Help in having others "buy in"

[hector garciaParticipant]

Hi,

As I had mentioned in the introduction section I am director of a grassroots program for girls (U6-U10) and currently coach three teams under the southern california developmental league. So far we are extremely delighted with the progress the groups have made. We have always insisted on playing possession based soccer and the importance of first touch and now with the tremendous resources provided by 3four3 and you guys it’s really beginning to take off. My U9 team looks forward in doing their rondos before their actual session and it sometimes gets goose-bumpy when you see them recieve across their body, deceive their mark and let the chase begin.

The BIG problem I have is trying to have my other grassroot coaches to adopt. It is the typical “if its not broke why fix it” response from them when I advise the use of these practices. As director I am in pain as there is a U8 team going 9 this year with a tremendous physical upside and love for the game but watch them spend their training time preparing for a 10k run (running their butts off with no ball around), scrimmaging and working on their “shape”.

Brian, with your experience, or any of the other coaches…….Have you had any such exprience you can provide insight or advice? I have been very conscious in meeting with this coach, laying a simple outline to follow and to think specifically of player development and teaching to play the right way but its come to the point that she’s become “offended” that I criticize her method given her success of beating the smaller, local clubs with the blast up top and let the “special”  player take care of business.

I have pondered just taking care of my teams and move forward without the responsabiloity as director but I know I am in a positon of dramatic change and just need to push forward and wait it out. In talking to my director there is just some hesitancy in making a strong move move of removing her or making the change mandatory as she just might move and since paretns know no better take the whole team with her.  It just hurts to see one group sacrificed becauase of a arrogant, irresponsable position of at least not listening nor considering for the welfare of the kids. I’m dying here………….

[Kevin MurrayParticipant]

Hi Hector,

As the director for the U06-U10 are you able to hold a coaches session where you are the coach and the other coaches play the roles of the players.   Sometimes a coach/player needs to hear it from multiple voices before it gets adopted.  Perhaps this coach needs to hear it from someone else besides the ‘director’.

Can you explain what you mean by ” running their butts off with no ball around), scrimmaging and working on their “shape” “?

Thanks

Kevin

• This reply was modified 10 years, 9 months ago by  Kevin Murray.

[hector garciaParticipant]

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for your reponse. The program under current administration and with me leading the grassroots is in its infancy. This upcoming season will mark our 3rd year. We have done coaches session but has been done for all age groups (6-19) all at once. Your idea where coaches play the roles as players and to keep it on the younger side sounds good.

What I mean by “running their butts off with no ball around, scrimmaging and working on their “shape” is that they are constantly running, doing laps around the fields like a track team instead of a soccer team; there is no ball involved…sometimes for 1/2 of the 90 min training session.  Instead of strengthening their confort on the ball and working on their ball skills, touches and passing and receiving they are scrimmaging 8v8 and working on the shape of their formation, in this case 3-3-1.

[Kyle GeroParticipant]

I am having the same problem at my club.  I think that at the very least, you should demand that when they run, they can put a ball at their feet and do the same running.  If you want real change, then you demand rondos, and that they learn to play out of the back….. and take care of the ball.  But again at the very least, put a ball at their feet when they run, just increase their touches…..

Kg

[Stephen RoliinsParticipant]

Hector
Is this not a major problem in philosophy of American sport at the youth level. The pressure to win and win now is huge and it takes a certain type to forgo this win mentality for a development mentality. I too have the issue with the club having a common philosophy through each age group and the variations are huge. I think what you are seeing is a result of this win mentality and not the problem itself. The kids run because the coaches know at U10 generally the better athletes can still take over a game. Even the best of trained teams will have difficulty beating one that is superior athletically. I guess a long winded way of saying the pure lap running type of training IMO is not the disease but the symptom.

[hector garciaParticipant]

Thanks Kyle.
I don’t like the confrontation but I had to get to the point of Demanding. Super difficult to convince given their short term success in winning games and parents because “all” of the W’s. Feelings were hurt, ego a little deflated but can’t afford to sacrifice our kids desire to be the best they can be and have to play the right way .

[hector garciaParticipant]

I agree 100% Stephen.Long winding road indeed. We are talking about a major shift in philosophy. We just need to buckle up and grind!

[John PranjicParticipant]

Dude, it’s a fucking war! You just need to decide when to start dropping the bombs.

If I were you, I would get all my shit organized and ready to present, then call a meeting. Come up with a little curriculum, a set of sample exercises, and a basic framework for other coaches to follow. Invite your team out to the training field and go through everything like you would in a coaching clinic, with all of your coaches in attendance.  Show them why ‘Drill X’ works and fits into your philosophy. Same thing for ‘Drill Y’ and ‘Drill Z’.

Then, sit your coaches down and say “This is my vision!” Follow it with questions, answers, and debate. Expect resistance. People haaaaaate change.

Drop bombs!

[hector garciaParticipant]

thanks John!

It is a war.
and I am in that process of preparing to present philosophy and curriculum. It’s such a pain in the ass to convince these knuckleheads. So defensive..they played a little high school ball, show no interest in getting better either through education or just out of curiosity and to top it off sacrificing all these kids on the way. I can be at the fields all day, every day with the kids and ready to go but 1/2 hr trying to get these people on board is absolutely draining. I’ve considered just stepping back and working with my kids only (things are golden with these guys!) but no fucking way! It did get the point of two camps being created but a cap has been put on that……bombs dropping indeed!

[John PranjicParticipant]

Got any video of these guys you’re coaching? If not, get some and start compiling highlights of all of their successes in training and games. Visual proof is undeniable and when you present that, along with your curriculum, it will be very hard for people to write you off.

[hector garciaParticipant]

I hear you but it’s hard to argue against someone with about 0.700 success rate cherry picking tournaments and playing on the lowest level in regular season. We all know that at the early ages you can get away with the jungle stuff.

Believe man I’m taking care of it …..enough of the scrimmage and the constant running without the ball in training.

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