beginning to foam at the mouth.
Ginn's after thoughts:
We will soon see players moving from team to team during the the winter break. The trick is to not look at the team aspect so much as the individuals (your child) development. If your team is scrimmaging older/better teams from the club and the rest of the valley they will develop faster. One more quote from the US youth soccer organization is found below. I have also put a link to the full 70 page document that you can download. This is the newest movement in youth soccer across the country.
CONSIDER THIS: At the younger ages (6 to about 10), soccer is not a team sport. On the contrary, it is a time for children to develop their individual relationship with the ball. The fact that younger children are placed into team environments is not their fault. Do not demand that the more confident players share the ball. Encourage them to be creative and go to goal. Do the same with the rest of your players.Work to bring all your players up to that level of confidence and comfort with the ball. Coaches should avoid the impulse to “coach” their players from “play to play” in order to help them win the match. Coaches should not be telling their young players to “pass rather than dribble,” to “hold their positions” or to “never” do something (like pass or dribble in front of the goal).
http://images.ussoccer.com/Documents/cms/ussf/Best_Practices.pdf
Ginn's final contribution:
Below is a video that i am sharing with the Infinity Coaching Staff this month. It is focused on player development philosophies and shares an insight of the contrasts between American philosophy & Brazilian philosophy. It is a very low quality production, but the efficiency of educating parents and coaches is very high. Please find the time to watch the video.
Please enjoy the video
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Silos
A recent blog was posted by Sam Snow (US Youth Soccer Director of Coaching) on the US Youth Soccer web site. The article was titled: SILOS.
Silos
By Sam Snow
I've been traveling consistently since the first of 2009 to a variety of soccer events. I've been to Orlando, Florida; Antalya, Turkey; St. Louis, Missouri; Greensboro, North Carolina; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Anchorage, Alaska; Pomona, California; Los Angles, California; Warwick, Rhode Island and now I'm on my way to San Jose, California, for the 2009 US Youth Soccer adidas Workshop.
One of the things I have noticed in these travels is the shared passion for soccer of the many people I meet. They all are committed to the game, but not just the game, instead the people in it. While everyone in soccer across the world has their differences with one another the majority truly care about the people in the game.
I have noticed too that many folks are sure that somehow they and their situation are different when in fact they are all the same. Regularly, I hear soccer folks say to me things such as - Well coach, you have to understand that around here our parents are really competitive and they just don't like the idea of not keeping score for their six-year-old. It is an eye-opener for them to hear that everyone in youth soccer in the USA says the same thing. When I tell them that some get it and others are still convinced they are somehow different. The only difference in American youth soccer circumstances is the size of the state and occasionally the accent. Otherwise we are all in the same youth soccer boat with similar successes and challenges.
We must break down the silos that we have built up around us and build one huge team that is soccer in America. It doesn't matter what your role is in the game you are part of the team. Every team member has something to contribute and every team member should be respected for their contribution. All aspects of the game are interlocked like the Olympic rings. You may be in one of the rings furthest from the opposite end, but you are still interlocked. Soccer in our nation still has many hurdles to overcome and we must not be hurdles to one another or create our own hurdles. So let's begin in 2009 to tear down the silos and build our team.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
I want to add, that Infinity Soccer respects what others do in our community at any and every level. We encourage anything that promotes kids playing soccer. We are huge advocates of District 7 and the Utah Youth Soccer Association. There are many great ideas regarding how to go about developing soccer in our country. Infinity Soccer strives to stay informed and up to date with current trends on U.S. Youth Soccer so OUR kids and families have the best opportunity to play and compete at every level. As we look towards the future, we hope that everyone will acknowledge the impressive past of Cache Valley soccer. But the past is the past and the opportunities are there for us to play catch up with the rest of the state and the rest of the nation by creating a more passionate soccer culture in our own backyard.
We are excited about the development of soccer in the U.S., the region, Utah and most importantly Cache Valley and its surrounding communities. The future is bright and the limits are endless. We hope you will attend the Annual Parent meeting on March 31st and or April 1st to hear more about the direction Infinity is going.
Thank you for supporting soccer at whatever level you contribute to this beautiful game...thank you!
SilosBy Sam Snow
I've been traveling consistently since the first of 2009 to a variety of soccer events. I've been to Orlando, Florida; Antalya, Turkey; St. Louis, Missouri; Greensboro, North Carolina; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Anchorage, Alaska; Pomona, California; Los Angles, California; Warwick, Rhode Island and now I'm on my way to San Jose, California, for the 2009 US Youth Soccer adidas Workshop.
One of the things I have noticed in these travels is the shared passion for soccer of the many people I meet. They all are committed to the game, but not just the game, instead the people in it. While everyone in soccer across the world has their differences with one another the majority truly care about the people in the game.
I have noticed too that many folks are sure that somehow they and their situation are different when in fact they are all the same. Regularly, I hear soccer folks say to me things such as - Well coach, you have to understand that around here our parents are really competitive and they just don't like the idea of not keeping score for their six-year-old. It is an eye-opener for them to hear that everyone in youth soccer in the USA says the same thing. When I tell them that some get it and others are still convinced they are somehow different. The only difference in American youth soccer circumstances is the size of the state and occasionally the accent. Otherwise we are all in the same youth soccer boat with similar successes and challenges.
We must break down the silos that we have built up around us and build one huge team that is soccer in America. It doesn't matter what your role is in the game you are part of the team. Every team member has something to contribute and every team member should be respected for their contribution. All aspects of the game are interlocked like the Olympic rings. You may be in one of the rings furthest from the opposite end, but you are still interlocked. Soccer in our nation still has many hurdles to overcome and we must not be hurdles to one another or create our own hurdles. So let's begin in 2009 to tear down the silos and build our team.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
I want to add, that Infinity Soccer respects what others do in our community at any and every level. We encourage anything that promotes kids playing soccer. We are huge advocates of District 7 and the Utah Youth Soccer Association. There are many great ideas regarding how to go about developing soccer in our country. Infinity Soccer strives to stay informed and up to date with current trends on U.S. Youth Soccer so OUR kids and families have the best opportunity to play and compete at every level. As we look towards the future, we hope that everyone will acknowledge the impressive past of Cache Valley soccer. But the past is the past and the opportunities are there for us to play catch up with the rest of the state and the rest of the nation by creating a more passionate soccer culture in our own backyard.
We are excited about the development of soccer in the U.S., the region, Utah and most importantly Cache Valley and its surrounding communities. The future is bright and the limits are endless. We hope you will attend the Annual Parent meeting on March 31st and or April 1st to hear more about the direction Infinity is going.
Thank you for supporting soccer at whatever level you contribute to this beautiful game...thank you!
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