F.O.C.U.S.

Following

One's

Course

Until

Successful

A New Journey

I have not written much of late primarily because I have accepted the position of Head Coach / Program Director for Men's Soccer at Lima Senior High School.  To be perfectly honest, this is a position I have had my eye on for the last 7 years.  I have conducted summer camps for the program in the past and was an assistant coach last season.

What exactly appeals to me about coaching at Lima Senior?

First and foremost are the people. I met several former Spartans when they came to play for Grand Lake United. Not only were they seriously good athletes and solid soccer players, but to a man they were really good people from really good family's.  Then there is the fact Lima Senior is the only Division I school in our area and they play in one of the best, albeit top heavy, conferences in the state. In short, I want to compete against the best in the state and believe Lima Senior can do this.

I have debated these past few months concerning sharing this ride with the loyal readers of the CBA blog and exactly how to do so. I am not comfortable in doing an all inclusive behind the scenes look at a high school program featuring student athletes of 14 - 18 years of age. However, I do feel sharing our journey with you will be of benefit to other coaches and student / athletes making similar treks.

Coming off an 8-6-3 season, returning 11 starters and virtually every major contributor expectations are high. Add in the return of two very good players who missed last season and one would think those expectations would be soaring. Such is not necessarily the case though.

The Three Rivers Athletic Conference (TRAC) is home to three perennial soccer powers in Findlay, Toledo St. Francis and Toledo St. Johns.  To win a league championship Lima Senior will need to defeat these teams. To win sectional, district and regional titles Lima Senior will need to beat one or more of these teams in addition to other opponents of the highest quality in Northwest Ohio.

In past TRAC matches with the above referenced teams a pattern has developed that sees Lima Senior play well for long stretches before surrendering a goal. At that point body language deteriorates and the proverbial flood gates open.  To be honest, the Lima Senior Spartans have lacked true belief they are capable of playing with and defeating any of the three powers in the TRAC,

This is where our journey begins. How does one motivate a team to step outside their established comfort zone and expand their confidence, their belief that not only can they defeat anyone they face, but instill a belief they will defeat anyone and everyone they face?

This is not an easy question to answer, but thankfully we do have some real life examples to borrow from.  The biographical movie Patton is nothing if not a portrait in instilling discipline in the troops. From General Patton taking over a ragtag US II Corps who had had their collective asses kicked and turning them into a fighting machine to the forced march to relieve a besieged Bastogne where elements of the 3rd Army disengaged, marched over 100 miles in deplorable conditions and reengaged the Germans in just 48 hours.  We also have a present day savant in Jim Harbaugh whose culture of meritocracy and cauldron of competition has brought positive results wherever he has coached.  Both of these great leaders believe deeply in preparing for the moment. One of my favorite sayings is Failing to prepare properly is preparing to fail.  From proper preparation comes confidence. This is key.

I am working on instilling new levels of discipline, competitiveness and confidence in our program, but this is only part of the solution. The most important aspect of change being brought is in the area of player leadership and player buy-in to the changes. We have begun leadership training using Jeff Jannsen materials among other sources. There is no miracle snap your fingers "cure" available here. It will be a slow (and hopefully) steady progression of instilling discipline, instilling confidence, establishing trust and fostering buy-in.  We do need a sense of urgency as we go through this progress as the season is only 4 months away. When we finally roll the balls out for practice, we need to be ready to go.

AGOGE!

The training all young boys underwent in ancient Sparta was called agoge. It was all-inclusive and took place 24/7/365.  Young boys growing to be Spartan warriors were dedicated to this training to such an extent only the strong survived. The Spartan was one of the best warriors in the ancient world as depicted in the movie 300 where a small band held off thousands for days.

The school I am now coaching at has a Spartan for their mascot. Recently an athlete asked of me, "What do you think I need to do to become a better player just from what we have done the past two weeks?"

First of all, asking this question is a great start. My actual response to him follows.

