I wanted to thank you again for coming to the soccer wastes of Montana imparting some of your knowledge to us. Even those of us who are "seasoned" coaches need to be continually updating our store of soccer knowledge learning new techniques. In that vein, I would like to say a little about my experiences with "system" of practice that I have had over the last couple of years. Hopefully others can see something of themselves in me and glean something from it.

You first came to our state a couple of years ago and showed us your flow chart including the 1+1 and 1vs1. I attended your clinic and was impressed with you and your approach to the game.

I had recently received my National Diploma from the NSCAA and my soccer brain was filled with all the wonderful things I was going to teach my players the next season. I incorporated the 1vs1 in my practices (with U13 girls) that season and had good success with it. All of the players by the end of the season had the confidence to take on an opponent 1v1 in our games and most of the time had success. We represented our state at regionals that year in Albuquerque,NM.

You came again last February before our last season and taught us more about your system and coaching in general. I learned more, understood more but still had some hesitation about using the serve in the 1+1 segment of practice. I used the figure 8 warm ups and we went through the serve in our 1vs1 games. But, being the brilliant coach that I am, I didn't feel that going through the serve every time was going to get my players enough repetitions in skills such as receiving the ball in the air, etc.

I worked with U11 girls in this season and wanted them to learn as much technique as possible. The team was once again very successful on the field, due in large part the 1vs1 work and better small sided games (such as 4v0) that I incorporated in practice. They played very well in spite of a diversity of skill level and won three out of the four tournaments that they played. I was very happy with their progress. Now, after going through your instruction for a third time last week, I realize the value of the serve in the 1+1 portion of the practice.

Yes, more experienced coaches can be knot-heads and set in our ways, but we learn eventually. I see now that the repetitions that I was getting in my partner work were okay, but maybe not very "good" repetitions. In other words, it was not very soccer-like. People will I'm sure argue, as I that dribbling through cones isn't very soccer-like either, but they are missing the point. The movement itself IS soccer-like, and incorporating the idea that the back cone of the pattern is an opponent is an important aspect. Not to mention the defensive footwork and subconscious "check" that occurs on the receiving end of the pattern.

Thank you Karl for having patience with me in learning and accepting the new ideas that you are bringing to our game. In addition, I would like to let other coaches who are experimenting with the system to be patient with it and tell their players to be patient with it. It will give them better results.