Youth Soccer Coaching
"The 'Third' Question - Dribbling

However, I do note that your new practice book has some significant changes from the older one. I'd like your thoughts on some of these differences.

Koach Karl: I wish I had more coaches look at the details and then ask me the questions you are posing - they are fantastic! - I will give you some brief replies and more detailed (when time permits) on the web page. As another suggestion - I will save these for the next Tele-conference and we can bounce the ideas around - so here goes for the brief response:

John: 1) The thing that immediately struck me is the de-emphasis on dribbling as compared to the first book. For example, on the bottom of page 63 in the original book, you make the remark "Make Step 3 a "Mandatory Exercise" for every practice." Frankly, the dribbling drills (not games for sure) described on pages 60-69 have always posed something of a problem for me. They are always a bit boring. I've always got to sandwich them between two really fun games so that the kids will do them. On the other hand, I find them absolutely indispensable! They really help in teaching the kids how to dribble.

Koach Karl: Repetition, repetition, good repetition - good repetition - Good repetition that is the key toward developing 'instinctive' players. I suggest keeping the 'daily routine' as part of each and every practice - as in the past. However, the movements (dribbling) should take place 'inside' the warm-up environment and then 'the Serve.' 1+1 environment.

During the Figure 8 warm-up stretch routine, which is a 1 player 1 ball activity. You would introduce certain dribbling 'moves' which you want them to practice. The practice would occur while moving inside the confined area with the rest of the team. Or, while they are moving their ball around the Figure 8 configuration.

The 1+1 portion, was designed to specifically work on teaching, learning and applying 'new' moves. Here the players cooperate in building confidence with a dribbling move. This is accomplished by using 'the move' against a walking, jogging and finally at speed opponent. They key to increasing the speed of the opposition obviously would be success vs. the opponent at the previous level.

In the 1vs1 'the Serve' is also used to work on the 'move'. When going from the goal marker toward 'the Serve' marker ask them to use the 'move' one more time.

Obviously you would include the more than three touch rule during the small sided cooperative games and cooperative scrimmage. You could also add using 'the move' rule before passing or shooting the ball.

You could add using 'the move' during the cool down period. Hope you can tell that the emphasis on what will be practiced 'the theme'. Depends on you - our routine allows you to focus on 'the move' as you requested from warm-up through cool down. Want repetition? There it is! Want good repetition? Be a great observer!

As for the 'they are a bit bored'. You should expect this from young players - anytime something 'new' is introduced and they find some difficulty in performing - the excuse becomes either: I can't do this - or - this is boring. It is your job to show great enthusiasm during all section of the practice. Let them know they are truly becoming soccer players since they can maneuver the ball around the confined area or the figure 8 pattern in such a smooth and fluid manner. They are working on 'fast footwork' and you are noticing the tremendous improvement. Hate to say this but - yes, some parts of practice are and sometimes must be boring to get them to improve. And that is a fact of life! You bring the excitement -they will surely follow!

We have U-14 through U19's doing this - at great speed - and they do not have time for getting bored. Besides they know with success in this phase they will get to play the 1 vs. 1 games sooner - a great motivator.

John: As an aside, many of my fellow coaches sneer at the idea of "teaching" dribbling. "You can't teach dribbling, it's an art." "You'll create robot like players, with little creativity. That's the standard problem with American players." This criticism often comes from coaches who grew up overseas. Do other strong football nations teach dribbling in a manner similar to your first book?

Koach Karl: I agree to an extend with your fellow coaches who sneer. That is why the change in emphasis from 'FUN' games to 'soccer games' - especially the 1 vs. 1 game. I have come to the conclusion that we need to teach our players (in practice) is 'how to' play soccer by themselves at school, in backyard, etc. The players need to be taught 'what to do' away from our practice session - so that they can become creative players.

Other nations have soccer as their national past time. The players observe games day in and day out. The players have role models they imitate just like our players want to be like Mike. However, with street soccer disappearing from those countries they indeed are looking for ways to improve the skill. They too have focused on the small sided games concept, beginning with the 1 vs. 1 game as the solution.

John: 2) It seems to me that in lieu of this practice, you've now introduced the concept of the serve. Is that an accurate statement?

Koach Karl: That is absolutely correct!

John: I like the idea in general because the child can now do the practice in a less tedious manner than before. On the other hand, I must say that I am a bit skeptical. It's hard enough for me to get an 8 year to do the game I want him to do, let alone do the serve before the game even starts. I'm willing to give it a try but I am a bit apprehensive on how it would work. It's too bad your video didn't demonstrate this in action. I really need to see how this works.

Koach Karl: You sound like anyone who is faced with introducing something 'new' to children. Just think of the 'patience' involved in teaching an eight year old 'how to': Multiply - divide - subtract - read - etc. The key is 'patience'! Once the children are use to your 'routine' and it should be a 'routine' you will find quick advancement toward what you want them to do. However, it will be difficult if you come up with a 'new' surprise each practice. Let's go back to school for an instance: the child in kindergarten is taught that - when the bell rings all play should stop and you need to line up. In second grade this is repeated so that by fifth grade - they respond like Pavlov's dogs - bell rings - they automatically line up. Of course there are problem children and those are the ones who were not 'strictly' told how to line up during their younger years.

John: 3) Finally, I love your new emphasis on 1+1 that was not emphasized in the first Practice book. That's one thing that I adopted based on some off-hand comments you made once, and it's really paid off. The bottom line is that if a kid can beat another on the dribble, or conversely if he can defend 1 on 1, then the team game becomes much easier. You get outnumbered attacks on offense, and prevent them on defense. It's really the foundation for the team. I do like your idea of fast rotation, no more than 1 minute for opponents. I would often times have them go longer, but I agree with you to rotate everyone is a much better strategy. Thanks!

Koach Karl: The reason for rotating after a certain time limit are many - one minute of constant competition is extremely physically demanding - with fatigue you will lose concentration and there goes your learning curve. It gives the variety necessary to keep interest 'very high'. The better player has an opportunity to practice his newly learned skills against weaker, even and stronger opposition. The weaker player gets an opportunity to have some 'role models' show him how to maneuver the ball, etc. And it gives the coach a chance not to get bored - especially if he keeps the players scores.

Yes, you read correctly. It is the coach who gets bored in practice. Think about it, a good coach should OBSERVE more than anything else in the FUNdamental Practice Routine. He/she is asked to be as visible as a good referee. This, you must agree, is not very exciting. However, the players are being asked to continuously play (soccer). That is, attacking the opponents goal or defending their own goal - there is no slack time and no time to get bored.

As mentioned earlier, it is your job as coach to make the repetitive sections of our practices seem exciting to the players. The key to great youth coaching is to make 'hard work seem like FUN. We have given you the formula, now go and apply it properly!

John: That's it for now. I've got lots more questions for later. Thanks for starting the club. I think it's a great idea and should help lots of coaches like me who need to improve. Hope you don't mind all the questions.

Koach Karl: As mentioned before - I love these questions - just wish I could type faster and my fingers would not get so tired...!