I believe you must discover the WILL to prepare properly. Agoge was 24/7/365. Failing to prepare properly is preparing to fail. Once the mindset is correct, improvement will come at a more rapid pace. Until then explanations and excuses will continue to rule. The ability to be coached, to be receptive to coaching is improved when the body, mind and spirit are well rested and eager for the opportunity. Most everyone is enthusiastic for game day, but the truly great ones bring the same enthusiasm to training / preparation.  (Last night) you stated you began preparing for today's match "now", but the correct answer should have been "the moment last season ended." What will the bus ride be like today? Will you / we be focused on playing or will there be a lot of messing around and talking about anything other than the game? AGOGE was complete training - physical, technical, tactical, psychological / mental and spiritual.  The bus ride will conclude approximately one hour before match time. Is one hour sufficient to prepare for a match?  Buy a composition notebook at the Dollar Store and begin keeping notes on your preparation -what you drink and eat and when you do so. When you rest and for how long. Detail every practice - mistakes and successes, what you learned. LISTEN to the game, your teammates, opponents, referees, our athletic trainer, your coaches - they all provide information / feedback. Note the information shared. Write it down. Become a student of the game. The moment you move on from playing AT soccer and begin to learn to truly play soccer is when you will really begin seeing improvement,  You have the tools to build a stronger game. We have been and will continue to supply them to you and your team. But the decision to care for the tools and actually use them is YOURS alone to make. No one else can make that decision for you. Anyone can fill their tool belt with shiny new tools, but the carpenter I want is the one whose tools show wear and tear from having been used.  Bet you were expecting a litany of technical and tactical work? That's not what is missing from your game.  See you this afternoon.  AGOGE!

The response received back from the athlete was, "Yes, I was actually like in practice you always say back foot to me. I was expecting that but thank you. I will copy and paste these into a big paragraph and read it every day."

Will this athlete follow through?  I have no idea. More importantly I know I have no control over whether he does or does not.  I do care, but as life teaches us sometimes caring is not enough.  The decision rests solely with this athlete himself.  I am encouraged by the fact he sought help of his own accord. That's a positive first step. He's talking the talk, but will he be dedicated to walking the walk?

The Anatomy of Success

A young soccer coach trying to make sense of a disappointing season sought a blueprint for success  What is it that successful teams have?  What is the "it" factor that separates the mediocre from the very good?  The result of our discussion is more of a checklist than it is a blueprint, but I think we got it pretty much right.  I am also sure we have not reinvented the wheel.  Nonetheless, it was a good mental exercise for us and in the end a productive one.

1)  Leadership

It all begins with energetic disciplined positive leadership. There needs to be driven determination with a humble attitude.  And vision.  The leadership needs a vision for what the team should look like on and off the pitch.

2) Truth and Trust

There must exist an honest assessment of where the program is before plans can be made to take it where the leadership vision believes it can ascend to. There also must be honesty in the relationships between all members of the team.  Without truth there will never be full trust and the team will never play to its full potential.

3) Buy-in

Get the right people on board, then figure out the rest of the logistics.  There needs to be a collective effort to address the smallest details of the process. This goes beyond simple accepting or filling of roles. It necessitates embracing roles and a willingness to fulfill them to the greatest extent possible. You have to get the right people before you can get the rest right.  Coach, assistant coaches, players - all facing in the same direction with the same destination in mind. 100% investment.  100% commitment, These are the ideals. The closer you come to achieving these the greater your chances for success.

4) Accentuate Strengths

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes the focus on weakness outweighs the focus on strengths.  Identify strengths and place people in positions and situations where they have a reasonable expectation for success based on those strengths. Can we match passion with strengths?  Is their a willingness to sacrifice for the good of the team?

5) A Culture of Dedicated Discipline

There are no shortcuts on the journey to success.  When we look at the consequences of not doing the little things we realize there are no little things. Cutting corners in practice will show up in your play in matches.  A dedicated commitment to each and every detail of the process is a must. Accountability to one another and to the shared vision for the team.

6) Innovativeness

How individual and collective strengths are utilized. Break the mold to gain the most from each player, each unit on the pitch.  Create a system unique to the present team.  Freedom to explore the game on both individual and collective levels emphasizing strengths, passion, and the pursuit of wins.

