The evolving game | may 2018

E M A G G N I V L O THE EV May, 2018

Issue 45 Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Coaching Newsletter

Lessons from the Theatre I recently took a break from soccer to attend a middle school musical, where my nephew had a lead role and sang a solo. I was very proud. In watching, I realized the effort and hard work that goes into making a school musical and began drawing correlations between directing a school musical and coaching youth soccer.

In about a time of six to eight weeks, the director must determine who will be in the cast, decide who will play the leads and come up with a sound plan to bring the show to life— establish a style and system. Sound familiar? In addition, he or she must give enough time to the rest of the cast to make sure they feel good about themselves when opening night arrives. Preparation and rehearsal time must become a priority and a schedule must be set up for up to five weeks. Through repetition, a spirit of fun and teamwork, the show slowly begins to develop. Initially, there may be feedback from parents regarding lead selections and the amount of time their child appears on stage. Somehow, all must come together in cooperation with parents and school personnel to cover transportation, set design, lighting and sound.

Mike Barr Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Technical Director

Opening night may show nervousness, a lack of confidence from some young actors and numerous little errors that are unexpected but always occur. The director brings them all together praises their effort and discusses the performance and may make some changes for the next show. As the third or fourth show comes around, the performance begins to have a flow, and the director may have time to reflect during the intermission and only make minor changes.

At the matinee performance I attended, the original lead of the prince was at a basketball game, and the understudy was called upon to take over. He stepped up and performed admirably to make the show a success.

As youth soccer coaches do you feel comfortable placing that substitute in a starting position or various positions when needed? Are you providing that sub with enough time in training and games to gain confidence? Can you make your entire team feel comfortable in all aspects of training and the games? Do you have a strong relationship with parents and club administrators? Are your players having fun?

As I get older, I have a newfound respect for children who choose the arts or take time from sports to participate in other endeavors. The memories the director and the cast create are no different and have the same value of the coach and his players. As coaches and parents we owe it to the children to allow them the time to experience new endeavors and challenges. Give them the opportunity to focus on other activities by being flexible in your schedule and demands. Parents, allow your children to grow up without regrets and to find their true passion.

You may find the lessons your children learn away from athletics can be applied to the sports field and vice versa.

Inside: Interview with Colonial Soccer Club’s Steve Moore

Check out the new coaching pathway

Wednesday, July 25 at 7 PM.

Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Game Watcher NATIONAL TEAMS

May 28, 6:30PM USMNT v Bolivia in Chester, PA

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

May 26, 2:45PM R Madrid v Liverpool

EPL

May 9, 10:00PM Huddersfield v Arsenal May 9, 10:00AM Swansea v Stoke City

FA CUP

May 19, 12:15PM Chelsea v Man Utd

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE

MLS

May 6, 5:00PM Bethlehem Steel v Richmond

May 19, 7:30PM Union v Real SL

May 16, 7:30AM Bethlehem Steel v Red Bulls ["2] 2

May 30, 7:30AM Union v Fire

MEET THE COACH

Steve Moore, Colonial Soccer Club Like so many other coaches in youth soccer, Steve Moore found himself on the sideline because he had passion for the sport, and his son was on the field. Steve, the sports editor of the Daily Local (Chester County), coached his son Cameron’s under-6 team in the Colonial Soccer Club intramural program last fall. As Cameron grows in soccer, so too, does Steve, whether that’s by attending Philadelphia Union matches or watching the U.S. national teams on television. Steve chatted with the Evolving Game about his coaching.

The Evolving Game: Did you eagerly volunteer to coach or did no one else step up?

No, I did. I helped with (Cameron’s) tee-ball team, because no one else was around. Soccer, I know soccer.

I can play soccer. That one I was happy to volunteer. The way they organize it now, I like a lot. I remember when I played that age, or when my brother played that age, it was crazy. They still tried to play 11 on 11. They played on too big of a field with too big of a goal.

Now it’s four on four with the little goals and no goalies. We didn’t do throw-ins. So it was good. It was a lot of just playing and not worrying about anything else.

What kind of things did you try to emphasize?

Mostly, for practice, we did a lot of games to try to keep kids interested, try to hit me with the ball. I would stand in the center circle and throw the bag of balls all over the field and time them while they chased them down, dribbled back to me or kicked them in the goal. But mostly it was like you tried to emphasize, hey, you don’t have to just bang it, you can pass it to somebody. Simple stuff.

