Gaston United Soccer Club

Coaching Comments And Their Messages

Tom Turner, OYSAN Director of Coaching and Player Development

Communication is an essential part of coaching, and weather we are dealing with eight or eighteen year olds how we get our point across is crucial. I have provided a fantastic article by Tom Turner, the State Director of Coaching in Ohio North, regarding what our words really mean to the players we work with. Hope you enjoy and get some insight.

Coaching Comments And Their Messages

Tom Turner, OYSAN Director of Coaching and Player Development

Much of what players hear from the sidelines reinforces the a fear-soccer of the direct style and moves children farther away from the playing habits that will help them grow as intelligent soccer players. There are some simple and obvious reasons why our average player in OYSAN has never developed the competence to enjoy the game and the passion to play into adulthood, and evolving a culture will be a slow group effort, involving the education of both coaches and parents. What follows, is a sample of typical comments heard at youth soccer games, and the underlying messages that are being subtly relayed to the players about their significant adult respect for, and understanding of the game.

****

Comments: Get it out of here! / Great kick! / Get rid of it! / Boot it long! / Don’t pass it backwards, you might lose it! / You’re going the wrong way! / Don’t ever pass the ball across the field!

Message: Don’t take any chances in trying to keep possession. You are going to be under pressure, so get the ball as far downfield as early as possible so that the ball is away from our goal. Don’t take the time to look for a teammate and don’t worry where the ball ends up. Just make sure you don’t lose possession and risk conceding a goal.

Style conflict: If we never ask young players to take risks and try to play constructive soccer at an age when results don’t matter, when will they ever develop the skills, insights and confidence to play in control, at speed, and under pressure?

****

Comments: Don’t play with it! / Too many touches! / Don’t hold onto the ball!

Message: You don’t have the skill to dribble the ball to create space or buy time for a pass, and we might lose a goal if you are dispossessed. Better to play safe and clear the ball forward out of our end.

Style conflict: Dribbling is the most important skill a young player can learn because they will never have another chance to become a creative player.

****

Comment: Never kick the ball like that! Always use the inside of your foot. That’s not the way I told you to do it!

Message: There is only one correct way to kick the ball and that is not the right way. I have all the answers and you must follow my direction because I am the coach and I am in charge. If you don’t do as I say, you will sit on the bench.

Style conflict: Creative players solve problems in novel ways. They do the unexpected and use whatever insights they possess to arrive at solutions. A good pass, for example, is one that arrives at its target and can be used to the teams= advantage, regardless of how it was delivered. When we tell players they cannot use technique in a unique way, we are chipping away at their ability to think for themselves and perpetuating a culture where players have limited skills and no creativity.

****

Comment: Always play the way you’re facing

Message: I heard this maxim somewhere and I haven’t thought through what it means, but you were just caught in possession when trying to turn up field and this seems like the time to make a coaching point.

Style conflict: This is a coaching contradiction. Players are often asked to receive the ball with their back to goal and turn against pressure. The most difficult opponents are unpredictable in their ability to receive passes and attack space behind and beside defenders. It is a difficult, yet necessary skill for forwards and midfield players. If we always ask players to pass the way they are facing, we make play too predictable and devalue the skills and insight necessary to recognize the opportunity to turn a defender or receive the ball into an open space. The most common reason why players lose possession is that they have no vision of the field behind them before trying to turn.

****

Comment: Always look to pass the ball Short-Short-Long.

Message: I saw a coach demonstrate this drill at a coaching clinic once, but I haven=t thought through what it actually means, other than you should play two short passes and then make a long pass.

Style conflict: Another coaching contradiction usually featured in warm-up drills. In the real world of soccer, passes should be played short or long based on the position of defenders and teammates and the skill level of the player in possession. In the real world of soccer, players are never required to play the ball long after a number of short passes, or vice versa. A more reasonable coaching comment would be to play short passes until there is a tactical advantage in playing a longer pass to a teammate in space.

****

Comments: That’s a card, Ref! / Offside! / Hey Ref, call it both ways! / Unintentional Ref; that’s not a foul! / That’s a handball! / Didn’t you see that, Ref? / Ref, you suck! / What game are you watching, Ref?

