I often recognize problems in the game of soccer before fully identifying them. I will allow that to sink in for a moment.
Soccer is a game that is all about angles. To play at the highest level possible players need to see as much of the game as possible. This is a fundamental truth of the game.
In watching our local high school team the last couple of fall seasons this has been driven home hard. They tend to play in channels which makes their play extremely direct. Now, I am not against direct play, per se. However, if a team's m.o. is to play in a single channel, they become very predictable. As I watched these teams play my mind began to scream "Change the Channel!" In this day and age of "pressing defense," remaining in the same vertical channel on the pitch plays right into the press.
(Hit the jump for the rest of the article)
Showing posts with label game intelligence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label game intelligence. Show all posts
Saturday
"Players taught to watch the man with the ball
leaves them totally unprepared for the next move,
which is always dictated
by a player without the ball."
Tommy Docherty
by a player without the ball."
Tommy Docherty
"The Doc", is a former Scottish player and manager. Docherty represented Scotland 25 times. He managed a total of 13 clubs between 1961 and 1988, including Manchester United and also managed the Scottish national team.
Monday
Freedom comes with Responsibility
We must not take our teammates freedom away by avoiding or abandoning our own responsibilities.
As a functioning member of a team each individual player has a role he must buy into and fulfill through his play. There are expectations for positions within a system and for the players that fill those positions. While we encourage freedom of movement on the pitch we also stress the increased responsibilities that come with such movement. In essence, we seek free-thinking game watchers. Some players eagerly embrace this concept while others really struggle before "getting it", if they ever do.
Those who struggle with freedom of movement and the associated responsibilities are the players who seek to infringe upon their teammates freedom of movement. These players tend to be ball watchers instead of game watchers. They follow the ball about the field with their eyes without seeing the game in its entirety. Their body also often follows the ball about the pitch without consideration or regard for their teammates. Essentially they steal their teammates rights to freedom of movement by avoiding or abandoning their own responsibilities.
The selfish, ball oriented player, takes their freedom of movement without accepting responsibility for the freedom they have been given. In doing so, they restrict their teammates freedom of movement. Teammates are forced to "cover" for the wandering teammate. The selfish player also transfers a greater burden of responsibility onto their teammates by ignoring or eschewing their own responsibilities.
One ball watching, ball chasing player can disrupt an entire system of play.
This cannot be allowed to happen.
As a functioning member of a team each individual player has a role he must buy into and fulfill through his play. There are expectations for positions within a system and for the players that fill those positions. While we encourage freedom of movement on the pitch we also stress the increased responsibilities that come with such movement. In essence, we seek free-thinking game watchers. Some players eagerly embrace this concept while others really struggle before "getting it", if they ever do.
Those who struggle with freedom of movement and the associated responsibilities are the players who seek to infringe upon their teammates freedom of movement. These players tend to be ball watchers instead of game watchers. They follow the ball about the field with their eyes without seeing the game in its entirety. Their body also often follows the ball about the pitch without consideration or regard for their teammates. Essentially they steal their teammates rights to freedom of movement by avoiding or abandoning their own responsibilities.
The selfish, ball oriented player, takes their freedom of movement without accepting responsibility for the freedom they have been given. In doing so, they restrict their teammates freedom of movement. Teammates are forced to "cover" for the wandering teammate. The selfish player also transfers a greater burden of responsibility onto their teammates by ignoring or eschewing their own responsibilities.
One ball watching, ball chasing player can disrupt an entire system of play.
This cannot be allowed to happen.
Saturday
"He was a player that hasn't had to use his legs
even when he was nineteen years of age
because his first two yards were in his head."
Glenn Hoddle
Tuesday
The Commitment Continuum.
I have read several of Jeff Janssen's books and one of the concepts that has really stuck with me is the Commitment Continuum seen above. I have thought back and applied this to teams I played on and to teams I have coached. Janssen has gotten it basically right. A successful team needs players in the Compelled and Committed ranges.
One train of thought I have followed is the value of the Commitment Continuum in high school sports. In the coaching groups I communicate with via emails this is a fairly constant topic of discussion. In general these discussions center on the value of athletes who come to the first day of practice well conditioned or where soccer falls on an athletes priority list.