7) Freedom

Each individual brings something to the collective.  There must be room within the disciplined effort to allow for individual initiative and expression of freedom.  We play for one another and that includes assuming different roles and responsibilities in the run of play.  The expectation is for positional responsibilities more so than who mans the position. Each small initiative taken by a player impacts every other player and leads to further initiatives being taken.  Only when a role or positional responsibility goes unfulfilled is there real danger to the overall process.  Encourage freedom while emphasizing with freedom comes responsibility. The more freedom, the more responsibility.

Team Rescue

On TVs Bar Rescue Jon Taffer works with bar owners to save floundering bars. The owners of the bars are aware their establishments are failing and that they need help to keep from having to close their business. This doesn't necessarily equate to the owners being receptive to the changes Taffer makes to rescue their bars. Even in the face of looming financial disaster there exists a resistance to change.  Taffer often speaks of first having to rescue the bar owners before he can rescue the bar.  Only then can he begin to retrain a bars staff and implement changes that will move the business forward on a new path to success. He is not always successful. A recent episode saw Taffer revisiting bars from previous episodes who reverted to their old ways after he had left.  Old habits can be hard to break.

What we do at Conceive Believe Achieve Soccer Camps is rescue teams.

Although we generally do not need to rescue coaches in the manner Jon Taffer rescues bar owners there are some similarities in what we do with teams to what Taffer does with businesses. We come in and help to retrain teams.  We break down bad mental habits and re-train player's brains to think the game differently than they previously have. In doing so we address technical and tactical aspects of play as well. As with any soccer camp experience their is a physical fitness component included in what we do.

As part of our camp program I do follow up visits with the teams during their seasons. What I find is much the same as Taffer finds when he revisits bars he has helped - varying degrees of success.  Some coaches and their teams take what we bring them as a foundation to build upon. They expand their overall games and enjoy great success.  Others struggle with practical implementation going through the motions but not fully appreciating or understanding what we have brought to them.
The buy-in is not 100%.  There have been on occasion a coach / team that revert almost completely back to their old ways ... with the same old results.

In the end, I think it comes down to discipline. It takes focus and hard work to remain disciplined in the effort to improve. Sometimes it is easier to slip back into a familiar comfort zone for no matter how unsatisfactory that zone actually may be, it is still comfortable in both its substance and its projected outcome. Positive and progressive change requires an acceptance of truth, an establishment of trust, a belief in the process and an expectation for greater success.  Not everyone is willing to make that investment in their future.

Discipline and Commitment = Bridges.

Discipline and Commitment
 

are the bridge between

goals and accomplishment.

 

Preparation is the Key to Increasing Pace of Play

It is better to look ahead & prepare than to look back & regret. -Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Soccer is a game that’s played with the brain. - Johan Cruyff

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. - Benjamin Franklin

Everybody has a will to win. What's far more important is having the will to prepare to win. - Bobby Knight

What the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve and those who stay will be champions. - Bo Schembechler

A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be - Wayne Gretzky

There are no secrets to sucess. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure. - Colin Powell

 

PREPARATION

 

Breaking lines is one our favorite warm up activities.

(See Emma Hayes of Arsenal's Ladies Academy demonstrate Breaking Lines here)

 

Why breaking lines? 

My analysis of our recent play revealed slippage in our quality of first touch and execution of the basic push pass. We were beginning to struggle possessing the ball despite improved tactical recognition. The intent was to sharpen our technique and by extension take fuller advantage of the improved tactical recognition I was observing. In short, I planned a practice to solve a problem we were encountering on the field as we prepare to play again this weekend.

The coaching points for breaking lines are centered around preparing to play and proper technical execution in receiving and the push pass.  I worry a bit when addressing fundamentals with teenage players as they often approach such activities with an attitude of having progressed beyond the need to work on basics.  Silly boys. 

As I watched the players participate in this exercise many of the quotes listed above began to come to mind. With a small group and by utilizing only one ball I was able to concentrate on individual players. Technical assesments ranged from very good to fair to below average. At times I brought forth the coaching points associated with breaking lines to both individual players and the collective group.

Coaching points, especially in this case, serve the purpose of helping players to solve the problem of self-inflicting pressure. There were fascinating dynamics at work within this group activity. Some players paid particular attention to the minutest details in an effort to hone their skills. Other players continued to make the same mistakes over and over again with little apparent interest in improving.  What I was actually seeing is varying degrees of problem recognition and problem solving skills being demonstrated by the players as well as varying commitment levels to the team and teh game itself. Some were taking to my suggestions, others were tweaking and adapting aspects of their play on their own accord. A couple just went through the motions of the exercise largely unconcerned with the fact the exercise broke down on their watch more than anyone else's.