What did you want to see from the beginning of the year to the end of the year?

Mostly just like everyone being engaged. That was the goal, was basically just like, when you’re playing, you’re playing. You’re trying to help; you’re trying to go forward; you’re trying to go back. Mostly, you’re trying to get everybody to pay attention for a full quarter. We had a goal near the end of the season where somebody actually passed it to the other guy, which was incredible. We had one or two really good kids, so we tried to help them do what they wanted to do and then with everyone else, it’s like let’s still include everyone. I wanted everyone to enjoy it enough to want to play the year after.

How much does your experience as a player and a fan influence your coaching?

It helps. It does help. You learn.

Having played growing up, I at least know that at seven or eight or nine, these are the things that are going be important. Mostly it’s passing.

Having watched the game a lot, the number one thing that impresses me is when they’re able to control the ball near their feet. These little guys, mostly they just want to kick as far as they can. So it’s a lot of dribbling, and here’s how you dribble without kicking it and chasing after it and kicking it and chasing after it. That’s the kind of stuff I at least learned from playing.

That’s a lot of what I tried to teach them was controlling the ball, keeping it in front of them. I at least know that’s one of the most important traits.

As someone who pays attention closely, what about the bigger picture stuff, like the U.S. not making the World Cup, are you conscious of that, as you think about your own son and how you may coach?

You are. It’s funny. Growing up, I

look back at when I was growing up, I knew nothing at all. I didn’t know there were people who played soccer for a living. There were no games on tv. There was no team around here. I guess MLS existed, but I didn’t know about it.

(Cameron) now, he goes to Union games with me. He watches EPL games in the morning. He knows it’s a thing. He knows how to watch it. He’s six years old. He knows that guy’s the forward, this guy’s the back. When we go to the Union games, he knows the guys. I didn’t know any of that at six. And I was being coached by people that were just parents. They didn’t really know what they were watching. Like I said, we were playing a style that was not great for six year old’s. I think that is so different. Not that he’s going to be a professional soccer player, but he’ll grow up at least knowing that this is a thing we do. There’s a U.S. team and there are pro teams. And the guys from the pro teams play on the U.S. team. Not making the World Cup is so….I was devastated. And it’s just for the event, what am I going to do this summer.

These kids, the first practice, one of the kids showed up in a Messi jersey. One of the kids showed up in a Union jersey. When I was seven, I couldn’t have named you a single professional soccer player in the whole world. I think that’s a big difference.

MEET THE COACH

Steve Moore, Colonial Soccer Club Soccer to me, at the professional level, looks most similar, in terms of sports, to the rec. level. Basketball, it’s a completely different game.

H o c k e y, i t ’s a c o m p l e t e l y different game. Even baseball.

But soccer, you can still kick the ball.

You can still relate the skills. The best part about even me going to the Union game in person, you realize just how much better these guys are. Especially when the Union started, I had watched a lot of EPL, and I heard all of these people go, “Oh, it’s not close.”

Listen, I’m not going to pretend it’s close. But you watch these guys, and they make everything look— like launch the ball 60 yards down field and stop it in on a dime. Then it’s like wow.

From the experience of going to Union games, does your son take the elements of those games and try to do the skills?

He does. I have a funny video of him. He was maybe like two. He had a little soccer ball and a Man City uniform. He would stand in the living room and just dance with the ball in front of him. Then he would like kick it and fall over. He thought that was hilarious. But obviously he got that from the tv. The first season of going to Union games he liked to sit and eat his chicken fingers. Now he actually watches and pays attention. He’s much more into it. So, yeah, I think he definitely tries to emulate some of that stuff.

Are there similarities between coaching and being a sports editor?

Yeah a little bit I guess. I learned pretty fast, even from the first practice to the second practice, (coaching) was about organizing something before I went there.

Especially with fiveyear-old kids. It was a lot about organizing s t u f f . T h e fi r s t practice I went and tried to wing it. And it was just okay, what do we do now? I felt weird making a practice for five year olds. But you like you had to have organization. Most of it was just let’s just play now. We only had seven or eight kids on the team.

The last half of practice, I would pick one other kid and it was like me and him versus the other six.

It’s similar in terms of organizing everything, but after that it’s mostly about making sure everyone has a good time.

