| September 18, 2008 |
SoccerHelp Newsletter Complete Newsletter Is Below Tips for Improving Soccer Teamwork and Reducing Selfish Play Note From David. This is the time of the season when I start to get some great letters. One is below from Donna, a U-10 coach. There are some great ideas in her letter, and perhaps even an idea for you. Her situation is familiar – she has a team that is smaller and slower than the competition. The good news is that she is able to compensate by using good coaching. I hope you have a Great Weekend! David at SoccerHelp Coupons for Premium Members We’ve added coupons especially for Premium Members. They are re-usable and can be used for patches and DVDs. See Coupons for Premium Members What's new? We've added a "New Articles" section to Premium so it is convenient for you to scan the list of New and Revised Articles. There is a link to each article. See New and Revised Articles on Premium Re-Subscribe to One Year of Premium at a Reduced Price, Even If Your Subscription Has Expired. If you are re-subscribing early, keep in mind that your re-subscription will start at the expiration of your current subscription, so you won't lose any days. There are now over 1,000 pages of information on Premium, Discount Coupons for patches and DVDs, and a Forum where Premium Members can ask questions that will be answered by other Members and David at SoccerHelp. Re-Subscribe Here.
Tips for Helping Weak Soccer Players be Successful
Soccer Positions Tips
How a Rec Soccer Team Beats Bigger, Faster Teams
Idea for Rotating Soccer Positions
How to Steal the Ball on Your Opponent’s Soccer Throw-ins, Goal Kicks, Punts and Free Kicks
1-1-1-2 Stacked Soccer Formation
Soccer DVDs I Recommend
SoccerHelp Tips (If you're a Premium member, you should only have to log in once as long as you leave a link open.) (The following is from the Premium Forum. Donna is a U10 Rec coach who became a Premium Member on August 17 and first wrote on August 28 asking for advice about formations. She had coached for 5 years but it was her first time coaching 6v6. She won the 2 games she mentions on September 13. She is playing 6v6, which is 5 field players and a Goalkeeper, and has 12 players on her team – 4 athletic players, 3 small fast timid players, and 5 slow, shy, unskilled, or difficult-to-teach players – that’s a lot of subs and is a lot to keep up with if all the kids show up). Hi SoccerHelp, "I love SoccerHelp.com! I'm convinced it is what makes my mediocre team successful. We had 2 games today, 15-2 and 3-1. Both teams we played had bigger, faster kids on them but we won both games. Thank you, thank you, thank you." "I played a 2-1-2 formation and played timid or weak players at these positions: at Goalkeeper, 1 at Forward, sometimes 1 at Fullback. Hubby thought I was crazy to put less talented kids in goal but it worked! The teams we played had very few GOOD shots on goal because if the ball made it past our midfielder (always our best player) then the Fullback that was Pushed Up got it OR the Fullback that stayed back stopped it." (Note from David: Donna positioned one of her Fullbacks (the stronger one) in the Penalty Box Arc (like a "Stopper" in front of the other FB) and told the other Fullback to stay in front of the Center of the goal in about the center of the Penalty Box (not too close to the Goalie - about 8 to 10 steps in front of the goal - so as not to block the Goalie’s view) -- that put one FB in position to slow the attack, like a “Stopper”, and hopefully clear the ball if it got past the MF and the other was there as a "last defender" before the Goalie – that allowed her to play a weak or slow player as Goalie. Her formation actually became a 1-1-1-2) Donna, U-10 Rec coach ---------------------- Hi Donna, Thanks for writing -- it's very helpful to get confirmation of what works. Your team is playing good defense and scoring a lot of goals too. Thanks for having faith in SoccerHelp.com! I realize it is hard to believe some of the things I recommend (like playing a weak player in goal instead of your best player) are a good idea until you see the results. One of the biggest problems I face is convincing some coaches that the SoccerHelp ideas will work, because I recommend things that are different from what most coaches normally do. I have 2 questions: Are all the kids, even the weak players, happy about beating the "better" teams? Are they more confident and more