As I watched the players who continued to struggle with the exercise it occurred to me that in at least one case the player would have been classified among the "biggest, fastest, strongest" players coming through the youth ranks. I make this point because he largely relied upon physcal dominance to be successful. He did not "need" technique at the younger ages because he could cover for lack of technical excellence by outworking almost everyone else. He put forth great physical effort and was handsomely rewarded with praise and results. Now in his teen years he is slipping down the depth chart despite continuing to give huge effort and doesn't understand why. He has been unable to solve this problem and until or unless he does he will continue to struggle.

I blame his struggles on lazy coaching during his younger years. No one held him accountable for learning proper technique. His youth coaches played to his strengths - size, speed, strength - without addressing his weaknesses - technical skill and tactical understanding.  They failed to prepare him for more advanced play. A result is this player does not understand or appreciate the value of preparation. By extension the huge effort he gives on the field is now far less productive than it once was in youth leagues.  In his case, it really isn't a matter of working harder, but a matter of learning to work smarter.

At one point during the training session driven, or at least lofted, service was required in order to work on directing balls taken off the chest. One player who is quite good with his foot skills struggled mightily in attempting to chest the ball let alone direct it where he wanted it to go. I am quite certain he is capable of doing so, but lack of quality service was a problem at least in his mind.  I watched time and again as the service to him went over his head. Granted he is one of our shortest players, but he never got to the point of adjusting and adapting his preparation to play the ball. If the ball was not perfectly delivered to where he awaited it, he would expend energy jumping or lunging  in an attempt to make the play as asked in the exercise. He never progressed to expending the same amount of energy in preparing himself better to receive the ball. For instance, he could have checked away as his partner was preparing to serve him the ball thereby allowing him more time and space to adjust.  Instead he chose to remain stationary and demand perfect service from his teammates. 

The season plan has been to extend our on-field thinking from one decision soccer to playing multiple decision soccer - a wordy way of stating increasing our speed of play. 

Preparation is the key consideration in playing fast soccer.  Before your first touch you need a plan for what you will do with the ball on your first touch and any succeeding touches.  Even before that you must anicipate the flow of play and "get in the vision" of the teammate who has yet to execute his first touch on the ball.  Why?  Because once the teammate looks down to execute his first touch he becomes blind to 99% of the pitch - he needs to know his options for play before he ever touches the ball just as you will.

In contrast, "one decision soccer" involves gaining possession of the ball and then figuring out what you want to do with it.  This is a serious means of self-inflicting pressure and slowing the pace of play for your team.  The thought process becomes "See ball. Win ball. Dribble Ball or Whack Ball." and results in a lot of 50 / 50 balls won but nearly as many created or given away. The ratio of physical effort expended to mental effort expended is completely out of whack.

As Johan Cruyff stated,  "Soccer is a game that is played with the brain."  Playing fast is about problem solving. It is about preparing to play in advance of touching the ball both in terms of receiving it and setting yourself up to execute a quality first touch as your play or leading into your next play.  Preparation to play is about expending mental energy moreso than expending physical energy although the physical component is equally as important in its own right.

Breaking lines... a simple, basic, perhaps remedial exercise incorporates all this and more. The emphasis cannot be on successfully moving the ball around the grid. That is just part of the process in improving the various techniques involved. The tweaks I make to the exercise to include checking away and checking back to the pass helps simulate the rhythm of the game just as the prescribed route of the ball helps to re-inforce the idea of having a plan for what to do with the ball before your first touch on it.  It is a little static in nature, but just as muscle memory is important in establishing proper technique so too is developing the proper pattern of play important to increasing the pace of play.  Scan, touch, look, play is much more effect than touch, scan, look, play.

Failing to prepare properly is preparing to fail.

Lack of proper preparation leads to slowed pace of play that results in lost possession which leads to expenditure of energy in regaining possession. It's a vicious cycle that requires huge amounts of physical energy especially in relation to the amount of mental energy being expended.  The one thing I seek to impart to the players is that soccer is a game that is played with the brain.

