My first year coaching thread

[fernb8]

I wish it was all that easy.

to answer your questions- the decision was made by the board members of the league, it is a Recreation league and thier ultimate goal is to give each player an opportunity to play.

I provided some imput when they told me that they were having two teams. The suggestion I made was to keep the older players together, thus keeping the better skilled players together and maintaining most of the team that we had worked with during the last year. At least they listened to this idea and it follows your thinking/ideas of keeping the better players together.

the "soccer dad"- I have told him repeatedly about allowing the players to play within the roles and tactics we use. I dont mind players being inventive and trying new things, because ultimately playing the game is the best way to learn, but its frustrating when he encourages his son to attack and leave his responsibilites at the back. I also dont have many options if it comes to an ultimatum, if he quits then I am basically on my own with two teams. I am trying to find coaches as we speak, and at this stage I am willing to take on a few more "soccer dads" because I am that short of coaches.

[pething101]

Second ever practice with JV team. Eight kids show up. These kids rock.

Effort and heart, these kids have in abundance. Talent and skill we are sorely lacking. Did some very basic things today. Dribbling and passing were a focus.

Played some possesion games and worked three versus two going to goal.

Then the Varsity coach wanted to play us. I asked my kids what they wanted to do and all of them jumped at the chance to play. Told them I was focused on passing and spacing. Was not worried about goals or anything else.

We had maybe four shots and gave up 5 goals, three would have been called back for offsides in a real game. Even better, none of them backed down an inch.

Very proud of them.

[pething101]

Originally posted by Xscape
All this Varsity - JV talk is moot anyway. I work for the same boss as pething101, the AD of Cumberland County Schools.

Wahoo!!

[JohnW]

Originally posted by fernb8
I wish it was all that easy.

to answer your questions- the decision was made by the board members of the league, it is a Recreation league and thier ultimate goal is to give each player an opportunity to play...


To be honest, that's what I figured.

Other places to look for coaching help: maybe an area college. Sometimes guys (or girls) with playing experience don't want to make the commitment to play. They might be willing to help.

Maybe a parent has an older son or daughter dating someone who would be willing to help. That's actually how I got into coaching after college. I was playing in a league, dating a girl, and one day she asked me if I would consider helping out a close friend of hers (older) with a kid on a soccer team but no coach. The rest is history.

Back to the college option, maybe an area college has some type of athletic/sports management program. Sometimes the students have to do some type of coaching to get practical experience.

Our athletic department offers a "coaching certificate" (basically an introduction to coaching) and I believe the students have to observe at least one practice. Maybe someone like that, who already has an interest, would be willing to help.

Of course, you might not get good tactical or technique training, but some good assistance at running practices can be valuable.

Just a couple of ideas...

jgw

[fernb8]

thanks for the advice jgw, I will try to network as much as possible. I talked to the board and we set up a coaches clinic for next weekend, hopefully I will find a potential coach in the mix.

as for today- had three other coaches with me. Unfortunately, none of them want to take the younger team on a full time basis and dont have the time to completely commit to the older team.

Practice went well today, I worked with the younger team on the basics and techniques of passing and recieving. The older team worked on movement off the ball and possession and seemed to be doing well, the other coaches were all positive in their assesments. The younger team was full of bad attitudes once again, most of the players dont even care. I would say that they "go through the motions" but that would involve moving. Plenty of laps, crunches, pushups, knees-to-chest, sit-ups and sprints dished out today. Hopefully that will serve as some type of motivation because nothing else has worked so far. Any other ideas on motivation? Perhaps pething and I can take turns beating our "lazy" players with a whip.

[pething101]

Friday.

No practice today nor this weekend nor Monday.

[JohnW]

Originally posted by fernb8
Perhaps pething and I can take turns beating our "lazy" players with a whip.

!!
(I know you're kidding.)

Tough situation. I will come early/stay late to work with a player one-on-one on any skill he lacks--as long as he is working hard and wants to get better.

On the flip side, I have zero patience for players who won't work, have a bad attitude, etc.

Some coaches (and I generally agree) with the "make it fun" approach. That is, really trying to make the practices fun, enjoyable, etc. so that the players decide they enjoy it, work harder, blah, blah, blah.

So you might try a practice working with the less-experienced players where everything is a game or competition. This might bring out the good.

Also, at this age, even though they may deny it, they really care what other people/players think. Some of them may have adopted the bad attitude because a) they are following a few leaders who are exerting negative leadership and b) because they are embarrassed that they can't do the drills.

