A brief look inside our Pace of Play Camps

Combining the Keys to Pace of Play, Sequence of Touches and the Four Elements of the Game of Soccer are essential to playing fast soccer. This is a THINKING man’s game.

Keys to Pace of Play

·        Be in your teammate’s vision early

·        Know your next play before your first touch

·        Be a back footed player

Do not close your hips to the passer

Keep your hips open to as much of the field as possible.

Heels to touch when playing in wide channels

·        Play the way you face

Sequence of Touches – Two touch play with the inside of the foot. Toes up heel down only

·        Right / Right

·        Right / Left

·        Left / Left

·        Left / Right

The Four Elements of the Game of Soccer

·        Penetration

·        Depth

·        Width

·        Mobility

There's more, of course.  We build activities around these ideas.

What separates the good from the best?

Conducting  team camps throughout the summer months gives me exposure to a great many athletes. Each week a different location with a different team. I love the variety but at the same time each week can be much the same as the last.  Each team has a hierarchy within the player ranks. Over the years I have come to appreciate what separates the good players from the best players on any team can be summed up in one word - preparation.

There is, of course, a minimum level of ability within any team that sets a standard. For many teams this standard is remarkably similar. The difference in both individuals and teams is found in the intangibles  It is the intangibles that separate good from great and are the difference between a win and a loss.

Every team works on the same sets of fundamentals. Every player knows the basics. Not every team brings the same dedication to preparation.  Not every player will exhibit the same level of dedication to preparation.  Not every team or individual will define preparation in the same manner. We are talking about STANDARDS.

An individual player may spend countless hours on his own  preparing himself as a player but devote very little time towards being a teammate. He might shine on the ball but provide very little to his team off the ball. A talented group of individuals might never achieve to its collective potential because they lack team oriented intangibles. It is the intangibles that make the difference and this is especially true when teams are closely matched or when a coach must decide between which players make varsity or start games.

So it is that coaches should work to develop and accentuate the intangibles of both individual players and the collective team. When talent level is comparable it is the intangibles that make the difference.  And it's often not about the quantity of preparation or the quantity of effort given, but rather about the quality of the work being put in.

Every week I see players arrive early to camp sessions. It is  always the same individual or small group of players that arrive early for each session. In fact, as a rule of thumb, individuals of a team tend to arrive in a regular and specific order.  Early arrival itself does not make a difference. What one does upon arriving early can make a difference. 

Some arrive early to put in extra preparatory time before practice. This might be working on their individual game. It might be to work with a teammate or group of teammates on improving a specific facet of the team's game. It might be to help set up for practice so actual practice time is devoted to practicing.  

In the end, the players that stand out each week are those who  best combine talent and intangibles. These are the players who tend to win starting assignments and play the most. They are the ones who separate themselves from the pack largely through an intelligent dedicated approach to preparation. 

Leadership

Vision          Communication         Character          Competence         

Courage          Commitment

First in.....             Last out.

This video was shared with me by friend and coaching colleague Paul Lee. 

Jingles Bells, Soccer Balls... GLU (Grand Lake United) Style

 A few years ago I re-wrote Jingle Bells as a soccer song for the players on one of my son's team. It's all in good fun. Hope you enjoy!


Dashing down the field
On one v one breakaway
Into the box I go
Dribbling all the way

Strike the ball on goal
To the fans delight
What fun it is to score and win
Our soccer game tonight

Oh, soccer balls, soccer balls
Dribble all the way
Oh what fun it is to play
In a soccer game today, Hey!

Soccer balls, soccer balls
Dribble all the way
Oh what fun it is to play
In a soccer game today

A game or two ago
I thought I’d take a slide
And soon the other guy
Was laying on his side

The referee pulled his card
Misfortune was my lot
I gave up a direct free kick
The save the Keeper got!

Oh, soccer balls, soccer balls
Dribble all the way
Oh what fun it is to play
In a soccer game today, Hey!

