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Easier said than done, Luis. The kids in my neck of the woods are almost never taught how to take a good first touch, get their head up, look for their teammate making a run to create space for themselves, etc. Even then it takes a long time for most kids to learn the technique of receiving a ball properly, let alone getting their head up.
The retreat line takes the pressure off the kids so that they have the opportunity to learn to do this, because everyone up here plays a high press. Without a retreat line, the kids automatically end up panicking & treating the ball like a hot potato. And then almost all the parents scream, “Kick it out!”
See the blog of George Sarakinis “Youth Futbol in Barcelona III’ (https://kidzfutbol.wordpress.com/2014/06/17/youth-futbol-in-barcelona-iii-game-structure/) for information about how the Spaniards (in Catalonia) employ a blue line (literally) to give the kids a chance to play a calmer version of footy. I figure if the kids over there benefit from a retreat line, then so will ours.
*sigh* Nothing much different up here, guys. Simply painful to behold. 🙁
Something about this whole issue is bothering me. We’ve got the right idea (desiring a non-pay-to-play model) & approach (thanks to Gary & Brian), but I’m not sure we’ve got the right mindset. Soccer/Footy is the poor man’s sport in most of the world & everyone understands it – even if those who don’t like the game – because it’s deeply engrained in the culture. Here, outside the World Cup cycle, it’s a recreational afterthought for the masses & a road to college and/or a professional career only for the top 15% of society who can afford it. In the West, specifically in Europe, the media & sponsors are all-in. Here it’s more the exception than the rule, especially if you don’t have a vested interest in MLS.
There are surely more factors involved here that could be listed, but it boils down to this: if we want to avoid the pay-to-play model in North America, we’ve got to be able to sell our product/services better. Good intentions won’t pay the bills & people won’t know what the difference is between ‘jungle ball’ & the real Beautiful Game unless we educate them. Somehow we’ve got to come up with a business/operational model that covers the bills for, among other things, parent education, coach education, equipment, field rental and a TD whose résumé you can promote on your website, and at least one person who can constantly work an effective social media campaign to drum up support/awareness.
I’m not convinced there’s a cookie cutter type of solution that will serve all markets or submarkets, but there has got to be a general idea of how we can go about this for the benefit of everyone involved in this forum. So if you’ve got any ideas, please let me/us know.
And there’s the rub, Li. Pretty discouraging, but thanks for sharing openly the tough road you’ve hoed. Food for thought for sure.
Tommy, it’s an idea worth investigating IMHO! Had never even considered it. Have got a closed shop up here (North of the border) where everyone is accepted provided there are enough volunteerS (does not include the 3 more competitive levels). So in my case the tryouts would have to take place before the YSA opened up for registration. That way those kids who didn’t make it would be able to fall back on the other YSA to play.
In a word, Luis, yes. The results will depend in part on the ‘athleticism’ (oh, man, how I’m beginning to hate that word!) of the players available to your opposing teams, but, technically & tactically, your team shouldn’t even be getting close… or so goes the theory at least. Kudos, man: you must be doing something right! 🙂
Cheers,
R.And nothing has changed up here in the interior of British Columbia either. This is my dilemma: try to effect culture change without any backup or support and watch your work be undone by the next guy with the ‘right’ CV. SMH. But to have this knowledge combined with Gary & Brian’s framework/insights and not share/teach them would be torture to keep inside too. We’ve gotta try somewhere, some time. It’s just the patience requirement that’s killing me. If you know of any financiers with a sincere love for the true Beautiful Game who want to get a club going in Kelowna, please let me know. There’s one down in Penticton that is on the right path already (Pinnacles FC), so it is possible. ‘Courage, mes amis’ as the French say.
Luv it! I’ve been running an after-school futsal program up here in the interior of British Columbia for 5 years now. I’m completely sold on futsal as a skill/tactics development vehicle . Unfotunately I’m unattached & have insufficient facilities, but we make do the best we can. The kids all benefit immensely in such a short period of time. Gotta run, but I’ll check back in with some ideas soon.
Hi John,
It’s perhaps rather late to provide feedback, but I noticed in the first couple of segments that she was admiring her passes and slow to get into a supporting/covering position. Was she tired or nursing an injury? As the first game wore on, she appeared to be livelier. Other than that, she looks very promising as described by Dana above. HTH.
One year on, Scott, and the improvement is clear to see. Hope you’ve found a new home since leaving your old club & are furthering or will soon be able to further what you’ve begun.
Erratum: I see the link to Play Better is corrupt. The URL is: goplaybetter.com. HTH.
And now I see that you’ve found it, Scott. Much obliged! 🙂
FWIW, Scott, I set out our stall last season as follows:
————–GK————–
—-OFB————-OFB—–
————-HMF————-
—-OMF————-OMF—-
————–B2B————–
————–STR————–
Whereby the HMF doubled as a CB & the B2B had true freedom to roam. When the latter pushed up, the HMF pushed up with him & the OFBs too, albeit a bit delayed. This we did to great effect, though I hasten to add that it was more jungle ball than true football. This season will be my trial run using the 3four3 approach. It will require a great deal of patience, but I’ll combine it again with the Play Better approach. I’m at the bottom of the (hopelessly broken) Canadian soccer pyramid up here, so tapping into the intrinsic motivation of the boys to perform is a bit a nuanced challenge. 🙂
Cheers,
R.-
This reply was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by
Robert Kleemaier.
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This reply was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by
Oh, well, Scott. It was worth a try anyways… Thx for your prompt feedback.
Hi scott,
where did you find it? I’m in the same boat at the moment heading into the 2015 season this spring. RSVP.
cheers,
R
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This reply was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by
