The following article was written by Antonio Saviano and featured in the Scuola Calcio Magazine.
I have been giving some thought about the “single player” issue on a soccer team, which leads me to wonder how many coaches find themselves in the same situation, having one good player on the team?.
I often notice, while I conduct a coaching symposium and when speaking with coaches, that I hear about how most teams have only one good player, or the teams have only one player who tries very hard compared to the other players, or the team has only one player with a good attitude.
One time, just out of curiosity I took this problem and asked a question of the parents. “Are there any ‘special’ players on this team”? The following information was interesting to me and I am sure it will be interesting to all of you also. I could speak with five or six different parents from the same team and in each case there is always one "special" player. And not very surprisingly to me, that “special” player is always the son or daughter of the parent.
While I believe it is a parent’s right to think that their child is special, the fact is that coaches sometimes never stop hearing about how good their child is. This is not all, it can also go on to the next step which now is to hear that there are some players do not play the way they should, but are the coach’s favorites. So I tell my self: “It is just not enough to speak well about their own children but also speak ill of other players”.
Parents have to come to the realization that the team can not be successful unless two golden rules are mandatory on the team:
1. Parents support each other
2. Players support each other
On a related note, players have to participate on a team in which the two rules above are part of the team’s spirit. To be a top soccer player, a player must make all of the other players around him or her feel supported and always give positive feedbacks. And what is true for the players goes for the parents as well as for the coach.
Players can use different ways to help their teammates become better soccer players, and coaches can develop players through a variety of training methods. But one of the first things that must be done by the coach is to educate parents on how important it is to encourage youth players and give them positive feedbacks.
While I agree that it is important to allow parents to approach the coach and ask questions concerning issues such as playing time, I am not so much into an agreement when the conversation turns direction and concerns the quality of different players on the team. Then it becomes unacceptable for me.
This draft was featured in the Scuola Calcio Magazine. To get more information please click here!
Scuola Calcio Coaching Magazine is aimed and dedicated to providing first class soccer information for instructors at all levels throughout the North America and the World.
Showing posts with label youth soccer players. Show all posts
Showing posts with label youth soccer players. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
The Fundamentals of The Goalkeeper (Part 4 of 4)
The following article was featured in the Scuola Calcio Magazine. Was written by Marco Stoini, Director of Coaching for San Luigi Calcio Trieste and Technical Director for the Ascoli Soccer Academy. The article was translated by Antonio Saviano.
The concept of the psychological and technical FUNDAMENTALS of today’s goalkeepers should have a solid base for “attacking the ball”. What ever movement is put into effect, the idea must never be to endure the ball, but to foresee the ball direction, either in a cognitive sense as well as in a geometric sense; th
e advantages should be visible, from different points of view.
While the technical fundamentals are easily noticed, for the tactical fundamentals to be noticeable, coaches would have to look at the goalkeepers attentively. The tactical decisions goalkeepers make are different from technical executions.
In general, it can be said that every time the goalkeeper makes a decision (i.e.: position in goal, body position on the field, where to send the ball with his feet or when to come out to clear the ball, how to psychologically condition the opponent and help teammates in their positioning on the field, etc.), he performs a tactical behavior that often alone can save a goal. All this may not seem to influential, because many goals are avoided and because most of the time the intelligent and careful goalkeeper makes good decisions.
Just as the technical qualities make a difference, the tactical and attentive aspects also make the difference between goalkeepers. There are many goalkeepers teaching schools and each one of them has a clear and very specialized connotation on how to teach: it is sufficient to look the significant differences of the technical formulation between goalkeepers, in particular between those coming from various areas.
Obviously, all body movements need to be developed because they are part of that technical base, of which it cannot be absolutely left out. The only applicative limitation in the course of the years is constituted by the age of the student, but at the end, the adult goalkeepers must manage all the technical abilities and possibly have good tactical understanding.
The following is a review of the technical and tactical base fundamentals for the goalkeepers. In many of the following seven points you will find different tactical elements. In particular in the following points: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
This article was featured in the Scuola Calcio Magazine.
Scuola Calcio Coaching Magazine is aimed and dedicated to providing first class soccer information for instructors at all levels throughout the North America and the World.
The concept of the psychological and technical FUNDAMENTALS of today’s goalkeepers should have a solid base for “attacking the ball”. What ever movement is put into effect, the idea must never be to endure the ball, but to foresee the ball direction, either in a cognitive sense as well as in a geometric sense; th
e advantages should be visible, from different points of view.While the technical fundamentals are easily noticed, for the tactical fundamentals to be noticeable, coaches would have to look at the goalkeepers attentively. The tactical decisions goalkeepers make are different from technical executions.