Through the course of these discussions my mind has traveled back to the countless hours I spent working on fundamental skills on my own. At a rather early age I recognized the value of having similarly motivated players on my teams. I carried these ideas with me when I began my coaching career. One of my first priorities with any team is to identify the self-motivated player. If a selection process is involved I want as many of these players as possible on my team.
When coaching high school we are often called upon to work with whomever shows up to play. There will be compelled and committed players but also a lot, perhaps a majority, of players who fall lower on the Commitment Continuum. I have found for best results it is prudent to rely on the compelled or committed player over pure athletes who are compliant or existent on the commitment continuum. I will build my teams around the compelled and committed players and fill in the holes as necessary with the remaining players.
For high school teams I tend to give preference for starting positions to the players who also play club soccer. I choose to build my teams around the soccer players instead of the athletes. It's great when the soccer players are also great athletes, but this is soccer and so we should want those whose priority sport is soccer playing the game. I look at this as valuing game intelligence over athleticism. An athlete may play harder, but the soccer player plays smarter. The soccer player understands the game and need not rely on frenetic play to accomplish what needs to be done. The soccer player is more likely to play in calm and poised manner.
I once had a player on club whose high school coaches openly called him lazy. They complained that he did not often enough run hard nor exert the same amounts of energy as his teammates did. The fact of the matter is, he didn't need to work as hard as his high school teammates because he was always 3 or 4 steps ahead of them in his thinking of the game, his game intelligence. While his soccer teammates were off playing basketball and baseball or running track, this young man was playing an additional 40-50 games of soccer each winter and spring. Over the course of a high school career that equates to playing an additional 12 high school seasons. Yeah, I want that experience front and center on my high school teams.
There is no substitution for experience in the game and it is the compelled or committed players who will have the most experience and who will have accumulated the most game intelligence. These are the players who should be the foundation of your team.
Monday
Behind every touch on the ball
there has to be a thought
~ Dennis Bergkamp ~
Debbis Bergkamp is a former Dutch professional soccer player who had 79 CAPS with the Netherlands and is currently the assistant manager at Ajax under Frank De Boer. He came up as an outside midfielder, was moved to lead striker and then to the AM / second striker where he remained throughout his playing career. Bergkamp has been described as having "the finest technique" of any Dutch international and a "dream for a striker" by former teammate Thierry Henry
Tuesday
Many of our problems are because we act without thinking.
"I play very simply. That's what it's all about. Playing simple football is the hardest thing".
- Johan Cruyff -
I coach / watch a lot of soccer. Keeping track of how many matches I have seen this calendar year alone I am already at 273 matches - More than one a day at this point in time. Of course, the World Cup padded that total this year. I watch different age groups and varying levels of play. I am a student of the game. There is always something more to learn.
While watching a high school match last night I had a lot of thoughts bouncing around. The teams were of average ability and it was an entertaining match. The opportunity to contrast and compare to other recent matches I have seen couldn't be wasted and an idea slowly began to coalesce in my mind. Certainly not a new or revolutionary idea. More an old idea revisited and eventually expressed in a new way.
"Soccer is a game you play with your brain."
- Johan Cruyff -
The game of soccer presents a myriad of problems to be solved on both the individual and collective levels. High quality decision making ability is the single greatest skill for any player to possess. What came together in my mind last night was the merging of the two John Cruyff quotes referenced above.
In order to play simply a soccer player must be a good decision maker... and... limit the decisions he must make during competition. Players can create more problems for themselves to solve when they act (or react) without thinking. Perhaps a better way to phrase that idea is to say, players create additional problems when they do not play with a thoughtful purpose.
My soccer sermon in camps and clinics this summer was to "know your next play with the ball before your first touch on the ball." For a majority of young soccer players this is a radical way of thinking as they tend to gain possession of the ball and then attempt to figure out what to do with it - this usually involves going up the field toward goal defensive pressure be damned. Often a poor decision that self-inflicts pressure... or creates more problems to be solved than is necessary.
"Many of our problems are because we act without thinking."
- Coach Brown -
This is not entirely accurate, but it is a great attention getter at this point in the article. A more truthful statement might be to say, "Many of our problems stem from not thinking far enough ahead." In American youth and high school soccer there is a great premium placed on being first to the ball, but this is of little value if possession of the ball is not won and maintained.
