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Hello all-
Looking forward to reviewing the material on this forum.
I am a ‘newer coach’ with about 5 years experience at the children’s competitive level. I mainly work with U9-U12 girls (both intermediate and premier). Until now my main focus has been on technical development (I have my Coerver youth diploma which has been my focus along with standard provincial coaching certs.)- lacking in the tactical system training that is so clear with 3Four3. I’d like to also coach adult level soccer in future.
I will be the first to admit where I lack as a coach- always looking to learn and always looking for constructive feedback. Not a fan of ego- I’ve learned actions speak far louder than words.
Websites:
U10 girls (7v7): http://www.gcfclondon.com/firefox
U12 girls (9v9): http://www.silver360.com/firestorm
Looking forward to reading up on all of the posts, getting to know some of you, and most of all learning.
Eliot Pridoehl – German Canadian FC- London ON- Canada
Hello, my name is Rene and live here in Portland, OR.
As a player, grew-up in the backwaters of American Soccer – Anchorage, Alaska. Made 1 of the first traveling youth teams there; played in a couple of regionals and would eventually play college soccer at Willamette. After taking a break from the sport during law school, have been involved in some of the men’s leagues in my 20s and 30s (going to regionals once as a men’s amateur), as player, manager, and league president.In terms of coaching, started very early – in my teens trained my younger brother’s team, a group that would eventually finish 2 at US Cup (Minnesota tournament) – a big deal for a team from Alaska at the time. As an adult, co-manager of a Westside Action team that would win an OPSL title in 2005, and have been a player/manager/coach for a number of outdoor and futsal teams over the last 15 years.
Now starting over with my young twin daughters’ team – u8s. Have never coached kids this young other than in a camp from time-to-time, so am learning as I go. Found 3four3 a few months ago and have been hooked sense.
Outside of soccer, I pay the bills as a lawyer and am involved in an early childhood start-up. My family is multicultural (I’m half Mexican and wife is half Latina), but my Spanish is spotty. In my late teens, traveled to Europe and saw a couple of games at Camp Nou, as well FC Torin, and Lazio (during the Gazzo years), and lower division games in Greece and Spain. Biggest soccer event I’ve seen live is the European final when Greece upset Portugal in Lisbon; also saw a couple of World Cup games in 2004, a qualifier in Ecuador, and couple of pro games in Mexico City.
GOALS WITH THIS EXPERIENCE – translating principals here to the very young (u8s) in an age-appropriate manner. Additionally, despite some years coaching, think there are some gaps with my tactical understand (or at least ability to translate) in the attacking third (spent my college years as a sweeper).
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This reply was modified 10 years, 10 months ago by
Rene Gonzalez.
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This reply was modified 10 years, 10 months ago by
Hi All,
My name is Brian Mitchell. I am originally from England, but settled in the Philadelphia area about 10 years ago. I played to a pretty high level in England, but my passion is coaching and I have coached travel and middle school soccer for the past 10 years. I become very frustrated with travel soccer clubs in this area, so approx 4 years ago, I founded a travel only soccer program. We currently have 8 teams playing at different age groups. I head coach a U13 Boys team that have progressed very well over the past 4 years. I am very passionate about ‘possession’ soccer and have been evangelising it to anyone who will listen for the past few years.
I have been an avid reader of the 3Four3 Blog for some time and this opportunity was too good to pass up. I am very excited about learning new things and developing friends and contacts across the country with similar mindsets. I already know a few people here – I know this is going to be a fantastic experience.
Thanks for this guys!
Cheers and Happy Holidays
Brian
Rene,
I am from Portland as well. We should connect at some point. Always looking to network with local coaches with similar philosophy.
Hello out there. Name is Mark and I am a coach with Dallas Kicks SC. We are a small but growing club in the DFW metroplex. All of our staff have children on the squads, son, daughter, niece, nephew, etc… Ive been involved in coaching/managing for about 17 years. I was in college and one of my younger sisters wanted to form a squad and asked if I would coach them. The football bug bit me in the ass that day. HARD. haha Ive been involved ever since. I recently was coaching a U8 girls team, but am now focused on my sons U5 squad.
People always question my sanity when I say U5, but I have a group of parents that want to see it kept fun for their kids, but at the same time see their kids learning and growing in their love of the game. My boys have a blast at each practice and the games, regardless of the scores. They are not lighting up the score board yet, not that I keep track, but they are individually growing strong on the ball and confident with it at their feet. A 5 year old that can trap with all parts of both feet is fun to watch. They play 5v5 currently and I let them freewheel it. Give general positional assignments with the understanding that I want to see them all take off and beat someone down the field.
I have been a 3four3 reader for over a year now, silently stalking the feeds, just waiting for this to open up.
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This reply was modified 10 years, 10 months ago by
Mark Torres.
Hello all. My name is James Brodie, and I have coached both recreational and competitive soccer for 8 years in Texas. I too have been a silent follower of the site and have admired the beautiful, unified work of art evidenced by the boys in the videos. Simply put, I am here to study and learn from the best. It is my goal to translate every ounce of what is offered and put it into full application in every facet of my coaching. I am excited and honored to be part of this community. I look forward to the journey.
Hi All,
My name is Phil and I have been actively coaching in Minneapolis/St Paul metro area for the past 9 years.
