Coaching Youth travel soccer, I don't know anything about soccer (1 Viewer)

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

A lot of good advice in here...my daughter's  coach had asked me to assist him in the spring, but i was hesitant because he was a little too "competitive" for 8 yrs old.  Maybe this year I'll take him up on this, just o balance things out.  Great stuff.

Yeah, this combo actually can work out really well.  My assistant coach is more competitive than I am and is more concerned with tactics and skill development, etc.  I'm more into having fun with the kids and getting them to love soccer.  I feel like it's a good combo. 

 

[CletiusMaximus]

No offense but that coach sounds like a ####.

Definitely none taken - just curious for opinions from some of the youth coaches in here.  I actually really like this coach.

 

[Lehigh98]

I think you're referring to my comments.  I wasn't saying that having three defenders would stunt development.  I was saying that having defenders who just stand back on the defensive end waiting for the ball to come to them would stunt development.  I think any formation can work fine, as long as your defenders move up and back on the field.

Think of them a little like guards in basketball.  When you're attacking, they come up to the midfield line to support.  If a midfielder gets cornered, they can drop if back to the defender who can pass to the other side to switch fields or drive it to the goal themselves to shoot or to collapse the D and then kick it back outside.  Makes it much less boring to play on D.

Playing the defenders up can also slow down a dump and chase game because the other team's forward has to stay on side.  You just have to show them how to get back on D and chase someone down on a breakaway (without shoving them in the back) if necessary.  Once they get burned a few times they should figure it out though.

 

[Mookie]

I always like putting my weak players in wide positions - usually midfield.  That way, they are less of a liability on defense.  I would teach them the importance of width when our team had the ball and being compact when the other team possessed, and in trying to slow down attackers to give their defenders an opportunity to get their proper shape.  Sometimes, that means just getting in the way of an attacking player over making a lunge or stab at the ball.  When I'd see them hold up an attacking player, I was very quick to praise even if they didn't win the ball, which these kids really need.

On offense, I encouraged them to make runs to the far post when we had the ball in hopes of scoring an easy tap in or garbage goal off a deflection/save.  They need to make that run EVERY time, as the one time they don't will be the time they miss scoring their goal.  Nothing better that seeing a daisy picker bury an easy goal - the whole team and sideline goes nuts like Timmy Lupus catching that fly ball in Bad News Bears.  Like someone said, those are the moments that really pay off.

 

[Righetti]

Coach Tip #15213: Try not to instruct too much during games. Get kids used to key words like; "keeper", "move", "spacing" . The more you talk, the more they have to think about what you said the less they're concentrating on playing the game. Especially at this age...don't do play by play for them on the sideline. 

Good advice.  I have a lot of coaching under my belt as I coached 6 years of Babe Ruth Baseball for 13-15 year old boys and learned that lesson early but still tend to give direction on the sideline.  I try to keep it simple like "get back on defense" but I will be more conscious to not overdo it

 

[Righetti]

I always like putting my weak players in wide positions - usually midfield.  That way, they are less of a liability on defense.  I would teach them the importance of width when our team had the ball and being compact when the other team possessed, and in trying to slow down attackers to give their defenders an opportunity to get their proper shape.  Sometimes, that means just getting in the way of an attacking player over making a lunge or stab at the ball.  When I'd see them hold up an attacking player, I was very quick to praise even if they didn't win the ball, which these kids really need.

On offense, I encouraged them to make runs to the far post when we had the ball in hopes of scoring an easy tap in or garbage goal off a deflection/save.  They need to make that run EVERY time, as the one time they don't will be the time they miss scoring their goal.  Nothing better that seeing a daisy picker bury an easy goal - the whole team and sideline goes nuts like Timmy Lupus catching that fly ball in Bad News Bears.  Like someone said, those are the moments that really pay off.

One thing that I always tried to do while coaching baseball was to try to manufacture ways to help kids succeed.  If our 9th batter was up, I'd often send the runners to open up holes in the defense, so plan to use that same mentality as much as I can with soccer

we have one girl who tends to chip the ball when she kicks, it's sort of odd since nobody else can get the ball off the floor.  I think I will play her some at forward this week with the hope she can get a shot or two on goal.  If she does, she'll have a very good chance at scoring because there is no way these 7 year old goalies are going to be able to defend that.  I'm also going to use her for my corners as it might, at some point, give us a chance to put the ball near the goal.   She'll have to develop more leg strength for it to be effective but it might be a great way to giver her a couple of important roles where she may succeed. 

 

[Ned]

One thing that I always tried to do while coaching baseball was to try to manufacture ways to help kids succeed.  If our 9th batter was up, I'd often send the runners to open up holes in the defense, so plan to use that same mentality as much as I can with soccer

we have one girl who tends to chip the ball when she kicks, it's sort of odd since nobody else can get the ball off the floor.  I think I will play her some at forward this week with the hope she can get a shot or two on goal.  If she does, she'll have a very good chance at scoring because there is no way these 7 year old goalies are going to be able to defend that.  I'm also going to use her for my corners as it might, at some point, give us a chance to put the ball near the goal.   She'll have to develop more leg strength for it to be effective but it might be a great way to giver her a couple of important roles where she may succeed. 

Is she toeing the ball?

 

[Righetti]

Clever idea!  