Years ago I kept defensive statistics for a high school team. We tracked Interceptions and Takeovers (50 / 50 balls won). The team had to maintain possession before either an interception or takeover could be counted. This meant a lot of deflections went uncounted. One year a particular player was very adept at deflecting the ball but really poor in gaining possession of the ball. When the statistics were shared he was upset because he had so few. His parents were furious because they thought the lack of statistics would hurt their sons chances for post season awards. Lost in their thinking was the number of those deflections that resulted in lost possessions and 50 / 50 balls that had to be contested to secure possession. Being first to the ball simply isn't good enough if your play on the ball is not meant to gain and maintain possession.
Another coaching phrase used often in our camps and clinics is, "We want game watchers, not ball watchers." As I watched last night's match I was struck by how "active play" consisted of 2 or 3 players from each team in the area of the ball. The other 16 - 18 players were largely spectating. This is no way to play simple soccer! In fact, being a ball watcher increases the problems on both the individual and collective basis - it creates more, and more difficult, problems to solve than does being an actively involved game watcher.
Ball movement is predicated on player movement.
- Coach Brown -
Players who camp with us know this expression well. There are often light hearted chuckles from former players / campers when they hear me inform others of this truth of the game. It is a knowing and appreciative chuckle. They have been there, done that and now understand its significance. The appreciation is for the fact that when ball watching or spectating on the field the process can be described as thinking without acting.
Acting without thinking
and
Thinking without acting
produce the same results
In either case the athlete is self-inflicting pressure or creating more and unnecessary problems to be solved by himself and his teammates. Neither is an acceptable behavior or pattern of play if we want to play this simple game in a simple manner.
Failing to prepare properly is preparing to fail.
We think of this in terms of how we practice, how we train, how we warm up before a training session or a match. It also applies to every gained possession, every touch, every pass or shot. The player and his team must have a plan for play. Soccer is a beautiful game when played simply. Playing simply is all bout your approach to solving the problems presented to you in the game. If you are well prepared, have studied the game instead of focusing mainly on the ball, your chances for successfully solving those problems increases exponentially.
Sunday
Position #10 in the 1-4-2-3-1 and 1-4-1-4-1
Previously articles in this series:
The Goalkeeper
The Linking Midfielder
The Center Midfielder
Today we will take a look at the third point of the central midfield triangle in the 1-4-2-3-1 and 1-4-1-4-1 formations. Position #10 is the attacking midfielder.
The technical considerations for the attacking midfielder position are similar yet different from those of the linking midfielder and the center midfielder. The primary difference being creative problem solving and the ability to take on opponents with the dribble either to engage and create 2 v 1 situations or get in on goal for a shot. Excellent first touch and properly weighted short passes are mandatory components for this position. Cleverness with the ball and an aggressive attitude about taking shots on goal are essential.
From a tactical standpoint the attacking midfielder needs to be a master of creating and taking advantage of 2 v 1 or similar numbers up situations. Excellence in the short passing game is a requirement. Assisting on and scoring goals need to be of equal importance. This is the player that makes thing happen for himself and for teammates in the final third of the field.
Physically he needs to be a master at change of pace. Straight line speed is always help as is quickness but the ability to effectively use change of pace with and without the ball is essential. A low center of gravity and strength to combat big physical opposing backs are a must. This is an extremely physical position.
Psychologically this position requires a quick, creative, clever even devious thinker. The attacking midfielder must want the ball and always be actively seeking it. That means on defense as well as on offense. While we want creativity in attack the position also requires discipline and comes with a lot of responsibility when defending. He will often be the first defender or primary supporting defender when the ball is lost in the middle and final thirds of the pitch. There must be a great willingness to immediately and effectively transition to defense.
Attacking midfielders are the play makers in the final third of the field. They can excite crowds with their flare for the game or in playing the teams finishers in for goal scoring opportunities. Examples of attacking midfielders in today's game would include Iniesta, Gerrard and in the recent World Cup Bradley was moved into that role for the USMNT.
The Goalkeeper
The Linking Midfielder
The Center Midfielder
Today we will take a look at the third point of the central midfield triangle in the 1-4-2-3-1 and 1-4-1-4-1 formations. Position #10 is the attacking midfielder.
