My first year coaching thread

[pething101]

Originally posted by soccernutter
p - I'm wondering, what do the other players think about these guys who are skipping practice? And are these guys really flakin off, or is there a more legit reason (as a possibility was hinted at in a previous post)?

I think there is going to be a lot of animosity towards any juniors or seniors that show up on Wednesday and expect to start playing.

I think if any of those show up, we will work them extra hard to make it up to the ones that have been there since July 29.

[Elroy]

Originally posted by pething101
This gets my vote as post of the thread.

You're pretty easily impressed. This comment that you like is the sort of comment that I would expect from a troll. It is an attempt to posture as cool and adds nothing positive to the discussion. Of course, it's always easier to talk about something than to actually do it - duh!

I'm more interested in what you or the head coach are going to do about the no show players. Do you have numbers to do without them? Or, if you discipline them, will you have to play short? This seems like the toughest problem that you are facing. Seems to me that someone in your program needs to become more persuasive in creating numbers. Without numbers, you could well end up disciplining yourself into non exsistence. That may not be a bad result. Your school just may not be ready for a varsity team.

[Benedict XVI]

Originally posted by Elroy


You're pretty easily impressed. This comment that you like is the sort of comment that I would expect from a troll. It is an attempt to posture as cool and adds nothing positive to the discussion. Of course, it's always easier to talk about something than to actually do it - duh!

Lighten up, Francis. It was not an attempt to do anything but admit my terrible ignorance.

I posted that after I finished going through the whole thread, cutting and pasting the ideas into a Word file that I then printed out, as I go into my first practice this afternoon, trying to learn what I'm doing and pickup a program that had been successful but had a disastrous regime the last two years. I have parents, administrators, and players who are expecting me to lead them into something, and I have nothing but enthusiasm and a love for the game (and teaching experience, I guess) to guide me.

and, mostly, it was a placeholder, so i could pick up where i left off, because I intend to consult this thread daily. did i add anything? not really. i apologize for the 2-3 seconds of your life you'll never get back, having read my post.

So.

One question I have about the Coerver method tapes: there seem to be several different ones, including a "New Coerver" or something like that. Can anybody explain the differences? And are they available on DVD?

[soccernutter]

Originally posted by pething101


I think there is going to be a lot of animosity towards any juniors or seniors that show up on Wednesday and expect to start playing.

I think if any of those show up, we will work them extra hard to make it up to the ones that have been there since July 29.

Where are they, the juniors and seniors, in terms of playing time? Are they going to unseat some younger players who have been out since the beginning? (and are you saying that Wednesday is the first day of school?)

[SharkD]

Chicago- we have the same game (still play it) but we call it a**es up. Circle up and juggle and play the ball to other players, first person to screw up gets an A etc... One twist is that the player next to you can rifle it off your shins if he wants and you'll get the letter since your the last person it touched. After you spell a**es, you grab your ankles on the goal line and everyone lines up at the spot. If shoter 1 hits you in the leg, he shots again, if someone hits you in the a**, then everyone shoots again!!

We'd "hang" players back when I was in high school (late 80's), I doubt you could get away with it anymore!

[Elroy]

Originally posted by Vicar


Lighten up, Francis. It was not an attempt to do anything but admit my terrible ignorance.



I apologize. I read something into your post that I shouldn't have.

On Coerver. There was an old vs new thread on here sometime before the crash. Maybe someone could revive it.

I like the old Coerver. I was fortunate to attend a three day clinic ( back in 1987-88 ) where Weil Coerver was the principal demonstrator. He was 64 and just off bypass surgury and did the entire three days in 90 degree heat. It was amazing. It is still the most memorable coach session that I've ever attended.

Smartest thing I did there was put down my notebook and concentrate on how he organized things. I learned enough that I could make my own adaptations. They've served me well.

At any rate, here are some thoughts on the Coerver method.

