Video recommendations

[Ese_Guy]

I've been thinking about purchasing a training video for my son.
Any recommendations for U8 kids?

[Bonji]

I don't have any specific coaching videos, but I think kids need to watch quality soccer in general. Get the kid watching shots of Pele, Best, Beckenbauer, Cruyff, etc. and he'll try to emulate them. To that end, check out FIFA Fever. It has a lot of top ten segments (Top ten goals, saves, blasters, etc.) I bet your son will be entertained and he'll try to emulate the greats.

[Ese_Guy]

I understand what you're saying and I agree.
However, in my son's case, he's still somewhat immature. And what I mean by htat is that he doesn't really enjoy watching real soccer, yet. He'd rather just play - and I mean that in every sense of the word.
What I've found helpful is when he sees other kids playing soccer. Many times there's a good player and all the kids know who's the best. So he plays, but I suppose in a way he sort of emulates the "good" kid.

So what I have in mind is more of a training video with kids performing drills. So that he's having fun as he develops his skills.

Any particular vids?

[Nodak]

Cuever(can't spell it) moves, I think the Dutch put it out. Little dudes need to be able to dribble above all else early. I think the Eurosport.com has videos on them. Some one on here will give you a ear full on what kids need. Just develop that touch.

[Ray Luca]

[QUOTE=Ese_Guy]"I understand what you're saying and I agree.
However, in my son's case, he's still somewhat immature. And what I mean by htat is that he doesn't really enjoy watching real soccer, yet. He'd rather just play"

I assure that is very normal for a player. Much rather play then watch other people play. I am not sure about female players but most male players are like that.

"Many times there's a good player and all the kids know who's the best. So he plays, but I suppose in a way he sort of emulates the "good" kid."

Your talking about street soccer now. Where all ages play together and the little ones do learn from watching the bigger ones play, but they are all playing togehter.

Buy a Coerver tape it shows dribbling moves and other exercises. He might not want to watch it. He might just want to play which is fine and normal.

[Ese_Guy]

Thanks guys!
And I agree that probably the most important skill at this level is ball-control.

[usscouse]

Thanks guys!
And I agree that probably the most important skill at this level is ball-control.
You guys are right, remember though that sometimes a good "First touch" and control. can be worth more than a dribble.

[blech]

i've watched some of the Coerver videos. my impression is that they're geared more for coaches - showing how drills might be set up at practice - than for players, who could definitely benefit from watching them but probably find them quite boring. there will occasionally be the player who is the exception and wants to soak up everything, but if s/he won't watch a game, i can't believe s/he'd be more interested in watching this kind of training video.

one of the things i've been thinking about with my players is to give them videos to watch and quasi-homework assignments that they could write up to try to get them to focus on specific aspects of the game. some ideas i've heard about and/or thought about myself:

1. who is the player on team "x" who plays the position you do? describe 2 or 3 things that you noticed about the runs that he made on offense when he didn't have the ball. describe where he positioned himself on defense when the other team had the ball.

2. describe the formation that one team is playing and how it changes when the team is on offense or defense.

3. describe the runs that you saw the forwards making when they were trying to get open and didn't have the ball. would they run diagonally, laterally, backwards? did they ever seem to criss-cross with one another?

4. keep track for 3-5 minutes of how many touches each player would have on the ball before passing it. write them down on a piece of paper and then calculate the average. was it more than 2? 4? 6?

5. keep track for 3-5 minutes of how many passes (even if they are intercepted) went forward (F), sideways (S), or backwards (B). write them down on a piece of paper. how many passes out of every 10 went forward?

6. keep track for 3-5 minutes of how long each attempted pass is. over 10 yards (O) or under 10 yards (U)?

7. keep track for 3-5 minutes, when a player traps the ball, how far away does it go? 1 foot, 1 yard, 2 yards, etc.? how does it compare with their own trapping ability? what is the importance of trapping, and what happened in instances where the trap was not a good one (i.e., did the ball bounce away and create a "hospital" ball for the player or a teammate)?

8. did you notice any difference in how the team played if they were ahead, tied, or behind? describe.

9. did you see any dribbling move that was particularly impressive? what move or moves was being used most often to beat an opponent? how often did it work?

10. draw a diagram of each play that results in a goal. include the players who did not touch the ball, as well as those who did.


anyone else have other suggestions?

obviously, i would limit this to 2 or 3 questions per game so as not to overwhelm them, and the questions might well be modified depending on the age of the kids, the position they play, and/or what you're working on in practice. as important as it is for them to see the fancy moves, my belief has always been that this is where the kids begin to learn the importance of movement off the ball which is one of the points i emphasize.

[Pottertons]

Don't know if they're available for sale in a set, but I know it was on tv for a while as a series.

There's that David Beckham training program. It's just him training young'uns, 1 on 1 footy skills.

Basics like controlling the ball upon receiveing. Dribbling, passing with the inside and outside of the foot. etc. Looks quite good for a youngster. I'm no big fan of Becks at all, but it does look informative.

[usscouse]

Don't know if they're available for sale in a set, but I know it was on tv for a while as a series.

There's that David Beckham training program. It's just him training young'uns, 1 on 1 footy skills.

Basics like controlling the ball upon receiveing. Dribbling, passing with the inside and outside of the foot. etc. Looks quite good for a youngster. I'm no big fan of Becks at all, but it does look informative.I believe it's 'Really bend it like Beckham" I've seen mixed reviews but I think I'll get it as a coaching aid.
Even if we only get to use part of it, it's still better than the same old drills. On of our thingy's is not to let it get boring even the important drills and those they like (Not mutually the same:)) we don't run every time out.

As for Becks, there's no denying his skills, just don't get caught up in the media and his off pitch stuff.

[Ese_Guy]

Well, since he's opening up a school at the Home Depot Center, in L.A., I would htink he'd know somehting about training kids, no?

[Ray Luca]

Well, since he's opening up a school at the Home Depot Center, in L.A., I would htink he'd know somehting about training kids, no?

Don't buy any wood or medicine cabinets at Home depot there crap :-) Don't let Home Depot install anything no big jobs they like to over charge.

[Ese_Guy]

. . . ok