I am totally going to use this Red-Blue thing.  It's absolutely genius in it's simplicity and will make it so much easier for the girls to know their position 

 

[Righetti]

Is she toeing the ball?

I assume so, haven't looked at it that carefully but just notice during our passing drills that she gets some hop.  I always remind her to use in the inside of her foot but when I walk away and the kick is far, she probably goes to the toe.  It was sort of distracting because the girl she's be warming up with was always running back to chase the ball because she always gets it off the ground 

 

[Kafka]

Is she toeing the ball?

Ah, the good ol' days of toeing the ball whenever coach wasn't looking...not that I ever did it, of course...

 

[Ned]

Ah, the good ol' days of toeing the ball whenever coach wasn't looking...not that I ever did it, of course...

That'll be 5 laps.

 

[AcerFC]

Ah, the good ol' days of toeing the ball whenever coach wasn't looking...not that I ever did it, of course...

I have a saying that sometimes the toe knows. Its important to allow all parts of the foot to be used. There are often times when forwards are going too fast that a toe poke is needed. If you drill it into them that they can never use their toe, you are taking away one of their options in the tool box of soccer moves

 

[swirvenirvin]

I thought travel teams had real coaches?

 

[AcerFC]

I thought travel teams had real coaches?

There has been a major negative (IMO) shift in this country in terms of youth sports. All you need to do is look at the league Righetti plays in. They have different divisions from A (best) all the way down to F (worst). In my day, the only kids playing travel were in the A division. The rest of the kids played rec and that was OK. 

Now, every club has teams in almost every age division and some of them with multiple teams in the same age group. Families believe that "travel" is somehow better than rec. And in some instances in might be. There are clubs that cost $2500 for the year and each team is trained by paid trainers who have at minimum a C license. However, these trainers will not get a rec kid to become Messi or even Clint Dempsey. Those kids are already on the team in the A division and will only get better. But for those who want to play for their local club and pay a lot less, you have essentially a more intensive rec team coached by guys like Righetti. They will either pay for trainers or train the team themselves. 

I coached and trained my daughters team the past three years so we kept cost really low and they were lucky to get a C licensed trainer. I decided not to coach the team this year and they have three coaches who are all like Righetti.  

Everyone thinks their klid is going to get a scholarship and it is just not the case. So they sign them up for travel to get extra training sessions. Most travel teams are just suped up rec teams. If you are not competing with the high level A division teams, it is extremely unlikely you will ever get there. That doesnt mean the kid cant be a good player and be a good player on a high school team. 

Now, dont get me started on hockey. That is a beast of its own and something I am struggling with since my son plays. He is on he ice 2 times a week for practice and plays a game or two on the weekends. However, there are families that pay for extra stuff and their kids are on the ice 7 days a week. I think this is absurd. Its not about the money to me, because we could probably afford it, its more to do with him having a life and being able to have fun doing other things. We signed him up for rec soccer and he did great in his first game this weekend. But ultimately, no matter how good he is at hockey, the kids who are playing 7 days a week will get a lot better and he will likely play on a lower division team. That is fine with me, I just want him to have fun. But it is frustrating at the same time

Sorry, the post got away from me. TLR 

 

[AcerFC]

** I will add though, that once the "travel" teams are playing for a year or two, they will beat any "rec" team. This still doesnt take away from the fact that they should probably be playing rec anyway

 

[Kafka]

That'll be 5 laps.

Lol...many of those....so, apparently I was predestined to be a CC runner....

 

[Lehigh98]

I assume so, haven't looked at it that carefully but just notice during our passing drills that she gets some hop.  I always remind her to use in the inside of her foot but when I walk away and the kick is far, she probably goes to the toe.  It was sort of distracting because the girl she's be warming up with was always running back to chase the ball because she always gets it off the ground 

Side of the foot is overrated for kids that can't get the ball very far. (Just make sure they lock their ankle and get their foot square)

Using the laces (like on a shot) for longer passes is fine, just stay away from the toe balls.

One drill to work on both is to set up a rectangle with one player outside at each corner (two players at the corner where you start the ball).  First player passes along the short side with the side of their foot and then runs to the corner that they passed to.  The player that received that ball turns and passes with the laces along the long side of the triangle to the next corner and again follows their pass.  Teaches proper weight of a pass with varying distance and also moving without the ball.

 

[Righetti]

I thought travel teams had real coaches?

Our league gives the kids one practice with the coach (me) per week and one with a professional trainer per week.  I believe it's about $750 for the season per team for that cost ($75/hour for a total of 10 hours).  We have 12 girls so it comes to $65 per player per season.  They also get 30 minutes per week of conditioning with a different outfit but again it probably adds another $25 per kid for that.   Add league fees, team equipment, refs and whatever the league is pretty cheap, probably $200 per kid per season plus uniform.  

The parents could decide to use the trainers for both weekly practices at their own out of pocket cost.  It would be pretty cheap to do it that way as it only adds another $65 per player per season.  I may go that way at some point as I travel a lot for work but part of doing this is to be with the kids

 

[Righetti]

Side of the foot is overrated for kids that can't get the ball very far. (Just make sure they lock their ankle and get their foot square)

Using the laces (like on a shot) for longer passes is fine, just stay away from the toe balls.

