COACHES CORNER with Ludo de Wolf
     
Hi, everybody,

I hope you had as much fun getting ready for this spring season as I did. I noticed how my players grew taller, smarter, got more coordinated, although I knew they probably did not play much soccer during the off-season.

I wish you all a wonderful season. Remember to de-emphasize 'winning,' but give them the opportunity to learn and love the game of soccer.

For those who attended the 'E' clinic presented by Florida Youth Soccer Association a few weeks ago. Thanks for attending. I know you enjoyed it and that your players are benefiting of your attendance as we speak.

For those who missed it. We are working on having a smaller age specific clinic (U7 - U11) which lasts approximately 6 hours, possibly just prior to our Fall season.

Here are some interesting things presented at the clinic.

  • Try to organize each training session around a specific skill or part of the game like: dribbling, passing inside foot, long passes, shooting.
  • Don't talk for more than 30 seconds.
  • Incorporate the ball in all aspects of your training session, including the warm-up.
  • Progress towards game-related activities
  • Finish with a 'scrimmage' or game condition activities. This should probably be 1/3 to 1/2 of your practice. Use small sided games (4v4) to increase touches.
  • Allow your players to experience every position on the field, including goal keeper
  • Be enthusiastic as a coach
  • Be a positive role model. During the game you should stay low key. Your job is done. Let them show what they have learned and worked on. Just make sure all your players get to play the same amount of time. Don't yell at anybody. Show respect to team members, opponents, referees, parents, spectators, coaches
  • Have a parent meeting. Explain to them your coaching philosophy. Ask them to organize snack list, phone tree, help setting up goals on game days. Talk to them about field side behavior
  • Have FUN

Next time we will address defense and offense tactics and how you can work on this during training sessions

 
Warming up:
There is a right and wrong way to warm up! The main reasons for warming up are to prevent injury and to promote mental and physical preparation for the game. What will it take to fire on all cylinders from the kick-off? It appears best to start with gentle, steady running to raise the temperature of the muscles. Then introduce stretching, focusing on calf, hamstring, quadriceps, abdominals and lower back. It should be done slowly. Just think of a cat waking up and getting ready for the day. Don't strain or bounce.

Introduce a ball after about 10 minutes. If not, players run the risk of injuring their quads because they cannot resist blasting a rocket at an unsuspecting keeper. When the balls do come out of the bag, let your players get a feel by dribbling and passing. Next, the players might rehearse some of the skills you worked on during the last practices or the most common techniques they are going to be using during the game.

Another aspect of the warm up is the psychological factor: to get their 'game face' or 'game mind' ready. You might have to experiment with different tools. Some players need to be addressed individually, but you need to get ready as a team. Have a cheer/huddle protocol. (adapted from Youth Scene Kwikgoal in soccer journal Nov/Dec 1996)
     
Managing substitutions:
Since participation is the priority of recreational soccer, our league requires that all players have a minimum amount of playing time each game: at least 50 percent of the time. Since no player wants to play only half a game, coaches must maximize playing time for each player. After all, if your weakest player only plays half of every game, and your strongest plays every minute of every game, how will the weak player develop - only playing half as much, but needing it the most?

So: No kid should play the third quarter unless every other player has played two. No child may play a fourth quarter unless every other player has played three. Keep track on paper. The system is not difficult. You may ask a parent to keep track of substitutes.

Substitutes are made prior to a throw-in by your team, after a goal, prior to a goal kick by either team, at half-time, or because of an injury. Please try not to substitute a goalkeeper immediately after a ball went through his hands in the goal. Have a heart and wait a few minutes. Always speak to the player coming off the field. "Good job! Get some water and stay ready", along with a high five does wonders for kids of any age.
 
Praise: 25 ways to say "Very Good!"
1. Good for you
2. Superb
3. You did that very well
4. Terrific
5. Cool
6. That’s not bad
7. You’re doing fine
8. You’re really improving
9. You’re on the right track 		10. Outstanding
11. Good work
12. I think you’ve got it
13. Perfect
14. WOW
15. Wonderful
16. Keep it up
17. Excellent
18. Sensational 		19. Nice
20. Great
21. Way to go
22. That’s it
23. Fine
24. Good job
25. You are doing much better today
     
Taking penalty kicks:
Different approaches are being used. Some players don’t pay much attention to the goalie. They focus on what they need to do. They step back, look at the corner they want to put it in and, as soon as the whistle blows, put it in the same spot every time, with the same foot. They practice it over and over again. Other players wait till they figure out which way the goalie is going to dive before they decide where to put the ball. Another breed of kickers try to fake going one way to get the goalie totally out of position and then simply place it in the opposite side of the goal. Key word: PRACTICE. You don’t even need a goalie, or even a goal. Just find a wall you can kick a ball off, mark the sport you want to hit with chalk or tape, count 12 yards off (U11 and older) and take your shots over and over again.
     
Ball-control skills:
It is never to early or late to work on some fundamentals: being able to control the ball is a very important part of the game. You develop is through practice and hard work. The less time it takes to control the ball, the more time you have to play it. You can work on it either as a team or individually. Your teammates can kick or throw balls into different parts of your body (i.e. feet, chest, thighs), and at a different pace each time to develop the control. You can also work on it by juggling the ball with your feet, thighs, chest and head. This will really help your confidence. The coach can only show you how to do it, but you have to practice and teach yourself.
All types of dives
Some of the key points from the YSI fall, 2001 goalkeepers clinic in Gainesville:
- Foot work and positioning are very important. Keep a somewhat narrow stance during the ready position. Side and diagonal shuffle steps are used for positioning.
- First job of goalie: keep ball out of net, 2nd objective: maintain position of ball and start the attack.
- Learn to fall on the side (flank) of your body and shoulder instead of turning your body to the ground and breaking the fall with your knees, belly, hands or elbows.

More information on all types of dives:
- The collapse dive: This dive is executed from the standing position. The dive-side leg gradually bends or collapses to lower the body to the ground with the least amount of impact. This should be practiced frequently and is a good warm-up dive to full-speed diving exercises.
- The grass cutter dive: This dive is used for saving low shots. The airspace between the ground and the body of the keeper is kept to a minimum to provide a long low barrier that will not allow for a ball to slip or roll underneath.
- The rocket dive: This is the most spectacular dive. It is used to save a high ball or deflect a ball over the crossbar. It may be preceded by a sideways shuffle step, which will add width because of the distance covered and the momentum it generates.
Final comments on goalkeeping :
Try to dive slightly forward, perpendicular to the flight of the ball.
Drive the dive-side foot into the ground and straighten that leg explosively.
To get air, drive the other, outside knee up and over the shoulder.
After you land,
- protect the ball: arm wrapped around the ball, brought into the chest.
- protect your body: use the top arm and leg to protect yourself after the save.
- or reload if the ball is still in play. Assume the ready position quickly. Don’t use your hands to push off from the ground. Leave your hands free in front of the body.
Fly only when necessary. Unnecessary flying is high-risk keeping !