Do you get the same satisfaction after a good game as you do when you produce a great paper?

A little bit, yeah. I do. I don’t know about the games with the kids. I think there’s something to that.

There’s a lot of days where I just skate through. Then there’s...like for all area, all area is our thing.

And we try to make it really good and try to promote it and see it.

When we do a good job with it, especially now with the staff we have, when it’s really good, and I think it’s really good, I’m really proud of it. So that’s kind of the same feeling in sports: when you win a game, you’re not supposed to win. Or you hang on for a tie with a team you’re not supposed to. Like I played in my rec. league a couple weeks ago and we went to penalty kicks. I was the goalie, and I’m not a goalie. And we end up in penalty kicks. And I’m like, ‘Oh, God, this is the worst.’ And we won. And I made one save. That kind of thing is the same. You do feel a sense of satisfaction. ["4]

Do you plan on continuing with coaching?

Yeah, I probably will. As long as he wants to play. I’m not going to make him play. It’s hard to tell with him, because he’s only six. I’ll stay with it with him as long as he wants to. That’s the funny thing with him.

As I said I didn’t know any soccer players. When he looks around, like we’ll watch the U.S. women’s team’s games, and my wife’s best friend—she teaches around here— he knows her really well, and she’s like an aunt to him. She was a pretty good soccer player. She was a goalkeeper. She’s big into the U.S. women’s team, and we watched all the world cup games.

And it’s funny looking at him now, he doesn’t see any difference between the men’s team and the women’s team. He views the men’s team and the women’s team as the same. Oh, the women won the World Cup. The men didn’t. I’ve found that super fascinating. I had a really good time coaching. So I’ll keep doing it so long as my kids are playing.

Christian Pulisic & A Blank Slate Summer When U.S. Men’s National Team manager Dave Sarachan came to Philadelphia on April 25, he brought good news with him: Hershey native and Borussia Dortmund standout Christian Pulisic would be joining the USMNT for its friendly against Bolivia on May 28 at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester.

"Christian Pulisic is going to be part of the game here against Bolivia," said Sarachan. "We’re excited to have Christian back with us. And we’re hoping to have a lot of familiar faces with us as well."

"I'm really excited to play in Philadelphia," said Pulisic in a video that accompanied the announcement. "Obviously that's so close to my home. A lot of my family will be there. I'm super excited to put on the U.S. jersey again."

Pulisic’s appearance, his first with the national team since last October, adds excitement to what otherwise might be a forgettable fixture. For starters, May 28 is Memorial Day, which means soccer families will either be playing in tournaments or spending time on the shore.

T h e n t h e r e ’s t h e t r i p t h e Americans won’t make: to Russia, for the 2018 World Cup. This is an exhibition in every sense of the word, on a nonFIFA weekend (which means U.S. Soccer will have to negotiate with MLS teams to add any home-based players to the roster) against an opponent that has yet to make an impression on the world stage.

But there’s still plenty to watch for when the Bolivians come to town. At 19, Pulisic is not just the best young American player in the world but also one of the best young players period. His ascension in the Bundesliga has helped open the door for contemporaries like Josh Sargent (18, Werder Bremen) and Weston McKennie (19, Schalke). In fact, according to Philly.com, Sargent will join Pulisic in Chester in May and in theory, McKennie could, too.

That would provide U.S. Soccer fans a glimpse at an intriguing trio that could ease the bitter disappointment of 2017.

It’s all part of what can be called a blank slate summer for the U.S. Men’s National Team. In the bigger picture, World Cup participation drives the popularity of the soccer and benefits all those who work in the game. At the same time, the results can speak louder than the performances. For example, we remember Tim Howard’s 16 saves against Belgium in the 2014 round of 16 but overlook that the Belgians thoroughly outplayed the Americans in that match. In fact, the USMNT was outplayed in three of its four games in Brazil, the lone exception a late 2-2 draw with Portugal.

Of course, most of us would take that this June and July, considering it would mean the U.S. would actually be in Russia. But having no major tournament to gauge the status of our national team gives us a chance to look more honestly at it. There are no ‘yeah buts,’ or

Dillon Friday Communication Manager Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Marketing Coordinator

managerial arguments to be had. The only thing to determine the team’s success in the next few months is form, not results.

And that’s an exciting thing. The friendly against Bolivia kicks off three matches in a short span.

