Experienced Coaches Can Be Knot-Heads

After reading Mark Starr’s,” Success Story” and listening to the “Perfect Soccer Framework” podcast I felt obliged to share my experience…

Koach Karl, I want to thank you again for coming to the soccer wastes of Montana, imparting some of your knowledge to us. Even those of us who are “seasoned” coaches need to update our store of soccer knowledge learning new techniques continually. In that vein, I would like to say a little about my experiences with the “system” of practice that I have had over the last couple of years. Hopefully, others can see something of themselves in me and glean something from it.

You first came to our state a couple of years ago and showed us your flow chart, including the 1+1 and 1vs1. I attended your clinic and was impressed with you and your approach to the game.

 I had recently received my National Diploma from the NSCAA, and my soccer brain was filled with all the wonderful things I was going to teach my players the next season. I incorporated the 1vs1 in my practices (with U13 girls) that season and had success with it. All of the players by the end of the season had the confidence to take on an opponent 1v1 in our games and had success most of the time. We represented our state at Regionals that year in Albuquerque, NM.

You came again last February before our last season and taught us more about your system and coaching in general. I learned more, understood more but still had some hesitation about using ‘the Serve’ in the 1+1 segment of practice. I used the ‘Figure-8 Warm-ups’, and we went through ‘the Serve’ in our 1vs1 games. But, being the brilliant coach that I am, I didn’t feel that going through ‘the Serve’ every time was going to get my players enough repetitions in skills such as receiving the ball in the air, etc.

I worked with U11 girls this season and wanted them to learn as much technique as possible. The team was once again very successful due mainly to the 1vs1 work and better Small Sided Games (such as 4v0) that I incorporated into practice. They played very well despite a diversity of skill levels and won three out of the four tournaments they played. I was delighted with their progress.

Now, after going through your instruction for a third time last week, I realize the value of ‘the Serve’ in the 1+1 portion of the practice.

Yes, more experienced coaches can be knot-heads and set in our ways, but we learn eventually. I see now that the repetitions that I was getting in my partner-work were okay, but maybe not very “good” repetitions. In other words, it was not very soccer-like. I’m sure people will argue, as I did, that dribbling through cones isn’t very soccer-like either, but they are missing the point. The movement itself IS soccer-like and incorporating the idea that the back-cone of the pattern as an opponent is an important aspect. Not to mention the defensive footwork and subconscious “check” that occurs on the receiving end of the pattern.

Thank you, Karl, for having patience with me in learning and accepting the new ideas that you are bringing to our game. In addition, I would like to let other coaches who are experimenting with the system to be patient with it and tell their players to be patient with it. It will give them better results.

Coach Alan Tucker

NSCAA National Diploma

Koach Karl’s Notes: 

Thank You! Coach Tucker, for sharing your experiences with FUNdamental SOCCER!

I am asking YOU (the reader) to join this conversation with comments and questions; because your experiences may help other coaches improve, and that is what this discussion is all about.

 Finally, I pray that everyone is and will continue to be Healthy/Happy in 2021!

 Your FUNdamental, Koach Karl (Karl Dewazien)

• Emeritus State DoC of California Youth Soccer Assoc. 1979-2012
• Author - FUNdamental SOCCER Books Series
• Producer - ‘FUNdamental SOCCER -Practice’ DVD.
• Clinician at: www.fundamentalsoccer.com