What Is Recreational Soccer?

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2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook A Message From NYSWYSA Director of Coaching Glen Buckley

Welcome to this new issue of our ever-popular Coaches Handbook. I — one pass from midfield to the outside left, who one-touched the ball hope you find the information helpful and informative. A concerted effort forward and, with the second, crossed a ball to the back post for a header has been made this year to make the New York State West Youth Soccer into the net. The crosser had to have a good touch and cross quickly, as Association Coaches’ Handbook a true “coaches” handbook, and thus pressure was imminent. The cross reached an area that, on a larger field, much of the administrative content found would not have enabled the one-touch finish. All in all, the U12 competition in previous handbooks has been eliminated. was great. The U13s also provided me with some positive feelings about However, important administrative the development of our younger players. We still have a ways to go, but all information — including contact information in all, I left the State Cup feeling positive about our future. for the various individuals serving you The Olympic Development program continues to be competitive within on behalf of New York West, along with a our region. Both our youngest age groups, the ‘95s [Boys and Girls], won section on the benefits of being a member their respective groups at the Regional Tournament. The ‘92 Boys reached of NYSWYSA — have been included, as the final of the tournament, only to finish second-best. The ODP Academy these are elements we feel are important was opened up to players in younger age groups. We invited players born in forfo all coaches to be aware of. ‘96 and ‘97 to attend the sessions in Cortland, Buffalo and Rochester. I am The last year has been a lot of fun within delighted with the response, as over 200 players took part. STATE DIR. OF COACHING ouro coaching department. My four assistant On a personal note, I had another visit to a small town in South Dakota GLEN BUCKLEY DirectorsD of Coaching and I have been in recently that set me thinking and, quite honestly, left me feeling envious. greatg demand across the state. The program, The town is steeped in basketball and football, and it has a recreational whilst still in its infancy, was popular with many organizations that sought soccer association that is only one year old. I was pre-warned not to expect our help and involvement. Whether State-hosted special topics courses or much, as the coaches were brand new to the game, would be wearing education courses, the support and attendance was yet again encouraging. corn-seed hats and be carrying a clipboard with the customary whistle We will continue to host these popular events across the state throughout on a lanyard around their neck. They forgot to mention two other things the year. the coaches would be wearing — both rather funny to the eye, yet to the The individual club, league or team programs we worked on began to soccer purist, definite no-nos. One donned his best Wrangler jeans tucked increase as the year unfolded. We would like to hear from more of you who into socks with the biggest basketball boots I have ever seen in my life. would like us to come and work with your teams or coaches for a one-time Another wore his best Sunday church gear [tie and all], with pants also session or over a period of time. We are highly flexible and will do anything tucked into his best Sunday Brogues that, with the dampness of the grass, within our means and time restraints to accommodate your wishes. To give had no traction whatsoever. You would have thought this coach would have you an idea of areas in which you can call on us for help, here are just a few had the good sense to stand still, but instead he ran around kicking every of the ways in which that the ADOCs and I have assisted clubs over the ball with the kids — of course, following every swipe and miss, he ended past year: up on his backside! You had to be there to really appreciate it, I suppose. Anyway, the reason for my envy was the facility, which was probably the • Implemented club sessions for coaches, along with team sessions for each age group best outdoor facility I have ever seen. Fields for as far as the eye could see, and gender in a club over a negotiated period of time in all sizes, clearly marked out with the correct markings and appropriate- • Assisted at club tryouts size goals. The grass was cut to a length that allowed the ball to roll, and the • Held parent education sessions conditions made you feel like treading carefully for fear of leaving a footprint • Helped restructure many organizations’ development or recreational programs to a more in the pool table-like surface. “player-development” inclusion model through the small-sided game process. Now, I know that there is a perception that there is not a lot in South • Attended many club board meetings to lend our advice to those looking for change Dakota, but the one thing they do have is space. The point is, how well they • Held YM, Intermediate and “E” courses for individual or neighboring club coaches. You have used it. There are only 400 children in the local soccer association, only need 15 coaches to make these education courses happen. I encourage you to talk but organizers put the plan in place to build the facility before the club was to your closest club or organization to work closer together to make these important even in business. A group of individuals raised money in all kinds of “girl courses happen. scout cookie” ways just a few years previous and raised enough from local authorities and businesses to complete the project. In May, we hosted a US Soccer National “C” License at the Chiropractic What I, or what you, would not give for such a facility in our state! The College in Seneca Falls. We had 42 candidates from 11 different states stay task of finding indoor or outdoor venues to host ODP or Coach Education with us for the 10-day residential course. The course was a huge success, courses is becoming harder each year. I know that goes for you, too. The so much so that we are being allowed [awaiting final confirmation] to fact that this “backwoods” area, in soccer terms, could do such a thing was host another course in May of ’09, details of which will be posted on the truly incredible. I left inspired to come back here and begin the process for nyswysa.org website as soon as possible. This gives coaches in our state ourselves. If you have interest in this type of project or have a few million who wish to obtain the “C” license a great opportunity to do so without the dollars you don’t know what to do with, please feel free to contact me. added expense of the travel to far-off places. Seriously, I do believe that it is time for us to come together and at least This year’s State Cup was the best I have seen — especially the U12 discuss a project. competition. The venue was perfect, with the field sizes for this age group As always I am at your service and am proud to represent you in my relevant to the physical, technical and tactical ability of the players. I saw role as the State Director of Coaching. The invitation to contact me or my the best goal of the competition [in all age groups] that would not have Associate DOCs is always open, and we look forward to hearing from you. taken place on a larger field with this age group. It was a three-pass goal Have a great New Soccer Year!

2 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook CONTENTS SECTION I A Message from NYSWYSA Coaching Director Glen Buckley ...... 2 Mission Statement ...... 4 State Ofﬁ ce Staff ...... 4 Board of Directors and Staff ...... 5 Beneﬁ ts of Being a NYSWYSA Member ...... 6 ODP Age Matrix ...... 9 What Is Recreational Soccer? ...... 12 Best Practices For Coaching Soccer In The U.S...... 13 Remembering The Purpose Of Youth Sports ...... 14 Why Small-Sided Games? ...... 15 We Have To Do More For Our Referees ...... 15 U6 Lesson Plan: Individual Activities ...... 16 U8 Lesson Plan: Pairs Activities ...... 18 U10 Lesson Plan: Receiving Lofted Balls ...... 20 U12 Lesson Plan: Penetration ...... 22 Three-Team Transition Game ...... 23 U12 Lesson Plan: Spatial Awareness ...... 24 U14 Lesson Plan: Flank Play & Finishing ...... 26 U15 Lesson Plan: Finding & Combining With Strikers ...... 28 U16 Lesson Plan: Vision Support ...... 30 U17 Lesson Plan: Combining ...... 32 U18 Lesson Plan: Heading For Attack ...... 34 U19 Lesson Plan: Incorporating The Goalkeeper Into The Attack ...... 36 Game To Four Goals ...... 38 Six-Goal Game ...... 39 5v5 With Targets ...... 40 Coaching Teenage American Players ...... 41 Slide Tackling ...... 43 Junior Goalkeeper Ball ...... 44 Why They Stop ...... 45 Beware Of Tournamentitis ...... 47 Player-Parente a e t Contract Co t act ...... 48 nyswysa.org ALLA THE LATEST NEWS AND INFO

NYSWYSAN 2009 COACHES HANDBOOK published by Varsity Communications, Inc. www.varsitycommunications.com • (206) 367-2420 www.nyswysa.org 3 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook State Office Staff

Operations Manager Risk Management Director Registration Roster Pro Tournaments and Publications Dan Watson E-mail: [email protected]

Risk Management ODP Assistant Coaching Courses STATE OFFICE Terri Raeder PO Box 1247 E-mail: [email protected] 41 Riverside Dr. Corning NY 14830 Phone: 607-962-9923

Bookkeeper and Accounting Phone: 800-789-4806 (In NY Only) Registration Fax: 607-962-0525 Payments and Billing Email: [email protected] Donna Mizerak E-mail: [email protected]

NYSWYSA OUR MISSION

NY West We is a not-for-proﬁ t service organization dedicated to providing players, coaches, volunteers, referees and administrators with a safe, fair, organized, open and diverse environment where the sport of soccer can be learned and enjoyed at every level — not only for a game, season or a career, but for life.

Board Motto: “Who can I serve — how can I serve.”

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PRESIDENT 1ST VICE-PRESIDENT 2ND VICE-PRESIDENT SECRETARY MICHAEL RADECKE RICH WAGNER MATTHEW DIMAS CURT REGRUIT [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

TREASURER BINGHAMTON COMMISSIONER BUFFALO COMMISSIONER ROCHESTER COMMISSIONER BRIAN LANG KEVIN ARNOLD MICHAEL RUSS ROGER BEST [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

SYRACUSE COMMISSIONER S. TIER CONTACT PERSON TWIN TIERS CONTACT PERSON STATE DIR. OF COACHING GREG FIRENZE MARK SPACONE MAUREEN DRACUP GLEN BUCKLEY [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

REG./WEB COORDINATOR TOPSoccer COORDINATOR STATE ODP ADMIN. STATE YOUTH REFEREE ADMIN. DIR. OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS Tim Mellander SCOTT BONIFACE MILLIE BLAAKMAN BILL CAMPBELL OYSTEIN OSTEBO [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

www.nyswysa.org 5 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Benefits of Being a NYSWYSA Member STATE DIRECTORDIRE OF COACHING EDUCATION Glen Buckley, a full-time employee of NY West, whose mmission is to develop all levels of coaches and players from U6- UU19, is available to conduct programs for your club. Glen holds a UEFA A license, USSF A and NSCAA Premier Diploma and is a National Youth National Staff Instructor for US Soccer and US YYouth Soccer.

GLEN BUCKLEY

DISTRICTDISTRICT DDIRECTORIRI ECTOR OFF CCOACHINGOACHING PRPROGRAMOGRAM

GREG HEWLETT MAUREEN DRACUP MARK SPACONE CHRIS HERSHEY

The new District Director of Coaching program, under the guidance of the State Director of Coaching Glen Buckley, was launched by the NYSW board of directors to support the growth of the coaching education services provided by the state. Leagues, travel clubs, and recreational programs will now have a local partner whose primary goal is to help to develop their program, coaches and players. The District Directors of Coaching will have access to the latest national and international information provided by organizations such as U.S. Soccer, U.S. Youth Soccer, FIFA and the English Football Association. In many areas across the United States, organizations have been employing their own Directors of Coaching to cover these areas. In NY West, this has not been the case. This program is an opportunity for our members to take advantage of some of the • SpecialSilTiC Topics Courses ffor any age group knowledge that a DOC can provide. Geographically, we are a large state with many differing logistical problems to Additionally, individual clubs, leagues or teams can request a clinic for players, overcome. Clubs may not have enough coaches to meet the required number to host an coaches or parents on any given subject. education course. With the help of the District DOC, the opportunity to bring together coaches from a variety of clubs in a single venue will now be possible. HOSTING A COURSE Programs designed to meet the specific needs of each organization can be If your club or organization would like to host a coaching course, please visit constructed, regarding such topics as (but not limited to) parent education, coach the NYSWYSA Website — www.nyswysa.org — to download the appropriate and player workshops, and clinics, both on the field and in a seminar environment. forms. Details of all scheduled courses are listed on the Website. Please click on Programs can be designed as single- or multiple- day events. “Coaching” and then click on “Coaching Courses.” Alternatively, you may contact the The District DOC will also be available to attend league meetings, board meetings State Office and our Course Coordinator will be more than happy to help you. and coaches’ meetings to discuss areas of interest to each individual organization. Ultimately, the goal of this program is to help to create an awareness of the NATIONAL COURSES programs and services that NY West has to offer, and to create closer, long-term YOUTH MODULE COURSES working relationships with our members. The Youth module courses are designed for the parent-coach of U6, U8 and U10 players. The courses provide a better understanding of: COACHING EDUCATION PROGRAM The following courses are offered to aid coaches at the indicated age level: • The specific age groups • How to place players in age-appropriate activities • Youth Modules for U6, U8, U10 & U12 • Developmental characteristics of the various age groups • USSF State “E” Certificate for U12 to U14 • USSF State/National “D” License for U16-U19 The course consists of three hours of practical field work and two hours of classroom • USSF National Youth License for players age 4-12 theory. There is no testing on this course, and no pre-requisites are required. • USSF National C License for U16 and older, higher level of play Minimum age = 16. • Duration: 4-5 hours • State Intermediate Course for U9 – U12 Cost: $25 per person. Facility rental is additional and is the responsibility of the • State Goalkeeper Course host organization.

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“E” CERTIFICATION • Applicant has three (3) years coaching experience AND three years playing experience The State “E” Certification course is designed for the coach of players who are with U.S. National Teams or three (3) years professional playing experience preparing to or already playing 11 vs. 11 games. Focus is on the players aged 12 through 14. Candidates are introduced to the same methodology of coaching that is STATE COURSES used in the National Coaching School Program. The use of small-sided games to teach STATE INTERMEDIATE COURSE technique and tactics is demonstrated. Preparation of lesson plans that progress in a This course has been designed to help the coach that is working with players U9 simple-to-complex fashion is a main focus of the course. Laws of the Game and Team through U12, playing small-sided games. The course will focus on the use of small- Management are also included in the curriculum. sided games to teach the roles of the player within the 6v6, 7v7, 8v8 or 9v9 format. The course is normally conducted on Friday evenings through Sunday afternoons. The majority of the course is field work, with participants role-playing as players. There is no testing on this course; however, candidates must attend at all scheduled Participants will be asked to coach within a game and feedback will be given. All sessions. No pre-requisites are required. participants will receive a certificate of completion. Minimum age = 17. • Duration: 18 hours (one weekend) Duration: 7-8 hours Cost: $85-$95 per candidate. Facility rental additional. Cost: $45-$55 per candidate. Facility rental additional.

