http://aggbot.com/Newcastle-United-News/article/15938205
-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- Soccerwidow430 on Which Drill To Run
- TerminatorGuy on Which Drill To Run
Archives
Categories
Meta
Which Drill To Run
After collecting expert advice from books, newsletters, DVDs and e-letters, I finally had to stop and think, “what do I need to work on with this team?”
I strongly suggest you observe your team and see what is breaking down. This is obvious right? Well I see a lot of coaches yelling but not too many observing so I bet many of us coaches could do a better job in this area. Now, identify one key problem area.
Is it attacking? Was it the shooting or lack of shooting? Was it good crossing or were your numbers less than the other team’s defense? Did the midfield not connect with the forwards?
Was it your midfields control, passing, transition play?
Was your defense up or back or disconnected? Did they defend high up and have support?
How were your set plays, corners, throw-ins?
Break it all down and work on one area per practice using the proper drills and you will get better use from all of that information you have collected.
Drills or Motivation
Reading the new Brian Clough biography and he rarely stepped onto the training ground or put players through drills yet motivated his Forest players to win TWO back to back European Championships. Time to throw out DVDs and books?
Posted in TRAINING
Leave a comment
U.S. Women’s Team Does Not Give Up
Everyone seems to be down on the ref who took center for the U.S. Vs Brazil match but she was within law 14 when Solo saved it but one of our player’s jumped too soon. That is a do-over. Her management of the match should be reviewed but the key take-away is never give up.
Wambach shot a glorious header in minute 122 in one of the most amazing games I have witnessed but it was a team effort as Rapinoe sent a beautiful cross into the box.
The moral? Never give up and outplay calls that go against you.
Player Development
Before I gave it much thought I judged my coaching by our team’s win loss record. After a few years, training coaches and doing lots of reading and attending lectures by other coaches my perspective changed – I watched our national men’s team and thought, “what if there was a stronger focus on developing their skills?” We play aggressive soccer but it is not beautiful or especially creative soccer.
That epiphany hit me hard. Let’s take the focus off W/L and develop our youth’s skills and winning will take care of itself. This discussion is also going on in England as they watch Spain, Brazil, France and the Netherlands produce players they covet for the EPL.
We need to take a long term view and let the kids have fun without coaches continually telling them what they are doing wrong.
Speed in Need
I went to a “developing speed in your players” clinic and cannot wait to try this out. I recommend for older athletes as younger ones may get bored – or not! Will find out through trial and error but this is good stuff!
Posted in TRAINING
Leave a comment
Why coach?
If you don’t like chess and you don’t like groups of kids who sometimes just want to break loose and kick the ball around or tumble around on the field – run now but keeping your kids and other kids involved in a fantastic game is the reason we do it. Right?
If your win / loss record determines your opinion of yourself then it will be a long tortuous experience. It took a long time but it has come down to “sometimes you win and sometimes you lose and sometimes you just tie but are my kids playing better?” If that’s the way you gauge yourself you will really enjoy coaching. You don’t buy it do you? It’s gotta be that win loss record. No doubt winning is more fun and everyone is happier but more development and effort comes from a humbling loss. You gotta keep the players up and motivated to practice harder but that is coaching. You may develop your character more than your players but that’s all part of the coaching experience.
Recently in a tournament we came to a draw and faced a shootout. The referee said, “coaches, please leave the field.” I handed the captain my kicking order and walked off and watched. The won the shootout and piled on top of each other celebrating. I was ecstatic but it was their moment. They did it without me. My work was pretty much done before the match and now they were facing their test as a team. My role was to prepare them – their role was to suceed as a group and be part of something they will fondly look back on.
To watch kids work and to work hard while keeping them engaged can take time and patience but when they play well you feel, well, incredible. Why do you coach?