Soccer balls, soccer balls
Dribble all the way
Oh what fun it is to play
In a soccer game today

There’s nothing left to do
For now the game is won
The victory belongs to Glu
So with your girls have fun

We start training in the morn
For champions never rest
Winners are not born
They work to be the best!

Oh, soccer balls, soccer balls
Dribble all the way
Oh what fun it is to play
In a soccer game today, Hey!

Soccer balls, soccer balls
Dribble all the way
Oh what fun it is to play
In a soccer game today

When excellence becomes tradition greatness has no limits.

Aristotle: We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

In 1954 legendary football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant was in his first year as coach at Texas A & M when he decided the team needed to get away from every day distractions on campus in order to concentrate on football. Off they went to what we would today refer to as a branch campus located in Junction, Texas. The area was in the midst of the worst draught in recorded history. On each of the 10 days of camp temperatures climbed to over 100 degrees. The conditions were brutal. Each day Coach Bryant demanded perfection and continued practicing those young men until it was achieved to his satisfaction. A group of over 75 young men began the camp. Only half of them completed the entire 10 days.

Pace of Play

A coach recently lamented he didn't have enough athletes on his roster to compete with the teams in the competitive league. Opponents were bigger, stronger and faster than his players.

Pele is 5'8"
Messi is 5'7"
Neymar is 5'9"
Romario is 5'6"

The point being made is simply this, pace of play is about how fast we can think this game we call soccer. One thing each of the greats listed above have in common with the other greats of the game is an economy and efficiency of touches on the ball.

In order to play faster we must emphasize the following:

* Prioritize Playing Fast
* Think ahead in the game by becoming GAME watchers instead of ball watchers
* Know your next play before your first touch
* Hone and refine your technical ability

Prepare to Play the Ball

*  If you wish to receive the ball from a teammate be in his vision early, before his first touch on the ball
* Ask yourself, if my teammate about to receive the ball wants to play one touch, where and how do I need to be positioned to receive that one touch play? Then get into that position.
* If I am expecting my teammate to play with two touches, which sequence is he likely to use and where and how do I need to be positioned to receive his pass? Then get into that position.
*  If at all possible, position yourself to receive the ball across your body keeping your hips open to as much of the field as possible
*  Know your next play before your first touch. Which of your teammates is moving to be in position to receive your pass?
** If your teammate about to receive will be under pressure you will need to move closer to him as his vision will be restricted.
** If your teammate about to receive will not be under pressure stay out of his space and open the     pitch up to as many possibilities as you can for him.

Shared Responsibility 

Pass the Ball to the Proper Foot.

* The proper foot is the foot furthest from defensive pressure
* A ball to which foot will help your teammate avoid defensive pressure?
* The foot the pass is played to is a cue for how the receiver should prepare to play the ball.
* If the ball is passed to the front foot (the foot nearest the passer) this is a cue that the receiver will be under pressure when receiving.  A self-pass or one-two combination pass with the passer is indicated.
* If the pass is to the back foot (across the body) this is an indication the receiver has time to play the ball away or turn and advance the ball himself.
* Pass the ball with proper weight or pace. A good rule of thumb is the pass should travel at a pace that would carry it 10 yards beyond the intended target.

The idea is to set teammates up so they too can play fast soccer. 

Attacks lose pace or completely break down when passes are made to the wrong foot,

* Give a pass you yourself would like to receive.
* If a proper angle is not available to make a good pass, don't make that pass. Find another option.
* If you must make that pass, pass the ball to where your teammate should be.
* When you pass the ball, pass information.
* Non-verbal communication is passing the ball to the foot of your teammate furthest from defensive pressure.
* Verbal communication might be a call to "Turn! or  "Man on!"  if your pass has missed the targeted foot. It might also include calls for combination passing,

Receive the Ball with the Proper Foot

*  Position yourself as you wish to play the ball
*  Read the pass and adjust your positioning according to the information the pass is sharing with you.
* If the ball is passed to your front foot (the foot nearest the passer) this is a cue you will be under pressure when receiving.  A self-pass or one-two combination pass is indicated.
* If the ball is passed to your back foot (across the body) this is an indication you have time to turn and advance the ball yourself or play the ball away
*  Play the way you face
*  Play the ball with the proper foot if attempting one touch play.
* The back foot if you are going to advance the ball
* The front foot if you are going to utilize a drop pass or one-two combination
* Play the ball with the proper foot for the appropriate two touch sequence of touches. This sequence should be predetermined before your first touch on the ball.
* Right / Right
* Right / Left
* Left / Left
* Left / Right
* Listen for information being shared with you by the passer and other teammates.

