My first year coaching thread

[Reality_Al]

Having coached both, and currently being the Varsity Coach of Girls, I was treated well as the JVarsity Coach. That's the way I presented it to the girls. We weren't in a jv vs Varsity rivalry. We were the JVarsity, which meant we should be ready and willing to movew up, but continue to work hard for the good of the team, for the good of the School program. You have to prioritize!
It was not always easy looking at the jv field and seeing 9 or 10 girls trying to play an 11 v 11 game 'on-the-fly' meaning that we started with 14, but the varsity coach needed them for the next game, and here we were, and remember, in our division it's max 32 haves per season, so play a jVarsity minute and it costs you a Varsity half.

But it comes down to why we coach- we love the game, and the process of the playing. The winning is a bonus! Not the primary focus.

In response to Elizabeth: As I said to Elroy, I applaud the difference, and coach to it. Do we scrimmage the HS BOYS? NO!!! What I have seen learned in that environment is usually perceived as patronizing, rightly or wrongly, and these young ladies don't need it. Moreover, the 'gentlemen' stop being gentle, and try to use physical intimidation when they start to get beat. To say,"Oh soccer is a contact sport." and imply that it is OK misses the point. "First to ball" is different than "knock her off the run to ball, then get the ball!"

But, back to reality. We GOT hammered in our last game. What a fiasco! 0-5. Get this... we arrive on time per our AD, but the refs say, "Get your girls on the pitch.Play soccer." I told them we just got here after being told to move the bus ten minutes from where we arrived, then being told to use another gate, that was locked, then being told that we should never have used that gate.Finding some who would unlock ... well blah blah blah. You don't want to hear it, but here's what I like to hear about. How long and how important is the pregame warm-up! My girls seem lost with anything less than 20 minutes. After that, they play excellent.

[pething101]

Pointy ball result ... EE Smith 34-71st 0.

On a side note, the two soccer players that kick field goals for the football team did not perform well.

[pething101]

E.E. Smith pep rally.

Introduce the fall teams. Varsity football gets individual names called as they walk out. JV football walks out alone.

Both soccer teams come out together. No individual intro's. Not even for seniors. Ah well.

For a second, I thought I was at Grambling or Southern ... the damn band is awesome. Two things this school takes seriously ... football and the marching band and I am not sure which is more important.

[bungadiri]

Originally posted by pething101
E.E. Smith pep rally.

Introduce the fall teams. Varsity football gets individual names called as they walk out. JV football walks out alone.

Both soccer teams come out together. No individual intro's. Not even for seniors. Ah well.

For a second, I thought I was at Grambling or Southern ... the damn band is awesome. Two things this school takes seriously ... football and the marching band and I am not sure which is more important.

It was ever thus. Smith always had the best band (esp. drum major) and cheers in Fayette-nam.

[efernandez9]

my first time after 2 yr hiatus

coaching 6-7yr olds, any advice

YmCa system

[soccernutter]

Originally posted by pething101
Caoch asked me today about my #10.

I told him that I thought he could handle the on field aspect of playing at the varsity level. I also told him that I dont want him on Varsity b/c it would expose him to some players on that team that have a very negative attitude.

I think he is gone. Time to try to figure out how to replace him.

Not necessarily. You're head coach may have brought him up to see how he handles the change. When I played, I had a player that was opposite. He could handle the attude, but needed time to adjust to the physical side. But, with the success that the coach has had, I'm sure his man management skills are fairly good.

[soccernutter]

Thinking about that makes ask if the #10 has any friends on the Varsity. I do know that a second froshman who got brought up, in addition to the one I mentioned in the previous post, was made easier becuase the two were friends for a few years back. As I think back, the two were probably able to settle in easier because of that.

[pething101]

JV score

Smith 0
FTS 9

It was not even that close.

[pething101]

Varsity score

Smith 0
FTS 9

You read correctly.

[bungadiri]

Wow, no wonder the varsity coach is after your players. How are the guys taking it?