The technical considerations for the attacking midfielder position are similar yet different from those of the linking midfielder and the center midfielder. The primary difference being creative problem solving and the ability to take on opponents with the dribble either to engage and create 2 v 1 situations or get in on goal for a shot. Excellent first touch and properly weighted short passes are mandatory components for this position. Cleverness with the ball and an aggressive attitude about taking shots on goal are essential.
From a tactical standpoint the attacking midfielder needs to be a master of creating and taking advantage of 2 v 1 or similar numbers up situations. Excellence in the short passing game is a requirement. Assisting on and scoring goals need to be of equal importance. This is the player that makes thing happen for himself and for teammates in the final third of the field.
Physically he needs to be a master at change of pace. Straight line speed is always help as is quickness but the ability to effectively use change of pace with and without the ball is essential. A low center of gravity and strength to combat big physical opposing backs are a must. This is an extremely physical position.
Psychologically this position requires a quick, creative, clever even devious thinker. The attacking midfielder must want the ball and always be actively seeking it. That means on defense as well as on offense. While we want creativity in attack the position also requires discipline and comes with a lot of responsibility when defending. He will often be the first defender or primary supporting defender when the ball is lost in the middle and final thirds of the pitch. There must be a great willingness to immediately and effectively transition to defense.
Attacking midfielders are the play makers in the final third of the field. They can excite crowds with their flare for the game or in playing the teams finishers in for goal scoring opportunities. Examples of attacking midfielders in today's game would include Iniesta, Gerrard and in the recent World Cup Bradley was moved into that role for the USMNT.
MAP for Success
My eldest son taught me an invaluable lesson some years ago. While in middle school Grant carried some "baby fat" as many boys do before the fully hit puberty. I believe it was during his 8th grade year that he began to grow tall. That summer Grant had to have a tonsillectomy. Definitely not the way to spend ones summer when you are 14 years of age, but there was a side benefit - Grant shed all his baby fat and with the help of Tim & Tina Lones at F.A.S.T the transformation of his body in a few short months was astonishing.
Grant was blessed with average physical abilities. Not exceptional fast or quick his best attributes are strength and intelligence. That combination provided him with great endurance while on the pitch and provided me with the invaluable lesson I spoke of before.
You see, once in shape, Grant never stopped moving on the pitch. His movement was not that frenzied all out activity we sometimes see in players. No, Grant was simply in constant motion while on the pitch. Walking, jogging, loping, sprinting, backpedalling, shuffling... just constant movement. Maybe most importantly, his eyes and mind were in constant motion as well which made Grant an intelligent player and directly impacted the quality of his physical movement on the pitch.
The lesson?
MAP for Success.
Motion
And
Participation
For
Success
Grant was a game watcher at an age when most of his peers were still ball watchers. He had a coach at the U13 age level who made an indelible impression on him. That coach underestimated Grant. All he saw was a big kid who couldn't run well. Then, in a game where Grant had been inserted as a left back, Grant made a run from his own half to the back post to an attempted shot off a cross. The midfielders and forwards were nowhere to be found, but there was Grant at the back post. That coach chastised the rest of the team scolding them that if Grant could get to that ball, then the mids and forwards should have been there too. It was an overt reference to Grant's physical conditioning at the time. I had watched the described action unfold and knew that Grant had not outran anyone to the back post. He had not been a blur of physical speed on the pitch, but his eyes and mind had allowed him to anticipate the play while his steady pace put him in position to make a play.
Grant's junior varsity teammates hated him. Well, not really, but they did not like the "warm-up" runs Grant would lead them on as a Captain. Several players and parents commenting on these runs stated something to the effect "Grant can run forever" and there was more than one suggestion that he should perhaps consider cross country as his sport of choice.
Grant made up for average physical quickness and speed with endurance. Constant motion won out over short bursts time and time again and more so as the game progressed. Imagine if you will, a wing or a center mid never being substituted for in high school soccer. That was Grant.
