Just watched this. As an Englishman who played at a good level as a young player and have coached both of my boys teams, the more you take the pressure off the better. They must develop their skills and confidence to make mistakes and learn the game. My generation didn’t see a coach until 10 and we already knew how to play football before we saw a coach. Now they look to the sidelines for help constantly. Up till 11, just let them play. Amount of kids who make it pro especially in England is minuscule. If they are ‘good enough, clubs will find them regardless the level they play at
Thank you for the personal insight. Obviously one of the differences between England and the US is that unless you play the sport, you likely don't know how to play without somebody coaching you, especially in the single digit age groups. But your view to let them just play as opposed to conditioning them to your voice is well assessed. I've seen both and it's quite astounding to watch the difference. Some kids are just paralyzed by the parents who don't even know it. They ask, "why does my kid seem to overthink the game?" As they sream the whole time. I'm like, "ummmm, possibly shut your mouth for 1 of the 2 halves of the match and assess the difference." As I said in the video, it happens everywhere. It's not football, it's life and parenting. Meaning it's commonplace. But who ends up rising to the top is a whole other anomaly.
The pathway can be circuitous. Matt Turner went to Fairfield U, in CT, which is not a top program. Then he went to USL, MLS, then USMNT and PL. Is he great, maybe not, but he has made a career and started in goal for his country at a World Cup, and went through the US University Soccer system. So it is a pipeline, it doesn't need to be a major supplier of talent, but it can provide some kind of platform for the late bloomers or those who were just missed, which is common.
There is a lack of soccer culture in this country, but it does exist in immigrant communities sprinkled around the country. USSF isn't up to the task, but I think mayors of small towns can help build the infrastructure. Small-sided games (like futsal) can be played outdoors where there are unused basketball and tennis courts. Remember the FIFA game (I can't remember, Xbox or Nintendo) where you can play 5v5 with the keeper guarding a hole in the wall? The court is surrounded by trees, if I recall. We need more of that, kids wanting to engage in free play down the street. Cony Konstin has been advocating this for years.
I think you are talking about FIFA Street. AMAZING GAME!!! Probably the best FIFA game EA ever made. As for the culture of the game in the US, I think it's getting stronger. When I was growing up, white kids didn't play pick up. Now they do. The high school players I coach go out to the fields or tennis courts to have fun with a ball. Younger kids play at the park, the parents bring them and hang out, but let them play on their own. The kids know who the big players are, they watch games, they are big fans of certain European clubs, they copy celebrations and skills. This is new, probably due to social media. From my perspective, the coaching is a major issue, but one time will likely fix as well. In 20 years, most parents will have played soccer, many at a decent level and will be more equipped to coach kids than a lot of the parents right now. We'll see, in time....
If you ever want to see with your own eyes the technical and skill superiority gap between US kids and those from ~12-13 year olds in Holland, track down a copy of Wiel Coerver's soccer fundamental drills; filmed in the '80s. Every one of the kids in that video has more control of the ball from their feet to their heads than most of the hotshot, Cracker Jack TH-cam "10 year old juggler destroys.." clickbait shorts. Not exaggerating. All of them could control a ball better with their feet than a typical athletic youth can with their hands. So it's not just that cover-and-movement fundamentals are lacking- if indeed they are- it's that a kid shouldn't reach an age of 15 in a US academy or select team and not be able to juggle a ball walking a lap around a pitch with their head, chest, knees, and feet. As a 28 year old, I started doing the individual exercises in that video, and now at 50+ people from other nations like France, ENG and ARG ask me which Euro club I used to play for; me just juggling around with both feet and dominating warm-up rondos when two or more balls get flicked in. And yes, that also leads to being able to "lace" a bunch of 1-touch passes with (most of the time) either foot. Kids HAVE to be trained to the point where the ball itself is as comfortable on the foot as a sock. Before the entire squad gets together for 'vs.' drills, each player should have touched their own ball `500 times over 20 minutes or so. DAILY. The kinesiological reason for this is really REALLY simple: You don't make the ball do it's thing with the foot you strike it with. You make it happen with the foot on the ground and the rest of your body. The amount and variety of touches you make in a match or squad practice simply isn't sufficient to create a skilled player. Somebody who just does some combo of standing Pilates, wobble board training, 1-legged yoga poses or technical jump-roping could probably wipe the floor with a standard HS all-star or college player given a few weeks familiarity with a ball and the rules.
Thank you for this comment. I love it. You are absolutely right. Develop a relationship with the ball. Love the ball. It's stunning how often players and parents will ask what their kid can do to get better when the answer is right in front of them. TIME WITH THE BALL. Some people are surprised when, as a coach, you tell them "official team training should be a small percentage of the time you spend practicing." When you talk about Pilates, wobble board, yoga, that brings to mind the complaints I hear from parents about the quality of pitches, saying bumpy grass fields are dangerous and ruins the soccer. I'm sure you see the irony.
The problem is the development from 17 years old to 20 years old is non existent. College soccer is a joke. Half the roster are not even Americans and the tactics are the same as most u14 teams. Dont get me started on the substitution rules lol
Very very interesting. You have to be the first person I've ever heard talk about that age group. And I believe you are correct, they also need development. Basically, until a player is 25-27, you can't be certain how far they can go. College soccer overall is decent at best for development, but there are individual institutions who do really good work. Just not enough. The NAIA, due to not having to abide by NCAA rules, could become talent factories and some are, but so few are well enough funded or organized to be consistent.
