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    Private Training is destroying the fabric of Youth Soccer Development

    Skill is decision making, not scissors

    MARCH 01, 2016 Kevin Wolfe
    I wrote a few weeks ago about the downfall of the American soccer player, and how it lies in pink shoes, YouTube videos, and a wealth of Ronaldo and Messi wannabes. I stand by the statement that these players are a products of the consumer environment that is making it hard for young US players to succeed, but I believe there is a deeper rooted issue with why we struggle to develop players that excel at the highest levels. I believe it lies in the definition many coaches, parents, and players have in the word “skill”. An allusive word used by many to trick parents and players into thinking their son or daughter is excelling due to the personal training they are receiving at a top dollar premium, or by many coaches who are being paid entirely to much to run generic “skill based” sessions involving repetitive step overs and other somewhat useless tricks.

    Skill to me means decision making, what decisions are you making during game scenarios that are leading to success. Recognizing the situation and having the “ability” to beat a player 1 v 1 in the right situation is a characteristic of a skillful player. The vision to see an open winger and the ability to drive a forty yard pass from the back to an open winger is skill. Having the ability to play first time and not give the ball away in tight areas, but also having the recognition and composure to take multiple touches when given space and time is skill. And yes, a center back launching the ball into the other end of the pitch when under immense pressure from the opposing team is skill. Skillful players make the right decisions at the right time, and know how and what the right thing to do is in every game scenario.

    To often you find players who can perform techniques but cannot apply them to game situations. These players are usually the product of personal training gone wrong which is over teaching techniques like ball striking and 1 v 1 moves. Too many times I have coached players who can do complex movements with the ball, but cannot apply any of the ideas or abilities to game scenarios. Keepers who can ping balls on a dime to teammates, but fail to recognize the proper scenarios to use these techniques. Expensive personal training, failing to supply realistic game settings for players during training sessions, and improper focus on flare, pace, and strength has lead US Soccer to generations of players who lack the skill to excel at the elite levels ,

    Watching Sergio Busquets last week during the Arsenal v Barcelona Champions League match completely changed my opinion about the Spaniard, I never noticed how much influence he has on the match and how much skill he has on and off the ball. He is constantly orchestrating the play even without the ball, suggesting what passes should be made to teammates, ensuring the ball is moved quickly and away from pressure. He plays first time when he needs to with precision. His ability to splitting the opposing midfielders at every opportunity to advance the ball to the attacking third was what drove Barcelona forward against the Gunners.. It’s no wonder there are arguments comparing him to the all time greats like Zidane, he is one of the most skillful players in the modern era.
    Can Busquets do a double step over? Of course he can. Did he do a single double step over in the Arsenal match? No, because the situation never came about to the midfielder to go 1 v 1, and the lengthy midfielder would struggle to beat the likes of Bellerin and Nacho for pace. Busquets possesses the brain to be a successful midfielder at that level, similar to Michael Carrick for Manchester United or Modric for Real Madrid. All of these are examples of players who possess skill, they are superior decision makers, not the highlight reel or Nike commercial stars that are flaunted to the young players or America.

    So how can American players develop similar abilities that are shown by the likes of Carrick and Busquets? Sadly I believe we will never come close to capturing a major prize internationally without a player like this in our midfield. Players like this develop in elite settings, and are not always the most athletic players either, which is where we have failed in the past in US youth soccer. US youth soccer has favored pace and strength over brains for a majority of the past three decades especially at young ages, where quick rewards for coaches were favored over long term development of elite players. I think US youth soccer is finally starting on the right track to developing these players at a young age, with academy settings starting to come stateside and young players being taught advanced techniques and ideas at the u10 levels and lower. The days of the pacey early developer being looked on as the next superstar are hopefully coming to an end in the near future. Coaches are becoming more educated to the value of the thinker, the orchestrator, the midfield maestro, rather than the pacey striker who relies on his or her athleticism to succeed.

    Coaches have a major role in developing skill in players. Players should be put into realistic game scenarios during practice sessions and decisions should be broken down as to why they were the right or wrong decisions to make. The more a player can play in these game scenarios the more he or she will develop experience in the various situations that come about in actual games. Thus why every session should end in some form of actual game. Facility restrictions may make it difficult to always have two goals and two keepers, but youth clubs should do their best to supply these items for coaches to then have sessions that end with a game. In these settings players will develop the ability to beat players 1 v 1, to find penetrating passes, to use the techniques they work on in training and apply them to game settings.

