Coaching youth teams.

[Twenty26Six]

Just finished my USSF C License this week. It went well; I think.

Looking forward to getting back with my boys on Tuesday.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Just finished my USSF C License this week. It went well; I think.

Looking forward to getting back with my boys on Tuesday.

Congratulations! Your moving up in the ranks. I start my practices tomorrow, I am definitely looking forward to this season.

[liverbird]

http://web.mac.com/lynnborton/iWeb/ActionSpring08/vVikings_files/IMG_4039.jpg

MiniLB with a cute backheel that played his partner through. What you can't tell is it was done at a high pace and resulted in a shot. The game was a 0-0 draw.

[el-capitano]

He looks like a tall lad compared to some of those other guys in the pic- maybe not so 'mini' any more? :D

[liverbird]

He looks like a tall lad compared to some of those other guys in the pic- maybe not so 'mini' any more? :D

6 foot and an inch or so. MiniLB was his name on here.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Had my first practice this season, and things are looking promising.

Though I will be missing the Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher of my team for the first tournament because he has a wrestling camp to attend. Sigh...the two best players, leaders, and hardest workers of course big into wrestling...it will be a tough tournament, but we are at home so we shall see how it goes.

BTW, I have a set of identical twins on my team this year. I only got their names wrong about five times yesterday...

[kopiteinkc]

My daughter's team are in a two weekend tournament. Last weekend they won 3-0 and 5-3. They play the last match of the group matches on Saturday at 8am and then the semi finals at 3pm.

If they make the final that will be Sunday at 1pm.

They are guaranteed to be in the semis after their two wins, so the 8am game might see a few changes in the line up and some players trying out various positions. Their opposition has already lost 6-0 and 9-0, so it will be a good chance to mix things up and get ready for the semis later in the day.

Their main issue is that the whole midfield joins the attack and if they lose the ball going forward the defenders are stranded with no help.

Anyone know if Mascherano can play on Saturday. He can wear a ponytail right? ;)

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Good article about the plight of the youth coaching in England and the failure to nurture English talent. I think the United States National Team program has the same problem to a lesser degree, and I thought this would be the right forum to put it in, because it is obviously about coaching youth teams.
English youngsters tend to play on full-size pitches and in full-size goals from the age of ten, again that's younger than any other European country.

To an adult, this would be like playing in goals 10 feet high, and pitches 150metres long! Many critics argue this places an unhealthy emphasis on kids who are strong, big or fast and can kick the ball far, but not those who are small and skilful. The number of touches players enjoy is reduced significantly on adult-size pitches, and development suffers.

Apart from the format of play, the quality of coaching for youngsters has also been questioned. Many children's introduction to football in this country is conducted by primary school teachers with little knowledge in good training practice.

This first quote, especially the last bit reeks of a lot of similarity between ND High School soccer coaches and UK quality coaching. Only now are we starting to see younger people who actually played the game and took courses stepping into coaching and managing roles. What is it like in your areas?

"Club structure is key," he says.

"Every club in England should have a strong person in charge of youth development. Someone who can draw up a training plan for youngsters, assess their needs and performance.

"Someone who can attend courses, understand the way coaching is going, and then share that knowledge with the volunteers who train youngsters at every age-group. As coaches we are lonely in England. Information and expertise isn't shared like it is in Holland, and that must change."

Paul Cooper of the Give us Back our Game campaign, believes a completely new mindset is required in the way football is played at younger ages.

"Football needs to learn from the game that was played on the streets a generation or two age," he says.

"Then it was about freedom, enjoyment, and expression. Football simply isn't fun any more; adults have got too involved. We shouldn't have leagues or full-size pitches until a later age; until then games should be unstructured; no referees, limited coaching, no substitutes doing nothing on the touchline, and no parents going barmy."

Changes in society and lifestyle mean that a more structured system of youth football is inevitable today. But perhaps if English football is to succeed in improving the way it develops young talent, it must respect the spirit of the past.

The young footballers of yesteryear may not have enjoyed a 3G pitch; they may not have played in a mini-soccer team in a fully-organised league from the age of seven; they may not have received skills coaching. But these were the kids who went on to win the World Cup in 1966.

I think this is what Rafa is trying to do with our reserve and youth teams and that's why I feel very confident about our future.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

So this last week I have been working a little bit on our formation and shape, since we have a scrimmage this week and then the real matches begin next week. I have settled on this formation, and in practice it is working quite well and the kids really enjoy it.