I stumbled upon 3four3 about at year ago and was very happy to hear about their coaching eduction initiative. I am 6 months into my new role as the boys director for Dakota Rev soccer club, I have roughly 300 boys and 22 coaches under my watch. It has been a challenge thus far moving the club forward but we are making progress. Prior to accepting the new position I spent a lot of time coaching with the St Croix soccer club, my most recent team was a group of now U17s, that was a 2nd tier team at U14, taking them to the top division as well as state cup champs and MRL premier participants by u16.
There a some coaches in our state that believe in the model of a possession/pressing based team identity, but we are few and far between. I am hoping that with continued education, and obviously…time, we can raise the level soccer in our state for the betterment of our players.
Looking forward to actively participating.
Hey my name is Sean Kiernan I coach at Concorde Fire in Atlanta.
I have been a keen follower of the blog and very often myself and a couple of colleagues will see a post and be like “see thats what we have been saying” needless to say we agree with most of not everything we read on this blog.
In short I already try to teach this brand of soccer but I could still be better at teaching it and enforcing it! Content looks great and looking forward to networking with everyone too!
Thanks
Follow me on twitter @skeyno
Thanks
For sure Chris! Had a parent ask me about your club so would definitely like to learn more and connect. I am in the Hawthorne district and I think you guys are on the eastside as well?
Hello! My name is Rishad and I’m originally from Mumbai, India. I am currently a junior studying Computer Science at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. I was an assistant coach for the U10s and U11s at Bozeman Blitzz FC, a local club here in Bozeman. I’ve only been in the US for about two and a half years and grew up in India. I’ve never been coached in football though I was in cricket. I was lucky that all my friends were some of the best in my city and I learned a lot playing with them every day while I was in high school. I’ve been an Arsenal fan since I was 13 (I’m 23 now) so to say I’m passionate about the game is a bit of an understatement haha.
Ever since I stumbled across the 3Four3 blog, I’ve been impressed with what I’ve read and I hope to use the possession framework as a basis for my own philosophy.
I saved up money through a job last summer to get coaching licenses from Europe. I am planning a trip to Scotland in the summer of 2014 to get my Level 1 and Level 2 licenses, also known as the UEFA ‘C’ certificate in Scotland. The ‘C’ is not officially accredited by UEFA but it’s a pre-requisite for the ‘B’ which is accredited. I am also planning to do a Masters in Sports Science from Germany once I’m done in the US. The tuition costs less than it does here and I think I would benefit from being in another new culture and I’ve started learning German already.
Thank you for sharing your resources, Gary. I’m listening to the audio interview now and I’m looking forward to watching the Seattle clinic!
Hey Everyone!!!
My name is Kyle Greeley. I’m currently 25 years old and am from Houston, TX.
I currently coach a U11 and U13 girls teams and work a full time job. I’ve only been coaching for about 2 years now, but truly have gotten serious in the past 5 months. I work with Texas Rush Soccer Club, which is just north of Houston. I’ve been with them for 1.5 years. I coached for 5 months up in Connecticut when I was finishing up my Bachelor’s degree.
I heard of 3four3 back in 2012 when there was a giant explosion from the U11 possession video on YouTube (the one where they play Arsenal-USA). I would check out the blog every now and again but nothing too serious. It wasn’t until after the spring season in May of 2013 did I start to think about why the players I was coaching weren’t developing that much. The coach I was working with would get 1 or 2 players that were great, but it seemed like as the season would go on, everyone would bottom out. We’d ask the players to think, but nothing. We’d try to help the team bond, but nothing. July of this year, I started to do research and check out all the Spanish teams and how they do it. I then realized that I had no foundation for these girls except to kick a ball and try and score. Long story short, I started implementing possession oriented soccer and we start dominating games. It was then I my eyes were open and I started to really check out this possession movement. I’ve implemented a foundation with my team and they now push each other.
That’s my story!! I’ve re-started my blog and have a twitter account. Feel free to message me anytime with comments, questions, or advice!
Twitter: @the_pitch15
Blog: http://thepitch.kg.blogspot.com
Cheers y’all!
Hey Chris,
I met another coach, Pedro Gaytan Farfan (BU11 maybe?), for your club at a license class about a year ago. There was another 3four3 follower there from Molalla who I haven’t seen pop up on the forums yet, but hoping he got in on this. Glad to see another Oregonian on board with the possession movement! I hope I’ll get the chance to meet you sometime and discuss overhauling the curriculum as that is something I am in the process of doing at my club out in La Grande.
-Andrew
@crollaa on twitter
Andrew,
Yes, Pedro is our BU11 coach and my assistant coach with the Bu18. He had mentioned that he had met some coaches at this last license course that had similar ideas.
I am happy to chat or meet up anytime. Feel free to hit me up on twitter to coordinate sometime.
Rene,
Yes, we are on the Eastside. Let’s connect soon. Are you on twitter? Connect with me @thisguytoph
My Name is Luis Corona and I have coached club soccer for 4 years in Chula Vista CA. I played soccer when I was growing up but the philosophy was more focused on putting as many long passes in the attacking third with no concept of possession at all. I am currently coaching two teams: U10B and U11G. Both of them are new teams but players have developed good ball control and individual skills. I have tried to teach both teams a possession game team philosophy which has given me good results but some times resulted in games being lost due poor execution when playing against high pressure teams. I admit my tactical knowledge to accomplish this goal was limited and I have done a lot try and error on how teach my players how to efficiently build from the back and how to break the responsibilities for all players on the team to move on the field as we advance forward . I look forward to learn more from all of you and to continue to develop my players to the next level by incorporating 3four3 ball possession coaching philosophy being taught by Gary. Thanks so Much
Luis Corona
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