IMPORTING THE BEST IDEAS

Why is world soccer dominated by smaller and less affluent European and Latin America countries? There are many points of view and more explanations, but one consistent observation is that youth soccer in the United States needs drastic improvement. So then where do we begin? We take a step back, steal an idea or two from international rivals and embrace a new path in youth soccer culture and coaching.

TRAINING TECHNIQUES

Youth teams should focus on small sided games on smaller fields. This is a cornerstone of European training. Small sided games provide each player many more touches on the ball in each game. They also demand quick reaction time, fast decision making, quick transitions from attacking to defending, movement off the ball, and effective play under constant pressure from the other team. Small sided games on small fields are a perfect tool to combat the lack of large field space in urban environments. Futsal, which is typically played with a heavier ball indoors on a hard surface, is another small sided game that is severely underutilized in U.S. youth training. Futsal conditions only accelerate the game, requiring still quicker decisions and faster play. Wherever there is a basketball court, there is great space to provide excellent soccer training.

Hungarian, German and Spanish youth programs also place a premium on 1v1 engagements. This must be repeated over and over and over again until evasive skill moves are instinctive to the player.  Young players must work on executing skill moves to both sides, utilizing both their dominant and their non-dominant foot. This practice teaches the young player to play aggressively, to use effective feinting, and how to use space and pressure in executing and defeating skill moves in the 1 vs. 1 setting. Thousands of cycles are required for mastery of these skills and the development of the necessary instincts at speed to use them effectively.

BE QUIET!

The time for direct vocal coaching with young players is practice, not games. How does a young player learn to make good, quick decisions if her coach or her sideline is yelling at her to “Kick It!”, “Shoot!”, “Get Back!”, “Get Outside!”, “Get Inside!” or the particularly effective “Come On!” or “Go Faster!”? Who can think or react quickly, under pressure from opposing players, with parents or a coach yelling often conflicting directions at the same time in just the wrong moment? Let young players make decisions and mistakes, and then use those mistakes as teaching moments for better choices. A coach should use substitution breaks to give instructions or make corrections. But let players on the field, and particularly players with the ball, learn to think for themselves.

LET ME HEAR YOU!

Players, on the other hand, should be taught to communicate with each other on the field. A player with the ball and facing away from the defense is aided by feedback from a player who can see what is coming. Calls like “Man On,” “You Have Time,” “Switch” and “Check In” help a team work together and possess the ball more effectively. But this needs to come from players on the field, not coaches and certainly not parents.

COACHES GET TO WORK.

Coaching young players well is demanding and requires a great deal of time and effort from coaches. The techniques described above require many, many repetitions to be effective. Assign homework. Focus practice time on multi-player techniques. If a coach is quiet during a game, how are those teaching moments not lost forever? For high level youth teams, use video. 

Coaches of very competitive youth teams should make arrangements to video games, analyze game footage and send annotated video clips to the team demonstrating both good and bad decisions. Coaches must be creative and keep training sessions interesting. Coaches must work to inspire players. Kind coaches with high expectations do this most effectively. 

 A young player does not achieve what they think they can do or what the coach thinks the player can achieve. The young player achieves what they think their coach thinks they can achieve. Coaches must encourage their players, but they should not coddle them. 

 Coaches who do not have a great passion for soccer and teaching should find something else to do with their time. Coaches have the opportunity to transform lives and shape the character of young people. This must not be wasted.

Europe and Latin America have each shown through success in international competition that their ideas and techniques are effective. Let’s take those ideas, adapt them and incorporate them into the development of young players in America. We have no time to waste.

These observations are imported from Levente Toths’ article, ‘Youth Soccer In America: A Step Back To Move Forward’ published in United Soccer Coaches, ‘Soccer Journal’ March/April 2019.

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Who knows? By sharing your observations or experiences regarding these themes you may help improve the playing environment in some soccer communities… Priceless!!!

Thank you for your comments & clicking ‘like’

 Your FUNdamental, Koach Karl

Karl Dewazien, Emeritus State DoC for California Youth Soccer Association 1978 -2012

Author of the Internationally Published FUNdamental SOCCER Books Series

Producer of the highly acclaimed ‘9-Step Practice Routine’ DVD.

Internet/Clinician at www.fundamentalsoccer.com