Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team We should get to practice outside for the first time this season. Definitely looking forward to it.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team Is this the first year of your team? If not how has your team done compared to the top regionII teams. I'm curious to see how your team does. Being around region II for a while it seems that the Dakota teams don't fair well, hopefully your team does compete and play well. Good luck!
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team It is the first year, my boys are U13s. I am not expecting anything awesome, because it is true that Dakota teams (both North and South) don't fair that well often. The U15 boys team from our club has done quite well (compared to how other teams from the Dakotas have faired, winning a few matches) and they are participating in MRL now. Like I said. I am hoping our team is competitive. I have heard horror stories about Dakota teams going to regionals and getting absolutely slammed. Like 9-0 and 10-0 scorelines. Thanks for the good wishes. This is a new (sometimes stressful) experience for me!
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team First outdoor training session of the season. Worked on defending again. Still a lot of work needs to be done with discipline, organization, focus, etc. They are U13s, so I will forgive some of it, but we are raising the bar of expectations for them. Slowly but surely.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team It's been a little over a week. We have had 2 training sessions since my last post, we were supposed to have a third but it got canceled because of a lightning storm. My co-coach and I have started to form more of a plan of action for our team. Our basic plan to compete (things we are heavily working on in training): -Organized defending, both team and individual -Possession of the ball -Patient in attack Through organized defending we keep our team shape and we are better able to soak up the pressure the very good teams will throw at us. By possessing the ball we can control the game. The other team can't score without the ball. Finally, we have to pick our moments in attack. By pushing forward, pressing too high, and/or forcing the attack we are more likely to get caught out and scored on. Pick our moments to attack, and hopefully capitalize on our chances. --- In writing, this is a fairly simple plan. However, implementing it with the team successfully will take a lot of work.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team Ran a session on combination play. Focused on quick short passing, movement on/off ball, etc. I would say the biggest struggle with this age group is focus.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team Just as a suggestion. I coach girls and I don't know if it applies to boys. But, when I run a hard practice and I need their undivided attention and focus I run them real hard at the beginning of practice. The talking and silliness seems to go out the window. They, definitely, become more coachable.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team Run as in sprints/fitness? Or run as in work them hard within the activities/drills? I definitely do the latter. My co-coach and I work them hard within our training sessions, we don't like to do fitness (incorporating it into the activities/drills is better) but sometimes we do if the boys really are struggling with attitude, behavior, etc. It's difficult because I try to remember they are only 12-13 years old, but at the same time a lot has to be expected of them if we as a team are going to compete at Regionals.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team We are talking about a different gender and age group. I'd say when I do it, it is as a fitness exercise. Usually it takes about 5 minutes of sprints. When I do it, it is meant to modify behavoir more than anything else. The problem with drills is that they tend to set their own pace. And, yes, I'd rather be working on drills, but it is 5 minutes that helps me bring some control to the team. In the run of practice I think those 5 minutes go a long way into having a better run session because they end up being more focused.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team 10 days since the last update. Sorry. Been busy with coaching and finals for college. The last ten days we have continued our work on possession and team defending. We have also worked on some attacking and finishing. Today, we worked on set pieces in preparation for a warm-up tournament we are heading to tomorrow. My team will have 2 matches Saturday, and 1-2 matches on Sunday depending on results. Will post on Sunday or Monday when I get back.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team Tournament Overview Well. We won the tournament pretty handily. The competition wasn't at a level that I was expecting, but my team also performed above what I was expecting. We played well, still have a lot to work on, but it was a good weekend for the kids. First Game This was some players first time playing 11 v. 11 on a big field. We started in a 4-4-2, with a flat back four, a diamond midfield, and twin strikers. It didn't work that well. We conceded the first goal, an own goal by one of our center backs. We then scored two goals before half time, and the boys (and my) nerves calmed a bit. Second half we switched into a 4-3-3, and absolutely bossed the game. Scored 3 more goals, match ended 5-1. Second Game Two games in one day is tough at any level. We were doing heavy rotation and even playing time because this tournament is about seeing what we have and further evaluating all of our players. This was the best team we played, and we struggled in the first half. The goal was to sit in and play low pressure. The boys were still learning how to do so, so we struggled, and we struggled stringing passes together. Second half we figured some things out and blew the doors off the team...we scored 5 goals in the second half. We had a player hit a hat trick in both games of the day, so he was absolutely buzzing. Third Game We were already in the final, so we gave our center backs and center midfielders more breaks (they are our ever-presents during games). This game was where our team started to get the idea of sitting in. If you play low pressure against many U13 teams, the kids on the other team have no idea what to do. They gave the ball away to us so many times. Scored 5 more goals. Bringing our GD to 14 with only one goal conceded (an own goal). Final Won the final 6-0. Played our best soccer. Absolutely dominated the game. --- Overall tournament thoughts. We won/dominated this tournament because our teams technical ability was far superior to the other teams. Our organization and tactical awareness wasn't that good, but we were better than the other teams. We have found our base formation... Center Forward Left Winger - - - - - - - - - - - Right Winger Center Mid - - Center Mid Holding Mid Left Back - - Center Back - - Center Back - - Right Back When we are defending we want the boys to drop into a 4-1-4-1 (with the outside wingers dropping and tucking in), and when we are attacking we want to go forward into a 3-4-3 (getting an outside back forward and getting big in attack).