Just watched this. As an Englishman who played at a good level as a young player and have coached both of my boys teams, the more you take the pressure off the better. They must develop their skills and confidence to make mistakes and learn the game. My generation didn’t see a coach until 10 and we already knew how to play football before we saw a coach. Now they look to the sidelines for help constantly. Up till 11, just let them play. Amount of kids who make it pro especially in England is minuscule. If they are ‘good enough, clubs will find them regardless the level they play at
You wont be found unless you go to fc dallas, nycfc, and germany at 15 years old lol.
Thank you for the personal insight. Obviously one of the differences between England and the US is that unless you play the sport, you likely don't know how to play without somebody coaching you, especially in the single digit age groups.
But your view to let them just play as opposed to conditioning them to your voice is well assessed. I've seen both and it's quite astounding to watch the difference. Some kids are just paralyzed by the parents who don't even know it. They ask, "why does my kid seem to overthink the game?" As they sream the whole time. I'm like, "ummmm, possibly shut your mouth for 1 of the 2 halves of the match and assess the difference."
As I said in the video, it happens everywhere. It's not football, it's life and parenting. Meaning it's commonplace. But who ends up rising to the top is a whole other anomaly.
The pathway can be circuitous. Matt Turner went to Fairfield U, in CT, which is not a top program. Then he went to USL, MLS, then USMNT and PL. Is he great, maybe not, but he has made a career and started in goal for his country at a World Cup, and went through the US University Soccer system. So it is a pipeline, it doesn't need to be a major supplier of talent, but it can provide some kind of platform for the late bloomers or those who were just missed, which is common.
There is a lack of soccer culture in this country, but it does exist in immigrant communities sprinkled around the country. USSF isn't up to the task, but I think mayors of small towns can help build the infrastructure. Small-sided games (like futsal) can be played outdoors where there are unused basketball and tennis courts. Remember the FIFA game (I can't remember, Xbox or Nintendo) where you can play 5v5 with the keeper guarding a hole in the wall? The court is surrounded by trees, if I recall. We need more of that, kids wanting to engage in free play down the street. Cony Konstin has been advocating this for years.
deport all illegals. we don't want them in our country, or our sports.
I think you are talking about FIFA Street. AMAZING GAME!!! Probably the best FIFA game EA ever made.
As for the culture of the game in the US, I think it's getting stronger. When I was growing up, white kids didn't play pick up. Now they do. The high school players I coach go out to the fields or tennis courts to have fun with a ball. Younger kids play at the park, the parents bring them and hang out, but let them play on their own. The kids know who the big players are, they watch games, they are big fans of certain European clubs, they copy celebrations and skills. This is new, probably due to social media.
From my perspective, the coaching is a major issue, but one time will likely fix as well. In 20 years, most parents will have played soccer, many at a decent level and will be more equipped to coach kids than a lot of the parents right now. We'll see, in time....
If you ever want to see with your own eyes the technical and skill superiority gap between US kids and those from ~12-13 year olds in Holland, track down a copy of Wiel Coerver's soccer fundamental drills; filmed in the '80s. Every one of the kids in that video has more control of the ball from their feet to their heads than most of the hotshot, Cracker Jack TH-cam "10 year old juggler destroys.." clickbait shorts. Not exaggerating. All of them could control a ball better with their feet than a typical athletic youth can with their hands. So it's not just that cover-and-movement fundamentals are lacking- if indeed they are- it's that a kid shouldn't reach an age of 15 in a US academy or select team and not be able to juggle a ball walking a lap around a pitch with their head, chest, knees, and feet. As a 28 year old, I started doing the individual exercises in that video, and now at 50+ people from other nations like France, ENG and ARG ask me which Euro club I used to play for; me just juggling around with both feet and dominating warm-up rondos when two or more balls get flicked in. And yes, that also leads to being able to "lace" a bunch of 1-touch passes with (most of the time) either foot. Kids HAVE to be trained to the point where the ball itself is as comfortable on the foot as a sock. Before the entire squad gets together for 'vs.' drills, each player should have touched their own ball `500 times over 20 minutes or so. DAILY. The kinesiological reason for this is really REALLY simple: You don't make the ball do it's thing with the foot you strike it with. You make it happen with the foot on the ground and the rest of your body. The amount and variety of touches you make in a match or squad practice simply isn't sufficient to create a skilled player. Somebody who just does some combo of standing Pilates, wobble board training, 1-legged yoga poses or technical jump-roping could probably wipe the floor with a standard HS all-star or college player given a few weeks familiarity with a ball and the rules.
Thank you for this comment. I love it. You are absolutely right.
Develop a relationship with the ball. Love the ball. It's stunning how often players and parents will ask what their kid can do to get better when the answer is right in front of them. TIME WITH THE BALL. Some people are surprised when, as a coach, you tell them "official team training should be a small percentage of the time you spend practicing."
When you talk about Pilates, wobble board, yoga, that brings to mind the complaints I hear from parents about the quality of pitches, saying bumpy grass fields are dangerous and ruins the soccer. I'm sure you see the irony.
The problem is the development from 17 years old to 20 years old is non existent. College soccer is a joke. Half the roster are not even Americans and the tactics are the same as most u14 teams. Dont get me started on the substitution rules lol
Very very interesting. You have to be the first person I've ever heard talk about that age group. And I believe you are correct, they also need development. Basically, until a player is 25-27, you can't be certain how far they can go. College soccer overall is decent at best for development, but there are individual institutions who do really good work. Just not enough. The NAIA, due to not having to abide by NCAA rules, could become talent factories and some are, but so few are well enough funded or organized to be consistent.