I need some advice from the experts. I coach a U10 Rec indoor team, with varying degrees of ability. It is 6 v 6, so I play 2 up, 1 mid, who covers the entire field, 2 fulls and the goalie.The top 3 players are as good as any coach could hope for and start up and mid. There is one very sound defender; 2 good goalies (although the best goalies are in the 3 previously mentioned) and 3 players who give a lot of effort and can contribute but get out of position or just can't get their foot on the ball. That leaves me 2 players, who I cannot figure where and when to play them. One flinches every time and will not run; the other is a good kid but is just silly and does not pay attention. We are now in the tournament. I have tried to get them equal playing time, but it will cost the team as we advance. Yes, I am competitive. Their parents paid the fee, so I know that they should play but where? Thanks for the help.
The bench mostly. You can get them in the game, but remember, it's not fair for the other players if you got two kids bringing the whole team down. Espically if one of them is not even paying attention. Have them fill in when other players need a break, and never play them both at the same time. If you're lucky and get a lead early, you can put them up front for a couple of minutes. Consider youself lucky that you only have 2 underpreformers. I've had outdoor teams with 5, 6, 7!
Re: Re: Where to put weakest players That's not the purpose of rec soccer. In our rec leagues, everyone plays at least a half. One option is to rotate the two weakest. Depending on the relative strength, I either alternate them on defense or forward. Or a half of each defense with the wind and offense with the wind.
Put them up front. That way they can do no damage and if they score they and you will be delighted. Start the game with your best line up. At the "2nd quarter" sub in your weakest players and put them up front. In the second half sub them in and out according to the game situation so that both get their 1/2 game playing time Other tricks: put one in at midfield with your best player behind them. Under no circumstances put them both on the same side (left or right) of the field. And remember this is recreational soccer. Despite what you read from those who post on this board (usually S. American) who want the kids to spend 12 hours a day doing repetitive possession drills and F*** those who can't cut it, I got the most satisfaction coaching rec soccer from kids just like you describe who one day score that goal or make a header or make some other good play. Good luck!
Up front it is then My wife and son do not have the temperment for rec and they live for the day when he plays elite, next year. They would jump at Oakland Co United's suggestion. It is tempting...But the league would sanction me if I benched them (although one of them I did bench for giving an opponent the finger). What if I subbed them in and out for each other and have them play up on the left? Have them concentrate on defense to stop the counter attack. In other words, play mostly a defensive and true midfield. Offset them by having a strong player to the side and back. Any pressure that they put at goal is great but I need defensive effort. The team that we play Monday has a kid who I suspect will one day be on the olympic development team. The only way to stop him is to deny him the ball. I am going to mark him the entire game, but every boy must defend, even those two. And if we don't get the early lead, well, it was a nice run because this allignment and their ability will not let us make a comeback. Thoughts? This much I know, I life was simpler as a father and fan than as a coach. Thanks for your help.
Don't put them both on the field at the same time if you can help it. Play the one on the field as one of the strikers. So he don't score so what. He won't let goals in up front.
Its U10 rec soccer and its a shame almost every reply is based upon an underlying theme of WIN WIN WIN. Honestly who cares where you put them? Try this.... Did they enjoy the game of soccer and did they leave enjoying it even more then when they arrived. Maybe put them in a spot where they can do something within the game that gives them a feeling of approval from their teammates,coach,and fans as opposed to how can i get them in without hurting our team. As much as you may try to convince yourself that these u10's care about winning at all cost, they dont, but instead if you can foster a love for the game with in each of them and develop skills in how to be a good teammate and player your job as coach will be much more satisfying and your players and parents will thank you in the long run.
Re: Up front it is then [/B][/QUOTE] What if I subbed them in and out for each other and have them play up on the left? Have them concentrate on defense to stop the counter attack.[/B][/QUOTE] this is the correct strategy imo. since this is rec, winning is simply a fun by-product if it happens. nevertheless, i would shy away from having the weaker ones in defensive positions, at least until the game is out of reach either way. regardless of score you want to have them play good soccer, but that is more difficult if you have a dandelion-picker in as sweeper... [/B][/QUOTE] The team that we play Monday has a kid who I suspect will one day be on the olympic development team. The only way to stop him is to deny him the ball. I am going to mark him the entire game, but every boy must defend, even those two. [/B][/QUOTE] curious to know what the heck he's doing in rec if he's that good. in any case, imo, since this is rec, i personally would not change my team's game just for one kid. i would focus on my own team's strengths, have them play their *own* game, and let the chips fall where they may. just go out there and stress 1. good first defender 2. good first touch then just have fun and let it develop--then you know what to work on in your next training sessions. This much I know, I life was simpler as a father and fan than as a coach. Thanks for your help. [/B][/QUOTE] i hear ya--try having a u11 girl who happens to be pretty and popular...now back to building my moat...
Well, it almost worked The good news: One of the weakest players played his best game of the season, made some decent touches playing up front, to stop the counters; he hung the team out to dry just once. (The other one is such a bad sport, I cannot say anything positive about him). More good news, the prodegy was held to 3 goals, 3 less than his average by running tight defense. The bad news, we lost 5-3; we simply had no offensive punch. Our main threats were taken out of their game to cover on defense and tightened up when on offense. I am proud of the boys, though. When we played the team at the first of the season, we were drubbed by 8 goals. They came a long way this season. Thanks for the help from all.