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team Congratulations. Good job on creating an effective team so quickly. It certainly validates your goal in organizing the team (to give the local players an opportunity to play against more challenging competition).
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team Sorry for the lack of updates. Been busy on 2 coaching fronts. The last ten days we have had 4 training sessions. The first session we worked on defensive technique at a team level (pressure, cover, balance) as well as technique of individual defending (when to tackle, how to approach an attacking player, etc). Kind of elementary at times, but we tell them that we want them to try and be perfect with the little things because that will help them with the more complicated things. The next session we worked on we worked on defensive shape (including when to step and what others do when one defender steps). This was sometimes a tough task because it required a high level of focus and understanding from the boys. They did an OK job with it. The next session we worked on support play. This included creating proper passing angles, and the idea of providing support in multiple directions. Really emphasized talking and movement off the ball in this session. The boys did a really good job with this one. In the 4th session we worked on building our attack out of the back. Our practice focused on when to keep it and when to counter with more direct passing. We also worked on when we should play quickly when building out of the back and when we can carry the ball. Boys did a good job with this one as well. Next week we scrimmage a local girls varsity team. Should be interesting.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team Sorry about the lack of updates again. It's been a slow month after our warm-up tournament. Just lots of training. Our scrimmage with a local girls varsity team got called off by our DOC. Concerns over injury/embarrassment before their state tournament. The last two weeks we have worked on finishing, striking/receiving the long ball, using the flanks in attack/possession, and speed of play. The boys really enjoyed the finishing session. It's many young players favorite part of the game. They also liked the striking/receiving the long ball session. They were pretty successful in these sessions as well, which always helps in their enjoyment. They struggled with the flank play session and the speed of play session. One reason I think is we had high expectations for them and they got frustrated because they weren't able to reach where we wanted them to be right away. They got both concepts by the end of the sessions. More work will be needed. --- It's difficult for kids to understand some sessions when we are changing the way they play or the way they do something (strike a ball, receive a ball). Because often times what they were doing worked for them lots of times. Part of the struggle is convincing them that this is another way to do things and that it may work out better in the long run. --- Finally, parents are frustrating. That is all.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team Odd step in by the DOC. I wouldn't be happy. It sounds like you need to take the training sessions and make them real. The players seem to have a disconnect between what you are teaching and how that will work in a game. As a suggestion, it might be a good idea to scrimmage a weak team so you can show them how it is supposed to work. Then take the same approach and play a tougher team to get you ready for the real thing.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team Funny. Following that this week. Played our club's non-regional U15 team (2 age groups older than us) and dominated them. We played a non-refereed scrimmage and we played it in 3, 25 minute periods. Boys played well and we were able to fix some things. I think the final score was 8-0. Today's training session we worked on switching points of attack, and switching them with speed. The session went really well! One of our better sessions of the season. Next Tuesday we play another older team in an actual refereed match from a different city, and they will be better/more challenging.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team Congratulations. You are progressing much faster than I expected, especially since you were starting with a brand new team. You must be very pleased. I have two questions: Can you comment on the relationship of the players' level of mastery of ball skills (and perhaps knowledge of small group tactics) with your ability to work on developing team tactics to such a degree? Also are you training all players at all field positions, i.e., is everyone getting essentially the same training from an individual perspective?
