So I don't normally post about college soccer, choosing instead to post about the professional teams in Europe and national teams, but I have a soft spot for Indiana University and wanted to congratulate the soccer team on their eighth national championship in soccer today.
What makes their 1-0 victory over Georgetown even more impressive, to me, is their coach. The Yeagley family is iconic in American soccer. Jerry Yeagley is easily the best college soccer coach to have lived in the US. He built the IU soccer program into what it is today, and led them to six national championships.
Now his son, Todd, is the head man in Bloomington, and I'm sure it's very special for him to be able to bring another national championship to the program his father built. Todd took the Hoosiers through a tough Big Ten slate to a 16 seed in the College Cup. Most experts expected Maryland to win this year's NC pretty easily, but the Terps were knocked out by national runners-up Georgetown. Meanwhile, Indiana beat Creighton in a comfortable effort, even showing off some of their future stars. Today's win shows how great of a coaching mind Todd Yeagley is, guiding a 16 seed to a title is no easy task, and to do so by going through top-seeded Notre Dame, a storied program like North Carolina, and then taking down the Hoyas shows just how promising Yeagley Jr.'s Hoosiers will be for years to come.
While Indiana still trails St. Louis for most national championships overall (shout out to hometown hero, Brian McBride), to me there is no question that today's premier program wears Crimson and Cream.
From my couch in Ann Arbor, I'd like to congratulate the 2012 Indiana soccer team on their accomplishment, and a special congratulations to Todd Yeagley and the Yeagley family. Well-deserved!
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
E License--check
Well, it's been a while since my last post, but that's because it's been a very busy time in my life. I'm getting married in 29 days, recently started a job that I love, and am finishing up my last year of school. Needless to say, it's been hectic around here.
I just found out this morning that I passed my E license course, so that's really exciting. I was not required to obtain this license, but I thought it would be beneficial because I am so young and have been away from competitive soccer for a few years now. I learned some important tips, especially with how to structure practices to maximize our limited time, and met some great people. I can take the next coaching course, the D license, six months from now. That will be right around the time that I'll be preparing for the bar exam, so we'll have to see about that. I'll probably push it back a little bit.
As for our fall season--it was a disappointment and a success at the same time. Our boys showed a lot of improvement during the season, but we had a backloaded schedule, so the progress didn't show up in the win column often. We finished our league in 4th place, but I thought we could have finished second. We were, however, the only team in our league to hold any opponent to a shut out, so that was nice.
We are now playing our first indoor season, but I've already told the kids to have fun with this first session and not worry about wins and losses. Indoor soccer is so different from its outdoor counterpart that a lot of the strategies I'm teaching them are almost inapplicable on turf. The good thing about playing indoor, though, is that the ball and game move so much faster. I try to emphasize speed with my team, so playing indoor forces them to play faster.
Now that we can defend pretty well and turn defense into offense pretty quickly, the next big theme we're going to tackle is teamwork--passing and moving. Thankfully at the coaching course I recently completed, I came away with a lot of drills that will be great for learning that.
I just found out this morning that I passed my E license course, so that's really exciting. I was not required to obtain this license, but I thought it would be beneficial because I am so young and have been away from competitive soccer for a few years now. I learned some important tips, especially with how to structure practices to maximize our limited time, and met some great people. I can take the next coaching course, the D license, six months from now. That will be right around the time that I'll be preparing for the bar exam, so we'll have to see about that. I'll probably push it back a little bit.
As for our fall season--it was a disappointment and a success at the same time. Our boys showed a lot of improvement during the season, but we had a backloaded schedule, so the progress didn't show up in the win column often. We finished our league in 4th place, but I thought we could have finished second. We were, however, the only team in our league to hold any opponent to a shut out, so that was nice.
We are now playing our first indoor season, but I've already told the kids to have fun with this first session and not worry about wins and losses. Indoor soccer is so different from its outdoor counterpart that a lot of the strategies I'm teaching them are almost inapplicable on turf. The good thing about playing indoor, though, is that the ball and game move so much faster. I try to emphasize speed with my team, so playing indoor forces them to play faster.
Now that we can defend pretty well and turn defense into offense pretty quickly, the next big theme we're going to tackle is teamwork--passing and moving. Thankfully at the coaching course I recently completed, I came away with a lot of drills that will be great for learning that.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
First win(s)
Well, it came later than I hoped, but we finally got our first win yesterday and coupled it with another one today. Our team is starting to understand the system and my expectations for each position.
Yesterday we won a cold and rainy game. I told the kids that with the field being so wet, they shouldn't be shy about shooting from distance. It was imperative, as it always is, to make sure the shots hit the target. "Force the goalie to make a save." We went into the halftime break down 2-1. After some second half adjustments and reminding the kids to win the 50-50 balls and to shoot and clean up rebounds, we came out explosive in the second half, scoring six goals on our way to a 7-3 win. There was a stretch where we won about either or nine 50-50 balls in a row--and that made me happy. We also got some goals from a new player. Until that game, we had only gotten goals from two different players. Well yesterday, a new player emerged as a scoring threat and he announced his presence loudly, scoring four goals! It was a good way to get the first win, and it felt great (despite the horrible weather).
This morning, we played a team that I knew was going to challenge us. The field was still a bit wet from all the rain yesterday, but the sun was out. It was still cold, with a game time temperature of about 45 degrees. Our boys went out strong, holding possession and dominating play in the early minutes. We finally had our breakthrough and got a goal from our leading goalscorer. He took a shot from distance but followed his shot, looking for a rebound. His pressure forced the goalkeeper to clear it before he was ready, and we won a throw-in deep in their half. We got our goal off the ensuing throw-in from the guy who started it all.
The second goal came off of a rebound. I have begun teaching the boys to shoot far post if they are coming in at an angle. Today, we generated an attack from our left flank, and the stopper/midfielder took a shot to the far post. The goalkeeper tipped the shot away, but our striker was there to put the shot away. 2-0. Our third goal came off of a corner kick. The defense failed to clear the ball well, and our "garbage man" who sits at the 18 on corner kicks found the ball at his feet and took a shot from about 16 yards out. He found the side netting of the far post--beautiful goal.
We came into halftime with the score of 3-0. I asked my team to keep up the intensity, but to focus more on defense. I liked that we hadn't conceded a goal, and wanted to keep it that way. While their offense made several pushes, we did a decent job defensively of not giving them any clean looks at goal. The one clear shot they had, the striker missed it wide (something my players know they can't do). We also had about four opportunities of our own, but three of them were players who don't play much offense and seemed a bit flustered in front of the goal. We could have scored 7 goals easily in this game, but more importantly, we could have given up 4 but didn't. The game ended 3-0, and shut outs are my favorite types of wins.