You might try to identify the leaders--even if they are leading with a bad attitude and try to "win them over." If you have strong enough leaders on the better squad (I assume you have captains), you might have them try to exert some peer pressure to work hard, even if they don't have the skills mastered.

The last step, I would take, is the "team talk." I only use this when there really is a crisis because otherwise it loses its effectiveness. (Obviously we have other team meetings, discussions, etc.) But you might sit the B team down and just ask them why they are so difficult to work with. Point out that nobody--including you--likes working with them because of their attitudes.

I haven't had to do this too often. One time, I told the players this and then said basically it's your decision if you want to continue as a team. You guys decide and then let me know. Then I walked over to the sideline and sat by the car while they talked. A little while later one of the captains came over and told me they were ready to play.

Of course, I assumed they would make that decision, but I had decided we wouldn't have practice if things didn't improve. Occasionally, a bad attitude would crop up (I try to remind myself there's a lot of hormones jumping around too.), but overall the team practiced because they wanted to.

Finally, you might consider breaking the team up not by skill level but by attitude. There are risks here, too. But if the attitude is the biggest thing, then you could isolate the crappy attitudes so they won't rub off. Then players could "graduate" to the A team.

Best of luck.

jgw

[Fender playa]

Originally posted by JohnW


!!
(I know you're kidding.)

Tough situation. I will come early/stay late to work with a player one-on-one on any skill he lacks--as long as he is working hard and wants to get better.

On the flip side, I have zero patience for players who won't work, have a bad attitude, etc.

Some coaches (and I generally agree) with the "make it fun" approach. That is, really trying to make the practices fun, enjoyable, etc. so that the players decide they enjoy it, work harder, blah, blah, blah.

So you might try a practice working with the less-experienced players where everything is a game or competition. This might bring out the good.

Also, at this age, even though they may deny it, they really care what other people/players think. Some of them may have adopted the bad attitude because a) they are following a few leaders who are exerting negative leadership and b) because they are embarrassed that they can't do the drills.

You might try to identify the leaders--even if they are leading with a bad attitude and try to "win them over." If you have strong enough leaders on the better squad (I assume you have captains), you might have them try to exert some peer pressure to work hard, even if they don't have the skills mastered.

The last step, I would take, is the "team talk." I only use this when there really is a crisis because otherwise it loses its effectiveness. (Obviously we have other team meetings, discussions, etc.) But you might sit the B team down and just ask them why they are so difficult to work with. Point out that nobody--including you--likes working with them because of their attitudes.

I haven't had to do this too often. One time, I told the players this and then said basically it's your decision if you want to continue as a team. You guys decide and then let me know. Then I walked over to the sideline and sat by the car while they talked. A little while later one of the captains came over and told me they were ready to play.

Of course, I assumed they would make that decision, but I had decided we wouldn't have practice if things didn't improve. Occasionally, a bad attitude would crop up (I try to remind myself there's a lot of hormones jumping around too.), but overall the team practiced because they wanted to.

Finally, you might consider breaking the team up not by skill level but by attitude. There are risks here, too. But if the attitude is the biggest thing, then you could isolate the crappy attitudes so they won't rub off. Then players could "graduate" to the A team.

Best of luck.

jgw

coudnt have said it better myself...:)

[NawlinsFats]

Come on Smith!! Beat Sanford and Forest!! Yuppie bastards.

[soccernutter]

Originally posted by Fender playa


Thanks soccernutter...........:D

No worries.

Originally posted by pething101
Second ever practice with JV team. Eight kids show up. These kids rock.

Effort and heart, these kids have in abundance. Talent and skill we are sorely lacking. Did some very basic things today. Dribbling and passing were a focus.

Played some possesion games and worked three versus two going to goal.

Then the Varsity coach wanted to play us. I asked my kids what they wanted to do and all of them jumped at the chance to play. Told them I was focused on passing and spacing. Was not worried about goals or anything else.

We had maybe four shots and gave up 5 goals, three would have been called back for offsides in a real game. Even better, none of them backed down an inch.

Very proud of them.

Excellent! :) I know that when I was on JV as a frosh. we loved to play the Varsity because we thought they were cocky. We had about 8-10 short games through the season and it was about 50/50, or just under for us. We didn't have a great overall season, but I know we enjoyed it. But I know that one of the things that made it better was there were about 5 of us who had been friends since 6th grade or earlier. That deffinatel made a moral difference for us. Is there any type of similar make up that you know of? And on a flip side, how did the varsity react to the game, including the head coach?

