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The offseason is near, so here are ways players can work on their skills on their own. ...

1. Juggling
a) Juggle the ball with all parts of your body (left and right sides). Try not to have more than five consecutive juggles with the same body part (i.e., feet, head, etc.).
b) Juggle with a friend or friends in a similar fashion to the basketball game "HORSE" -- the player who drops the ball gets a letter.
c) Play one-touch or two-touch juggling with your friends, earning letters for drops.

2. One-vs-One
a) Only use one foot -- the ball cannot touch your other foot.
b) Have a goal (or a cone) which you can score upon from all sides.
c) Same as b, but have the same goal for both players.
d) Have two goals for each player, one on an end line and one on a sideline.
e) Have three goals for each player, one on an end line and one on each sideline.

3. Wall Soccer
Just kick a ball against a wall using both your left foot and right foot. Place hard shots against the wall (with accuracy and force). Try doing this three-touch, then two-touch, then one-touch. This game helps with trapping/receiving, positioning, striking of a ball with both feet, foot speed, being on toes, and concentration.

It also will improve your passing/shooting accuracy because of the high number of touches you will have on the ball and the high number of balls you play against the wall.

Vary your shots - high, low, left, right, inside foot, outside foot, instep, etc., and make yourself work at a high pace to get your body behind the ball before it rolls past you. Get closer to the wall to improve foot quickness and move further away to increase lateral quickness.

4. Own the Ball!
Just you competing for possession of one ball (through shielding) with one other person. If you lose possession, do whatever you have to do get the ball back as quickly as possible. Correct shielding technique -- body sideways, arm providing protection, ball on outside foot, knees bent, turning as defender attacks, using feel to understand where defender is going.

Look for more backyard games in next week's Youth Soccer Insider.

(Mike Singleton is the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association 's Head State Coach and Director of Coaching. He is a Region I ODP Senior Staff Coach and a U.S. Soccer and US Youth Soccer National Staff Coach. This article first appeared in Mass Youth e-News.)

Here are more ways players can work on their skills on their own. ...

* 2v2 or 2v1 Games
Any 2v2 and 2v1 drills or games will be extremely useful. The entire game can be broken down into 2v2 or 2v1 situations. The more skilled you are at these, the more success you will have in the larger game. Playing combination passes is key!

* Paired Tag
Pair players up, giving each pair two balls. One player starts and is given a two-second lead to break away from his/her partner. The chaser ("it") dribbles after the first player and tries to tag him/her with his/her hand. If tagged, the roles reverse and the player who was previously "it" has two seconds to break away before their partner tries to tag them. Players must always dribble their soccer ball during this activity.

* Marbles
Players are in pairs, each with a ball. One player plays out his ball and the partner passes his own ball in an attempt to strike the ball his partner played out. Players should keep track of how many times they hit their partner's ball. This game should be fast-paced, because players take turns at trying to hit each other's ball without ever stopping.

If Players 2 misses Player 1's ball, then Player 1 immediately runs to her own ball and tries to hit Player 2's ball (Player 2 does not get to touch his ball after missing Player 1's ball). After Player 1 has a chance, then Player 2 immediately tries to hit player 1's ball right back. etc.

This game is continuous and players should keep score.

(Hint: If two balls are lose to each other, a player should kick his/her ball hard at the other ball so that when they hit it, it is more difficult for the other to hit their ball back).

* Soccer Tennis
With a partner, set up two 10x10 grids that are separated by a net (or a line, couple of bags, string tied to bags - something serving as a net). Just as in tennis, players play the ball (though with their feet) into the other's grid and the ball must bounce once in that grid. If the receiving player(s) allows the ball to drop twice, the server earns a point. Receiving players can play volleys. Limit your touch count to two- or three-touch.

* SLAM
Get a partner or partners and play against a wall (or turn over a bench). Use one-touch to kick the ball against the wall.