Five games into the season, we have a record of 2-2-1. Hopefully we can keep our winning ways moving forward.
Yesterday we won a cold and rainy game. I told the kids that with the field being so wet, they shouldn't be shy about shooting from distance. It was imperative, as it always is, to make sure the shots hit the target. "Force the goalie to make a save." We went into the halftime break down 2-1. After some second half adjustments and reminding the kids to win the 50-50 balls and to shoot and clean up rebounds, we came out explosive in the second half, scoring six goals on our way to a 7-3 win. There was a stretch where we won about either or nine 50-50 balls in a row--and that made me happy. We also got some goals from a new player. Until that game, we had only gotten goals from two different players. Well yesterday, a new player emerged as a scoring threat and he announced his presence loudly, scoring four goals! It was a good way to get the first win, and it felt great (despite the horrible weather).
This morning, we played a team that I knew was going to challenge us. The field was still a bit wet from all the rain yesterday, but the sun was out. It was still cold, with a game time temperature of about 45 degrees. Our boys went out strong, holding possession and dominating play in the early minutes. We finally had our breakthrough and got a goal from our leading goalscorer. He took a shot from distance but followed his shot, looking for a rebound. His pressure forced the goalkeeper to clear it before he was ready, and we won a throw-in deep in their half. We got our goal off the ensuing throw-in from the guy who started it all.
The second goal came off of a rebound. I have begun teaching the boys to shoot far post if they are coming in at an angle. Today, we generated an attack from our left flank, and the stopper/midfielder took a shot to the far post. The goalkeeper tipped the shot away, but our striker was there to put the shot away. 2-0. Our third goal came off of a corner kick. The defense failed to clear the ball well, and our "garbage man" who sits at the 18 on corner kicks found the ball at his feet and took a shot from about 16 yards out. He found the side netting of the far post--beautiful goal.
We came into halftime with the score of 3-0. I asked my team to keep up the intensity, but to focus more on defense. I liked that we hadn't conceded a goal, and wanted to keep it that way. While their offense made several pushes, we did a decent job defensively of not giving them any clean looks at goal. The one clear shot they had, the striker missed it wide (something my players know they can't do). We also had about four opportunities of our own, but three of them were players who don't play much offense and seemed a bit flustered in front of the goal. We could have scored 7 goals easily in this game, but more importantly, we could have given up 4 but didn't. The game ended 3-0, and shut outs are my favorite types of wins.
Five games into the season, we have a record of 2-2-1. Hopefully we can keep our winning ways moving forward.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Us 2 - 2 Them
This game was great up until the final two minutes. I was really proud of the boys for how they responded to our tournament and came out strong in this game. We stuck with our 1-2-1-1 and it seems like the boys are getting comfortable with this formation.
We started the game doing a pretty poor job of keeping the ball, but played great defense. We did a good job of holding our shape and marking up. There were a few times when our defenders would pinch to the middle too much when their was no attacker on their side, but we corrected that pretty early.
We came out with the first goal, but unfortunately the referee called it back. We turned a defensive stop into a counter-attack by passing out of the back. Our stopper/midfielder accepted the pass near the right sideline and sent a through ball to the striker who ran onto it and took it down the right flank. The midfielder who sent the pass then made a run to the middle of the field and made a run to basically the penalty spot. The striker played him a cross and the midfielder scored on a one-touch shot. It was a great goal following great build-up, but the ref said that the striker took the ball past the touchline before sending in the cross. The ref was near the middle of the field, and both teams' players reacted as if we had scored--our boys celebrated, the other team threw the ball to the middle of the field and the goalie seemed down after conceding a goal. However, the ref. said it was a goal kick, so we had to quickly readjust.
Our opponents responded by scoring a goal after keeping the ball pretty well. My team definitely needs to work on possession and making better passes. Sometimes they forget to see the pass before making it. With a minute left in the half, we turned defense into attack and scored a breakaway goal after two good passes. We had momentum going into the half, and I felt pretty good about being able to build on the lead.
We started the second half very strong, dominating possession, keeping the ball out of our half, and creating some chances. In the first ten minutes of the second half, we probably could have scored four different times if my boys either took a shot one touch earlier or took a shoot with their weak foot. One kid, who would later score, could have scored two with his left foot. We'll have to work on taking early chances and not being afraid to shoot with both feet. Finally after generating a great attack, My team took the lead on a beautiful shot that went far post and landed in the side netting. It really was a fantastic finish and I was so happy with how we had been playing.
We played really well until the last five minutes. We started to get sloppy defensively and couldn't get the ball out of our half. Our goalie made several fantastic saves to keep us in the lead, but our team struggled to maintain possession off of his punts. His punts were great, but we just kept getting beat to the ball. It finally bit us in the butt, and they turned an interception into a goal. When we took the kickoff, the ref blew his whistle to end the game.
I was disappointed that we tied for two reasons. First, and most importantly, I wanted this win so badly for the boys. They went through a tournament where they were way overmatched and unprepared to compete, and I thought we made a lot of progress. I've thrown a lot at them and they've learned so much in just a short amount of time. We outplayed our opponents for most of the game, and I thought the boys really deserved to get the satisfaction of earning the win. The second reason I was disappointed was because the way we let in the second goal was because we lost our shape. We did a good job of staying in good position for most of the game, but once we left what we learned and went back to old habits, we paid the price.
The kids were pretty pleased with the tie, as well they should be. However, I want them to expect to win. I want the kids to feel like a game like this slipped away from them and that they truly earned the win. I think we'll get there once we establish some winning ways, and I love that these boys always have a good attitude.
We have two games next weekend--a home and away with the same team on Saturday (away) and Sunday (home). I don't know much about the other team (or any teams in our league for that matter) but I would like for us to get our first win this weekend. Hopefully we can do just that.
We started the game doing a pretty poor job of keeping the ball, but played great defense. We did a good job of holding our shape and marking up. There were a few times when our defenders would pinch to the middle too much when their was no attacker on their side, but we corrected that pretty early.
We came out with the first goal, but unfortunately the referee called it back. We turned a defensive stop into a counter-attack by passing out of the back. Our stopper/midfielder accepted the pass near the right sideline and sent a through ball to the striker who ran onto it and took it down the right flank. The midfielder who sent the pass then made a run to the middle of the field and made a run to basically the penalty spot. The striker played him a cross and the midfielder scored on a one-touch shot. It was a great goal following great build-up, but the ref said that the striker took the ball past the touchline before sending in the cross. The ref was near the middle of the field, and both teams' players reacted as if we had scored--our boys celebrated, the other team threw the ball to the middle of the field and the goalie seemed down after conceding a goal. However, the ref. said it was a goal kick, so we had to quickly readjust.
