Thusc United Cup Scores?

[Unregistered]

Teams at U13 still play with a stopper? I thought most teams did that at U11, maybe U12.

or you can call it a holding center midfielder.

This does not stop all the way through the most elite clubs in the world. Just different terminology and definitions.

[Unregistered]

or you can call it a holding center midfielder.

This does not stop all the way through the most elite clubs in the world. Just different terminology and definitions.

Actually you have this wrong. A stopper is the top of the defensive formation that looks like a triangle/square with a sweeper in the back that cleans up the mess. (Call is a mid if you want but It is hardly used at upper levels at all.

A defensive/holding mid does not always come with a sweeper and can play with a flat back four..

[Unregistered]

Actually you have this wrong. A stopper is the top of the defensive formation that looks like a triangle/square with a sweeper in the back that cleans up the mess. (Call is a mid if you want but It is hardly used at upper levels at all.

A defensive/holding mid does not always come with a sweeper and can play with a flat back four..

Definition: A holding midfielder's primary role is to break up the opposition’s attacks. Holding midfielders help protect a team’s back line by sitting in front of the central defenders and do not contribute as much to attacking plays. An ability to tackle is a key attribute. Most good teams have a player capable of screening the defense, acting as an insurance policy should the team surrender possession.

[Unregistered]

Definition: A holding midfielder's primary role is to break up the opposition’s attacks. Holding midfielders help protect a team’s back line by sitting in front of the central defenders and do not contribute as much to attacking plays. An ability to tackle is a key attribute. Most good teams have a player capable of screening the defense, acting as an insurance policy should the team surrender possession.

Yes I know what a holding mid is and was trying to explain the difference between the two defensive strategies. In the above post the word "central defender(s)" is key, meaning 2 center backs and a holding mid in front of them. This would be a flat back four defense. (We were talking about a stopper which is different in a stopper sweeper defense.) The poster was describing a stopper as the holding mid...but a stopper would play in front of one sweeper, not 2 defenders as in a flat back four. I guess you could call a stopper the holding mid in a flat back, but that would make you sound kind of silly.

Call it what you want but stopper sweeper is NOT a sophisticated defense and any U14 team using it should be embarrassed

[Unregistered]

Blind leading the blind.

[Unregistered]

Blind leading the blind.

Actually you should brush up on your soccer. The poster that is talking about the lack of sophistication in the sweeper defense is correct.

[Unregistered]

Sophistication is the name of the game in U14 soccer.

[Unregistered]

Actually you should brush up on your soccer. The poster that is talking about the lack of sophistication in the sweeper defense is correct.

Actually, to a large degree many of the European youth clubs are starting to reassess how they "coach", and re-evaluating the concept of positions altogether. Although it's recognized that putting 11 people on a pitch to play a game requires organization, many successful coaches and past great players are saying that its much more important to maintain the shape between the players.

Many of the South American (and even Central American and Mexico) often have very free flowing teams. Some of these teams almost seem to have no positions at all, and yet are some of the strongest and most creative teams.

Shape is important, but it's probably more important to coach creativity and let players develop on-the-ball and in-field gamesmanship. This is difficult to establish when the coach is constantly shifting players into position (or berating them for being out of position) because the team is playing a flat 4 and the left back is either not tucked in far enough or isn't wide enough to receive a good diagonal and transition to offense.

Soccer (in general) for the past 30-40 years has been overly defensive minded, and its going to take some creative thinking to push the American and most European programs into the next generation. We should not hold out hope for a superstar (or 2+ like the current Spanish national team) to lead our national hopes...

[Unregistered]

Actually, to a large degree many of the European youth clubs are starting to reassess how they "coach", and re-evaluating the concept of positions altogether. Although it's recognized that putting 11 people on a pitch to play a game requires organization, many successful coaches and past great players are saying that its much more important to maintain the shape between the players.

Many of the South American (and even Central American and Mexico) often have very free flowing teams. Some of these teams almost seem to have no positions at all, and yet are some of the strongest and most creative teams.