Turns alternate between partners. Players earn a letter if the ball goes over the bench or goes wide of the bench/wall until they spell "SLAM." Once they spell "SLAM" they are out of the game.

Check out Backyard Games Part I HERE.

(Mike Singleton is the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association's Head State Coach and Director of Coaching. He is a Region I ODP Senior Staff Coach and a U.S. Soccer and US Youth Soccer National Staff Coach. This article first appeared in Mass Youth e-News.)

Previous editions of the Youth Soccer Insider on improving skills outside of practice include:

Getting Kids To Play On Their Own

Practicing Solo: The 720 Challenge

Improving skills on your own: wall play

Getting players to juggle

FEEDBACK: Send comments to letters@socceramerica.com. Please include your first and last name and hometown.

By Mike Woitalla

It's one of the most common screams heard on the youth soccer fields of : "Pass it! Pass it! Pass it!"

Unfortunately, parents and coaches often aim their shouts at young players who are at a stage of their development when they should be encouraged to dribble.

Becoming a confident dribbler is the first step to developing a comfort on the ball necessary to be a good passer and shooter. Discouraging young players from dribbling is like telling toddlers to shut up when they're learning to speak.

"This whole routine of 'pass, pass, pass' is unrealistic for the young age groups and it's been pounded into so many of our kids for so long I would argue a little that it helps explain why we lack outstanding dribblers on our national teams," says Sam Snow, U.S. Youth Soccer's Director of Coaching Education. 

Former women's national team coach Tony DiCicco addresses the issue in his instructional book, "Catch Them Being Good":

"At a youth soccer game you'll probably hear parents and coaches on the sidelines yelling, 'Pass the ball! Pass the ball!' …

"When we continually tell our young players to pass the ball, we're not allowing them to develop their full potential, especially those who have the ability to take their opponents on and beat them one-on-one. As a result, we run the risk of diminishing a player's artistry and potential."

Mia Hamm credits pickup games she played with her older brother and other children as a key to her success, because, "I was able to dribble all I wanted."

Youth coaches often emphasize teamwork before children can comprehend the concept.

Those who sit back and let the children explore the sport at a natural pace will usually find that the players begin to ask each other for the ball. And there are ways to create a practice environment in which all the players get a share of the ball without forcing them to pass.

Small-sided games ensure that all players are close to the action. Coaches can play along in practice and aim their passes at players who haven't gotten enough touches. You can even throw an extra ball into the scrimmage.

That passing is a crucial part of the game at the older age levels doesn't mean it should be demanded of young children.

"You can learn the tactical side of the game later," says Landon Donovan. "But if you don't learn at an early age to be good on the ball, then it's just useless."

The U.S. Soccer Federation's Player Development Guidelines point out that "At the younger ages (6 to about 10), soccer is not a team sport. On the contrary, it is a time for players to develop their individual relationship with the ball.

"Do not demand that the more confident players share the ball. Encourage them to be creative and go to goal. Do the same for the rest of your players."

(Mike Woitalla, the executive editor of Soccer America, coaches U-10 soccer in Oakland, Calif. He is co-author of Claudio Reyna's book, More Than Goals: The Journey from Backyard Games to World Cup Competition . Woitalla's youth soccer articles are archived at YouthSoccerFun.com .)

Copied from the Youth Soccer Insider:

By Mike Woitalla

No one denies that children who want to excel at soccer should play the game in addition to their team's practices and games, but today's children have less unscheduled time than previous generations and more diversions. Getting them to choose soccer over other options — whether it be Guitar Hero or Webkinz - can require prodding from the parents.

Here are some methods that parents and coaches can use to encourage children to play on their own, and games they'll enjoy while improving their skills:

ALWAYS HAVE A BALL AROUND. Take a ball everywhere when you're with your child. It doesn't have to be a soccer ball, in fact, those red, bouncy ones used for schoolyard dodge ball are perfect. At the playground, kick around with your child whenever she feels like it. She may want to kick for a few minutes, then hit the swings. Over time, you're likely to find her enjoying the ball more and more. And chances are other kids will migrate to the ball, and you'll have started a little soccer game.

