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LASA · Mar 6, 2011

Some excellent links. Thanks guys

Twenty26Six · Apr 18, 2011

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=23238175&postcount=34

Guidelines

U8:
Dribbling with outside of foot, change of speed and direction, scissors, FLGR/FRGL (fake left. . .)
Receiving ground balls with inside, outside and sole, bouncing balls with various parts
Ball lifting and juggling
Passing with toe, inside and laces
Throw-ins
Shooting with toe, inside of foot and laces
Tackling toe poke
Catching from self and partner, rolling, bouncing, and air balls. (for GKs but also helps young kids develop ability to track the ball in the air)

U10:
RWTB (at speed and under pressure)
Passing with outside of the foot
Instep drive for shooting and crossing
Receiving with inside and outside of foot away from pressure and past opponent
Receiving air balls with instep and sole and wedge
Throw in (short and long)
Moves: rolls, scissors-push, double scissors, step-over chop
Introduce heading via juggling with feet in contact w/ ground and introduction to jumping headers
Tackling:block tackle

U12
Dribbling to beat an opponent (penetration)
Dribbling to possess (shielding)
Feints with the ball
Receiving Air Balls w/ feet, thighs, and chest (away from pressure and beat an opponent)
Heading: offensive and defensive
Heading for goals
Finishing: chipping, bending, toe, half and full volleys
Passing: deceptive use of foot surface
Crossing to near post and Penalty spot (driven and flighted)
Introduce slide tackling (timing and poke tackle)

I feel this is a pretty good guideline of what each age range should know. I think some of my 9s are ready for the stuff in the U12 set. I think any kid who has mastered all the skills in each age group would be a pretty solid player. Like I said the bar isn't really very high but if they have all these down then they could be a high functioning player.

A little grounding within the principles of the game and a team full of these players would be tough to beat. Speaking of which, also in the book:

"Tactics" for U8:
-Exposure to all positions
-1v1 attacking and defending
-2v1 attacking
-Introduce names of positions
-Concept of shape (triangle, diamond, box)

U10 Principles of Play
Attacking: Penetration, Support
Defensive: Recover, Pressure, and Cover

U12 Principles of Play
Introduce the whole sh'bang.
Attacking: Penetration, Support, Mobility, Width, Depth, Improvisation
Defensive: Immediate pressure, cover, balance, compactness (and the counter??)

Twenty26Six · Jun 5, 2011

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=23574909&postcount=22

GKbenji said: ↑

I made a post elsewhere that seems relevant here on "Tryout Myths".

Just went through my first tryouts on the club side in a while, and had one age group that was particularly tough, with many players leaving to go to another club. Fine, that's their prerogative and I respect that, but I also hear (from parents) a number of what I consider to be "tryout myths" or complaints. Curious if you all agree, disagree, or have any of your own to add.

Note that our club's tryout process has little in the way of "objective" measures (speed, agility etc.) and is conducted with games (first small-sided 4v4, then 7v7, then 11v11) with players being sorted by level of play and moving between fields for comparison purposes. We are a medium-large club around here, and support several teams (up to 6) from U11 through U18.

1. "My kid didn't get looked at."
Myth: Parents feel if their kid didn't get to play on every level of field, or doesn't move "up" a field, they haven't been seen by the right coaches, and thus the player didn't get a fair shake.
Reality: We have multiple coaches observing every field. Players who stand out do get recommended to move up to a higher field. However, often it doesn't take every single coach seeing the kid. If they don't stand out on a lower field, why would they stand out if moved up? Or a player may get a brief look on a "higher" field, but disappear, and be moved back quickly. Often it doesn't take long to see if a player belongs at a particular level.

2. "Two hours (or four or six) of tryout isn't enough to show what the player can do."
Myth: A tryout is such a short, pressure-packed period of time that players may not have an opportunity to show their best. Players can get shafted if they have an off day.
Reality: See last sentence of Reality #1: many times you can clearly see where a player stands in well under two hours. Plus, coaches of existing players know where they already stand--the evaluation process goes on all season long. Good coaches even put in the time to scout lower teams/new players to see them in games. Tryouts are often just to see head-to-head comparisons of bubble players, and see where any new players might fit in. Can a good/bad tryout make/break a bubble player? To be honest, yes. But that player was already a bubble player to begin with. Remember, one trait of a good player is consistency.

3. "My kid is just as good as X and deserves to move up."
Myth: A player (and their parents) might think they are just as good as a player on the top team. It's not fair that they don't ever get selected to move up and show what they can do.
Reality: It's not good enough to be "just as good" as player X. To move up, you ought to be better. You can think what you want, but unless you are clearly one of the top 2-3 players on your current squad, it will be hard to be promoted, and even then the higher coach wants an upgrade, not just a replacement. To be fair, coaches do misjudge talent, or are biased towards a certain type of player. We all have occasional stories of players who went elsewhere and thrived. But if you're a middle-of-the-pack player, you need to be realistic.

