Street Soccer

Recently, I conducted a session that the players really enjoyed, and we got a lot accomplished in the process. I played what I call “street soccer.” It was a time where the players were given a lot of the decision making power as to how they played. We assigned each player to a team, gave them the “challenge” of the game, and let them. . . [more]

ISSUES IMPACTING PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

There are many factors that influence the developmental process in youth sports today. It seems that with every passing year, more and more pressure is placed on young athletes that are trying to compete at the highest levels. The promise of an academic scholarship to a college or university or the possibility of making a living in sport fuels the passions of. . . [more]

MEDIA’S IMPACT ON FORMING OPINIONS

I am taking a few courses towards an advanced degree, and was required to study the impact that the media has on impacting our opinions about many issues in sport.

For sure, it got me thinking about this complicated topic and was very thought provoking to say the least.

I have included a few thoughts that I put together on the topic for an assignment. . . . [more]

MINIMIZING DROPOUT RATES IN YOUTH SPORTS

The purpose of this paper is to express my views on ways of lowering dropout rates among participants in youth sports. I would take a multi-pronged approach that would involve the following three areas: coaching education, parent education, competitive infrastructure.
Coach Education:
According to Pugh, DeFrancesco, Gilley, and Heitman (2000) the reasons that motivate elite baseball players to participate are to have fun,. . . [more]

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

Here are some notes that I wrote down on coaching methodology.
Included are some good reminders to review every once in a while.
They are a list of principles to follow when thinking about our training sessions.

1. CHALLENGING

A. The basic thrill of the game is to be found in a simple set of challenges: can you score on us and can you stop us from scoring on. . . [more]

REASONS FOR USING ZONES IN TRAINING EXERCISES

The use of zones in training exercises can be used as an effective teaching tool. It gives players a simplified and clear visual picture to interpret, thus allowing for increased learning and repetition at initial stages of a training session.
The danger of using zones is that play at times becomes “forced” or over simplified. At times, if zones are used, a certain action. . . [more]

TRYOUT PROCEDURES

I don’t know what it is about the Spring, but when this time of year rolls around, I often think about soccer trouts for some reason.

Towards that end, I thought that I might inclued a discussion on the tryout procedures that we used in the last club that I worked with back in NH. Using the guidelines listed here made for a pretty. . . [more]

RESTARTS!

I was watching a Champion’s League game on TV this past week. There was a deciding goal scored on a restart… by a team that played for that tactic (dropped in to defend, hoped to counter attack, and possibly get a restart off of it if possible).
It made for an interesting game needless to say.

It reminded me of the importance of training restarts. . . [more]

INSTEP BASICS

This past weekend I was working with some high school aged players, and was reminded of the fact that there are very few players that know how to strike a ball over distance, and can do so under pressure.

It reminded me of a skills progression that I will use with this group during an upcoming session. It can really revolutionize how player. . . [more]

If you coach soccer to kids you need this…

Complete Soccer Coach is proud to announce the release of a brand new iPhone application,  GoLearn Soccer for Kids! We’ve partnered with the Whagaa to bring you your own personal soccer coach on your iPhone and iPod Touch.
GoLearn Soccer for Kids Features:

* Over 30 videos covering: drills, warm ups, games and stretching.
* All age appropriate skills and drills for kids U6-U12
* Soccer Notes
* Good. . . [more]