BOUNCEY PASS BACK. Pass the ball back and forth with your child while keeping it bouncing. Count how many passes you can hit before it stops bouncing or you lose control, turning it into a contest.

KICK AND CATCH. Play kick and catch with your child. Kick it so he can catch it. Then he drops and kicks it back.

SOCCER TENNIS. Take your child to a tennis court with a bouncy ball. Try and kick it back and forth over the net. You can bring tennis rackets, too, and mix things up. A little tennis, a little soccer tennis.

'INDOOR SOCCER.' There are many balls on the market that are soft enough so they won't do too much damage to the house. If you have a den or a hallway, let your children kick around in the house.

BALL NET. Get your child a ball net. It's virtually guaranteed that a child holding a ball in a net on a string will kick it about, which means she's developing a feel for striking the ball.

INCENTIVES TO JUGGLE. To tap the ball in the air over and over means you're learning to hit the sweet spot. Juggling with feet and thighs trains players to be comfortable with the ball and develops striking and trapping skills. Besides helping with foot-eye coordination, juggling is a great way to work on balance. It also develops the weak foot.

Coaches and parents can motivate players to juggle on their own by offering small rewards when they reach certain levels, for example, soccer-ball stickers for 5; soccer-ball key chain for 10, etc.

It's difficult at first, so have them let the ball bounce in between. Ask them to drop it on their thigh or foot once, then catch it. Then go for two, and so on. The more they advance, the more fun it gets, and the more they juggle.

Even if you don't have a soccer background, learning how to juggle will help motivate your child when you do it together and compare each other's progress. Try team juggling - keeping the ball off the ground as long as possible, and count how many times you and your child can do it. She'll soon be wanting to aim for more and more.

MINI-GOALS. Nothing's as exciting as shooting a ball into the net, so set up some small goals in the backyard.

ORGANIZE 'UNORGANIZED' PLAY. Find a field on a Sunday morning, set up a couple of goals, and gather children of all ages. You're setting up the pickup game that kids of yesteryear created on their own. Don't coach! If adults play along, do so as teammates, not as instructors.

CREATE SOCCER CULTURE. Getting young children to watch a 90-minute game on TV may be too ambitious, but with digital recording it's easy to show them some spectacular plays and goals. Rent age-appropriate soccer-themed movies - there's a bunch out there.

Research star players, like Mia Hamm and Landon Donovan, show your child their photos and highlight clips, and tell them stories about the stars' childhood soccer. When Ronaldinho was a boy, he played soccer with his dog, Bombom!

You don't want to force children to practice their soccer, but you can create an environment that entices them to play, especially when you're willing to play along. If they lose interest after a few minutes, no big deal. Just keep the opportunities coming, and chances are the amount of time a child wants to play will keep increasing.

(This was excerpted from an article that first appeared in PLAYSOCCER, the Magazine of the American Youth Soccer Organization, courtesy of AYSO. Mike Woitalla, who coaches youth soccer in Northern California, is the executive editor of Soccer America. His youth articles are archived at YouthSoccerFun.com.)

