Living in the age of cell phones, texting, tweeting, instagram, facebook and other social media I have become aware that much of our communication these days is becoming impersonal, In watching a recent futsal tournament I became aware of our team shaking hands with opponents after matches as much for the personal contact in their greeting as anything else. I then went on to observe that in greeting their own teammates there were no handshakes, no hugs and often no formal greeting of any type. My train of thought took me to appreciating that it is little wonder lack of communication on the field of play is a common complaint of coaches about their teams.
Maybe we should outfit team members with Secret Service style personal communication devices equiped with earpieces? Do not snicker too hard because there is a company out of Powell, Ohio marketing such a thing as a training aid for soccer teams. At the upper levels of the game referee's wear headsets / buzzer systems to communicate with one another during matches.
I think a better approach might be to encourage players to greet one another before practices with a handshake or quick hug with a simple greet of "Hello _____! Good to to see you" Simple small talk but also an effective life skill. For instance, the first in-person impression a potential employer has of you is in how you greet him or her. Are you well practiced and comfortable with executing a firm handshake and making solid eye contact? You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
So, this spring our team will work on greeting one another properly.
We will work on disengaging as well. A shake of the hand accompanied by "Good job out there!" or "Way to give it your all today!" perhaps accompanied by a brief embrace and exchange of a hand slap to one anothers back. And finally an acknowledgement that "I'll see you tomorrow."
Hopefully through getting used to greeting one another we can stimulate better on the field communication as well, but in the least we should improve interpersonal skills and perhaps help the young men make favorable first impressions throughout their lives.
Welcome to the web home of Conceive Believe Achieve Soccer. We specialize in conducting high school team camps. This website began as a means to promote our camps and keep campers informed of upcoming opportunities. There are now over 650 articles archived here. Use the search function in the right hand column below to find ones on topic for you. You may contact us at coachtjbrown@gmail.com or 567-204-6083 Thanks for visiting!
Tuesday
Wednesday
What do coaches look for in players?
I have recently been involved in a round table discussion of "What coaches look for in players". It came at an apporpriate time as I faced some difficult decisions in rounded out a club team roster. It may come as a surprise to you that the most valued trait was decision-making skills.
Of course, everyone wants great athletic talent and wonderful skill sets but as the disccusion contnued it became apparent to all the ability to read the game, soccer IQ, vision were traits valued as much as pure athleticism or great skills. The focus turned to the word potential being the label apllied to great physial athletes with poor or underdeveloped decision-making skills.
Over the years of coaching I had arrived at this conclusion without ever expressing it in words. Experience as both a player and a coach provided examples of great athletes who were mediocre players. People who could thrive on individual talent but never seemed to mesh well in team settings. People who dominated weaker opponents with sheer physical talent only towily when faced with playing against good athletes with better decision-making skills.
In the end, it is the mind that seperates the truly great from the merely good, the good from the average. The players hat are able to "think the game" instead of being satisfied with just playing at the game are the ones I want. This is what enables career "role players" to last as long as they do in some sports. They know who they are as a player and how their abilities fit in to the grand scheme of the game. It is also what allows an all-time great like Michael Jordan in basketball to move from being an incredible athlete his first few years in the NBA to a 6 time NBA champion in his later years.
Decision-making can be an acquired skill. Coaches must provide players with the necessary tools and ample opportunities to practice decision making on their own. A coach must be comfortable in the knowledge that good decisions come from experience and experience is often the product of poor decisions.
A fascinating discussion that affirmed what I have come to realize as a coach. That realization has come from 30+ years of making mistakes as a coach. Many, perhaps most, of the decision making skills I have today are a by-product of mistakes I have made along the way. I've learned from mistakes and have been able to apply what I have learned to not only help myself but also to provide others the value of my experences. I'm not done learning though. I still make mistakes. My decision-making skills still have room for improvement. And that is the most valuable lesson I can impart to the players I coach.
Of course, everyone wants great athletic talent and wonderful skill sets but as the disccusion contnued it became apparent to all the ability to read the game, soccer IQ, vision were traits valued as much as pure athleticism or great skills. The focus turned to the word potential being the label apllied to great physial athletes with poor or underdeveloped decision-making skills.
Over the years of coaching I had arrived at this conclusion without ever expressing it in words. Experience as both a player and a coach provided examples of great athletes who were mediocre players. People who could thrive on individual talent but never seemed to mesh well in team settings. People who dominated weaker opponents with sheer physical talent only towily when faced with playing against good athletes with better decision-making skills.