4. "Coaches play politics, that's why player X didn't get picked."
Myth: Coaches won't pick certain players because of retribution for something, like playing for a rival club/school previously or turning down a previous invitation to play. Or because the coach simply doesn't like the kid, good player or not.
Reality: It happens. Occasionally. Rarely. But the vast majority of coaches are looking for one thing at tryouts... the best players for their squad, and to best group players by ability and desire. Nothing more, nothing less. If you're good enough and have the right attitude and work ethic, a coach will want you to play for them. Experienced coaches know you have choices and respect that. Oh, and if you don't club-hop, bad-mouth people or play games yourself, you won't need to worry about those perceived "politics", will you? Often the politics are of the players/parents' own making or all in their own heads.

Twenty26Six · Jun 6, 2011

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=23578521&postcount=52

Monkey Boy said: ↑

There is no other measuring stick or guide for success provided for coaches in the US. Basically the carrot for a coach (volunteer or paid) is to win. Parents can recognize it easily, it's easy to explain to players, and it's easy to sell.

Contrast the motivation for player development and the only real incentive is long delayed gratification in the players produced, if they even stay in the sport.

The player development model/approach takes more time and effort when it comes to designing the training, more energy to keep the kids motivated through losing due to mistakes while they are learning, a great level of confidence from the parents - so they're not always complaining about losing, and a club/organization that believes in approach above the 'parent concerns'.

Based on this, it's pretty obvious why we see teams play the way the do. What amazes me is actually seeing a team step above the win at all cost tactics - showing their value in the delayed gratification and knowledge of the development approach to coaching youth soccer.

Twenty26Six · Jan 20, 2012

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=25026482&postcount=34

elessar78 said: ↑

Found some more detailed stuff regarding the differences/similarities from Michels, Cruyff, Ruiz, and Pep. Most of it is about positional play, but you can see how influence, philosophy, and execution aren't always a linear relationship.

There are difference's in how coaches since Michels have varied Positional Attack but I will run through some of the various points.I will provide BRIEF EXAMPLES...

During possession a priority was bringing players forward into attack from the back. So for example the winger on the left would allowed drift inside giving space for the LB to become a left wing back and join the play in that area. Central midfield players attacking down the middle with 3rd man runs was a popular combination.

The priority was always forward if possible. Anything forward of the ball. In terms of movement it was diagonal runs ahead of the ball which were prioritized. Every player has the responsibly to move the ball forward if the chance was on.

Cruyffs variation features more longer ground passing, longer lofted passing and crossing than the present Barcelona(longer passing movements he picked up from Michels). In terms of circulating possession at the back CB's were tasked with keeping the ball moving at the back in the defensive line the ball movement was never allowed to slow down.Midfield players were tasked with changing the point of attack in midfield if the chance to penetrate was not on for the central 3rd man run.

This pressing defence is the first stage of Positional Attack. In terms of coaching it the base was pure zone defending and that was progressed until the focus was pressing and positing. Positioning of the 2nd defender in relation to 1st defender is practiced as without correct support fromt he lines behind this pressing wont function properly. There also specific lists for priorities of technique, areas for possession etc. There is also a plan for what to instantly when the ball is regained.

When Michels used Positional Attack it was more along the lines of temporization. The concept of "crush space to make space" similar to Ruiz. He would coach them to hold the ball in key areas of the pitch and rotate into empty spaces with central spaces being priority. Once these areas were opened up they were penetrated by runs of attacking players and balls into that space. His plan be was hold possession in front of the opponents penalty area and as they make shift to vary the speed and rhythm of play. So the defence would relax into a defensive rhythm and the tempo would change by a direct dribble or fast forward passing combination. He also had the longer passing which Cruyff later used. Crosses to specific target areas where also used. Michels was a fan of direct play when it could be used in line with his belief in keeping the ball.

In terms of Pep he is very much in line with Cruyff in princple but not so much in execution. He was mentored by a man called Juan Manuel Lillo. He more focused on removing opponents by breaking lines and moving between lines rather than merely rotating the ball. It is about making a strong position when the opponent is unbalanced. Pep likes 5 players to constantly rotate position into and around the midfield which is an idea which he picked up from lillo(who apparently invented the 4-2-3-1). Indeed Pep even went to mexico while he was taking his qualifications to learn from Lillo and play out the last 6 months of his career. Lillo is a massive influence on his management and tactics.

This is by Coach Peter North, btw

his blog: soccerscienceandcoaching.blogspot.com

Guy Smiley · Oct 15, 2012

I really wanted to post a coaching question in here but can't get my count up high enough to get privileges. Sick of it. This place is no help to me.

-HS & Club Coach

matherold · Nov 3, 2012

The old coerver tapes helped me a lot.

publicstranger · Nov 18, 2012

Yeah nice links, helped me alot.

MLSthroughandthrough · Dec 19, 2012

For all the coaches out there trying to teach their kids about opening up their hips when receiving the ball and moving off the ball, here is an excellent breakdown of Theo Walcott's goal against Reading that demonstrates it.

Animated GIF to start lets you go back and see it all in action while the stills make you understand each move!

http://soccerwithoutlimits.com/dril...own-theo-walcotts-goal-against-reading/12382/

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