[saabrian]

This will be my first year of being a head coach (11-14 year olds). Last year, I was assistant to a friend of mine (same age group). His philosophy was that you should do nearly all drills with the ball at your feet.

While there are a few exceptions due to the nature of the drill, especially agility drills such as running backwards or sideways, he thought that running without the ball was mostly a waste of practice time. His philosophy was that you could get the aerobic fitness of running AND give them tons more ball touches at the same time. Kids that age, especially in this country where many of them don't play in year round, need as many ball touches as they can. I've really come to agree strongly with his philosophy.

Plus, there's a pragmatic reason. I only have the kids for an hour and a half or an hour and 3/4 a day and the middle school has a somewhat shorter preseason than varsity. I have to cram in a lot of teaching in a short period of time, especially since for many of them, this is their first real taste of competitive soccer. If they're running without the ball, they're not learning, they're not even getting a feel for having the ball at their feet. I'm a firm believer that, after actually enjoying the game, having a feel for the game is the first and most important category in becoming a good player. Coaches can teach skill, but a feel for the game is something the kids have to develop on their own. Ball touches is a way to help that.

Although I coach younger kids, I think it applies even to older kids too, such as those at varsity level. By that age, players should be doing fitness stuff (running, lifting, etc) on their own time so that soccer practice can be devoted to soccer skills., strategy and so on.

I don't deny the need for a little fitness training in practices, especially in the first week of pre-season, but I don't think it should be emphasized in practice independently of other soccer skills. What are you guys take on this?

[saabrian]

I also wanted to add that just running is also quite boring. At least if they're running with the ball, they can concentrate on keeping the ball close to them, moving side to side with it and stuff like that.

[blech]

my philosophy is very consistent with what you're talking about, if i feel like practices are active and productive. don't get me wrong - fitness is very important. but i generally think it can be accomplished in other ways during practice.

if you pick your drills right and the kids work hard during drills, you can leave them just as winded at the end of practice without there being any "running" and you then have the real benefit of not wasting too much time separated from the ball.

especially with younger kids (and i think your kids fit in this category), they love competitions, so a series of relay races with them dribbling the ball can be close to the equivalent of sprints. but almost all drills involve some movement and you simply need to push them to work hard while doing them.

and, as the kids get older, i wouldn't hesitate to share your philosophy on this with them, and use it as motivation and encouragement for them to work hard during drills. if you find them slacking it in drills or scrimmage, you may have to threaten to resort to some running (and, of course, be prepared to back up this threat if necessary).

all of this said, if you really are getting to work with your kids everyday of the week (even if only for 1.5 or 1.75 hours per day), i think that is a lot of time with kids at this age. you're not going to lose too much in terms of skill or tactics if you spend the last 5-10 minutes running sprints. i can also remember running sprints at the end of practice, and having my coach going back through the practice summarizing things that we had worked on while we ran. you won't have their full attention, but you won't be entirely wasting the time. i think in the end, it comes down to a judgment at the end of practice as to how much running they've done and if there needs to be some sprints.

[Elroy]

There are some things that you just can't do with a ball at your feet. Plyometrics, weight training, dips, pull ups, etc. I agree that fitness training using the ball is good - especially in situations of limited time. But, as players grow older, elements of pure fitness become more important.

I think that strength training is important at any age. It is not necessary to use time consuming weight programs - although I like these off season. If you have five pull up and five dip stations you can do considerable strength training for a large group in a very short time. Plyo's can be done as relays or in sets or circuits. If a coach is creative, a good strength program may take place right on the practice field.

While I'm at it, you should train balance as well. this can be done with rope runs, ladders, pool noodles and other means. Equipment should be simple and plentiful, you don't want players standing around waiting for weights or equipment.

You can have your cake and eat it, too.

[saabrian]

Elroy, I agree that those things are important for the higher levels. But my point was that you can do those things outside of practice (during the season). That's why you have captains. :-)

[Richie]

saabrian you made a good post. Yes, I also think running with the ball is even better for fitness then running without the ball.

Just remember one thing most of the time when playing 11 v 11 the players are running without the ball not with the ball.

I think practice time just before and during the season needs to be done with the ball.

However, practice time in the off season is another matter and should be used for fitness and strenght issues.

My biggest problem as I said here at other times is fitness when dealing with adult players because of lack of substitution options.

"I also wanted to add that just running is also quite boring."

Running around a track and or soccer field 50 times is very boring. Take the running out on the streets, and talking among the players about things you see or about things in your life is not boring. It's interesting unless lack of fitness makes it more difficult. Talking about other things helps take the mind off of being tired. Just don't get hit by a car. That happened to a player I knew a while back while the team was running.

Richie

[Elroy]

Originally posted by saabrian
Elroy, I agree that those things are important for the higher levels. But my point was that you can do those things outside of practice (during the season). That's why you have captains. :-)

You're asking for trouble if you want to turn over something as potentially dangerous as fitness training to a bunch of inexperienced kids. The coach is there to manage and be in charge. If you or your assistants don't have the time then you shouldn't be doing it.

[Elroy]

Originally posted by Richie
......Take the running out on the streets, and talking among the players about things you see or about things in your life is not boring. It's interesting unless lack of fitness makes it more difficult. Talking about other things helps take the mind off of being tired. Just don't get hit by a car. That happened to a player I knew a while back while the team was running.

Richie

I like all your posts except this one. Street running on hard surfaces over long distances can lead to stress fractures and shin splints. Football creates enough injuries on its own without the coach increasing the risk. Why not find a park to run in?

[Richie]

Elroy made a good point. Streets was a bad choice of words. Depends where you live if you live in a country area a cross country run. Since the running area even on those runs is not always a level surface it is possible to trip and get ankle sprains even from these runs :-).

The incident I was talking about with the car happened in a wooded area inside the boundaries of a large college campus.

Sometimes it is good for the player on a long run mentally to have a destination.

Richie

[Elroy]

Originally posted by Richie
Elroy made a good point. Streets was a bad choice of words. Depends where you live if you live in a country area a cross country run. Since the running area even on those runs is not always a level surface it is possible to trip and get ankle sprains even from these runs :-).

The incident I was talking about with the car happened in a wooded area inside the boundaries of a large college campus.

Sometimes it is good for the player on a long run mentally to have a destination.

Richie

I wish that I'd played for or with you!

Roy