--------------------Striker---------------------
LW------------------AM--------------------RW
----------------------DM------------------------
-------------LB----------------RB----------------

I decided to go with four midfielders because my team really does like to run up and down the field. They always volunteer for midfield positions. My defense is good enough to hold counter-attacks. I will tell you guys how it works out after Tuesday's scrimmage.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Well, a disappointing start to the season.

We got shellacked by our local rivals. Think Derby at Liverpool. Sigh.

Then in our second match of the day we drew 4-4 after being up 4-0. My team, usually solid defensively, decided they were going to go off their rockers and start stabbing and ball-watching. Sigh.

Tomorrow, we take on a team that we should beat, but I have no idea, the kids are disappointed, but I didn't get on them too much about it. A long way to go, we can still claim second with a win tomorrow.

Positives
-My two best players missed the first two games because of a wrestling tournament. We are a different team without them. One is like Gerrard for Liverpool, while the other is like McBride for Fulham. The first is a midfield engine, and the second is just a strong force up front.

-We passed quite well. My coaching director and the UK coach were impressed when my boys had a passing sequence that went like this: Right wing drops back to defender, who then swings the ball to the other defender, who hits a ball up to the left wing, plays a one-two with the forward and then fired a shot off the crossbar. So close. But I was proud, cause I was like "Yep, that's my team!"

-Anyone else who plays 8 v. 8, I would recommend the 2-4-1. The width really opens teams up, but it's a struggle for younger kids to figure out width, until they actually use the width and space for themselves.

Any updates from other people? I may be getting a job back in Fargo with a local high school. Either as a varsity assistant, or JV/middle school head coach. I am excited. :) I will let you all know how my team finishes the last game tomorrow.

[liverbird]

Last week my son finished his ten year travel football career with two assists and a goal. The goal came on a through ball sending him in alone on the keeper and he finished by drawing the keeper and putting a side foot curler in the far post, just a second before the chasing center half got there. Torres like, and a fitting way to go out. His team not only stayed up as a promoted first division side but finished 5th in a 10 team league.

Now he's off the college and I'll have no youth connection any more.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Last week my son finished his ten year travel football career with two assists and a goal. The goal came on a through ball sending him in alone on the keeper and he finished by drawing the keeper and putting a side foot curler in the far post, just a second before the chasing center half got there. Torres like, and a fitting way to go out. His team not only stayed up as a promoted first division side but finished 5th in a 10 team league.

Now he's off the college and I'll have no youth connection any more.

Do you feel old now? ;)

My team won their last game 6-0, which was enough for us to seal up second place in the tournament. It was a good performance which saw us score a headed goal off a corner, a flick volley off a free kick, and a smashing direct free kick to the upper corner of the net. Had my best two players back, and one of them scored a goal and set up two others. Today is an off day, and Friday I have a four hour drive to another tournament.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Just got back last night from our second tournament of the year. Two things were clearly off with this tournament. First, we played in one pool of eight teams, and the top two point totals (6 points for a win, 3 for a tie, 1 for a goal up to three goals, 1 for a shutout). Refereeing was bad, we had 3 instances in one game where the referee called four bad throw-ins in a row, from the same spot. I know as a referee you have to call bad throw-ins, but in this instance you have to let them play.

We won two games and tied one. Didn't play good enough to get into the top two, we didn't get to play the two teams that made it into the final so that is also disappointing. We ended with 24 points, 2 short of what we needed to qualify for the championship match, so we took third. We probably would have made the championship if it would have been two groups of four instead of one group of 8.

Oh well. The kids had fun, which makes it easier for the parents to have fun and for myself to coach and have fun. We have two weeks until our third tournament. We have to work on set piece defending, conceded four goals this weekend from corners :eek:.

[liverbird]

Just got back last night from our second tournament of the year. Two things were clearly off with this tournament. First, we played in one pool of eight teams, and the top two point totals (6 points for a win, 3 for a tie, 1 for a goal up to three goals, 1 for a shutout). Refereeing was bad, we had 3 instances in one game where the referee called four bad throw-ins in a row, from the same spot. I know as a referee you have to call bad throw-ins, but in this instance you have to let them play.

We won two games and tied one. Didn't play good enough to get into the top two, we didn't get to play the two teams that made it into the final so that is also disappointing. We ended with 24 points, 2 short of what we needed to qualify for the championship match, so we took third. We probably would have made the championship if it would have been two groups of four instead of one group of 8.

