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Ok so I have been a member since they created this and have found my coaching improve along with the teams I coach. I have watched the videos and taken the activities step by step. I have fully bought into what this coaching education is all about. I coach at a small club in Western Pennsylvania and right now I am the head coach of u17 girls and assistant coach of u13 and u10 girls. Recently my club directors have asked me to run coaching sessions for all the coaches in the club to show a “new direction” for the club. With this opportunity I used mostly 3four3 activities including 4v0, 4v1, 3v1, S Pattern, 4v2+1, and building out of the back. I also played 4v4+3, 8v2, and 6v5 to goal with 3 counter goals (focus was on the front 6 players attacking against 5 defenders). Anyways, I have been pushing to do more position specific activities and pushing the coaches to choose a handful of activities that they will use consistently for the next “x” amount of years. Needless to say I got mixed feedback.
The smart people realized they needed to follow these activities and do a lot more teaching of the game versus “letting the game be the teacher.” Others fell back on the crutch of ‘coerver skills’ is what the kids need to improve because “my kids aren’t skilled or have a good touch.” So annoying… I’ve been constantly reiterating that they need to do these activities over and over again and they need to demand excellence.
The issue I am finding is that coaches can only coach what they know and if coaches don’t know a lot about the game they end up doing these pointless activities that have no real implications on what happens in a game nor do they prepare their team to play a certain style.
I am continuing to push 3four3 content and the results I have seen from the teams I am coaching are proof that this is an excellent philosophy for developing soccer players. Thank you for making all this content available and always sharing. It has really helped me grow as a coach and I know all the other members can agree.
Hello Gabriel-
My name is Wally Le Blanc and I am a varsity soccer coach of 21 years in Maine (and still counting). I have had my share of failures and successes with the sport along the way and I am now at a point in my career that I want to give back to the game that has given me so much. I was looking for a philosophy of training that supports how I would like to see soccer played in Maine – and if anyone has seen our teams play in Region 1, you are aware that (with a very few exceptions) we trail most of New England in player development.
I am a varsity boys coach and work very closely with the youth program in our community. While we have a solid youth structure , the one thing that is missing in my opinion is a philosophy that is comprehensive and connected. Each age-specific coach seems to do the best job for their own team and will focus on whatever works for them or what they are most comfortable doing.
I very much enjoy what Gary and Brian have created as a philosophy and I like the way that one year can build on the previous one. So I am trying to promote the activities with our program and use possession based soccer as the goal. I am excited to see what we can do and how well it will be accepted. One of the drawbacks is that some coaches do not stay with the program when they are dominated by a team that has stronger athletes and plays with high pressure.
I will continue to see how things develop, will look forward to hear other’s experiences and I would like to thank Gary for giving me an opportunity to be a part of “your” soccer family!
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