OWN IT

Soccer is a team game.  With that being said, the components of each team raise the potential for every group.  On a technical front, in order for your team to improve you must OWN IT.   

For high end, select clubs, attending training 2-3 times a week isn’t enough.  Just like in school you get homework each night to reinforce what you have discussed in class that day.  Depending on your school, you may get 20 minutes to 3 hours a night.  If you want good grades, to understand your material, and be prepared for quizzes and tests, you do that homework.  My guess is most parents are fairly focused on making sure you are doing your homework.

Training sessions are like going to class.  You get to work on techniques and tactics while getting some repetitions.  The coaches (teachers) explain and demonstrate ideas and solutions to problems that will allow you to be successful during tests (games).  Unfortunately, we do not get the number of repetitions we all need at every practice.   We expect all players to do homework, however, not all players do their homework.  And just like in school, if you do not complete your homework and study the results on your test are up in the air.   We just hope that our test will be easy.

Some students understand math much easier than others.  ‘Johnny’ doesn’t even have to open a book and he gets A’s on his tests.  While ‘Billy’ has to study 2 hours a night for the same class just to get by.  Some techniques and tactics just come naturally to some players, while others need to work hard on improving technically or they need to look over (study) materials from the coaches to better grasp the concepts each team is trying to perfect.

No matter how easy it comes to you or how difficult it may seem, you must OWN IT.  You must create the time to work on your game every day.  It may be an extra 2 hours a day or you may only need 20-30 minutes.  Some will need to spend time on the ball every day, while others may only need days they don’t train.  

Because all of our tests are group tests and they are pass/fail, it can be extremely frustrating to get our grades.  We have all different kinds of tests.  We have tests where we are not prepared and we fail.  There are tests when we are extremely prepared and the test is just too difficult.  We have tests where some of the team is prepared, but others are not.  Tests when we are not prepared and it is easy.  You name it, we get those type of tests. 

Part of our clubs philosophy is to make sure our tests are not too easy.  We do our best to make sure the test is an appropriate level.  We also do our best to expose our players to what levels are out there. 

When the final whistle blows, the result is up to you and your teammates.  Have you OWNED IT?  

WAYS TO OWN IT

1.       Work on Juggler’s Guild and get a minimum level for your age group, increase a level, and ultimately attain the Gold Level.

2.       Review set pieces and tactics for your team the night before a game.

3.       Increase your fitness.

a.       Work on CONES

b.      Add one day of intense flexibility to your schedule – YOGA, 25 minute plus stretching

c.       Add elements of strength training

                                                               i.      Push-ups, sit-ups, body squats

                                                             ii.      Start strength program under a professional when age appropriate

4.       Take advantage of things like THE CENTER
5.    Reach out to teammates for extra training
       a.  Come early or stay late for 10-15 minutes to work on game
       b.  Grab a few teammates on an off day to watch a professional game
       c.  Discuss team tactics to make sure you understand

6.       Be a great teammate. 

a.       Stay positive

b.      Support players on the field, even if you are not.

c.       We all make mistakes.  Pick up your teammate with positive comments when they make one.

d.      Train/Play with 100% Effort.  Be your best, physically and mentally, every training and game, so your component is strong.

Navigating The Water- ACADEMY v CLUB v TEAM

Chances are you or your son or daughter plays 'select' soccer.  If not, I am sure you know someone who does.  As a professional soccer coach, I often get asked about youth soccer and advice on how to choose a team, club, or academy.  My advice is always similar.  What do you want from the experience? If it is exercise and to have fun, then you can do that with just about any team in the area.  If you are looking for something beyond that, it is first important to understand the differences in being on a TEAM, being part of a CLUB, and being a member of an ACADEMY.
This is very difficult to decipher in the youth soccer market because the terms are used very loosely.  Everyone has an FC, SC, or A at the end of their name.
In order to be clear, here are the definitions of each.

TEAM – a group on the same side, as in a game.  Teams can consist within a club or academy, but can and often do stand alone.  Teams have a shared purpose and direction.  They have goals.  Teams exist for the purpose of the goal and accomplishing that goal.

CLUB - an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal.  Athletic clubs offer one or more recreational sports facilities to their members. Such clubs may also offer social activities and facilities, and some members may join primarily to take advantage of the social opportunities. Members of sports clubs that support a team can be sports amateurs—groups who meet to practice a sport, as for example in most cycling clubs—or professionals -- football clubs consist of well-paid team members and thousands of supporters. A sports club can thus comprise participants (not necessarily competitors) or spectator fans, or both.  In soccer, clubs are usually comprised of teams.