“D” LICENSE STATE GOALKEEPER COURSE The “D” License course is the first step in the National Licensing accreditation The State Goalkeeper Course is designed to address technical, functional and and is designed to prepare candidates for the National “C” License. The course psychological considerations of this unique position. Our goal is to provide coaches focuses on the youth player 14 through 18 years of age. Candidates are tested in their with the fundamentals required to address and coach the goalkeeper as he or she understanding of the technical and tactical demands of the game and the developmental would any other player on the field. The course will be a combination of classroom process necessary for players in these age groups. The course provides an opportunity discussions and activities and practical field sessions. The first half of the course to further understand the practical coaching methodology and framework necessary to covers the technical foundation of the position and its application to the game. prepare players and a team for competition. The course also covers Team Management The second half discusses the goalkeeper’s role as part of the team and provides and Match Analysis. Candidates are tested in both practical coaching ability and examples of how to integrate the goalkeeper into your training sessions. knowledge of the game through theory papers. Upon completion of the course, coaches will be awarded a State Goalkeeping This is a Pass/Fail course, and candidates will be granted a National License or a Certificate. As with all courses offered by NYSW, candidates will be expected State License based on their testing results. Candidates who are given a National “D” to participate in certain portions of the course. No prior goalkeeping experience is License, will be eligible to apply for a “C” License course after 12 months, while those required or expected. given a State “D” License have to wait a full year before applying. Duration: 6 hours • Cost: $55 All coaches, regardless of playing or coaching experience, will be required to attend the State “E” Certification course and wait 12 months before applying to take the National “D” License. Only Licenses or Diplomas from other organizations or Countries will be recognized for waiver. All supporting documentation must be sent to the State Director of Coaching prior to “D” License application. Minimum age = 18. • Duration: 36 Hours (two weekends) Cost: $185-$195 per candidate. Facility rental additional.

NATIONAL YOUTH AND NATIONAL “C” LICENSE The New York State West Youth Soccer Association is recognized by U.S. Youth Soccer and the U.S. Soccer Federation as one of the few state associations with the required level of instructors, the expertise, and experience to host both the National “C” and the National Youth License courses. We have been hosting both on a two-year cycle. The National Youth License, a U.S. Soccer course, focuses upon the nature of children and the adjustments adults must make to coach them. The course curriculum covers the ages of 4-12 years old. Each day of the course, the focus is upon one of the traditional soccer age groups of U6, U8, U10 or U12. Each day, children of the appropriate age group are brought to the course site for the candidates to work with them in a practice training session. The candidates are videotaped while coaching the kids and the video is reviewed with each candidate to aid in the education of the coach. The course combines both classroom (theory) and field (practical) sessions. The course concludes with written, oral and practical examinations. The National Youth License course is six days in length, sometimes being held over two weekends rather than six days in a row. It is ideal for anyone hoping to become a better and more effective coach. Applicants for the “C” license must be at least 18 years of age, and have earned a National “D” License certification held for a minimum of 12 months (attach a copy to application). “D” License certification may be waived under one of the following conditions:

• Applicant received the NSCAA National Diploma and has held it for a minimum of 12 months

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2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook

SPECIAL TOPICS COURSES INTERNET WEBSITE (WWW.NYSWYSA.ORG) Special topics courses can be designed to meet the needs of individual clubs or The NYSWYSA maintains a fully-functional website that publishes information organizations. Courses can take place over a period of time or as a single-day program. for members, including updated educational information on all topics of youth soccer, The district DOC will work with the club DOC or coaching coordinator to build a program rules, policies, coaching education, soccer links, Risk Management, tournament that meets the expectations of the organizing body. listings and more.

CLINICS FOR LEAGUES, CLUBS, PLAYERS, COMMUNICATIONS ANDD PUBLICATIONS PARENT & COACHES Each year NY West publishes and distributess Individual clubs, leagues or teams can request a clinic for players, coaches the following absolutely free of charge to alll or parents, on any given subject (i.e., nutrition, goal-setting, college recruitment, registered member clubs: tournaments, injury care and prevention, tryouts, etc.). Information on a wide array of subjects is available. • Coaches Handbook — An informational guidee Duration: 2-4 hours • Cost: $15-$30 per attendee for coaches and administrators, containingg Contact your District Director of Coaching to design a comprehensive development numerous coaching tips and the most recentt program to meet the specific needs of your organization. information about NY West and the programss available to its members. REFEREE TRAINING AND MENTOR PROGRAMS • The Network — A printed news publicationn NY West supports programs encouraging referee education and training containing relevant and up-to-date informationn as well as programs assisting in the scheduling of referees (such as the for all NYW members. The Network iss Arbiter program). scheduled to be published in April, June andd October of 2009. U.S. YOUTH SOCCER FAMILY • Striker West — An electronic e-Newsletter containing important information As a member of the NYSWYSA, members are a part of the largest youth soccer about upcoming events as well as reports on recently concluded activities. This organization in America — U.S. Youth Soccer — with more than three million newsletter will be published once a month – during months that the Network is players, and are affiliated with the U.S. Soccer Federation and FIFA, the international not issued. governing body of soccer. • Several special pamphlets and brochures with information about special programs, like ODP and Coaching Courses. MEMBERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT • Multiple special e-mails with information about special promotions and benefits A full-time State Office staff is happy to assist with any inquiry. Moreover, available to the NYW membership or to announce important upcoming events. the NYSWYSA is proud to make its coordinators for Recreational soccer, TOPSoccer and Soccer Start, and District Commissioners available to clarify, Please note that Striker West and the special e-mails can only be sent to those review and discuss benefits and services, activities and programs, and offer who have their e-mails entered in the RosterPro registration program. So in order not solutions to inquiries. to miss out on these, make sure your club registers your e-mail in RosterPro. Age Matrix 2008 - 2009 Effective August 1, 2008 through July 31, 2009

Division Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul U19 89 89 89 89 89 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 U18 90 90 90 90 90 91 91 91 91 91 91 91 U17 91 91 91 91 91 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 U16 92 92 92 92 92 93 913 93 93 93 93 93 U15 93 93 93 93 93 94 94 94 94 94 94 94 U14 94 94 94 94 94 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 U13 95 95 95 95 95 96 96 96 96 96 96 96 U12 96 96 96 96 96 97 97 97 97 97 97 97 U11 97 97 97 97 97 98 98 98 98 98 98 98 U10 98 98 98 98 98 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 U09 99 99 99 99 99 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 U08 00 00 00 00 00 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 U07 01 01 01 01 01 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 U06 02 02 02 02 02 03 03 013 03 03 03 03

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ONLINE REGISTRATION Demosphere, Int., the largest manager of soccer websites in America, is managing The following have been inducted into the the NY West RosterPro online registration program for all players, volunteers, coaches and certified referees. RosterPro is continuously improving, offering additional features HALLL OF FFAMEAME to better serve the association’s membership. ONLINE SANCTIONING OF TOURNAMENTS NYW, as the local governing body for youth soccer, determines tournament- sanctioning requirements to ensure equity, liability coverage, fairness and quality. All NYSWYSA-sanctioned tournaments are listed on the NYW Web site www.nyswysa.org.

ONLINE PERMISSION TO TRAVEL ROGER BEST KARLKARL KKRETCHRETCH ROROSSSS RRILEYILEY Contributor Contributor Contributor Permission to travel and other forms are now easier than ever to complete online at: www.nyswysa.org/eTravelForms/index_E.html. For most states in Region I, the travel forms are no longer required. Check the online site above.

RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS NY West conducts background checks on ALL coaches, assistants and managers as well as certified referees. Additionally, per the request of its member clubs, it will also perform background checks on volunteers and administrators. RM passes are valid for two years. TOTOMMYMMY TANNER YUYURIRI LAVRYNENKLAVRYNENKOO The NYSWYSA Pass Issuance Model, which guides the Association in making Player Player decisions on issuing Risk Management passes, is regarded as one of the best in the nation. All requests are now processed electronically via the RosterPro system. Background searches are executed directly between RosterProTM and the vendor on a secure platform to protect members’ privacy — a primary objective of the Association.

INSURANCE As part of your membership, the NYSWYSA carries three policies for its clubs: WIWILLIELLIE DOUGDOUG MMAYAY AALL OODENBACHDENBACH • General Liability — $2,000,000 general liability insurance coverage for clubs. FITZPATRICK Contributor Contributor • Medical Insurance — Secondary medical coverage for registered players and Contributor coaches up to $100,000. • Directors & Officers (D&O) Insurance — A policy in place to cover member clubs’ officers from a suit arising out of decisions made on behalf of the club. “THE GAME FOR ALL KIDS” NY West has programs for players at all levels. The following is a menu of programs AGM, COACHING WORKSHOP & VENDOR SHOW with a brief description of each program offered: The Annual General Meeting (AGM) to conduct elections and other state business is held in November each year. In conjunction with the AGM, NY West also sponsors a 2009 STATE CUP AND US YOUTH SOCCER Coaches’ Workshop and vendor show. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES The 2009 NYSWYSA State Cup, the qualifier for the Region I US Youth Soccer AWARDS PROGRAM Championships and US Youth Soccer National Championships, will be held at NY West has an extensive awards program honoring individuals in the following SUNY Cortland on the weekend of May 29-31, 2009. Details, applications, rules, categories: required forms and deadlines will all be posted on the website (www.nyswysa. org) in January. Be sure to check the State Cup link on the contents list to get • Volunteer of the Year the latest information. • Administrator of the Year Age Group Champions for both boys and girls will travel on to the Region I • Girls & Boys Recreational Coaches of the Year US Youth Soccer Championships, to be held in Barboursville/Huntington, W. Va., • Girls & Boys Travel Coaches of the Year beginning July 2, 2009, and culminating in the Finals on July 7. Region I winners will • Girls & Boys ODP Coaches of the Year then be part of the US Youth Soccer National Championships Final Four competition, • TOPSoccer Volunteer of the Year held in Lancaster, Mass., July 21-27, 2009. • TOPSoccer “Buddies” of the Year • Young Female Referee of the Year OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (ODP) • Young Male Referee of the Year ODP teams are formed at the state association and regional levels, made up of the best players in various age groups. At the HALL OF FAME state level, pools of players are identified in each eligible age group, The NYSWYSA recognizes individuals who have excelled as players of who have boys and girls, and brought together as a team to develop their skills made significant contributions to youth soccer in the western part of NY state by through training and competition. From the state pools, players are inducting them into a Hall of Fame at the annual Awards Banquet. identified for regional and national pools and teams.

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the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships.

RECREATIONAL SOCCER Recreational soccer is the core of most every program in all districts. Each recreational club and league enlists many volunteer parent-coaches, managers and league organizers. Clubs have developed programs that are safe, fun, age-appropriate and allow maximum opportunities for soccer players. Downsizing fields and goals while playing small-sided games are the primary concerns in making the game age-appropriate. Introductory tournaments, available solely to recreational players, are hosted each year by local clubs in partnership with the NYSWYSA and various sponsors. The State Director of Coaching GOALS OF THE ODP PROGRAM and his associate directors of coaching are active in each district, providing help where 1. To provide high-level training to benefit the development of players at all levels. needed and assisting in organizing a number of state and local recreational events. 2. To identify a pool of players in each age group, from which a United States National The NYSWYSA Youth Modules provide a great opportunity for coaches and Team will be selected for international play. volunteers to learn more about what should be presented at the various age groups. 3. To develop a mechanism for the enhancement of ideas and curriculum to improve The module curriculum is developed by competent instructors with professional all levels of coaching through the use of carefully selected licensed coaches. specialties in child development and child psychology.

ELIGIBILITY SOCCER START Any properly registered and insured NY West soccer player who is not participating Soccer Start is designed to introduce the sport of soccer to youngsters living in a US Soccer Development Academy program is eligible for consideration in our ODP in communities not yet served by existing clubs and leagues. Focused on making program. A player may only try out in the state association in which he or she is eligible soccer available to lower-income children in underserved communities, Soccer to be registered. Start provides soccer training and administrative guidance to players who might not otherwise be exposed to the sport. Through its Soccer Start program, the NYSWYSA SELECTION PROCESS also helps new programs find the funding and equipment to begin and expand their Players are selected on the basis of open tryouts. Tryouts are conducted by the activities. In the past several years, U.S. Youth Soccer has donated hundreds of NYW ODP coaching staff, which is recognized for its ability to identify and train players thousands of dollars in financial and material support to programs across the United with superior skills. The NYW State Director of Coaching, Glen Buckley, will assist States, and within NY West over $100,000 has been distributed in grants. the ODP staff in the selection process. Players are evaluated on the following four components of play: • Technique • Tactics • Fitness and Athletic Ability • Psychological Component (Attitude)

ACTIVITIES Upon selection, the NYW ODP players are expected to participate in all activities of their teams. If players are not available for a specific event, they may be replaced by another player from their pool. Players are expected to take their participation in the program seriously and should be committed to improving their individual skills as well as improving as team players. Players are subject to the ODP Code of Conduct upon entry into the program at the state level.