Our opponents responded by scoring a goal after keeping the ball pretty well. My team definitely needs to work on possession and making better passes. Sometimes they forget to see the pass before making it. With a minute left in the half, we turned defense into attack and scored a breakaway goal after two good passes. We had momentum going into the half, and I felt pretty good about being able to build on the lead.
We started the second half very strong, dominating possession, keeping the ball out of our half, and creating some chances. In the first ten minutes of the second half, we probably could have scored four different times if my boys either took a shot one touch earlier or took a shoot with their weak foot. One kid, who would later score, could have scored two with his left foot. We'll have to work on taking early chances and not being afraid to shoot with both feet. Finally after generating a great attack, My team took the lead on a beautiful shot that went far post and landed in the side netting. It really was a fantastic finish and I was so happy with how we had been playing.
We played really well until the last five minutes. We started to get sloppy defensively and couldn't get the ball out of our half. Our goalie made several fantastic saves to keep us in the lead, but our team struggled to maintain possession off of his punts. His punts were great, but we just kept getting beat to the ball. It finally bit us in the butt, and they turned an interception into a goal. When we took the kickoff, the ref blew his whistle to end the game.
I was disappointed that we tied for two reasons. First, and most importantly, I wanted this win so badly for the boys. They went through a tournament where they were way overmatched and unprepared to compete, and I thought we made a lot of progress. I've thrown a lot at them and they've learned so much in just a short amount of time. We outplayed our opponents for most of the game, and I thought the boys really deserved to get the satisfaction of earning the win. The second reason I was disappointed was because the way we let in the second goal was because we lost our shape. We did a good job of staying in good position for most of the game, but once we left what we learned and went back to old habits, we paid the price.
The kids were pretty pleased with the tie, as well they should be. However, I want them to expect to win. I want the kids to feel like a game like this slipped away from them and that they truly earned the win. I think we'll get there once we establish some winning ways, and I love that these boys always have a good attitude.
We have two games next weekend--a home and away with the same team on Saturday (away) and Sunday (home). I don't know much about the other team (or any teams in our league for that matter) but I would like for us to get our first win this weekend. Hopefully we can do just that.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Tournament Reflections
Well, this weekend did not go as planned at all. In order to avoid reliving the torment, I'll avoid posting scores, but suffice it to say that I was blindsided by what happened over the last three days.
I had no idea how my team would perform against another team or where my players were technically in relation to other U9 players. I put us in the top division of the tournament to see how we measured up against the top teams in the area--I found out the hard way.
The first game came at us quickly. We struggled to hold the ball, and the other team's players were more advanced technically than mine. For example, while my players have trouble making clean 5-yard passes, the players on this team were capable of 30-yard passes easily. We showed flashes of good play and created some pressure at the end of the game. In fact, we hung with them well in the second half.
Throughout the first game, we played a 2-1-2 formation, as was suggested by several coaches at the club. We continued with this formation during the second game, but it was really a struggle. I don't think the players have learned positioning, so we often left opposing attackers unmarked. As I explained to my players, a team doesn't even have to be better than us to score on us--we leave them open. Anyone can score if they are left wide open.
During the pre-game warmups until this point, I had the boys work on attacking by forming two lines, essentially a left and right forward, and had them string passes together before taking a shot. I changed this drill during the third game this morning.
I changed our formation from a 2-1-2, to a 1-2-1-1/diamond defense. I basically had a sweeper, left and right back, and a stopper/midfielder. I then maintained a single striker. It was important for our team to learn to keep their shape and mark opposing players. So, during the pre-game warmup I had them line up in this formation and just pass to each other. I showed them that they could maintain possession even by hardly moving from this shape. I thought they looked good in the warmups.
It showed instantly in the third game--we scored the first goal and allowed the other team to touch the ball only twice before we scored. Even after the goal, we maintained possession pretty well. We soon fell apart, however, and went back to some old habits: leaving players open, losing the ball in the middle of the field, not coming back on defense after pushing up, not looking before we pass, not playing aggressive and contesting 50-50 balls. It was frustrating for me because I could tell that the boys knew what I wanted to do at times, but couldn't maintain it. Some things, however, we have just not worked on enough--positioning, defending, communication--and so those errors, as well as many others, are clearly on me.
Moving forward, there is a lot we need to work on; however, the weekend was not a total loss. I now know what is realistic for these kids. I've seen U9 players that can make 30-yard passes, shoot from the 18, and make composes passes under pressure. I see no reason why my guys can't do the same things. While I thought I was going to be a more tactical coach, I now see that I also have to be a technical coach as well. This will probably be good for the kids, as I'll be able to focus on the fundamentals with them and improve their mechanics. It will also be good for me, as I'll be able to teach the kids how I want them to play.
I had no idea how my team would perform against another team or where my players were technically in relation to other U9 players. I put us in the top division of the tournament to see how we measured up against the top teams in the area--I found out the hard way.
The first game came at us quickly. We struggled to hold the ball, and the other team's players were more advanced technically than mine. For example, while my players have trouble making clean 5-yard passes, the players on this team were capable of 30-yard passes easily. We showed flashes of good play and created some pressure at the end of the game. In fact, we hung with them well in the second half.
Throughout the first game, we played a 2-1-2 formation, as was suggested by several coaches at the club. We continued with this formation during the second game, but it was really a struggle. I don't think the players have learned positioning, so we often left opposing attackers unmarked. As I explained to my players, a team doesn't even have to be better than us to score on us--we leave them open. Anyone can score if they are left wide open.
During the pre-game warmups until this point, I had the boys work on attacking by forming two lines, essentially a left and right forward, and had them string passes together before taking a shot. I changed this drill during the third game this morning.
I changed our formation from a 2-1-2, to a 1-2-1-1/diamond defense. I basically had a sweeper, left and right back, and a stopper/midfielder. I then maintained a single striker. It was important for our team to learn to keep their shape and mark opposing players. So, during the pre-game warmup I had them line up in this formation and just pass to each other. I showed them that they could maintain possession even by hardly moving from this shape. I thought they looked good in the warmups.
It showed instantly in the third game--we scored the first goal and allowed the other team to touch the ball only twice before we scored. Even after the goal, we maintained possession pretty well. We soon fell apart, however, and went back to some old habits: leaving players open, losing the ball in the middle of the field, not coming back on defense after pushing up, not looking before we pass, not playing aggressive and contesting 50-50 balls. It was frustrating for me because I could tell that the boys knew what I wanted to do at times, but couldn't maintain it. Some things, however, we have just not worked on enough--positioning, defending, communication--and so those errors, as well as many others, are clearly on me.