Soccer is a game that is played with the brain.

Soccer is a game that is played with the brain.

Soccer is a game that is played with the brain.

Build from the Back.

If you are reading this article to learn how to build an attack from the back, I'm sorry to disappoint you. There are several articles on the site that do cover that topic. However, today's writing is about filling out your formation beginning with the back line.

I have made mention on numerous occasions that I allow the players to run our halftime discussions. One reason I do this is because there are only two basic themes to talk over; 1) who is dangerous to us and 2) who is their weak link?   It is the latter of these that takes the forefront when I fill out a line up for my teams.  That is, I want a stout back line with no weak links.

As Sun Tzu stated,

Invincibility lies in the defense;

 

the possibility of victory in the attack.

Discipline

Discipline is The Refining Fire

 

by which Talent Becomes Ability.

 

Eleven Part Harmony

One of our favorite training games is a simple game involving a ball, a wall and 1 or more players. Our kids call it Slam! We use benches laid on their sides as a surface to pass the ball against. It can be a competitive game or a nice training tool that sees individuals setting personal records for consecutive touches. When playing as an individual I encourage players to listen to music, sing, hum or play a song “in their heads” to help establish a rhythm in their play. When harmony is established between body, ball and bench the number of consecutive touches add up quickly.

Pyramid of Success

I have seen several versions of this including one a coaching colleague, Paul Lee, shared with me on Hudl from the high school program he coaches in. I like the concept of using a pyramid as it emphasizes the necessity of a strong foundation required to build upon. This is the version I have adapted from Paul's for use with camps, clinics and teams I work with. To be honest, it is still evolving.  What might yours look like?

 

 

Success

Passion         Humility

Teamwork     Commitment     Trust

Courage         Intensity       Discipline       Perseverance

Enthusiasm     Respect      Belief     Confidence     Intelligent Effort

 

 

 

Opposing Principles of Play

I have published these and similar thoughts before. They are extremely important for both coaches and players to understand.  Consider this a short guide to transition from playing AT soccer to actually playing soccer.

Attacking Principles of Play                                  Defending Principles of Play

1) Penetration to score                                            1) Delay the Attack

2) Depth to stretch the defense vertically                2) Support behind 1st Defender

3) Width to stretch the defense laterally                  3) Compactness

4) Movement of Players & Ball                                4) Maintain Balance

5) Creativity & Unpredictability                                5) Discipline & Patience

 

Dennis Mueller's Daily Footwork Exercies.

Dennis Mueller had an Internet link to his Daily Footwork Exercises at one time.  The link I had is no longer working. If I find an active one I will post it here.

Daily Footwork Drill

FAST FOOTWORK

1. Inside Roll -- Roll the ball across your body from outside to inside with the inside and sole of the foot and stop the ball with the inside of the other foot.
2. Outside Roll -- Roll the ball across your body from inside to outside with the outside and sole of the foot and stop the ball with the inside of the same foot.
3. Side to Side Push-Pull -- Tap ball back and forth with inside of feet, push ball forward with one foot and pull it back the sole of the opposite foot.
4. Side to Side Step-On -- Roll ball to outside with the sole by stepping lightly on the ball, then tap ball back to the inside with the inside of the foot.
5. Side to Side Front Roll --Tap ball back and forth with inside of feet, push ball slightly forward then pull the ball across your body with the front part of the sole.
6. Pull Instep Push -- Push ball forward and pull it back with the sole, then tap ball forward with the instep of the same foot.
7. Pull a Vee -- Push the ball forward and pull it back the sole of the foot while turning and then take the ball with the inside of the same foot.
8. Pull & Take with Outside of Foot -- Push the ball forward and pull the ball back with the sole then push the ball diagonally forward with the outside of the foot.
9. Pull & Roll Behind -- Push the ball forward and pull the ball back with the sole of the foot then pass the ball behind the standing leg with the inside of the foot. Control the ball with the sole of the other foot. feet.
10. Pull turn --Push ball forward with one foot and pull it back with the other while turning toward ball and take the ball in the opposite direction with the inside of the first foot.
11. Inside of foot turn -- Push ball forward, move past ball and turn toward ball and take it with the inside of the foot in the opposite direction.
12. Outside of foot turn -- Push ball forward, move past ball and turn toward ball while taking it with the outside of the foot in the opposite direction.
13. Cruyff -- Push the ball forward, fake kick with inside of foot, but instead pull ball behind the standing leg and change directions.
14. Stepover Turn -- Push ball forward, step over ball with one foot, turn toward ball and take it in the opposite direction.
15. Full Sole Roll -- Roll the sole of one foot forward over the ball and to the outside so the ball stops against your heel. Turn and take the ball with the sole of the other foot with a Step-On.
16. Scissors -- Starting with the ball to one side, step over or in front of ball so that the ball ends up on the other side of you. Take theball in the opposite direction with the outside of the other foot and then stop ball with the sole of the first foot.
17. 360 -- Push ball forward, stop it with the sole of one foot while stepping past it, turn and drag ball back with sole of other foot, continue turning all the way around and take the ball with the inside of the first foot.
18. Kick Over ball -- Kick over ball with inside of foot then pull it back with the sole of the same foot.

