"Youth Soccer - 'Creating The Passion'"
By Koach Karl Dewazien
In the 'up close and personal' segments of both the men's and women's world cup interviews one glaring point was made by each and every star player. They all learned to 'love to play soccer' when as children they played pickup games (backyard soccer) in their neighborhoods. Is it possible to create this type of environment in the United States?
The answer is a resounding YES!!!
We can begin our national 'passion' development player program by considering the following points:
OUR PLAYERS ARE CHILDREN
The dictionary says, "Children are young persons of either sex and at any age less than maturity; persons in the process of developing both physically and mentally."
OUR PLAYERS ARE LEARNERS
We need to teach our players to create their own playing environment. That is we need to teach in a manner so that they can learn to 'love to play soccer'.
CHILDREN LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES
Players learn from errors made - if the coaching is done correctly both verbally and physically. It is crucial that coaches turn player errors into a positive learning situation . The player's self-confidence should not be affected by mistakes that are made when playing soccer. Note this comment about professional soccer, "it is a game played by 22 error prone, overpaid juveniles…who are surrounded by 80,000 mistake-free, perfect, expert spectators."
CHILDREN LEARN THROUGH POSTIVE REINFORCEMENT
When improvement does not take place immediately the child will not sense failure unless you show a negative reaction. Take the approach of 'being a positive influence." Reward players with a positive comment, a pat on the back or simply a smile…but, only when they serve one!
CHILDREN COME TO PRACTICE - TO PLAY!
Replace words such as 'exercises and drills' with the word GAME! For example: A player shooting on goal protected by the keeper is playing a 1 vs. 1 GAME.
Keep the ball and players active. Understand that if the ball is moving and the players are moving, there is soccer learning taking place. Once, either the ball, or the players stop moving learning stops!
DUPLICATE THE EXCITEMENT OF THE LEAGUE GAME IN PRACTICE
Minimize listening and lecture time. Maximize touches with the ball and playing time. This is accomplished by playing small sided games which begin with the mastery of the 1 vs. 1 GAME.
ALL GAMES MUST INCLUDE TWO GOALS
-One goal to Attack and One Goal to Defend.
We need to create an environment where players, instinctively, respond to ball possession. This means:
Our ball - respond by, instinctively, becoming an Attacker.
Their ball - respond by instinctively, becoming a Defender.
ALL GAMES MUST INCLUDE SHOTS ON GOAL
The habit of shooting is created by using a 'shooting zone' in practice. Once inside this 'marked area' the players must respond by ONE-TOUCHING the ball toward goal. The action of the ONE-TOUCH must be followed by a sprint toward goal --following the shot. Which, of course, must be followed by the player instinctively retreating (backwards) out of the zone -getting back on defense.
The habit of shooting and properly responding is created in practices where game action is simulated.
CONSIDER THE PRESENT SKILL LEVEL OF YOUR PLAYERS
Gear games so that each player is challenged. If conditions are too simple they will get bored. If conditions are too complex they will be confused. Therefore, create an environment that forces the players to make decisions and learn on their own.
If they are technically weak, always have them work with a ball in a large area against few opponents. Opponents who are either walking or jogging.
Begin by teaching them to master the 1 vs. 1 game!
Teach them:
--What the 1 vs. 1 field looks like.
--How to make two small goals (with objects like cones).
--One to Attack - One to Defend.
--To step off the distance between their small goals - 10 giant steps.
--The 'serve' so they don't have to rely on an adult to begin the action.
--How to keep score.
--To adjust the field so that they have SUCCESS with their Theme.
--To make their field 'wider' if the Theme is Attack.
--To make their field 'narrower' if the Theme is Defense.
We must allow them to develop at their own pace (BE PATIENT). Remember, they had to crawl, walk, run, jump, hop, in that order.
Therefore, we must teach them (PATIENTLY) to:
|
