Overcoaching is a *huge* problem in youth β½. Despite good intentions, it usually takes away player freedom and responsibility.
Ways to avoid it:
1. Use holistic activities (see below: attack+defense+transition)
2. Allow the game to be the best teacher
3. Let them play
π€
#TOVO
IQ βοΈ
βPlayers who play more unstructured football as children have been shown to possess superior game intelligence β essentially, the ability to anticipate and recognize situations during a game and make correct decisions under pressure.β (Williams & Wigmore)
Soβ¦.π
To
Congrats to πͺπΈ! My big takeaway:
Maybe training technique in rondos and positional play exercises is better than doing it in isolated drills after all.
The science shows it.
The logic shows it.
The results show it.
Now it's time for πΊπ² coaches to know it, own it, apply it. βοΈ
#SundayShare
:
-Game Model + Training Template
-Training Activities
The game model and training template go together, as training always relates to the game model.
Any activity can train (almost) any part of the game model.
Details can be added in the blank spaces!
π€β½π
What if we shifted the primary development pathway for youth β½ players away from private clubs / leagues and to public schools?
This could provide a much more systematic pathway, and it could alleviate massive costs to families.
Just a thought. βοΈ
"Put aside the technique. Put aside the tactics. Sometimes you just gotta get pissed. Sometimes guts and hard work get you championships." -post-game comment
The world is catching up because we insist on putting aside the technique and tactics. π€·π»
πΊπ² 1-1 π³π±
Okay guys and gals, next topic: the astronomical cost of USSF courses.
The main barrier for many to good coaching education in the US is that it costs an arm and a leg.
I get that it's a business, but...are we not pricing out good coaches from becoming great?
Should I try to get my C License or no? Costs a lot and
#TOVO
's better imo.
C License does come with perks. Namely, I'd get to tweet about it obnoxiously.
Not sure if C License is worth the cost tho, esp. bc I feel like I already do these "goals" well.
So, guys, have your say.
"tHoSe PlAyErS dOn'T eXiSt AnYmOrE"
Guys. Positional Play coaches do *not* -- I repeat, DO NOT -- coach individual dribbling talent out of their players.
Why and when and where to dribble are elements that we focus on, not just how. βοΈ
Itβs a sad fact but the Villa Grealish, Spurs Dele, Chelsea Hazard & United Rooney just donβt exist anymore.
And they wonβt.
Those types of talent catch a clubs eye and then they proceed to coach it out of them.
Hopefully you all like players who keep the ball & pass sideways.
@kellygrillo
I'm sorry, but that just isn't true. Here's a more recent book which shows the opposite. Silent, sustained reading, in addition to literally being part of our course standards, increases reading/writing fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, etc.
It's a very valuable practice. βοΈ
The laws of the game define its nature.
The game is its own constraints: ball; opponents; teammates; space; time; goals.
If you take away the constraints, you no longer have the game.
If you take away the constraints in training, you are no longer training for the game. β½π§ βοΈ
@coachcolton
Hey Colton, here are some games we use for our HS girls team. We coach a slew of different things in each one, but hopefully some of these might work for you. We've got both opposed and unopposed games.
Very proud of this team, my favorite one I've ever coached. It was such a joy to go to training every single day to watch these young ladies grow and enjoy playing soccer.
So excited to see what the future holds for us. But dang, sad this season's over.
Our Lady Rebels bow out of playoffs with our heads held high after a tough 1-3 L vs. a strong
@MHS_LPSoccer
team.
We close our historic season with a 7-10-4 record. Proud!!!
GOAL:
β½ Chambers
ASSIST:
π Stewart
β«π΄βͺ
#TotalSoccer
#WE
100+ hours later ... I've finalized this year's version of
#TotalSoccer
.
Inspired by
@_ToddBeane
and
@IJaSport
, this is our way of doing things in the TX Panhandle. This guide helps us teach and coach our athletes to learn, grow, and enjoy the game.
Ready for the new year. π€πΌ
I'm 30 today, which doesn't feel right at all!
Ten years ago my first coaching gig was my little sister's U8 club team.
@maggie_claire7
Fifteen years ago I could still run and play.
Twenty (plus) years ago I was just a kid with big β½ dreams. I'm basically still that kid. π
It's early, but last night we were cooking.
It's dang fun to coach and watch our team apply our
#TOVO
-inspired
#PositionalPlay
philosophy. Players are enjoying it too. βοΈ
Play Out from the Back β
Play Between the Lines β
Play Behind the Lines β
Principles of Play
On Full Display
12.12.23 vs. West Plains
π΄β«βͺ
#TotalSoccer
#NSSO
β½ COACHES:
How often do your players play "out of position"?