Mix it up and let players 'train' players

by Sam Snow, Thursday, Aug 6, 2009 10:00 AM ET

By Sam Snow In our youth soccer environment the training sessions tend to be fairly sterile in that the U7 team only practices with the U7 age group, girls only practice with girls, and so forth. We have evolved into a situation where there's little interaction between age groups and sometimes gender too. By allowing this to continue we devolve our clubs into mere associations of loosely connected teams without allegiance to the club. We also miss out on opportunities for the players to help one another grow in the game. For example, in soccer times past we had pick-up games with mixed ages and occasionally mixed gender. Nowadays far too much of our training environment is isolated by age group and gender. We are missing out on the chance for older players to help the younger players learn a bit more about playing the game. Not all teaching of the game comes from coaches nor should it. Players should also learn from watching college, professional and U.S. national team matches. They can also learn from the players in their own soccer club at practices. The coaching leaders in a club should organize times for older teams to practice with a younger team. The U9 and U10 teams combine in a training session one day for example. The U14 boys team has a practice game vs. the U17 girls team as another example. From this environment within the club the players help each other grow in the game, they get to know one another better and a feeling of club unity expands. They may also begin to support each other's matches. If the older players come and cheer now and then for the younger players at one of the matches the impact on self-esteem, confidence and club loyalty will be profound. When the younger players go to watch a match of an older team in the club the crowd atmosphere improves and the younger players are exposed intimately to a higher level of play. The older players could attend younger team training sessions to play alongside of them or help coach them or just to be the example of how to do certain ball skills. The possibilities are many if we take advantage of clubs with a full range of age groups developing players from within. The U12 age group works with the U6 age group. The U14 age group works with the U8 age group. The U16 age group works with the U10 age group. The U19 age group works with the U12 age group. The adult teams work with the U14, U16 and U19 age groups. Indeed, players 16 years old and older should be encouraged to play on both a youth team and an adult team. (Sam Snow is the Director of Coaching Education of US Youth Soccer. This article first appeared in U.S. Youth Soccer Blogs, which can be read at http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/Blog.asp)

Here is a great article from the Youth Soccer Insider on player development.  We are fully behind this concept at BNSC and that is why our youth program is structured the way it is.

By Brad Partridge

Having been involved in soccer in the USA since 1967, I have had the pleasure of seeing it grow beyond anyone's expectations. The shear number of players is staggering to say the least. FIFA stats indicate that the USA now leads the world in registered youth players.

So why haven't we been able to develop more technically elite field players? The answer to this question lies in the developmental paradigms that have emerged in the USA.

Instead of focusing on the development of individual players, we have focused on team development. We are measuring our success based on team results rather than on individual results. For our youth players the structured game has become the developmental paradigm. Many youth teams, U-14 and under, are playing more than 50 structured games per year while some players play 75 to 100 games.

Structured games are games played in leagues and tournaments with results and or standing acknowledged. With this being the norm our youth players now engage in practice activities that are geared toward game preparation and results instead of individual player development.

The environment of these structured games has counteracted the original intended purpose of having the game be the best teacher and helping young players develop. Players are not getting adequate touches on the ball and players at an early age are being pigeon-holed in specific positions.

In addition, undue pressure to win is being created because of published standings and results. Finally, we are seeing players at a very early age becoming disenchanted and burned out because they do not have the technical skills to adequately compete at the highest levels. When players do survive these conditions, we quite frequently see that their technical skills, creativity and decision-making techniques are underdeveloped.

The style of play at this point is most commonly seen as very direct vertical soccer. So we find our youth development programs stuck in a results-centered process that produces technically deficient players.

It is now necessary to refocus our training procedures. The U.S. Soccer Federation quite clearly states, "The most fundamental skill in soccer is individual mastery of the ball and the creativity that comes with it. This should be a priority in training and games, especially in the early years. As this skill is mastered, the rest of the game becomes easier — both to teach and learn. Practices should be built around facilitating the development of the skills necessary to move and control the ball well."

This message is clear and concise, that is, youth players should be encouraged, motivated and coached to develop individual ball skills. Refocusing the paradigm requires a new emphasis on individual skills. We know that effective skills development comes from constant repetitive activities and that it take years of deliberate practice to develop an elite athlete.

We also know that athletes respond to and are more motivated by immediate objective feedback and measurable goals than any other form of coaching.

But when player development isn't judged by game results, how does a coach ensure that the players (and their parents, who constantly seek reassurance that their children are progressing) receive the feedback that inspires them to improve their game? The answer is to use technology.

