Much has been written about the importance of establishing trust in the team environment. Perhaps all the sayings and slogans are cautionary in nature. Surely there are tales of betrayed trust that have taught the value of true trust. I have seen very little on re-establishing trust in the world of team sports once it has been broken. Coaches are fired, players are benched, cut or traded - seldom do we hear or read of succssful instances of trust being rebuilt. Broken trust destroys relationships. In the world of team sports the desire and time to re-establish a relationship doesn't seem to exist. Seasons are simply too short and emotions run too high.
As a coach I work extremely hard to build working relationships with the players on our team. I also work hard on establishng working relationships between players. The same is true for coach / player relationships with referees and even opponents. If trust is the foundation in all these relationships, then truth is the cornerstone.
In the world of team sports, truth is all about effective communication. When communication breaks down truth, and therefore trust, are put at risk.
How does one go about repairing broken trust in the team environment?
My mind is drawn to training where the introduction of pressure is gradual to allow players time to establish comfort and confidence in the aspect of the game being worked on. This is a luxury the fleeting time of a season does not allow for in addressing broken trust. It is a high pressure situation with immediate importance.
Think of the instances in your life when you have either had to ask for forgiveness or have been asked to forgive. Forgiving is not an instantaneous endeavor. It takes time, a concerted effort and a desire to heal the relationship. If we are frank with one another we will admit it can be easier to move on even if that means throwing away the potential of a season in doing so. This a sad truth of team sports.
There is no template for how to go about quickly repairing a broken trust. This is especially true when the time constraints of a sports season are considered. I believe an earnest effort must be made to do so. An effort based in good faith and belief that success is not only possible, but necessary for the team to succeed to its fullest potential. I have seen success when both parties put aside differences for the good of the team. I am unsure if these are rare instances or if the success stories are overshadowed by the pain of lost opportunities in the failures to be truthful with one another and re-establish trust. I do know the best course of action is to not betray a trust in the first place. Be truthful, even if the truth is painful. Just deal honestly with one another - a key to success in life.
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Showing posts with label 10 month soccer season. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 10 month soccer season. Show all posts
Wednesday
Friday
Single Forward Formations and Systems of Play
The 4-2-3-1 and other single forward formations and associated systems of play are the current trend in high school and cub soccer. I am seeing some teams employing these systems really struggle to score and others utilizing these systems scoring seemingly at will. Is there a common theme that separates the two?
Yes.
A friend who coaches college soccer believes if you are going to play a single forward system you must have an absolute stud playing forward. I do agree that this makes it a lot easier. Our spring club had two absolute studs to man the position. We could be a very prolific scoring team and rarely did we really struggle to mount dangerous attacks.
That said, it is my belief that you need an aggressive, disciplined, physical and speedy player to man the forward position in a single forward system of play. He does not necessarily need to be a dynamic goal scorer.
My son's high school team plays a 4-2-3-1 but is struggling to score goals. In my mind, the main issue is their two best options for manning the target forward position are not doing so. One is playing center back. He is a workhorse. Matthew played back to goal target for our spring team and did a really nice job. He's not the type who can receive and go to goal, but he improved his discipline throughout the spring season, is ultra aggressive and plenty physical and speedy enough to man the position. The second player is a foreign exchange student by the name of Geovanni. This kid is bigger physically, has a good sense about back to goal play and is a rugged player. Again. I don't think he has the skill set or pure speed to be a dynamic scoring threat by himself but he does create scoring opportunities and has an ability to get crosses off under pressure.
The player my sons team is using as a target plays back to goal well, but he is not the physical presence nor does he possess the speed necessary for the position. He is in fact a center back for his club team. Jack gets by as a target forward because he's smart. He plays the position with his brain and is disciplined in doing so. That makes him passable as a target player. It's probably not his ideal position though. And if we are honest about it, he is not a good fit for the target position in regards to how the outside midfielders are manning their positions in his teams system of play.
Ideally the central striker or #9 position will be manned by a player with the following qualities:
1) Great first touch
2) Speed with the ball
3) Ability to shield the ball
4) A solid understanding and command of combination passing
5) Technically and tactically sound passer
6) Ability to cross, shoot and head the soccer ball
7) An understanding of positioning
8) Competent decision making
9) An aggressive mentality
10) Supreme self-confidence.
11) A tireless and relentless work ethic.
No player is going to possess all of the above, but if you are going to run a one forward system you need a player who can fill most of the above with a reasonable degree of aptitude.
One of the first questions to be answered when deciding on a single forward system must be, does the team have a player who can play effectively as the single forward?
Yes.
A friend who coaches college soccer believes if you are going to play a single forward system you must have an absolute stud playing forward. I do agree that this makes it a lot easier. Our spring club had two absolute studs to man the position. We could be a very prolific scoring team and rarely did we really struggle to mount dangerous attacks.
That said, it is my belief that you need an aggressive, disciplined, physical and speedy player to man the forward position in a single forward system of play. He does not necessarily need to be a dynamic goal scorer.
My son's high school team plays a 4-2-3-1 but is struggling to score goals. In my mind, the main issue is their two best options for manning the target forward position are not doing so. One is playing center back. He is a workhorse. Matthew played back to goal target for our spring team and did a really nice job. He's not the type who can receive and go to goal, but he improved his discipline throughout the spring season, is ultra aggressive and plenty physical and speedy enough to man the position. The second player is a foreign exchange student by the name of Geovanni. This kid is bigger physically, has a good sense about back to goal play and is a rugged player. Again. I don't think he has the skill set or pure speed to be a dynamic scoring threat by himself but he does create scoring opportunities and has an ability to get crosses off under pressure.