BENEFITS 1. Development as a player as one gets to train and play with the best players in one’s age group 2. Quality instruction from nationally licensed coaches 3. Quality competition in the form of games against ODP teams from other states 4. Exposure to regional and national teams 5. The opportunity to represent one’s state, region, or country in competition 6. Exposure to college coaches

TRAVEL SOCCER Many teams participate in travel leagues. These ‘Classic’ teams also travel to tournaments in other parts of western New York State and neighboring states. Some of the teams participate in ‘Premier Leagues’ where the level of play generally is much more competitive than in the local travel leagues. A few teams also play in the Region I-sponsored and administered Region I Premier League and the Western Appalachian Sub-Regional League. All teams playing in an approved NYW league may enter the New York State West Youth Soccer Association Championship Series (‘State Cup’) to qualify for regional and national level play in

www.nyswysa.org 11 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook What is Recreational Soccer? It’s the Player’s Game

From the US Youth Soccer Director of Coach however,h there are common perceptions of what people and Player Development Manual meanm when they refer to recreational soccer. Let us look at those perceptions. Some common The major concern is that we don’t all talk about the perceptionsp of recreational soccer are: same thing when we discuss recreational soccer. Let’s • Made up of players assigned to team in a random first look at the problem. manner without regard to the ability of the players — as opposed to “select” soccer, in which the players DEFINITIONS: are selected to be on a team through some sort of What do the words “recreation” and “recreational” tryout or selection process. mean in the English language? • Less competitive than “select” soccer. • Lower intensity for training and practices. rec·re·a·tion, noun • Less travel, fewer games 1: an activity that diverts, amuses or stimulates; “scuba • Less skilled players diving is provided as a diversion for tourists”; “for • Less experienced coaches recreation he wrote poetry and solved crossword • Annual or biannual shuffling of players to new teams puzzles”; “drug abuse is often regarded as a form of recreation” [syn: diversion] 2: activity that refreshes and recreates; activity that renews your health and spirits Other perceptions are less gentle. by enjoyment and relaxation; “time for rest and refreshment by the pool”; “days of • “He’s a rec player,” can be an observation or a put down. joyous recreation with his friends” [syn: refreshment] • “They ought to be a rec team,” is definitely a put down. 3: refreshment of one’s mind or body after work through activity that amuses or stimulates; play. Such other perceptions must be stamped out, as recreational soccer is the 4: the act of recreating, or the state of being recreated; refreshment of the strength foundation of the sport in the United States. and spirits after toil; amusement; diversion; sport; pastime. Recreational soccer is defined in the common mind by what it is not, and not by what it is. A similar situation exists in the definition of amateur versus professional rec·re·a·tion·al, adj. athletes. The word is borrowed from the common definitions in the English language 1: of or relating to recreation; “a recreational area with a pool and ball fields” quoted above, but vastly stretched in each application. 2: engaged in as a pastime; “an amateur painter”; “gained valuable experience in amateur For the purposes of this manual, let’s use the following basic definitions: theatricals”; “recreational golfers”; “reading matter that is both recreational and mentally stimulating”; “unpaid extras in the documentary” [syn: amateur, unpaid] Recreational soccer: Is that soccer program that is primarily devoted to the enjoyment and development of soccer players without the emphasis on travel or high- Now what does “recreational soccer” mean? level competition. The purpose of recreational soccer is to provide an opportunity for So you have heard the term before, but do you really know what “recreational the participants to have fun, learn the sport and develop life skills, including a life- soccer” is? There are no legal definitions, no US Youth Soccer rules, policies or long love of the game. regulations. One of the most often-used terms is one of the least defined. Soccer has Recreational Player: A player who is randomly assigned to a team without regard created a new meaning for both the words “recreation” and “recreational”. to his/her abilities and skills. US Youth Soccer does offer a partial definition in its “Policy on Players and Playing Recreational Team: Teams formed randomly to play soccer Rules” in the definitions section when it states that, Recreational League: Leagues composed of teams formed in a random manner.

“Recreational league” means an intraclub league in which: US Youth Soccer Player Participation Objectives (A) The use of tryouts, invitations, recruiting or any similar process to roster players to • FUN! It is critical that players involved in youth soccer enjoy the game in which any team on the basis of talent or ability is prohibited; they are playing. If the organization is able to instill a passion and enjoyment in (B) The club administering the league accepts as participants in the league any eligible the game then half the battle is already won. This also relates very closely to how youths (subject to reasonable terms on registration); players perceive their coach(es) and their interaction with them. One of the main (C) A system or rostering players is used to establish a fair or balanced distribution of reasons players under 12 decide not to continue is that they no longer are enjoying playing talent among all teams participating; and the game; it has become work. (D) League rules require that each player must play at least one-half of each game except for reasons of injury, illness, or discipline. • DEVELOPMENT: A necessary element to support fun. Without it, training and games become stale because there is no improvement. “Recreational team” means a team that participates in a recreational league. • LIFE SKILLS: In our case, through the sport of soccer However, the section head note states that the “definitions are suggested for use by State Associations to facilitate communication and understanding among them.” Note: For a complete copy of this manual, go to nyswysa.org and click on: US Youth Thus, each state association has its own definition and implementation — Soccer Director of Coach and Player Development Manual

12 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Best Practices

By Mike Woitalla Executive Director of Soccer America

What’s really important about the U.S. Soccer Federation’s ambitious move into youth soccer isn’t just the U16 and U18 boys leagues of its new US Soccer Development Academy. For sure, taming the wild west of youth soccer that overburdens elite teen-age players is a crucial part of steering player development in a better direction. In addition, expanding the player identification process by incorporating the nation’s elite clubs into the national team program should decrease the chances of missing young talent. However, what will make the most profound impact is whether US Soccer succeeds in its stated goal to change the approach to how the nation’s youngest players are coached. The Academy launch, stress its architects, is only the first step in their quest to change the youth soccer culture in the USA. Specifically, US Soccer aims to have youth coaches adopt the “Best Practices Player Development Guidelines: Best Practices for Coaching Soccer in the United States,” published by the Federation under the • A primary focus for the coach at the youth level, through the U12 age group, is guidance of Director of Coaching Education Bob Jenkins. to provide an environment that comes close to simulating the “pickup” games of The booklet was created by the Federation’s coaching education our youth. staff and men’s and women’s U.S. National Team coaches. Unlike so much of the pseudo-scientific coaching literature that has turned youth • Coaches should think of themselves more as facilitators, monitors, guides or soccer into an adult-dominated environment, “Best Practices” is plain even participants. common sense. It is a welcome response to the overemphasis on the coach’s role as a “teacher” and “instructor.” • Coaches can often be more helpful to a young player’s development by organizing The inclination to constantly “correct” young players as they less, saying less and allowing players to do more. explore the sport may be driven by good intentions, but it neglects the important difference between learning and being taught. • Set up a game and let the kids play. “Young players should be allowed the opportunity to experiment, and with that, succeed and fail,” says US Soccer. “A coach’s long-term • Encourage the dribbler at the younger ages. goal is to prepare a player to successfully recognize and solve the challenges of a game on his or her own.” • At the younger ages (6 to about 10), soccer is not a team sport. On the contrary, it “Best Practices” helps youth coaches understand the different is a time for children to develop their individual relationships with the ball. developmental stages of young soccer players. The youth coach’s role at the younger ages is simply to create an environment that gives children • Do not demand that the more confident players share the ball. Encourage them to the opportunity to discover the joys of the game. Some children will be creative and go to goal. decide the sport is so much fun, they’ll start dedicating themselves to it so fervently that they will become exceptional players. • Coaches should avoid the impulse to “coach” their players from play to play in Unlike so many coaching guides that preceded it, “Best Practices” order to help them win the match. Coaches should not be telling their young players does not make youth coaching seem like a daunting task. Too often, to “pass rather than dribble,” to “hold their positions” or to “never” do something coaching instruction has encouraged coaches to expect too much, too (like pass or dribble in front of the goal). soon from young players. The guide explains convincingly why an adult-dominated environment • The game is the best teacher for young players. is not conducive to developing great players. Here are a few excerpts from the “Best Practices” Guidelines on To download a copy of “Best Practices for Coaching Soccer in the coachinggy younger g players: p y United States” for free,, ggo to nyswysa.orgy y g and click on “Best Practices”. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

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www.nyswysa.org 13 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Timely Reminder: Purpose of Youth Sport

Jacob Daniel A club that claims elite status has a responsibility to provide the players elite-level Director of Coaching, Georgia Youth Soccer Association facilities, expert coaching, administrative support and, above all, a high standard of behavior and role modeling. Elite status should reflect a measurement of what the club The competitive trends are not only adversely affecting the essence of player can do for the player in terms of character and skill development, not what the player development, but also causing the line between ethical and unethical behavior to become can do for the club. blurry. Youth club leaders need a timely reminder of the purpose of youth sports. As was noted earlier, the undeniably disturbing trend in youth soccer is that the line The mission of any youth organization is to develop character, instill values, teach between ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ is no longer clear. Most club leaders are well-meaning and respect for authority and society, develop confidence and a positive self-image and passionate about the game, but some inadvertently take the wrong turn somewhere help youth reach their potential in life. We just happen to use soccer as the vehicle to along the way, while others turn a blind eye to questionable behavior within their club, achieve this mission. in their quest for success. The mission of a youth club should not revolve around winning championships. Is it ethical for a coach to try and convince a player to join his team after the Winning is a byproduct of a quality program, but it should not be the driving force. player has already given his word to another team? In the strict terms of the local Many well-meaning club leaders verbalize and articulate the need to de-emphasize governing rules, this scenario might be legal, but it’s not ethical. Is it ethical for results, but fail to notice that their actions, or the actions of their staff, contradict their a coach to make false promises to a young player, or to disparage a fellow coach stated philosophy. Some simply don’t see the difference between ‘teaching life lessons in order to convince a player to sign? When a coach tells a player that his current through sport’ and ‘collecting trophies in sport’. The ambivalence in what is ‘right’ and coach cannot help him reach the next level, ethical boundaries have definitely what is ‘wrong’ dims the moral clarity and leads to a collision between mission and been exceeded. ambition. Some examples: When the main reason for traveling to an expensive prestige tournament is to give the team a recruiting advantage, is it fair to impose such expenses and time away WE WANT OUR CLUB TO BE THE BEST IN THE from home on all the players just to attract better players, some of whom will replace STATE/REGION/NATION existing ones upon their return? When club leaders make such claims, on the face of it, it sounds reasonable and What would you do as a parent, if you found out that your child’s teacher shouted a plausible sporting goal. However, the question begs: Is it really about the players, at and criticized him/her in front of the whole class because your child gave the or is it about adult personal ambitions? Just how far are they willing to go to achieve wrong answer. You would undoubtedly be upset at the teacher and probably have this ambition? Will judgment be clouded by ambition and push the ethical envelope a word with him. Yet, many parents allow the coach to shout and berate their child too far? Who benefits, exactly? Will these leaders look after the best interest of the when he/she makes a mistake on the soccer field. How is this different from the individual players? classroom example? Any way one looks at it, it is child abuse. Parents should not tolerate this type of behavior by coaches. However, many do, because they think this IT’S A BUSINESS! IT’S SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST! coach will help their child reach the ‘next level’. As youth clubs grow in size and budgets, comparisons with business are inevitable. Some club leaders tolerate coaches who are poor role models because of their Although a business model can and should be used to structure and professionalize winning track record — coaches who are constantly shouting at players, or criticizing youth soccer, it should not be used to condone the more distasteful ‘cutthroat’ aspects referees with sarcastic remarks, or are often confrontational with opposing coaches of business as acceptable practice in youth soccer. and parents; who punish their players for losing a game by making them do laps or sit Corporate business mantra allows market forces to determine winners and losers. The ups; who flaunt the rules and teach their players that ‘acceptable deceit’ overrules goal of each entrepreneur company is to maximize profits, annihilate the competition sportsmanship and fair play, and that nice guys finish last. Such poor role models and monopolize the market share. If soccer followed the same mantra, the end result should not be tolerated. It flies in the face of the main goal of youth sports. will be only one club left standing in, say, Atlanta. Youth soccer should not allow itself Another widely accepted reality is the perpetual bench warmer. If club leaders to be governed by market forces alone. and coaches were to personally experience the indignity of sitting on the bench for a Youth soccer has more in common with organizations such as Boy Scouts of America, whole game, or for most of the game, they might view this humiliating practice in a or a School District Board. Such organizations strive to operate in a businesslike manner, different light. The argument that the bench warmer still gets to play in games of lesser with fiscal responsibility, and a child welfare-oriented philosophy. They have board of importance or against easier opponents misses the whole point. If the purpose of youth directors who set the vision and mission and who hire experts to run the day-to-day sport is to help children develop self-esteem, how is the implied lack of confidence in operation. A Club Director of Coaching’s role is more akin to a School Principal’s than a player going to accomplish that? Is it ethical for a coach to ask a family to fork out that of a corporate CEO — and school principals don’t waste their time and energy hundreds of dollars for an out-of-town tournament but keep the player on the bench trying to lure children from other schools. because it’s a ‘must-win’ tournament? Has anyone bothered to look at the faces of the players sitting on the bench, those who know they won’t get to play? Or the painful WE ARE AN ‘ELITE CLUB’ expression on their parents’ faces as they share in their embarrassment? Club leaders who position their organization as an elite club aimed at the elite player must remember that they are still dealing with fragile, impressionable children Americans love to cheer for the underdogs. Sport folklore is awash with stories of who are easily bruised, psychologically. The term ‘elite’ is overused and often misused a team of underdogs overcoming adversity, rising to the challenge under the inspiration in sport. Unfortunately, the school of thought among some coaches is that “if the player of a caring coach and beating a team of cocky favorites. In youth soccer, the real life wants to be part of our elite club, he/she must be able to handle the pressure.” An (but sadly ignored) underdog is the bench warmer. It’s time Hollywood made a movie ‘elite’ tag is not a license to abuse players and it doesn’t absolve us of responsibility about a bench warmer who overcame the ignominy of his tag, under the tutelage of a for the unpleasant consequences our players might suffer in the name of competition. caring adult, and scored the winning goal in a ‘must-win’ tournament.