Moving forward, there is a lot we need to work on; however, the weekend was not a total loss. I now know what is realistic for these kids. I've seen U9 players that can make 30-yard passes, shoot from the 18, and make composes passes under pressure. I see no reason why my guys can't do the same things. While I thought I was going to be a more tactical coach, I now see that I also have to be a technical coach as well. This will probably be good for the kids, as I'll be able to focus on the fundamentals with them and improve their mechanics. It will also be good for me, as I'll be able to teach the kids how I want them to play.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Mid-Camp review
So this week has been all about the club's camp. We go every day from about 6-8:30. I'm usually pretty tired at the end of the day, but it's a great opportunity to get the kids immersed in soccer and allows me to teach them a lot of things quickly. With the tournament fast-approaching, it's important that I can get them up to where I want them quickly.
The format of the camp is that I get my players for the first half--I can use that time however I want. During the second half of camp, kids from all age groups are put together on "international" teams and we play a mini-World Cup. If someone didn't know what was going on, they'd laugh at some of the things they would hear during this camp. For example, yesterday the Scotland team beat Brazil 8-5. Hearing someone shout in a serious tone "Scotland beats Brazil to advance to the quarterfinal" is just hilarious.
Once again, the Dutch team has struggled to score goals. I guess it doesn't matter who you put on the field, if they represent the Netherlands, they will not score!
As for my squad, they looked good on Tuesday. We focused on passing and dribbling. I have conveyed to my team that I want us to have the ball all the time. I want us to control possession because if the other team doesn't have the ball, they can't score. The kids enjoy my emphasis on keeping the ball, and usually laugh when I say I want it all the time. I'm trying to toe the thin line between being the funny coach and making sure they can still take me seriously. This goes back to trying to simultaneously help the kids fall in love with the game while also teaching them things they'll need for their development. We did some drills that emphasized 5-yard passes, and then worked on passing into space. That's a pretty difficult concept for some of these kids, but if they can learn to use their pass to lead their teammates, they will be able to do a lot more on the field than other kids their age.
Wednesday, however, did not go as well. I was hoping to be able to just quickly review what we did on Tuesday and then move on to better drills. However, kids who had done well on Tuesday were not bottom of the group, and kids who struggled on Tuesday shined on Wednesday! There was really only one player who did well both days, but even he had his fair share of mistakes.
I've learned that I'm the type of coach that gets annoyed with easy mistakes. We did a drill where the players lined up in two lines, basically like right and left wingers, and had to connect on passes down the field. When they were about five yards from the goal, one of them had to shoot. They shot on a Pugg goal, that's about two yards wide and a yard high. There were no goalkeepers. Because of the wide open goal, I told the players that if they didn't score, they would run suicides. I said it didn't matter to me whether they needed one touch or seven to make sure they scored, they had to score. I wanted to emphasize passing and finishing. It also didn't matter if it was the shooter or the passer who missed the shot, both would run if they didn't score.
Surprisingly, the suicides are bringing the kids closer together. The attitude is generally, "OK, next time I'll get you a better pass so you can shoot it with your strong foot," or "I'm sorry man, I stubbed my toe on that shot. We'll score next time." That's encouraging to see, as I thought some of the players would blame their teammates for making them run.
Today again I'm going to reemphasize possession with more passing and dribbling drills. Hopefully we'll see some progress. We have a tournament this weekend, so I want them to look their best!
The format of the camp is that I get my players for the first half--I can use that time however I want. During the second half of camp, kids from all age groups are put together on "international" teams and we play a mini-World Cup. If someone didn't know what was going on, they'd laugh at some of the things they would hear during this camp. For example, yesterday the Scotland team beat Brazil 8-5. Hearing someone shout in a serious tone "Scotland beats Brazil to advance to the quarterfinal" is just hilarious.
Once again, the Dutch team has struggled to score goals. I guess it doesn't matter who you put on the field, if they represent the Netherlands, they will not score!
As for my squad, they looked good on Tuesday. We focused on passing and dribbling. I have conveyed to my team that I want us to have the ball all the time. I want us to control possession because if the other team doesn't have the ball, they can't score. The kids enjoy my emphasis on keeping the ball, and usually laugh when I say I want it all the time. I'm trying to toe the thin line between being the funny coach and making sure they can still take me seriously. This goes back to trying to simultaneously help the kids fall in love with the game while also teaching them things they'll need for their development. We did some drills that emphasized 5-yard passes, and then worked on passing into space. That's a pretty difficult concept for some of these kids, but if they can learn to use their pass to lead their teammates, they will be able to do a lot more on the field than other kids their age.
Wednesday, however, did not go as well. I was hoping to be able to just quickly review what we did on Tuesday and then move on to better drills. However, kids who had done well on Tuesday were not bottom of the group, and kids who struggled on Tuesday shined on Wednesday! There was really only one player who did well both days, but even he had his fair share of mistakes.
I've learned that I'm the type of coach that gets annoyed with easy mistakes. We did a drill where the players lined up in two lines, basically like right and left wingers, and had to connect on passes down the field. When they were about five yards from the goal, one of them had to shoot. They shot on a Pugg goal, that's about two yards wide and a yard high. There were no goalkeepers. Because of the wide open goal, I told the players that if they didn't score, they would run suicides. I said it didn't matter to me whether they needed one touch or seven to make sure they scored, they had to score. I wanted to emphasize passing and finishing. It also didn't matter if it was the shooter or the passer who missed the shot, both would run if they didn't score.
Surprisingly, the suicides are bringing the kids closer together. The attitude is generally, "OK, next time I'll get you a better pass so you can shoot it with your strong foot," or "I'm sorry man, I stubbed my toe on that shot. We'll score next time." That's encouraging to see, as I thought some of the players would blame their teammates for making them run.
Today again I'm going to reemphasize possession with more passing and dribbling drills. Hopefully we'll see some progress. We have a tournament this weekend, so I want them to look their best!
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Practice #1
Wow, today was an exciting and tiring day. It felt great to be back out on the field, and it was different to be a coach instead of a player this time.
We started with a team meeting, where the team manager and I discussed the goals of the season, my coaching philosophy, our upcoming tournament, and the season's budget. Then I took the players and started what would be a short and fun practice.
