Winning a game or tournament is an outcome goal that we cannot control because of the many variables (referees, conditions of the field, climate, sickness of key individuals, etc.). What we can control is the progression and monitoring of our individual soccer education.

What sets the Ohio South Youth Soccer Association apart from other associations is that we have the welfare of the player in mind above all. We are looking at the long-term development of the individual, the team, and the coaches. Of course winning is important, but not at the expense of these people. If we continually address technical (skill) training, the tactical elements, physical and psychological ideals, provide good, solid role models, and leave our players with a life-long passion for the sport of soccer, we are succeeding in our goals. A coach is that person who is a friend, who sometimes reminds you of those things you already know. They also have the ability to spot the minor things in your game which make a major difference in the way you perform. My definition of a good coach is that man or woman who prepares their players to have success at that next level.

There are six areas that I am charging you as a parent, player, and coach with developing in our OSYSA players. These are the six areas that experienced coaches look for in selecting players. Development in these areas will help enhance long-term success in a competitive arena. You must develop one trait in each one of these topics to make yourself be noticed on the field.

1. ATHLETIC ABILITY

Each player that has attained any degree of notoriety has at least one outstanding physical attribute. The most obvious is pure speed. This unfortunately is obtained by choosing your parents wisely. Speed can be developed to a small degree. Strength, power, flexibility, quickness, lateral mobility, and endurance are a few example of athletic ability. Maybe you have the ability to jump high winning crucial headballs in the offensive or defensive areas. Can you showcase your ability to accelerate by pushing the ball past defenders into space and penetrating? If a defensive player, can you tackle harder than anyone else on the field when challenging for the ball? When you determine what your outstanding athletic ability is, work on it to make it even stronger.

2. TECHNICAL ABILITY

This is the demonstration of mastery of one or more skills necessary to excel at the game. Do you have one skill that you are so good at that everyone in the stands starts to sit on the edge of their seat when you get the ball, in anticipation of what will happen next? Very few players do. A wing player might have dribbling abilities so creative and effective that they stand out as they beat the defender at speed and serve perfect crosses to the forwards. For a defender, you might develop the ability to win balls without having to resort to a huge physical challenge, or make perfect distribution passes out of the back line. For a goalkeeper the ability to collect high crosses under a physical challenge is crucial and gets you noticed. A good forward not only scores goals but also can hold a ball in the attacking third under extreme pressure. A midfielder must learn to play both penetrating balls and to switch the field of play. If you can combine your outstanding technical talent with your outstanding athletic ability you are ahead of most players in our area.

3. THE ABLILITY TO MAKE YOUR TEAMMATES BETTER

Determine for yourself how you can make your teammates more effective in practices and games. Communication and positive encouragement is one way. Giving your teammate a properly speeded pass at the right time so they do not have to slow down or run faster in order to receive the ball is another. Is the pass easy to control or does it come in too slow or too hard? If your partner gives you a bad pass, you should seek to make them look good by you ability to easily and correctly controlling the ball. As a defender you can cover for your teammate when they make a mistake? Good players have the ability to bring out the best in those around them.

4. THE ABILITY TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE GAME

Does the game change when you enter or leave the field? Does your team elevate their level of play when you are in the lineup or does it only stay the same? Hopefully it changes for the better. I see very few examples of this impact in players of all ages across the country. I am constantly citing examples to teams as I work with them.

5. COACHABILITY

When college coaches call and ask my opinion of players, one of the first questions is always “is this player coachable?”. There are so many players competing for spots on the ODP or collegiate level and coaches are looking for those that want to listen and learn. Why would they waste time on the uncooperative individual? When your coach stops during training to make a point, do you accept that or do you roll your eyes thinking you know better? Coaches are only trying to make you and your teammates better when they make corrections. With the younger players, I have been using the example of the “teacher’s pet” in the classroom. What is the “teacher’s pet”? It is that person who is usually very cooperative, willing to learn, please and go the extra yard. Guess who also gets all the benefits? It is no different on the athletic field. The player who listens, absorbs, and tries to please is the person who plays. The uncoachable player sits and never develops.

6. BEING A WINNER

Being a winner is a constant thing. It means being first class in all that you do, weather in the competitive arena of athletics or in the classroom. If I came to watch you play in a game and didn’t know what the score was or if it was at the beginning or end of the game, would I be able to tell by your play? Are you playing as hard when your team is down by three goals as when you are winning by three goals? There should be no difference in your game no matter what. In fact, your game should get stronger in the above five areas if your team is playing badly. When is a player like Michael Jordan the most dangerous? It is when the Chicago Bulls are losing! This is what an impact player does.

SUMMARY

I have given you some food for thought. Now that you know what ODP and college coaches are looking for, it is up to you to develop these abilities in yourself, your player, and your child. Spend the next year working on these and the path to your goals will be much clearer. Players should be constantly asking the OSYSA coaches for feedback on their strengths, weaknesses, and how to improve their game. My challenge to you is simple: develop one noticeable part in each of the above six areas. It will make you a more valuable player, make your future rosier, and make us a much stronger state.