Playing Better Teams

[mzbrand]

I'm coaching a relatively green rec U-8 girls team. Most of my players have played less than one year. We're in the middle of an indoor season in which, for some reason, we were put into the top division. This is unfortunate because at the end of the last season they were just starting to pull everything together.

Looking at the rest of the season it seems like we'll be facing some very tough teams -- we'll probably be spending most of the games in front of our goal. Anyone have any ideas on how to best handle this? What can we work on in games where we're facing players with much better skill, technique, and tactics? How do I keep my team's morale up when facing such an uneven playing field?

[Ray Luca]

I'm coaching a relatively green rec U-8 girls team. Most of my players have played less than one year. We're in the middle of an indoor season in which, for some reason, we were put into the top division. This is unfortunate because at the end of the last season they were just starting to pull everything together.

Looking at the rest of the season it seems like we'll be facing some very tough teams -- we'll probably be spending most of the games in front of our goal. Anyone have any ideas on how to best handle this? What can we work on in games where we're facing players with much better skill, technique, and tactics? How do I keep my team's morale up when facing such an uneven playing field?

If you think you are being over matched talk to the league before you start back outside. maybe, they can do something about it.

Work harder and longer on defending then you do now. Part of every practice should be devoted to it.

Then work on your offensive skills in the rest of the practice. Actually you may be able to do both at the same time.

By the end of the season you will be a hell of a lot better then you are now. When your game starts to improve make sure everyone knows it including the parents. You will get where you want to be with hard work.

[mzbrand]

If you think you are being over matched talk to the league before you start back outside. maybe, they can do something about it.

Work harder and longer on defending then you do now. Part of every practice should be devoted to it.

Then work on your offensive skills in the rest of the practice. Actually you may be able to do both at the same time.

By the end of the season you will be a hell of a lot better then you are now. When your game starts to improve make sure everyone knows it including the parents. You will get where you want to be with hard work.

Thanks for the advice. The defense/offense split sounds like a good idea. After I realized the situation I devoted the next two (weekly) practices specifically to defense. I also switched from a 2-2-2-2 formation to a diamond defense (I know, I know, but it's easy to teach inexperienced players and gives more depth to our defense). But while my team's defense is decent our offense needs real work. I've been struggling with how to balance the defensive needs of this season with the offensive needs of the next. I usually spend a whole practice on one topic, but maybe I'll start splitting between defense and offense.

FYI, I did stress to the league that my team needed to be in the lower division. I don't know what happened by I was hopping mad when I found out. This is an off-season indoor league and so won't affect our next regular season. But it also means we're playing against the best teams in the entire region (including academy teams) rather than just our normal rec league. But it's really unfair to my girls who have worked their hearts out and were just starting to win at the end of last season.

A follow-up question: what defensive practice drills or games would you suggest? My girls can (finally!) clear, 2-touch pass, have some understanding of 1st defender/2nd defender, and we're working on 1-touch passing to deal with these incredible teams we're facing. But they're nowhere near able to learn a proper zone or man-to-man defense. Lately I've been really hounding on closing down on the attacker with only mixed success.

[Ray Luca]

Teach 1 v 1 stand up block tackling ot is the normal tackling also teach 2nd defender support of the tackler and balance using the other defenders further away space right and and further back (staggared) for depth.

[spartanpele]

At U8 rec, don't worry about winning. As a matter of fact, put your emphasis on praising the things the players do correct and keep everything positive. Don't dwell on the score, but instead make statements that single out the positives.

Go out of your way to praise each individual player, even it means thanking them for showing up and smiling while playing. If you deemphasize the score, and emphasize the simple things, the girls will pick up on it. You'd be surprised how chipper and happy kids can be, even if they lose, simply if they know they get a treat at the end of the game.

As for things you can work on, try working specifically on 1v1 work, having the player stand arms distance apart, proper straddling technique & emphasize "not sticking" for the ball. Have them work on running backwards while maintaining proper poster.

Then escalate to 2v2 drills, then 4v4 drills. Since kids that age can easily be distracted, try to alternate skill work with games. And the more you can make the games creative and fun, the more they'll pay attention. Simple ball control games such as "red light-green light", "dribbling races", "soccer marbles", and "clean up the backyard", are good at teaching skills, without it feeling like a seminar for the players.