One drill to work on both is to set up a rectangle with one player outside at each corner (two players at the corner where you start the ball).  First player passes along the short side with the side of their foot and then runs to the corner that they passed to.  The player that received that ball turns and passes with the laces along the long side of the triangle to the next corner and again follows their pass.  Teaches proper weight of a pass with varying distance and also moving without the ball.

I kind of got the same thought as these girls are 6 and 7 years old and cannot get the ball more than 10 yards if they are lucky passing with the inside of their foot

 

[Lehigh98]

Drill dump...

[SIZE=22pt]Dribbling Skills Warm-Up Program [/SIZE]

Each skill builds from simple to advanced as players become proficient.

[SIZE=14pt]A. Basics[/SIZE]

(1) Tick-Tocks (see first exercise on:  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwsUBXrq9UQ&feature=endscreen

a. tick-tocks for time (count how many they can do in 20 seconds and retime throughout the season looking for improvements)

b. tick-tocks forwards, backwards, and rotating body in a circle

c. tick-tocks around a row of cones

(2) Toe-Taps (see third activity on:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwsUBXrq9UQ&feature=endscreen

a. toe-taps for time (count how many they can do in 20 seconds and repeat throughout the season to encourage improvement)

b. toe-taps forwards, backwards, and rotating body around ball (ball stays in place)

c. toe-taps around a row of cones

[SIZE=14pt]B. Dribbling for control and speed[/SIZE]

(3) Directional dribbling and turns

a. all players line up with a ball across a line and dribble from one line to another

b. dribble from one line to another, turn and come back

c. dribble back and forth across a 5-meter grid, turning on the line

d. dribble using designated feet (right, then left) to turn on the lines in the 5-meter grid. See second activity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6VoouYDsqA

Count how many times they can go up and back in 20 seconds. Repeat regularly for improvements.

(4) Figure Eights

a. for each player, place two cones 5 meters apart and have them dribble continuous figure eights around them.

b. count how many figure eights they can make in 20 seconds

c. figure eights with right foot only, time for 20 seconds. See first activity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6VoouYDsqA

d. figure eights with left foot only, time for 20 seconds

(5) Dribbling around a row of cones

a. make two lines of 8-10 cones (place cones further apart and use less for beginners and closer together for advanced players).  Run two lines simultaneously dribbling up and back around the cones, then ask them to do it as fast as they can.

b. hold a dribbling relay between the two lines

c. Use variations-- Try with just the right foot, then just the left foot (they will have to use the insides and outsides of their feet to do this). Can have a relay where each person goes through three times, once using both feet, then right foot only, then left foot.

d. Advanced variations:

• cut and catch (note video only shows this with 4 cones, more difficult with 8-10 cones spaced 1-2 feet apart). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7Ye6aLjbtg)

• drag and catch

• crazy cones

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSas8t5I7n4&feature=fvwrel

(6) Coerver Dribbling Series

introduce all skills very slowly, then speed up.

Basic Progression on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwsUBXrq9UQ&feature=endscreen

a. tick tocks

b. W’s

c. toe taps

d. sole rolls

e. pull push

f. baby V’s

g. triangles

h. stepovers

i. scissors

j. inside right foot--outside left foot; inside left foot-outside right foot

(7) Inside-Outside

(See last exercise above)

a. Practice this skill in place, then moving forward one foot at a time, then alternating feet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7UgW0WipFc&playnext=1&list=PL983B9C138B5ECCB4&feature=results_video

b. Moving forward alternating feet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVnkvqDwd_o&feature=relmfu

[SIZE=14pt]C. More Coerver Skills, Footwork and Moves[/SIZE]

A favorite technical dribbling warm-up series (Philadelphia U-17’s): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4aND2DD1Cg&feature=related

Good Coerver’s to try:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hr4SwdkrFA

Some moves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5_2WD1TGf4&feature=related

 

[swirvenirvin]

agreed with Acer on this.. I have been coaching for 3 years now my son in AYSO which is rec.  He is above avg for sure, probably around a 7.5 to 8 in overall soccer skills, but by no means an all star.  I've kept him in rec because the travel stuff would interfere with baseball and basketball.

So this year in coaching the U8 team I expected bigger and better things from the kids as I could start do start do some real drills and stuff.  However I quickly found out that the skill level is abysmal.  And I think what starts happening at the U8 level is all the kids start getting on the "travel" teams leaving the rec teams so desolate of any talent that the rec team because a joke.  My 6 yr old thinks he is an all star because he is beating the7 yr olds who don't even want to be there.  I have my 4 yr old practicing with the team, and he would have no problem playing on this team skill level wise and he doesn't even understand all the rules.  I do 1-1 where I throw the ball out and they go at it, and the 4 yr is beating some of these kids and scoring vs them. The skill level at rec just isn't there cause they are all moving up to play "travel".

No offense but by no means should a coach who doesn't know what he is doing be coaching a travel team

 

[Lehigh98]

Here is a link to a good page with the fun moves…

http://www.soccer-training-methods.com/soccer-moves.html

I wouldn't try to teach these to everyone but some of my kids love to try and get a couple pro moves down. 

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

agreed with Acer on this.. I have been coaching for 3 years now my son in AYSO which is rec.  He is above avg for sure, probably around a 7.5 to 8 in overall soccer skills, but by no means an all star.  I've kept him in rec because the travel stuff would interfere with baseball and basketball.

