The following is an e-mail I sent to the parents of my U12 boys soccer team prior to the Spring 2011 season.
I've spoken with a good few of the players about the importance of watching soccer matches and how it serves to reinforce the principles of the game that I've tried to impart upon them.
Unfortunately in my experience, in America even the most committed young players find the idea of watching the full 90 minutes of any game incomprehensible.
This is due to a number of factors ranging from the typical stop-start nature of the traditional American Sports, the increasingly short attention span kids have due to the way the media presents information over here and the simple fact that they don't see their parents watching soccer on TV. A young player in Europe lives in a different world.
I'm under no illusions that these cultural differences are ever going to change and so it is important to focus our attention on how to get around these obstacles.
This does not necessitate a costly subscription to ESPN, Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Channel Plus or a change in lifestyle as you seek to embrace soccer as your own new favourite sport.
There are hundreds of places and thousands of videos available online where kids can watch and re-watch the best players in the world in action and try to replicate what they see when out on the pitch themselves. I've mentioned sites to them in the past but I don't feel the message has hit home.
Therefore I've decided to change my approach by customising my video recommendations for each player.
It would be my hope that the guys would at the very least watch the videos I've suggested and take on board the ideas put forward. Nothing they see will be anything new necessarily but perhaps watching the various tactical nuances put in play will strike a chord with the lads. It would do no harm for them to use these recommendations as a springboard in developing a passion for the game.
Anyway I could talk ad nauseam on this subject but I'll save that for another day!
Unfortunately in my experience, in America even the most committed young players find the idea of watching the full 90 minutes of any game incomprehensible.
This is due to a number of factors ranging from the typical stop-start nature of the traditional American Sports, the increasingly short attention span kids have due to the way the media presents information over here and the simple fact that they don't see their parents watching soccer on TV. A young player in Europe lives in a different world.
I'm under no illusions that these cultural differences are ever going to change and so it is important to focus our attention on how to get around these obstacles.
This does not necessitate a costly subscription to ESPN, Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Channel Plus or a change in lifestyle as you seek to embrace soccer as your own new favourite sport.
There are hundreds of places and thousands of videos available online where kids can watch and re-watch the best players in the world in action and try to replicate what they see when out on the pitch themselves. I've mentioned sites to them in the past but I don't feel the message has hit home.
Therefore I've decided to change my approach by customising my video recommendations for each player.
It would be my hope that the guys would at the very least watch the videos I've suggested and take on board the ideas put forward. Nothing they see will be anything new necessarily but perhaps watching the various tactical nuances put in play will strike a chord with the lads. It would do no harm for them to use these recommendations as a springboard in developing a passion for the game.
Anyway I could talk ad nauseam on this subject but I'll save that for another day!
Without further ado here is the first group of videos for the guys to take a look at:
Gk: ZAC
I want Zac to use his box more, to be much quicker coming off his line when the opposition hit through balls. His starting position needs to be a few more yards off his line. Furthermore it is crucial that he does all he can to get a ball out of the danger area when he is forced to parry a shot.
Likewise the defenders need to make sure they are not bystanders when a shot comes in. They must assume the worst and chase in and cover after a shot comes in in the event that the ball spills out. Too often last year we conceded a goal because the other team anticipated the breaking ball better than us.
Shay Given, a Goalie who doesn't have height on his side has consistently regarded
as one of the best goalkeepers in the world the past decade. He compensates for his lack of height by his tremendous agility, his speed and great reflexes and being good with his feet:
Given saving from Zidane.
Left/Right Back: BEN NICO CAM PAULIE TOMMY JACK MICHAEL
Everton left back Leighton Baines illustrating the importance of getting forward and supporting and supplying the attack.
Ex-England International and current England U21 manager Stuart Pearce on role of a full back
http://www.uefa.com/
Centre Back: BEN NICO CAM PAULIE LUCAS
Lars Lagerbäck discusses the importance of height, tackling, leadership and vision for centre backs.
Centre Back: BEN NICO CAM PAULIE LUCAS
Lars Lagerbäck discusses the importance of height, tackling, leadership and vision for centre backs.
http://www.uefa.com/
Paul McGrath, Ireland's greatest ever defender puts in a colossal performance against Italy at the 1994 World Cup Finals. McGrath's knees were so bad at this stage of his career that he couldn't even train but irrespective of the limitations of age and wear and tear he nullified everything the Italians threw at him that day.
Paul McGrath, Ireland's greatest ever defender puts in a colossal performance against Italy at the 1994 World Cup Finals. McGrath's knees were so bad at this stage of his career that he couldn't even train but irrespective of the limitations of age and wear and tear he nullified everything the Italians threw at him that day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Centre Mid: LUCAS JACK NOAH PAULIE TOMMY MICHAEL
Passing and moving. Xavi and co. getting available to receive the pass. Passing backwards as often as forwards but most importantly keeping possession.
Centre Mid: LUCAS JACK NOAH PAULIE TOMMY MICHAEL
Passing and moving. Xavi and co. getting available to receive the pass. Passing backwards as often as forwards but most importantly keeping possession.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Ex-Arsenal midfielder Paul Davis on role of the central midfielder
Ex-Arsenal midfielder Paul Davis on role of the central midfielder
Playing with the flair and confidence of Zidane
Scoring goals from midfield
Pure and simple we need more goals from our midfield. Jack, Noah, Tommy and Lucas all got a few last season but not nearly enough for my liking. Here is a clip of Irish player Connor Clifford playing for Chelsea youths aged 17 and 18. He displays massive drive and desire to get on the ball and consistently hit the target.
Wing: CJ RILEY JOE OWEN MICHAEL
Ex-England manager Graham Taylor discussing the role of the winger
There is nothing that scares a defender more than coming up against a lightning-quick attacker Our wingers, particularly those with pace need to run at defenders more. There will often be times when it will be necessary to cut back but players with speed have got to use it.
Look at the damage Gareth Bale causes Inter Milan by utilising his main attribute - his pace. His direct approach and clarity of purpose when running through on goal sees him confidently dispatch of the European Champions.
Inter 4-3Tottenham:
(2nd half starts at 2.35)
Tottenham 3-1 Inter: http://www.youtube.
Forward: CJ OWEN MICHAEL
Thierry Henry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Importance of being in the right place at the right time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Importance of being in the right place at the right time
http://www.uefa.com/
General Videos:
Barcelona passing Liverpool off the park
General Videos:
Barcelona passing Liverpool off the park
There are also a few great videos highlighting the role of the midfield enforcer (basically the hard man of the
team who doesn't shy away from tackles and gets stuck in).
However, lest I be accused of advocating malicious play it would probably best if an adult was present in some capacity to make sure the guys didn't take the wrong message from some of these! Let me know if you would like a few links and you as parents could maybe view the clips and decide if your son could benefit from watching.
We really need to get a lot more aggressive on the pitch and that goes for pretty much every team I've seen in the US. It's a contact sport after all. Sometimes it's all a little too friendly out there for my liking...
Anyway pass on these to the guys and I'll try to get another list out before I return.
Happy Christmas,
Kev.
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