Our society's use of advanced communication technology offers some very valuable tools to help coaches refocus on a player's development. Coaches can now use the Internet and specialized programs that will give coaches and players immediate objective feedback on soccer skills and techniques.

These programs focus on objective activities for individual players. The results are captured in the program and can be reproduced and distributed immediately to the players. Thus, giving players a clear picture of their basic strengths and weaknesses. Now, as coaches help players become more technically sound through activities that focus on individual skills the results can be easily tracked and measured.

Coaches can also use objective activities such as dribbling courses, shooting and passing contests, and juggling contests to help players develop technical competency. The results of these objective activities also allow players to quickly set and measure objective goals. These objective goals help motivate players to work on developing advanced skills on their own.

By refocusing our player development paradigm we will start to see our players become more comfortable and creative with the ball. This will lead to more self-confidence and give our players the opportunity to become world-class elite players.

(Brad Partridge is the Director of Coaching for Palm Beach United FC in West Palm Beach, Fla. He is also the head coach of the Women's Premier Soccer League's Palm Beach United and the creator and owner of the CAPS — Comprehensive Assessment Program for Soccer . Partridge has a USSF National Youth License and has the NSCAA Premier certification. He can be contacted at Partpro@aol.com or 561-745-3009.)

Enjoy this article from the Youth Soccer Insider on soccer fitness.  Turns out the best training for soccer is . . . soccer!

By Sam Snow

“Are you match fit?” The definition being, you are fit enough to play at a high pace for a full match.

Now the problem is not that coaches and players do not try to get soccer fit, it’s that the approach is a bit haphazard and inconsistent. You may have noticed that I refer to “match fit” and “soccer fit” as opposed to simply physically fit. That’s because players and coaches must follow the S.A.I.D. principle to achieve the type of physical fitness needed for soccer. Coaches learn this principle when they attend the “D” License coaching course.

The S.A.I.D. principle is Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands. This means that the human body will adapt to the physical demands placed upon it. Hence, the physical demands in a training session must be similar to the physical demands of a match.

Furthermore, the physical fitness training conducted must be specific to soccer. This means coaches should do away with running laps around the field. Soccer is not long distance running. It is a series of short sprints, jumps, jogging and walking over a full match.

Predominately soccer is anaerobic in nature. This means the muscles must work for short bursts without oxygen. Long-distance running (jogging around the field) is continuous movement with a steady supply of oxygen. Go out in the yard and run straight for 30 yards at a jogging pace and then do three 10 yards sprints and you’ll notice the difference.

So how do coaches and players make their soccer fitness training specific to the demands of the game? Simply play soccer!

Is there a place for fitness training without the ball? Sure, but the majority of weight training, wind sprints, two-a-days, etc. should be confined to players 16 years old and older.

Older teenage and young adult players are well into adolescence and their bodies will respond better to the demands of overload training. Chances are also high that players those ages will be participating in highly competitive club, high school, ODP, college and/or professional soccer. They will certainly need the extra fitness for the demands of the game at the highest levels of play. But can players get fit enough for soccer by simply playing soccer?

Unequivocally yes! If, the coach and players put sufficient demands into a training session much can be accomplished. Then both fitness and technique, and possibly tactics too, can be trained. This is called economical training.

The problem is that most players’ train in second or third gear and the coach allows them to get away with it. Then comes match time and they must play in fourth gear, and occasionally in overdrive, and they are not up to it. The lack of fitness is even more noticeable in extreme weather conditions, especially high heat and humidity.

Certainly there are training sessions where the players should not be pushed to play at match pace. When learning a new ball skill or tactical concept the pace will need to be slower. This is so the players can have success and build their confidence.

Once the technique or tactic is well-learned, then to improve players must train at match pace. Can a team train at match pace for an entire training session? No, and a good coach would not want them to do so.

A proper warm-up and cool-down are essential. The first few activities during a training session must ease into a higher pace. The last two or three activities of a training session are the ones done at match speed.