So this year in coaching the U8 team I expected bigger and better things from the kids as I could start do start do some real drills and stuff.  However I quickly found out that the skill level is abysmal.  And I think what starts happening at the U8 level is all the kids start getting on the "travel" teams leaving the rec teams so desolate of any talent that the rec team because a joke.  My 6 yr old thinks he is an all star because he is beating the7 yr olds who don't even want to be there.  I have my 4 yr old practicing with the team, and he would have no problem playing on this team skill level wise and he doesn't even understand all the rules.  I do 1-1 where I throw the ball out and they go at it, and the 4 yr is beating some of these kids and scoring vs them. The skill level at rec just isn't there cause they are all moving up to play "travel".

Yeah, the stratification of talent levels is very real these days.  I coach rec league and we constantly lose our best players to higher level leagues.  And the decent players that stay in rec take a long time to develop skills because their teammates and opponents aren't good enough. 

When I was a kid I played rec league from when I was little until middle school.  I was still good enough to make it onto my high school soccer team, although I was mostly a benchwarmer when I played on the varsity team.

The kids that I coach on my rec league team have pretty much no chance to play for their high schools.  Every year the gap between rec league teams and travel teams grows.  I'm doubtful that my U14 girls rec team could beat a U10 girls travel team in a game.  But we still have a lot of fun playing against other rec teams.  Your satisfaction all depends on what you're hoping to get out of youth sports. 

 

[Lehigh98]

So this year in coaching the U8 team I expected bigger and better things from the kids as I could start do start do some real drills and stuff.  However I quickly found out that the skill level is abysmal.  And I think what starts happening at the U8 level is all the kids start getting on the "travel" teams leaving the rec teams so desolate of any talent that the rec team because a joke.  My 6 yr old thinks he is an all star because he is beating the7 yr olds who don't even want to be there.  I have my 4 yr old practicing with the team, and he would have no problem playing on this team skill level wise and he doesn't even understand all the rules.  I do 1-1 where I throw the ball out and they go at it, and the 4 yr is beating some of these kids and scoring vs them. The skill level at rec just isn't there cause they are all moving up to play "travel".

I've coached both rec and travel and rec is exactly that, recreational.  Most of the kids I've had there just want to play and goof around and have no interest in working on improving.  Not to mention the kids that don't even want to be there but their parents use it as babysitting.

Travel teams break out the players that want to be there and want to improve (at least it should in the tryout and selection process).  We've cut big and fast kids who don't seem that interested for smaller less skilled kids who love the game and want to improve.  I've gone directly from U8 travel practices where the kids handle it like pros to U12 rec practices where it takes 15 minutes just to get the kids together and ready to work on a skill.

The skill level at rec isn't low because the good players are playing travel, the skill level is low because those are mostly the kids that don't have any interest in working on their skills.

 

[swirvenirvin]

Yeah, the stratification of talent levels is very real these days.  I coach rec league and we constantly lose our best players to higher level leagues.  And the decent players that stay in rec take a long time to develop skills because their teammates and opponents aren't good enough. 

When I was a kid I played rec league from when I was little until middle school.  I was still good enough to make it onto my high school soccer team, although I was mostly a benchwarmer when I played on the varsity team.

The kids that I coach on my rec league team have pretty much no chance to play for their high schools.  Every year the gap between rec league teams and travel teams grows.  I'm doubtful that my U14 girls rec team could beat a U10 girls travel team in a game.  But we still have a lot of fun playing against other rec teams.  Your satisfaction all depends on what you're hoping to get out of youth sports. 

Yeah I want to teach and improve the kids, but the kids also have to want to be there.  Not on the first day of practice when we are stretching.. "I hate soccer practice"  Don't want to have to repeat things over and over and kids not get it.. I did that already at U5 and U6.  Most likely my last year coaching the older kids and will have to find some sort on non super travel team for the kid to play in.

same with me..  private school so it was CYSO, but played that all the way through grade school on non travel team, and was good enough to start and play varsity for Class A state champ team.

 

[swirvenirvin]

I've coached both rec and travel and rec is exactly that, recreational.  Most of the kids I've had there just want to play and goof around and have no interest in working on improving.  Not to mention the kids that don't even want to be there but their parents use it as babysitting.

Travel teams break out the players that want to be there and want to improve (at least it should in the tryout and selection process).  We've cut big and fast kids who don't seem that interested for smaller less skilled kids who love the game and want to improve.  I've gone directly from U8 travel practices where the kids handle it like pros to U12 rec practices where it takes 15 minutes just to get the kids together and ready to work on a skill.

The skill level at rec isn't low because the good players are playing travel, the skill level is low because those are mostly the kids that don't have any interest in working on their skills.

yeah I have been trying to hold more than 1 practice a week and cant even get any kind of commitment from the parents for kids to show up.  or I wont be able to make the first 3 practices.. Well guess what your kid aint going to learn ####

 

[CletiusMaximus]

The clubs where I live are very good at disguising their rec teams to get parents of kids who "just want to play and goof around and have no interest in working on improving" to part with $2000+ per year. No one calls their team a "rec" team, which is a dirty word, but they confuse terms to hide the reality. One club has a "premier" team, an "academy" team and a "select" team; another has a "State League" team and a "WDA" team (Wis Developmental Academy league).  I watched a friend's son play this weekend - now U12 - who pays nearly $3k per year. They have very fancy uniforms and bags, moms all wear Prada on the sidelines. Coach looks like he just graduated high school in the Spring. They were a mess, 0-6 so far in two tournaments this year probably with a 2-30 gd.