    If you are a parent of a youth player, I would pass on expensive personal training that does not value game applications. If you see your son or daughter repetitively doing skills he or she is already comfortable with, ask yourself if the trainer is attempting to improve the player, or are they interested in taking your money. If the training atmosphere cannot replicate game scenarios then the training is most likely useless for the individual as they are not acquiring actual skills, they are focusing on abilities. If your son or daughter needs to work on their ability to strike a ball, or their ability to dribble past defenders, then personal training or small group sessions are ideal. To truly develop skill, a player must work in game scenarios where their abilities can be demonstrated during the proper scenarios.

    Skill is a concept that has not been clearly defined in US youth soccer and the greed of coaches and companies that provide training to paying customers has feed into this idea that skill = scissors. Parents love seeing their son or daughter perform 1 v 1 moves and strike balls over and over into the side netting. They then become frustrated and struggle to understand why their son or daughter cannot perform these skills in games. If a player cannot apply their abilities to game scenarios they will fail to reach the elite levels, thus why less flashy players are preferred sometimes to the trickster. The decision making aspect of the game needs to be developed over time as well, and a player who is real student of the game should look to watching higher level games on TV or in their local areas for demonstrations of skill. My hopes are high for the next few generations of young US players, in hopes that the failures of the past can be used to produce a few highly skilled midfield maestros in our domestic youth systems.

    #2
    This sentiment was also said during the USWNT v Puerto Rico game. The commentator spoke about how US coaches are now favoring the thoughtful player over the big brute. And that we will continue to see more Morgan Brians on our national teams.

    Comment


      #3
      Yes, we need to mimic Japan more. Except the part about getting destroyed in the World Cup championship game.

      Comment


        #4
        Totally agree on the premise, but slightly disagree on private training being the problem. The only way for beautiful free-flowing play to happen is if the kids have mastered fundamental foot skill techniques. Those techniques need to be taught somewhere.

        The problem lies in the players/parents relying entirely on their twice weekly club team trainings to give them everything needed to play creatively. Ideally, those trainings can solely focus on teaching the game tactics to allow creative play. That only works if the kids show up with the skills to make the runs, passes, shots, and defense needed for that style of play. Unfortunately, that isn't happening.

        The solution is to get some individual advanced technical training/feedback, and then spend hours practicing individually to hone those skills. Too many kids/parents have forgotten that all of the great athletes we see on TV spent hours by themselves working on the fundamental techniques necessary to allow them to be great. The solo hours in the yard practicing proper fundamental foot skills are what's missing from most development plans today.

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
          Totally agree on the premise, but slightly disagree on private training being the problem. The only way for beautiful free-flowing play to happen is if the kids have mastered fundamental foot skill techniques. Those techniques need to be taught somewhere.

          The problem lies in the players/parents relying entirely on their twice weekly club team trainings to give them everything needed to play creatively. Ideally, those trainings can solely focus on teaching the game tactics to allow creative play. That only works if the kids show up with the skills to make the runs, passes, shots, and defense needed for that style of play. Unfortunately, that isn't happening.

          The solution is to get some individual advanced technical training/feedback, and then spend hours practicing individually to hone those skills. Too many kids/parents have forgotten that all of the great athletes we see on TV spent hours by themselves working on the fundamental techniques necessary to allow them to be great. The solo hours in the yard practicing proper fundamental foot skills are what's missing from most development plans today.
          bingo!!!!!

          Comment


            #6
            I find the article somewhat conflicting. On one hand you are speaking to the failure of technical training to provide what is necessary to make sound game decisions in the use of fancy footwork and provide an example; Busquets. On the other hand you speak to how rare and incredible his talent is.

            At some point doesn't there have to be something simply special about an individual in order for them to be a great player? I think our society is guilty of operating under the assumption that with proper training we can create great players. I don't think so. I think some people have a innate ability and others don't. I'm not saying that proper training can't be useful to players only that we put way too much emphasis on trying to create a prodigy. Unlikely at best.

            What happened to playing because it is fun and then letting the creme of the crop rise?

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
              I find the article somewhat conflicting. On one hand you are speaking to the failure of technical training to provide what is necessary to make sound game decisions in the use of fancy footwork and provide an example; Busquets. On the other hand you speak to how rare and incredible his talent is.

              At some point doesn't there have to be something simply special about an individual in order for them to be a great player? I think our society is guilty of operating under the assumption that with proper training we can create great players. I don't think so. I think some people have a innate ability and others don't. I'm not saying that proper training can't be useful to players only that we put way too much emphasis on trying to create a prodigy. Unlikely at best.