The player my sons team is using as a target plays back to goal well, but he is not the physical presence nor does he possess the speed necessary for the position. He is in fact a center back for his club team. Jack gets by as a target forward because he's smart. He plays the position with his brain and is disciplined in doing so. That makes him passable as a target player. It's probably not his ideal position though. And if we are honest about it, he is not a good fit for the target position in regards to how the outside midfielders are manning their positions in his teams system of play.
Ideally the central striker or #9 position will be manned by a player with the following qualities:
1) Great first touch
2) Speed with the ball
3) Ability to shield the ball
4) A solid understanding and command of combination passing
5) Technically and tactically sound passer
6) Ability to cross, shoot and head the soccer ball
7) An understanding of positioning
8) Competent decision making
9) An aggressive mentality
10) Supreme self-confidence.
11) A tireless and relentless work ethic.
No player is going to possess all of the above, but if you are going to run a one forward system you need a player who can fill most of the above with a reasonable degree of aptitude.
One of the first questions to be answered when deciding on a single forward system must be, does the team have a player who can play effectively as the single forward?
Wednesday
Changes coming to NCAA soccer (and high school?)
See the full MLS Technical Committee Presentation detailing PROPOSED changes to the NCAA Division I Calendar in PDF format here.
I have been hearing rumblings on both the national and state levels of addressing the high school calendar as well. Most of these rumblings seem centered on NFHS identifying a unified soccer season for all high school play. Currently soccer is a Fall sport in some states and a spring sport in other states. Identifying a single season for high school soccer makes sense. And making that season inclusive of Fall and Spring may make more sense than making it Fall or Spring.
I strongly believe should a split season be approved for NCAA Division I, there will be a movement to do likewise in the high school ranks. It honestly makes sense for reasons outlined in the presentation linked above.
I have a concern a split season in high school will see the sport lose athletes, but also feel it is a necessary step to promote the overall growth of the sport in the US and would be most beneficial in helping the US bridge the gap between it's USMNT and the top teams in the world. In a sense it is a call for specialization in one sport at the high school level, but not an unprecedented one as many states allow for a period of spring football and fall baseball.
It is obvious to me the current high school / club structure is so disjointed as to be an impediment to fully developing and identifying young talent. NFHS and high school soccer through their national structure have within their means to seize control of the soccer scene and are much better equipped to promote the ideals of FIFA's fair play and development than are the various youth club groups where greed and politics rule the day and are often at odds with truly developing and identifying young talent to promote through the ranks. I'm not sure it will ever come about, but it is the best idea I have seen to date.
PROPOSED 2016-17 CALENDAR for NCAA DIVISION I SOCCER
I have been hearing rumblings on both the national and state levels of addressing the high school calendar as well. Most of these rumblings seem centered on NFHS identifying a unified soccer season for all high school play. Currently soccer is a Fall sport in some states and a spring sport in other states. Identifying a single season for high school soccer makes sense. And making that season inclusive of Fall and Spring may make more sense than making it Fall or Spring.
I strongly believe should a split season be approved for NCAA Division I, there will be a movement to do likewise in the high school ranks. It honestly makes sense for reasons outlined in the presentation linked above.
I have a concern a split season in high school will see the sport lose athletes, but also feel it is a necessary step to promote the overall growth of the sport in the US and would be most beneficial in helping the US bridge the gap between it's USMNT and the top teams in the world. In a sense it is a call for specialization in one sport at the high school level, but not an unprecedented one as many states allow for a period of spring football and fall baseball.
It is obvious to me the current high school / club structure is so disjointed as to be an impediment to fully developing and identifying young talent. NFHS and high school soccer through their national structure have within their means to seize control of the soccer scene and are much better equipped to promote the ideals of FIFA's fair play and development than are the various youth club groups where greed and politics rule the day and are often at odds with truly developing and identifying young talent to promote through the ranks. I'm not sure it will ever come about, but it is the best idea I have seen to date.
PROPOSED 2016-17 CALENDAR for NCAA DIVISION I SOCCER
FIRST ALLOWABLE FALL PRESEASON PRACTICE
August 19, 2016
FIRST ALLOWABLE FALL REGULAR SEASON CONTEST
September 10, 2016
LAST ALLOWABLE FALL REGULAR SEASON CONTEST
November 20, 2016
FIRST ALLOWABLE SPRING PRESEASON PRACTICE
February 24, 2017
FIRST ALLOWABLE SPRING REGULAR SEASON CONTEST
March 18, 2017
August 19, 2016
FIRST ALLOWABLE FALL REGULAR SEASON CONTEST
September 10, 2016
LAST ALLOWABLE FALL REGULAR SEASON CONTEST
November 20, 2016
FIRST ALLOWABLE SPRING PRESEASON PRACTICE
February 24, 2017
FIRST ALLOWABLE SPRING REGULAR SEASON CONTEST
March 18, 2017
LAST ALLOWABLE SPRING REGULAR SEASON CONTEST
May 7, 2017
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
April 29, 2017 through May 7, 2017
NCAA TOURNAMENT FORMAT
First Round: Thursday
May 11, 2017
Second Round: Sunday
May 14, 2017
Third Round: Saturday May 20, 2017
Quarter-Finals: Saturday
May 27, 2017
Semi-Finals: Friday
June 2, 2017
Final: Monday
June 5, 2017
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