14 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Why Small-Sided We Have To Do More Games? For Our Referees

US Youth Soccer has thought long and hard about the answer to By Tony Waiters the question, “Why Small-Sided Games?” What does “Small-Sided Games” mean? These are soccer games Without referees the game of soccer many a time would be a with fewer players competing on a smaller sized field. These are complete shambles. fun games that involve the players more because fewer players are Can you imagine the recent Euro 2008 without referees? It is sharing one ball. All ages can play “Small-Sided Games”, but it has beyond comprehension. a definite developmental impact on our younger soccer players. I was proud of my record as a pro player. I was never booked. Of US Youth Soccer recommendations for “number of players” at the course, I was a goalkeeper. That, in itself, was enough to keep me various age groups are as follows: disciplined. If the keeper loses his or her cool — or worse, gets thrown out of the game — what does that do for the team? • U6 | 3v3 no goalkeepers I wasn’t as proud of my record as a coach. Twice I was thrown out • U8 | 4v4 no goalkeepers for “protecting my players” when remonstrating to the referee. But • U10 | 6v6 with goalkeepers was I really, “protecting my players”? As a coach of a professional • U12 | 8v8 with goalkeepers team, you could make a case that sticking up for your players is an • U13+ | 11v11 with goalkeepers expectation — but it would be a weak case. What must happen in the game at every level is that there has to be zero tolerance for players, fans, coaches and parents verbally Here are some of the reasons why we believe, as soccer coaches, abusing the referee — or worse. that administrators and parents must guarantee that our young soccer In some of the tougher sports such as American Football and players play small-sided games: Rugby, there is no abuse of the officials because it is just not tolerated. It’s the only way to go. 1. Because we want our young soccer players to touch the soccer It comes of no surprise to read an article out of Ontario where ball more often and become more skillful with it! (Individual a mother of a child playing in a U8 tournament was charged after technical development) berating a 14-year old girl referee and then punching the referee’s Dad when he came to her defense. 2. Because we want our young soccer players to make more, less- If it was just an isolated incident, we could brush it under the carpet, complicated decisions during the game! (Tactical development) but we all know behaving badly and abusively to young and not-so- young referees happens far too often. We have to take a position. 3. Because we want our young soccer players to be more physically When our own son, at 14 years of age, passed his referee exam efficient in the field space they are playing in! (Reduced field size) and started officiating U7 and U8 games, I would always drive him to his games and then stay in the background. Scott thought I was doing 4. Because we want our young soccer players to have more individual him a favor by giving him a ride. Actually I was his “minder” in case teaching time with the coach! Less players on the field and less a parent became carried away — and it did happen. Usually, a little players on the team will guarantee this! (Need to feel worthy and word with a parent would bring him/her back to earth. need to feel important) Solution? There is no watertight answer. Though, what if — when players are registered for a soccer (or whatever) program — the parents 5. Because we want our young soccer players to have more involved had to register, too, and sign a Parents Code of Conduct contract? That playing time in the game! (More opportunity to solve problems would be a start, and it would give the soccer organization executive the that only the game presents) ammunition and incentive to act when and ifif,, it became necessarynecessary..

6. Because we want our young soccer players to have more opportunity to play on both sides of the ball! (More exposure to attacking and defending situations)

7. Because we want our young soccer players to have more opportunities to score goals! (Pure excitement)

These are the reasons why we adults must foster “Small- Sided Games” in our youth soccer programs. The “Small-Sided” environment is a developmentally appropriate environment for our young soccer players. It’s a FUN environment that focuses on the young soccer player. It just makes sense doesn’t it?

www.nyswysa.org 15 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Stretching, Relaxation, Balance, Coordination, Fun Field Size: Cones should be 10 yards apart. Extra laughs after team mantra Break! Water Stretching, Relaxation, Balance, Fun Coordination, Enjoy, Encourage creativity of new soccer skills and new chants. Extra laughs for new individual chants Field Size: Cones should be 10 yards apart. Break! Water DIAGRAM U6 LESSON PLAN Author — F. Trovato — Alaska State DOC 2003 Trovato Author — F. NATIONAL YOUTH CERTIFICATE COURSE CERTIFICATE YOUTH NATIONAL Individual Activities Players Stand near a cone Coach is the Master. Cone serves as point of reference. players perform skill repeatedly (10 sec.) and Coach demonstrates skill and on command then move to new cone. Repeat. Activities Without Ball 1 foot balance, other balance,1 hop, other foot 2 bear crawl, crab crawl Introduce ball around legs with hands, Round on Forehead, Thigh Catch, Ball Tap Figure 8’s the Waist, Body Part Throw Catch, Head Ball Taps, Dribble, Ask Player to Pick Activities Combine Two Random select two activities to combine which players perform before moving on. one Student one Master, Groups of Two, Master leads Student around and through the cones. When Masters reaches an open cone, they choose and perform a soccer skill (the activities we did in the Zen Master Warm-up or new ones) that must be replicated by the or Individual Student. Master chants Team Mantra (players can make up their own new individual chant) Repeat. 20 sec. then switch Master and Student. ball after a few rounds. Activities start without ball and then with ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION PURPOSE & COACHING POINTS 1. Zen Master 1. Zen Up Warm Periodic Stretching and Calming Moments. Give players a funny team mantra to quietly recite at calming moments. Master 2. Zen the Follow Grasshopper Body Control, Balance Replication Practice Periodic Stretching and Calming Moments Mantra — Team

16 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Stretching, Relaxation, Balance, Fun Coordination, Enjoy, Extra Laughs for funny frozen forms Field Size: Red Light – Green 20 x 40 yards Freeze Tag 25 x yards Break! Water Stretching, Relaxation, Balance, Fun Coordination, Enjoy, Field Size: 20 x 30 yards BIG FINISH – Thank you and congratulations to all! RED LIGHT GREEN FREEZE TAG U6 LESSON PLAN NATIONAL YOUTH CERTIFICATE COURSE CERTIFICATE YOUTH NATIONAL Individual Activities Red Light — Green Players move across area on command of Green Light. Coach announces Red Light and players must stop. Any caught moving or with ball far away from them must restart 10 steps back toward starting line. When all players reach end line game is complete. Repeat. 45 sec. games Freeze Tag player must freeze in “It” touches a player, Coach is “It.” Players move in area. When can unfreeze player that position. Teammates by standing next to frozen player and stand on one foot balanced for count of 4. w/ball Freeze Tag teammates must nutmeg frozen player to Players have ball. When player is frozen, unfreeze. Coach serves balls in. If ball goes out of play, have players leave it and coach restarts play with a new ball. Throw-ins can be added. Games to two or three and reshuffle players on teams if are lopsided. Celebrate Mantra! Goals with Team ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DIAGRAM PURPOSE & COACHING POINTS 3. Freeze Games 3. Freeze without 4. 3v3 keepers

www.nyswysa.org 17 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook 15 yds. 20 yds. with flight of ball • Move to get behind and in line with ball. • Select the surface quickly. • Move quickly to get behind and in line • Select surface early • “Withdraw” on contact • Get in “line of flight” quickly. • balanced to receive. Ready, • surface. Choose body surface. • Withdraw • Scoop/”spoon” ball with foot. X 20 yds 15 yds X XO XO Author — Sam Snow 15 yds 15 yds U8 LESSON PLAN NATIONAL YOUTH LICENSE YOUTH NATIONAL Pairs Activities Two players compete against other Two pairs to keep the ball up in air using as many touches needed in 3-minute period. 20 x 15 (one yd. “dead space” for net). 2 teams of play toss-receive-catch over the net. If caught = 1 point — if the ball hits ground no point — Allow 1 bounce. toss it over. Partner helps catch/control. players freely passing a ball Two to keep the ball in inside the grid. Try The ball may not bounce more the air. than twice before it is played. Count the passes inside grid each pass to is a point. Go for thirty seconds. Try get more points than other pairs. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DIAGRAM PURPOSE & COACHING POINTS 1. Juggling with 1. Juggling Partner a 2. Soccer Newcomb Use a size 3 ball not too inflated Game 3. Volley – Cooperative Competitive Set up 15 x yard players and grids. Two one ball in each grid.

18 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook X X … C O O receive a pass a. see ball through bottom of eyes b. keep ball rolling c. first try to solve game by dribbling d. player w/o ball find big, easy spot to X O X O C X X O O U8 LESSON PLAN NATIONAL YOUTH LICENSE YOUTH NATIONAL Pairs Activities start play until a goal is scored or the ball goes out of bounds outta there,” and two new players from each team go on with the next ball scored stay on and two new players from the other team play against them Two players play against each other Two and share a ball. They place two cones anywhere from 2-8 yards apart. They choose! Players pass back and forth The rules are that the to each other. ball must never stop, always stay on the ground and must go through the two cones without touching them. Whenever this is violated the other person receives a point. Because of the rule that ball must never stop, players have to play 1-2 touch. The closer the two cones are the pairs are probably going to be. The farther apart they are, the more will have to move laterally and look more like the old arcade “pong” game. Play for time and see who can become the PONG Champ! a. coach as boss of the balls b. coach passes ball onto field to c. two players from each team play d. out of bounds, coach yells “get e. goal is scored, two players who ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DIAGRAM PURPOSE & COACHING POINTS 4. Pong This is a simple game. 5. 2v2 Get Outta There X & O = players C = coach . = ball

www.nyswysa.org 19 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook cushioning ball cushioning ball a “legs length” away. 1. First touch and importance of 2. Get in line with the ball 3. Select controlling surface early 4. Relax body part at impact. 1. First touch and importance of 2. Get in line with the ball 3. Select controlling surface early 4. Relax body part at impact. 5. First touch sets up your second touch. 6. Ball should come down no farther than Author — Vince Ganzberg — DOC Indiana Author — Vince U10 LESSON PLAN NATIONAL YOUTH CERTIFICATE COURSE CERTIFICATE YOUTH NATIONAL Receiving Lofted Balls Half the group with balls, half without. Player without ball runs to player on outside of square with a ball. Player with ball tosses underhand to player who is running toward them. Inside player receives ball with a designated part of the body and then passes it back. Then they repeat it by receiving a ball from someone new. Passer using throw-in technique throws ball to a player ahead of them in the opposite line. After throwing the ball, they run towards receiving player to simulate pressure, but After simu- take the ball away. don’t lated pressure, then run to the back of the opposite line. Receiving player brings ball down and then dribbles to the line across and leaves ball for the first player in opposite line to repeat. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DIAGRAM PURPOSE & COACHING POINTS 1. Receiving Square Line 2. Receiving

20 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook cushioning ball pressure is coming from. cushioning ball pressure is coming from. 1. First touch and importance of 2. Get in line with the ball 3. Select controlling surface early 4. Relax body part at impact. 5. first touch away from where Take 1. First touch and importance of 2. Get in line with the ball 3. Select controlling surface early 4. Relax body part at impact. 5. first touch away from where Take Control made easier by early selection, getting in line of flight the ball, and relaxing body part at impact. U10 LESSON PLAN NATIONAL YOUTH CERTIFICATE COURSE CERTIFICATE YOUTH NATIONAL Receiving Lofted Balls Two players per team. Two boxes are made approxi- players per team. Two Two mately 20-30 yards apart. There is a player from each team in one box. One starts the game. When the ball is played to other box, attacking team gets the opportunity to get first touch. Then they have to dribble outside of the box (square) receive a point. The defending player is outside the box and has to wait until the attacking player gets first touch. The defending player tries to win the ball after the first touch has been made. If attacking player is successful in bringing the ball down and dribbling outside of the square then they keep it. If defending player wins the ball after first touch, then they become the attacking team. Coach may have to allow serving players toss ball in air and then strike it to their teammate in opposite box. Play 4v2 in each half. Field is 50 x 30 yards with no one allowed over half line. Four players from each team go into their defensive half of the field. The other two players go into the attacking half. The defending players can only defend with two. The other two defending players retreat back to their goal until possession is retained or the attacking team scores. into other half has to be in the air. Could make a restriction that the ball played Session should end with a 6v6 match played on a field that is 50 x 30 or 60 40. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DIAGRAM PURPOSE & COACHING POINTS 3. Box to 4. 6v6 (4v2 in each half) match 5. 6v6

www.nyswysa.org 21 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Work on ideas for penetration. Work movement, disguise, CP: Timing, communication, weight and shape of pass. As above with real focus on imagination and creativity. force it. Don’t As Above As Above No restrictions. T T 8 v 4 v 8 v 40 yds 30 yds 50 yds T T 30 yds 40 yds Offside Author — James Clarkson 40 yds Penetration U12 LESSON PLAN NATIONAL YOUTH CERTIFICATE COURSE CERTIFICATE YOUTH NATIONAL Two teams, one ball keep away. teams, one ball keep away. Two Score with combinations, 1-2’s, take overs, over laps, etc. 4v4 possession — Score by hitting the targets & receiving it back. Keep possession. All players must be in cross half until ball one half, can’t does, either with a dribble or pass. If defending team wins it they score in that half before crossing over. Directional game. Each team tries to score in other team end zone. Score by getting ball in end zone under control, pass or dribble. Defending team defends the offside line & score on the counters. Attackers try to penetrate & score. Soccer Play according to the US Youth U12 modified rules. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DIAGRAM PURPOSE & COACHING POINTS 1. Keep Away 1. Keep Up Warm Game 2. Target 3. End Zone Game Goal 4. One Counters with 5. Full Game 8v8

22 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Three-Team Transition Game (Ages 12 -14)

TEAM C

TEAM A

TEAM B

36’

25’

THE GAME Set up three teams of four players each. Team A defends one goal, Team B defends the other goal and Team C stands on the sidelines. The game lasts 20-30 minutes. If Team A scores they’ll get a ball out of the goal that they’re defending and try to score again, Team B will sprint out, while Team C will replace them. The Team that comes out five times loses the game.

FIELD SIZE: 36’ long by 25’ wide with two regular size goals on each end of the grid. A good supply of balls inside both goals is also needed.