As a kid, I played:
-U11: RW/LW
-U12-16:
#8
-U17: LB/RB
-U19: ST
-College:
#10
-Sunday League (π):
#6
/CB
Does playing "out of position" help you better understand the game and give you more opportunities to play?
@Keepitonthedeck
Heavy touches...misplaced passes...mistimed tackles...
I produce this kind of form on a weekly basis for my Sunday League team, for what it's worth. π
Guys and gals, I'm taking a break from social media for the summer. βοΈ
I'm going to spend the time with:
-my wife β€οΈ
-my dogs π
-my friends π
-good books π
-the W World Cup β½
Slowing things down for the sake of my mental health. βοΈ
Functional and Phase Play Topics from the Advanced National Diploma. β½
Love that tactics interpret technique. (So, each technical action is "controlled" by a tactical intention in context.)
No separation between technique and tactics. Just prep for the whole game. βοΈ
π¨βπ«ππ
According to the ole stats, this was a really good *soccer* game. 450+ pass attempts by us, 400+ pass attempts by them. π€―
Even though it was 0-0, both teams really tried to play! βοΈ
Our Lady Rebels earned yet another clean sheet, this time vs. Lubbock-Cooper! Solid at the back. πͺ
CLEAN SHEET:
M. Watson ποΈ
Our center backs and full backs stood strong too:
-Te. Fowler
-B. Malone
-I. Meier
-R. Anderson
-T. Chambers
-M. Stewart
β«π΄βͺ
#TotalSoccer
#Together
@LethalSoccer
Don't forget that many players have club seasons/games immediately before/after (and sometimes even during!) the HS season...
...I know A LOT of our players are just totally exhausted at this point: physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Also, yes, coaches are equally tired. π
Today was Senior Walk day! My group went by Bivins, which just happens to be the school where my mom teaches. It was great to see you, Mom! ππβ½
Really enjoyed chatting with
@anthony_luca96
today on the
@TRCPodcast_
. Always fun talking soccer, coaching, and growing the game.
Keep up the good work, man! Looking forward to listening to more episodes and learning together. Hopefully this episode can be of use to people! β½
OUTSTANDING. What a great conversation with
@hutton_sharp
this afternoon, talking about Teaching & Learning and Principles in soccer π€π
πThe "A-B-C" (Find out more)
πObjective Principles
πFramework for Understanding
πQuestioning
πCategorising ambitionπ
πMental Health
The World Cup kicks off in 100 days!!
Of equal importance, just a few days later, is our very first Red-Black Game. π₯β½
More details to come. Stay tuned.
#TotalSoccer
#LadyRebelSoccer
@_ToddBeane
Hey Todd, you might appreciate this combination play out of the back which strongly resembles a 3v1 rondo!
A clip from our most recent game, a 1-0 W over a strong opponent!
Check out our AMAZING volunteers and our new banner at the
@THS_FB
Spring Game! Food trucks and vendors are here too. Come buy Tascosa merch to rep the REBS!!!
And don't forget to go VOTE!
#TotalSoccer
Our Lady Rebels got the job done in a tough game vs. Palo Duro! 2-0 W.
GOALS:
β½β½ Maren Peck
ASSISTS:
ππ Piper Lang
CLEAN SHEET:
β Mikala Watson (with Tessa, Brie, Trinity, Rylee, and Kenzee!)
Now firmly in second place in District. πͺ
π΄β«βͺ
#TotalSoccer
#WE
SURVIVE and THRIVE
Here are some goals / boundaries I've set for myself this school year:
1. No work at home.
2. No email after 5:00 PM or on weekends.
3. No social media after 5:00 PM or on weekends.
Getting better as a teacher/coach starts with having more emotional energy!
π GOALKEEPER APPRECIATION POST π
Our GK,
@Vict0riaMireles
, set a new program record for MOST clean sheets in one season. With tonight's 1-0 win, Vicky kept her TENTH clean sheet!!!
β«π΄βͺ
#TotalSoccer
#WE
Game Model Principle
#2
:
Pass out of the back to progress across midfield.
Here's one of our 21 pass strings (3+ passes) from our most recent game, a 1-0 W vs. Caprock.
Love to see these principles applied and our model translating to wins in big games. β½
Doing a new thing this year: a newsletter.
Fellow coaches, do you do some kind of newsletter for your parents? If so, what do you put in there? Have you received positive feedback?
Honestly LOVE partnering with parents who do what they can to support and grow our program. βοΈ
Amazing.
@lancelahnert
got to interview the guy who's had the biggest impact on me as a soccer player and coach, and maybe even as a person!
