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This week I share some of the questions I’ve received from coaches around the world. One of my favorite things about hosting a podcast is that it gives me the opportunity to exchange ideas with a large number of coaches. Most of the times it’s just me talking about what I’m doing with my teams or with one other coach.

I prefer a dialog where I get to learn from other coaches as well as sharing what I’ve learned over the years. That’s why I’m always excited to receive comments on each episodes or emails sent by fellow coaches.

Looking through my list of questions this last week I realized that many other coaches might have some of the same questions but just haven’t had a chance to ask.

The questions cover a wide range of coaching experiences from coaching U-little ones to amateur adult teams so my hope is that there is something for everyone in this episode.

Here are some of the questions. You’ll have to listen to the podcast for the answers 🙂

Sammy G asks:

I always find you to be insightful and thought provoking. In my quest to always improve my craft, I’m constantly evaluating the improvement of my players from session-to-session and week-to-week. With my u-12 boys team this season, I’m finding that the sessions don’t “stick” when I use a lot drills and exercises as well as when I put my players in natural games (that look like soccer) and let them play.

According to all the coaching literature I read, an hour or 45 minutes of a small sided games is a sign of poor coaching, but they have been playing prettier soccer and they are possessing better than they have all season.

My question is: Does much of the coaching literature teach young coaches to over drill, when it truly is the game that is the best teacher? Also, is the drill/small-small sided game time ratio a perfect science or is it relevant to the team?

From Mark C:

I went back and listened to the podcast on Warm-ups, episode #11. I really enjoyed it and I use these warm-up games frequently with my U7/U8 Boys.

My question is, on game days, what type of warm ups would you suggest for this age group? I am not of fan of just letting them line up and fire shots at the goal. I was wondering if these games would be good for game day warm ups too, or do you use some other type of warm up “routine” for your younger teams on game days?

Anton From London, UK asks:

I’ve just discovered CSW and absolutely love the podcasts. I am an amateur team manager from the UK and learning a lot from your site and podcasts, so thank you so much!

I have a question.  How do you prepare your team to deal with defending long ball teams? Would you be able to do a podcast on it at some point? Would love to hear your views and views of one of the many top coaches that join your show.

Many many thanks and keep up the awesome work my friend!

 

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This episode of Coaching Soccer Weekly is sponsored by ZoomReports.com. If you’re a coach looking to give your players valuable feedback or a director of coaching searching for a way to manage the evaluations for your whole club you should try a free trial of ZoomReports by going to ZoomReports.com and entering the promo code CSW when registering for the free trial.

 

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From Jose:

Your podcasts have been very useful to my coaching sessions (U11s) and my overall development as a coach.  THANK YOU!

This week’s podcast, the Penn State coach mentions the “magic hop” when receiving a ball.

Can you send me a youtube link and/or description of what he really means?

Another good question from Mark C:

I coach a young U8 team here in Wichita Falls, TX and I also work with a local soccer club, Wichita Falls FC, who my older son plays for.

I am interested in the book(s) Coaching Possession w/ a Purpose, but was wondering if any of it would be too advanced for my U8 team?

Right now they are working on basic fundamentals, technical skills, ect… However some of the things that you described in the most recent podcast seemed like they could be appropriate for a U8 team and at worst be introduced and possibly adjusted to the level of the team?

I just wondered how the books were, or should I wait until the kids are older?

On Twitter Ed asks:

Is the USSF on the right path with the Small Side Game approach for U-8 thru U-12?

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In the Next Episode

I’m going to have an interview with Dan Minutillo, the author of a new book, A Coach’s Guide to Tactical Periodization. This is a method of planning and structuring your practices that many of you have heard of but may not really know what it is or how you can use it with your own teams. It’s a discussion that I’m sure you’ll find interesting.