What position do you play?

I often think about "Greg" who came to us as a varsity ready athlete as a freshman. It just so happened the varsity had an opening for a wing defender that year. Greg was physically gifted enough to man that spot. Through summer workouts and team camps Greg was worked with to prepare him for the role. He played as our left back during scrimmages and acquitted himself well.  If I recall correctly it was after our first regular season match that Greg came to the coaching staff and proclaimed "I'm a forward. That's all I have ever played and that's where I want to play in high school." Greg spent the next 3 seasons toiling away as a forward on the JV squad. As a senior he played forward for the varsity.I guess he was happy with his decision even as his coaching staff and teammates were not.

One might think "Greg" is an exception, but that really isn't the case.  I see this attitude on a regular basis.  In recent years I have had a goalkeeper who believed she was a center midfielder until it became clear to her that she was the teams 4th or 5th best option as a center midfielder.  I have had a defensive midfielder who insisted he was a forward. I have had a center defender who insisted he was a attacking midfielder. The commonality between all these players and others like them is a "me first" attitude.

Other players are more than happy to fill any role asked of them. Perhaps they have a different type of "me-first" attitude, one that serves the team. These are the kids that sacrifice the position they want in order to play and help their team by doing so.  In exchange they have almost always expanded their game and become better all round players. If one looks at the youth playing expeience of our national team players you will discover almost all have changed positions as they advanced through the ranks. I have to wonder about those who refused to change positions or stubbornly proclaimed they were "a forward" as Greg did all those years ago.

To paraphrase John F Kennedy, "Ask not what your team can do for you, ask what you can do for your team." 

It's such a great quote.  It speaks to sacrificing for the greater good. I think it is an indicator of the quality of "team chemistry" that is present in the individual and by extension the collective team. I believe it speaks to embracing opportunities instead of blaming obstacles. It speaks to an open mindedness instead of a closed mind. 

As a coach, give me the kid that wants to play. Period.  One of my favorite players of all time was a starting defender / center midfielder who when the need arose to train an emergency goalkeeper volunteered without hesitation to fill that role too. "Kevin" worked with the goalkeepers every day in addition to working as a center defender and center midfielder. His goalkeeping abilities improved to a degree that he would have sufficed in a pinch. Thankfully the need never arose, but I love, love, love the attitude and spirit!

My advice to players is this, if a coach asks what position you play, your response should be "I prefer _____, but am more than willing to play wherever you and the team need me to play"  and mean what you say.

The Price of Excellence is

The Price of Excellence is Discipline

The Cost of Mediocrity is Disappointment

Lasting Impressions of Leadership (updated)

A friend recently asked, "Good and bad, who were the most memorable athletes you have coached?" Surprisingly to me two names immediately came to mind, Morgan and Ryan, although Ryan I had not actually coached much at all.  The common trait between the two is leadership. One a negative leader who held her team back. The other an extraordinarily positive leader who raised his team to achieve more than anyone expected possible of them. Both strong personalities, but each with far different agendas.

