We finished up our Futsal season last weekend with the US Youth Futsal Regional Tournament. It was a patch-work event because teams dropped out last minute due to a winter storm coming through. Then some left early because they were afraid they wouldn't be able to get home on Sunday. We should have been playing Futsal Nationals but that was pushed back due to Covid. It was a bit of an anticlimax that's the kind of year it's been. All but one day of practices … [Read more...]
#257 Activities in Small Spaces
The boys divisions of the final tournament of the fall were held last weekend so I didn't have any games on my calendar. For me the weekend was packed with home projects that have been neglected during the busy fall season. The one soccer activity I did have was the process of putting together my teams for the futsal season. Each of my four teams has entered two teams into the Futsal league. The rosters of each team range from 11 to 17. For each game I plan … [Read more...]
#249 Training Team Concepts with Young Players
My teams were back to a full schedule of games last weekend. On Friday evening my U12 goalkeeper broke her hip taking a goal kick. It was the strangest injury I've ever seen. I watched the replay on the Veo recording and it look like it happened when she landed on her right foot after striking the ball. She can be seen collapsing after landing. She's going to be out six to eight weeks which pretty much ends the outdoor season for her. I go through a … [Read more...]
#248 Playing with a Triangle in Midfield
The season started quickly and we've packed a lot into the first six weeks. When I was planning the season I decided that Labor Day weekend would be a good one to take off for all of my teams. The break would be just as important for me as it for the players. Getting the teams up and running at the same time as working on the recreational league took a lot of time and energy so a chance to recharge my batteries over the long weekend seemed like a good … [Read more...]
#171 Training the Key Elements of Attacking
My teams had their first Futsal games last weekend. I love the change in to a different form of soccer during the winter. What's the old saying, "A change is as good as a rest."? We'll I had a rest over Thanksgiving and now a change to Futsal from outdoor soccer. I'm very happy with the way my teams started the season. I'm fortunate this year because almost all of my players have played Futsal in the past so it's really been easy for me to build on top of what … [Read more...]
#156 Starting Your Season with Structure or Skill?
This week has just been insane. Create cards and rosters for our older team and getting the uniforms and coaches meeting organized for the younger teams has been a bigger job than I could ever have imagined. his weekend I have to get the schedule done and then hopefully I can get my life back into balance again. On top of all of that, we also started training our teams this week. With all of my responsibilities to the rec program over the summer I really … [Read more...]
#149 Providing Useful Feedback
I had a huge tournament weekend a week ago. Having four teams in a tournament makes for a busy weekend but it's the best way for me to give all of my teams a chance to play with the least amount of disruption to our league schedule. This was the last tournament for one of my teams while the other still have one or two events to play. For those teams that are still playing, this tournament was a preparation for bigger events to come. This year my teams … [Read more...]
#142 Balancing Skill Development with Game Understanding
I took a break from the podcast last week but it wasn't to go on a vacation or take some time off as much as it was to get ready for our Spring Recreational Coaches Meeting. The week was spent pulling together paperwork and uniforms in preparation for the spring season that starts this week. I also did presented a session to the coaches to give them some ideas that they could use in training. The session was on training players to change direction with the … [Read more...]
#133 How to Improve Technically and Tactically at Home
The Central Regional Championships for the US Youth Futsal Nationals was in Kansas City last weekend. I had one team win and qualify for Nationals while the other had a tough weekend. They played some very good teams but didn't play as well has they have recently. I've said before that the only thing consistent about young teams is there inconsistency. I can point to the long holiday break and missing players for other sports commitments as reasons but these … [Read more...]
#130 Movement to Create Options
I had a ton of Futsal games last week. As I've mentioned before, I've divided my teams up for the Futsal season to make sure they all get plenty of playing time. This is great for the players but it doubles the number of games I have on any given weekend. I love working with my players but 14 games on the weekend will really take a toll on you. This is the last week of training before the club takes a two-week holiday break. This allows the families and … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- ...Next Page