Grant knew at what pace he needed to move and when he needed to be somewhere on the pitch. He used his eyes and his mind in conjunction with his feet and lungs to rarely be out of position. It gave him a distinctive edge over those who simply saw the ball and moved accordingly. Watch a youth... or even a high school soccer match... and take note of the players who are giving huge physical effort. Note that when away from the ball they typically stand and watch. When the ball comes near, when they believe they may have a chance to touch it, only then do they become active often times exerting tremendous physical energy. Then ask yourself, what if they had been in motion before that opportunity for a touch had begun to materialize?
I like to frame that question in this manner; What if that player were a game watcher instead of a ball watcher?
So it becomes a matter of timing the motion in pursuit of success. Motion, or effort, alone are not enough to bring you consistent success. One must participate fully in order to accentuate and take full advantage of ones movement. How one does so determines the consistency and measure of one's success... on the pitch and in life.
Some players are ball watchers and as such only fully participate in the game when the ball is near them. They are content to watch their teammates and opponents play the game when the ball is away from them. They enjoy success sometimes - they make a good defensive stop or score a goal but don't do so as often as their "talent" suggests they should. We hear those players, their parents and casual bystanders make comments like, "when given a chance that kid is really good".
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
When not taking advantage of the full measure of one's resources scoring a goal or making a great defensive play is a lot like that blind squirrel finding a nut. All the physical gifts in the world sans intelligent effort will bring nothing more than inconsistent and limited success. Whereas intelligent usage of all available resources will lead to sustained excellence and reward... in soccer and in life.
The question becomes, do you wish to participate only when you personally have something to gain or will you participate in the full measure of the game? Do you wish for a partial experience or will you immerse yourself in the entirety of the experience. Do you want full reward or are you seeking only the limelight?
Motion - constant and consistent. Predicated on what the eyes see and the mind interprets.
And
Participation - motion gets you to what you see. The more you see, the more you get to. The more you get to, the more opportunities for success you will find for yourself and create for others.
Success - is found in direct proportion to the intelligent effort you give. One must constantly maximize all of one's resources to their fullest measure as consistently as they can. This is the difference between spectating (ball watching) and participating (game watching and analyzing play).
For you kids out there today... imagine playing a video game with a broken button on your controller or being able to view only half the screen. You may have some success, even spectacular success, but in a limited fashion. Only by employing all your resources - a fully functioning controller and being able to see the complete picture can you maximize your success, right?
Grant was blessed with average physical abilities. Not exceptional fast or quick his best attributes are strength and intelligence. That combination provided him with great endurance while on the pitch and provided me with the invaluable lesson I spoke of before.
You see, once in shape, Grant never stopped moving on the pitch. His movement was not that frenzied all out activity we sometimes see in players. No, Grant was simply in constant motion while on the pitch. Walking, jogging, loping, sprinting, backpedalling, shuffling... just constant movement. Maybe most importantly, his eyes and mind were in constant motion as well which made Grant an intelligent player and directly impacted the quality of his physical movement on the pitch.
The lesson?
MAP for Success.
Motion
And
Participation
For
Success
Grant was a game watcher at an age when most of his peers were still ball watchers. He had a coach at the U13 age level who made an indelible impression on him. That coach underestimated Grant. All he saw was a big kid who couldn't run well. Then, in a game where Grant had been inserted as a left back, Grant made a run from his own half to the back post to an attempted shot off a cross. The midfielders and forwards were nowhere to be found, but there was Grant at the back post. That coach chastised the rest of the team scolding them that if Grant could get to that ball, then the mids and forwards should have been there too. It was an overt reference to Grant's physical conditioning at the time. I had watched the described action unfold and knew that Grant had not outran anyone to the back post. He had not been a blur of physical speed on the pitch, but his eyes and mind had allowed him to anticipate the play while his steady pace put him in position to make a play.
Grant's junior varsity teammates hated him. Well, not really, but they did not like the "warm-up" runs Grant would lead them on as a Captain. Several players and parents commenting on these runs stated something to the effect "Grant can run forever" and there was more than one suggestion that he should perhaps consider cross country as his sport of choice.
Grant made up for average physical quickness and speed with endurance. Constant motion won out over short bursts time and time again and more so as the game progressed. Imagine if you will, a wing or a center mid never being substituted for in high school soccer. That was Grant.