 

[Lehigh98]

The clubs where I live are very good at disguising their rec teams to get parents of kids who "just want to play and goof around and have no interest in working on improving" to part with $2000+ per year. No one calls their team a "rec" team, which is a dirty word, but they confuse terms to hide the reality. One club has a "premier" team, an "academy" team and a "select" team; another has a "State League" team and a "WDA" team (Wis Developmental Academy league).  I watched a friend's son play this weekend - now U12 - who pays nearly $3k per year. They have very fancy uniforms and bags, moms all wear Prada on the sidelines. Coach looks like he just graduated high school in the Spring. They were a mess, 0-6 so far in two tournaments this year probably with a 2-30 gd.

Pyramid scams where the academy and select money is used to fund some of the premier kids that they invite to play for free.

 

[AcerFC]

Sorry that I got this started in Rags thread. I just started typing and it kept going.

Having said that, years ago, you could play rec until middle school and make the HS team after playing in middle school. You can not do that anymore. And that is my biggest complaint for youth sports. They want these travel kids to make a commitment year round, Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. Where is the ability for these kids to play other sports? I am a firm believer that no kid should specialize in any sport until they get to HS and can make that decision on their own. 

My daughter loved soccer. However, she wanted to try field hockey. She likes field hockey a lot more and might not even play soccer next year because it is almost impossible to juggle multiple sports with the time commitments. She is in 4th grade. She should not have to pick one at this point.

This is all driven by money like @CletiusMaximus just posted. Clubs can make money and look good by offering different levels of teams. But in doing that, they take away the chance to play other sports because of the time demands on the kids

 

[Mookie]

The clubs where I live are very good at disguising their rec teams to get parents of kids who "just want to play and goof around and have no interest in working on improving" to part with $2000+ per year. No one calls their team a "rec" team, which is a dirty word, but they confuse terms to hide the reality. One club has a "premier" team, an "academy" team and a "select" team; another has a "State League" team and a "WDA" team (Wis Developmental Academy league).  I watched a friend's son play this weekend - now U12 - who pays nearly $3k per year. They have very fancy uniforms and bags, moms all wear Prada on the sidelines. Coach looks like he just graduated high school in the Spring. They were a mess, 0-6 so far in two tournaments this year probably with a 2-30 gd.

Great example of what is wrong with USA Soccer at the youth level.

 

[Ned]

Having said that, years ago, you could play rec until middle school and make the HS team after playing in middle school. You can not do that anymore. 

Why do you think that is?

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

Why do you think that is?

I think a lot of it is just that there are roughly the same number of high school teams as there were 30 years ago, but there are more kids playing soccer.

 

[Ned]

Why do you think that is?

I think a lot of it is just that there are roughly the same number of high school teams as there were 30 years ago, but there are more kids playing soccer.

Curious how that links to the specialization argument.

 

[Ned]

And   to @Lehigh98 - dropping knowledge.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

Curious how that links to the specialization argument.

I don't know this for certain but I think soccer is fairly unique in this regard.  My impression is that, unlike soccer, youth football and youth baseball are declining in popularity.  It might be easier to make a high school team in those sports than it used to be.   I'm mostly just making this up though, maybe someone with experience in those sports might have better info.

 

[swirvenirvin]

soccer and baseball IMO are more skill driven and need to play for a while.  You don't hear about some athletic kid just signing up to play baseball or soccer in HS and being a stud, but you hear that stuff all the time for football and basketball if they are natural athlete.   Just because you are a natural doesn't mean you can kick a ball or hit a ball

 

[AcerFC]

Why do you think that is?

There are a few factors driving this imo (no facts that I have)

1. Parents believe that if they start their kids out young in sports, this will lead to scholarship opportunities. Think about the sport that is most accessible to most people. Yup, soccer.

2. Because they start out so young in soccer, clubs will advertise heavily in the schools and papers to get you to come to their club. The travel programs that we have talked about in this thread charge a fee. For that fee, you get year long training which includes training sessions, games and tournaments (including winter)

3. By the time they are in middle school, the club teams tell them that they should not play for the middle school team. They also tell them not play any other sports (there are three clubs around here that I know of that do this)

4. The rec system in NY and NJ (from my point of view) has been decimated. As other have said, it is the place that parents bring their kids so that they are doing something and not sitting around all day. 

This leads to the fact that if you are not playing club ball, you will not build upon skills needed to compete for a spot on the HS team. I had to cut 5 kids from my team this year. When I asked them if they played any club soccer, they all said no. One kid said I played but quit a few years ago. The game is so much faster now then it was that the kids who take a year or two off can not keep up with the kids playing all year. It is unfortunate but a reality. 

So maybe it is cutting hairs since the rec system is not the same as it once was. But there is no way a kid can do anything but rec and make a HS team around here (***unless it is a school district that is lower income)

**** Maybe a better way to say it is that they wont be able to compete for quality playing time. There is a chance they can make the team depending on numbers from year to year

 

[Lehigh98]

Sorry that I got this started in Rags thread. I just started typing and it kept going.