First, I showed the team how I wanted them to warm up before each practice and game. I explained that this was part of the discipline I wanted to instill in the team. The warmup involved team running and stretching, and it was pretty how much my team always warmed up when I was growing up.
Next, I did a short exercise where we all introduced ourselves, so the team could get to know one another. After this, we moved to game action--keep away with offensive-minded players against defensive-minded players. After about ten minutes of that, I put together teams with equal amounts of offensive and defensive players and had them play keep away. What I quickly learned was that to 8 and 9 year olds, keep away means pass it to the best player and let him dribble. The kids also bunched up way too easily and there was no room to play. So I changed the game a little bit to encourage wider play.
I played a drill I call "Channels." In this drill, I set up a big enough field for them to play a small-sided game. I think I used 30x30 dimensions. Then, I set up about a 5 foot wide channel on both sidelines. I put a player from each team in each of the channels on the sidelines. So, for example, today we had 10 players at practice, and were playing 5v5. I took two players from each team and put them in channels on opposite ends of the field. Their teammates would then play 3v3. The rules were simple--before a team could score they had to have their teammates in each channel touch the ball. The players in the channels are untouchable and cannot be challenged, so they have time to find good passes. This drill was a little advanced for this age group, but it still got the players to play wider and opened up the play a bit. I think I'll try it again next practice and see if the kids will develop better wide play.
Another problem with this team is that some of the kids want to try passes they are not capable of completing yet. Basically any pass over 10 yards is impossible, at least without the opponent intercepting it. This makes wanting to play wider a bit more difficult, but I think the players began to understand that you can string together several short passes to complete one "long" pass.
We ended practice with a nice "1, 2, 3, Lyon FC" chant and off the players went. Our next practice is Thursday, and I'll post another update then.
If you have any ideas for drills for my team, I'd love to hear them. I'm open to any ideas.
We started with a team meeting, where the team manager and I discussed the goals of the season, my coaching philosophy, our upcoming tournament, and the season's budget. Then I took the players and started what would be a short and fun practice.
First, I showed the team how I wanted them to warm up before each practice and game. I explained that this was part of the discipline I wanted to instill in the team. The warmup involved team running and stretching, and it was pretty how much my team always warmed up when I was growing up.
Next, I did a short exercise where we all introduced ourselves, so the team could get to know one another. After this, we moved to game action--keep away with offensive-minded players against defensive-minded players. After about ten minutes of that, I put together teams with equal amounts of offensive and defensive players and had them play keep away. What I quickly learned was that to 8 and 9 year olds, keep away means pass it to the best player and let him dribble. The kids also bunched up way too easily and there was no room to play. So I changed the game a little bit to encourage wider play.
I played a drill I call "Channels." In this drill, I set up a big enough field for them to play a small-sided game. I think I used 30x30 dimensions. Then, I set up about a 5 foot wide channel on both sidelines. I put a player from each team in each of the channels on the sidelines. So, for example, today we had 10 players at practice, and were playing 5v5. I took two players from each team and put them in channels on opposite ends of the field. Their teammates would then play 3v3. The rules were simple--before a team could score they had to have their teammates in each channel touch the ball. The players in the channels are untouchable and cannot be challenged, so they have time to find good passes. This drill was a little advanced for this age group, but it still got the players to play wider and opened up the play a bit. I think I'll try it again next practice and see if the kids will develop better wide play.
Another problem with this team is that some of the kids want to try passes they are not capable of completing yet. Basically any pass over 10 yards is impossible, at least without the opponent intercepting it. This makes wanting to play wider a bit more difficult, but I think the players began to understand that you can string together several short passes to complete one "long" pass.
We ended practice with a nice "1, 2, 3, Lyon FC" chant and off the players went. Our next practice is Thursday, and I'll post another update then.
If you have any ideas for drills for my team, I'd love to hear them. I'm open to any ideas.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Pre-season update
Well folks, our first practice is tomorrow and to say I am excited is a ridiculous understatement. I've seen a few of my players at the club's "Street Soccer" sessions, and I've been pleased with what I've seen. The kids are coachable, enjoy playing, and want to be better. I've only met three of the players so far, but I'm excited to meet the rest and see what we've got.
I've learned a bit more about the U9 age level. It is still difficult for me to gauge how good a player is when he is not playing with other U9 players, but I am starting to understand the skills typical of the age. I've also learned that the kids have pretty short attention spans when it comes to coaching--it's important to keep my coaching tips short and sweet.
I'll post an update after tomorrow's practice, but I anticipate doing a bit of getting to know the team and seeing what they've got. Tomorrow should be a fun practice for the kids (lots of scrimmaging) and for me!
I've learned a bit more about the U9 age level. It is still difficult for me to gauge how good a player is when he is not playing with other U9 players, but I am starting to understand the skills typical of the age. I've also learned that the kids have pretty short attention spans when it comes to coaching--it's important to keep my coaching tips short and sweet.
I'll post an update after tomorrow's practice, but I anticipate doing a bit of getting to know the team and seeing what they've got. Tomorrow should be a fun practice for the kids (lots of scrimmaging) and for me!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Ready for the season to start!
So I had my meetings with the Director of Coaching and then the Team Meeting. The DOC is a great guy. He's a former goalkeeper who has really taken South Lyon to new heights under his tutelage. He'll be a great guy to learn from and has been really helpful. That's been reassuring because sometimes soccer can be so political and, especially because it's not the most popular sport in the US, people in positions of power in their club can abuse that power. Not this guy--he's given me information on what drills these kids like, how to effectively get across my message to them, and even how to deal with some of the parents!
The Team Meeting also went great. I thought more of the players were going to be there, but so far I have only met two players. They both seem excited for the season to start. I asked them what positions they liked to play and they both told me they like to play forward--I guess that's typical with kids. Hopefully that means we'll have a lot of goals this Fall!
I'm meeting with my team manager--a player's mother-- and another club official tomorrow. There, we'll discuss our upcoming tournament, practice schedules and locations, and other things I should know about managing the team. I'll post another update after that. Things are finally moving and we have our first practice August 14th, so needless to say I'm really excited about that. It will be great to be back out on the field and to re-experience what it's like to fall in love with the game at a young age.
The Team Meeting also went great. I thought more of the players were going to be there, but so far I have only met two players. They both seem excited for the season to start. I asked them what positions they liked to play and they both told me they like to play forward--I guess that's typical with kids. Hopefully that means we'll have a lot of goals this Fall!