In general, it can be said that every time the goalkeeper makes a decision (i.e.: position in goal, body position on the field, where to send the ball with his feet or when to come out to clear the ball, how to psychologically condition the opponent and help teammates in their positioning on the field, etc.), he performs a tactical behavior that often alone can save a goal. All this may not seem to influential, because many goals are avoided and because most of the time the intelligent and careful goalkeeper makes good decisions.
Just as the technical qualities make a difference, the tactical and attentive aspects also make the difference between goalkeepers. There are many goalkeepers teaching schools and each one of them has a clear and very specialized connotation on how to teach: it is sufficient to look the significant differences of the technical formulation between goalkeepers, in particular between those coming from various areas.
Obviously, all body movements need to be developed because they are part of that technical base, of which it cannot be absolutely left out. The only applicative limitation in the course of the years is constituted by the age of the student, but at the end, the adult goalkeepers must manage all the technical abilities and possibly have good tactical understanding.
The following is a review of the technical and tactical base fundamentals for the goalkeepers. In many of the following seven points you will find different tactical elements. In particular in the following points: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
This article was featured in the Scuola Calcio Magazine.
Scuola Calcio Coaching Magazine is aimed and dedicated to providing first class soccer information for instructors at all levels throughout the North America and the World.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Coaching Youth Soccer
It is important to understand the reason youth players choose to participate in any sport. Sometimes players do not come to sport by their own choice, but rather by the choice of the parent’s. As a result, instructors need to give youth players something to get excited about. 
We need to keep in mind that at a very young age learning to play soccer is secondary to most other things in their lives.
Let’s look at some things that we can do to energize youth players and hopefully get them to the point where they will learn enthusiastically.
Sessions should be geared around touching the ball as many times as possible. Involve the ball in each activity. Movements such as running, skipping, hopping, jumping, rolling, etc. must be emphasized to build coordination and athleticism. Players must develop the physical capacity to perform technical skills.
Training sessions should not last for more than 60-90 minutes. Physical fatigue is a factor and attention span is a consideration. Train once or twice a week.
FUN is the emphasis while working with the young age groups. Always remember the players’ physical and mental maturity. Each activity should accommodate the players’ level of understanding.
Team play and passing is a psychological threat for younger players. The player feels that if they pass the ball, they may never get it back.
Sometimes you will notice that teammates will steal the ball from each other. Frustrating to the coach for sure but normal behavior and logical if you understand things from the child/player’s perspective. The coach must understand and accommodate this perspective.
This article was featured in the Scuola Calcio Magazine
Scuola Calcio Coaching Magazine is aimed to improve youth players from the age of 5 and up. Every activity will be specifically targeted to the appropriate age group.
We need to keep in mind that at a very young age learning to play soccer is secondary to most other things in their lives.
Let’s look at some things that we can do to energize youth players and hopefully get them to the point where they will learn enthusiastically.
Sessions should be geared around touching the ball as many times as possible. Involve the ball in each activity. Movements such as running, skipping, hopping, jumping, rolling, etc. must be emphasized to build coordination and athleticism. Players must develop the physical capacity to perform technical skills.
Training sessions should not last for more than 60-90 minutes. Physical fatigue is a factor and attention span is a consideration. Train once or twice a week.
FUN is the emphasis while working with the young age groups. Always remember the players’ physical and mental maturity. Each activity should accommodate the players’ level of understanding.
Team play and passing is a psychological threat for younger players. The player feels that if they pass the ball, they may never get it back.
Sometimes you will notice that teammates will steal the ball from each other. Frustrating to the coach for sure but normal behavior and logical if you understand things from the child/player’s perspective. The coach must understand and accommodate this perspective.
This article was featured in the Scuola Calcio Magazine
Scuola Calcio Coaching Magazine is aimed to improve youth players from the age of 5 and up. Every activity will be specifically targeted to the appropriate age group.
Monday, December 31, 2007
How Important Is Winning In Youth Soccer
The question is “how important is winning in youth soccer?”
The answer to the above question it will vary and it also depends from who is answering it. For the youth players the answer evidently is, “not really, we like to have fun”. When youth players, between the age of 9 to 13 were asked if “winning” was important to them the response was “Not Really”. The same players were asked the simple questions of “what would they change about playing soccer”, the answer was “less emphasis on winning” and “make it more FUN”.
Of course the importance of winning changes with the players ages: Younger players are more interested in the "fun of the game”, while older players become easily more concerned about winning. But even then, many players say that they would rather play on a losing team than "sit the bench" on a winning team.