COACHING POINTS • Play the ball quickly • Pressure the ball • Early shot • After turnover, pressure right away and play away from pressure quickly

VARIATIONS • U-10s - no goalkeepers • U-12s - last defender acts like a goal keeper (as long as it is not always the same kid) • U-14s – with goalkeepers and a two touch restriction.

www.nyswysa.org 23 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook The intent is to get the players move, work on passing and receiving techniques, to communicate and solve problems together. The intent is to promote vision and communication between the players without pressure of opponents. The activity will cause the players to work on the techniques of passing and receiving. Rhythm of play timing support runs will improve. Off the ball players must get into field of vision of the teammate with ball. A dynamic run should be made to show for the ball. This activity promotes group movement (tactic) and involves transition. The techniques of dribbling, passing, receiving, shooting, heading, tackling and crossing will have the chance to emerge. As a bonus fitness will also improve in a fun and competitive fashion. X4 X3 O4 X O4 O3 X4 O1 X2 O3 X5 15 yds 30 yds O2 X2 X X1 O2 X1 O5 X3 10 yds 40 yds Author — Sam Snow U12 LESSON PLAN NATIONAL YOUTH CERTIFICATE COURSE CERTIFICATE YOUTH NATIONAL Spatial Awareness original size. have the hang of it add a second ball, which increases the tempo of session. A player should not get caught with two balls. The coach has the watch and players have thirty seconds to use the ball as a “paint brush” and “paint” (via passing) as much of the grass in the grid as they can. All passing is done on the move, no standing allowed. Divide into two or three groups with all groups using the same field. The have to which play through, over and around each other, increases the demand on vision and communication and off the ball movement. VARIATIONS: 1. Reduce the playing area to half of 2. Each group starts with one ball and once they Players can score from either side of the goal stop after a goal is scored. and the game doesn’t Play a normal 4v4 match except for goals being scored from either side of the goal. Because the angled goals there will be more crosses into areas in front of the goalmouth. Many goals can be scored under match conditions in a short time in preparation of attack and period. Teamwork defense will improve. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DIAGRAM PURPOSE & COACHING POINTS 1. Up Paint The Grass Warm Pairs with one ball go into a 10-yard by 15-yard grid. Three rounds with a stretch between each round. 2. Sequence Passing The players organize themselves into groups of five to seven. Players are numbered 1-5(7) and must pass in that sequence, 1 to 2, and 2 3 so on with 5(7) passing to 1. Game 3. Crossing The players should organize themselves into groups of four to play 4v4. The training grid is 40 yards long by 30 yards wide. Corner flags or tall cones should be used for goals and disc cones to mark the corners of grid. The goals are set up diagonally from one another and ten yards in from the goal line.

24 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook This is a complex environment and will require the highest level of concentration from players. It will take them awhile to get the hang of it, so be patient. While this is a match it may be the most complex related activity, activity in this training session. Encourage one and two touch passing in the midfield third to change the point of attack and to get targets forward of the ball. A multitude techniques, offensive and defensive tactics can be taught The coach should focus in this in this activity. lesson on creating space. The intent of these conditions is to work on team communication, off the ball runs, vision, fitness and most importantly compactness. O O X O GK GK GK GK Z O XX XX XX ZZ ZZ XXX O OOO OOO XX O U12 LESSON PLAN NATIONAL YOUTH CERTIFICATE COURSE CERTIFICATE YOUTH NATIONAL Spatial Awareness Divide the field into thirds-defensive, midfield and attacking. Place each group (X, Z & O) into a third. The group Z in the midfield third has ball. Group Z chooses one goal to attack and plays against the group X in that third. The O at the other end is resting. Only group in possession of the ball may enter midfield third. If group Z scores they keep the ball, go back to the midfield third and attack group O goal. If the defending group X wins ball and gets it into the midfield third then group Z stays in the final third and group X now attacks against group O. For a goal to count all field players of the attacking team must be over the halfway line. If any of the field players are not over halfway line half of the field then and in the opponent’s goal does not count and a kick follows. Let them play under this condition until it is obvi- ous they all understand it. Then if the coach feels they are ready the second condition can be added to the game. When a goal is scored against the defending team they must have all of their players in half of the field or goal counts double. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DIAGRAM PURPOSE & COACHING POINTS 4. Three Team Team 4. Three Game The players organize themselves into three groups of five plus a goalkeeper in each goal. Use a regulation field and goals for the age group. Each group keeps track of their own score. Goalkeepers act as their own team. 5. Back All Up & All Play a full field match of 8v8. Follow the US Youth Soccer rules for 8v8 U12 soccer. Use a painted/chalked line or small disc cones to mark the halfway line.

www.nyswysa.org 25 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook preparation, getting the hips around ball, ball contact point, body balance (opposite arm), etc. versus hammering, timing of runs, organizing and adjusting the feet (balance), taking risks with non-dominant surfaces, being as efficient possible with touches. Let them complete the strike, regardless of touch quality. combination with a central player or striker) might combine to get the flank players into crossing positions. can include crosses from outside the box, end line, balls dropped to the supporting fullback (use 2nd flank player); and then we have options for bending balls, driven balls across the face of the goal, balls cut back to penalty spot, flighted far post, balls driven in the air to near etc. the far post first, or by playing an early ball to 2nd striker to find her teammate. ing finishing from left and right flanks. X At the basic level, this practice should provide lots of “varied” technical repetition for crossing and finishing. Coaches should not every detail; pick and choose your times to interject over-analyze and take your time! • Basic technical issues for the wide players should include ball • Basic technical points for the strikers should include steering • Develop some basic ideas on how the wide players (perhaps in • Early vision from flak players. • Strikers should not run offside. • Periodically vary the crossing positions and expected serves. These • can also design ways to involve both strikers by playing You • The three pairs of strikers should rotate to provide for alternat- • the timing of runs into box. Develop the shape and, particularly, XX GK XX / Author — Tom Turner Author — Tom XX XX NATIONAL YOUTH LICENSE YOUTH NATIONAL U14 LESSON PLAN Flank Play & Finishing (44 + channel) x half field. this “may” be too For U-14’s, much width??? penalty area (common goal) shown below pair if the space is not too cluttered. Start with 1v1 in the center. Any activity involving running and striking the ball with laces and instep. ORGANIZATION: 2 midfielders with soccer balls 25-35 yards from goal 2 wide players on each flank 3 “pairs” of attackers outside the penalty area 2 goalkeepers • Field size: 75 yds • Offside applies inside • Use corner flags at half • Players are arranged as • Only add the second central ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DIAGRAM PURPOSE & COACHING POINTS 1. General Warm-up 2. Technical Functional Training Game 3. Flank Numbers 9 v / 10

26 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook preparation, getting the hips around ball, ball contact point, body balance (opposite arm), etc. versus hammering, timing of runs, organizing and adjusting the feet (balance), taking risks with non-dominant surfaces, being as efficient possible with touches. Let them complete the strike, regardless of touch quality. combination with a central player or striker) might combine to get the flank players into crossing positions. can include crosses from outside the box, end line, balls dropped to the supporting fullback (use 2nd flank player); and then we have options for bending balls, driven balls across the face of the goal, balls cut back to penalty spot, flighted far post, balls driven in the air to near etc. the far post first, or by playing an early ball to 2nd striker to find her teammate. ing finishing from left and right flanks. At the basic level, this practice should provide lots of “varied” technical repetition for crossing and finishing. Coaches should not every detail; pick and choose your times to interject over-analyze and take your time! • Basic technical issues for the wide players should include ball • Basic technical points for the strikers should include steering • Develop some basic ideas on how the wide players (perhaps in • Early vision from flak players. • Strikers should not run offside. • Periodically vary the crossing positions and expected serves. These • can also design ways to involve both strikers by playing You • The three pairs of strikers should rotate to provide for alternat- • the timing of runs into box. Develop the shape and, particularly, XX GK XX / Author — Tom Turner Author — Tom XX XX NATIONAL YOUTH LICENSE YOUTH NATIONAL U14 LESSON PLAN Flank Play & Finishing (44 + channel) x half field. this “may” be too For U-14’s, much width??? penalty area (common goal) shown below pair if the space is not too cluttered. Start with 1v1 in the center. Any activity involving running and striking the ball with laces and instep. ORGANIZATION: 2 midfielders with soccer balls 25-35 yards from goal 2 wide players on each flank 3 “pairs” of attackers outside the penalty area 2 goalkeepers • Field size: 75 yds • Offside applies inside • Use corner flags at half • Players are arranged as • Only add the second central ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DIAGRAM PURPOSE & COACHING POINTS 1. General Warm-up 2. Technical Functional Training Game 3. Flank Numbers 9 v / 10

www.nyswysa.org 27 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Expect the players to take charge of themselves. COACHING POINTS: and patience to pick out the strikers. Vision Strikers create space to show for balls feet, or make diagonal runs into channels. Develop combination ideas. Attack with speed, but recycle as necessary when attack stalls. Even numbers MF numbers can be from 3v2 to 3v4 balance between challenge and success. O X OX X GK O O O X X 44 yds X / T ...... /T Author — Tom Turner Author — Tom 18 yds ~10-15 yds ~20-25 yds Balls on the ground to strikers trigger end of build-up and the beginning of attack. Midfield players can/should combine with strikers. Play out each attack to its natural conclusion. Maintain midfield balance in attack. NATIONAL YOUTH LICENSE YOUTH NATIONAL U15 LESSON PLAN Finding & Combining w/Strikers ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DIAGRAM PURPOSE & COACHING POINTS 1. Warm-up: 1. Warm-up: Players responsibility. #2 2. Activity ORGANIZATION: Playing Rules: X/T starts each build up. X\T can pass to the strikers (on the ground), but not on the first ball. 4/5 passes to X/T from O = goal. Play rounds to two or three goals. 2 corners = goal - Don’t take corners!

28 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Defenders should not be restricted to playing on the midfield zone. In the building-up area, play between to balance 4v3 and 4v5, as necessary, success and challenge. Be careful of “requiring” balls be played to forwards; allowing midfielders to get forward as the game dictates should open up natural options to the strikers. Laws of the Game. Play by FIFA Lower the heart rate to below 100 beats per minute. X Offside inside final area No offside in build-up area O X X GK OO X X X / T ...... /T O OO O X Rehydrate! ~24 yds ~30 yds NATIONAL YOUTH LICENSE YOUTH NATIONAL U15 LESSON PLAN O X No offside in build-up area O X X/T ……………..X/T Add a “no press” zone at 20 yards from half way to develop more frequent possession in the back/ midfield. No press rule applies to GK possessions and outbound throw-ins. Rhythmic exercises at a slow pace. Static stretching exercises. Finding & Combining w/Strikers ~24 yds GK Offside inside final area ~30 yds O X O X O X ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DIAGRAM PURPOSE & COACHING POINTS 3. Activity #3 ORGANIZATION: General organizational rules, as Activity #2 above. #4: 4. Activity 11v11 Regulation pitch 5. Cool-Down

www.nyswysa.org 29 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Author — Vince Ganzberg — DOC Indiana Author — Vince NATIONAL YOUTH LICENSE YOUTH NATIONAL U16 LESSON PLAN Vision Support Vision different groups of colors. Three colors passing in an area have three they must pass to another color yet receive from Have one ball to start. Instruct each color that For example: Reds pass to Greens, a third color. pass to and Yellows Greens pass to Yellows, Reds. After a little bit add second and third ball. total number of passes in a time period. When The two attacking teams are counting the the defense wins ball or attacking team plays out the ball, they keep ball from two attacking teams. It is then up to the teams to win the ball back and keep possession. work on vision and support, tell the attacking To teams that they cannot pass the ball to their own They must pass the ball to another color, color. like the warm-up. Another variation is to put a touch restriction on like 1-2 touch. So if there are teams of six, have seven small goals scattered around half a field. This is familiar possession game in which a point is scored when a team plays the ball thru coned goal to another teammate. A bonus point is scored If the ball gets thru a coned goal to teammate who then plays one touch to a third Could also make this way the only to player. get a point If your emphasis is getting support. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DIAGRAM COACHING POINTS 1. Warm-up Activity 2. 1st 3v3v3 of three. One 3 Teams the colored teams is defending team. The other two teams are trying to see how many passes they can get against the defending team. Activity 3. 2nd Goals Multi even teams of 5-8 Two players. Make small goals around a half field area with cones. Make one more goal than each team has players.

30 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook on also works speed of play. essing a good first touch, and the ability to receive under pressure is NATIONAL YOUTH LICENSE YOUTH NATIONAL U16 LESSON PLAN Vision Support Vision something for you to consider if are do this type of training session with your players. Before a goal can be scored, the attacking team must play the ball to one of their two target players who then only have one touch to play the ball back in field to their own team. Could play that whomever plays the ball to end target must replace them. The player then plays the ball in and can join their teammates on the field. work on possession, vision, and support limit To the plus player to one touch while everyone else has two touches. First team to three wins. Could put a touch restriction on them like 1-2 touch, but one of my favorite twists is to make no clapping, hooting, hollering, them play silently, etc. After a bit, then play normally. The purpose is to work on player’s vision and getting support in order to have more productive possessions. This training sessi The purpose is to work on player’s ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DIAGRAM COACHING POINTS This session is geared for the advanced-level player about ages of 14 and up. The technical ability to play 1-2 touch, poss 4. 3rd Activity 4. 3rd 5v5 plus two Play five aside to two teams of seven goals. Two players. Play to two goals. Each team has two target players on their attacking end line. Activity 5. 4th Play 7v7 Plus two to Goals Play 7v7 and have two plus players who are always with the attack. The plus players are now on the field. 6. Concluding Activity Play 8v8-11v11

www.nyswysa.org 31 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook spacing ideas: the back (GK in possession) passing lane(s) If no immediate counter-attack, develop basic If no immediate counter-attack, • Forward and midfield players push out of • Defenders open to the side of field • **GK should advance the ball to create a O O X X X X X X X X O O XO XO OO OO Author — Tom Turner Author — Tom Combining NATIONAL YOUTH LICENSE YOUTH NATIONAL U17 LESSON PLAN passes to any of the four neutral players and connects to a third teammate with a one-touch pass. the team from the neutral player, maintains possession, but does not score. es. If no pass is made after two touches, the ball MUST be passed to one of the other neutral players to keep the ball circulating. and increase ball circulation combinations with a point; goals are worth three points. • score, the attacking team To • Games are to five. • If the passer receives ball back • Neutral players have three touch- SPECIAL RULES: 1. Limit touches (3) to reduce dribbling 2. Reward two- and then three-player ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DIAGRAM PURPOSE & COACHING POINTS 1. Creating space 1. Creating & combining in and three’s two’s Numbers: 3 v + 4 (NEUTRALS) Space: 25/30 x yards & 2. Mobility Connecting Numbers: 3 v + 4 (NEUTRALS) Space: 25/30 x yards 3. 5 v to goals Numbers: four field players and a goalkeeper Space: 40/45 x 30/35 yards Organize players 2-1-1