At U8, your bigger problem when it comes to wins-losses, may not be your players, but the parents. As I've learned after many decades of soccer, the younger the age group, the worse the parents. You have to train your parents just like your kids... that at U8, just competing and enjoying the sport while developing is much more imporant then the final score.

Believe me, nobody is going to care about a teams U8 record 5, 10 years from now. But if you can teach self confidence and to enjoy the sport, that will last a lifetime.

[mzbrand]

We played the best team in the division today, one that had given up only 3 goals in the previous 4 games and scored 32 out of 36 possible points this season (the league stops counting goals after 9). I really worried about this game because the teams were so unevenly matched, thinking that it might be very discouraging to my girls. To fix this I promised them all an award if they could either keep the score under 9 or score 2 goals. I give this award out about once a season for special achievements (scoring our first ever goal, winning our first ever game, etc.). We eventually gave up 11 and scored 1, but at the half it was only 5 to 1 and my girls kept trying for that second goal up until the last seconds of the game. After the game they seemed happy and had a long list of things they'd learned from playing such a good team.

Having an achievable, although difficult, goal, really helped. We also playing three "packed-in" defenders who were instructed to stay within the "penalty" box no matter what. These and a few similar tactics turned what I worried would be a negative experience into a very positive, fun game.

Our biggest problem was giving up at least 4 points on crosses to an uncovered forward who stuck to the far post (while I was yelling "cover that girl or she will score"). We've been working on this, but looks like we need to keep working on it.

So far this has resolved the morale issue. I'll continue to offer an award based on realistic goals rather than final score. I still need to finalize what skills to work on. In practice I think I'll rigidly split practice 1/2 defense and 1/2 offense. I may also introduce a flat 3 defense if I think I can get them to stick to their zones.

[Ray Luca]

how to tackle 1 v 1

It is all about timing and form not about being physical or big or even contact with the player. It is about winning the ball, then starting your teams attack.

The idea is not to crash into the dribbler. The idea is to win the ball from the dribbler.

You don't go for the tackle when the dribbler has close control of the ball. You do close space on the dribbler that is pressuring the dribbler. Meaning if the dribbler is alone you close that open space within two yards of the dribbler. That alone limits the dribblers options, his view of the goal and also limits his passing options. So this pressure on the dribbler comes first before the tackle if he has close control of the ball.

Then you position yourself to be ready to tackle. You get into a side ways position, and again you wait for the moment where the dribbler does not have close control of the ball. Then at that time you go for the tackle. So it is a lot about the timing of the tackle knowing when to tackle and when not to tackle.

You never go straight into the player. Your not looking to bang into him just take the ball away from him. Then you can start your teams own attack.

You come in from an angle to the left or the right of the dribbler not straight into the dribbler.

You tackle using only the inside of the foot with a bended knee not stiff legged. You want to hit the center of the ball so your tackling foot should be slightly off the ground with the heal down, and toes up ankle locked. It looks very similar to the form you use for push passes.

You hit the center of the ball, and the tackling foot follows through riding up the ball. That gives the ball top spin. You want to put top spin on the ball to help the ball go over the dribblers right or left foot depending on the angle you took. You want to put the ball behind the dribbler off the dribblers left or right shoulder. Then you go to the ball and win the ball and start your own attack.

If you don't hit the ball over the dribblers foot the first time. Immediately tackle the ball again, and keep tackling until you do win the ball.

When you tackle you want to hear the noise of your foot hitting the ball hard, not your foot hitting the dribbler. Your not going to get hurt hitting the ball.

Do not turn your inside of the foot after the touch. Keep it square with the ball just like you do with the push pass. The tackling foot the side of the foot faces in the direction you want the ball to go. Also the non tacking foot points in the direction you want the ball to go.

Eye on the ball and tackle coming in from an angle, hitting the ball with the inside of your foot so it goes straight over one of the dribblers feet with your top spin follow through. You don't want to hit the ball into the dribblers body.

Last thing is you don't go for a tackle unless you have a team mate supporting from behind just in case you miss.