ACADEMY - A school for special instruction.  They are education and skill based.  Academies have a philosophy on how to educate, what they are teaching, and a long term plan (Curriculum) on how things will be taught.  In soccer, academies are built around  individuals placed  in teams.  The goal of the youth soccer academy is to develop individual players.  Examples of this are professional teams youth academies, most famously are Ajax (Holland) and Barcelona (Spain).  Both are known for producing athletes that are capable of playing within any system or team. 

How can you recognize which is which?  Again, with these terms associated with just about every organization – what should you look for?
TEAMS are run for themselves.  They usually have a single coach (and maybe an assistant).  They tend to practice with only other members of the team.  Decisions about competition are based solely on the goals of the team.  Teams are based in a small window of ages, usually 1-2 years.  The coach is often extremely influential in the success.  Teams often find it difficult to gain access to upper level competition.
CLUBS are normally comprised of teams.  As a result, many clubs are teams that share facilities.  Some clubs are more organized than others and pull their resources together for the advantage of each team.  For example, they use money from multiple teams to pay a coach to train multiple teams or to purchase/rent fields.  Most of the larger clubs have their teams organized and base their competition on what is best for the teams.  Clubs usually have teams in multiple age groups. 
ACADEMIES are comprised of individual players that are placed on teams.  Individual players often train with a variety of ages and play with different teams within the academy based on their technical, mental, and physical development.  Emphasis is on individual skill and education.  The goal of academies is to have players be able to play in any team.  Players are the first priority, the academy is second, and the team is third.  Competition is based on what is best for the individual player.  Academies have a curriculum for players 5 years to 18 plus.  Some Academies may limit their ages to a more defined limit (example – 8 to 14).
Each of these have their place and each of these can be successful in both terms of on field results and player development.  The differences lye in how each gets their results. 
Again, what do you want from the experience?  I look at it the same way as I would look at choosing a school.  Do you look at a school for the fall, then maybe switch in spring?  Are you looking for a school that allows their teachers to teach whatever they want, whenever they want?  Are the teachers a student in the class’ parent?   What do they teach?  Who are the teachers?  How are students tested?  What happens if my son or daughter is excelling? Struggling?
Let’s explore some of these.  There are many things to consider…
Convenience – can I get my athlete to and from practices and games?  How often do they practice?  
Friends – my athlete would like to play with their friends (Parent would like to hang out with their friends). 
Commitment – we want to try out a higher level from recreational/SAY.  Test the waters. 
Cost – how much will this cost?  Ask questions up front.  What do fees cover?  Do uniforms cost extra?  Are there additional fees for tournaments?  What, if any, other fees will we incur while playing? 
Curriculum – what will my athlete be learning this season, year, throughout their time here?  How are they tested?  Is there a report card (evaluation)?
Do they win? – I answer this very simply, Do you send your child to school to get an A?  Or do you send them to school to get an education?
Each player and family will answer these differently based on their personal circumstances, commitment level, and other variables.  The reason there are so many teams, clubs, and academies is because there is a need.  If there weren’t players for these teams, they would not exist.  When exploring your options in the soccer market, educate yourself.  Compare different options and go with the situation that best fits your athlete’s needs and circumstances. 

CREATIVE, CONFIDENT, COMMITTED, and COHESIVE | Being Committed...Getting Tough

Ohio Elite is different from many clubs.  We focus on the player first.  We give players various opportunities playing with different teams in their age group and higher.  Training is every bit as important as the games.  What is Ohio Elite doing? 

We (the staff) believe the players are the ones that make the team.  The players are the ones that make their high school squads.  The players are the ones that are recruited for college programs.  Every step of the way, the player is what moves the bus.  Our club is one made of players.

On the boys side, we are creating a program that emphasizes being CREATIVE, CONFIDENT, COMMITTED, and COHESIVE athletes.  It begins in our Youth Development Academy (YDA).  Director, Scott Wheeler, spends countless hours giving the athletes ball touches and emphasizing individual technique.  The YDA allows the players to take opponents on with the dribble, no matter where on the field.  We do not tell them to kick the ball out of bounds or smack it up the field just so the other team won’t score.  The YDA encourages players to keep the ball and pass or dribble from the back to the attack to develop confidence and creativity.  Because young players lack strength and technique, there will be several mistakes.  Many times this may result in an opportunity for the opponent to score.  However, they are learning what is necessary to be successful at the Regional and National level when they are older.

I have written several blogs on what we expect in training and ways to stay focused and improve.  Every training session we work on technique, tactics, and giving players ideas on how to create opportunities.  Aside from techniques and tactics, the staff pushes their athletes to play ‘outside their comfort zone.’  We want players who are COMMITTED to improvement.  I know, easily said…but what does this mean?

We want ruthless competitors.  We want, and need, our players to see the competitive situation in a positive light and as a challenge versus looking at competition as a negative and seeing it as a threat.  When presented with a challenge, our players will try to solve the problem.  A challenge is a puzzle, a maze, a video game...it is a problem that must be solved in order to win.  Players need to be excited about tackling challenges and enthusiastic about finding answers, no matter how long it may take.