@ShaunChesterUtd
, great season, quality interview, tremendous coach and person. Glad to say I learned everything from you. πͺ
"Iβm prepared to change things. Iβm not stubborn about tactics. Formations are merely numbers. Itβs all about space and who is hurting us where. Thatβs how I view the game.β
π£ Emma Hayes
This year on Varsity we have:
-four seniors
-three juniors
-five sophomores
-eleven(!) freshmen
Each is a baller in her own unique way. Each is ready to enjoy it. Each is ready to
#WinEverything
#WE
β«π΄β½
All square vs. Coronado! Huge team effort to preserve a clean sheet. πͺ
CLEAN SHEET:
Mikala Watson ποΈ
Special shout-out to our center backs for standing strong in front of Mikala:
-Tessa Fowler
-Isabel Meier
-Brie Malone
-Makenzee Stewart
β«π΄βͺ
#TotalSoccer
#Together
SUNDAY β½ SHARE:
Wondering if my fellow coaches create / develop / coach a rigid game model (aka style of play, passing patterns, etc.) for their teams? Or is your emphasis to roll 'em out there and let 'em play? Maybe something in the middle, like a concept-based approach?
COLLEGE β½ COACHES:
I'm trying to help some of my HS players navigate the college recruiting process. Could anyone share your thoughts on player profiles and/or send an example?
Want to make sure I'm helping my players and not asking them to do something that doesn't matter...
Tascosa girls soccer head coach Hutton Sharp looks back on their success in district play, their expectations heading into playoffs and more!
#nc10sports
π¨CALLING ALL FUTURE REBELSπ¨
Join us NEXT Saturday, February 4 for our Feeder School Day games vs. Plainview at 12:00 (Ladies) and 2:00 (Guys). Come cheer on your Rebels and afterward have a chance to talk and take photos with the players and coaches!
β«π΄βͺ
#TotalSoccer
#WE
On. The. Up. π€πͺ
With last night's win, our Lady Rebels set some new team records:
-BEST overall record in 10+ years (5-8-4)
-BEST district record in 10+ years (2-1-2)
-HIGHEST district points total (8) in 10+ years
Still THREE district games to go!
β«π΄βͺ
#TotalSoccer
#WE
@IJaSport
Once at a GK coaching course the instructor asked what was good vs. bad technique
Everyone answered something different.
He simplified it for us: "Good technique is when the GK keeps the ball out of the goal. Bad technique is when the ball goes in the goal." π
I teach English 4.
Every year, I get students who haven't finished a book since elementary school. Many hate reading altogether.
Every year, most of my students read independently and finish a book. Many love reading (again).
So we celebrate that on their last day in class. π
My first season of Lady Rebels Soccer is in the books. Together we laid a strong foundation for future success. I am proud to have helped these ladies develop as soccer players, and I can't wait to watch this program continue to grow. GO REBS!πβ½
#TotalSoccer
β½ SUNDAY SOCCER SHARE β½
Yesterday was one of my proudest moments as a HS coach. We won 2-1 vs. a team who beat us 5-2 last year, and we did it by applying principles of our game model that we've worked on all year.
A thread π§΅...
I try to jump in and play during our training sessions about once a week to balance numbers and to stay in shape (and to show 'em I've still got it lol).
Jumped into 11v11 today and holy cannoli my fitness levels since turning 30 have rapidly declined. πππ
Why is ππββοΈ without a β½ so popular to train fitness?
We use games:
-1v1. Dribble across end line
-2v2. Combine to score in goals
-And so on to 11v11
High intensity. Train the whole player. Increase space. Add rest time. Simple.
Fit to play because we play. β½
β½ SUNDAY SHARE β½
A coaching framework we use to:
1. Define what good coaching looks like for us
2. Facilitate conversations about our strengths / weaknesses
3. Align our vision across multiple teams (V / JV for us!)
This is a work in progress, but it's our starting point!
A HUGE team effort sees us fall just short against an athletic Amarillo High team. All three of our seniors stepped up in a big way, including with our goal and assist!
GOAL:
β½ Selena Martinez
ASSIST:
π Piper Lang
π΄β«βͺ
#TotalSoccer
#WE
Is pass strings (3+ or 5+ pass sequences) the best stats indicator of good youth β½ teams?
May not be perfect, but could say a lot about technical ability of multiple players (not just one or two stars)/ tactical understanding of small groups/the whole team, etc.
#SundayShare
Interesting phenomenon: Iβd say that the vast majority of observers (including coaches) habitually overestimate the number of passes that youth teams string together.
Fellow soccer coaches:
The following thread is an extended series of quotes from an official US Soccer Coaching Course document. I'd like your thoughts on the quotes, if you've got 'em!
For now, I'll just ask...