Having said that, years ago, you could play rec until middle school and make the HS team after playing in middle school. You can not do that anymore. And that is my biggest complaint for youth sports. They want these travel kids to make a commitment year round, Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. Where is the ability for these kids to play other sports? I am a firm believer that no kid should specialize in any sport until they get to HS and can make that decision on their own. 

My daughter loved soccer. However, she wanted to try field hockey. She likes field hockey a lot more and might not even play soccer next year because it is almost impossible to juggle multiple sports with the time commitments. She is in 4th grade. She should not have to pick one at this point.

This is all driven by money like @CletiusMaximus just posted. Clubs can make money and look good by offering different levels of teams. But in doing that, they take away the chance to play other sports because of the time demands on the kids

If the kids don't want to play year round, don't play year round. There are several options of varying degrees of commitment around us and I would think for many other areas. We have one of those premier / academy / select places nearby, They routinely beat the other teams but also require that full time and money commitment and travel like crazy. I don't want to pay that much and my kids don't want to spend all their free time there.  

We play on the local travel teams because: I like the coaches, its a lower cost, there's an understanding that kids will (and should) play other sports.  We don't do anything in the summer.  Winter we have one indoor practice a week and play a game per week in an indoor league. In spring we share kids with baseball and know for conflicts several usually go with baseball because that's its main season.  Fall is the main soccer season and the only one where we expect to be the primary (but not only) sport kids will play.  My kids have a flag football league that they love and play fall, winter, spring when scheduling allows (and I coach that too).  They also tried baseball, basketball, lacrosse, whatever they feel like for that season.  We don't play rec soccer because its just frustrating to both me and my kids.

Having said that, years ago, you could play rec until middle school and make the HS team after playing in middle school. You can not do that anymore.

It doesn't matter if the kids are playing rec, travel, premier, etc.  The kids that are going to excel and make higher level teams are the ones that love the game and are practicing and playing with a ball at home.  Only a few hours of practice a week doesn't make anyone great at anything.  You don't have to spend thousands of dollars on a club team to be a great player, you DO have to work your ### off.

 

[Ned]

I totally understand/agree with the current system not being fair for the lower income kids, but I don't know that specialization is what you mean... I thought that argument was about being a more well rounded athlete vs. one that specializes in one craft?  

I fail to see how the kids that are in soccer year round are ruining HS soccer because they're shutting out kids that aren't as into it.  

 

[AcerFC]

I totally understand/agree with the current system not being fair for the lower income kids, but I don't know that specialization is what you mean... I thought that argument was about being a more well rounded athlete vs. one that specializes in one craft?  

I fail to see how the kids that are in soccer year round are ruining HS soccer because they're shutting out kids that aren't as into it.  

I dont think I said that. If I did, that is not what I meant

 

[AcerFC]

If the kids don't want to play year round, don't play year round. There are several options of varying degrees of commitment around us and I would think for many other areas. We have one of those premier / academy / select places nearby, They routinely beat the other teams but also require that full time and money commitment and travel like crazy. I don't want to pay that much and my kids don't want to spend all their free time there.  

We play on the local travel teams because: I like the coaches, its a lower cost, there's an understanding that kids will (and should) play other sports.  We don't do anything in the summer.  Winter we have one indoor practice a week and play a game per week in an indoor league. In spring we share kids with baseball and know for conflicts several usually go with baseball because that's its main season.  Fall is the main soccer season and the only one where we expect to be the primary (but not only) sport kids will play.  My kids have a flag football league that they love and play fall, winter, spring when scheduling allows (and I coach that too).  They also tried baseball, basketball, lacrosse, whatever they feel like for that season.  We don't play rec soccer because its just frustrating to both me and my kids.

It doesn't matter if the kids are playing rec, travel, premier, etc.  The kids that are going to excel and make higher level teams are the ones that love the game and are practicing and playing with a ball at home.  Only a few hours of practice a week doesn't make anyone great at anything.  You don't have to spend thousands of dollars on a club team to be a great player, you DO have to work your ### off.

Unfortunately, we dont have anything like that by us.

 

[scorchy]

I think a lot of it is just that there are roughly the same number of high school teams as there were 30 years ago, but there are more kids playing soccer.

Our local HS had 100+ kids try out for soccer this year - most had played travel or club for years.  So not only will rec players not make the HS team, but lots of the more "advanced" kids won't either.  

 

[Kafka]

Great example of what is wrong with USA Soccer at the youth level.

Maybe, but I still blame Wondo...

 

[scorchy]

I love our "local" travel team.  Only costs about $300 - $400 a year, they mainly play other teams within an hour drive, and then 4 local and 2 overnight tournaments.  14 of the 16 kids go to the same middle school and carpooling is easy.  It's made even better by the fact that they're pretty good - always fun to watch them beat some of the club teams that cost 5-10 times as much.

 

[ffldrew]

Kids in Colorado are foregoing High School soccer for high level club in soccer, College scouts don't go to high school games. And some girls are now heading to Europe to play club and foregoing college.  See Lindsey Horan  - http://www.ussoccer.com/players/2014/03/15/05/03/lindsey-horan#tab-2   She didn't play high school or college(played club with boys) - went to PSG in France. It's also happening in girls volleyball - and I won't be surprised to see a club system start taking hold in basketball - both boys and girls.