However, even in a training session intended to broach new topics the overall rhythm of the session should be quick. Far too many training sessions drag along and thus become boring and insufficient demands are placed upon the players. You cannot expect to train in a nonchalant way, in second gear and then perform well in a match.

So the key is that when the training session has reached the match condition stages the players must push themselves, and be pushed by the coach, to perform at match speed. This one factor alone is missing in most training sessions. With it the competitiveness, speed of thinking (tactical decision-making), technical speed and fitness improve.

The players have a responsibility here to push themselves. Don’t wait for the coach to have to yell at you to play at a pace that you yourself wish to perform at come game day. You get out of training what you put into it! Train in second gear and you’ll play in second gear and when you try to play faster you’ll fail.

Players need to push themselves first and foremost. Only then do you have a right to expect that your teammates should do the same. Then the coach is there to push you along when you need the help. The coach has the responsibility to relay these expectations to the players and to set the tone at the appropriate training sessions and at the proper time of a session.

By training often during a season at match pace the team will be prepared for the specific demands of the match. If the team trains this way then the need for calisthenics and running laps is eliminated.

Match pace training brings out the best in everyone. Finally, while playing at match speed is indeed physically demanding, it’s much more enjoyable because the ball is involved and you are actually playing the game. That’s always more fun than wind sprints.

Enjoy the game!

(Sam Snow is US Youth Soccer ’s Director of Coaching Education. This article first appeared in U.S. Youth Soccer Blogs, which can be read at www.usyouthsoccer.org/Blog.asp )

Here we have some research presented by US Soccer over player development and ideas from around the world of what we should be looking to develop in young soccer players.  This is just an overview and I invite anyone to go online and do some research on each of these systems and topics.

Passing and Receiving from U6 to U14

 

U6 and U8 ideas:

 

• Big words are FUN, simplicity, freedom, patience.

• Everything is new, everything unknown.

• Practice should feel like a playground. The activity leader should be

as unobtrusive as possible: talk and involvement should be minimal.

• Everything is on the kids’ terms: imagination, creativity, and trial and

error are encouraged.

• From UEFA: “specialized movements of action and reaction”.

• In a simple, understated way, we’re beginning to train the players’

central nervous systems.

 

U6 activities:

• Fast feet – and with a partner.

• Kicking at a target.

• Kicking at a moving target.

• 2 v 2 or 3 v 3.

 

U8 activities:

• Fast feet, with a partner.

• One touch passing – then combine these two.

• Passing through a rectangle.

• 3 v 3 or 4 v 4.

 

U10 and U12 ideas:

• FUN, simplicity, freedom.

• Continuing to become (as the Swedes say) “friends with the ball”.

• From UEFA: “,,,the learning of precise and fast actions and

reactions….”

• Lots of repetition, more refinements of motions, stabilizing movements.

• Communication!

 

U10 activities:

• Passing triangles: right and left. Specific requests of the passers and

receivers.

• 4 v 1 keepaway.

• 3 v 3 or 4 v 4.

• Game to one: scoring v. possession game.

 

U12 activities:

• 5 v 2.

• 3 v 3 or 4 v 4.

 

 

 

Technical Development from U6 to U14

 

What is technique?

 

tools finesse ball control / body control feel

the how flair touch mechanics mastery

coordination the way you move skill

 

Technique in soccer:

 

• US Soccer Federation: technique, tactics, fitness, mentality = the

whole.

 

• KNVB (Royal Dutch Soccer Federation): TIC – technique, insight /

intelligence, communication.

o Virtually all the KNVB activities have two-way competition – so

players have to attack and defend.

o Combining skill and timing.

 

• Czech Republic: big years for technical development are six to 10.

 

• Sweden: becoming “friends with the ball”.

o ‘isolated technical activities’

 

• Ajax: target for technical development is 10 to 14.

o TIPS – technique, insight, personality, speed.

o For scouting: SPIT.

o The first objective – for the 8, 9, and 10 year olds: controlling the

ball with any surface of either foot in any direction. (!!)