[pething101]

Originally posted by bungadiri
Wow, no wonder the varsity coach is after your players. How are the guys taking it?

Not sure. Seems ok with it. Lots of happy chatter on the bus ride home.

Practice was very light. Maybe an hour of work with the ball ( I dont know, I was at a Social Studies meeting) and then we watched some tape and ate some pizza.

Got Pine Forrest next. At home. Tomorrow.

[fernb8]

its never easy trying to decide what is more important for the JV player, the JV team and the Varsity team
A. Bring up the JV player, thus making the JV squad weaker, with the possibility of the player spending the majority of the time on the bench
B. Keep him on JV were he/she might not get the necessay experience for the following season.

You could probably start another thread on this single topic.

[fernb8]

still a little while until high school starts, but here is a quick update on the rec teams

the younger team- they are finally begining to show some confidence, after being crushed 6-0 in the opener (dont ask- too many U8 mistakes for a U16 team), they rebounded and won 4-1 and played well.

Just when I thought the demons were gone they lost 3-0 and displayed the infamous "bad attitudes" I have been discussing; moaning, finger pointing, laziness, intentional fouls from frustration, arguing with each other, arguing with the ref, etc.

Had a team meeting and told them that I would not tolerate such attitudes, I dont care about winning/losing but I do care that they have at least some common respect for me and each other. Seemed to work, we won 7-0 in the next match and they played some good football, they still need a lot of work, but at least they are starting to believe in the system.

Problem now- when things are going well, everyone is happy (ie we are winning, or doing a drill they want to- ie shooting). When things arent... its not so pretty.

[fernb8]

sorry just one more post

I dont know if I have mentioned the older team. Really a good bunch of lads, all seem very keen on learning and getting better, and they all dont mind working hard to achieve the team and individual goals.

They tied the season opener 2-2, they played very well but could not finish. I was quite happy with them, we worked on some finishing and different methods of attacking in practice and it seemed to work...

Next match, 12-0! Ref should have stopped it at halftime, but the opposing coach wanted to get the full 80 in. We started playing 2 touch in the first half and we ended up playing 7 vs 11. I tried to "call of the dogs", put the keeper up front and he even scored.

Next match played a team we have not beaten in 4 years. We won 5-0, up 4-0 at half the opposition didnt have a shot on goal. The lads played so well, great passing and movement off the ball. The other coach wasnt very happy and was ejected by the ref (for constantly berating the officials) in the second half, I felt terrible for his players because they all seemed embarassed by the entire situation.

I think I am going to call my teams
Jeklly and Hyde

[bungadiri]

Originally posted by fernb8
Just when I thought the demons were gone they lost 3-0 and displayed the infamous "bad attitudes" I have been discussing; moaning, finger pointing, laziness, intentional fouls from frustration, arguing with each other, arguing with the ref, etc.

Had a team meeting and told them that I would not tolerate such attitudes, I dont care about winning/losing but I do care that they have at least some common respect for me and each other. Seemed to work, we won 7-0 in the next match and they played some good football, they still need a lot of work, but at least they are starting to believe in the system.

Problem now- when things are going well, everyone is happy (ie we are winning, or doing a drill they want to- ie shooting). When things arent... its not so pretty.
Speaking as the father of a (really wonderful) 16-year-old, I'd have to say this is absolutely par for the course. I think I've mentioned before in this forum that this age tends to be a watershed, developmentally (having a child go through this is enough to drive you to do research) and the kind of apparently irrational inconsistency you describe is typical. It sounds like you are doing the right thing: keep yourself low-key (don't respond to their fireworks by flaring in response), consistent, and emphasize the positive when it's there. As for the negative, plan your consequences ahead of time so you're delivering realistic, practical "punishment that fits crime" and not going overboard just because one of them has managed to push your buttons. Let your guys know what might happen, and why, then deliver when the circumstances fit, regardless of who the transgressor is.