1. It is a complete training system, not just footwork drills. American coaches who complain about Coerver are generally only seeing the drills.
2. That said, Coerver footwork drills are great for American youth players b/c it dramatically improves the number of touches they can get in a practice session. Players hate these drills. It is important to teach the framework quickly and add one drill at a time to your team's sessions. I liked to use them for warm up and tried to keep the session to 12-15 minutes. Coerver encourages you to be as flexible as possible in the lower body joints, so it makes a nice compliment to your stretching.
3. Each exercise seems to work best if you allow 30 seconds practice followed by 20 seconds of top speed. Also, Coerver and his assistants always yelled at us while we practiced to increase the pressure. By this I mean "c'mon" and "faster, faster". I would follow them around trying to distract them.
4. After a bit, we used what I call " passing " Coerver drills where players do 1-2 repititions followed by a pass to their partner who then does their's. This brings in first touch work also. When players practice their "moves" it is supremely important that they consider the position of their imaginary opponent so the move makes sense.
5. You can also use "Shadow Coerver". This is where teamates face each other, each with a ball, and they do the exercise at speed and simultaneously. The proxcimity of the other player also increases pressure. This is not a race.
6. There are as many footwork sequences as you can think of. Just be consistant and brief.

As I recall, Anson Dorrance used Coerver drills with the WNT. He may have some better suggestions than I in one of his books.

The other part of his method consisted of match related modules. This can be as simple or complicated as you wish but, Coerver always had two identical modules working side by side. THere was always either a transfer of players, or most generally, the ball between groups. He deliberately introduced a measure of confusion to stretch players mentally. The pace was extremely quick and corrections were fast and direct.
The main thing was that everthing was match related, practical, and players were strongly encouraged to take on defenders 1v1 to create passing options.

[bungadiri]

Originally posted by Vicar
I posted that after I finished going through the whole thread, cutting and pasting the ideas into a Word file that I then printed out, as I go into my first practice this afternoon, trying to learn what I'm doing and pickup a program that had been successful but had a disastrous regime the last two years. I have parents, administrators, and players who are expecting me to lead them into something, and I have nothing but enthusiasm and a love for the game (and teaching experience, I guess) to guide me.

Just out of curiousity, how long did it take you (I've been thinking of doing the same). And does anyone know of an easier way to accomplish what Vicar did?

[Benedict XVI]

i don't know how long it took me, i was also working on lesson plans and playing axis and allies at the same time.

if anybody wants, pm me your address and i will e-mail the word file of the collective wisdom of this thread.

[BuffloSoldier]

Let me be the first.

Vicar out!

[pething101]

Practice on a Monday.

8 kids.

Rainy weather ... not even rainy. Mostly showers that let up around 4:15.

8 kids present, 6 unexcused.

Not happy.

[Benedict XVI]

Originally posted by BuffloSoldier
Let me be the first.

Vicar out!

you'll get yours, buddy, you'll get yours.


quick update - first day of practice. i had 14 kids show, about what i expected. 3 couldn't stay because they didn't have their physicals.

i started out with stretching about 10 minutes, then we did a little bit of running, nothing big, jog half the width of field, then sprint back. about 10 minutes, got a good sweat up, and then i split them into 4 teams, playing 4 on 3 with no goalies in the penalty area. 4 sided teams are the 'offense' and have to string 10 passes together to 'win.' did that for about 10 minutes, then the AD came out and told me 4 of the 10 still there were academically inelligible - not according to state rules, but to our own 'house' rules.

so it looks like i won't have a team unless i can recruit about 5 kids this week. oi.

so, the remaining 6 kids played 3 on 3 for a while. we took a break, talked about soccer for a while, what teams they like, where they like to play. played some monkey in the middle, 3 on 1, got them down to 1 touch passing. i have 4-5 kids, including a recent korean immigrant, who actually are pretty good. unfortunately, my blazingly fast stud of a monster stud is one of the inelligibles.

i put on a brave face, but it looks like my predecessor and a bit of stupidity has killed this program.

oi.