If coaches or parents were asked the same question “how important winning is” to the success of team, many of them clearly would respond, "VERY IMPORTANT!"
Even when some coaches do not keep scores or win-lost records, the other adults involved, “parents” know exactly what the results are. For them, winning games is more important therefore "Winning isn¹t everything, it's the only thing," attitude develops.
Some parents along with some coaches believe that winning is essential to success in youth soccer, they place emphasis on which division they play in or which travel level they play. Some may count the trophies they bring back from tournaments, keep track of the scores, check standings to see who has to win and who has to lose for the team to move up. They try to recruit players to their teams rather than support the development of players from within the team. Coaches and parents who focus on winning in these terms are viewing youth soccer as they likely would view adult endeavors.
This thinking often results in loosing players at a younger age. Players are pressured in a negative way instead of a positive way. This may be one of the reason why at the age of 14 we see a decrease of children playing soccer.
Concentrating exclusively on the final score of a soccer game as the important outcome causes negative feeling between youth soccer players, let alone parents! The attitude to have from coaches towards parents or the other coaches who want to win at all cost is simple: Winning should not be everything but trying to win is ok. Determination to win is the essence of soccer. By placing the emphasis on the players and their effort, winning is redefined in such a way that it comes within the reach of all. But here is a good question: how is effort defined and measured?
The answer lies in observing the youth players while they play. It is relatively easy to see whether they are taking the game seriously or are simply "playing the game."
If they are taking the game seriously then we will notice a “great effort”. If they are “playing the game” we will notice “some lack of enthusiasm and effort”. Each of those performances must be evaluated within each game.
The challenge is not for the players but for the parents and coaches to redefine winning in terms of effort and to restructure the soccer development. Some potential changes lie in:
The answer to the above question it will vary and it also depends from who is answering it. For the youth players the answer evidently is, “not really, we like to have fun”. When youth players, between the age of 9 to 13 were asked if “winning” was important to them the response was “Not Really”. The same players were asked the simple questions of “what would they change about playing soccer”, the answer was “less emphasis on winning” and “make it more FUN”.
Of course the importance of winning changes with the players ages: Younger players are more interested in the "fun of the game”, while older players become easily more concerned about winning. But even then, many players say that they would rather play on a losing team than "sit the bench" on a winning team.
If coaches or parents were asked the same question “how important winning is” to the success of team, many of them clearly would respond, "VERY IMPORTANT!"
Even when some coaches do not keep scores or win-lost records, the other adults involved, “parents” know exactly what the results are. For them, winning games is more important therefore "Winning isn¹t everything, it's the only thing," attitude develops.
Some parents along with some coaches believe that winning is essential to success in youth soccer, they place emphasis on which division they play in or which travel level they play. Some may count the trophies they bring back from tournaments, keep track of the scores, check standings to see who has to win and who has to lose for the team to move up. They try to recruit players to their teams rather than support the development of players from within the team. Coaches and parents who focus on winning in these terms are viewing youth soccer as they likely would view adult endeavors.
This thinking often results in loosing players at a younger age. Players are pressured in a negative way instead of a positive way. This may be one of the reason why at the age of 14 we see a decrease of children playing soccer.
Concentrating exclusively on the final score of a soccer game as the important outcome causes negative feeling between youth soccer players, let alone parents! The attitude to have from coaches towards parents or the other coaches who want to win at all cost is simple: Winning should not be everything but trying to win is ok. Determination to win is the essence of soccer. By placing the emphasis on the players and their effort, winning is redefined in such a way that it comes within the reach of all. But here is a good question: how is effort defined and measured?
The answer lies in observing the youth players while they play. It is relatively easy to see whether they are taking the game seriously or are simply "playing the game."
If they are taking the game seriously then we will notice a “great effort”. If they are “playing the game” we will notice “some lack of enthusiasm and effort”. Each of those performances must be evaluated within each game.
The challenge is not for the players but for the parents and coaches to redefine winning in terms of effort and to restructure the soccer development. Some potential changes lie in:
- Creating balanced competitions so that outcomes are not in doubt.
- Helping players set achievable and individual goals.
- Teaching players to measure their success in terms of attaining such Goals.
- Celebrating with and rewarding players who reach their goals.
Most of the time youth players look forward to competitions to be fair and for the outcome to be balanced. If these conditions are met, they will make and give a maximum effort, otherwise, they are likely to spend their time complaining about how unbalanced the teams are or how unfair the game was. It is coaches who do not see the player development concept as an important aspect of the soccer game that "stack" teams and want to win at all cost. Statistics
show that youth players look for fairness in the games they play.