Grant knew at what pace he needed to move and when he needed to be somewhere on the pitch. He used his eyes and his mind in conjunction with his feet and lungs to rarely be out of position. It gave him a distinctive edge over those who simply saw the ball and moved accordingly. Watch a youth... or even a high school soccer match... and take note of the players who are giving huge physical effort. Note that when away from the ball they typically stand and watch. When the ball comes near, when they believe they may have a chance to touch it, only then do they become active often times exerting tremendous physical energy. Then ask yourself, what if they had been in motion before that opportunity for a touch had begun to materialize?
I like to frame that question in this manner; What if that player were a game watcher instead of a ball watcher?
So it becomes a matter of timing the motion in pursuit of success. Motion, or effort, alone are not enough to bring you consistent success. One must participate fully in order to accentuate and take full advantage of ones movement. How one does so determines the consistency and measure of one's success... on the pitch and in life.
Some players are ball watchers and as such only fully participate in the game when the ball is near them. They are content to watch their teammates and opponents play the game when the ball is away from them. They enjoy success sometimes - they make a good defensive stop or score a goal but don't do so as often as their "talent" suggests they should. We hear those players, their parents and casual bystanders make comments like, "when given a chance that kid is really good".
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
When not taking advantage of the full measure of one's resources scoring a goal or making a great defensive play is a lot like that blind squirrel finding a nut. All the physical gifts in the world sans intelligent effort will bring nothing more than inconsistent and limited success. Whereas intelligent usage of all available resources will lead to sustained excellence and reward... in soccer and in life.
The question becomes, do you wish to participate only when you personally have something to gain or will you participate in the full measure of the game? Do you wish for a partial experience or will you immerse yourself in the entirety of the experience. Do you want full reward or are you seeking only the limelight?
Motion - constant and consistent. Predicated on what the eyes see and the mind interprets.
And
Participation - motion gets you to what you see. The more you see, the more you get to. The more you get to, the more opportunities for success you will find for yourself and create for others.
Success - is found in direct proportion to the intelligent effort you give. One must constantly maximize all of one's resources to their fullest measure as consistently as they can. This is the difference between spectating (ball watching) and participating (game watching and analyzing play).
For you kids out there today... imagine playing a video game with a broken button on your controller or being able to view only half the screen. You may have some success, even spectacular success, but in a limited fashion. Only by employing all your resources - a fully functioning controller and being able to see the complete picture can you maximize your success, right?
Monday
One of the tougher aspects of coaching.
Coaches in general often think they can "coach up" anyone and make them a contributing member of a team. In most cases the object of their attention is the would be star with a horrible attitude. This is not always the case though. I myself am in the midst of trying to figure out how to coach up a young man who is good kid and loyal to our team. Yet over the last 3 springs he has fallen behind his teammates in his development.
Players all develop at different rates but rarely does the disparity grow to this extent. "Mark" is basically the same player he was three seasons ago. Individual player rankings of our team from years ago would have found Mark middle of the pack. Now, Mark is the last player on a 19 man roster.
I have the power to cut Mark from the team, but have been reluctant to do so for a number of reasons. Family friend, attends the same high school as my son, he's very athletic and in a way he needs soccer and perhaps more specifically, this team. This is one I am loath to give up on and so I continue to try.
One of the tougher aspects of coaching is recognizing when to let go of a favorite player. I know Mark cannot compete with his current teammates. He lacks game vision to an extraordinary degree. This is undoubtedly related to the fact he learns differently than most. I feel I have failed Mark as I have not discovered a way to properly teach him. It is not that Mark is incapable of learning - he is a bright intelligent young man. He's just not catching on as his teammates have and continue to do.
Keeping him with this team would be a disservice to his teammates especially if there is an expectation on Mark's part that he would receive playing time commensurate with that of his teammates. Mark is the weak link on the pitch when he's in the game.
Now, in fairness, Mark is playing up an age group with this team. When that decision was first made 4 years ago, this was appropriate for Mark. As time has passed and his teammates have left him behind, this team is no longer appropriate for Mark to be on. His teammates have been patient, understanding and helpful. Many have tried to mentor him and help him develop his game further with the same frustrating results I have had. Mark's teammates appreciate he does not belong with this team and it's beginning to show as Mark continues to struggle with his play.