[pething101]

Originally posted by soccernutter


Where are they, the juniors and seniors, in terms of playing time? Are they going to unseat some younger players who have been out since the beginning? (and are you saying that Wednesday is the first day of school?)

Wednesday is the first day of school.

To be honest, I am not sure that we are going to get that many more kids. I really dont see it happening.

Talked to a coach from another local school, he said he had 50 kids show up on July 30 for practice. My jaw nearly must have hit the floor.

[pething101]

Did play one fun little game. Had the kids pair up and work on juggling the ball, head, foot and chest. Then, after five minutes, put them single file on a line and asked them if they could juggle the ball from one end of the line to the other w/o allowing the ball to hit the ground.

I got a resounding, "of course."

Naturally, I gave them 3 minutes to practice and they did it on the first try ... never to do it again.

Gave them one chance to do it ... they do it, they dont run, they mess up ... time to run.

Blew the whistle.

Failure.

It was amusing.

[Sachin]

Vicar must go.

Sachin

[pething101]

Originally posted by Elroy


I'm more interested in what you or the head coach are going to do about the no show players. Do you have numbers to do without them? Or, if you discipline them, will you have to play short? This seems like the toughest problem that you are facing. Seems to me that someone in your program needs to become more persuasive in creating numbers. Without numbers, you could well end up disciplining yourself into non exsistence. That may not be a bad result. Your school just may not be ready for a varsity team.

Frankly, I have no idea what we are going to do about numbers. You are correct in that so few numbers limits us in discipline. Also, it makes us soft and complacent b/c the players that dog know they will start b/c we have so few players.

Today was a good example of that. Several players went through the motions but there was very little way to motivate them other than wind sprints. Cannot bench them b/c we wont have a team. Looks like wind sprints and the sort is our only option.

[fernb8]

I find it very difficult to gauge the psychological aspcet of coaching this age group. For example, I am coaching an U16 Recreational team at the moment. There seems to be so many types of personalties and motives behind players that it is almost impossible to motivate and/or keep the interest level high enough.

It seems as if there are two types of players on this team;
1. players who love the game, want to play and want to get better
2. player who are play because the parents force them to, their friends are on the team, they have nothing better to do.

Its a very frustrating mix, and at times I feel the first group gets distracted by the fact that not matter how hard the work or how many practices they come to, the second group is entitiled to just as much playing time (each player is guaranteed one half of each game all season).

Anyone got any ideas/suggestions for motivations, I seem to struggling from the same problems as pething.

[fernb8]

please excuse my spelling in the previous post, I am not drunk, just having a long day and practice didnt make it much better

[Richie]

pething101

How many players exactly do you have on your team?

Tell them don't work hard in practice and I will not worry about your playing time so remember that. "it is up to you, on how much time you get or if you get any time so work hard in practice".

Want to light a fire under them? I am sure you have a hard worker who does not start because of ability. Start him, and play him the whole game. Sit the lazy player or no show with the most ability the whole game.

The other lazy players my get the hint. See what happens in the next practice. They are still lazy sit the next best lazy player the whole game, etc, etc.

Then see how the rest of the lazys practice.

Maybe you will push one or two lazy players to push themselves. Then you have more options.

If you practice in stations and you should. Push them, you move from station to station to push them.

Have a lazy player at a station pull him out of the station. Then start a lazy station for lazy players. Spend more time pushing them call it the lazy station. Maybe, peer pressure will work who wants to be singled out in a lazy station?

Can you recruit from the track team? If you can add a player to the team do it even if there is not much skill there. Turn him into a player eventually. Look for freshman who can help you if not this year next year a project player and a hard worker. Then play him rather then the lazy player.

Practice playing short handed it will come in handy when a player is carded or you just want to play a man short to show them that you mean what you say. Just play without one extra striker. if your striker is not a lazy play him in the midfield.