Meaningful and attainable goals are essential to success in any activity, but never more so than in youth soccer. Young players should have defined clear goals to work for and learn, and they should be involved in establishing these goals. Individual goals are much more effective than group or team goals in a younger age group. Team goals allow each player to know exactly what needs to be accomplished as a team. Individual goals give players an idea of what should be done to have their efforts measured against each other. Reaching the goals can only be accomplished through learning and executing the basic fundamentals, the goals become the means of measuring effort:
- Did the players give the effort in practice
- Did the players give the effort in the game
- How was the performance
- What should we do to improve the above
Finally, when the goals are reached, the players achievement should be recognized and respected. This will motivate the players and acknowledge the importance of striving to meet the goals and to be competitive.
Giving effort is within the reach of any players and is appropriate for all players. Consequently, it constitutes a definition of winning that can be applied to all situations.
The proper questions for parents to ask to their children are not "Did you win?" or "How many goals did you score?" Rather it should be "Did you give your best effort?" or "Did you learn from the game?"
Youth players often can answer "Yes" to these questions, even when the results were negative.
The result of defining "winning" in terms of effort and development rather than outcome is to make youth soccer more interesting, meaningful, satisfying and enjoyable. Striving to win and giving the best effort are objectives that every coach, player, parent or adult can and should support.
About The Author
Antonio Saviano is the founder of Soccerkix, Scuola Calcio, Italian Premier Soccer School and Soccerkix Academy, a clearing house for the Italian Soccer experience. He has been the North America Director for many Italian professional soccer clubs, including Ascoli Soccer Academy, AC Parma Scuola Calcio and AC Perugia Scuola Calcio. In that capacity he has been helping, leading and developing coaching and player development programs for over 100 affiliated soccer schools across North America and Europe. He is also a freelance writer for Soccer Coaching Magazine.
Antonio has written several books on youth development, among them, “U-6 – U-12 Development Theory”, “U-8 – U-10 Soccer School Development Manual”. He co-authored “Playing to Learn to Play, Didactic Progression for the Development of the Technical-Tactical Fundamentals in the Soccer Schools” and has produced a training video.
For more information you can visit: www.soccerkix.com and http://soccerkix.blogspot.com/
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Small Sided Games - Is it Better?
The activities in the youth sector, 10 - 12 years of age, have as the main objectives the teaching of all individual abilities that represent the fundamental base of the game of soccer. The individual abilities are what we call, the technical fundamentals, the individual tactical fundamentals and the techniques of the players.
Unfortunately the instructors that work with these delicate age groups do not always incorporate the objectives mentioned above, but instead they turn their attention towards activities related to the adult soccer players. The reasons for these "deviations" may be are because of the desire to reach the "winning" results, which, in many cases can be an easy objective to reach with the young age groups.
They insist by working on the collective tactics instead of the individual tactics, and ignore the development of the individual techniques, as it is an important aspect of the player development growth and require much patience from the instructors as it does not show or bring fast results.
It is in fact important that the young players will use their own individual abilities during the game.
The game in fact represents the moment more important for a self-evaluation of the players and an individual player evaluation for the instructors. It does not make sense for example that a player will work and learn all week to dribble but in the game they will not have the chance to dribble and take the opponent's player on. Therefore playing 11 vs. 11 on a regular size field will not satisfy the technical needs of these age groups.
Moreover, the regular size field would not guarantee the involvement of all players, especially the ones with less skills, and since the possibility to keep possession of the ball is very slim, it would not allow the constant application of the individual technical and tactical fundamentals.
About Soccer Coaching Magazine
Initial success is not what soccer coaching magazines are all about. We understand that initial success may not necessarily translate into long term success. It is distributed through out North America and is already enjoying international distribution. It provides some of the best soccer information in the world. There are several good soccer magazines that are a wealth of information for soccer players, instructors, and parents. They are committed to share the most effectively youth player methods.
Scuola Calcio Coaching Magazine is aimed to improve youth players from the age of 5 and up. Every activity will be specifically targeted to the appropriate age group.
For more information visit: http://www.soccercoachingmagazine.com
Unfortunately the instructors that work with these delicate age groups do not always incorporate the objectives mentioned above, but instead they turn their attention towards activities related to the adult soccer players. The reasons for these "deviations" may be are because of the desire to reach the "winning" results, which, in many cases can be an easy objective to reach with the young age groups.
They insist by working on the collective tactics instead of the individual tactics, and ignore the development of the individual techniques, as it is an important aspect of the player development growth and require much patience from the instructors as it does not show or bring fast results.
It is in fact important that the young players will use their own individual abilities during the game.
