At this time when professional sports are demonstrating winning at all costs, it’s paramount that those of us working in Youth Sports have an even greater responsibility to balance the pursuit of victory and integrity with the games we play and athletes we coach. FCUSA TX 10/11B player Zachary showed amazing integrity when he informed the referee in a game that the ball had NOT crossed the line and that the goalkeeper actually made a save when he was originally awarded a goal. Baseball (Houston Astros), Athletics (Nike Oregon Project) and even Rugby (Saracens UK) are currently dealing with p ..read more

3v3s (15 mins) Set up:  3v3 Aim: Let the players play. Technical (20 mins) Set up: Half the group around the outside with a ball. Half in the middle without the ball. Instructions: Red players start in the middle square and run out to the edge to receive a ball from a blue player on the outside. Red player controls the ball and plays in straight back. Red player then must return the square in the middle before changing direction and finding a new blue to combined with. Progressions: • Players in the middle move with ball and pass to free players on the outside. • Players in the ..read more

Arrival Games (15 mins) Set up: Games on arrival. Set up fields and try not to go over 4v4 before starting another field. Aim: Free Play Rondos (15 mins) 4v2 Rondo: If defenders gain possession, they switch out with attacker who lost possession. If defenders get split, they stay in for an extra round. Coaching Points: • Closest defender presses with intensity • Forces in towards supporting defender • Supporting defender cuts off diagonal passing lane Skill Practice (20 mins) Set up: 4v2 in the middle. (base this on numbers) To make easier – add blacks defender. To make harder ..read more

Playing the right way. This is a phrase we often hear coaches discuss, usually about their team and the way they try and play the game. But what does this mean? With such diverse methodology taken from different clubs and associations, it can be seen as unhealthy to think that there is only one ‘right’ way to play the game. Our Responsibility It’s our responsibility to develop all players. Some of our elite players will want to go to college, and we can’t determine how their college coaches want to play the game. So we need to expose players to a varied way of playing that fits into our playin ..read more

Arrival Games (10 mins) Set up: Players should arrive and be put into free play arrival games. 4v4 / 6v6 Aim: Players to have free play and be creative in the game 3v2 to Goal (20 mins) Set up: 3v2’s to goal with GK. 3 Attacking players start and attack the goal v 2 defending players. Work on utilizing the extra players.Aim: To find the spare player and score in the goal. Shooting across the goal and players scoring rebounds. Coaching Points: • Timing of runs and movement • Timing and weight of pass • Shooting/finishing 3v2 – Final Third (25 mins) Set up: 12mins 2v1 + GK ..read more

As the issue of parental behavior in youth sports continues to be a concern. However, it is encouraging that organizations such as ESPN and the English FA, among others, have taken proactive steps towards engaging parents about the powerful influence they have on their own child, as well as the general atmosphere of a sports event, through their behavior. As a parent myself, I can’t recall a time while helping my daughters with their homework that it felt appropriate to scream “WORK FASTER’ or “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” or some other similarly encouraging guidance. On those occasions, I watched ..read more

Warm-up/Arrival Games (10 mins) Set up:  3v3/4v4 arrival games Aim: To get players playing as soon as they arrive. Coaching Points: • Ask guided questions to individuals. • Read player’s body language. Technical – Switching the Play (15 mins) Set up: 3 teams, one team around the outside, other two teams in the middle. 1 team of three in the middle dribbles, the other team pass it around the square. Aim: Passing and receiving warm up, get players ready to play with their heads up and make quick decisions. Can the players on the outside split the pass between players in the middle ..read more

With the emergence of teams mastering the half-space, it has given defending teams a multitude of problems. The game is full of problems and solutions. One team causes a problem, the other must find the best solution. Holding Midfielders The most popular formation in Euro 2016 was 1-4-2-3-1, with 10 teams regularly playing this formation (38.4% of teams). More and more teams are playing with two holding midfielders, rather than the previous conventional one holding midfielder (often called the “Makelele role”). The number of counter attacking goals decreased dramatically from Euro 2008, where ..read more

What is the Half-Space? Halbraum (Half-space) is an area of the field that fits between the middle and wide area – hence the name half-space. The space is the field long, not just in the attacking half like some would believe. It’s between the outer lines of the 6 yard box and the outer line of the 18 yard box. Over the last few seasons, coaches from across the globe have pinpointed this area as fundamental to their attacking play. Benefits The interesting thing about the half-space is the different types of players that can expose these areas for their team. There are many benefits of the hal ..read more

Memories of Travel Fond memories flood my thoughts thinking about my years as a youth soccer player. However, one event stands out vividly: the international trip I took to Holland with my club team as a teenager. Nothing quite compared to the experience of international travel abroad with my teammates, competing against young players from all over Europe, and experiencing a culture so different from my upbringing in the London suburbs.                Steel United teams at opening ceremonies for the Donosti Cup. I lived the dream again when I was invited as a young coach to take a U14 boys ..read more