[bungadiri]

Originally posted by NawlinsFats
Come on Smith!! Beat Sanford and Forest!! Yuppie bastards.
LOL. Sanford yes, but Pine Forest, yuppies? How times have changed. When I was at Smith Terry Sanford was the Mighty Whitey HS, while PF and Seventy First were the dumbass cuntry sumbitches.
Say ************, Goddam, get off your ass and jam...

[Fender playa]

No senior soccer team tryouts on monday.......Damn and im only 15, ill probely face 17 year olds...... and on top of that im Centre Defence.....

Gulp...Help please.........:confused:

[NawlinsFats]

bungadiri, I guess times and places do change. Dont know if you got this.....Smith 40,Westover 12.

[Coryattheplex]

Originally posted by Fender playa
No senior soccer team tryouts on monday.......Damn and im only 15, ill probely face 17 year olds...... and on top of that im Centre Defence.....

Gulp...Help please.........:confused: Moving to center def means you are going to have to be a leader now.

Playing on the outside your only responsability is to know you're own job, and to do it. When you step into the middle you need to have a firm grasp of your job and everyone elses, this is especially true if you are to be a sweeper, as that position holds the best view of what is going on up the field. This player must be able to read the other team, and direct his own players as to when they should commit to a challege, mark space, or close down a passing lane. Sweeper is the defensive conductor. Stopper is the hardcore man marker who must not be beat. He must listen to his sweepers insrtuctions and be ready to react. He can not let the ball and the player get away from him when faced with a one on one situation, and he can not get pulled unnecessarily out of position in the middle...he is responsable for the space 35 yards out from the top of the box, all the way to the PK spot....he must own it!

[Elroy]

Originally posted by Fender playa
No senior soccer team tryouts on monday.......Damn and im only 15, ill probely face 17 year olds...... and on top of that im Centre Defence.....

Gulp...Help please.........:confused:

You're getting some good technical advice. Now pick up on some attitude change. You cannot allow yourself to be intimidated and expect to make the team. If your coach is moving you to the center, then he must have confidence in you - and perhaps sees you filling a void. So, play without fear or worries. You cannot be dismayed by mistakes b/c the coach may not have seen it, or even considered it to be a mistake.

As for your position, you probably know much more already than you think. Don't second guess!!! Do what you know is right, without hesitation. 98% of the time you'll do the right thing, the other 2 of 100 times you'll get good grades for aggression.

ksa!

[pething101]

Originally posted by NawlinsFats
bungadiri, I guess times and places do change. Dont know if you got this.....Smith 40,Westover 12.

That is a thumping. I was out of town, did not see it.

Tough for me working at Smith since I went to FTS aka the Country Club.

[Elizabeth]

Originally posted by Fender playa
hey.............you guys are coaches right.......i need some help. I played right defence fot 3 years in a row now. but my school coach chose me to play centre defence, whats the difference. and what do i have to do..............do i need to check anybody......

Center back as in...sweeper?, stoper. what postion?

Or is it center d mid? If it's DMid...he has a lot of faith in your offensive play as well.

Center back? Hmmm, if that is sweep, you gotta get with your keeper, be quick-quick, read offensive well....ummm, it goes on and on. Let me know your position. Best to you.

[pething101]

E.E. Smith 3
Jack Britt 5

Varsity with an early goal and led 1-0 at the half.

Got complacent and the flood gates opened.

Seemed to me like more than a few quit during the second half.

[pething101]

E.E Smith 1
Jack Britt 3

My kids gave all they had. We had to play 2 men short for about 15 minutes while kids that I had never seen got thier physicals to play. Gave up a goal within the first 45 seconds playing 2 down.

Got eleven on the field eventually although I had never even seen 5 of the play. Gave a gritty effort. Missed a PK that would have evened the score in the first half. Missed a couple of other chances in the first half.

Connected on a sweet cross from the right flank but the header went high over the bar. Too be truthful, I dont even remember how we scored. I think my A-Mid capitalized on a defensive error to slot one home midway through the second half.

Very happy with the effort. No time to work on anything as we play again tomorrow. Who knows what that might bring.

[pething101]

JV score from tonights match ...

E. E. Smith 3
Richmond County 6 (or 7, not really sure)

Back end of back to back games. Started with 12 so that was a plus.

Basically, told me kids to forget about the last two days, they mean nothing. The important date for us to remember is Sept 16, our next game and we will have maybe 8 practices between now and then and we are going to be a totaly different team when we take the field again.

Varsity won, 4-3.