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ATTITUDE TOWARDS GAMES AND TOURNAMENTS
(Taken from US Soccer’s “Best Practices”)
Focus on the process and performance rather than the outcome, but be
prepared for the possibility that your team may lose some games in the short
term with this approach. Keep in mind that it is actually easier to win games
at this age group with teams that are “organized” but lack skill. Placing the
more physically mature players down the middle of the field and just asking
players to ‘kick it down the middle’ or only allowing players to specialize at
one position may lead to more victories. This approach, however, does not
effectively teach the players the game and prepare them to continue on in the
sport. Instead, a skillful approach to playing soccer should be emphasized,
even though this may result in conceding goals or losing games in the short
term. During the learning process, ball control and passing can lead to more
costly mistakes. At the same time, the coach can manipulate the level and
variety of the competition to ensure that players and teams are being given
the opportunity to win and to lose games. Valuable lessons can be learned in
both scenarios. In the end, it is still the responsibility of the coach and the
parents, to manage how competition is addressed and managed among his
or her players.
CONSIDER THIS: “If your team is winning most or all of its games at this age,
you as a coach are probably doing something wrong.” – Gerry McKeown,
Technical Director of Player Development Academy (PDA) New Jersey
Care must be taken at the younger levels to select players based on their
soccer abilities and not on their ability to achieve an immediate result. At the
U-12 level, it is easy to win games by just using physically big players who
have matured earlier than their peers. As a result, the smaller, skillful players
are at times not chosen, as they are not able to “win” the game. Special care
and attention must be given to these “smaller” players. At the same time,
special care must also be given to the physically more mature players in
developing their technical skill, and their ability to maneuver with the ball in
tight spaces. As coaches, we always need to keep an idea on the long-term
development of all the players.
(Taken from US Soccer’s “Best Practices”)
Focus on the process and performance rather than the outcome, but be
prepared for the possibility that your team may lose some games in the short
term with this approach. Keep in mind that it is actually easier to win games
at this age group with teams that are “organized” but lack skill. Placing the
more physically mature players down the middle of the field and just asking
players to ‘kick it down the middle’ or only allowing players to specialize at
one position may lead to more victories. This approach, however, does not
effectively teach the players the game and prepare them to continue on in the
sport. Instead, a skillful approach to playing soccer should be emphasized,
even though this may result in conceding goals or losing games in the short
term. During the learning process, ball control and passing can lead to more
costly mistakes. At the same time, the coach can manipulate the level and
variety of the competition to ensure that players and teams are being given
the opportunity to win and to lose games. Valuable lessons can be learned in
both scenarios. In the end, it is still the responsibility of the coach and the
parents, to manage how competition is addressed and managed among his
or her players.
CONSIDER THIS: “If your team is winning most or all of its games at this age,
you as a coach are probably doing something wrong.” – Gerry McKeown,
Technical Director of Player Development Academy (PDA) New Jersey
Care must be taken at the younger levels to select players based on their
soccer abilities and not on their ability to achieve an immediate result. At the
U-12 level, it is easy to win games by just using physically big players who
have matured earlier than their peers. As a result, the smaller, skillful players
are at times not chosen, as they are not able to “win” the game. Special care
and attention must be given to these “smaller” players. At the same time,
special care must also be given to the physically more mature players in
developing their technical skill, and their ability to maneuver with the ball in
tight spaces. As coaches, we always need to keep an idea on the long-term
development of all the players.