 

[The Gator]

Pyramid scams where the academy and select money is used to fund some of the premier kids that they invite to play for free.

You literally just described MLS

 

[AcerFC]

Kids in Colorado are foregoing High School soccer for high level club in soccer, College scouts don't go to high school games. And some girls are now heading to Europe to play club and foregoing college.  See Lindsey Horan  - http://www.ussoccer.com/players/2014/03/15/05/03/lindsey-horan#tab-2   She didn't play high school or college(played club with boys) - went to PSG in France. It's also happening in girls volleyball - and I won't be surprised to see a club system start taking hold in basketball - both boys and girls.

This is all over, not specific to one area. Academy players are no longer allowed to play in high school. This was mandated by US soccer. Many successful HS programs here are losing their top players to academy teams. 

 

[SwampDawg]

Unfortunately, we dont have anything like that by us.

That is what I see as a big problem from what I am reading here is a lack of a middle ground that seems to be in most areas between rec and what I would call premier travel. I'm fortunate that I actually live the next county over from Lehigh98 so we have very similar opportunities for our kids.  My son is on the local club travel team, they play in a league of other clubs in the county, most are based on school district so while you have variation in size it isn't any different then they will run into when they get to school teams. Cost is reasonable but much like Lehigh stated my son plays only soccer in the fall, last winter he tried basketball (not sure on this year) but he also played in a weekly Futsol league put on by one of the local premier travel teams just because he enjoys it. They do a weekly indoor practice in February/March and then play a 6 week spring season that is over early May. However many of the kids (mine included) play baseball as well since we are a small school district, the baseball and soccer programs have a good working relationship and try to schedule around each other, however both understand in fall your priority is Soccer Game/Baseball Game/Soccer Practice/Baseball Practice and in the spring it flips with baseball on top. We've got two "premier" travel programs within about 30 minutes, both do require year round commitment although we do have a friend that manages to play baseball as well but has to miss some games for soccer early in the season. My son is not interested in that commitment right now, he enjoys playing at the county travel level and still being able to play other sports and I feel it makes him a more well rounded athlete and keeps from getting burned out even though he plays soccer the most.  Now once he gets to 7th grade and you get into Jr Legion baseball which is more of a commitment he may need to make a choice which he wants to concentrate on over the summer/fall but he will likely still play both in school.

 

[El Floppo]

this thread certainly could have gone to crap really quickly... but it's turned into an informative and interesting look at youth soccer instead.

thanks obama.

 

[Wilk]

Drill dump...

[SIZE=22pt]Dribbling Skills Warm-Up Program [/SIZE]

Each skill builds from simple to advanced as players become proficient.

[SIZE=14pt]A. Basics[/SIZE]

(1) Tick-Tocks (see first exercise on:  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwsUBXrq9UQ&feature=endscreen

a. tick-tocks for time (count how many they can do in 20 seconds and retime throughout the season looking for improvements)

b. tick-tocks forwards, backwards, and rotating body in a circle

c. tick-tocks around a row of cones

(2) Toe-Taps (see third activity on:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwsUBXrq9UQ&feature=endscreen

a. toe-taps for time (count how many they can do in 20 seconds and repeat throughout the season to encourage improvement)

b. toe-taps forwards, backwards, and rotating body around ball (ball stays in place)

c. toe-taps around a row of cones

[SIZE=14pt]B. Dribbling for control and speed[/SIZE]

(3) Directional dribbling and turns

a. all players line up with a ball across a line and dribble from one line to another

b. dribble from one line to another, turn and come back

c. dribble back and forth across a 5-meter grid, turning on the line

d. dribble using designated feet (right, then left) to turn on the lines in the 5-meter grid. See second activity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6VoouYDsqA

Count how many times they can go up and back in 20 seconds. Repeat regularly for improvements.

(4) Figure Eights

a. for each player, place two cones 5 meters apart and have them dribble continuous figure eights around them.

b. count how many figure eights they can make in 20 seconds

c. figure eights with right foot only, time for 20 seconds. See first activity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6VoouYDsqA

d. figure eights with left foot only, time for 20 seconds

(5) Dribbling around a row of cones

a. make two lines of 8-10 cones (place cones further apart and use less for beginners and closer together for advanced players).  Run two lines simultaneously dribbling up and back around the cones, then ask them to do it as fast as they can.

b. hold a dribbling relay between the two lines

c. Use variations-- Try with just the right foot, then just the left foot (they will have to use the insides and outsides of their feet to do this). Can have a relay where each person goes through three times, once using both feet, then right foot only, then left foot.

d. Advanced variations:

• cut and catch (note video only shows this with 4 cones, more difficult with 8-10 cones spaced 1-2 feet apart). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7Ye6aLjbtg)

• drag and catch

• crazy cones

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSas8t5I7n4&feature=fvwrel

(6) Coerver Dribbling Series

introduce all skills very slowly, then speed up.