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team Thank you very much. There have definitely been bumps along the way (mostly off-the-field issues), and we still have our goals so we can't rest. I think I understand this question, so I will try and answer it with the right information. Our U13 group is very technically gifted for the most part. I am not saying that all of our players are doing stepovers and "maradonas" non-stop. Though we do have some flashy players. Most of our players are quite good at proper dribbling, passing/receiving, and finishing techniques. We haven't played many teams, so it's hard to compare, but we are more technically gifted, top to bottom, than any U13 team we have played. We are also more technically gifted than the girls varsity teams in town and older club teams (like the U15 team we played). They understand small group tactics for the most part. When to drop off to receive a pass, how to play pressure-cover-balance, etc. What we are working towards is passing the discipline, ideas, and movements from the small groups into the large game. We train most of our players at all different field positions. This includes simple training switches like playing a left-footed player out right, a traditionally attacking player in defense, a wide player playing centrally, etc. etc. etc. This has helped us find better ways to substitute and rotate players and actually help kids find different ways to succeed. That's what it's about at this level, even in competition. Trying to find the best spot not just for team to succeed but also for that individual player to succeed. So they can feel like soccer is a sport they want to keep playing at. For example, yesterday, we realized a kid we had been playing across the top line has the skills, athleticism to play right back.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team Had two more warm-up friendlies this week. Both road games. We won the first 2-0, and dominated so much that the scoreline flattered the losing team. We kept possession quite well, and built attacks a lot better (rather than just counter-attacking). In the first half we had 3 strings of 12+ passes that led to 3 different chances on net (we converted 1). Finishing was a weak point, as was our speed of play across the back. The team we played matched us athletically and really bunkered in playing a 1-4-1-3-1 that looked like this: Keeper Sweeper Right Back - - Center Back - Center Back - - Left Back D. Mid Right Mid - - Center Mid - - Left Mid Striker --- The second game we played an older team, and lost 3-1. Some of our solid spine players had sub-par games (especially our center backs and holding mid). Instead of playing our style we got caught playing the more physical, high-tempo style of the other team. Down 2-0 after the first half, we made adjustments and played better but it wasn't enough. Pushing for the equalizer led to us conceding a third. Slow speed of play (by us), poor defending, and inability to deal with the size of the other team were the three keys to our loss. Not a bad thing for us to lose a warm-up game that we tried different things, but still a little disappointing to have played poorly. Another note about the game. The team that we played has a U13 player (they are a U14 team). This player is actually playing on our regional team, and will play in our second warm-up match against this team next Tuesday. This player is dominant, a very good player. Scored 2 and assisted the other against us, playing in the center midfield. He created most of their chances and it will be interesting to see what they do without him/see how they cope playing against him. Today we have a team-bonding activity. Watching the France v. Uruguay match together. Sunday, we have our next training session. We will be working on defending.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team Ordinarily I would regret a U13 team that played such a conservative restrictive game, not to mention a system rarely played (What are we Italy?). But for your situation it was like they designed their system to allow you to work on possession, switches, and breaking down packed defenses. Their loss. Your gain. The timing of the match (right before viewing the world cup group games) and the contrast with your second opponent should result in the kids understanding a lot more about the team tactics being employed by the attacking vs. counter-attacking teams. (E.g., The Dutch contrasted with Italy or Chile contrasted with Greece.) I don't have to ask what you are doing tomorrow.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team We played that U14 team again, and dominated. 2-0 with the majority of possession and hitting the frame 3 times. We got our regional draw and drew Kentucky, Iowa, and Ohio South. The boys are fit, excited, and ready to go. First match is this saturday but we leave thursday. I will be bringing my laptop so updates will be coming. About my team, and our club's U13 girls and U15 boys.