 

• English academies: more practice, fewer games – 3:1 ratio of practice

to games. For example: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday (“pregame”)

practices – and a Sunday game.

o Becoming balanced and two-footed.

 

• UEFA: Young soccer players must accumulate “a vast stock of

specialized movements of action and reaction, ranging from the easy

to the variable and complex.” Practice is “the learning of precise and

fast actions and reactions.”

Enjoy this article taken from Soccer America and written by Brandi Chastain about what it takes to be a good coach:

By Brandi Chastain

I’ve had every kind of coach imaginable: great motivators who were not really good tacticians; decent tacticians who were not great leaders; coaches who were good at the game but had weak people skills; and even the quintessential parent-coach, who didn’t really know the game but made it enjoyable for the players and their families.

I’ve had easy-going coaches - the kind who give you one look, and you know they are pleased. Then, I’ve had those who are intensely verbal and very dramatic.

The bottom line is that whatever the personal style, it’s the coach’s job to keep an eye on the big picture and to help players to see it as well. A good coach can help his players connect the experience of the sometimes monotonous and exhausting training sessions with the great feeling they have after executing those worked-on skills in a game.

In turn, each practice becomes a microcosm of the game. Santa Clara University coach Jerry Smith is one of those coaches who can connect the dots. He knew what he was driving for in that training session in the dark, that the scenario would likely occur in the game. Endlessly repeating different shots on goal would breed the skill and make it accessible, so I would be able to call on it when I needed it, without thinking.

A great coach, however, is much more than just a tactician. One coach in a generation can revolutionize the game through pure strategy and chalkboard Xs and Os. The last person to do that was Dutch legend Rinus Michels in the 1970s, who, with the help of his legendary star, Johan Cruyff, helped popularize the “total soccer” concept of fluid positions and attacking soccer.

Since then there have been small innovations here and there, but the true measure of a great coach is in his ability to motivate and teach his players. And you don’t have to be a tactical genius to do that.

Personally, I love those coaches who emphasize the fundamental skills of the game and have the ability to encourage and inspire each player on their roster.

In my experience, the best coaches are insightful, inspiring, and compassionate. They deliver a message with clear, sometimes even eloquent language, a calm demeanor, and a sympathetic tone that inspires players to go out and attempt what they’re teaching.

The skills of a coach and a teacher are pretty much the same, in fact: communicating ideas and concepts so that players or students can understand.

They don’t just ask players to perform; they set an example, which inspires respect. A great coach can break down the components of the game and put them into simple terms. And when there are problems, good coaches help players to see them, and to find solutions.

Excerpted from “It’s Not About the Bra: How to Play Hard, Play Fair, and Put the Fun Back into Competitive Sports” By Brandi Chastain with Gloria Averbuch courtesy of HarperCollins.

Brandi Chastain made 192 appearances and scored 30 goals for the U.S. women’s national team in 1988-2004. She won two Women’s World Cups (1991 & 1999) and two Olympic gold medals (1996 & 2004).

In our Youth Academy we focus on small-sided games as our model for player development.  In this video John Ellinger from the US National staff talks about the importance of small-sided training.

Click here to see the video!

This article comes from the Youth Soccer Insider:

By Dev K. Mishra, M.D.

For those of us who grew up as teenage athletes in the 1970s (or earlier), we are familiar with the old "stretching" routine: we typically began a training or pregame session with a series of somewhat contorted movements such as the hurdler's stretch for the hamstrings, an Achilles stretch, butterfly, and a quadriceps stretch usually done with a partner.

With my coaches, we did these stretches and then began our practice. These types of stretches were supposed to reduce injury rates. But somewhere in the 1980s and 1990s a change in thinking took place as evidence emerged that "stretching" before any activity could worsen performance and might actually lead to an increased injury risk.