No competitive soccer in Alabama until U11? If your son is good, can't you get him on a (weaker) U11 team as a U10? My kid started playing competitive soccer as a 6 year old, on a bullcrap U9 team, which was just about right for a 6 year old. He never would have stayed with the sport if he had to wait until the U11 year for competitive. Would be playing hoops or tennis seriously instead. All that said, you should lighten up about the winning thing. Even at competitive, the real difference you notice should be - a) more highly motivated players, and b) at least moderate talent, not c) a dramatically larger emphasis on winning. Not at these ages.
Yeah, I know... I keep saying the matra, "It is just rec ball; it is just rec ball." There were some kids who dramtaically improved in the 8 games. That is what made be feel positive. I am way too competetive though. There is elite ball played for U10; just not in Montgomery. I really do look to the day when my son can play it. That way I can hang up the whistle.
I would keep them up front only, they will hurt you less there. You might not score as many goals but at least they will not cost you as many. Also, you can try to get them to just cherry pick and look for rebounds. Unles there is some weird offsides rule, This at least keeps one of the other teams defenders back watching him and give your team more space. just an Idea.
Don't leave them on the bench for most of the game as someone else suggested. It's U-10, not U-19. In 6v6, I'd play them at forward, but not both at the same time. They won't harm you there and if you have a better forward alongside, you'll still be able to create chances. Maybe have them stand in the middle close to the goal to confuse the defenders and screen the keeper as well as be there for rebounds. I'd have a talk with the kid who flinches and won't run, as well as his/her parent. It's one thing to try hard and not be good, but running is a pretty fundamental part of soccer (to say nothing of not being afraid of the ball). I'm tolerant of idiosyncracies, but refusing to run just doesn't cut it in the sport of soccer. I always try to give everyone a decent amount of playing time (I coach U14) but I never EVER feel wedded to equal playing time. Playing time is my carrot/stick for motivation.
"I always try to give everyone a decent amount of playing time (I coach U14) but I never EVER feel wedded to equal playing time. Playing time is my carrot/stick for motivation." Unfortunately, it is a rule of the league that unless there is a disciplinary issue, such as unsportsmanship, then the kids must get equal time. I put them up front, but it turned out to be slow poison rather than quick. We lost the game 5-3 because we could not get consistant push up front.
Hang on... UNDER 10 REC? And you're telling him to bench players? Get some perspective. Put them where they want to play. If they want to play striker, give them a go at striker. If they want to play keeper, put them there. Give them support, help them with skills, but for God's sake don't make judgements and decisions about them based on their ability at this stage. These kids are 9 and 10 years old. In 5 years, they won't remember a damn thing about this season, even if they won the whole damn competition. I didn't. They won't care about the table, they're there to have fun and learn. The other kids on the team won't begrudge the others equal playing time, and to say it's "unfair" to them is just stupid. Honestly, if UNDER 10'S RECREATIONAL SOCCER isn't just for fun, I have no idea what is.
Yay! What a good post this is. When I coached rec soccer for kids that age one of the toughest jobs I had was getting the parents to stop emphasizing wins and losses over the team's aggregate progress. This emphasis mainly took the form of not-too-subtle satisfaction when some kids were playing and disappointment when others were put in. Perhaps worse, the yells from the sidelines to "get [insert "star player" name here] the ball" from all and sundry on the sideline made it so much more difficult to promote fun and team play that I was constantly fighting the urge to choke the living ******** out of people during the games. And worst of all? When kids noticed they weren't wanted out there and asked not to be put in.
U-10 rec was the most fun coaching I ever did. I promise you that those two kids have SOMETHING they can focus on, your job as coach is to find it and grow it. I have had kids like you describe and they are some of my best memories as a coach, they loved to play, they just weren't very good. As far as positioning, in 6v6 I always played a 2-1-2 with them, this gives you two GREAT choices of where to put them, depending on what THEY want to learn to do. With a strong guy in the center "1" slot, you could put them on either forward slot. With a strong defender you could also put them in the back without it hurting. The two keys then are to teach the "partners" how to help them out. For example, I had one kid, who was VERY small and only wanted to play defender. Turns out that he was VERY good at anticipating when to step to the ball, problem was once he got it he couldn't do much with it. Wasn't big enough to kick it, nor quick enough to recover if he got beat, however the kid could turn with the ball at his feet and start it moving. We capitilized on this by working it with him to turn the ball OUTSIDE all the time, head for the sideline then turn the ball upfield. Had the "mid" trained to come back to the ball for a pass, I mean like a 5 foot pass!! Had the "other" defender trained to back him up as a second defender (which is an important skill anyway). It worked great, these two paired up as defenders and were VERY good back there. Another kid only wanted to play striker, fair enough, teach them to run the lane of the outside, and head towards the post. Then work on kicking the ball. If they were both on the field, they went in opposite sides. This way both were easily "helped" by stronger players who if they know the positions they are in the right spot to help out. Positional play and fun is the key at this age. However a defender who always gets burned will get disappointed and a striker who never touches the ball will as well. Use a "team" concept to help them out and they will LOVE it.