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team Wow. What an eye opener as a coach and as a team. Game 1 8 AM game versus a club from Lexington KY. Our boys were loose but focused before the game, but the second the first whistle blew they tightened up quicker than you could say "1,2,3"... We conceded 3 goals, 2 and a penalty, in the first seven minutes. Yikes. The boys then calmed down, but the game pace was still way faster than we could handle. We conceded a 4th and 5th goal near the end of the half. During halftime we made some adjustments and motivated them, we played a lot better and only conceded 1 goal the second half. We had 3 really good chances, but couldn't score. We made 6 mistakes, and they scored 6 goals. They made 3 big mistakes, and we didn't capitalize at all. Game 2 Played at 2 PM in 95 degree heat against a team from Iowa. Because of results we were still very much in the running to get out of the group if we could get a result. We made adjustments from our 4-3-3 to 4-4-1-1. Our boys played a lot better, more composed and more teamwork. We didn't get the breaks though. Referee was not good. Called a penalty against us, and the Iowa coaches disagreed with the call and kind of felt bad because the game was even until then. We went into halftime down 1-0. Came out second half, and conceded 12 minutes in, and 15 minutes in our center mid who was having just a great game got his second yellow and sent off. Disappointing. Two soft yellows, and the fourth official knew it too, because he was trying to call the center referee who was young over to the sidelines. Pushed for goals had 1-2 good chances and 1-2 half chances...ball didn't bounce our way. The boys didn't get the breaks of the ball or the calls. They played a ton better though and they were happy and we were happy with their performance. ---- We cannot advance anymore, but we play Ohio FC tomorrow, they lost to the Iowa club 3-0, we lost 2-0. Should be a good match. Then it's 20 hours back home on a bus with U13s and U15s. And parent chaperones.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team Played our final match yesterday. Lost 5-0. Conceded goals early. Boys just didn't bring it, and Ohio FC was a very good soccer playing team. It was strange to think that they had lost to the Iowa club. Our starting, target striker (ODP player) and our starting holding mid were both missing due to injury (fractured toe) and suspension, respectively. Tough game. Conceded 4 in the first half and only one in the second half. Definitely a learning experience for me as a coach and for the boys. The scorelines flattered our opponents at times, because I felt that my boys weren't too far off from competing with them. My players felt the same and they are motivated to come back next year and prove themselves a better team at the regional level. Here is my summary of what we need to be better: 1. Defending. We needed to work more and harder on it. As players, they needed to be more committed and switched on to defending at all times, even if the ball wasn't in their area of the field (Ex. Midfielder, outside back opposite of the ball need to tuck in). 2. Mistakes. In both the games that were considered blow-outs, we had a good number of chances and half-chances. We weren't able to capitalize. The teams we played on the other hand capitalized almost always on mistakes we had in the defense and midfield. 3. Technical ability. Physically and mentally we were beat in the first game. Things were very even in the second game. However, in the third game it was quite apparent that we were technically inferior to the better teams in our age division (at least at the regional level). Just some things to work on. 4. Competition. There are many things working against North Dakota teams when compared to other states (population, length of season, money, etc). However, a huge disadvantage is the struggle to find good competition that prepares the boys and coaches for the intensity of Regional Compeition. We tried playing older teams, but even older teams in our area only offer size differences (and they may be less skillful or more poor tactically). Thankfully, we will be trying to find tournaments or entering the MRL to get the boys used to the level of competition and speed of play. Well. That is all. Feel free to comment, question, and suggest, and I hope you enjoyed the running diary of my experience and my team's experience for regionals. --- The boys will have a good chunk of days off, as will I. They will come back to play in an in-state tournament at U14 (one age group up for more challenges). This is more of a cool-down tournament and really just to let the boys digest what they learned at regionals and use it in a relaxed atmosphere. Will update when that time comes around.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team Two of our boys are down with the 97s at ODP in Kansas. Our goalkeeper was held over after the first day. Apparently he had a really good day. Unsure how the other player did. We are sending three more boys with the 96s next week.
Re: "The Road To Dayton, Ohio" :: Building and Coaching a Regional Team sorry for asking but whats the difference between a static and dynamic warm up?