Communication

Pass the Ball, Pass Information  OR  Give the Ball, Give a Call

Both non-verbal and verbal communication must be with the best interests of the ball in mind.

* Body positioning of the potential receiver communicates to the passer which foot to pass to.
* The foot the ball is passed to communicates to the receiver where defensive pressure is coming from.
* Verbal communication from the passer communicates where defensive pressure is arriving from      and or what play is available to the passer
* Verbal communication might also be used to communicate a particular type of combination pass   and the timing involved in executing said passing combination,

All information passed must be useful, concise and convey information that will help teammates solve problems presented by opponents.

Pretend as if both the ball and your teammate about to play it are blind.  You must be their eyes. Do not lead either into an opponent,

Gimme Three Steps ...

Believe it or not the name of this Lynyrd Skynyrd song is applicable to soccer.

When your team is in possession of the ball you will be filling one of two roles

* Passer

* Potential receiver or passing option

When the ball leaves the passers foot he immediately switches to the role of a potential receiver.

*  MOVE!

* Three quick strides to gain separation from the defender who was pressuring you is the minimum distance you should move

* Before the pass you should have looked for a possible combination passing or third man running   option. Take advantage of these runs if available. Be sure to make the proper calls for your teammate,

* Space. Find open space near you and be in the vision of the next potential passer if possible.

Ask Questions of Yourself.

* If the ball comes to me now, what's on?  Know your next play before your first touch.

* Where on the pitch do I need to be in the next 5 seconds?  Be in your teammates vision early.

* Can the ball see me?  Position yourself in an open passing lane not somewhere where a defender is between you and the ball.

* Where is open space and can I get there OR can I communicate to a teammate to move there OR can I communicate to the passer to play a ball there for a teammate to run onto?

While this may seem overwhelming as to what must go into each successful pass and reception it is actually just the tip of the iceberg. I will post some additional thoughts on this subject in the coming days.  For now, take the time to digest this. Please, print it off and distribute it to your players, Yes, even the very young ones. This is basic information. Attacking Soccer 101 that we must teach and instill in our players.

The Gates of Hell

As the June tryout season for club soccer approaches questions about how to identify talent are pouring in once again. This happens every May and again just before high school tryouts in August. When trying out to play soccer one should be expected to actually play soccer in the tryout, imo. I want to see players in live action and under pressure of game conditions. A favorite small sided game to help identify players is called the Gates of Hell.  I have used this game with groups from U12 through U18.  It is a simple game. Very easy to set up and provides abundant opportunity to observe multiple players in a short period of time.

The grid size needs to be appropriate for number of participants, age and talent level of the group. For the purposes of this article will say 25 yards by 25 yards for 7 v 7 play.  On two opposite sides of the grid there will be marked "gates" identified by large cones or coaching sticks.

This is a continuous play possession game with the condition that if you cause your team to lose possession you must exit the grid through a gate, run around the entire grid and re-enter through the same gate you exited. It is best if all runners run in the same direction so designated clockwise or counter clockwise before starting the action!

The players who run the most are quickly identified as players who struggle to maintain possession of the ball.  These are candidates to be cut from the team or relegated to a second team.  You could leave it at that cursory level or you can look at little deeper at what is taking place in the action.  Left to their own devices the receiver of a pass that is intercepted or bobbled away will run. A closer look may find the pass was weighted improperly or was above waist high elevating the degree of difficulty for the receiver. Should the receiver run or should the passer run?  A pass might be played to the front foot of teh receiver instead of across teh receivers body to the back foot.  The receiver in this case must close his hips to the field making his next play very predictable. Is this the receivers fault or the passers fault?  So, something else to look for is recognition and ownership of mistakes made.