The USMNT take on Ireland on June 2 before playing France, one of the favorites to life the World Cup, on June 9. This is an opportunity for Pulisic and co. to take the reins and stake their claim to the future of American soccer on the men’s side. A flashy performance or two would remind fans that the sport is still on an upward trajectory in this country.

Tickets to the USMNT vs. Bolivia match can be purchased at EPYSA.org.

Coaching Exercises

By Mike Barr & Gary Stephenson

Description

Circle Exercises

Balls with half the players in circle, other half in center checking to receive ball and play the ball back to the player who made the pass.

Coaching Points Heel down, toe up when receiving ball on the ground. First touch is a prep touch. When passing with the inside of the foot, first step is with the passing foot.

Players are following their passes to player they played the pass with speed. Demanding voice when calling the ball.

Circle Exercises Description Same as #1 but this time they receive the ball and play to another player in the circle Coaching Points Heel down, toe up when receiving ball on the ground. First touch is a prep touch. When passing with the inside of the foot, first step is with the passing foot.

Players are following their passes to player they played the pass with speed. Demanding voice when calling the ball.

Circle Exercises Description

Follow pass and take the place of the player who received the pass.

Same as #3 but player making the pass runs to a player who did not receive the ball and he checks to the player who received the initial pass.

Coaching Points as above

Coaching Exercises

By Mike Barr & Gary Stephenson

Description

Passing through Cones

Playing with head up in pairs and locating partner between

colored cones. Receive the ball across the body shoulder on.

Push ball beyond cones and bring ball back to the middle and play begins again with different roles.

Introduce player receiving ball with shoulders on

Passing in the Square Description Five or ten players in a square use one or two balls (play two touch). Player A plays to B and takes B’s place, B to C, C to D and D back to A. (all with right foot) With left foot Players work on first touch with pace, alternate receiving foot and passing foot.

Passing in the Square Description

Five or ten players in a square use one or two balls (play two touch). Player A plays to B and takes B’s place, B to C, C to D and D back to A. Introduce Double Pass with both feet

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Coaching Exercises

By Mike Barr & Gary Stephenson

Description

Increasing Speed of Play

Three players, two with the ball on end, first touch around cone and follow the pass. More pace and pressure, utilizing both feet Introduce player receiving ball with shoulders on

Sequential Passing Description One ball, five or six players assigned numbers one to five or one to six. Pass with the inside of the foot and receive with the inside of the foot in consecutive order as players move freely within the grid. Look for eye contact and movement toward the previous number on each pass.

Look for proper pace on the pass relative to the proximity of the next numbered player.

Possession, 3v1, 4v2, 5v2 Description

3v1 10x15 grid, unlimited to two touch, all players within the grid 4v2 15x20 grid, attacking players outside grid play two touch 5v2 15x20 grid, four attackers outside gridIntroduce Double Pass with both feet

Coaching Point Recognition of proper supporting angles (triangle and diamond shape). How possession games should reflect the match. ["8]

Coaching Exercises 


By Mike Barr & Gary Stephenson

Description

4 v 4 plus 4

Four v Four plus 4 neutrals in box in corners, changing point of

attack Coaching Points Players recognizing opportunities throughout a larger area and introduction to changing the point of attack. Increasing speed of play is also brought out.

3 v 3 to Targets & Goals Description Three v Three or Four v Four to two targets and goal Coaching Points

Players recognize when to possess and when to play forward to target players. Runs in the box are addressed, play is continuous.

2 v 2 plus 2 to 3 goals Description 2v2 plus neutral player for attacking against three small goals, keeper must receive the ball between the goals and initiate the attack with the opposite team.

Coaching Points

Players recognize when to possess and when to play forward to target players. Runs in the box are addressed, play is continuous.

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Coaching Exercises


By Mike Barr & Gary Stephenson

Description

Four Goal Game

Four v Four to 4 goals - end lines Coaching Points

Recognizing when to finish, quality runs and support choosing the best option, transition

Multi Goal Game Description Four v Four to 4 goals - one on each line Coaching Points

Awareness, changing role from attack to defense, pressure to think and respond, to possess or go to goal

4 v 4 wide players Description Four v Four to 2 goals - off set on end lines Coaching Points

Utilizing the flank, supporting runs from the flanks, different types of distribution from flanks to attacking players

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