Clubs In Decline

[Unregistered]

FH believes in and teaches the kick-run game which is excellent training for HS and most college programs. It just doesn't work so well in the club leagues at the older ages.

They've gotten better developing skilled players, but their teams still play very direct soccer. That's because Martyn is an advocate of Charles Hughes and believes in moving the ball up the field quickly in as few touches as possible. It is a great way for professional teams to play, but the problem with teaching youth players that game is that it does turn into kick and run. Once learned it can be a habit difficult to break, especially when kids then go to high school teams where this style of play is encouraged.

[Unregistered]

Another issue contributing to the end result -- that the club may have more control over than players showing up for practice -- is an approach to player subs that is very liberal positionally, often calling on a player to be responsible for two, three or four positions during the course of a game. Although there is some developmental merit to that approach in practice at younger ages, its difficult to expect cohesion in competitive environments against mature, experienced teams. Players get swarmed quickly in older age groups. Reliable groundings help them deposit the ball to a colleague as opposed to undertaking yet another clearance. Plus, not all quality skilled players are equally comfortable or strong in all positions, even though the coach may need them to be. Experience is helpful in providing regularity to the looks a player sees in competitive environments.

[Unregistered]

...a lot of people treat players similarly so it is not really a put down of one club per se I think it is an issue that must be managed during development...positional diversity often contributes to a lack of cohesion and that should be very carefully managed during competitive situations....a lot of game managers have this issue...

[Unregistered]

Another issue contributing to the end result -- that the club may have more control over than players showing up for practice -- is an approach to player subs that is very liberal positionally, often calling on a player to be responsible for two, three or four positions during the course of a game. Although there is some developmental merit to that approach in practice at younger ages, its difficult to expect cohesion in competitive environments against mature, experienced teams. Players get swarmed quickly in older age groups. Reliable groundings help them deposit the ball to a colleague as opposed to undertaking yet another clearance. Plus, not all quality skilled players are equally comfortable or strong in all positions, even though the coach may need them to be. Experience is helpful in providing regularity to the looks a player sees in competitive environments.

Good post, but how does this relate to the topic of Declining Clubs?

[Unregistered]

Good post, but how does this relate to the topic of Declining Clubs?

Through the following equation:

Multisport athletes + less practice availability + liberal match positional substitution = greater incidence of incoherent reactionary play = less favorable match results = kick and run stereotyping = club in decline prognostication.

[Unregistered]

Through the following equation:

Multisport athletes + less practice availability + liberal match positional substitution = greater incidence of incoherent reactionary play = less favorable match results = kick and run stereotyping = club in decline prognostication.

So what you are saying, because kids play multiple sports, they aren't around as much, so players not use to playing a position now have to play that position?

[Unregistered]

So what you are saying, because kids play multiple sports, they aren't around as much, so players not use to playing a position now have to play that position?

Sorta.

On a team where kids play more sports than soccer and don't always make it to practice, try to limit the positions that are asked to play during a game to two or one so that they will have a better sense of where their mates are on the field and will pass it to them successfully more often as opposed to booting it out under pressure.

[Unregistered]

Sorta.

On a team where kids play more sports than soccer and don't always make it to practice, try to limit the positions that are asked to play during a game to two or one so that they will have a better sense of where their mates are on the field and will pass it to them successfully more often as opposed to booting it out under pressure.

FH is known for pigeon holing kids, so that would not be an issue for them.