32 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook phases of play 1. As above 1. As 2. Develop team shape ideas 3. Develop ideas on rhythm and Combining NATIONAL YOUTH LICENSE YOUTH NATIONAL U17 LESSON PLAN move in opposition to each other left-right) (high-low, movements striker’s together (team should be even numbers in defense) ing lanes to the forward lines out of the back / change Point Of Attack by showing in central spaces space when possible striker encouraged combination attempt (successful or otherwise) with points (goals always worth more) “combination” is. Any reasonable combining action involving two or more players should count! Building up: Build basic connection ideas between five players. • Midfielder and forward should • Midfield player acts like a AMF /#10 in three-front, playing off • Defenders should not be forward • Central player should not kill pass- • Striker should not stand on side- • Midfield player should help build • Defenders should run the ball into • and finishing from MF Turning SPECIAL RULES: 1. Limit touches/unlimited touches punting 2. No pressing 3. No 4. Reward any reasonable 5. Do not pigeonhole what a ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DIAGRAM PURPOSE & COACHING POINTS Cool-Down 4. 5 v to goals 5. 8 v (not 11 v 11)

www.nyswysa.org 33 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook • Read the flight of ball • Keep eye on the ball • Get in the line of flight ball • jump to hit ball at highest point Time • Lock neck and keep upper body rigid • Thrust forward from waist Direct ball down and with force • Read the flight of ball • Keep eye on the ball • Get in the line of flight ball • jump to hit ball at highest point Time • Lock neck and keep upper body rigid • Thrust forward from waist Direct ball down and with force • Read the flight of ball • Keep eye on the ball • Get in the line of flight ball • jump to hit ball at highest point Time • Lock neck and keep upper body rigid • Thrust forward from waist Direct ball down and with force 4 v Author — John Thomas COACHES CONNECTION COACHES U18 LESSON PLAN Heading for Attack (half of those players need a ball), and the other half moving on inside ball, receive a pass, and then head the ball back to outside player own half ball up and heading to their partner who must either attempt to score on a header or head the ball back to their teammate who then must either score or pass back… mates who must head ball to another teammate that can then catch the ball 6 yard box and cannot disrupt thrown balls, only headed balls • Half of team on outside grid • Players on the inside show for a players • Stretch then switch inside/outside • Players are restricted to their • Play starts with one person tossing • When defense wins ball they score • Play to three goals • throw the ball to team- Teams • Defenders not allowed in own • First team to five goals wins ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DIAGRAM PURPOSE & COACHING POINTS 1. Warm Up 1. Warm Set up a 25-x-35 yard grid Heading 2. 2v2 for the Goal Players organize themselves to Play 2v2 in a 14-x-10 yard grid 3. Goals 4v4 To Now the players organize themselves to play 4v4 (no GK) in a 36-x-44 yard area

34 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Observe to see if players are using correct technique. Recap the key points of executing finishing. 8 v X X COACHES CONNECTION COACHES U18 LESSON PLAN Heading for Attack • 8v8 + GK game • No restrictions on players 8v8 25 touches between partners and then stretch. Finish with individual juggling. Stretch and replenish fluids. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DIAGRAM PURPOSE & COACHING POINTS 4. Scrimmage The players organize themselves into two including a teams of four, goalkeeper on each team. 5. COOL-DOWN Juggle in pairs.

www.nyswysa.org 35 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook passing the ball side to side) port the pass defend or attack • Maintain proper angles of support • and awareness away from the ball Vision • Proper verbal and visual communication • Appropriate technique while receiving and • Correct and decisive decision making • Good starting position in support of the ball • Link with the run of play (up, down and • Correct distribution to the attack • Play the ball away from pressure and sup- • Organization of the team in transition to B GK O X X Y B X Y GK GK GK 36 yds. B Y OO X X O YB B YB B 45 yds. COACHES CONNECTION COACHES U19 LESSON PLAN Author — Greg Maas — UYSA Technical Director Author — Greg Maas UYSA Technical passing and moving. Every 2-4 passes, the team must pass it to one of the goalkeepers, who then distribute the ball (with their feet) to the opposite colored team. Continuous. between short and long passes. score by linking six Teams away.” One of the six passes together. passes must involve a goalkeeper. their appropriate third of the field (2 v 2 in the attacking and defensive third; and 3 v in the middle third). ball in the middle third of field, they must quickly play the ball back to their goalkeeper before they are allowed to go forward to goal. during the run of play and two points for goals scored beginning with the goalkeeper. • Each team begins with a ball • Goalkeepers should vary service • Eliminate one ball and play “keep- • Begin by restricting players to • If the defending team wins • one point for scoring Award Incorporating the Goalkeeper Into Attack ORGANIZATION VARIATIONS DIAGRAM COACHING POINTS Fundamental 7 v + 2 exercise (define area if necessary). Begin with two balls (one ball for each team – Yellow and Blue). Neutral players (goalkeepers) play for team in possession. Stretch. Match Related I 5 v with goalkeepers to two large goals (36 x 45 or as needed). Divide field into thirds and organize players accordingly. Add neutral player(s) in the central zone if necessary.

36 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook from pressure clear the ball first-time all times • Change the point of attack quickly • Correct decision to play feet or space • Receive the ball and play away • Appropriate decision to control the ball or • Communication and organization at All of the above • Static Stretching • Static Session • Review X XO O GK GK 8 v X ½ Field The Game X XO O O NN NN COACHES CONNECTION COACHES U19 LESSON PLAN Author — Greg Maas — UYSA Technical Director Author — Greg Maas UYSA Technical the channels, progress to 1 v in the outside channels and 5 v in the middle. crossing from the outside flanks is encouraged. the run of play and two points for goals scored off crosses. the point of attack when they win the ball. • Begin with four neutral players in • however Regular rules apply, • one point for scoring during Award • Goalkeepers must look to change • Possible Formation 1:2:3:2. restrictions. • No • Focus on major muscle groups. • Reduce Heart Rate Incorporating the Goalkeeper Into Attack ORGANIZATION VARIATIONS DIAGRAM COACHING POINTS Match Related II 5 v with four neutral players and goalkeepers to two large goals (½ field or as needed). Create two large crossing channels on the flanks no more than, and allow, 1 v in the channels at any time. Match Condition 7 v with goalkeepers to two large goals (½ field or as needed). Cool Down Players jog (dynamic movements). Stretch.

www.nyswysa.org 37 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Game to Four Goals (Ages 9 -14)

B B

A A 36’ 25’

THE GAME This game is used for U-10s to get them used to looking both ways, for U-12s to recognize numbers up and numbers down situations and for U-14s to switch the point of attack and speed of play. It could be also used to improve the defenders shifting and narrowing the field. Set up the field by dividing players into two teams of four players each. Both teams defend and attack two goals. The game lasts 20-30 minutes and the object of the game is to score on two small counter goals. The team that scores more goals wins.

FIELD SIZE: 25’ long by 36’ wide, with one 5’ counter goal at each corner of the grid.

COACHING POINTS • First touch • Preparation • Looking both ways • Playing the ball back then forward • Coaching the movement off the ball by the two neutral players

VARIATIONS • U-10s – 4v4 • U-12s – 4v4 + 2 • U-14s – 4v4 + 2, the two neutral players must switch the ball whenever they receive it, everybody plays with a two-touch restriction.

38 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Six-Goal Game (Ages 4-6, 12)

30’- 40’

40’- 50’

THE GAME Each team defends three goals and attacks three goals. Normal possession rules apply for balls that go out of bounds. Score is kept.

FIELD SIZE: 30’-40’ long by 40’-50’ wide

COACHING POINTS ATTACKING • Keep possession of the ball, make the defenders earn the ball instead of “giving” it to them • Maintain good width to unbalance the defense • Change the point of attack quickly

DEFENDING • Players much play a zone since defending three goals • First defender must stay balanced and not “lunge” in, keeping the ball under pressure • Make sure goals are covered first • Provide good cover • Keep spaces between the defenders tight • Keep balanced as a team; if players overlap their zones, the attacking team will quickly switch the field and score

VARIATIONS • Play with four goals • Play with no goals, scoring instead by dribbling the ball over the line or by stopping the ball on the line • Play with a field that is longer than it is wider

www.nyswysa.org 39 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook 5 v 5 with Targets Author — Sam Snow — US Youth Soccer Director of Coaching Education

This is a favorite of mine. In this game the team in possession (here the black team) scores a point whenever it can play the ball to one set of targets and then, in the same possession, play the ball successfully to the set of targets at the other end of the field. The reason I like this game so much is that it does several things; first it makes possession directional. There is a purpose for the possession, get to both sets of targets. Second, the 360-degree nature of the game means both the team in possession and the team defending have to transition each time the ball is played into a target. Both teams are constantly trying to get into better positions to either help or defend the ball. Finally, it is economical. It requires good technique. It requires good decisions. It forces all players, including the targets, to think in advance of the ball. Clean technique, good decisions equal improved speed of play.

OPTIONS 1) Put touch restrictions on the team with the ball

2 Put touch restrictions on the targets.

COACHING POINTS 1) Coach the shape of the team. To support the ball well, the ball must always have a right, a left, a short through option and a longer through option.

2) Coach the shape of the player, the player needs to open himself to the field (e.g. backside to the outside) to be able to play the ball with the fewest touches.

40 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Coaching Teenage American Players: Rhythm, Decoys and Combinations

By Gary R. Allen U17U players were selected for “elite” teams US Youth Soccer National Staff whenw they were 11 to 14 years old, ages whenw there are often noticeable differences There is a maxim in the professional ini physical maturity. The touchstone for leagues in Europe: “Urgency in soccer is an successs for most young “elite” teams is that unreliable friend.” This is extremely relevant theirt star players can outrun opponents. The to U.S. teenage soccer, but I would change mostm used “tactic,” therefore, is direct play it a bit: “Urgency in youth soccer reliably — unimaginative long balls, with no attempt creates a predictable and frustrating game.” ata guile — where the physically precocious I recently had the opportunity to watch playerp most often prevails. While this tactic our U17 and U20 National Teams train and apparentlya is “successful” through the early play against each other over a two-week teent years, its effectiveness diminishes period. It was interesting, especially in significantlys later, when there is more light of my observations over the past few physicalp parity among players. This early seasons of a number of teenage games and emphasis on direct play, however, becomes training sessions, both in high school and club settings. ingrained in these players, and they rely on it more heavily as they grow Technically, for most teenage players the most glaring needs and the pressure of the game becomes more intense. Unfortunately, concern the abilities to make crisp, smooth passes with pace that do as a result, the vast majority of these “elite” players become one- not bounce or skip, and to receive balls cleanly, especially when running dimensional, cookie-cutter players, unable to solve the problems of the at speed directly towards the passer, most often when “checking” for game differently, imaginatively or creatively. balls. Even with the U17 and U20 National Team players, over half the There appear to be at least three tactical areas upon which coaches time their first touch popped balls up to their waist or two or three feet can focus to help teenage players overcome this “direct play — foot- away from them in an unplanned direction. race” tactical barrier. Each requires that players learn to play collectively Coaches of teenage players would do well to create more practice in groups, cooperate around the ball to create numbers-up situations, environments where players are constantly making and receiving hard, and find and exploit weaknesses in the opposing side. accurate passes under the pressure of limited time and space, but maximum movement. Over the past few years, I have seen thousands of 1. ESTABLISHING A RHYTHM “keep away” and two-touch exercises designed to reinforce good passing A hallmark of great players and great teams is the ability to control and receiving. The reality, however, is that most often the spaces used are and change the tempo and rhythm of play as the game requires. unrealistic, the passes too soft and the players move very little. While they Rhythm has many facets both in attack and defense. Here I will only may keep possession for three or four passes, the players virtually move address a few attacking ideas. nowhere, and coaches generally do not demand crisp, accurate play. In The concept of establishing and/or controlling rhythm is woefully essence, there is no replication of the pressures of the real game. lacking in most teenage games. Almost every time teenage players Consequently, when the players do actually play in the game, their gain possession, the immediate result is a one-vs-one battle. Even lack of tight control and balance while playing and running at speed when they make successful passes to hold possession momentarily, lead to constant battles for the ball where, more often than not, most these seem to erupt from a series of one-vs-one contests, rather players’ second touch is a tackle. than through coordinated group play. There is rarely any sense of While there is a tremendous need for teenage players to spend collective effort beyond a couple of players who may be immediately much time passing and receiving under pressure, the tactical issues around the ball. Most often the second or third player to possess the presented in most teenage games require attention. The most prevalent ball is overtaken by the urgency to make a long searching pass, and tactical characteristic of these games is a direct foot-race type of play possession changes hands once again. that more often resembles a ping-pong match, rather than good soccer. Establishing rhythm requires collective play. There has been much This is true even at the highest levels. When the U20s played games general emphasis on small-sided play as a developmental tool, yet against the U17s, they tended to physically dominate the younger often when players move into a larger game they become disjointed, players. Faced with this pressure, the U17s’ primary response was to with only one or two players actively engaged around the ball. This try to speed up the game and play longer, more direct passes, hoping is primarily because there has been little conscious focus on helping for a crack in the defense somewhere – and they were increasingly players recognize the need for establishing a rhythm every time they frustrated and rebuffed. gain possession and moving together in groups, constantly adjusting There are at least three areas coaches could address to dramatically as the ball moves around the field. improve the level of play: (1) establishing a rhythm, (2) using the ball as Some of the most illustrative examples of using small-sided play a decoy and (3) combination play. to teach collective cooperation among players occurred with the US This tendency towards “urgency” is partly due to the age, where the National Team between 1990 and 1994. During this period, the US had predominant response to pressure is to impetuously fight back harder. the resources to keep players together to train consistently for four There is another more subtle, yet pervasive, factor. Most, if not all of the years. The vast majority of the practices during that time involved small-