With so much running possibly involved, the popularity of this game is a bit surprising. Nonetheless, it is favorite of players. To ramp up the intensity we will add the condition of "X" number of consecutive passes completed by a team being equal to a point. Another condition is if the team in possession can complete "X" number of passes while the entire opposing team is running around the grid aditional point(s) can be awarded to the team in possession.

As a coach observing action in this game I look for players who properly prepare to play the ball before it is passed to them. Off the ball movement is a king consideration.  I also look for the players who are directing the action both in possession and when defending.  Which players execute defensively to deny options and approach with a bounce step?  Which players work to support the pressure defender. In short, I am looking for ball watchers, vision, communicators, organizers, soccer IQ as much as I am looking for application of proper technique under pressure. e Gates of Hell game provides ample opportunity to see all this and so much more in a short period of high intensity play.

Fear has two Meanings

FEAR has two meanings

 

1) Forget Everything And Run

 

or

 

2) Face Everything And Rise

 

The choice is yours!

Warming Up the Goalkeeper III

Stretching with the ball should be common sense. We want the goalkeeper to be comfortable handling the ball is a variety of circumstances and positions. Stretching provides a great opportunity to continue handling exercises.  Continue to stress the toes of both feet being pointed in teh same direction and down the field whenever possible during these stretches. We must develop muscle memory with this.

 

Three repetitions.  

Hold for a count of 10 

            - Toe touches holding the ball in two hands

                        - Right over left

                        - Left over right

            - Lunges holding ball in two hands

                        - Right foot forward

                        - Right foot diagonally forward

                        - Right lateral

                        - Left foot forward

                        - Left foot diagonally forward

                        - Left lateral

            - Trunk twists

                        - can combine bouncing ball on one side and catching it on other

            - Ball over head

                        - Lean left

                        - Lean right

            - Hurdlers stretch

                        - hold ball above toes

- On knees

-  roll ball forward using both hands until fully extended then back.

                        - Prone position

                                    - extend arms and raise torso, ball overhead.

                        - On knees

                                    - ball at feet/butt and lean over backwards.

                        - Sit ups with partner

                                    - catch ball on way down

                                    - toss ball to server on way up.

                                                - catch with both hands

                                                - catch with left hand

                                                - catch with right hand

                        - Jog

- The distance varies depending on time of season, when last game was played and when next game is.

 

Keeper Calls

C.B.A. Goalkeeping

 Keeper Calls

 

Keep it simple.

Keep it short.

Be clear, be loud and be forceful.

 

Every call you make must be a command and must convey confidence.

 

            KEEPER! – This tells everyone that the GK is coming for the ball.

            AWAY! – This lets everyone know that the GK is not coming for the ball.
 
            WALL!  TWO!  -  GK wants a wall with two defenders in it.
          
            LEFT! – Tells the defenders in the wall to position to their left..

            RIGHT! – Tells the defenders in the wall to position to their right.

  

            DROP! - Demands a defender drop the ball back to the GK to relieve pressure.

 

            GIVE! -  Tells defenders to give ground to deny "negative" space behind them and in front of GK.

            FORCE OUT! – Tells the defender to keep the ball carrier outside.

            STEP! – Tells teammates to step the opponents out away from goal.

            CLEAR! – Tells teammates to clear the ball.

            GAME! or GAME ON! – Informs teammates the distribution is being made.

 

 

Discipline is the foundation upon which all


Success is built.

 

 

 

Lack of discipline inevitably leads to failure.

 

 

 

What is your vision for the team?

I have a crystal clear HD Technicolor 3D movie with surround sound playing in my head depicting how I want my teams to play.  Often times players, especially players new to our team / system have a black and white static filled vision of how we want to play being received through rabbit ears antenna.  The process of coaching involves upgrading both the individual and collective teams viewing capabilities. I believe this is the accepted concept of how team sports work.