Shape is important, but it's probably more important to coach creativity and let players develop on-the-ball and in-field gamesmanship. This is difficult to establish when the coach is constantly shifting players into position (or berating them for being out of position) because the team is playing a flat 4 and the left back is either not tucked in far enough or isn't wide enough to receive a good diagonal and transition to offense.

Soccer (in general) for the past 30-40 years has been overly defensive minded, and its going to take some creative thinking to push the American and most European programs into the next generation. We should not hold out hope for a superstar (or 2+ like the current Spanish national team) to lead our national hopes...

I actually agree with this and was not trying so much to discuss formations as I was trying to dispel the idea that the sweeper is a fine defense. I actually think it is a ridged D that is such a disservice to a young sweeper. The idea of a sweeper is they clean up the mess in the back using almost 100% athleticism and virtually 0 skills. This is wrong. I like the free flow idea and kids having more freedom to make decisions and use skills over strategy at the younger ages. It certainly would be more fun to watch!

[Unregistered]

I actually agree with this and was not trying so much to discuss formations as I was trying to dispel the idea that the sweeper is a fine defense. I actually think it is a ridged D that is such a disservice to a young sweeper. The idea of a sweeper is they clean up the mess in the back using almost 100% athleticism and virtually 0 skills. This is wrong. I like the free flow idea and kids having more freedom to make decisions and use skills over strategy at the younger ages. It certainly would be more fun to watch!

.......and I bet none of you guys coach or even have a license!!!!! (Drivers license, maybe?)

[Unregistered]

.......and I bet none of you guys coach or even have a license!!!!! (Drivers license, maybe?)

Just because one can "call" themself a coach, does not make a coach. I've heard top coaches question the coaching of other coaches quite often. I've known many a bad coach over the years.

[Unregistered]

Just because one can "call" themself a coach, does not make a coach. I've heard top coaches question the coaching of other coaches quite often. I've known many a bad coach over the years.

True there are many of those.

And those bad coaches have forgotten more soccer than you will ever know. The way you learn how to coach is by actually coaching, and doing so for years, through failure as well as success, not by reading articles on the Internet or by watching you 12-year old play.

Seriously, some of these posts sound like unfortunately deluded parents, who have picked up a shred or two of knowledge somewhere along the way. I may not be a soccer coach, but at least I know I'm not a coach.

[Unregistered]

Boys?

Anyone watch any of the boys groups at this tourney?

[Unregistered]

The way you learn how to coach is by actually coaching, and doing so for years, through failure as well as success, not by reading articles on the Internet or by watching you 12-year old play.

Seriously, some of these posts sound like unfortunately deluded parents, who have picked up a shred or two of knowledge somewhere along the way. I may not be a soccer coach, but at least I know I'm not a coach.

I am a coach, and I'm glad you're not. A coach needs to constantly develop new ideas. Although tried and true drills and coaching work, many of the new ideas are generated through reading articles on the internet, trading ideas with other coaches (including other countries) and by watching younger, current and older youths playing.

The challenge to coaching isn't about mastering the technical skills, it's about communicating to your players so that THEY can master the techniques. Find any great coach, in any sport at any level, and you will find a great teacher...

The only way to become a great coach is through hard work. The way to stay a great coach is to work even harder, because the game is constantly evolving...

[Unregistered]

I am a coach, and I'm glad you're not. A coach needs to constantly develop new ideas. Although tried and true drills and coaching work, many of the new ideas are generated through reading articles on the internet, trading ideas with other coaches (including other countries) and by watching younger, current and older youths playing.

The challenge to coaching isn't about mastering the technical skills, it's about communicating to your players so that THEY can master the techniques. Find any great coach, in any sport at any level, and you will find a great teacher...

The only way to become a great coach is through hard work. The way to stay a great coach is to work even harder, because the game is constantly evolving...

Just curious, coach. Which of the comments which precede this post belongs to you and which team do you coach?