The game in fact represents the moment more important for a self-evaluation of the players and an individual player evaluation for the instructors. It does not make sense for example that a player will work and learn all week to dribble but in the game they will not have the chance to dribble and take the opponent's player on. Therefore playing 11 vs. 11 on a regular size field will not satisfy the technical needs of these age groups.
Moreover, the regular size field would not guarantee the involvement of all players, especially the ones with less skills, and since the possibility to keep possession of the ball is very slim, it would not allow the constant application of the individual technical and tactical fundamentals.
About Soccer Coaching Magazine
Initial success is not what soccer coaching magazines are all about. We understand that initial success may not necessarily translate into long term success. It is distributed through out North America and is already enjoying international distribution. It provides some of the best soccer information in the world. There are several good soccer magazines that are a wealth of information for soccer players, instructors, and parents. They are committed to share the most effectively youth player methods.
Scuola Calcio Coaching Magazine is aimed to improve youth players from the age of 5 and up. Every activity will be specifically targeted to the appropriate age group.
For more information visit: http://www.soccercoachingmagazine.com
Defensive Aspects of a Player
In the modern game of soccer, the defender is not only the player who covers all the roles on the defensive side. The player or the players who are not in possession of the ball should also be considered defenders. One of the simple rule to make young players understand who is the defender on the field at any given time is to explain that the player that is the "closest" to the ball is a defender. He is the one who needs to pressure the ball first.
Let's try to examine the player who finds him self in the front of an opponent with a 1v1 defensive aspect situation.
Almost every aspect of a soccer game is a 1v1 situation. Every situation of play between a forward and a defender decides the possession of the ball, switches the game from the offensive mode to the defensive mode or vice versa and can determine the final outcome. The simple saying of a coach is: "Win in the 1v1 situation and most likely win the game". The teaching of the 1v1 is crucial, either for the individual success of the player that the one for the entire team.
The various tactical defensive systems of plays from various teams such as, man defense, four in the back, three in the back with a stopper, defensive mid fielders, etc., have one final result; whatever is the system of play, each player has precise defensive responsibilities.. These can be reduced by the 1v1 situations. There is a good reason why the 1v1 is described as a base of the game of soccer.
The individual defensive play is the base for the team's tactical defensive play. The 1v1 play, either in the attacking or in the defensive, should be the base of the tactical exercises and knowledge. The results in the 1v1, either in attack or defense, is determined, not only from the player's capacities but also by the opponent's capacities and also by the situation of play.
About Soccer Coaching Magazine
Initial success is not what soccer coaching magazines are all about. We understand that initial success may not necessarily translate into long term success. It is distributed through out North America and is already enjoying international distribution. It provides some of the best soccer information in the world. There are several good soccer magazines that are a wealth of information for soccer players, instructors, and parents. They are committed to share the most effectively youth player methods.
Scuola Calcio Coaching Magazine is aimed to improve youth players from the age of 5 and up. Every activity will be specifically targeted to the appropriate age group.
For more information visit http://www.soccercoachingmagazine.com
Let's try to examine the player who finds him self in the front of an opponent with a 1v1 defensive aspect situation.
Almost every aspect of a soccer game is a 1v1 situation. Every situation of play between a forward and a defender decides the possession of the ball, switches the game from the offensive mode to the defensive mode or vice versa and can determine the final outcome. The simple saying of a coach is: "Win in the 1v1 situation and most likely win the game". The teaching of the 1v1 is crucial, either for the individual success of the player that the one for the entire team.
The various tactical defensive systems of plays from various teams such as, man defense, four in the back, three in the back with a stopper, defensive mid fielders, etc., have one final result; whatever is the system of play, each player has precise defensive responsibilities.. These can be reduced by the 1v1 situations. There is a good reason why the 1v1 is described as a base of the game of soccer.
The individual defensive play is the base for the team's tactical defensive play. The 1v1 play, either in the attacking or in the defensive, should be the base of the tactical exercises and knowledge. The results in the 1v1, either in attack or defense, is determined, not only from the player's capacities but also by the opponent's capacities and also by the situation of play.
About Soccer Coaching Magazine
Initial success is not what soccer coaching magazines are all about. We understand that initial success may not necessarily translate into long term success. It is distributed through out North America and is already enjoying international distribution. It provides some of the best soccer information in the world. There are several good soccer magazines that are a wealth of information for soccer players, instructors, and parents. They are committed to share the most effectively youth player methods.
Scuola Calcio Coaching Magazine is aimed to improve youth players from the age of 5 and up. Every activity will be specifically targeted to the appropriate age group.
For more information visit http://www.soccercoachingmagazine.com
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