Coaching Course or Coaching Forum?

[frank starsinicSpectator]

It all started well but this coaching course has turned swiftly into a $250 per year forum full of soccer coaches wanting to learn more.

What’s the plan for adding to the “course” over time?

 

[Eric DykesParticipant]

Hi Frank-

My 2 cents. Gary said that this would trickle out slowly. The course isn’t about giving you a plethora of weapons to work with but a development of a mastery for vital skills to work possession soccer. Layer that with the video of how the coaching is delivered and I think you have a winner. One of the biggest issues with education in general is teachers want the lessons but don’t/can’t take the time to watch it delivered by expert educators. The way you phrase things. Where you stand. How you introduce the concept. Those are the most valuable nuggets a teacher of anything can have.

The forum is a place to collaborate with the journey. Ive spent hunreds on coaching courses. For me this has been by far the best one.

 

Id love to see the brothers release more videos of them coaching the already released stuff. See if I can catch a few more craft rid bits.

ive drunken the cool aide and am all in.

 

[David TkachParticipant]

I think an early reaction of “I’ve spent $250 on basic keep away drills” isn’t unreasonable.  I was initially surprised at how simple everything looked on the surface.  However as I examined everything, was amazed to discover how complex they really are.  Even though I’ve seen some of these exercises before, it was never with such an emphasis on the details.  For me, that alone has been worth it .
I’ve always been surprised attending coaching courses how many people are there with notepads writing down as fast as possible the drill that is being set up as opposed to watching and listening to the actual speaker.  There aren’t any secret drills that are going to transform a team.  I fully agree with Eric in it’s the small things that have ability to elevate your coaching.  For instance, in the rondo games, having a player drop the bib on the ground instead of handing it off to the new defender to get the passing rhythm started as quickly as possible.  This won’t appear in any write up, but I believe it makes a huge difference in the execution of the drill.

It would be nice to have some additional actual practice sessions on tape to watch to and try to pick up some of the smaller stuff that isn’t covered in the written descriptions and to see it executed with different groups.

[Tolya RubtsovParticipant]

I agree. I usually do not have time to write much but I try to read everything and watch posted training videos one a week (during weekend) – every time pick something new in DELIVERY of the on or the other drill – that’s the key here. Do not think I need more videos for next couple months – have enough  to study in deep.

[Joel LorahParticipant]

I couldn’t agree more. We’re talking $250 to learn how to teach the game by coaches who are have a resume of clinical excellence and if I am correct have been to Barcelona to see how the game is taught and have explained over and over how coaching is your artform and this is merely a framework for your own coaching sessions. That rondo drill (4v0 4v1)? If I am understanding correctly, that drill alone is enough to teach a group of U9 U10 kids for an entire calendar year. What more is there? Perfect touch as developed through the infinitely repeated simple rondo drill layered with added pressure- then teach those concepts on how to effectively play out of the back. I’ve watched the game footage of the Kleibens U11 U12 teams over and over. These two simple exercises repeat themselves every single time- over and over- just at breakneck beautifully synchronized speed. Just so happens those young men are excellent at it cause they’ve practiced it infinitely. To me it seems quite a reasonable price. I have watched the videos many times and I continue to pick up on nuance. This is all about nuance. It is about rhythm. How many US coaches ever talk or teach about rhythm- likely only the ones from River Plate or Brazil. Nuance. Rhythm. Proven system. Keep it simple. Teach our kids perfection of first touch and quickness of thought. The rest follows from there.

[Joel LorahParticipant]

I should correct myself– there is much more! I am looking at things from the perspective of coaching younger players. It is my understanding that the Kleibens do not coach U10- so when I comment what more is there? that is because I am considering my own age group I am coaching. Everything is context. If you are a coach of U12 – U14 then I suppose one could be curious as Frank mentioned above about other tactical or choreographed teaching. Truth be told though, I still believe there is a whole lot of stuff to keep someone new to a possession style of play actively engaged no matter the age of the players right in this first release. Most of these drills, as Brian mentions in the introduction for the Seattle Camp, happen from U7 up to and through the men’s team in places like Spain. Same drills over and over. Over and over. Funny how when you teach young kids you hope they begin to understand the nature of clean touches and quick thinking/decisions then by the time they are 17 or 18, as the sample activity video shows of Brian and his older kid team, you can start leaning on the players for perfection of touch. Perfection of the nuance of properly moving the body to best receive a ball and distribute it a efficiently and quickly as possible. I watched the Philadelphia Union 18s practice the other day and was a bit slackjawed at how unclean the touch was. So much time spent cleaning up a messy first touch. Slows down play. Anyway…

[Eric DykesParticipant]

I think I mentioned before I have coached the other football in High School (15 years varsity assistant) . Something interesting that I got time and again as our coaching staff visited successful college and professional coaches throughout the country was their attempt to look complicated to the opponent, but actually be very simple in terms of fundamentals and execution. We spent a lot of time around Pete Carroll and staff at USC immersed in their practices and team meetings and they preached the following things-

1) repetition and practicing at a high intensity reduces “paralysis through analysis”- cant do that with different drills every other day
3) Compete everyday- How do you make those drill competetive
2) they wanted to establish an identity and recruited players that met that identity, even if they were not seen as “elite” by others. If they had the tools to fit that identity they received a scholarship or a draft pick

Last note-
Something missing in soccer is the openness to share ideas, allowing people to watch you train. There are so many “secrets” in this sport. American football coaches open their doors to the enemy all the time- High school coaches were welcomed with open arms- they shared everything- The little nuances, the trade secrets were open- just had to ask. They collaborate with one another and there is a real brotherhood. Thats missing in soccer.

This course seems like a good start to opening the doors.

[Hans SchneiterParticipant]

Wow… surprised by this thread topic.  If anything I think they gave use too much to digest!  If mastery is the goal then you will be having your players focused on only a few of these concepts at a time until they can do it in their sleep (see #1 in Eric’s reply about Pete Carroll).  It is also just as much about you as a coach achieving mastery as it is the players.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 9 months ago by  Hans Schneiter.

[BenParticipant]

If you’re already talking about adding to the course–less than 2 months after it started, no less–then perhaps this is not the right program for you. There is enough material here for several years of coaching, literally. Brian’s team worked a whole year solely on building out of the back and pressing, before progressing to other activities. A whole year on one aspect! That’s the kind of long-term commitment that a possession-based philosophy and framework demands. It sounds like you’re already tired of these activities and itching to move on. Not trying to sound rude, but how is that possible? The membership only opened in December!

[frank starsinicSpectator]

Thanks for the feedback and I agree with what everyone is saying.

What seems to be missing, shortly after this started was the participation of the 3four3 coaches, except for very few posts.

There are some “coming soon” placeholders as well that haven’t been filled that combination got me thinking.

I am just curious what “coming soon” means, how often they plan to participate in the forums themselves and perhaps what their vision is for next year and follow-up years.

I’m not lacking for good material from here. My teams only practice 2 times a week and can barely digest any of this as it is. It is a long slow process, I understand.

 

[CalebParticipant]

I would love the opportunity to shadow Brian and Gary for a few days- like a Thursday-Saturday. I can watch a practice session and a game. I know they’re located in LA- about a 3 hour drive away. I would throw in a case of their favorite beer for the opportunity.

 

A free coaching clinic in the LA area for founding members would be a dream- any member who makes the trip can participate. I would throw in some beer for Gary and Brian for that as well.

 

But as others have said before- there is so much information to process and go through in the videos and pdfs. Then there is the forum- which gives me access to many coaches who all (presumably) have the same goal- what an invaluable resource.

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