Woes & Triumphs

[Rene GonzalezParticipant]

Thought it would be fun to have a place to list our successes and disappointments (I am a member in a EPL fantasy forum that has such a thread and it is quite nice).

I will start with my u8 girls; playing up (u9) they won their futsal league this winter!  Table below.  The team went almost a year without losing at age (lost in a tournament 1-0 in November); undefeated playing up.  Practice 1 time per week this time of year, almost every practice with some rondo variation or choreography out of the back (with some modification to what seen on 3four3 to reflect futsal), although do a number of competitions/games in training (they are 2nd graders) in addition to Coerver-based activities.

So good results; however, rarely string more than 3 passes together in futsal, unless they get up by 5 (then we require them to do so before scoring).  Outdoor (at age) had a few more instances of stringing together 5, mostly because we require when we get up.

• This topic was modified 10 years, 10 months ago by  Rene Gonzalez.
• This topic was modified 10 years, 10 months ago by  Rene Gonzalez.

[Marco BernalParticipant]

Ive been working 3-4 days a week tiressly,out the back, goalkicks seeing signs of progress but nothing overehelming or substantial. This weeks practices awsome touches were on, out the back, goalkicks less coaching they new what to do. Struggled to get a game for them their bu12 age group. Took a bu14 older game just to get a game in.  Wow it has begun. We ran that team down. The more possesion we had the more confident the players got. Then the goals came, another and another. Confidence, confidence, confidence, possesion, possesion, possesion it has begun

[AlecParticipant]

I had a miserable Sunday to put it nicely. My two U13 teams lost both their games….and we had no business losing. I was getting pretty confidence and starting to feel like I had a grip on how my teams were playing, but I got toasted this weekend. 2-1 and 4-2, but just terrible soccer.

The grass/dirt was very bumpy and there was about a 60 mile an hour cross wind.

Here is my question. I fear that I’ve got mentally weak players. Basically when the environment is perfect ie. good grass or turf we can kill teams. When there is snow, freezing rain or 70 mile an hour winds on terrible surface we are reduced to a crappy jungle ball team! I basically have sold out so hard to possession that if that fails, I don’t have a plan B. Or at least I have not choreographed, practiced or prepared for a plan B really.

Do I need a plan B?

How do I plan for games like this?

Do I just except it and blame it on the environment?

The thing is, isn’t this just soccer? If you look at the MLS, while the pro teams don’t play on terrible fields, it can be really hot and there can be snow. I think we as coaches have to prepare kids for everything, but if I stick with just the 3four3 drills for now, do I just except loses in games like this last weekend?

Any thoughts. Do we just need to get better? If so, how do I win some of these games so I can keep my kids and continue my possession development process.

Thanks guys!

[GaryKeymaster]

Hi Alec,

Absolutely have a Plan B.
When the conditions are such that you know FOR SURE that plan A is not going to work, you don’t stick to plan A.
Environmental conditions can be such a case.

The problem is we must all be careful to not fall for the trap (the safety) of plan B too easily.
There’s that “coaching is an art” thing again. 🙂

It’s hard to properly judge and walk the tightrope between Plan A and Plan B.
I think we all get better at the what, and how much, to sacrifice, under what conditions, with experience. It’s a never-ending struggle though.

[AlecParticipant]

Hey Gary,

You might have guessed we have been struggling as you retweeted to the world that we got rocked. Lol. I have no shame about the fact that I need to get better. 🙂 We played the Sporting Academy team (my best center mid was out, not that it would have mattered much) and they just rocked us like 4-0. Their possession was sooo fast – all one and two touch and their movement off the ball was crazy good any age actually. We have hung with them in the past, but their coach finally got them playing and they just had us chasing our tails the whole game.

My U13s are really struggling. It’s my first year doing 11v11 and I think I’m not breaking things down enough for them.  I’m feeling like a pretty average coach right now and it really pissing me off!
I’ve been implementing the 3four3 drills and they are helping and I can see a lot of positive things from the boys in games, but it’s just too slow.
My biggest issue is just intensity in the execution. I’m not sure that I’m creating game like intensity enough in the practice. I’m pretty vocal at pushing them, but I know it’s not enough.

Do you have any tips?  Against weaker opponents we can create all the patterns great, but once we play a true equal, they just can’t get the timing.  We also struggle with transition play and establishing possession.  I know that is something you have talked about choreographing, but I’m not sure exactly how to create that in practice.

Also, how important do you feel it is to practice on a full field. We have limited space and never really get to train on a full field. I feel like our spacing is just a little off and the speed is a bit too slow.  I’m wondering how much of it is, the practice in a smaller space than games. Before games we usually get to shadow play on the full field, but I just don’t think it’s enough.

Thanks for any thoughts.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 5 months ago by  Gary.

[GaryKeymaster]

Hi Alec,

From what I gather, everything you’re describing is perfectly normal.

It’s been close to 6 months since we’ve essentially said “use these activities as the foundation for your teams, and you’ll start seeing the structure unfold during match play.”

Now, the next phase of work beyond establishing the basic structure (the basic team identity), is to work on maximizing speed of play and *perfecting execution.

Maximize the speed of play and *perfecting execution in every single activity (aka drills).