              What happened to playing because it is fun and then letting the creme of the crop rise?
              totally agree. take two players of similar ability and similar training but one has much greater drive to succeed, goes out in the yard on his/her own to dribble, dribbles in the house, calls friends to get pickup games going...that player will go much further than the other. parents often think that doing more training (private or other) will fill in those gaps but it doesn't. training will only take you so far, passion gets you all the way. more training won't instill a drive that isn't there

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                Yes, we need to mimic Japan more. Except the part about getting destroyed in the World Cup championship game.
                Japan won the previous World Cup. They have one of the smallest number of youth players and yet are competitive. Their players are tiny, not super fast, but highly intelligent on how they play together. Not saying Japan is the model, but every team needs those midfield maestros. Japan plays with ten maestros. (I know I'm exaggerating a bit, but you get my point.)

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                  I find the article somewhat conflicting. On one hand you are speaking to the failure of technical training to provide what is necessary to make sound game decisions in the use of fancy footwork and provide an example; Busquets. On the other hand you speak to how rare and incredible his talent is.

                  At some point doesn't there have to be something simply special about an individual in order for them to be a great player? I think our society is guilty of operating under the assumption that with proper training we can create great players. I don't think so. I think some people have a innate ability and others don't. I'm not saying that proper training can't be useful to players only that we put way too much emphasis on trying to create a prodigy. Unlikely at best.

                  What happened to playing because it is fun and then letting the creme of the crop rise?
                  With all the structure we place in youth sports fun may be an impossibility. We sign our kids up for club participation, make them specialize, forbid them to do anything else and then wonder why they don't want to live and breathe the sport. Fun is gone. I think we adults are sucking the joy right out of the beautiful game.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                    With all the structure we place in youth sports fun may be an impossibility. We sign our kids up for club participation, make them specialize, forbid them to do anything else and then wonder why they don't want to live and breathe the sport. Fun is gone. I think we adults are sucking the joy right out of the beautiful game.
                    Add to that the birth year change and I totally agree

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                      Skill is decision making, not scissors

                      MARCH 01, 2016 Kevin Wolfe
                      I wrote a few weeks ago about the downfall of the American soccer player, and how it lies in pink shoes, YouTube videos, and a wealth of Ronaldo and Messi wannabes. I stand by the statement that these players are a products of the consumer environment that is making it hard for young US players to succeed, but I believe there is a deeper rooted issue with why we struggle to develop players that excel at the highest levels. I believe it lies in the definition many coaches, parents, and players have in the word “skill”. An allusive word used by many to trick parents and players into thinking their son or daughter is excelling due to the personal training they are receiving at a top dollar premium, or by many coaches who are being paid entirely to much to run generic “skill based” sessions involving repetitive step overs and other somewhat useless tricks.

                      Skill to me means decision making, what decisions are you making during game scenarios that are leading to success. Recognizing the situation and having the “ability” to beat a player 1 v 1 in the right situation is a characteristic of a skillful player. The vision to see an open winger and the ability to drive a forty yard pass from the back to an open winger is skill. Having the ability to play first time and not give the ball away in tight areas, but also having the recognition and composure to take multiple touches when given space and time is skill. And yes, a center back launching the ball into the other end of the pitch when under immense pressure from the opposing team is skill. Skillful players make the right decisions at the right time, and know how and what the right thing to do is in every game scenario.

                      To often you find players who can perform techniques but cannot apply them to game situations. These players are usually the product of personal training gone wrong which is over teaching techniques like ball striking and 1 v 1 moves. Too many times I have coached players who can do complex movements with the ball, but cannot apply any of the ideas or abilities to game scenarios. Keepers who can ping balls on a dime to teammates, but fail to recognize the proper scenarios to use these techniques. Expensive personal training, failing to supply realistic game settings for players during training sessions, and improper focus on flare, pace, and strength has lead US Soccer to generations of players who lack the skill to excel at the elite levels ,

                      Watching Sergio Busquets last week during the Arsenal v Barcelona Champions League match completely changed my opinion about the Spaniard, I never noticed how much influence he has on the match and how much skill he has on and off the ball. He is constantly orchestrating the play even without the ball, suggesting what passes should be made to teammates, ensuring the ball is moved quickly and away from pressure. He plays first time when he needs to with precision. His ability to splitting the opposing midfielders at every opportunity to advance the ball to the attacking third was what drove Barcelona forward against the Gunners.. It’s no wonder there are arguments comparing him to the all time greats like Zidane, he is one of the most skillful players in the modern era.
                      Can Busquets do a double step over? Of course he can. Did he do a single double step over in the Arsenal match? No, because the situation never came about to the midfielder to go 1 v 1, and the lengthy midfielder would struggle to beat the likes of Bellerin and Nacho for pace. Busquets possesses the brain to be a successful midfielder at that level, similar to Michael Carrick for Manchester United or Modric for Real Madrid. All of these are examples of players who possess skill, they are superior decision makers, not the highlight reel or Nike commercial stars that are flaunted to the young players or America.

