Far too often in the US, we lose many potentially fantastic players due to our inability to lead players into a relationship with the ball. The players become frustrated and fear having the ball come their way because they "believe" they are not able to execute what is needed of them. The speed of decision making is far too slow because they do not have tools to deal with pressure. They do not have "escapability" moves for relieving the pressure either through a possession pass or an attacking pass built off a fake or feint. They either do not attack or they can not escape pressure. When a player reaches a point where they are satisfied by simply swinging at the ball in order to get it away and hopefully to a teammate, this is when we need to rethink our approach. This is the opposite of where we should be, instead we should be consistently providing them with tools and opportunities to be under pressure and learn how to embrace these moments.
Building a relationship with the ball is the crucial piece to the puzzle and means understanding how to deal with having the ball in a thousand different ways without giving it to the other team. Many youth coaches (volunteer parents) in the U.S. have not played beyond the level that they are currently coaching which means they can not demonstrate the skills their players need in order to progess. Some have played soccer and believe that we need to "run" the kids more and make them fit. Soccer indeed needs fitness, but being able to move the ball effectively is the key.
I am currently experimenting with a "ball mastery" method that players can use at home in their room.
Consider a sequence of moves that will need to be repeated constantly (similar to Coerver Methods) but with in a small 4 foot area. Each move once mastered in the sequence can be explored independently under varying degrees of pressure and employed further in games. After mastering the nuances of each move including body shape, exact placement of the foot on and around the ball, and reassure the players to explore the moves in games. For example right now I am working with a few groups of players on a sequence with the ball that incorporates 5 moves in a row. Some moves are fakes for attacking space and some for "escapability".
Phase I: The players will slowly learn each move until we can put them into the sequence. They are given the moves and master them through practice and homework
Phase II: We put them into activities where they can use the move with simulated pressure/defense
Phase III: We use practice scrimmages with instructions to use the moves
Phase IV: The players use them in games and build confidence
Mind listing the set? Or maybe taking some pictures?
ReplyDeleteI've reached the same conclusion - namely that nearly all of the players I get have NO confidence on the ball and simply kick it.
I went work on individual ball handling and caused "preassure" using a races - players would compete against each other to see who would finish first while executing one feint then return, then one feint + carry then return, etc. This approach worked ok but i'm looking for something better :)
Hey Joe-
DeleteI am talking to Lisa right now about coming out and running some of this with you guys. I am using it with my U-14 Girls Explosion team and in the clinics I am running with Wrentham Youth Soccer. It is going well so far. My first sequence is a little complicated to write but is basically:
From the mindset of being in the middle of a clock 12 to the north, 6 to the south, 9 to the west and 3 east.
they will make fakes, feints and movements to various numbers on the clock. I look forward to coming out and showing you guys.
Thank you for taking the time to read and respond.