www.nyswysa.org 41 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook sided play, with repeated emphasis on what the player with the ball saw, 3. COMBINATION PLAY FROM 40 YARDS OUT TO and how the three, four or five teammates without the ball moved and ISOLATE DEFENDERS AND BREAK ATTACKERS FREE opened avenues for maintaining possession. In the 1994 World Cup, for One of the most underutilized and misused areas of the field in the the first time at that level, the U.S. was able to effectively mount attacks teenage game is between the center circle and the top of the penalty and defend in collective groups of four or five players at a time. area (the “negative” area). Whether they start with the ball at their feet, Coaches of teenage players in the US should focus much more on or with a free kick, teenage players most often ignore and try to bypass this concept of groups of four or five players, and establishing a rhythm, this valuable real estate by playing directly into the limited and highly direction and tempo of play every time the players gain possession of contested space within 20 yards from the goal line. the ball. Players both on and off the ball must learn to see their role as It is in this area of the field that creating a rhythm is so important, part of a collective group to help maintain possession, and create and using the ball as a decoy is most effective, and where learning to exploit opportunities to score. isolate defenders, once we have possession and are facing them, is so important. This is especially true because many teenage teams attempt 2. USE THE BALL AS A DECOY to play “flat back four” types of defense without really understanding I once heard Rene Simoes, the then-current Brazilian Women’s how to play it. Unfortunately many teenage forwards help the cause of Olympic Team Coach, asked to describe the Brazilian style of play. even the flattest of back four defenses by acting as if they are at a track He laughed for a moment and said, “I’ll bet you think I am going to meet, sprinting towards goal, seeking the killer pass. say ‘Samba.’” Then he said, “That is the answer for journalists, but if Using collective group play to isolate defenders should directly you really want to know what is at the heart of Brazilian success, in follow a pass played wide or forward to feet as a decoy. Many youth addition to the level of skill of every player, it is that we use the ball as coaches practice switching the point of attack: an extremely important a decoy.” concept for creating spaces between defenders. This concept is the key to understanding play at the highest levels. However, they often stop there and do not then focus on what happens When one thinks of this concept in areas in front of the goal, so jealously after the ball is switched. They ignore collective combination play to isolate guarded by defenders, it makes perfect sense. It involves making the defenders and exploit the spaces they have created by switching the defenders leave the protected areas or run the wrong way immediately point of attack. For example, shifting the point of attack often creates a one v. before the ball is played into those spaces. It is based on the fact that one situation and a defender without immediate cover. The advantage gained the ball can move faster than the players can run. The aim, as Simoes by switching is often lost when teammates without the ball consistently run declared, is to make the other team chase the ball, something they away from the player with the ball, looking for the killer pass without first can never catch. Besides the great Brazilian teams, perhaps the two setting it up with a decoy. First, the player with the ball still has to deal with greatest teams to do this so simply and effectively were the Hungarian the immediate defending opponent, and second, the space in which he can Team of the 1950s and the Dutch Team of the early 1970s. Both had play a through pass becomes smaller with each of his and his teammates’ three, four and five players at a time combine, using the ball as a decoy steps. Although there are situations when a quick through pass to a breaking to draw opponents to one place, only to play it quickly to other players player may be appropriate, it is often much more effective after a switch if running into the spaces left by defenders chasing the first or second two or more attacking players without the ball immediately seek to help the pass. By contrast, the predominant play in teenage games involves no player with the ball create a numbers up advantage against the immediate decoys, no guile — it is to launch the ball directly into the most heavily defender and draw in nearby defenders. Then, a pass to a breaking player defended spaces in hopes that a teammate will win the foot race with may be on. Players need to recognize when and how to execute certain the opponent. combinations, such as give-and-goes against aggressive defenders, overlaps Coaches should do much more functional work in the area between the for retreating defenders, takeovers for tightly marking defenders who may center circle and the top of the penalty area. Some coaches have called force the attacking player to move sideways, or checking runs ahead of the this area “negative” space behind the front players. It is called “negative” ball that create opportunities for double passes or passes to third players space because it is often left sparsely defended in lieu of defending the running diagonally or from behind the ball. space inside the penalty area. A foundational concept would be to teach Although many coaches incorporate “checking” in their training, players to first make decoy passes to teammates’ feet in front of defenders they do not focus on the purpose of checking – to create space behind (i.e., in the “negative” space), rather than attempting to immediately make the defenders and to make defenders run out of that space immediately killer passes directly into predictable and shrinking areas behind defenders. before a ball is played into it. For this reason, most forwards do not Defenders very rarely guard the “negative” space, but passes played to recognize that a checking run is not an end in and of itself, but merely feet to forwards or midfield players coming back into the “negative” space the first run of a combination, allowing attacking players to outnumber can lure defenders into that space, creating opportunities to play into the isolated defenders and draw other defenders into the “negative” newly-opened spaces behind the defenders. This was the predominant space. This creates the opportunities to play passes through to third tactic used by the great Hungarian Teams of the 1950s. Often their most attacking players running without involving a foot race with defenders. effective passing began with passes to the feet of players coming back Players must constantly be looking to use the ball as a decoy, coupled into negative spaces for balls, followed by a pass backwards, and then with collective combination play to isolate defenders, to break attacking forward to a third player running into the space left by the “decoyed” players free, and get the ball into effective scoring positions. defenders. These types of decoy passes can occur both in the center and This article is only meant to scratch the surface, and merely cite a on the sides of the field. few ideas for coaches of teenage American players: general concepts Players should also be taught to think of playing the ball wide as of creating a rhythm, using the ball as a decoy, and using combination a decoy to draw defenders and open up larger spaces between the play to isolate defenders, break attackers free and exploit spaces defenders. Playing passes as decoys, using both the depth and width created. Hopefully, some of these concepts, if implemented, will help of the field will provide many opportunities to isolate defenders and change the US teenage game from one of frustrating urgency to one exploit the spaces created through combination play. of increasing, interesting and effective opportunities.

42 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Slide Tackling By Marcelo Balboa can’t hesitate, or they’ll be beaten. “When you decide to go down, you have to go down,” he says. Marcelo Balboa, a long-time veteran of the United States National “You can’t think twice about it. If you go into a tackle halfway, you Team currently with the Colorado Rapids of MLS, offers his advice on can get hurt. Decide 100 percent that you are going, then go.” slide tackling. Knowing when to go requires instinct built through experience, and it requires the ability to read the game. 1. WATCH THE BALL When an attacker is running at you with the ball, it’s difficult not 5. ATTACK FROM AN ANGLE to concentrate on his body movements. Doing so, however, could It is possible to slide tackle an opponent from behind or from the cost you a tackle. front. But the risks - fouls, cards, expulsion - are great. More than a few flashy forwards have juked a defender out of The best tackles come from an angle. Coming in at an angle his socks while only nominally touching the ball. Such situations, also allows the defender to strip an opponent from the ball without however, can be avoided by keeping your eyes on the ball. “If tackling. someone is trying to dribble by you and he’s coming right at you, While racing alongside an opponent, wait for him to separate you’ve got to watch the ball,” says Balboa. “No matter where the from the ball. Then step into his path, between him and the ball. attacker’s body moves - he can go right, he can go left - the ball “Step right into his line,” says Balboa. “Now you’ve got the ball, always sits still.” and you can shield it. Chances are, he’ll trip you or foul you because you’ve cut him off.” 2. DON’T TACKLE UNLESS IT’S NECESSARY Tackling from behind, an inexact science that soccer officials are The best place for a defender to be is on his feet, not on the intent on banning, isn’t recommended. ground, and so one should resist the temptation to leap at an “For every clean tackle from behind, there are four bad ones,” opponent’s ankles any time the opportunity presents itself. It’s Balboa says. “You always seem to clip the guy, catch an ankle or better to contain the forward and prevent him from penetrating. You something. You might get away with one clean tackle, but many should also try to work with your fellow defenders to close off the times you are going to foul the guy, and you might seriously hurt attack without direct confrontation. him. That’s why they are trying to stop it. If you are the last line of defense - as Balboa usually is - it is “If I’m tackling from behind, I’m screwed because I’m the particularly important to remain upright. If your slide tackle fails, sweeper,” he says. “I try not to get myself in that situation.” your opponent’s path to the goal will be clear. Slide tackling from the front, with both feet, is another matter, “Any time you dive in, there’s a chance of you getting beat,” and one referees rarely smile upon. Balboa says. “Even if you do dive in and get the ball, it can always “Straight-on, you’re going to get the ball first, but obviously bounce or deflect off the guy and get by you.” you’re trying to hurt the guy if you’re going in with both feet straight on. That’s why referees don’t like straight-on tackling. Even if you 3. WAIT FOR YOUR OPPONENT TO SEPARATE get the ball, they usually call a foul.” FROM THE BALL As long as your opponent has the ball at his feet, he’s in control 6. PROTECT YOURSELF and a slide tackle could be suicidal. Wait for him to knock it ahead two The first law of slide tackling concerns safety, and it begins or three feet — if you are fairly close by — before diving at his feet. with shin guards. Full guards may not be as comfortable as smaller “If you tackle when it’s at his feet,” Balboa says, “he can knock models, but defenders don’t really have a choice. it away from you or dribble by you. When he separates from the Nor do they have a choice once the decision to tackle has been ball, then you cut in front of him without tackling. And that’s perfect made. Don’t take it easy! You must go all-out. because you can keep playing. If you need to tackle, wait for him to “I’ve done that before,” says Balboa. “I went into a tackle very separate from the ball, then hook him.” easy and did my MCL, strained it.” Timing is the crucial ingredient, both for safety and effectiveness. Mechanics are important. Balboa recommends that tacklers But the quality of the timing is elusive. keep their leg unlocked with a slight bend. Then when you get to “The most important thing is to get your timing down,” says the ball, extend your leg through it. Balboa. “If you don’t have the right timing, your opponent is going “Make sure you get the ball right on your shoelaces,” he says. to run right by you, and you might end up with a card.” “And swing your leg through it.” Developing timing requires constant practice, but because training sessions rarely emphasize tackling, games offer the best 7. GIVE ‘EM THE HOOK training ground. The proper slide should make baseball managers proud - it’s a “Kids always want to practice slide tackling, but it is not really hook, on your side, with the extension of your leg through the ball. something you can do in practice,” Balboa says. “The more you play, “It’s like a baseball slide,” says Balboa, who spent some time on the better you’ll get at it.” the base paths during his youth. “The only difference is you don’t slide straight through. In soccer, you’re running at an angle and 4. BE DECISIVE sliding, hoping to land on your side. Then you try to swing your leg Mentality is important - especially at the highest level, where the across and hook the ball.” difference between success and failure can be confidence. Players It requires precision and resolution.

www.nyswysa.org 43 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Junior GK Ball By Tony Waiters

For younger players, no one should know just what position they will eventually take up when they move into more serious 11v11 play in their teens. For the moment, they are all strikers, defenders and goalkeepers. The Junior GK Ball is a fun way to allow children to become accustomed to catching high balls — always a challenge for children under 11 years of age.

OBJECTIVE: Fun game that gives good practice in throwing and catching. Develops supporting play and appreciation of space.

ORGANIZATION: Work in an area approximately 30x20 yards, with full sized goals or five cones spaced two feet apart on the goal line. If using full-sized goals, goals only count with balls rolled into goal. If using cones, the team has to knock a cone over with a throw to score. Ball can only be moved by throwing to teammate. Players cannot run with the ball. All passes must be caught before touching the ground. Opposition takes possession if ball hits ground from a misplaced throw or a mishandled catch. Interceptions can be made by opposition; everyone can use their hands. Partial interceptions can be disputed and claimed by either side by diving on the ball. No tackling allowed — only screening. “Don’t just put your foot out there, hoping the ball will hit you Three-second rule. If one player is holding on to the ball the coach as your opponent trips over you,” Balboa says. “Make sure you begins the count: “One, Two...” if the ball is not thrown before “Three”, swing through it. Try to clear it, or try to kick it away from him.” it is turned over to the opposition.

8. GET THE BALL TEACHING: This is most important. If you don’t get the ball, your Team in possession must support well. goalkeeper will likely be picking the ball out of the back of the All players should recover to own goal quickly after team loses net in a matter of moments. possession. “Make sure you get the ball,” Balboa implores. “You can get Ball will need to be passed around in front of the “goals” to make the ball first and then go through the player.” an opening for the shot if the defending team has recovered well. Or don’t. Tackling doesn’t require a defender to strip the ball from his opponent. Sometimes just getting in the way is enough. TARGET: “If a guy is running down the wing, he’s running full-speed, To outscore the opposition. and you know at that speed he can’t cut it back. You know he is going to cross it,” Balboa explains. “Sometimes if you stick out your leg, you’re not going to block it. If you slide and lift your leg, you can block the pass.”

9. CONTROL YOUR EMOTIONS Professional fouls are part of the game, mere moves in a chess match. And although players can become frustrated and tempers can flare, one should never take it out on an opponent. “It’s important that you control your emotions,” Balboa says. “Never go out to hurt somebody because you’re looking to be thrown out of the game, and that’s stupid. Make sure you keep your foot down when sliding — you don’t ever want to lift your foot. Tackling around the knee or tackling high ... to me, that’s just stupid. Soccer is a fun game. There’s no need to get violent.”