What if these roles are reversed?

There has been and will continue to be much debate about the value of high school soccer compared to club soccer.  For years, I have placed a greater value on high school soccer for the simple reason I had the student / athletes 5-6 days a week for 4 months out of the year.  In club soccer I had the athletes an average of 2-3 times a week for 6 months of the year. High school was the more intensive experience from both a teaching / learning perspective as well as from a playing experience.  Yes, club can afford the player / team more games, especially in the form of tournaments, but the club schedules can also have much less recovery time between matches. Again, especially where tournament play is concerned.

The team we had last spring played U19 and was the culmination of a 5 year building project.  Regular readers of this site will  know I have been torn about how the exceptional success of our club team has had a negative impact on many of our players when they returned to their high school teams.  My frustration stems from the founding principle and mission of our club to prepare area athletes for high school play.  Our team has indeed contributed to returning players with a higher level play to area high school soccer programs, but I never anticipated the problems that would arise because of this.  And ours was not the only club who contributed to what is a growing problem in our area..

"I have to dumb down my play when playing for my high school team"

"I cannot wait until club season" uttered early in the high school season.

"We know the system of play better than our coaches do"

"It's just a constant battle.  The club players are on one page, the coaches another and the rest of the team a complete chapter behind both"

"High school soccer is nowhere near as fun as club soccer is"

The above quotes began arising from our club players as they played for their high school teams. In one case, a captain of an MRL team was relegated to a junior varsity squad because he didn't dumb down his play for high school and therefore didn't fit into the coaches vision.  In other instances, players who played at the highest levels in club were held out of starting lineups or given diminished roles because they were not able or willing to assimilate their play to that of the high school team.

Somewhere in the process our (and other) club team(s) had transitioned to over preparing athletes for high school soccer. This past high school season my son Lance's team really struggled in part because the club athletes knew the system their coach wanted to play far better than the coach himself did.  Truth be told, the athletes had several years of experience in the system while the coach was brand new to the system.  Instead of relying on the players experience, the coach drew his vision from (black and white) books. Meanwhile the club athletes had been playing the system in HD Technicolor with surround sound for years.  The resulting battle of styles reminded me of the old tower antennas we had before the advent of cable or satellite TV -  whomever controlled the antenna controlled what could be watched on every TV in the house. 

The high school season was a complete disaster mainly because a shared vision for how to play was never agreed upon by coach, club players and non-club players.  Instead of high school coaches using their best players to raise the level of play of their teammates, the clubs players would (and did) say they had to "dumb down" their play to the level of non-club players.  This is a most curious thing that saw raw, but physically gifted work horses prized over technically sound players with high soccer IQ's.

I could not help but think of Johan Cruyff;

“All coaches talk too much about running a lot. I say it’s not necessary to run so much. Soccer is a game that’s played with the brain. You need to be in the right place at the right time, not too early, not too late. If it’s only about running, then you create a running game. I don’t think it is a running game. It is a beautiful game. It is about rhythm and dictating the tempo, and so on. Not only about playing forward, but about the journey the ball takes as it is moved toward goal. In order to protect the goal, you should protect the ball. That means you must be comfortable with the ball – first touch, shielding, passing, bending, shooting the ball. Isn't that the key, you don't have to win physical battles if you don't get into them. If the ball's always on the ground who cares if the kid's not good in the air. If you're not creating 50/50 balls you don't need the kids who can win most of them."

Simple words of pure genius.

The coaches on Lance's high school team championed the ability to win 50/50 balls and praised those that did so even as they created more 50/50 balls.  There was little to no consideration given to not creating 50/50 balls in the first place.  I wrote of this strange phenomenon in 50/50 Balls. Why some players are 1st to them and others win them.  A consequence of championing 50/50 balls was turning games into ping pong matches on grass. You needed to have your head on a swivel as the ball was constantly whacked back and forth up and down the field. I am fairly certain this is not the coach's ideal vision for how the game should be played, but it is nonetheless how his team did "play."

