Instructor’s Responsibilities and Duties

Soccer programs should be offered to youth players of all ages, with the emphasis on fun, fitness, and skill building in an environment in which winning is not the sole focus.

Every child must have the opportunity to participate in every game.
An instructor should be able to define the needs of his youth players. The growth process should emphasize the development of sound skills that can be enjoyed. Players should experience fun and enjoyment every time they come to the soccer field. The instructors should also be able to adapt to each player’s personality, talk to them in a positive manner, lead by example and teach the players to conduct themselves in a controlled manner on the field.

Players need the opportunity to play their own game. Therefore as instructors, we should limit sideline coaching. Teaching should be done at practice rather in games.

Developing a strong sense of self-esteem is as fundamental as a solid technical foundation. It is of great importance that instructors provide an atmosphere of a strong team where players can develop a love of the game as well as environment where players can respect each other.

If we can step back and say to ourselves that our players are developing respect, trust, confidence and a desire to remain actively involved in soccer, then we can honestly say we are doing our job!!!

This article was featured in the Scuola Calcio Magazine - The article was written by Antonio Saviano.

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.

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

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

Prevention of Injuries

Let's not neglect the prevention of injuries.

The soccer game at the youth level is becoming an important social phenomenon. It is fundamental that soccer coaches take action, before it gets worse, on education the young soccer players on injury prevention and allow them to grow to their fullest potential.
The injuries in the young age groups are not always similar to the injuries sustained by players already developed, therefore, it is important to think how to proceed if an injury occurs. On the players already developed, especially professional players, for example, coaches try to minimize the healing times, of course this is not ideal for the younger players as it is important to wait for a full recovery.

Injuries and sicknesses are two important aspects to deal with and to differentiate between older and younger age groups.

The Prevention
A recent research has confirmed that a players of the age of 11-13 after a full soccer game, respect to older players need longer recover times. It is not only a recover time for the muscular system or the energy, but also for the immune system, because this in fact, needs adequate recover times. In less words if coaches want to avoid overload work and risk of injuries, coaches should keep players from playing games at least three days between each time.

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, Italian Soccer School's goal is to provide intensive soccer training programs that not only teach players the game of soccer but also also teach them about cultural diversity and foreign languages. With professionals Italian Soccer affiliations, Scuola Calcio, Italian Soccer School will help to develop players by experiencing international professional soccer training and give them an opportunity to travel to a structured professional environment.

For more information visit http://www.soccercoachingmagazine.com