Exactly. Defense cannot properly support the attack if the opposing team is allowed to cherry pick behind them. A cynical coach can ruin the game...
Backline has to be: Fabian-Besler-Cam-Yedlin It just HAS to be.
Ok, but if the defense doesn't move up to midfield in response to that being the demarcation for offside, why would they move up the buildout line...
Looking for feedback from someone who has seen this offside variant in practice who can tell me whether it's as disastrous as I fear it to be.
To prevent rampant cherry picking and long ball play by cynical coaches.
I've been following the build out line very closely but just learned at a coaches meeting last night that the build out line also serves as a line...
Totally agreed. As I have said above, I think taking some time to teach proper juggling technique at the U8-U9 age range (so 7-8 year olds) is...
To summarize, I said that, in my opinion, juggling was not an efficient use of time for most kids before the age of 9, keeping in mind that we are...
Passive aggressive much? Following your logic then, newborns should be diligently practicing their juggling, right? I mean, since there's no...
Ugh. One of those games yesterday. U11 boys. Playing against a grossly inferior opponent and somehow managed to lose 0-2. They scored their...
First, if you read above, I clearly stated that I acknowledge the importance of juggling, so your attempt to convince me of it's importance is...
Just to be clear, I don't deny the value of juggling and don't have any problem with introducing it at formal practice to give the kids the...
Well, if you have selected your players who are best suited to the position and they are still struggling, I would try a few things: 1. Explain...
In my view, some people are suited to playing CM and others aren't, and it's very hard to teach is to someone who isn't naturally suited to it....
You can give it a shot, but: 1. 5-7 year olds with limited soccer experience are going to have zero success with juggling. They will hold the...
Further to my last post, keep in mind that your time with the players in finite, and probably around 45-60 minutes per week. So it really becomes...
In my view, 5-7 years old is too young to spend much time on juggling. I've coached some incredibly coordinated kids, many of whom have gone on...
Yes, that's the kind of activities I would focus on. I don't think it matters all that much what bells and whistles you attach to the activity,...
In my experience, a lot of parents simply don't understand that youth sports aren't similar to what we grew up with, when you could start just...
Great post, and irrefutably correct. No one develops into a great soccer player by just going out and playing in a vacuum. The kids who seem to...
I've been coaching the same group of 2006-born kids since U5, through to current U11. Some turnover, but a consistent core, and essentially the...
You're right on the money. And don't assume that other posters have more or better coaching experience than you have. Many who post here have very...
I think you nailed the starting line-up except that Dempsey seems unlikely to return. As someone else pointed out, Wood-Altidore has looked like...
I'm highly confident that Arena has very little (if any) interest in staying on past 2018. This is his chance to clean up his legacy after the...