Morgan was a good player on her team but clearly not the best player. She is also a megalomaniac. At some point before I arrived on the scene Morgan had realized she was not the best player and therefore would never receive the recognition or power associated with being "the star" so she did the next best thing. She became the best friend of the person who was the star. From that sidekick position she manipulated things to always be in and remain the center of attention even to the detriment of the team. It should be noted that Morgan considered it to be her team and often to referred to it as such.

Ryan was an exceptional player who realized he needed the team as much as the team needed him. He worked diligently to include everyone in the team, to make sure everyone knew their contributions, no matter how minor, were vital to the team's success. He sacrificed for the team and in turn was rewarded by and through the team's success. Ryan received numerous individual accolades but always credited the team for his success.

Both Morgan and Ryan recognized the power of effective leadership but took very different approaches. Morgan's was self-serving and quite destructive to "her" team while Ryan's approach was one of service to and for "the  team".  For obvious reasons both players remain memorable.

A good player does not necessarily equate to being a good coach.  Ryan was one of the top player leaders I have ever encountered.  As a coach, thus far, he has proven to be quite inadequate as a leader.  I myself am guilty of assuming his leadership qualities would transfer seamlessly from playing the game to coaching the game.  You know what they say about assume?  It makes and ass our of you (u) and me.  Such is that case here for I recommended Ryan for a coaching job based on his leadership skills as a player that included coaching on the field / in-game.  His first season as a head coach was a failure of substantial proportions.  The truth, trust, belief that he was able to channel as a player to those around him were absent in him as a coach.  At this point, I am unsure he is capable of becoming even an average coach.

Morgan?  I recently saw a YouTube video of her. It was about sky diving.  She needed one more credit hour to maintain full time student status. Her choice was to take a class on sky diving.  She displayed the same "me first" attitude as always in the video.  All about the attention being received instead of what was really at hand.  Once a megalomaniac, always a megalomaniac in this case.  No amount of giggling and batting the eyes can change the reality of that, imo.

Decision making and it's impact on the game

I have been mulling over how to approach writing an article about decision making in soccer. I firmly believe the difference between being an average player and a good or even great player is found in the player's brain, his decision-making ability. Beyond that, the team that makes the most good decisions (limits mistakes) exponentially increases it chances of winning. Decision making is such a broad topic though; on-the-ball, off-the-ball, defending and attitude are just a few areas of decision making that can impact the game. Put all these areas together and we come up with something called Soccer IQ.

Another way to look at decision-making is to think of it in terms of choices. We can decide between having a good attitude or a poor attitude, for example. We can decide to dive in or play patient defense waiting for the correct time to tackle the ball away. For the purpose of today's writing, I am going to concentrate on decision making when an individual is in possession of the ball. This may well turn into a series of posts and I will quite likely digress onto other decision making tangents before completing today's writing. Be patient with me.

From the individual in possession of the ball perspective the process might look something like this:

When do I shoot?
When do I dribble?
When do I pass?
When do I cross?
When do I play a drop pass?
When do I play the ball out of bounds.

I think there are some basic cues or guidelines that can be applied in a general sense. For instance, if a player is in position to take a shot on goal, he should shoot the ball. If he is not in possession to take a shot, can he make a pass to a teammate who is in a goal scoring position? Or if a player is facing his own goal and under pressure does he utilize a drop pass to preserve possession or does he kick the ball out of bounds to allow his team the opportunity to regain shape and defend back to their own goal?  And so on as we check down the list of options or choices listed above.

However disagreements can also arise about the proper course of action based on systems of play or even philosophy of play. Should I take a quality shooting opportunity when a teammate is one short pass from a better opportunity? Or with today's zonal defenses executing early retreats as a strategic ploy should I really dribble the ball through the open space in front of the backs when passing the ball advances it so much faster?

And what of game situations?  Do the same set of decision making guidelines apply when your team is up 5 - 0 as when the score is 1 - 2 with 10 minutes left?  Should the rhythm or flow of play impact the decision making process? If your team is under duress from the opponents attack should you attempt a difficult pass or perhaps whack the ball out of bounds to give time to reorganize?

I believe the correct decision when in possession of the ball will result either in a goal being scored or possession of the ball being maintained.