I'm meeting with my team manager--a player's mother-- and another club official tomorrow. There, we'll discuss our upcoming tournament, practice schedules and locations, and other things I should know about managing the team. I'll post another update after that. Things are finally moving and we have our first practice August 14th, so needless to say I'm really excited about that. It will be great to be back out on the field and to re-experience what it's like to fall in love with the game at a young age.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Commence Excitement
Well, things are starting to pick up with Lyon FC. I am now integrated into the online system and have cleared my background check--good news! On Saturday, I'm meeting with the Director of Coaching (DOC) to discuss--I presume--the club, my role in the club, how to effectively coach 8 and 9 year-olds, and similar important things I'd need to know.
After the Saturday meeting, we're having our team meeting on Monday night. I'm really excited about that meeting. This is where I'll meet the players and their families, and I'll get to introduce myself. At this age, this is probably the first competitive soccer experience for most of these players. I'm sure some of them are only playing soccer as a means of becoming more athletic for other sports; others might be relatively new to soccer and want to compete at a higher level; and still others, like I was at that age, live for soccer and want to play everyday. I'll have to make sure that I make the sport fun for them while also teaching them important skills they'll need for future athletic endeavors.
That will be a challenge for me. I'm sort of a soccer purist and expect people around me to be as passionate about the sport as I am. I remember some of the conversations I had with players from my U-9 soccer team. Some of us were very into the sport and would talk about professional soccer teams--back when soccer didn't even make it onto American TV very much-- and talk about our admiration for certain players, especially hometown hero Brian McBride. Others though were only playing soccer because their parents wouldn't let them play football yet, but they were athletically gifted enough to make it onto a pretty competitive club. Of course, feelings change; some passionate kids fell out of love with soccer, and some indifferent kids turned into Division 1 caliber players. I think my role should be as much about teaching the kids to love the sport as much as how to play it.
While I see some challenges in the immediate future, I'm very excited about this opportunity and can't wait to meet the DOC and the team shortly thereafter. I'll post updates after those meetings.
After the Saturday meeting, we're having our team meeting on Monday night. I'm really excited about that meeting. This is where I'll meet the players and their families, and I'll get to introduce myself. At this age, this is probably the first competitive soccer experience for most of these players. I'm sure some of them are only playing soccer as a means of becoming more athletic for other sports; others might be relatively new to soccer and want to compete at a higher level; and still others, like I was at that age, live for soccer and want to play everyday. I'll have to make sure that I make the sport fun for them while also teaching them important skills they'll need for future athletic endeavors.
That will be a challenge for me. I'm sort of a soccer purist and expect people around me to be as passionate about the sport as I am. I remember some of the conversations I had with players from my U-9 soccer team. Some of us were very into the sport and would talk about professional soccer teams--back when soccer didn't even make it onto American TV very much-- and talk about our admiration for certain players, especially hometown hero Brian McBride. Others though were only playing soccer because their parents wouldn't let them play football yet, but they were athletically gifted enough to make it onto a pretty competitive club. Of course, feelings change; some passionate kids fell out of love with soccer, and some indifferent kids turned into Division 1 caliber players. I think my role should be as much about teaching the kids to love the sport as much as how to play it.
While I see some challenges in the immediate future, I'm very excited about this opportunity and can't wait to meet the DOC and the team shortly thereafter. I'll post updates after those meetings.
Monday, July 2, 2012
First Coaching Job
After talks for the last few weeks, I was offered and have accepted a job with Lyon FC. They are a club based out of South Lyon, MI. I will begin this Fall and coach at the U-9 level. I am really excited for this opportunity and can't wait to get started.
Obviously this is my first opportunity to coach and try out my philosophies. I'll have my team meeting, where the Director of Coaching will introduce me to the team, and I'll begin to learn about my new team and see what we've got. I began playing travel soccer right around U8 and U9 so I know what these kids are going through. I'm sure that for many of them, I'll be their first travel coach, so I hope I can be a good influence on them and help them fall in love with the game while building up their skills.
If you have have tips on coaching kids--even if your experiences are in different sports--please don't hesitate to let me know.
Updates will follow soon.
Obviously this is my first opportunity to coach and try out my philosophies. I'll have my team meeting, where the Director of Coaching will introduce me to the team, and I'll begin to learn about my new team and see what we've got. I began playing travel soccer right around U8 and U9 so I know what these kids are going through. I'm sure that for many of them, I'll be their first travel coach, so I hope I can be a good influence on them and help them fall in love with the game while building up their skills.
If you have have tips on coaching kids--even if your experiences are in different sports--please don't hesitate to let me know.
Updates will follow soon.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Watching Soccer in Nashville
This post will be short and sweet. I don't usually plug places, but of you're ever watching a soccer game in Nashville, definitely check out Fleet Street Pub in Printer's Ally. I've been here for almost every Euro match and I'll definitely miss this place when I leave here.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Attacking Mindset
One thing about the sport that I didn't realize until I became older was that it is possible to play a style of soccer that allows virtually all field players to be attack-minded (though not all at the same time necessarily). It's often useful to generate attacks from different points on the field in order to expose the opposing team's tactics, formations, or assignments.
For example, sometimes, simply "switching fields," or playing a cross to the other flank, can expose that the other team has pitted their best defender on your striker. If you know that, you can see where there are holes in their defense. If you move your striker to the right, you might expose space to the left. If you move your striker deep, you might be able to see how aggressively and effectively the defense is playing the offsides trap.
This means that it is essential in today's game to have attack-minded players all over the field. Your goalkeeper should see opportunities to generate attack or maintain possession. So too should even your most defensive players. Bringing up a defender to join in the offense can create mismatches--size, speed, numbers, etc.-- or just introduce something new for the opposing team to think about and account for. For example, on the youth club level, where a team is not limited to three substitutions, having an attack-minded defender might cause the other team to switch from two strikers to a striker and a midfielder, so the midfielder can keep an eye on the lurking defender. Thus, even if your defender never touches the ball, his eye for the offense may have caused the other team to play less offensive.
Keep this in mind when you're out on the field playing next time. Even though your position might say "defense," that doesn't mean you can't sneak up and get involved in the offense, even if it's just pushing up to ask for a support pass and then play a cross to switch fields.
For example, sometimes, simply "switching fields," or playing a cross to the other flank, can expose that the other team has pitted their best defender on your striker. If you know that, you can see where there are holes in their defense. If you move your striker to the right, you might expose space to the left. If you move your striker deep, you might be able to see how aggressively and effectively the defense is playing the offsides trap.
This means that it is essential in today's game to have attack-minded players all over the field. Your goalkeeper should see opportunities to generate attack or maintain possession. So too should even your most defensive players. Bringing up a defender to join in the offense can create mismatches--size, speed, numbers, etc.-- or just introduce something new for the opposing team to think about and account for. For example, on the youth club level, where a team is not limited to three substitutions, having an attack-minded defender might cause the other team to switch from two strikers to a striker and a midfielder, so the midfielder can keep an eye on the lurking defender. Thus, even if your defender never touches the ball, his eye for the offense may have caused the other team to play less offensive.