·         CHALLENGE is moving, THREAT is static.

·         CHALLENGE is alert, THREAT is flat footed.

·         CHALLENGE is fast, THREAT is slow.

·         CHALLENGE is head up and checking shoulders, THREAT is tunnel vision.

We want our players to be in the CHALLENGE STATE as often as possible.  So we put them in demanding situations that are uncomfortable during training.  We make the space small, limit touches, play them numbers down.  We often give them timed runs that are extremely difficult.  We try to see when players switch form a CHALLENGE STATE to a THREAT STATE and get them to switch back immediately.  For me, this is MENTAL TOUGHNESS.

We understand that staying in a CHALLENGE STATE is difficult.  Here are a few ways to help you stay focused and in a CHALLENGE STATE. 

1.       BAM – Body, Action, Move

•   Body – keep body language positive at all times
•   Action – constantly look for an action to execute
•   Move – stay on the move as much as possible

2.       STRIKE A POSE – stand in Power Poses (like Superman with hands on hip)

• Research shows that holding a Power Pose increases testosterone levels and decreases the stress hormone, cortisol.
• Power poses increase the appetite for taking risks.

3.       “Your physiology changes your psychology as much as your psychology changes your physiology.”

Master behaviors and mastery of goals will follow. 

Getting better...1% at a time

Many of the players in the club hear me harp on improving.   We (coaches) have a curriculum and a plan that we are confident will help produce quality soccer players.  However, we all know that just following a plan doesn’t always produce the results intended.  So, how can you, as a player, assist the process to ensure you are improving?

Work hard.  There is no substitute for HARD WORK.  Being a hard worker doesn’t mean you can run faster or jump higher than your teammates.   Seth Godin in his book Small is the New Big defines hard work as

Hard work is about risk. It begins when you deal with the things you would rather not deal with: fear of failure, fear of standing out, fear of rejection. Hard work is about training yourself to leap over this barrier, tunnel under that barrier, drive through the other barrier and after you’ve done that, to do it again the next day.

Your only competition in work rate should be yourself.  Comparing yourself to others will only slow your rate of improvement.  Once your work rate matches your passion, IMPROVING can really begin. 

Make small shifts.  When you are having difficulty with accuracy of passes, adjust your foot shape or increase (decrease) your pace.  You may need to make several adjustments until you figure out what works for you.  Improve at a rate that is attainable.  It is very difficult to make huge improvements in a day or week.  However, everyone can make little improvements each day.  Small shifts often make a big difference to performance.

Embrace Being An Individual.  Getting better and improving often means standing out from the others.  Improvement is difficult and as a result many players are not willing to put forth the effort with unknown results.  Take pride and be consistent in your attitude and the manner which you train and play.  Coaches will notice and so will your teammates.  Over time, players will see the results and will inch closer to your norm.

Write it down.  Create a plan, script, or outline of what you want to focus on for each session and game.  Keep a notebook in your bag.  Each day write down 2-3 aspects that you want to improve and focus on during play. 

EXAMPLE (for a STRIKER)

• Constant movement – no lazy moments.  Focus on finding seams (space).
• On toes all the time – be in athletic stance
• Take away defenders – use checks away from ball to create space

Grade yourself.  Following each training session/game, take 5-10 minutes to review your script, and give yourself a grade.  Did you work hard?  What small shifts did you make?  Did you stand out or were you consistent in your attitude?  Be honest then repeat each time.

Improving can be difficult, slow, and often frustrating.  Use these ideas to help maximize your play and set a course for continual improvement.

Why does Brazil produce so many good soccer players?

Why does Brazil produce so many good soccer players?

Fred, Ronaldinho, and Nemar are among the active elite players from Brazil. Perhaps the greatest player of all time, Pele, was Brazilian. So how did Brazil manage to produce such great players? There is a formula that is often used to explain how one becomes an elite professional. The formula involves practice. Experts say that it takes about 10,000 hours of practice to reach the professional elite status. For example, a doctor goes to medical school for 4 years averaging 8 hours a day, five days a week. Assuming breaks for vacation and holiday time that translates to 7,040 hours in medical school followed by a residency of 3 years minimum (another 8,640 hours). Thus, your pediatrician, internist or family doctor spends a minimum of 15,680 hours training before they are allowed to practice independently.