enthusiastic? Congratulations! Please continue to share with us as you learn. Thanks again, David at SoccerHelp ---------------- Hi David, (Note from David: Read the "Team Celebration" idea below where after a goal has been scored everyone gets credit for the goal – it worked great for Donna’s team). "YES, the kids were very happy yesterday! One thing that really helped was your idea to have the kids all come together after a goal and do "1-2-3 teamwork". After doing that, the kids, and myself forgot who made the goal!!! They ALL left the circle with a smile, whereas last year we were successful but not as happy because everyone wanted to score the goal! My approach yesterday was to play the kids where they would be successful and help the team the most. Once we had scored enough goals I then let them experiment with other positions. On paper my team should get slaughtered every time but they don't because they're brave AND stay in position. A mom from one of the other teams even asked to have her son come to my practices so he can gain more skills! :) That is thanks to all YOU do!" Donna ------------------ Hi Donna, Wow! Thanks for sharing that. I put a lot of work into SoccerHelp, and stories like yours make it worth while. It's a great compliment to have parents ask if their kids can come to your practice -- that rarely happens. I got the idea for the team coming together after a goal for a team celebration from the Brazilian National Team -- that's what they do. I'm glad to hear it is having the result of improving teamwork and reducing selfishness -- and it's obviously more fun too since you're getting more smiles! I think your approach of playing the kids first where they can be successful and then letting them experiment with other positions after you get ahead is excellent. Please let me know of any other good ideas you have, and what works for you and helps your team. That's how I learn. Now that you have seen the benefits of these new ideas, I predict that you will have more fun and have some great ideas to share. One more tip: Teach Coaching Rule No. 3. It's easy to teach and will help your team a lot. It's worth 2 or 3 goals per game. Seriously, this will really help your players position on your opponent's Throw-ins, Goal Kicks, Punts, and Free Kicks so they steal the ball and so your opponents don't ever get breakaways or fast counterattacks on those plays. Here's a link to Coaching Rule No. 3: www.soccerhelp.com/premium/Coaching_Rules.shtml By the way, Coaching Rule No. 3 isn’t a real rule – it’s one of 22 “rules” I invented for my players. I found it easier to teach them important things if I called them “rules”, since they knew they should follow the rules. David at SoccerHelpTips for Improving Soccer Teamwork and Reducing Selfish Play
Tips for Helping Weak Soccer Players be Successful
Soccer Positions Tips
Idea for Rotating Soccer Positions
How to Steal the Ball on Your Opponent’s Soccer Throw-ins, Goal Kicks, Punts and Free Kicks
1-1-1-2 Stacked Soccer Formation
Soccer DVDs I Recommend
Premium Attacking Navigation Page (there are over 40 articles about attacking on Premium)
Money-Saving Combo Deals (these are listed by price, with the lowest priced ones first)
Read about SoccerHelp Premium. Premium now has over 1,000 pages, 3,500 internal links, over 200 pages about Formations (4v4, 5v5, 6v6, 7v7, 8v8, 9v9 and 11v11), over 150 pages about Positions and Styles of Play, and a Forum where Members can ask questions to Members and David at SoccerHelp.
Soccer Coaching DVDs I Recommend: (The links go to the Detailed Review of the DVD) For U-4, U-6 Coaches: Coach Doug SoccerHelp Method of Coaching Ages 3, 4, 5 & 6 DVD For How To Teach Skills: Soccer Success One On One Coaching (Basic and Intermediate Skills) DVD, Mia Hamm Soccer Secrets DVD and Gold Star Sleeve Ties, England Skills Uncovered DVD, Training Girls and Women To Win 3-DVD Set For Motivation, Fun and Foot Skills (experienced and travel players age 9 and older): GOL! (Brazilian Soccer Foot Skills and Ball Control Training) DVD For Rec Girls: Mia Hamm Soccer Secrets with Gold Star Sleeve Ties For Moves: Coerver Play Great Soccer 2-DVD Set, GOL! (Brazilian Soccer Foot Skills and Ball Control Training) DVD For Travel Team Players: GOL! (Brazilian Soccer Foot Skills and Ball Control Training) DVD, Coerver Play Great Soccer 2-DVD Set, England Skills Uncovered DVD, Training Girls and Women To Win 3-DVD Set.