Keep this in mind when you're out on the field playing next time. Even though your position might say "defense," that doesn't mean you can't sneak up and get involved in the offense, even if it's just pushing up to ask for a support pass and then play a cross to switch fields.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Dutch Disappointment
The Dutch were eliminated from Euro 2012 a couple days ago, and I've now watched the game twice; once emotionally, pulling for the Oranje to win, and once critically, breaking down what went wrong.
The Dutch came out strong and looked like they were ready to play. They understood their role and how their style was going to play out. The midfielders knew that they had to maintain possession because they were playing with 5-6 attack-minded players, and leaving their defense susceptible to the counter. For the first 15 minutes, the midfielders did just that. I thought Van der Vaart (VDV) and Robben played spectacularly together early on.
I was speaking with my cousin before the game and I told him what I hoped to see. I wanted Robben to take an outside shot that hit the target early in the game. That would establish him as an outside shooter, and require the defense to account for his long shot and push up their line. That would allow space for Robin van Persie (RVP) or Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to make runs through the back. Robben apparently was a party to our phone call, because he did just that.
The other thing I wanted Robben to do was to use his options, or "use what you see" as I like to say. Robben is a left-footed player who plays on the right wing. As a result, he has a tendency to cut inside and create plays that way. If the defense plays a high line, he can play a cutting striker. If the defense lays off, he can take the shot or lay it off to the attacking midfielder, usually Wesley Sneider, but in this case it was VDV, to take the shot. That's how the Dutch scored--Robben brought the ball inside, met a defender, played the ball off to VDV who fired a shot in far post. It was a play of beauty.
What happened after that was tragic. Portugal began to dominate possession. The Dutch central defense played dumb balls, leaving Gregory van der Wiel and the young Jetro Willems to overwork themselves to generate any attack or possession. VDV failed to come deep enough to help the Dutch hold the ball, and the Dutch failed to put together more than five passes in the attacking third.
The display was not Total Soccer. The formation was too structured, and players did not put in the effort to make runs to open themselves up to passes. Not once did Sneider and VDV switch spots to see if Sneider would have more success generating an attack or holding the ball and creating space. Even though Sneider naturally plays as an attacking midfielder, he never requested a switch to see what he could do in that role.
In the second half, Coach van Marwijk switched Robben to the left wing. That's when the Dutch attack became predictable. You no longer had the threat of Robben cutting inside for a shot, and thus the Portugese defense could play a lower line and prevent the two big-bodied strikers (Huntelaar and RVP) from making runs to goal. Huntelaar excels near the goal--he cannot come out to the 18 with his back to the goal and make a play. RVP can, but when he did he either misplayed the ball, had a bad touch, or was forced to shoot with his weak foot.
Had the Dutch maintained proper movement, including constantly switching Sneider and VDV between attacking midfield and the left wing, I think the Dutch would have had much more success. What I explain to people is that even though a defender might be paired with an opposing position, putting a different player in that position requires the defender to react differently. For example, Sneider and VDV are much different players. VDV is a threat to shoot on target with either foot from anywhere inside 30-35 yards. Sneider is more of a creative playmaker who would rather play a through ball to a breaking striker. Therefore, VDV is a player that can force a defense to play a higher line. If the defense becomes tired, they may be slow to get back to their lower line. When that happens, VDV can play a square ball to Sneider, who can find the through ball to Huntelaar or RVP. That is a simple way to create space by using the different talents of players who can play the same position.
Alas, that didn't happen. Had the Dutch played structured, but defensive, they might have been OK. But instead, they played structured but let 30+ yards between their attacking players and the defense. That was too much space, and Portugal exposed it.
It's back to the drawing board for van Marwijk. Maybe he'll listen to some of Cruijff's criticism and return to more free-flowing play.
The Dutch came out strong and looked like they were ready to play. They understood their role and how their style was going to play out. The midfielders knew that they had to maintain possession because they were playing with 5-6 attack-minded players, and leaving their defense susceptible to the counter. For the first 15 minutes, the midfielders did just that. I thought Van der Vaart (VDV) and Robben played spectacularly together early on.
I was speaking with my cousin before the game and I told him what I hoped to see. I wanted Robben to take an outside shot that hit the target early in the game. That would establish him as an outside shooter, and require the defense to account for his long shot and push up their line. That would allow space for Robin van Persie (RVP) or Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to make runs through the back. Robben apparently was a party to our phone call, because he did just that.
The other thing I wanted Robben to do was to use his options, or "use what you see" as I like to say. Robben is a left-footed player who plays on the right wing. As a result, he has a tendency to cut inside and create plays that way. If the defense plays a high line, he can play a cutting striker. If the defense lays off, he can take the shot or lay it off to the attacking midfielder, usually Wesley Sneider, but in this case it was VDV, to take the shot. That's how the Dutch scored--Robben brought the ball inside, met a defender, played the ball off to VDV who fired a shot in far post. It was a play of beauty.
What happened after that was tragic. Portugal began to dominate possession. The Dutch central defense played dumb balls, leaving Gregory van der Wiel and the young Jetro Willems to overwork themselves to generate any attack or possession. VDV failed to come deep enough to help the Dutch hold the ball, and the Dutch failed to put together more than five passes in the attacking third.
The display was not Total Soccer. The formation was too structured, and players did not put in the effort to make runs to open themselves up to passes. Not once did Sneider and VDV switch spots to see if Sneider would have more success generating an attack or holding the ball and creating space. Even though Sneider naturally plays as an attacking midfielder, he never requested a switch to see what he could do in that role.
In the second half, Coach van Marwijk switched Robben to the left wing. That's when the Dutch attack became predictable. You no longer had the threat of Robben cutting inside for a shot, and thus the Portugese defense could play a lower line and prevent the two big-bodied strikers (Huntelaar and RVP) from making runs to goal. Huntelaar excels near the goal--he cannot come out to the 18 with his back to the goal and make a play. RVP can, but when he did he either misplayed the ball, had a bad touch, or was forced to shoot with his weak foot.