44 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Why They Stop

Vince Ganzberg Director of Education, Indiana Youth Soccer

“Mom and Dad, I don’t want to play anymore!” After investing the time and money into any sport, this is the last thing a parent wants to hear, but it happens. Frequently. Children quitting organized sports occurs more often than one might think. Research has shown that approximately 70-75 percent of children will quit playing a sport by the age of 14. Why do they want to stop? To answer that question, let’s look at why they start, or why parents put their children into a sport in the first place:

• Competence (learning and improving) • Affiliation (being a part of a team, or club) • Fitness (agility, balance, coordination, and physical health) • Fun (this is the overwhelming reason why children play sports)

Notice that “winning” is not one of the reasons. When children leave a game, they want to know two things: 1) When do we play again? and 2) Where is the snack? Children are not as concerned about winning as adults may think. Children all want to compete, but they each have their own interpretation of competitiveness. For most, if one team is red and the other are blue, then. “Game on!” Children strive to do their best when they step into “competition.” They also want competitive matches. Remember when you were a child playing in the backyard and the game was too lopsided? What did Allow your players to play in the game for their own sake. As a coach, you do? I remember stopping those games to start a new one with you need to see their “soul” on the field and allow them to get into different teams, or finding other ways to balance the game. I think the game so they can improve. Not putting children into a game is many of us forget what emotions we went through growing up as a like not allowing them to take a test in school. There is nothing wrong child and how we viewed competition. with having some players earning more time, but all players should be Now let’s get into why they stop. Research says children stop playing given a minimum time to play. sports for a variety of reasons. Six of the seven primary reasons are “ADULT-CONTROLLED” behaviors. Can you guess which one isn’t? OVEREMPHASIS ON WINNING “Winning isn’t everything, it is the only thing.” That is the often- • Lack of Playing Time recited Vince Lombardi quote, which is actually misquoted. Lombardi • Overemphasis on Winning actually stated, “The will to win isn’t anything, it is the only thing.” So • Other Activities are More Interesting many coaches feel as though their whole self-worth is out there on the • Lack of Fun field, and if they don’t win as coaches, then “they” not the children are • Coaching/Adult Behaviors a failure. • Dissatisfaction with Performance The same goes for adults on the sidelines. A recent statistic showed • Lack of Social Support that 25 percent of coaches quit due to adult expectations with regard to outcome. The late Bill Walsh stated that, “Twenty percent of every If you guessed, “Other activities are more interesting,” then you are game is by chance.” In the 1980 Winter Olympics, the Russian hockey correct! Give yourself a pat on the back. There are times when a child team would have probably beaten us nine out of 10 times, but that day, just finds something new that they really like. The rest of the reasons it was America’s day to win. are adult-controlled behaviors. When adult-controlled behaviors are As a coach or parent, you can’t control the outcome. If it is the other forcing children out of a sport, adults are putting themselves before the team’s day, it’s simply their day! Only two teams need to win in our needs and development of children. country, and those are our Men’s and Women’s National Teams. Soccer is a team sport that is “player” driven - once the ball starts rolling, there LACK OF PLAYING TIME is nothing people outside the lines can do. Give them the game, and let This is an adult-controlled behavior due to the coaches and parents them determine the outcome! wanting to “win” the game. Do players want to win? Absolutely! They all strive to do their very best to win. Research has also shown that LACK OF FUN children today would rather play than sit the bench for a winning team. Children view sports differently than adults. Most children, if not

www.nyswysa.org 45 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook

was not called during a U6 match? As a parent, you have taught your children to be respectful of their elders and to give their absolute best on the field. Verbal abuse of the officials on the field leads to referee loss. Did you know that nearly 75 percent of the referees in Indiana are under the age of 16? We must provide a tolerant, respectful, safe environment for these referees to use as a training ground, and it starts with each and every one of us. It takes a village to raise a child, whether they are players or referees. Be a role model for your child. Try to view a game like a “grandparent.” Grandparents don’t care about winning or losing, just want to go and see their grandchild be happy. Let’s take a lesson from this. They have been there, done that. Experience is a great teacher. As a parent you want to see a child’s “soul” when they are out on the field and not just their face. Kids can only play freely when we, as adults, allow them to control their own destiny. The numbers don’t lie: only a small percentage of players will go on to play in college, and even fewer than that will play at the professional level. Refer back to the reason why you enrolled your all, start playing a sport because it looks like fun. There is a saying, child in a sport in the first place. I am sure that for the majority of “Get them playing; keep them playing.” Capture their interest, and then you, it was for one the four reasons at the beginning of this article maintain it. - competence, affiliation, fitness or fun. Please remember that your There is also a saying that, “Drills destroy skills.” No lines, laps, child is not you! Your childhood is over — give your kids the game. lectures. Soccer is a free-flowing game where the players make decisions and decide the outcome. Instead, use training sessions that DISSATISFACTION WITH PERFORMANCE put players in an environment where they can make decisions and Stay away from post-game analysis, or “PGA,” in the mini-van/SUV maximize touches on the ball. after the match. Coaches, stay away from the “PGA” closing statements As Director of Education traveling around the state, I am always after a tough loss. Children remember this, and feedback isn’t always surprised at how many coaches use the age-old practice plan starting what they want to hear. Children know when they make a mistake in with “laps.” Coaches and adults need to know that endurance training a match. Repeating it again verbally isn’t the answer. Try to shift gears is only effective at 12 to 18 months after PHV (Peak Height Velocity), and turn a negative into a positive. Let it go, and make sure that they which is about 13 years, six months for boys and 11 years, six months know you still love them no matter how many mistakes they make. for girls. For the younger ages (6-10 years of age), you can work on their There is a reason why the X Games are popular with children. The most fitness (not just endurance) with the ball, rather than running laps. prevalent is that they can determine their own outcome, be creative, “Teach, don’t talk.” Our children live in a busy world today. As a and make mistakes, without anyone analyzing their performance. result, the ability for them to listen to coach talk has declined. Teach them in training, but make your points short and sweet. Also, include LACK OF SOCIAL SUPPORT them in the process of learning by asking them questions on the topic There is “tough” love and there is “TOUGH” love. Most athletes you have for that training session. that make it to the next level mention their parents gave them “tough” Finally, let them play! “Over the past two decades, children have lost love but were supportive of them every step of the way. 12 hours of free time a week, including eight hours of unstructured play This actually ties in with dissatisfaction of performance. Be there and outdoor activities. The amount of time children spend in organized for your kids through the tough times and the good. It is easy to be sports has doubled, and the number of minutes children devote to passive supportive of them after a victory, a game-winning goal or an important spectator leisure, not counting television but including sports viewing has save. Remind your children that tough times don’t usually last, but increased fivefold from 30 minutes to over three hours.” (Elkind, 1) tough people do. When children feel abandoned by their parents/ It is a different world in which we now live. As a coach, you can coaches, that is when they often go to something else. Sometimes, give them some of that “free time” back by allowing them to play as that something else isn’t a positive activity. soon as they arrive. I observed a club who does this, and their players We all can help create a better environment to make sure that are begging their parents to bring them to training early, because they children begin playing and keep playing, staying active, keeping healthy, know they are able to play the game at the beginning. The game is the and making them lifelong participants in athletics. Indiana Youth Soccer best teacher; so as a coach, allow them to play and express themselves is committed to creating a better environment and offers free “PEP” and to have FUN! sessions (Parent Education Programs) for member organizations. If you would be interested in a free session, please email Vince Ganzberg at COACHING/ADULT BEHAVIORS [email protected], For some reason, some adults and coaches transform from Winnie Have Fun! the Pooh to a grizzly bear when a game rolls around. Everything from yelling at officials’ bad calls to conversing with parents from the other Reference: team is widely seen throughout youth sports. Remember this - without Elkind, David, Ph.D. 2007. “The Power Of Play: how spontaneous, imaginative referees, there is no game! activities lead to happier, healthier children”. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Imagine that your child (who is a new referee) is being verbally abused by adults because a handball

46 www.nyswysa.org 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook Beware of Tournamentitis

By Sam Snow U.S. Youth Soccer Director of Coaching

Tournamentitis — true, it’s not a real word, but it does convey the condition of too many tournaments on the American soccer scene. Indoor, outdoor, 3-a-side, 11v11 — on almost every weekend of the year there are hundreds of tournaments of one type or another taking place across the land. They are for old and young and every level of play. Tournaments started as a means to supply games for teams when there were far fewer teams than today. The distance between the teams often meant that the investment in time and money to travel to another soccer club caused everyone to maximize the effort by playing lots of games. These tournaments began in earnest in the 1970s. Clearly the number of soccer clubs has grown dramatically since then. The distance between teams has become closer, simply because of the proliferation of teams in town after town. Yes, geography still plays a major role in the way we manage soccer in the USA. The size of the country will not change and distance’s impact on time and cost for travel will not change. What has changed and will continue to change is the distance between the home grounds of clubs. In the 1980s, tournaments took on another focus, becoming the main revenue stream for many clubs. Proceeds helped to build facilities and greased the wheels of local governments and business to support soccer by their financial impact on a community. The profits made even helped to create jobs within the clubs for administrators and coaches. Certainly, many positive types of fallout from tournaments have aided in the growth of soccer in our nation. Yet the dominant place of tournaments in youth soccer is a double- edged sword. Often, teams participate in tournaments for poor soccer reasons, or no soccer reason at all. When a team plans to play in a tournament they must ask: who, where, when and why? Teams should indeed play in tournaments to become exposed to a different style of play or a different level of competition. With young, teenaged teams it can be part of learning how to play on the road. For older teams, the chance at regional- and national-level competition can also provide for scouting opportunities by college and professional coaches. In any ttraining i i sessions. i IIn closing, l i hhere iis ththe PPosition iti StStatement t t ffrom ththe 55 case, the number of tournaments must be balanced with the rest of state association Technical Directors on the topic of tournament play: the team’s schedule of training sessions and matches. There can be too much of a good thing. “We believe that excessive play at competitive tournaments is The most talented players tend to play the most matches per year detrimental to individual growth and development, and can serve to (100+) and are generally the least rested. By virtue of the number of reduce long-term motivation. Do not multiple matches being played matches played (and the minutes played therein) the most talented on one day and one weekend have a negative effect on the quality players tend to be under-trained (ideal 5:1 ratio; 10,000 hour rule - Istvan experience and development of the individual player? Further, far too Balyi Ph.D., et al). Most of our elite players never learn how to train in many playing schedules include so many tournaments and matches a professional manner. that there is never an ‘off-season.’ We believe that players under the With so many tournament matches in two or three days, players age of 12 should not play more than 100 minutes per day, and those go into survival mode and play in third gear. Seldom, except perhaps players older than 13 should not play more than 120 minutes per day. in the semi-final match, do they give 100 percent when on the field. We also recommend to tournament managers and schedulers that: This means our competitive players never learn how to play in a professional manner. • Players should be allowed ample rest between matches. Mental and physical exhaustion leads to poor play, typified by kick- • All tournament matches should be of the same length, and that no full- ‘n’-run soccer. These factors may also contribute to injuries as players length match be introduced during play-off rounds. who make late decisions get into tight situations and maybe bad tackles, • Kick-off times allow players a reasonable opportunity to prepare for competition. unnecessary fouls, poor tactical positioning on the field, and so forth. This encompasses rest and recovery, nutrition and adequate time to warm-up and To avoid the malady of tournamentitis, a coach must carefully plan stretch after traveling a long distance in addition to taking into consideration the season with a good balance of tournaments, league matches and extreme environmental conditions.

www.nyswysa.org 47 2009 NYSWYSA Coaches Handbook PLAYER-PARENT CONTRACT

The following is taken from the Sarasota (Fla.) Youth Soccer League’s Player-Parent Contract:

PARENTS/SPECTATORS • I will encourage good sportsmanship by demonstrating positive support for all players, coaches, game officials and administrators at all times. • I will place the emotional and physical well being of all players ahead of any desire to win. • I will support the coaches, officials and administrators working with my child, in order to encourage a positive and enjoyable experience for all. • I will remember that the game is for the players, not for the adults. • I will ask my child to treat other players, coaches, game officials, administrators and fans with respect. • I will always be positive. • I will always allow the coach to be the only coach. • I will not get into arguments with the opposing team’s parents, players, or coaches. • I will not come onto the field for any reason during the game. • I will not criticize game officials • Alcohol, illegal drugs and unauthorized prescription drugs shall not be possessed, consumed or distributed before, during or after any game or at any time while at the field and/or game complex. PLAYERS • I will encourage good sportsmanship from fellow players, coaches, officials and parents at all times. • I will remember that soccer is an opportunity to learn and have fun. • I deserve to play in an environment that is free of drugs, tobacco and alcohol; and expect everyone to refrain from their use at all soccer games. • I will do the best I can each day, remembering that all players have talents and weaknesses the same as I do. • I will treat my coaches, other players and coaches, game officials, other administrators, and fans with respect at all times; regardless of race, sex, creed, or abilities, and I will expect to be treated accordingly. • I will concentrate on playing soccer, always giving my best effort. • I will play by the rules at all times • I will at all times control my temper, resisting the temptation to retaliate. • I will always exercise self-control • Conduct during competitions towards play of the game and all officials shall be in accordance with appropriate behavior and in accordance with FIFA’s ‘Laws of the Game’, and in adherence to FYSA rules. • While traveling, all persons shall conduct themselves so as to being credit to themselves and their team. • Alcohol, illegal drugs and unauthorized prescription drugs shall not be possessed, consumed or distributed before, during or after any game or at any time while at the field and/or game complex

Failure to comply may result in the suspension of your privilege to participate in FYSA sanctioned events, for the following periods: • First offense: Suspension for a minimum of 30 days to a maximum of five years. • Second offense: Suspension for a minimum of one year to a maximum of 10 years. • Third offense: Suspension for a minimum of five years to a maximum of 50 years. ADDITIONAL RULES & REGULATIONS • The only people allowed on the field for training and matches are the players and coaches. • Do not make training and/or matches stressful for your child. Remember ‘player development with enjoyable experiences on the field’. The best thing you can do to support your child is to let them have free, relaxed play. • Coaches give their players specific instructions. Please do not attempt to coach from the touchline. If you want to coach please contact me as I am always looking for qualified people. • On no account must you approach a coach on the field after a game or training session. If an issue arises wait 24 hours and then arrange an appointment so you can both sit down and talk about it. If you are not satisfied after this, then you must contact the Vice President of Recreation, Bayardo Pena, who will either deal with the issue or bring it to my attention. Please do not contact me directly and undermine the position of a coach. Follow the procedure. • All players should arrive for training on time, dressed appropriately (with shin pads!), with a ball of suitable size (inflated) and a water bottle.

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