Teaching individual players and a collective team your vision for how the game should be played is not for the faint of heart.  Your commitment level to do so must be in the compelled range.  The real difference between the club teams and the high school teams is found in each coach's commitment to sharing and teaching their vision.  It is far easier to ask someone to dumb down their play than it is to teach someone how to elevate their play.  If the coach is not fully committed to teaching, then he will settle for something less than the best his team has to offer.

A big factor in this process is coaches who played in college believing they know more than their current players do.  The two most underachieving teams in our area are coached by former college players.  Why do they underachieve?  In part because the coaches do not listen to their best players.  Whether it is a lack of respect and trust, arrogance on the coach's part or a simple matter of teacher being intimidated by the intelligence and potential of players can be debated. What cannot be debated is the fact this situation should never arise and in fact does not arise in the truly good / great programs.

A head coach's coaching tree is often a good indicator of the confidence level of the head coach himself.  The confident head coach will surround himself with the best and brightest minds he can find knowing full well their time with him will be brief as they will be moving on to their own head coaching gigs.  (Think Ohio State football's Urban Meyer)  But in return, the head coach himself gains a valuable learning experience gleaning concepts and ideas from his assistants.  This type of assistant helps form and fine tune the coach's vision for how he wants his team to play. They help teach the coach's vision to players and bring focus to how the team plays.

Each season's coaching process should begin with one simply question;  What is my vision for how our team should play? The process itself is the work done to make your vision the collective vision of the team.  Input from assistant coaches and players alike is a prerequisite to solidifying the collective vision.  There must be a shared ownership of the vision. Only once a collective vision is determined and agreed upon can progress be made towards bringing that vision to fruition.  A program or team lacking an agreed upon collective vision is destined to underachieve. 

Space and Pace

My stated goal is to learn something new every day. This fall season has lead to bountiful learning opportunities. It is my hope that I have taken advantage of at least a modicum of these. Sometimes a lesson learned long ago resurfaces to be reinforced. One such lesson is the focus of this evening's writing. I don't consider this a lesson forgotten and relearned, but it is definitely a lesson that has returned front and center due to others not having fully learned it yet.

An old soccer adage says Space = Time. 

A new coaching phrase I will be rolling out is Space and Pace.

Ted. No, not the movie. Ted, A soccer coach.

I received a call from Ted recently. He was down in the dumps and thinking of getting out of coaching.  I had been expecting this, but still wasn't fully prepared to discuss this with Ted.  A little background may serve to bring things into focus for the purpose of this article. 

I have known Ted for years. He was a very good high school player who went on to play in college.  He was hired into a  good school system, but one that did not allow first year teachers to coach. They wanted their teachers to get a foundation in the classroom before branching out into extra curricular activities. When the head soccer coach position came open a couple of years later Ted applied and ultimately was awarded the job.

Now, Ted is one of the most enthusiastic people I know. To say he was excited about this opportunity would be an understatement.  He knew how he had been coached as a high school athlete and also how he had been coached at the college level.  His intentions were to bring what he had learned as a college athlete to the high school level.  He wanted to reverse engineer the college athlete and bridge the gap between levels of play. This is a notion I highly applauded as I believe too often high school athletes are under-coached in the sense that too little is asked of or expected from them. Even so, I cautioned Ted to be realistic.  I counseled Ted to take stock of where the athletes were and then look to the vision he had for how they could play.  In between the starting point and his vision was where all the work would need to take place. 

All these grand ideas and an overflowing fountain of practical knowledge Ted wanted to share with the high school players never really came to fruition. Ted came away convinced high school players were incapable of what he was asking of them.  In fact, Ted called because he was thinking of resigning from the high school position. He thought maybe he would be better at coaching college athletes.  I called B.S. on this entire idea.