Basic Progression on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwsUBXrq9UQ&feature=endscreen

a. tick tocks

b. W’s

c. toe taps

d. sole rolls

e. pull push

f. baby V’s

g. triangles

h. stepovers

i. scissors

j. inside right foot--outside left foot; inside left foot-outside right foot

(7) Inside-Outside

(See last exercise above)

a. Practice this skill in place, then moving forward one foot at a time, then alternating feet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7UgW0WipFc&playnext=1&list=PL983B9C138B5ECCB4&feature=results_video

b. Moving forward alternating feet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVnkvqDwd_o&feature=relmfu

[SIZE=14pt]C. More Coerver Skills, Footwork and Moves[/SIZE]

A favorite technical dribbling warm-up series (Philadelphia U-17’s): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4aND2DD1Cg&feature=related

Good Coerver’s to try:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hr4SwdkrFA

Some moves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5_2WD1TGf4&feature=related

As as a member of the Pro Staff for one of Texas' biggest clubs, this post needs more love.  There's a gold mine in here.

For my U9s (or U10s or U8s), I start off every practice with 12 minutes of Coerver drills.  They take a while to teach in the beginning, but after a month I can go fast and each girl is getting 1000 touches on the ball in the first 15 minutes of practice. 

Then you can break out into drills, but much of the advice above is excellent.  No lines.  Ever. (unless they are resting). Keep them moving.  Every one of my 75 minute practices generally looks like this:

15 minutes individual ball mastery (Coerver type skills - toe taps, tick tocks, sole roles, v's, l's, etc.). I end with a new turn (stop turn, inside hook, outside hook, pull back, cruyf, etc) or a new move (scissor, stepover, lunge, matthews, maradona, etc.) that we'll focus on in the upcoming segment. Water break.  

15 minutes of some sort of dribbling (my fave one that is always relevant is setting up a Pug goal with a girl on each side of it...they have to race out to a zone between two cones 20 yards out and race back to see who can score.  It teaches dribbling at speed, it teaches a good turn that we learned ahead of time for that week at the tail end of the ball mastery, it teaches perhaps a move that we learned to demonstrate on the way out to the turning zone, and it teaches finishing into a small target).  Once they have that, incorporate skills (scissors, lunges, stepovers, matthews, etc) that they must do to fake out a cone set up halfway to the turning zone). We have three goals/stations set up.  Win and you move left.  Lose and you move right.  Girls all have a ball, are going at full speed, and are generally paired up against girls at their own level.  Water break.

15 minutes of some sort of passing. (my fave is simply "monkey in the middle" or "keepaway" with one player in a 7 yard box - who can't leave the box - and 3 players outside the box.  they must pass and move to form a triangle with 1 player on each side of the player with the ball.  Teaches quick passing, clean first touches, anticipation off the ball, and proper weight of pass.  If they are getting it well, i move the box out a bit bigger and move everyone into the box to increase the challenge.  Don't let girls dawdle on the ball.  Receive it and move it quickly).  You can also set up a simple "follow your pass" in almost any formation.  The bonus of monkey in the middle is it's fun.  Water break.

Last 15 minutes are a scrimmage.  Usually small sided (5v5 or however many girls we have that day) with no keepers.

At this age, I can usually tell a good coach by counting the number of balls in play per player.  As much as possible, it should be a very low ratio (1:1 or 2:1 and never more than 4:1).  They don't need broad tactical training beyond basic rudimentary positional responsibilities that ensure they are generally in the right place at the right time.  U8 and U9 players need two things only: They need to develop individual ball mastery, and they need to build a love of the game by having fun as a part of a team.

I can teach a 12 year old advanced tactics in 5 minutes that might take me 3 hours to teach a 9 year old.  Skip them.  In 7v7, play a 2-3-1.  Teach simple responsibilities for each position.  Never more than two responsibilities.  Maybe for a defender (stay pushed up but always behind the midfielders...stay together -never further than 10 yards apart - and slide from sideline to sideline in support of each other), a wide midfielder (you go from end line to end line but almost never cross the nearest goal post), center mid (put your best player here and let them roam a bit...first responsibility is defense.  2nd responsibility is to win the ball and look to pass the ball to one of the wide mids or forwards), and a forward (stay pushed up along the last defender and slide side to side in front of the ball to be an outlet for a pass).  For the first couple practices, I will set up cones in our shape, and walk to each during our initial 15 minutes of Coerver drills doing a couple skills and then briefly talking about each core responsibility while they catch their breath. Then on to the next cone and next couple skills.

Everything should be geared toward building a base of quality ball control, dribbling skills, and how to make and receive a pass and you're well on your way to developing a quality player.  Make sure they have fun, and you're well on your way to instilling a love of the game.

It seems simple, but 1/4 practice of individual ball skills (Coervers), 1/4 practice of dribbling/turning/shooting at speed, 1/4 practice of monkey in the middle, and 1/4 practice scrimmaging is literally all you ever need to do.  It's fun for the girls as long as you add little wrinkles to keep it interesting.  They'll get in 2000+ touches per practice focusing on things that are developmentally appropriate.  

You'll have some ballers in no time.

One more thing i do that's probably cheesy and won't work for many others.  I have a pink wristband I call the Super Wristband of Awesome Greatness - the SWAG - that i give out to a player who does our first Coerver drill the best for their own skill level.  Every time either I, or the current SWAG holder sees somebody do something good, they go give the SWAG to the girl that just did something cool.  I try to make sure everybody gets the SWAG at least once every practice.  Sometimes for doing a skill well.  Sometimes for doing something silly.  Sometimes for doing something sweet.  Sometimes for just highfiving a goal scorer.  The kids love it. The SWAG changes hands 20+ times per practice.  Everybody claps when somebody new gets it.