Even as I write this I am considering the message being sent for it sounds as if I am advocating a low risk, possess the ball strategy that we can easily recognize as being limited in its chances for success if success is defined as scoring goals and winning games. So, there is a risk / reward factor involved in the decision-making process. Yes, we love to utilize low risk possession oriented decision-making to lead to goals and this sometimes does occur. However, many times risks must be taken and possession put in the balance as we seek goal scoring opportunities. A proper balance must be struck and  the position of the ball on the field is of vital importance in determining this.

When in your own defensive third, low risk decisions are the norm.
When in the middle third of the field moderate risk decisions are appropriate.
When in the final or attacking third of the field high risk / high reward decision making can be utilized.

And then we have the decision for when to change the pace of possession.

When in the defensive third quick passing and or clearances are the mandate.
When in the middle third of the field where possession is secured and established a rhythm develops for the attack.  Slow, moderate or fast - it should differ from possession to possession
When in the final third the dramatic change of pace occurs as teams seek energy and explosiveness to goal.

I'm drawn, as I often am, to the wisdom of Johan Cruyff  who captures the essence of proper decision making with these two quotes:

"Soccer is a game played with the brain"

"Playing simply is the hardest thing to do"

I will leave you to ponder today's thoughts on decision making before delving further into the topic tomorrow.

Five Golden Rules of Soccer

Previously we looked at the 10 Commandments of Soccer and the 7 Deadly Sins of Soccer  so I thought I would present the Five Golden Rules of Soccer today.  As with many rules, there might be exceptions, but these are good rules of thumb to keep in mind when playing.

1) The key to scoring is controlling the ball.

This is true from both the individual (first touch) and collective (possession) perspectives.

2) Make sure your teammates know where you are or can find you easily.

It's all about support.  Constantly ask yourself, "Where on the field do I need to be in the next 5 seconds?"

3) Don't dive in!

Is it ever wrong to play contain or delay defense?  Remember the cues for when to attempt a tackle: if the ball is between the attackers feet you can be beaten to either side.  Wait until the ball is outside of the attackers foot prints or he misplays it too far away from his feet.

4) Receive the ball away from Pressure.

Use your first touch to change the direction the ball moving it away from pressure and out of the pursuit path of the defender. Receive the ball across your body whenever possible.

5) Keep your photo album updated.

Don't get caught watching the ball or the action around the ball.  See the whole field.  Constantly survey the pitch to know where your teammates are, where available space is and any danger the opponents might present.

Opposing Principles of Play

Attacking Principles of Play                                                 Defending Principles of Play

1) Penetration to score                                                             1) Delay the Attack

2) Depth to stretch the defense vertically                                 2) Support behind 1st Defender

3) Width to stretch the defense laterally                                   3) Compactness

4) Movement of Players & Ball                                                 4) Maintain Balance

5) Creativity & Unpredictability                                                 5) Discipline & Patience

Team Rules.

Those who have played for me appreciate that I do not have a lot of team rules. In fact, I have had only three stated rules for years now and am seriously considering cutting that number to one.

My three team rules are as follows,

1) Give the best effort you have on any given day. (Work hard)
2) Have FUN.
3) Don't piss off the coach.

In all honesty the third rule is more of a fun way to say "stay focused on soccer when at soccer."  Anyone can say "Rule #3" and the message is sent without the necessity to lecture or belabor the point.

When I have coached high school I have had to include a school's established set of rules or the"Athlete's Code of Conduct"  in my team rules package.  These will include policies on alcohol, drug and tobacco usage, academic requirements, proper care of uniforms, school attendance and the like.

Long ago I realized all these rules can be summed up with one simple word.  And it doesn't pertain just to rules for a soccer team, it works for life as well.

Respect

All rules revolve around respect.

Respect the game - the pitch, opponents, referees, spectators
Respect your teammates - players, coaches, athletic trainers, physical trainers, medical personnel, maintenance workers and grounds keepers, administrators, gate workers, announcers, scoreboard operators, concessions workers, bus drivers.
Respect your parents, family, friends

Just RESPECT the people who work hard for you and your team - you should do your part to help them do what they do for you.  Be on time.  Be prepared. Give intelligent effort. Take care of your uniform & equipment. Eat properly. Stay hydrated. Clean up after yourself.

In the grand scheme of things is there anything the one word rule of RESPECT doesn't cover?