Washington Timbers Boys Flame Out (again) at State Cup

[Unregistered]

you must not have watched the U12's play. They play better soccer than all age groups and in fact lost in the semi's trying to play the game correctly. I watched the other team punt the ball 40 times while my DD's team built up from the back. Quit spewing garbage until you've seen all teams play.

Punting the ball, when appropriate, is a valid tactic.

[Unregistered]

I've traveled the world and worked with some of the top academies. You couldn't be more wrong about when to work on technique. Although I agree technical work outside of your normals trainings is important you would be failing your child if you didn't have them in an environment where they had a ton of technical work at an early age. I've seen a weeks worth of sessions (ages 5 to the first team) be nothing but technical. It is the main reason why we are so far behind as a country. There are countries with the population of Portland metro developing kids at a far better rate than us.
Problem is, our culture chooses winning and playing for cups at 11 years old instead of becoming a better player

The problem with too much technical work, is it gets boring quickly for the kids. Timbers RTC is a good example where a few of the best players quit out of boredom. The technical work is definitely necessary but developing the players' creativity and good decision making is very important too. The Timbers developmental plan will create some technically solid home grown players, but they will continue to buy their creative talent.

[Unregistered]

Punting the ball, when appropriate, is a valid tactic.

30+ times on a 9v9 field to the other GK?

great long term development tactic?

[Unregistered]

30+ times on a 9v9 field to the other GK?

great long term development tactic?

Confirmed. Keepers were playing tennis. Not good quality soccer. Coach lost his cool and let the other team dictate the play.

[Unregistered]

The problem with too much technical work, is it gets boring quickly for the kids. Timbers RTC is a good example where a few of the best players quit out of boredom. The technical work is definitely necessary but developing the players' creativity and good decision making is very important too. The Timbers developmental plan will create some technically solid home grown players, but they will continue to buy their creative talent.

this weeds out the truly hungry players. every craftsman takes pleasure in getting the details right, a true footballer will enjoy improving every touch over their last touch. if they quit out of boredom they were always quitters.

[Unregistered]

Punting it to the defense is poor soccer

30+ times on a 9v9 field to the other GK?

great long term development tactic?

That includes punts that end up being fielded by the opposite keeper. If you do that, you're doing it wrong. If the GK has the ball in hand and is punting it, it's not a clearance, so kicking it away should not be acceptable.

Punts that your own players collect, OTOH, are often a good tactic. Quite a few U11/U12 goalies can accurately direct punts to teammates or to open space. There's nothing inherently bad about that style of play.

That said, there is much pedagogical value in having kids play it out of the back, rather than punting over the top. (Likewise for goal kicks). Of course, opposite teams figure this out quickly and will aggressively press those teams who only play out of the back. And as noted, this often makes parents unhappy, especially those who don't know why Johnny or Suzie is making short passes to the wings that get picked off half the time.

[Unregistered]

Sorry to hear that. Sounds like a total drag. The coaching/DOC ranks are small, but I can't think of who it would be.

Well, it was a drag and I hope that no other team has to ever endure what we endured. The team was close to breaking up at mid season but I think everyone knew the options were limited. And the coach changed, stopped berating the boys and actually let them play with some instinct rather than memorizing what he was telling them to do in practice. The good news is that we have a couple of great options for this year. Both option is being with one of the top boys coaches in the state, at least in my opinion. We can't go wrong in choosing either. My son won't have many of his old teammates around, but he will make new friends and either of these situations presents us with dream coaches with proven results. And the good news is that the old coach of ours is never going to coach youth soccer again. Now, if the DOC would quit as well, Oregon soccer would be much better off.

[Unregistered]

this weeds out the truly hungry players. every craftsman takes pleasure in getting the details right, a true footballer will enjoy improving every touch over their last touch. if they quit out of boredom they were always quitters.

I agree at the older ages, but not at the younger ages.

[Unregistered]

I agree at the older ages, but not at the younger ages.

Below middle school, many kids simply lack the emotional maturity to endure long, boring practices. It's a well-documented psychological phenomenon that smart coaching professionals are well aware of, but old-school dinosaurs (who think that screaming at 9-year-olds toughens them up) are often not.

[Unregistered]

No amount of training can turn untalented kids into good soccer players.

True. But to assert that 90% of the competitive players dont have talent is way off, in my opinion. Give those kids good training and you would see an entirely different brand of ball. Entirely. The training is the bigger problem, not the talent pool.

[Unregistered]

Below middle school, many kids simply lack the emotional maturity to endure long, boring practices. It's a well-documented psychological phenomenon that smart coaching professionals are well aware of, but old-school dinosaurs (who think that screaming at 9-year-olds toughens them up) are often not.

Why are there still so many coaches who scream at the kids and don't actually coach them? Why not tell them how to play differently? Does screaming at them & insulting them really help at all?

[Unregistered]

Why are there still so many coaches who scream at the kids and don't actually coach them? Why not tell them how to play differently? Does screaming at them & insulting them really help at all?

remember this the next time you tell your DOC that the coach doesn't care, because he sits down at games, and isn't erupting on the sidelines. i got evaluated (probably not because parent's complained, i'm sure) twice in one season for this nonsense. two different (USSF Coach Education Staff) mentors evaluated my training sessions, without prior notice which is fine, and then told the parents I was doing great.

if you're wondering i got 1st, 2nd, 1st and 2nd in the last four seasons.

[Unregistered]

remember this the next time you tell your DOC that the coach doesn't care, because he sits down at games, and isn't erupting on the sidelines. i got evaluated (probably not because parent's complained, i'm sure) twice in one season for this nonsense. two different (USSF Coach Education Staff) mentors evaluated my training sessions, without prior notice which is fine, and then told the parents I was doing great.

if you're wondering i got 1st, 2nd, 1st and 2nd in the last four seasons.

I applaud you. Parents who would complain about coaches not yelling enough are idiots.

[Unregistered]

remember this the next time you tell your DOC that the coach doesn't care, because he sits down at games, and isn't erupting on the sidelines. i got evaluated (probably not because parent's complained, i'm sure) twice in one season for this nonsense. two different (USSF Coach Education Staff) mentors evaluated my training sessions, without prior notice which is fine, and then told the parents I was doing great.

if you're wondering i got 1st, 2nd, 1st and 2nd in the last four seasons.

I don't want a coach who is just sitting there, but I also don't want one that is up yelling all the time. I like a coach is is up at times, as that shows me he is involved. I also don't mind him giving out some instructions from time to time from the sideline.

Something along the lines of
"we've got to go in harder on challenges"
"hey, make sure you yell so that so and so hears you and plays you the ball"

I like friendly reminders being given out about things that they can correct during the games.

[Unregistered]

There is good conversation on this thread. Too bad it had to start with a dumbass troll with intent to denigrate.