To some extent the controversy continues but we do have some good evidence now to guide us. Before we get into specifics, let me give you some definitions. The most important thing to clarify is the difference between warm-up and stretching. Let me also be clear that what we are discussing here is how to prepare for activity, not what we do after a game or practice session.

Warm-up (referred to by some authors as Movement Preparation) refers to low intensity and slow speed movements such as jogging, skipping, juggling the ball, footwork exercises with the ball, short passing drills, etc.

These exercises take the place of traditional stretching as a means of preparing the body for the movement tasks required in the training session or game. Warm-up increases muscle blood flow and muscle temperature, both of which are good things as far as improved performance and reduced injuries.

Stretching (usually called "static" stretching because it is done with minimal movement) refers to the old-fashioned exercises referred to in the first paragraph above. For example, in a quadriceps stretch we typically stood with a partner, hand on each other's shoulder, and grabbed our foot with a hand, then bent the knee back until we felt discomfort in the front of the thigh. This was usually held in place for around a count of ten, then repeated with the other leg.

Can warm up or stretching prevent injury? This was the reason we were required to do the stretches — we were told that if we didn't stretch our chance of injury was much higher than if we did. Over the years, some scientific studies have attempted to answer this question but there aren't very many high-quality trials for us to look at.

With the best available evidence, it's reasonable for us to conclude that a low intensity warm-up reduces injury risk, but that a pre-activity stretching routine (done by itself without any movement warm up) does not help and in some studies might actually increase injury risk. This is somewhat of a grey area, in that it seems that some types of stretching done after a warm-up is fine, especially if the athlete is naturally inflexible.

Can warm up or stretching improve athletic performance? Again, the evidence shows a difference between pre-activity stretching (not good) and warm up (good). In studies comparing several regimens, the groups that did stretching as their only pre-activity routine consistently did worse in measures such as sprinting and jumping, and these effects lasted anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. Conversely, a low intensity warm-up has been shown to improve strength, speed, quickness and power.

OK, now what should we actually do? My opinion based upon a combination of soccer-related performance, what I see in my orthopedic surgery practice, and the available evidence is that all age groups should absolutely do a warm-up routine but can skip the old-fashioned stretches. I like the system below, and you can modify it based upon the players' age, skill level, and time available:

* Begin with a short jog (3-5 minutes for example for U13 and up). Do not let the players come out and start shooting on goal from 25 yards out as their warm-up!

* Move next into ball-related low intensity movements such as dribbling, juggling, footwork, etc. Ideally, each player should have a ball. For the very youngest players this is more than enough for their warm-up, and also gets them more touches on the ball.

* Older players can then do movement preparation exercises such as walking lunges, hip rotational movements, butt-kicks, single-leg hops, etc. Very young players can skip this part.

* You can then start increasing the intensity level, to include small-sided games, specific tactical drills, or possibly light plyometrics (jumping drills).

* Stretches and massage done after a game or practice session as part of a cool-down regimen can be very effective in helping to lessen post-exercise soreness and can help muscles recover for the next session.

(Dev K. Mishra is an orthopedic surgeon in private practice in Burlingame, Calif. He is a Team Physician at the University of California, Berkeley, Medical Director of the International Children's Games, and member of the team physician pool with the U.S. Soccer Federation. His Web site is www.thesoccerdoc.com)

Girls often experience injuries at a much higher rate than boys.  This article exposes some of the facts about why this occurs and how to prevent them.  It is a long read but a must for all parents of female athletes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/11/magazine/11Girls-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&

Hey guys,

Practicing on your own can be a difficult task if you don't have a focus.  Coaches often tell you to juggle but know what and how to do it can be difficult.  This article explains a specific goal oriented juggling challenge that is sure to improve your overall technical ability.

http://blogs.socceramerica.com/youth_soccer_insider/?p=49

Just copy and paste the above link into your browser.

Enjoy!