Let's back track just a bit.  When Ted was contemplating becoming a high school coach and sharing his collegiate experience with younger players I applauded the notion.  I also suggested Ted evaluate where the high school athletes were and where he wanted to take them.  The process of progressing from point A to point B could then be defined.  I think what happened with Ted was he noted what he wanted to change but didn't take into account all of the details of process that would be necessary to effect that change. 

Another young high school coach told me last fall that my approach with club athletes would not work with a typical high school team.  Again, I called B.S. on this theory.  It has worked with a high school team. In fact, a high school team were my original "guinea pigs" for our current coaching methodology and system of play. I took a team that in 11 years had never had a winning season, was a sieve on defense and dominated on offensive by one player and turned them into a regional qualifier behind a strong defense and balanced scoring in our second season.

I did so in part by defining where the program / team / players were while knowing where I wanted to take them.  From our starting point we built a foundation in all aspects of the game that allowed the transformation to take place. We worked on changing a losing culture into a winning one while simultaneously implementing gradual changes to how we played the game and most importantly how the game was thought.  The critical element to this was empowering the athletes to make mistakes ... and learn from them. We did not pick apart their decision making process that led to mistakes. Rather, we challenged them to think differently, to find alternate solutions to the problems they encounter.  And maybe most importantly in this regard was the possibility of redefining the problem or obstacle they encountered to allow for a broader spectrum of solutions to be entertained.

That first year was brutal for me as a coach. We lost games we should not of lost. Or more precisely, we lost games that first year that we easily won the second year.  I was confident the transformation would take place while knowing the learning curve would be steep.  This is where Ted is at this moment. His season was a difficult one for him.  Progress did not come quickly enough.  There was resistance to some of the changes he implemented.  I don't think Ted realizes how close to a break through he might actually be with this high school team. I encouraged Ted to once again evaluate where the program is and where he wants to take it.  Could he identify progress?  Then once again identify a process to take the team from current point A to the point B he envisions for them.  

When a process breaks down I have found one of the best solutions is to back track a bit. Identify the problem and then identify the problem for the team. Discuss it with the team. Break it down to the smallest detail and begin reconstructing what it is you want them to achieve. Build understanding right along side of technique and tactical application.  Give them the small picture - all the little details - so they gain a fuller appreciation of the large picture or grand scheme of things through poise and confidence in the smaller setting.

For my teams, learning patience when playing out of pressure that we might be able to then counter with speed has been a focal point.  When I first introduce the idea of being a counter attacking team everyone thinks "win the ball and go!" when there is actually so much more involved if it is to be done effectively and efficiently.

I think Ted is going to give it another go with the high school team.  As we talked I could sense Ted beginning to understand he needed to define the process better not only for himself, but for the players as well.  The proverbial wheels were churning and enthusiasm seemed to be creeping back in as well.  For Ted the process seems back on track with a better appreciation or perhaps a deeper understanding of the necessity to TEACH the process of how to get from point A to point B.  I am confident that should Ted stick with it, he will guide the program ever closer to his vision for it.

Ballwatchingitis

The following is adapted from a handout I received from Graham Ramsay years ago.  If you do not know who Graham is, google search his name.  In short, he is an internationally known coach / clinician. Not to mention a good friend.

BALLWATCHINGITIS

“Ball Watching” is another phrase for losing. The more you “Ball Watch” the more likely you are to lose the game. When you watch the ball, the BALL gets bigger and the GAME becomes smaller.

 

On the other hand, “Game Watching” is very much about winning and thinking faster than your opponents. The faster we think the game the faster we can play the game.

 

Saper Vedere

 

 

Saper Vedere

 

Knowing How to See

 

This is a theme for my spring club team. So often young players here in the United States play with a primary focus of winning the soccer ball. So little consideration is given to ideas about what to do with the ball once it has been "won". This leads to turnovers or the creation of another 50 / 50 ball to be won. Curious this, why players work so hard to win the ball and then treat it as if it were the plague, eh?