At Fluminese, soccer players start training young. If you take the average 5 year old, they train twice a week till they turn 12 years old then they train 3 times a week till they turn 15 when they join the residency program and train 5 days a week. All players train 40 weeks a year, on average, taking time off in the winter (July/August) and some holidays. By the time they are 12 years old they’ve trained 1,120 hours with the club. From 13-14 years of age they train 480 hours. Between ages 15-18 years, they train 5 days a week for 3 hours a day, totaling 1,800 hours. So, from the time they are young, players train for about 3,400 hours with their club. They play typically 1 game per week and then they play soccer all the time at home for fun. So, count it all up and this translates to 4,800 hours of soccer playing with friends over a 10 year period; 3,400 hours training with their club and a minimum of 600 hours of games from age 5-18 years. This all adds up to 8,800 hours of soccer. And the player who reaches the professional level, often plays more getting well over the magic 10,000 hours level that predicts excellence.

So, what about players in the United States? We often begin soccer at age 5 training 1-2 hours per week until players reach 9 years of age when we train about 3 hours a week. After the age of 11 years, at higher level clubs like Ohio Elite, players will train about 4-5 hours per week. Soccer training is from August-November and then February-June, roughly 36 weeks per year. If you do the same calculations, the average player from the United States has 1,772 of training hours with their club. Assuming that we average 10-15 games a season early on and 20-30 games per season at the older ages, this translates into another 620 hours. If you add the time that the average kid plays at home with friends (not very much) or in other indoor leagues, most United States players have 2,992 hours by the time they reach 18 years of age. In other words, Brazilians have 2.9 times more soccer experience than the best of players in the United States.

The gap is not really in games but in the training by clubs and playing soccer for fun. Soccer is a way of life in Brazil. It is an experience and part of their culture. And the development of players is designed to expose them to enough hours of soccer to help that become expert. This is one of the important things we learned on our trip to Fluminese. So if the United States wants to begin producing more elite players, it will require more time training and playing.

Ohio Elite ITP - Day Four

Day 4 – Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Game day!

The training grounds were in full use this morning. The 1993/1994 group started their day with fitness and never developed the training session beyond 8v8 to one goal and a counter line.  This groups plays far less full-sided soccer than the younger teams.

The 1997/1998 group spends much of their time in modified 9v9-11v11 games to goal and the 1995/1996 players do a lot more possession-oriented games and also rarely play to goal.  These groups finish with fitness.  All groups end with a static stretch with players carrying their own mats to training for core work.

Our kids trained with one of the U15 coaches.  The goalkeepers went with a Fluminense goalkeeper coach.  The attention to detail and focus on our kids by the goalkeeper coach was tremendous.

The activities were all slight variations to sessions we run at home.  There is no magic to developing – the more time spent on task the better a player will become.  The rule of 10,000 hours exists worldwide! 

A dozen Fluminense 1999’s mixed with our guys to finish with an 8v8 + 6 bumpers to goal in a 30x30 space.

We are getting a more clear idea of the environment and culture.  The idea of residency was previously lost in translation.  The club keeps approximately 35 players in each age group from the 2001’s to 1995’s with another 30 in the combined 1993/1994 age groups.  From these groups, nearly 100 players (mostly top players from outside the area) live on campus with full room and board.  The hotel we are staying in houses additional players (some overflow, others on trial).  Most of these players are relocated when groups are brought in (ours being the first apparently) or when the reserve team stays for a few days prior to a match.  It was the old First Team pre-match facility, but has been replaced by 5-star hotels nearer the stadium in today’s culture.

The local players live at home and get themselves to and from training.  Many players starting as young as the 2001 group received a monthly salary, although they don’t sign contracts with the club until they turn 16.

Training schedules:

2001 | 3 days/week after school from 3-5pm (currently on break)

2000 | 3-4 days/week after school from 3-5pm (currently on break)

1999-1996 | 5 days/week from 9-11:00am (special school in the afternoon)

1995-1993 | 5-6 days/week from 9-11:30am

The 2001’s were brought back from their vacation to play our group.  The game was played in three 25-minute periods with each player playing in at least one full period.  Fluminense lined the reserve field and brought in a referee to make it more official.  It is an honor to play on this field.  We sincerely appreciate the hospitality the group has shown us.

 

The parent arrived from the Copa Cabana to watch the game and had a few minutes with their kid after it ended.  They watched the game from behind an enclosed area with a fence on three sides and wall behind.  Brilliant by the way!

The match went as expected with long periods of defending mixed with short periods of possession and a few chances on goal.  The difference in speed of play was readily apparent.  The Brazilian opportunities on goal developed almost organically while our ability to cross midfield was forced and ineffective. 

In transition, our players’ first inclination is to dribble into open space or turn first then dribble into open space until their final touch is a tackle.  The Brazilians look to pass, often connecting multiple passes is a small area until switching the field where they have a numerical advantage before going to goal with numbers.  Their possession allows a 4-4-2 formation to be played as a 2-4-4 committing as many as 6-7 players to goal.  They dribble only to create chances on goal, rarely taking players on in their defensive half.

Tomorrow – training and then Fluminense v. Cruzeiro at the Maracana!