Message: I know everything about the interpretation of the rules, and the referee, players and parents need to know it. By attacking the credibility of the official, we send the message to the players and the parents that referee abuse is acceptable. When we serve as a negative example, or condone a vocal parent or player’s negative outbursts by not rebuking them, we are demonstrating disrespect for the game. We also send a strong message to the players that appealing decisions and questioning the authority of the officials are an acceptable part of a soccer education.

Style conflict: Refereeing is a matter of opinion and many new referees are just learning to understand the nuances of officiating what can be a very fluid game. There are good and bad referees, good and bad players, and good and bad coaches. Everyone makes mistakes and everyone should be allowed to learn their craft without undue abuse. Coaching players to react to any call by taking a quick restart or by organizing the defense is a much more proactive and productive approach to dealing with refereeing decisions. Without a playing background, a refereeing license, or years of experience in soccer, inexperienced coaches should endeavor to understand both the letter and spirit of the rules (Laws) and help their teams to appreciate the emotional challenges of interpretation. Coaches, who truly work from a developmental bias, view positive and negative refereeing decisions as an integral part of the game, and which present valuable learning opportunities for their players. Life is not always fair, or to our liking!

In summary, the safety-first, fear-driven, direct, approach to youth soccer develops players who are perpetually uncomfortable in possession and destined to be incapable of playing constructive soccer. Only through more thoughtful, less pressured coaching and more appropriate small-sided games can we provide an environment where our young players have the opportunity to play soccer as adults in our national style.

Coaching Education

Youth development: A Journey to Success

Every soccer coach would like to produce world-class players with perfect technique and an endless knowledge of tactics. Although the perfect player has yet to be created, youth coaches devote many hours to this endless pursuit of excellence, driven by an undying love of the game. However, are we coaching our kids in a manner which will foster success, or are we creating a negative environment for proper development?

Each and every coach, from world cup winners to recreational coaches, needs more coaching education; however, if we follow some basic principles when coaching our youngsters, we can enhance their soccer experience.

A good youth soccer coach will always concentrate on success. This, of course, does not mean results, but the positive aspects of a child's soccer ability. Coaches should always correct mistakes, but cannot forget to praise and point out success. In other words, focusing only on mistakes will create a player that will worry so much about the backlash from the coach that will begin to "hide" in matches and practices. This will certainly prevent them in achieving their original potential.

Kids learn best by watching; therefore a coach must be prepared to demonstrate. Consequently, any youth coach should be able to perform the basic techniques of the game. In addition, youth coaches should encourage players, right from the onset, to watch the game at the highest level available. Whether it is on television, or a local college team, kids will begin to see what needs to be accomplished to perform at a higher level. Most of all, it will teach children the game and its rules, making life of the youth coach much easier.

At the basic level (age 6-9), coaches should concentrate on teaching technique and helping players develop an individual style of ball control. There is no need for defensive tactics, since kids at this age will naturally want the ball; therefore they will do all they can to get it back once they lose it. Furthermore, coaches should avoid assigning roles that are too rigid or insist on non age related tactics, such as teaching players attacking runs during corners, when there is not a single player that can accurately loft the ball over 20 yards. Simply, the coach should concentrate his work on combination play and technique practice in manner that is interesting and exciting for players. Boring exercises, excessive standing in lines or long speeches by the coach (no lines, no laps, no lectures) will cause kids to lose interest and distract their attention from practice. Experiment with positions and allow kids to have lots of contact with the ball (small sided games). Ultimately as they get older they will benefit tremendously.

It is important to note that fitness training without the ball has little room in a youth development program until the older age group (U15 and up). During the developmental stage (10-14), fitness can be achieved through technical exercises and games. There are many methods that will not only improve fitness but also involve the ball. Coordination training, (jumping, hoping, SAQ) is okay, but endless running and sprints will create the wrong idea about the purpose of the sport. When players reach the adult stage, conditioning becomes more and more important; however it is necessary to also concentrate on strength, speed, and endurance.

Finally, as youth coaches we must remember that our goal is long term success, not immediate results. Teaching the game properly with patience will create a love for the game that will ensure a lifetime interest and dedication to the game of soccer for our players.