[BenParticipant]

Gary’s intro presentation (on having a vision and having Vision), as well as both of Brian’s presentations (especially the one on scouting/retaining/releasing players) were gold. I also liked Hans Schoenhoefer’s presentation on the organizational structure and day-to-day management of a professional club in Catalan. Networking was on point. John Pranjic did an excellent job setting the whole thing up and facilitating conversations.

In short: worth every penny. I’d attend again in a heartbeat.

[BenParticipant]

Scott, thanks so much for posting this. Really inspired me. Can’t wait to see how they look after next year!

[BenParticipant]

If you’re already talking about adding to the course–less than 2 months after it started, no less–then perhaps this is not the right program for you. There is enough material here for several years of coaching, literally. Brian’s team worked a whole year solely on building out of the back and pressing, before progressing to other activities. A whole year on one aspect! That’s the kind of long-term commitment that a possession-based philosophy and framework demands. It sounds like you’re already tired of these activities and itching to move on. Not trying to sound rude, but how is that possible? The membership only opened in December!

[BenParticipant]

There is already a thread on this topic in the forums. Nuno Ferreira started it.

[BenParticipant]

I’ve read Willingham’s book and it’s excellent, though aimed at classroom teachers. Lots of carryover between teaching and coaching though, so it’s still very useful. (I work in both arenas, but I think I’d move to full-time coaching if the right opportunity presented itself.)

[BenParticipant]

Here’s one I’m currently reading: For Love of the Ball

The author is a Catalan who coaches kindergartners/elementary students in Seattle area.  He does exactly what Brian and Gary outline (Set Tactical Training, rondos, etc.) with really young kids.  I haven’t finished yet, but it’s a good read so far. Practical, but also educational: delves into history of Barcelona and La Masia a bit. Might be a good book to put in the hands of parents…

Also, Jed’s book is one of my prized possessions. I highly recommend it, too.

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

[BenParticipant]

Thanks, Gary!

[BenParticipant]

Thanks, Brian. This makes alot of sense.

[BenParticipant]

My Christmas present was this 3four3 subscription, and I agree with Terry about how much I’ve learned from the Kleibans. Well worth it.  I also bought For the Love of the Ball by Albert Folch. I haven’t finished yet, but it’s great so far.

[BenParticipant]

I have a question for Gary, but others are welcome to chime in also.  During Set Tactical Training for possession out of the back, I noticed there is no goalkeeper involvement.  Do you guys ever include a keeper in the Set Tactical work?  And if so, how does the goalkeeper’s presence affect the spacing? In the U11/U12 video, for example, the Center Backs sometimes end up very deep in the penalty area  when swinging the ball…at times they are even in the goal area! When the team is possessing that close to their own goal, it seems like the GK would be a natural link between both Center Backs, allowing them to push wider and create more space.  This is something I’ve seen Barca and Bayern’s Center Backs do, as both Valdes and Neuer play well with their feet.  Yes, I know these U11/U12’s are not Barca/Bayern players, but I’m just wondering 1) whether I’m reading this scenario correctly, and if so, 2) why Brian’s teams build up in this particular way?

PS. This is not meant to be snarky or critical. I really want to learn and understand the HOW and WHY.  Thanks.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 11 months ago by  Ben.

[BenParticipant]

I’ve read a lot about this, mainly via Valeriy Fomenkov and articles on Mourinho. Most of the really good stuff is written in Portuguese, which unfortunately I don’t speak, but I’ve been interested for awhile in whether the idea of TP could be implemented with GK training.  As I understand it, the main goals are making sure that tactical, technical, physical, and psychological aspects are present in EVERY exercise you do.  (No more just working on a “technical” drill, or just working on fitness. Every element is trained at the same time.)  Coaches also have to periodize their tactical training, the same way they would with traditional conditioning/fitness training.

There are a few similarities between TP and the philosophy/approach that Gary outlines on the blog, but you could theoretically use it as a framework to train ANY style of play, not just possession-based.  It’s crucial to have a clear philosophy and vision for how you want your teams to play, otherwise you cannot implement TP, and even then it can be incredibly complex, which is why I think we rarely hear about it in the US.

PS. You can see the way that Mourinho implements TP in this series of videos. Notice how each exercise he does with the kids incorporates all four elements of the game at the same time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOyqCTNYQ7A&list=PLF3647E6806B7FE11&index=1).  Also observe his interactions with the players, not just the coaching points he makes but HOW he makes them.  I’ve been re-watching the Seattle Clinic videos to study how Brian does this, too.  Both are masters of the art of coaching…something I desperately need to work on.

[BenParticipant]

John and Gary are much more qualified to address this issue, so listen to whatever they say.  I just wanted to make two comments:

1. Serious kudos to you for including the keeper in your plan for maintaining possession.  I work with keepers; it frustrates me how many coaches don’t even think about their involvement in the build-up, or intentionally exclude them.

2. My (limited) understanding is that possession-based teams generally aim to create overloads in all areas and especially in the center of the field.  In this framework, the formation is variable, though most possession-based teams I know of (including the Kleiban’s) play some version of a 4-3-3.  Perhaps approaching this question from the angle of “What formation will allow me to create overloads in first third, middle third, and final third?” could be helpful?  I can see several different formations working in 7v7 and 8v8, depending on how you want to progress through the phases of play…

[BenParticipant]

Hey everyone. My name’s Ben. Right now I’m an assistant coach in Knoxville.  Coached for about six years in NC (Twin City Soccer) and TN (what’s now FC Dallas Tri). Mainly I work with club and high school goalkeepers. Several years ago I coached a U12 boy’s team for two seasons.  Looking back, can’t believe how naive I was and how little I knew, despite growing up in west Africa, playing my whole life, considering myself an “authority,” etc.  Only been in the last year or two (since I discovered Kleibans, Jon Burklo, John Pranjic, Jed Davies, and others) that I’ve become a real student of the game.  Now I just want to learn.

[Author]

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