Coaching Soccer Weekly

Coaching Soccer Weekly

A Podcast that Shares Training Sessions, Interviews and Commentary from WORLD CLASS COACHING

Coaching Soccer Weekly is a podcast that gives you an in-depth look at the methods, strategies and techniques used by a youth soccer coach working full time with players of every age and skill level. This includes training plans, team management and planning ideas, the latest trends in soccer coaching and education, as well as approaches to deal with challenges.

The podcast also includes interviews with other soccer coaches and trainers that are on the cutting edge of modern soccer development.

#063 Surviving Tryouts

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Last weekend completed the tryouts for our youth soccer club. This is a year occurrence here is the States. I’d be curious to hear what it’s like in other countries. Do you have tryouts each year or more or less often? Since our system is, ‘Pay to Play’ many parents view themselves as agents. They shop around and look for the best ‘deal’. I don’t have a problem with parents looking out for the best interest of their children but too often I think they’re … [Read more...]

#062 Breaking Down the Champions League Final

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We just finished up State Cup and a week of Pre Tryout camp here this week. Many of our teams have been off for a week or more after their season ended so this is a chance for them to get some touches before tryout this weekend. Last year at this time I did a podcast on our tryout process. You can go back and listen to Episode 16 to hear how we run tryouts for more than 2,000 players in one weekend. This week I talk to Sam Polak about the Champions … [Read more...]

#061 Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

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Since I didn't put out a podcast last week I thought it would be a good time to do a survey that I've been considering for a while. I appreciate everyone who took the time to fill it out. There were a number of things that I’ve learned from it already. Over 80% of coaches who responded want more training sessions. The recent episodes have included more commentary than actual training sessions but there's been a lot going on to talk about. I asked what … [Read more...]

CSW Extra 4 – Survey

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I don't have a full podcast this week because I'm traveling with a couple of my teams to Saint Charles, IL for the Midwest Cup tournament. It's hosted by Campton United Soccer Club. They do such a great job every year that I keep taking my teams there each Memorial Day weekend. I thought this would be a great time to put out a survey that I've been wanting to do. I want to know what you want to hear more of on the show. Your suggestions will help to … [Read more...]

#060 Coaching In Short Phrases

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In the last few weeks I completed my review of how you can use formations for player development. On Episode 57 I looked at 7 v 7 for U9/U10 teams. On Episode 58 I reviewed the different formations for teams playing 9 v 9 at U11 and U12. Last week on Episode 59 I looked at the transition from small-sided games to full-sided 11 v 11 matches. If you missed any of those you should check them out. Last weekend my teams finished up their league seasons. Two of my … [Read more...]

#059 Are Your Players Ready for 11 v 11?

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Last week I looked at formations for the 9 v 9 format that will be used for U11’s and U12’s in the US next year. A coach pointed out that I missed an important one, the 3-2-3. It’s the formation that is often used by Ajax and others when they are playing 9 v 9. As I looked at it, the formation has all of the qualities you need in a balanced system. It gives you numbers in attack, cover in defense and central midfielders that can work together. It’s a … [Read more...]

#058 Systems of Play for Third Stage of Soccer Development

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Last week reviewed the possible formations for teams playing 7 v 7. My focus was on U9 and U10 teams but I received an email from Bryan, a coach in Maryland, who coaches a U15 girls team. He found the episode useful for his team even though they play 11 v 11 but they usually play 7 v 7 or 8 v 8 at the end of training sessions so he will use the different formations I described to focus on various aspect of the game that he wants to highlight. So even if you’re … [Read more...]

#057 Formations for the Second Stage of Soccer Development

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Last week I shared a complete training session for running with the ball. If you missed that one I’d suggest you go back and check out the podcast and printable show notes for all of the details. This has been a crazy week. I’ve jammed a week of work into four days. When this is released I’ll be on my way to Cincinnati, Ohio for the Flying Pig Half Marathon. It looks like it’s going to be a wet one! If anyone listening is going to be out there running or … [Read more...]

#056 It’s Not the Same as Dribbling

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Our Instagram Account now has more than 900 followers. We've posted more than 100 images including exercises, drills and small-sided games. The posts from each week are from a section of one of our books. Sometimes they are a complete training session other times they're a number of activities from one section. If you haven't checked it out already I would suggest you take a look because there are more diagrams of exercises ,along with detail descriptions, … [Read more...]

#055 Should You Work on Free Kicks?

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I made some great progress on several projects last week and I’m looking forward to sharing more about them in the coming weeks. We’re streamlining the way we share all of our information here at WORLD CLASS COACHING and I think it’s going to be great for coaches that listen to the podcast, read our blogs and watch our videos. Look for more info in the coming weeks. Thanks to everyone that gave the podcast a ranking or review in iTunes. I appreciate you … [Read more...]