You’ve got to work on squeezing every last drop of current ability from the players in both the activities & during match play. In match play against weaker opponents, the expectations for execution needs to be such that you’re keeping the future tougher opponents in mind.

All that’s not easy. It taxes the coaches ability to recognize what every player is capable of, and it taxes the coaches vision of what’s happening in real time.

That right there, is what I believe takes a coach to another level.

It takes time Alec. I’m just drawing from my experience in the classroom & on the field… at first it seems a little forced, a little too scripted, a little “fake” if you will … but that’s because we’re are learning. After a while though, if the effort has been genuine and with an open heart, all of a sudden you find yourself executing your teaching naturally. It flows!! And then magic happens.

I don’t know man, that’s the best I can describe it.

As far as training *transition … yes, we’ll be producing film on how we do that. (likely post world cup)
For now, something simple but effective is say … playing an 8v8 possession game in a grid, and emphasizing immediate expansion of players when in possession, and immediate contraction when losing possession.

Field size?
I think more than enough can be achieved in half a field.

Hope something there helps.

[CalebParticipant]

What would you say should be the first real successes on the field in a real game situation?

My setup: U11 going U12 in August girls (11v11 for the first time)- Silver, 13 on the roster- 4 played rec last season, the other 9 played bronze last year. During spring lots of missed practice time due to other commitments- getting better now- besides the summer vacation plans of suburban America.

Practice sessions: Monday/Wednesday/Thursday 6:00-7:30 (Wednesdays is a Coerver practice, Monday/Thursday tactical)

Typical tactical session:

Dynamic Warm-up with Coerver touch 20 mins

Rondos 4v0/4v1 20 mins

Tactical- Lots of Build out of the back, goal kick, throw-in, team pressing as well 30 mins

Scrimmage/Game- I’ve been doing a lot of 2v1 here, but shifting over to 8v6 Build out of the back game these next couple weeks before tournament

We have been practicing since Mid-March- that puts us right around the 3 month mark of practicing 3 days a week. Our first tournament and actual game as a team is June 28th and 29th in a silver-level tournament- so if I am doing my math correctly- 3 and a half months of 3Four3 and Coerver practices.

My Triumphs:

My girls touch and composure on the ball has already seen DRAMATIC improvement since March, and is head and shoulders above other club girls when they practice or scrimmage with us. It’s not Premier/International level or anything, but it is definitely already at a “silver”  U11 girls’ level and improving daily. When I have girls from other teams come into our Rondos- it’s silly how noticeable the difference is already. During Rondos and Build out of the back- my girls are already developing that muscle memory of receiving across the body, TALKING- giving advice (it sounds like a racket at times! makes me smile), and moving to where they need to be. They can also complete a basic combo between the outside back and defensive mid, or the outside back and wingers (the two combos we have been working a lot on). Pressing is making an appearance here and there in scrimmages. This is all without pressure- doing unopposed 3Four3 drills- besides the 4v1 Rondo. I can see the beginnings of a true team identity taking shape- serious baby steps- but it’s there. Every triumph is I have listed is not perfect- but within context I am tickled pink.

My Woes:

In scrimmages the talking is nonexistent. The combos are nonexistent. The building out of the back is being attempted for the vast majority of the game with some success and some- “THAT WAS AN AWFUL PASS ATTEMPT- YOU NEED TO CLEAR THE BALL UP TO THE ATTACKING 5 WHEN THERE IS 4 OPPONENTS PRESSING YOU IN THE PENALTY BOX!!!”- this is all in my head, the girls are attempting to build, they just need to know when to build and when they are in the “danger zone” so to speak. Our team shape during transitions needs lots of work- they are staying wide in a more build out of the back shape and not compacting on defense.

I have made a list of 3 tournament goals that I want our girls to attempt/achieve. I printed these out and handed them to my girls tonight. I also included some individual goals for them as well.

1) Continue to build out of the back- know when to build and when to get the ball up- heavy emphasis on attempting to build rather than “clear at random” of course

2) TALK- advice with each pass

3) Combos! Lets see them happen in a game situation

It’s kind of like a singer practicing for 3 and half months, getting ready to sing the “Star Spangled Banner” and then it’s showtime and she sings “Row Row Row Your Boat”. I want my girls to start implementing in game situations what we have been repeatedly practicing. It has been going through my head what can be causing them not to start attempting this. I have been giving them cues during scrimmages to no avail, and I don’t want to be that coach that just screams “TALK!” from the sideline- they are a dime a dozen. I want them to realize the pattern for a combo and execute.

Maybe they needed me to clearly layout a plan of goals to attempt- so I am trying that. Maybe its a developmental thing that just takes time, they are processing WAY more than any coach has ever asked them to do. I can be patient with it as long as I know I will start to see it- which I have with the building and pressing. I am going into these last 8 practices leading up to the tournament with a lot more simulating game situations (with pressure) for the final part of my practices- with HEAVY emphasis on talking and combos- so we’ll see.

Any advice or comments? Think I will see some combos and hear some more talking at the tournament? I am making it a goal, demanding it, I have literally put down on some of their individual goals- “complete a combo with Mia”. I am excited and thrilled at our progress- but I also want to make the next developmental leap.

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