So take out a lazy and play short 10 players. Say I am not playing lazy players who don't work hard in practice.

I know suppose a player with ability leaves? If you can turn other lazys into worksers in practice and in games who cares let him leave. Your team will be better eventually without him.

Lazy is a cancer do nothing it spreads to other players.

Richie

[Elroy]

Originally posted by pething101


Frankly, I have no idea what we are going to do about numbers. You are correct in that so few numbers limits us in discipline. Also, it makes us soft and complacent b/c the players that dog know they will start b/c we have so few players.

Today was a good example of that. Several players went through the motions but there was very little way to motivate them other than wind sprints. Cannot bench them b/c we wont have a team. Looks like wind sprints and the sort is our only option.

Everyone is suggesting punishment/negative motivation. That has its place, but in these circumstances it could have a negative effect on the program. Let me offer some suggestions.

1. Think beyond your current season. It is important that you build your program or, next year, you'll face this all over again.
a. Build the good players that you have. Make practice fun and productive. Strongly encourage good performances with rewards.
b. Do some team building. Have some team dinners at volunteer parent's homes. Girls will come for the fellowship, boys for the food. Have your practice right before the dinner. You can't do this every night, but it will build espirit. Have some appropriate non soccer events as well. I have a family picnic every year with either a parent practice or a parent/player match. Try to develop some parent support.
c. Ask your hard working players to recruit their friends, even if they haven't played. You need players!! You can train them later.

2. Meet individually with your problem players. Have an outside person such as your athletic director, counselor, and/or parent at the meeting. Make the tone adult and concensus building. Air out the problems and ask the offending player to help work out the solution. See if you can come to an agreement. Follow up and keep the tone adult. You want the player to recognize his responsibilities.

3. Meet as a group and convince everyone that they all have a hand in the success or failure of the team. Tell your players that the past must be forgotten, but that those mistakes must not be repeated. Do not have a general gripe session - you must remain in charge. I'm not suggesting that you make concessions, I want you to find solutions. Never surrender your leadership role.

This is a good start. I've learned these things through hard experience. Good luck.

[JohnW]

Originally posted by Elroy

1. Think beyond your current season. It is important that you build your program or, next year, you'll face this all over again...
...I'm not suggesting that you make concessions, I want you to find solutions. Never surrender your leadership role...


It's funny, because I was thinking the same thing today as I was driving back from a retreat. (Odd how I have so much energy that now I'm thinking about someone else's problems. [!])

Anyway, it's a good thing for coaches who are interested in building a program. It's like sitting down to a card game to play someone else's hand--you inherit problems not of your own making. To compound pething's problem, it appears that his coach hasn't done some things that may help his own program. That's beside the point.

Here are some things I'd do if I were in that situation:

1. Set the tone for next year now. I agree with Richie and with Elroy, so I guess I would try to find the middle ground.

Players who are lazy, don't care, aren't trying to improve will NEVER be part of a successful program. That said, players that age change so much from year to year--even within a season. So the middle ground is not giving up on a player (and even telling them so) but not putting up with lackadaisical play. This doesn't benefit anyone.

2. Recruit players NOW. Find out friends (friends of friends, etc.) of current/past players. Are there club players who would consider playing? The challenge you can give them is they can be part of building something other students will be proud of.

If you only have 8-10 players now, you are obviously not going to be able to play a whole season. So find a way to make playing attractive to beginning players or good athletes. You should be able to take a good motivated athlete and use him this season.

3. This is a side-line to above, but if you only have 6-8 players, you do not have enough for a two-week camp.

I realize you don't have control over some of these things, but if you are going to work with the coach next year (or even if you're not), one of you has to step up and say, "It might be nice, but we're just not ready."

4. Set incremental goals. You can do this for yourself as a coach, for the different positions of the team, for the different aspects of the game, for individual players, etc.

This is one thing that has helped me keep positive when I've been frustrated with team problems. You can remind yourself (and the team) of things that are going well.

jgw