Oh well. The kids had fun, which makes it easier for the parents to have fun and for myself to coach and have fun. We have two weeks until our third tournament. We have to work on set piece defending, conceded four goals this weekend from corners :eek:.

Must be the zonal marking:D

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Late update.

The club, including my team, went down to Rapid City, SD for a tournament. My team placed second, which brings our total places to two second place finishes and one third place finish out of three tournaments. Apparently I still couldn't get marking on corners through to my team. We conceded four goals on corners and another one on a set piece. We mark like LFC. We leak goals like Tottenham. But we score boatloads!!! :D

Heading to the Schwan's USA Cup Weekend Tournament tomorrow. It's a full 3-day tournament, and my team (if we win) could end up playing six matches in three days. Should be fun. I will let you all know how we do.

After this tournament we go to the State Cup, two weeks later, with a berth into the regional tournament on the line. After that the season is over, and I move back to Fargo, ND to take up an assistant position with a local high school for the boy's high school soccer season.

Yep!

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Well, I am back from the USA Cup. My team lost in the semi-finals 2-1, this after winning four straight games. We took third-fourth (there was no third place game, but I know my team was the better team ;)).

In all of the games, we always went into halftime down 1-0. However we ended up winning 2-1, 4-1, 2-1, and 1-1 (win on penalties in QF). My team played really well and conceded no goals on set pieces or corners, and we scored 3 from corners and 2 from free kicks. We possessed the ball and passed it backwards and to the keeper, it was amazing.

The penalties game was nerve-wracking, but it was fun for the kids, because they won the match. The semi-final game was just disappointing from a refereeing standpoint. First, a soft penalty call against us, and second they hauled one of my players down on a clear breakaway, no card, nothing. It wasn't our day though, we hit the woodwork three times. One rolled across the line, a la Crouch vs United in the FA Cup, except it didn't go in. And to top it all off the winning goal by the other team was scored with 2 minutes remaining.

I wanted to beat the team so bad, because this coach and players were ridiculous. I heard their coach telling his players to "foul #___ and #____, make sure you go in hard on the keeper". No joke. Also their players seem to watch too much of the Serie A, you know writhing in pain around the ground only to play on. Oh well, it was a good tournament.

Now onto the State Cup in two weeks.

[el-capitano]

And its still all your fault- because you are the coach!! :D

[Twenty26Six]

So, I had the first tryout for my club team next year. U11 Girls. We're a select club. But at 11, we take anyone. However, I'm excited to say I've had a talented group of girls turn out. Numbers are still a bit low. Right now, anywhere from 18-20, but we're hoping to add 8-10 more.

Best part of all, I love coaching girls. They learn faster, work harder, play together better - everything you need to be a successful soccer player.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

So, I had the first tryout for my club team next year. U11 Girls. We're a select club. But at 11, we take anyone. However, I'm excited to say I've had a talented group of girls turn out. Numbers are still a bit low. Right now, anywhere from 18-20, but we're hoping to add 8-10 more.

Best part of all, I love coaching girls. They learn faster, work harder, play together better - everything you need to be a successful soccer player.

See, younger girls aren't bad to coach, for all of the above stuff you stated. I was helping out with a soccer camp, and they are a lot better than the boys. However, you can't be too mean to them, basically because in my experience of coaching girls and boys at a soccer camp, their feelings are more likely to be hurt. But boys tend to be punks a lot of the time.

If I may ask. How big is your team at U11? Do you play 11 v. 11, and how many are you taking for a whole team? 18 would be a full roster in ND for an 11 v. 11 team, and you can add alternates and reserves to that 18, obviously to cover for injuries, family stuff, etc. Thanks.

[Twenty26Six]

If I may ask. How big is your team at U11? Do you play 11 v. 11, and how many are you taking for a whole team?

Even though we are select, at 10 and 11, we take anyone who wants to come - with the exception of those who can't walk and chew gum simultaneously. However, we get a good chunk of talented girls.

I'm in charge of the whole pool, and we'll try to run two simultaneous competition schedules with about 28 girls. All girls will have the opportunity to play in either competition schedule. We'll just shuffle them - instead of having an A and B team set.

We'll enter a U11 and U12 league, both play 9v9 (8+K). Ideally, we'll roster 13-14 girls for a game. [18 is also what we "dress" here for an 11v11 game. State Cup lets us roster 22, but only dress 18 per game.]