In the end, it is the mind that seperates the truly great from the merely good, the good from the average. The players hat are able to "think the game" instead of being satisfied with just playing at the game are the ones I want. This is what enables career "role players" to last as long as they do in some sports. They know who they are as a player and how their abilities fit in to the grand scheme of the game. It is also what allows an all-time great like Michael Jordan in basketball to move from being an incredible athlete his first few years in the NBA to a 6 time NBA champion in his later years.
Decision-making can be an acquired skill. Coaches must provide players with the necessary tools and ample opportunities to practice decision making on their own. A coach must be comfortable in the knowledge that good decisions come from experience and experience is often the product of poor decisions.
A fascinating discussion that affirmed what I have come to realize as a coach. That realization has come from 30+ years of making mistakes as a coach. Many, perhaps most, of the decision making skills I have today are a by-product of mistakes I have made along the way. I've learned from mistakes and have been able to apply what I have learned to not only help myself but also to provide others the value of my experences. I'm not done learning though. I still make mistakes. My decision-making skills still have room for improvement. And that is the most valuable lesson I can impart to the players I coach.
Tuesday
High School Rule Changes
Details can be found at this lnk: http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/so/girls/2013/2013NFHSSORulesRelease.pdf
In short, coaches and players may now huddle during injury stoppages, more subjectivity given to referees when obvious goal scoring opportunities are denied by foul, further uniform restrictions - this time pertaining to socks / tape.
Monday
What is your coaching philosophy?
What is your coaching philosophy?
Hopefully you have given this question proper consideration as coaching involves so much more than rolling a ball out for practice and making out a line up for games. This article will atempt to provide the reader with an outline for defining their own coaching philosophy. It's pefectly acceptable to model yours after that of a respected coach but you must make it your own. That is, you cannot incorporate something into your philosophy that you do not fully understand or do not believe in just because it works for someone else.
Friday
A Son's Story.
The link is to a story about a Brasilian basketball player who overcame to become a professional player. It is an inspiring story and also a humbling one. Please take the time to read it.
Leandro Barbosa
Leandro Barbosa
Labels:
attitude,
communication,
decision making,
Details,
Discipline,
Grand Lake United,
Humility,
motivation,
parents,
quality,
responsibility,
sacrifice,
Shawnee Soccer,
support,
The Process,
Vision
Tuesday
Match Hazards: Rain
Coaches and players will encounter "match hazards" or conditions that can impact the quality of play. It is good to have a plan prepared before match time to deal with these. We will look at some of these hazards, possible coaching instructions and team management or tactical solutions that could enhance results. We will address common match hazards and progress to others of the course of the series.
Rain
Rain presents two basic issues that must be dealt with.
1) A wet and slippery ball can skip causing misplays. This can be bad for field players and disasterous for goalkeepers.
2) A wet surface can cause players to slip, slide or fall resulting in missed plays and misplays.
A key consideration for playing on a slippery surface is to keep one's weight over their feet. Players will slip or their feet slide out from under them when their feet are positioned wider than their hips. This can necessitate players changing normal pursuit angles so they find themselves at a point where the ball will be instead of going directly to the ealiest point to intercept the ball. Getting in front of the ball takes on added importance.
It can also necessitate players shortening their strides as the point for making a play approaches. This is especially true if a change of direction is necessary. It is the planting of one's foot outside of the hips or out from under the body's weight that causes slips, slides and falls on a wet surface.
Preparing to play the ball by positioning yourself directly in its path whenever possible combined with movement directly to and in-line with the path of the ball is the best prevention for playing a ball that skips. The spin of the ball may alter its course slightly when it skips. The remedy here is to not allow the ball to hit the ground or play it on the short skip before it has a chance to more drastically alter course.
For goalkeepers in particular it is important to attack the ball on a wet. slippery surface. However, the "attack" must be in direct line with the path the ball is traveling. The danger for the goalkeeper is the same as for field players - that his feet will slip from under him when attempting to make a cut or dive to play the ball. Once again, the key is to keep the body's weight over the feet as much as possible.
A third point of emphasis to be considered is communication and resulting organization. The fact is, there will likely be more miscues on a wet, slippery surface be they ball related, player related or both. Effective communication and heightened atention to organization within the concepts of formation and system of play can reduce the number of potential mistakes and minimize the potential damage of mistakes that do occur.
Finally, many of the cleats manufactured today are for a specific ground type. There are hard ground cleats, firm ground cleats and soft ground cleats to mention a few. Expensive boots will have studs that can be shortened or lengthened to play in whatever weather conditions are encountered. Coaches need to remind players that if they have footwear designed for wet conditions that they need to wear these in rainy conditions.
