A Youth Soccer Magazine

MAHER'S MESSAGE
"Shooting Is Number One"

By Alan Maher

Several years ago I wanted to talk to a fellow coach, and at the time, he was coaching basketball. I stood by the side of the court and watched the practice. Three players began a drill at mid-court and made passing combinations as they approached the basket. Then a shot was taken. If the shot was missed the players were sent to the end of the three lines. If a pass was missed the players were sent to the end of the three lines. Notice that in both cases the goal was never scored.

Story #2. I had a friend who was the installment officer in the local Elks Lodge. He was terrified of his job with the Elks. Memorizing and reciting were not his cup of tea. Bill asked me for help. He showed me the text. This is what I told him: 1. Read down the text and memorize the last line. Learn it well. 2. Read down the text and memorize the next to last line and recite the last line. 3. Continue to memorize the text in reverse order. This sounds crazy, but works very well. What is happening that is different and sounds crazy? Let me explain.

Most people memorize the first line and then the second and on to the last. This means that the first line is the most learned, repeated and recited. As a result, as the passage is recited the memory is weaker and weaker. Like an upside down pyramid. Moving from strong to weak. Memorizing in the reverse pattern means that the recitation gets stronger as the person moves down the text. From weak to strong. Once the recitation is started, the person grows more confident and stronger in terms of memory and recall.

This is called, "The Backward Fading of a Chain." Doing things backward to what is usually done. Any exercise in soccer should be done with this in mind. Consider the basketball example. A busted play means no shot. The whole purpose of the game is to score goals. So shooting goals should be the number one priority. This means that all exercises in soccer end with a shot on goal. All exercises. This means that more attention must be paid to finishing. This means that the finishing shot is made off one pass, and then two passes and then three passes. And when a combination of passes fails, go back to the beginning of one pass and a shot. Or even just shots. Do it backwards, not forwards. Do not get caught in a busted play that ends with no shot on goal, or a bad shot on goal.

Shooting is number one. Passing at midfield is of the least importance; passing in the box with a shot is of the greatest importance. How come we do not spend more time passing in the box with a clean shot on goal? With that question, I will fade away.

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