[Elroy]

Originally posted by fernb8
sorry just one more post

Next match, 12-0! Ref should have stopped it at halftime, but the opposing coach wanted to get the full 80 in. We started playing 2 touch in the first half and we ended up playing 7 vs 11. I tried to "call of the dogs", put the keeper up front and he even scored.



There is always a problem with how to behave in a blow out. Playing with conditions or, worse, keepaway, is boring and playing short is really insulting.

I developed a plan called negative shooting that has worked well for me. Try to avoid the blow out in the first place by sending defenders up while the score is 3-0. That way the other team is still in the match. Sending hungry defenders up top when the score is 6-0 will just make things worse. Once the score has topped out, return your starters with instructions to play normally but to shoot to see how closely they can miss. A perfect negative shot touches the post as it goes out of bounds! Balls over the crossbar are not allowed.

You need to introduce this concept at practice. Begin with a discussion of having respect for one's opponents. Tell the players that playing negative requires full attention to looking as if they are trying to score - no phony play acting when they miss and no apologies if one accidently goes in. I've actually used the rules in practice, as it forces players to aim their shots - just put a cone one foot from each post to define the scoring area.

Never talk about this before a match or your blow out will become a very tight match. Usually I put this in at half but with experience you can manage things by subbing defenders at any time. Many times, our opponents didn't even recognize what we were doing. One coach came across the field saying " We sure played better in the second half! ".

I hope that this will work for you.

Roy

[pething101]

JV soccer score.

Pine Forrest 4
EE Smith 1

We put forth a much better effort in this one. The result was very fair; unlike the game on Monday where it should have been 15 to 0.

Watched a bit of the USA/Portugal match for about an hour before they dressed. Talked about a lot of things, had them make observations about things that they were not doing that they could improve upon. Also talked a bit about playing with some passion and tenacity.

Seemed to have worked. Challenged for almost every ball ... even won one or two of them.

Passing was much better. Spacing is still something that needs to be worked on but it is tough when you only have one sub and you have to sub out different players at different positions.

Overall, I am happy with this performance.

[pething101]

Varsity lost 5-0.

[JohnW]

Originally posted by Elroy


There is always a problem with how to behave in a blow out. Playing with conditions or, worse, keepaway, is boring and playing short is really insulting...



This is just an excellent post.

My thoughts:

Having been on both ends of a blowout (giving/receiving--but also as a player and a coach), there is nothing more frustrating or humiliating than having an opposing coach begin to take players off the field. Doing this teaches neither team anything.

Besides clearing the bench and using the "negative shooting" approach, a coach can do any number of other tactics. Have the team play two-touch, one-touch, string together a certain number of passes before shooting, score only on headers from crosses, alternate crosses from left and right side, have forwards switch with defenders, etc.

The idea is to make the your players practice skills that they will need later in the season against stiffer competition.

Once a team (or a player) has proven that it can execute something successfully enough to score three or four goals, it's time to move on--especially at the high school level or lower.

jgw

[fernb8]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JohnW
[B]
My thoughts:

Having been on both ends of a blowout (giving/receiving--but also as a player and a coach), there is nothing more frustrating or humiliating than having an opposing coach begin to take players off the field. Doing this teaches neither team anything.


I cant agree more, sometimes its just as bad for the lads to blowout a team as being blown out. I like Elroys idea of negative shooting, but after working on finishing for a week I think it would have been difficult to ask the lads to miss deliberately.

The game actually started somewhat even for the first 15 mins, we were obviously pressing more and then...
everything seemed to click and we were scoring with almost every shot we took. We scored 6 goals in 15 mins! I then put in the 2 touch rule and we scored one more before the half.
The opposing coach proposed the idea of us playing a man down and I told him that I would gladly turn the match into a friendly. He wasnt very keen on that idea and suggested taking players off. I initiated as many rules as possible (2 touch, pass backwards before a forward pass, switch flanks before a shot, etc.) but its tough to convince a defender playing in a Rec league who has never scored in his life not to shot on goal when given the opportuinity. I will certianly try to the negative shooting if this ever happens again.

Thanks for the advice