Rain
Rain presents two basic issues that must be dealt with.
1) A wet and slippery ball can skip causing misplays. This can be bad for field players and disasterous for goalkeepers.
2) A wet surface can cause players to slip, slide or fall resulting in missed plays and misplays.
A key consideration for playing on a slippery surface is to keep one's weight over their feet. Players will slip or their feet slide out from under them when their feet are positioned wider than their hips. This can necessitate players changing normal pursuit angles so they find themselves at a point where the ball will be instead of going directly to the ealiest point to intercept the ball. Getting in front of the ball takes on added importance.
It can also necessitate players shortening their strides as the point for making a play approaches. This is especially true if a change of direction is necessary. It is the planting of one's foot outside of the hips or out from under the body's weight that causes slips, slides and falls on a wet surface.
Preparing to play the ball by positioning yourself directly in its path whenever possible combined with movement directly to and in-line with the path of the ball is the best prevention for playing a ball that skips. The spin of the ball may alter its course slightly when it skips. The remedy here is to not allow the ball to hit the ground or play it on the short skip before it has a chance to more drastically alter course.
For goalkeepers in particular it is important to attack the ball on a wet. slippery surface. However, the "attack" must be in direct line with the path the ball is traveling. The danger for the goalkeeper is the same as for field players - that his feet will slip from under him when attempting to make a cut or dive to play the ball. Once again, the key is to keep the body's weight over the feet as much as possible.
A third point of emphasis to be considered is communication and resulting organization. The fact is, there will likely be more miscues on a wet, slippery surface be they ball related, player related or both. Effective communication and heightened atention to organization within the concepts of formation and system of play can reduce the number of potential mistakes and minimize the potential damage of mistakes that do occur.
Finally, many of the cleats manufactured today are for a specific ground type. There are hard ground cleats, firm ground cleats and soft ground cleats to mention a few. Expensive boots will have studs that can be shortened or lengthened to play in whatever weather conditions are encountered. Coaches need to remind players that if they have footwear designed for wet conditions that they need to wear these in rainy conditions.
Monday
Match Hazards: Sun
Coaches and players will encounter "match hazards" or conditions that can impact the quality of play. It is good to have a plan prepared before match time to deal with these. We will look at some of these hazards, possible coaching instructions and team management or tactical solutions that could enhance results. We will address common match hazards and progress to others of the course of the series.
Bad Sun Angle.
With early morning or evening matches the sun can present an extreme problem at one end of the field.
Decide which end of the field will be impacted.
Decide if the impact will be worse during the first half or the second half of the match.
Take into consideration weather conditions - are clouds on the horizon and will they arrive by the second half?
You should also consider the competitive balance between your team and the opponent.
In general I will take the end of the field that provides my team with an advantage in the first half. This is especially true if a rising sun, a setting sun or clouds on the horizon might diminish the hazard by the time the second half arrives. If in doubt, ask your Goalkeeper which half (s)he prefers to take first.
Of course, it might be the opponents win the coin flip and have the choice of which half they wish to take first. If this is the case tactical adjustments might be necessary. Employing a high line of confrontation in an attempt to play most of the half on the opponents end might be a consideration. Deciding to "force' the ball to a certain side of the field as a means to reduce shots originating directly from the angle of the sun might be considered. Having the GKer wear sun glare strips or a baseball hat ( with the permission of the referee ) is an option to consider.
Bad Sun Angle.
With early morning or evening matches the sun can present an extreme problem at one end of the field.
Decide which end of the field will be impacted.
Decide if the impact will be worse during the first half or the second half of the match.
Take into consideration weather conditions - are clouds on the horizon and will they arrive by the second half?
You should also consider the competitive balance between your team and the opponent.
In general I will take the end of the field that provides my team with an advantage in the first half. This is especially true if a rising sun, a setting sun or clouds on the horizon might diminish the hazard by the time the second half arrives. If in doubt, ask your Goalkeeper which half (s)he prefers to take first.
Of course, it might be the opponents win the coin flip and have the choice of which half they wish to take first. If this is the case tactical adjustments might be necessary. Employing a high line of confrontation in an attempt to play most of the half on the opponents end might be a consideration. Deciding to "force' the ball to a certain side of the field as a means to reduce shots originating directly from the angle of the sun might be considered. Having the GKer wear sun glare strips or a baseball hat ( with the permission of the referee ) is an option to consider.