So it is that we will spend the next few months reprograming the on-field thought process of our players.  My hope is to transform ball watchers into game observers. That we might progress from the closed singular thinking of one decision soccer based on winning the ball to an open minded creative and free flowing style of soccer based on anticipating the run of play through seeing multiple decisions ahead is the goal.

Know what you will do with the ball before your first touch on the ball.

Failing to prepare properly is preparing to fail.

Solve pressure as opposed to self-inflicting pressure because you don't have a action plan for when you gain possession of the ball.

Be a game watcher not a ball watcher.

These are some of the coaching phrases and points of empahsis we will be attempting to establish with our players in providing them with a broadened spectrum of knowledge based in learning to see the game differently.  We want to develop within them a deeper appreciation of the game by helping them learn to see more of the game being played about them.

Looking forward to the journey!

The way we choose to see the game

 

creates the game we see.

 

 

Playing quickly is all about allowing the ball to do the work for you.

Much has been written on these pages about playing quickly.  Playing fast actually has as much or more to do with the thought process as it does with actual physical speed. Learning to allow the ball to do the work for you is part of the maturation process youth soccer players go through.

The key is to give the ball and get the ball with efficiency limiting play to between 1 - 3 touches on the ball.

Holding onto the ball too long or taking excessive touches serves to draw defenders to you and allows others to organize their defense around you. Chances of losing possession of the ball increase expotentially with each successive touch taken. Excessive touches can also kill an attack by turning teammates into spectators. If a player is unwilling to pass the ball his teammates will become unwilling to put forth efort to prepare to receive the ball from that player. This stagnates the attack..

The key to quick play is being prepared to receive the ball at all times. Moving without the ball so as to be in the vision of the teammate about to receive the ball provides options. Having options for play leads to creativity and unpredictability in our play. Body positioning with hips open to the ball and as much of the field as possible before receiving is a king consideration. Having a plan for playing the ball before you receive it is essential. This will allow you to play the ball in one or two touches or take space if it is available.

In short, quick play in soccer is all about preparation to get and give the ball.  Purposeful off the ball movement allows for the ball to be moved quickly. It is all about allowing the ball to do as much work as possible for you.  A simple tried and true demonstration can be used to illustrate this.  Have two of your fastest players, each with a soccer ball stand at the center line.  On command have one pass the ball to the top of the 18 and the other run with the ball at his feet to the top of the 18. The pass wins every time. 

If before you receive the ball you know you will have space to advance into, by all means take that space.  However, it is important to recognize the purpose of taking space is not only to advance the ball but also to engage defenders or the goalkeeper - that ultimately we take space to give up the ball via pass or shot. We should seek to purposefully engage a defender drawing him in and then release the ball via pass or shot just as they are about to close you down and attempt a tackle.

Just as excessive touches on the ball by an individual player can slow play and break the rhythm of the attack and even that of the game, a team that shares the ball utilizing a minimum of quick touches will play hard for one another and establish a tempo and flow that can frustrate opposing defenders.  When the ball is doing a lot of the work it is not necessary to have great physical speed to play soccer quickly. As Johan Cruyff said, "Soccer is a game that's played with the brain."  Preparation, the speed of thought, the decision-making process and quick skillful execution utilizing the least amount of touches possible are the keys to fast play.

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.

Johan Cruyff on Running in Soccer and 50 / 50 balls

Johan Cruyff has stated: “All coaches talk too much about running a lot. I say it’s not necessary to run so much. Soccer is a game that’s played with the brain. You need to be in the right place at the right time, not too early, not too late. If it’s only about running, then you create a running game. I don’t think it is a running game. It is a beautiful game. It is about rhythm and dictating the tempo, and so on. Not only about playing forward, but about the journey the ball takes as it is moved toward goal. In order to protect the goal, you should protect the ball. That means you must be comfortable with the ball – first touch, shielding, passing, bending, shooting the ball. Isn't that the key, you don't have to win physical battles if you don't get into them. If the ball's always on the ground who cares if the kid's not good in the air. If you're not creating 50/50 balls you don't need the kids who can win most of them."