Girls vs Boys

[Sunny TroxellParticipant]

Hi,

I am hoping to gain some insight on the difference in training girls and boys.  My coaching opportunities started in 2009 as a volunteer working with U7 girls.  Since then I have worked with ages U6-U12(girls), U6-U8 (boys) and I am currently working as a paid coach for 2 travel teams (girls) U9 and U10.  I volunteer with my neighborhood league coaching my son and handle the Age Group Coordinator responsibilities for U8 boys.  I also work for HappyFeet/Legends NOVA where I have the opportunity to teach 2-6 year old girls and boys.  As a female coach there are areas that I naturally better relate to with female athletes, however I have found myself frustrated at times with the non competitive personalities of most girls.

I was happy to see the video posted of the FPYC U9 boys as that is a club I have “grown up” playing against.  Can anyone lead me to video of U9 girls playing at the same level?  Has anyone else noticed the difference in rate of development between boys and girls?

Thanks,

Sunny

 

 

 

 

[andrew crollardParticipant]

I don’t have experience coaching girls younger than 13, so this may not apply for those young ages you’re coaching. The mentality of girls and boys is massively different. I discovered this year with my university women that they internalize EVERYTHING as criticism saying they aren’t good enough. It takes an entirely different approach than what I can use with my U14 boys.

The boys understand my criticism is constructive so it is easy to just say “hey, your technique is wrong. here’s the correct way to do that.” With the women’s team, I have to somehow figure out a way to frame their development through things they’re already good at and heaps of positive reenforcement.

My end-of-season meeting with the boys is “here’s three areas you’re weak in and need to improve them by doing x, y, z.” My end of season meeting with the girls is “what areas are you strongest in and how can you maximize that to benefit the team?”

[David TkachParticipant]

I would agree with Andrew.  I coached 5th/6th grade girls for one season and had to take a different approach (more cooperative, team building type of attitude) then with boys of similar ages. Particularly for singling out players in a group setting for criticism (even with my strongest players) was something I couldn’t do.

I think as players get older, it becomes more important to understand them based on their personality type as opposed to gender.  I coach an adult women’s team now and there are some players just as intense and competitive as you’d find in any mens league.   There are also some players who take criticism personally so it’s key to try and figure out how to push each one.  But overall I would say with girls you need to take a more cooperative, team based approach and with boys it can be more individual, competitive focused.

[Mark TorresParticipant]

Sunny,

Check the futsal thread.  I posted a video there.  Might be what you are looking for.

 

[Sunny TroxellParticipant]

Thank you all for your feedback.  I am not sure I would be so passionate about coaching if not for my psychology degree.  Being the mother of four daughters helps also…lol.

Mark, thank you for pointing me to the futsal thread.  I am fortunate to be an in area that has many opportunities for futsal, however at the younger ages there are a few challenges in finding competitive leagues.  Most leagues play arena indoor, which I suppose is better than nothing.  I would love to see video of a futsal match.

You mentioned that your team was made up from players from different clubs?  One of my frustrations in coaching I think is the soccer culture I live in.  Many of the competitive teams in my area are made up of players seeking to check a status box more than want to be true players of the sport.  The affluence of the area allows an attitude of “I wrote the check now I want to win” and the lack of knowledge of the game allows for training sessions to be looked at more like girl scout meetings.  The idea that soccer for girls is more a social event even at the competitive level is making me crazy.  I have fortunately found myself working with a group of coaches looking to turn this around.

My experience working with the youngest of soccer stars tells me that there is really no difference in ability between genders to develop skills at a young age.  It is more body types and rates of development at 2 and 3 years, they all really just want to please coach(well most of them do).  Around 4 years I start to see a difference in attitude between girls and boys.  Many girls will resist working to learn anything perceived as difficult, they give up way too easy.  I am very glad for my opportunity to teach them that hard work pays off.  I often joke that it is the soccer culture that I am really working to change, one 2 year old at a time.  I understand there is more of a chance that I join the WPGA than succeeding at that.  I am not giving up on learning to play golf either.

I completely understand that the female and male brain are different operating systems.  I wonder if our girls shouldn’t be a little tougher though.  If we teach them how to take criticism properly at a young age we might find them healthier, happier and much more capable adults.

I look forward to applying the knowledge I have gained here to my teams this season.  I will post video as soon as I can.  Thanks again for your input.

 

~Sunny

 

[Mark TorresParticipant]

Sunny,

The DFW area is the same as the area you describe.  The approach that we took when we put this team together was that we actually scouted the players that wanted into our group and got to know the parents.  We wanted like minded parents that were open to the girls being pushed, losing, winning, learning, etc…  This is a side team not affiliated with the club my daughter actually plays for.  We took our lumps last summer as the group came together, but now are playing up an age group and doing very well. 

The video I have posted there is not a futsal match.  I am generally coaching the futsal matches so am unable to film them.  I wish I could.  Those are so fun to see.  The little things they are picking up from futsal is just great.  Our club starts it futsal curriculum this March and everyone is excited about it. 

Thanks,

Mark

[john fitzpatrickParticipant]

Greetings all! Are we really limited to only using a “cooperative approach” when training young girls (U8-U12)? I was hoping to use a more “individual approach” in working with U8-U10 girls. My aim is to develop 1v1 girls who can/want to beat their defender(s) then play 2v1 going to final third, then 1v1 to finish. Am I doomed because young girls unlike young boys don’t want to be “superstars”, or don’t want the responsibility/criticism of holding a ball too long? It seems like we just haven’t given young girls the permission/encouragement to be a CR7, Messi or more appropriately Marta, like we do with our young boys. I would like to hear if anyone has had any/some success developing/trying to develop little bad-ass individual girls first; who did become a complete (indi & team) player as they got older? Were the parents supportive of  this, or did they want their daughter to be just “team” players? Yes, I know soccer is a team sport, and this site is about Possession, but I genuinely want to explore a different philosophy in training and expectations of younger girls…looking for feedback & experiences to help refine my approach! John

[AlfredoParticipant]

Hi All, I coach a U11 girls competitive team (silver/goldish level) and I am learning that criticism should be limited and tempered with praise, particulary when girls are entering the pre-teen/teen years. I have had these girls for two years and when they were younger they didn’t take things so personally but now they do so I have to change my communication tactic.

I have noticed I am a lot more successful with them when I follow some of the words of wisdom in this article: http://www.socceramerica.com/article/49967/girls-vs-boys-should-coaches-communicate-differe.html

Before signing up for this course I have been in communication with Andres Deza, spanish coach of the super successful (possession based) U14 Deanza Force (ECNL Champs, Surf Cup Champs, etc.. etc… champs). There are a lot of videos on this team (excellent is an understatement) to get an idea of how awesome a girls team can play possession – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQFlrRW2ZlI

He has had this team since U10 and he told me he focused a lot on 1 v 1, 2 v 1 and 3 v 2 at the younger ages. He recommends working on attacking first to build that mentality then possession. Like the Kleibans he says repetition is key.

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