Friday
National Women's Soccer League
I have always enjoyed watching our US Womens National Team play. I am very happy they will get the opportunity to play professional once again in the United States. Previous attempts at professional soccer for women have not succeeded financially and that is a shame for the product on the field has been exceptional. I encourage you to join me in supporting the new National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in a manner befitting their accomplishments and their promise.
http://www.ussoccer.com/News/NWSL/2013/01/NWSL-Announces-Allocation-of-55-National-Team-Players-to-Eight-Clubs.aspx
Allocation of players per the article linked above.
http://www.ussoccer.com/News/NWSL/2013/01/NWSL-Announces-Allocation-of-55-National-Team-Players-to-Eight-Clubs.aspx
Allocation of players per the article linked above.
Thursday
The far reach of C.B.A. Soccer Blog
Besides promoting the camp / clinic business side of C.B.A. Soccer, I like to use the website to pass along information that is useful to coaches, players and parents alike. Most of our views come from the United States as would be expected, but we truly have a global audience. In the last few months we have tracked hits from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and other locations.
I am both grateful and thankful for the wide ranging exposure C.B.A. Soccer is receiving. We must be doing something right, but do not wish to rest on our laurels. Here's your chance... If there is a soccer related subject you would like us to cover, please feel free to suggest it to us by using the comment section at the end of this article. I will also entertain the idea of "guest columnists" if you have a soccer related subject you would like to write on. This would include alternative or dissenting opinon to what we have published here if written in a respectful informative manner.
Thanks for a wonderful 2012 here at C.B.A. Soccer and we look forward to yourhelping us make 2013 an even better year!
I am both grateful and thankful for the wide ranging exposure C.B.A. Soccer is receiving. We must be doing something right, but do not wish to rest on our laurels. Here's your chance... If there is a soccer related subject you would like us to cover, please feel free to suggest it to us by using the comment section at the end of this article. I will also entertain the idea of "guest columnists" if you have a soccer related subject you would like to write on. This would include alternative or dissenting opinon to what we have published here if written in a respectful informative manner.
Thanks for a wonderful 2012 here at C.B.A. Soccer and we look forward to yourhelping us make 2013 an even better year!
Tuesday
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE
LOVE GAVE TO ME
A goalkeeper seven foot three
ON THE SECOND DAY OF
CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME
Two scoring forwards and a goalkeeper seven foot three.
ON THE THIRD DAY OF
CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME
Three center mids, Two scoring forwards and a goalkeeper seven foot
three.
ON THE FOURTH
Four running wings, Three center mids, Two scoring forwards and a
goalkeeper seven foot three.
ON THE FIFTH DAY
OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO
ME
F I
V E G O L D EN
GOALS, Four running wings, Three center mids, Two scoring forwards and a
goalkeeper seven foot three.
ON THE SIXTH DAY
OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO
ME
Six Penalty kicks, F I V
E G O L D EN GOALS, Four running wings, Three center mids,
Two scoring forwards and a goalkeeper seven foot three.
ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF
CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME
Seven days of Graham, Six Penalty kicks, F I
V E G O L D EN
GOALS, Four running wings, Three center mids, Two scoring forwards and a
goalkeeper seven foot three.
ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF
CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME
Eight perfect crosses, Seven days of Graham, Six Penalty kicks,
F I
V E G O L D EN
GOALS, Four running wings, Three center mids, Two scoring forwards and a
goalkeeper seven foot three.
ON THE NINTH DAY OF
CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME
Nine diving headers, Eight perfect crosses, Seven days of Graham, Six
Penalty kicks, F I V
E G O L D EN GOALS, Four running wings, Three center mids,
Two scoring forwards and a goalkeeper seven foot three.
ON THE TENTH
Ten foes a-sleeping, Nine diving headers, Eight perfect crosses, Seven
days of Graham, Six Penalty kicks, F
I V E G O
L D EN GOALS, Four running wings, Three
center mids, Two scoring forwards and a goalkeeper seven foot three
ON THE ELEVENTH DAY
OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO
ME
Eleven players playing, Ten foes a-sleeping, Nine diving headers, Eight
perfect crosses, Seven days of Graham, Six Penalty kicks, F I
V E G O L D EN
GOALS, Four running wings, Three center mids, Two scoring forwards and a
goalkeeper seven foot three
ON THE TWELFTH DAY
OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO
ME
Twelve months of soccer, Eleven players playing, Ten foes
a-sleeping, Nine diving headers, Eight perfect crosses, Seven days of Graham, Six
Penalty kicks, F I V
E G O L D EN GOALS, Four running wings, Three center mids,
Two scoring forwards and a goalkeeper seven foot three
Wednesday
Coaching High School
It is the off season for high school soccer here in Ohio. There are a few job openings in the area and I have been approched about some of them either to judge my interest, make a recomendation or called upon as a reference for someone else.