You need a bigger player for her to go against so she knows it is not about size. Big brother perhaps would be nice other wise you do it with her.

[mzbrand]

Well, a disappointing game this week. We played a team with great ball control and after the first quarter my team started backing away from the ball. There were several plays where the other team controlled the ball and held it for several seconds before anyone on my team even moved towards it. Although my team is not as good as they should be at closing on the ball, I've never seen them so squeemish. Not really sure what happened.

I also introduced the flat 3 defense by telling the defenders to stay within the penalty box, each guarding a 1/3 zone. That was pretty easy to teach and seemed worked pretty. We lost way too many points, but none that I saw from the crosses that were killing us with our sweeper formation. All in all I was satisified with how that worked and this week I hope to open the wing defenders into the corners and bring the defending midfielders into the zone play.

After the game several of my parents were grumbling. Some didn't like the packed in defense, others worried that we're not concentrating enough on winning. As my wife said "everyone a coach". I need to at least have a pep talk with the parents, but I'm still mulling over what to say.

[spartanpele]

Tell the parents that the emphasis at U8 is development, not winning. In order to have complete developmentally sound older players you have to have the foundation building blocks at the younger levels. You can't worry about wins and losses at that young an age. Although you still want to win each game, the emphasis is on development.

Believe me, nobody is going to remember or care about a U8 game ten years from now. But they will remember if you taught sportsmanship and the fundamentals of playing attractive soccer. Nobody cares about U8 trophies and championships when they're in their teen years, 20's and beyond.

If the parents don't like those answers...tell them to find a different team.

[blech]

Tell the parents that the emphasis at U8 is development, not winning. In order to have complete developmentally sound older players you have to have the foundation building blocks at the younger levels. You can't worry about wins and losses at that young an age. Although you still want to win each game, the emphasis is on development.

Believe me, nobody is going to remember or care about a U8 game ten years from now. But they will remember if you taught sportsmanship and the fundamentals of playing attractive soccer. Nobody cares about U8 trophies and championships when they're in their teen years, 20's and beyond.

If the parents don't like those answers...tell them to find a different team.

i'm not so sure that the parents may not be sending this message to the coach. i don't know that any of us (except the coach) know enough about the facts here to have an opinion.

nothing wrong with coaching strong defense, but it concerns me in terms of "development" if it is at the sacrifice of basic skills like passing, dribbling, shooting, and trapping. are the players on defense being rotated? or are the same kids at the age of 6-7 being relegated to the backline and not allowed to develop their skills? i'm not sure how happy i'd be about this if i had a 6-7 year old child on this team, but again i think there are a lot of facts that we don't know.

as for pep talks, i wouldn't worry about the parents. focus on the kids. remind them that each of them are competing against herself, and then praise them accordingly. go over after these things after the game - let B knows that you thought the shot was the best one you had seen from her, let C know that she did a better job of tackling, let D know that she punted the ball well, and so on.

and, then make sure that the parents don't mess up the snack schedule. my guess is that a treat after the game is more important than the result.

[RonP811]

The best thing to do when overmatched is give the team achievable goals to work toward. Instead of the score, come up with goals like "X" number of shots on goals, winning "X" number of 50-50 balls, get the ballpast midfield "X" number of times. And whenever your team achieves these goals say so during the game loudly enough for everyone to hear. If your players are getting positive reinforcement about these goals, they'll cope with a one-sided score a lot better. I'm not a big fan of gimmicks to try to keep the score under control if those gimmicks are not technically sound for the players development. I remember coaching a U7/U8 rec team afew years back. Our two best players were going to miss the game against what was arguably the best team in the league. One of the other coaches on my team wanted to pull everyone back on defense and play for a 0-0 tie. I said no. I said I didn't think it would be much fun for the kids to go into a shell in be under siege all game. I also didn't think putting everyone back on defense would help the players development. Instead I stuck with our normal formation. The result was we lost 2-0 in a highly competitive game in which everyone one of our players but one played their best game of the season (and the other player stillplayed a very strong game). By playing without our two best players and playing it straight insteadof going to a junk, gimmick defense, our remaining players were given the opportunity to have more touches and they responded magnificently.