As coaches we know there is always that one player who, because their level of play is lacking, breakdown every exercise. They are the one who always loses possession of the ball for their team often by self-inflicting pressure. They are the one that opponents always seek to isolate and take advantage of because they lack self-discipline and will repeatedly stab or dive in effectively eliminating themselves from play. Mark has become that player on this team.
Thankfully, there is another option for Mark. We will field a "B" team this next season. Previous attempts to move Mark down to his own age group have been met with emotional responses. This is not unexpected, but the degree to which it manifested itself was. Mark and his family essentially gave me an ultimatum that he either plays with our team or he won't be playing at all. I am hopeful the idea of still playing up but doing so on the "B" team will be palatable to Mark and his family. He needs to play and will not get that chance with the "A" team. With the "B" team he should play the majority of each match.
If Mark and his family are not agreeable to this, I will have to accept the challenge of their ultimatum and cut him from the team. Even if that means he will not play soccer at all. What it comes down to is the necessity of doing what is best for the team with an understanding that no one person is more important than the collective team.
I am making one last attempt to bring Mark up to speed with this team. If it is unsuccessful, I will move him to the "B" team and continue working with him in that setting. I will need to take a step back from where that group from where the "A" team is now. I am hopeful "re-taking" a season of soccer lessons will be enough to help Mark develop his game further. As a coach, this is my "Hail Mary" attempt to reach Mark. I pray that it works.
Players all develop at different rates but rarely does the disparity grow to this extent. "Mark" is basically the same player he was three seasons ago. Individual player rankings of our team from years ago would have found Mark middle of the pack. Now, Mark is the last player on a 19 man roster.
I have the power to cut Mark from the team, but have been reluctant to do so for a number of reasons. Family friend, attends the same high school as my son, he's very athletic and in a way he needs soccer and perhaps more specifically, this team. This is one I am loath to give up on and so I continue to try.
One of the tougher aspects of coaching is recognizing when to let go of a favorite player. I know Mark cannot compete with his current teammates. He lacks game vision to an extraordinary degree. This is undoubtedly related to the fact he learns differently than most. I feel I have failed Mark as I have not discovered a way to properly teach him. It is not that Mark is incapable of learning - he is a bright intelligent young man. He's just not catching on as his teammates have and continue to do.
Keeping him with this team would be a disservice to his teammates especially if there is an expectation on Mark's part that he would receive playing time commensurate with that of his teammates. Mark is the weak link on the pitch when he's in the game.
Now, in fairness, Mark is playing up an age group with this team. When that decision was first made 4 years ago, this was appropriate for Mark. As time has passed and his teammates have left him behind, this team is no longer appropriate for Mark to be on. His teammates have been patient, understanding and helpful. Many have tried to mentor him and help him develop his game further with the same frustrating results I have had. Mark's teammates appreciate he does not belong with this team and it's beginning to show as Mark continues to struggle with his play.
As coaches we know there is always that one player who, because their level of play is lacking, breakdown every exercise. They are the one who always loses possession of the ball for their team often by self-inflicting pressure. They are the one that opponents always seek to isolate and take advantage of because they lack self-discipline and will repeatedly stab or dive in effectively eliminating themselves from play. Mark has become that player on this team.
Thankfully, there is another option for Mark. We will field a "B" team this next season. Previous attempts to move Mark down to his own age group have been met with emotional responses. This is not unexpected, but the degree to which it manifested itself was. Mark and his family essentially gave me an ultimatum that he either plays with our team or he won't be playing at all. I am hopeful the idea of still playing up but doing so on the "B" team will be palatable to Mark and his family. He needs to play and will not get that chance with the "A" team. With the "B" team he should play the majority of each match.
If Mark and his family are not agreeable to this, I will have to accept the challenge of their ultimatum and cut him from the team. Even if that means he will not play soccer at all. What it comes down to is the necessity of doing what is best for the team with an understanding that no one person is more important than the collective team.
I am making one last attempt to bring Mark up to speed with this team. If it is unsuccessful, I will move him to the "B" team and continue working with him in that setting. I will need to take a step back from where that group from where the "A" team is now. I am hopeful "re-taking" a season of soccer lessons will be enough to help Mark develop his game further. As a coach, this is my "Hail Mary" attempt to reach Mark. I pray that it works.
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