Coaching high school athletics is difficult. Long hours, little pay and politics make this an endeavor of love for the game and the athletes you work with. It is not for every coach. And as I have learned there are distinctive differences between coaching boys and coaching girls.
Coaching high school athletics is difficult. Long hours, little pay and politics make this an endeavor of love for the game and the athletes you work with. It is not for every coach. And as I have learned there are distinctive differences between coaching boys and coaching girls.
Great People, Great Things
Something new today. I am providing a link to an article writen by someone else. It gives a glimpse into one of the finest college basketball programs in the country. Written by former player, David Merritt whose own story is well worth reading, he titles the article Great People, Great Things. The blog is known as Goodness Determined. Enjoy the read!
http://goodnessdetermined.com/great-people-great-things/
Yes, you will be seeing quotes from this article on this site!
http://goodnessdetermined.com/great-people-great-things/
Yes, you will be seeing quotes from this article on this site!
Friday
REACT & RID for December 14, 2012
REACT moment for December 14, 2012
Have trouble gaining separation from defender and with receiving under pressure.
Real Time:
Did I remember to keep myself between the defender and the ball.
Did I "check away" or drag the defender away from where I wanted to receive?
Did I "check to" or go to meet the ball?
Did I receive sideways on so I could execute a self-pass?
Immediate:
When next receiving the ball under pressure make sure you know where the defender is by making light physical contact with him.
Get the defenders momentum started away from where you wish to receive.
Know before you ever touch the ball how you will solve the pressure you feel. Self-pass, change the path of the ball away from pressure
Delayed:
Play the ball against a kick-back wall or bench and practice receiving with a self-pass.
Play the ball against a kick-back wall or bench and practice using your first touch to change the path of the ball away from pressure.
Add a partner to the above exercises to add "live" pressure. Pressure should be light to begin with and gradually increase as confidence is gained in receiving under pressure.
The above activities work great with 3 people - a passer, a receiver and a defender.
Have trouble gaining separation from defender and with receiving under pressure.
Real Time:
Did I remember to keep myself between the defender and the ball.
Did I "check away" or drag the defender away from where I wanted to receive?
Did I "check to" or go to meet the ball?
Did I receive sideways on so I could execute a self-pass?
Immediate:
When next receiving the ball under pressure make sure you know where the defender is by making light physical contact with him.
Get the defenders momentum started away from where you wish to receive.
Know before you ever touch the ball how you will solve the pressure you feel. Self-pass, change the path of the ball away from pressure
Delayed:
Play the ball against a kick-back wall or bench and practice receiving with a self-pass.
Play the ball against a kick-back wall or bench and practice using your first touch to change the path of the ball away from pressure.
Add a partner to the above exercises to add "live" pressure. Pressure should be light to begin with and gradually increase as confidence is gained in receiving under pressure.
The above activities work great with 3 people - a passer, a receiver and a defender.
Wednesday
My apologies
My apologies for the lack of posts over the last couple of weeks. I became very busy breaking down film of high school players looking to be recruited. What was originally a couple projects ballooned into double that amount. The weather here has been cold, cloudy and rainy, perfect weather to sit in front of the TV and computer's watching 12-15 hours of high school game film each day! The sun is brightly shining and the temperatures are rising once again so my routine is returning to normal. Besides... the projects have been completed!
Back to REACT and RID shortly.
I am also going to be presenting passing progressions from notes I took years ago while one of my sons was training under Mr. Ken White. This particular set of progressions is also on tape / DVD conducted by another coach. I know I have it around here somewhere and when I find it again I will give credit where it is due.
Finally, having just invested over 120 hours watching various high school teams I will be writing about some general observations. It really does begin with individual skill sets but tactical awareness is just as important. One point of emphasis I hear repeatedly from coaches is the need to play faster, Unfortunately the secondary accompanying complaint is that their teams are to nonathletic. Pish posh! And I will explain why.
Back to REACT and RID shortly.
I am also going to be presenting passing progressions from notes I took years ago while one of my sons was training under Mr. Ken White. This particular set of progressions is also on tape / DVD conducted by another coach. I know I have it around here somewhere and when I find it again I will give credit where it is due.
Finally, having just invested over 120 hours watching various high school teams I will be writing about some general observations. It really does begin with individual skill sets but tactical awareness is just as important. One point of emphasis I hear repeatedly from coaches is the need to play faster, Unfortunately the secondary accompanying complaint is that their teams are to nonathletic. Pish posh! And I will explain why.
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