Had the Dutch maintained proper movement, including constantly switching Sneider and VDV between attacking midfield and the left wing, I think the Dutch would have had much more success. What I explain to people is that even though a defender might be paired with an opposing position, putting a different player in that position requires the defender to react differently. For example, Sneider and VDV are much different players. VDV is a threat to shoot on target with either foot from anywhere inside 30-35 yards. Sneider is more of a creative playmaker who would rather play a through ball to a breaking striker. Therefore, VDV is a player that can force a defense to play a higher line. If the defense becomes tired, they may be slow to get back to their lower line. When that happens, VDV can play a square ball to Sneider, who can find the through ball to Huntelaar or RVP. That is a simple way to create space by using the different talents of players who can play the same position.
Alas, that didn't happen. Had the Dutch played structured, but defensive, they might have been OK. But instead, they played structured but let 30+ yards between their attacking players and the defense. That was too much space, and Portugal exposed it.
It's back to the drawing board for van Marwijk. Maybe he'll listen to some of Cruijff's criticism and return to more free-flowing play.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Obtaining license
As I stated in the Introduction, I am currently in the process of obtaining my coaching license. In Michigan, that means doing an online coaching manual, and then attending courses corresponding with the category license you wish. So, for example, I have completed the online coaching module, and passed my background check; my next step is to start with the E license. Therefore, I will need to attend an E coaching class to obtain my E license. After that, I can get my D license, etc.
It used to be that if one had extensive playing experience, the State would waive the E license requirement. However, they've recently discovered that playing experience doesn't teach you other things necessary for coaching youth soccer--like how to deal with youth players. The E license, from what I understand, focuses on teaching the fundamentals of the sport, including things such as how long practices should run, basic first aid, etc.
I was unable to take any of the summer E license courses, but plan to obtain my E license this Fall. From there, I will obtain my D license, which is where you can really begin to coach at a competitive youth level. I'll be sure to update you all on the process and answer questions if you are interested in obtaining your own coaching license once I learn more.
That's all for now.
It used to be that if one had extensive playing experience, the State would waive the E license requirement. However, they've recently discovered that playing experience doesn't teach you other things necessary for coaching youth soccer--like how to deal with youth players. The E license, from what I understand, focuses on teaching the fundamentals of the sport, including things such as how long practices should run, basic first aid, etc.
I was unable to take any of the summer E license courses, but plan to obtain my E license this Fall. From there, I will obtain my D license, which is where you can really begin to coach at a competitive youth level. I'll be sure to update you all on the process and answer questions if you are interested in obtaining your own coaching license once I learn more.
That's all for now.
Introduction
So this is my new blog. Hopefully I can maintain this one better than a few of my previous attempts to document my thoughts online. However, I have never blogged about something I am so passionate about, so hopefully this new topic will allow me to keep frequent updates.
I'd like to welcome everyone to Total Soccer Coach. The title comes from my soccer philosophy that I've developed after over 20 years of playing the sport--Total Soccer. Total Soccer was pioneered by Johan Cruijff (a.k.a. Cruyff) and is basically the way Barcelona plays today. Total Soccer is a free flowing, creative style that allows for all ten field players to be attack-minded. Traditional Total Soccer ("TS") formations are 4-3-3 and 3-4-3.
The idea for this blog comes from my current situation. I am in the process of obtaining my coaching license so I can begin my lifelong dream of coaching youth soccer. I am seeking coaching openings in Southeast Michigan, and would like to coach at a competitive level. Between my playing experience and my ability to teach things I enjoy, I think I can get a lot done with youth soccer.
I am also conscious of the fact that my tactical philosophy may very well change depending on the players available to me, the way my coaching allows players to develop, and other things. I grew up playing for teams that employed 4-4-2, 4-2-1-2, 4-3-3, and 3-5-2 formations.
Based on my experience, it is difficult to play with three defenders in today's game. It puts a lot of pressure on outside midfielders, and, in my opinion, decreases the amount of creativity in the midfield. However, I don't think that teams should overcompensate by playing a flat four defense and relying on the attacking six to maintain possession and create the attacking chances.
I plan to focus on the 4-3-3 formation, where one of the defenders doubles as a defensive midfielder, and the three midfielders' shape will be altered depending on which defender is most attack-minded. For example, a 4-3-3 can easily attack similar to a standard 3-4-3 if one of the center backs is the attack-minded one. Plays can start through the middle, and wingers can maintain width to stretch the defense. However, if the outside backs are the ones who are attack-minded, as is usually the case, beginning an attack out of a 4-3-3 allows you to keep three defenders back and leaves your team less susceptible to the counter-attack. This would likely mean that attacks would start on the flanks, rather than through the middle, and one of the midfielders would have to understand his defensive role.
I am excited to see how my ideas pan out and how my notions of proper soccer will change moving forward. Check back in and feel free to chime in on any ideas you might have.
I'd like to welcome everyone to Total Soccer Coach. The title comes from my soccer philosophy that I've developed after over 20 years of playing the sport--Total Soccer. Total Soccer was pioneered by Johan Cruijff (a.k.a. Cruyff) and is basically the way Barcelona plays today. Total Soccer is a free flowing, creative style that allows for all ten field players to be attack-minded. Traditional Total Soccer ("TS") formations are 4-3-3 and 3-4-3.
The idea for this blog comes from my current situation. I am in the process of obtaining my coaching license so I can begin my lifelong dream of coaching youth soccer. I am seeking coaching openings in Southeast Michigan, and would like to coach at a competitive level. Between my playing experience and my ability to teach things I enjoy, I think I can get a lot done with youth soccer.
I am also conscious of the fact that my tactical philosophy may very well change depending on the players available to me, the way my coaching allows players to develop, and other things. I grew up playing for teams that employed 4-4-2, 4-2-1-2, 4-3-3, and 3-5-2 formations.
Based on my experience, it is difficult to play with three defenders in today's game. It puts a lot of pressure on outside midfielders, and, in my opinion, decreases the amount of creativity in the midfield. However, I don't think that teams should overcompensate by playing a flat four defense and relying on the attacking six to maintain possession and create the attacking chances.
I plan to focus on the 4-3-3 formation, where one of the defenders doubles as a defensive midfielder, and the three midfielders' shape will be altered depending on which defender is most attack-minded. For example, a 4-3-3 can easily attack similar to a standard 3-4-3 if one of the center backs is the attack-minded one. Plays can start through the middle, and wingers can maintain width to stretch the defense. However, if the outside backs are the ones who are attack-minded, as is usually the case, beginning an attack out of a 4-3-3 allows you to keep three defenders back and leaves your team less susceptible to the counter-attack. This would likely mean that attacks would start on the flanks, rather than through the middle, and one of the midfielders would have to understand his defensive role.
I am excited to see how my ideas pan out and how my notions of proper soccer will change moving forward. Check back in and feel free to chime in on any ideas you might have.
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