                      So how can American players develop similar abilities that are shown by the likes of Carrick and Busquets? Sadly I believe we will never come close to capturing a major prize internationally without a player like this in our midfield. Players like this develop in elite settings, and are not always the most athletic players either, which is where we have failed in the past in US youth soccer. US youth soccer has favored pace and strength over brains for a majority of the past three decades especially at young ages, where quick rewards for coaches were favored over long term development of elite players. I think US youth soccer is finally starting on the right track to developing these players at a young age, with academy settings starting to come stateside and young players being taught advanced techniques and ideas at the u10 levels and lower. The days of the pacey early developer being looked on as the next superstar are hopefully coming to an end in the near future. Coaches are becoming more educated to the value of the thinker, the orchestrator, the midfield maestro, rather than the pacey striker who relies on his or her athleticism to succeed.

                      Coaches have a major role in developing skill in players. Players should be put into realistic game scenarios during practice sessions and decisions should be broken down as to why they were the right or wrong decisions to make. The more a player can play in these game scenarios the more he or she will develop experience in the various situations that come about in actual games. Thus why every session should end in some form of actual game. Facility restrictions may make it difficult to always have two goals and two keepers, but youth clubs should do their best to supply these items for coaches to then have sessions that end with a game. In these settings players will develop the ability to beat players 1 v 1, to find penetrating passes, to use the techniques they work on in training and apply them to game settings.

                      If you are a parent of a youth player, I would pass on expensive personal training that does not value game applications. If you see your son or daughter repetitively doing skills he or she is already comfortable with, ask yourself if the trainer is attempting to improve the player, or are they interested in taking your money. If the training atmosphere cannot replicate game scenarios then the training is most likely useless for the individual as they are not acquiring actual skills, they are focusing on abilities. If your son or daughter needs to work on their ability to strike a ball, or their ability to dribble past defenders, then personal training or small group sessions are ideal. To truly develop skill, a player must work in game scenarios where their abilities can be demonstrated during the proper scenarios.

                      Skill is a concept that has not been clearly defined in US youth soccer and the greed of coaches and companies that provide training to paying customers has feed into this idea that skill = scissors. Parents love seeing their son or daughter perform 1 v 1 moves and strike balls over and over into the side netting. They then become frustrated and struggle to understand why their son or daughter cannot perform these skills in games. If a player cannot apply their abilities to game scenarios they will fail to reach the elite levels, thus why less flashy players are preferred sometimes to the trickster. The decision making aspect of the game needs to be developed over time as well, and a player who is real student of the game should look to watching higher level games on TV or in their local areas for demonstrations of skill. My hopes are high for the next few generations of young US players, in hopes that the failures of the past can be used to produce a few highly skilled midfield maestros in our domestic youth systems.
                      You JUST noticed and appreciated the subtle genius of Busquets?! The little credibility you may have had with this long-winded rambling, frequently off-the-mark, "I know everything and the rest of you nothing" diatribe completely evaporated. Well, better late than never in recognizing genius--only about 8 years after the rest of the world. Well, done master coach

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                        You JUST noticed and appreciated the subtle genius of Busquets?! The little credibility you may have had with this long-winded rambling, frequently off-the-mark, "I know everything and the rest of you nothing" diatribe completely evaporated. Well, better late than never in recognizing genius--only about 8 years after the rest of the world. Well, done master coach
                        LOL, next he'll be telling us he just invented a new type of attacking position called the "False 9"

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                          Japan won the previous World Cup. They have one of the smallest number of youth players and yet are competitive. Their players are tiny, not super fast, but highly intelligent on how they play together. Not saying Japan is the model, but every team needs those midfield maestros. Japan plays with ten maestros. (I know I'm exaggerating a bit, but you get my point.)
                          Just imagine American athleticism combined with Japanese soccer IQ. Maybe someday.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                            Just imagine American athleticism combined with Japanese soccer IQ. Maybe someday.
                            Yeah, maybe that team will look like Spain, Belgium, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile with their athleticism... Iniesta and Mata, Hazard and De Bruyne, Mueller and Lahm, Neymar and Coutinho, Messi and Aguero, Suarez and Godin, Sanchez and Vidal... Symbols of American athleticism. None of those players would've had a chance of being identified in the US 10+ yrs ago. Hopefully things have changed.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Don't count on the ECNL coaches developing skills in any of their players. Not going to happen. Outside skills lessons is all those girls can hope for if they want to move on from their plodding ways.

                              Comment

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