Mass Youth Soccer Monthly Connecting Soccer families across Massachusetts
May 2017
How to Make the Team • Tryout advice for players from Technical Director - Ian Mulliner • Video - Goal of the Month Winner’s once in a lifetime experience • USYS Massachusetts State Cup - Round Robin Recap • Shooting for Goal - Session Plans for U8, U!0, U12 and U!4+
The Session Plan Edition 10 Exclusive U6, U8, U10, U12 and U14 Play Practice Play Plans Congratulations to the NOVA 19/20 U Girls on winning the USYS Massachusetts State Cup and qualifying for Regionals
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May 2017 Updates Congratulations to our 2017 USYS Massachusetts State Cup Semi Final and Finalists! Remaining games will be played on the weekend of June 3rd and 4th at the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Progin Park Complex.
USYS Massachusetts State Cup US Youth Soccer’s Massachusetts State Cup Round Robin play kicked off on a beautiful spring weekend at Massachusetts Youth Soccer’s Progin Park complex. 115 teams from over 25 programs in Massachusetts participated with the goal of qualifying for Region 1 Finals in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
12U Boys Belmont BAYS
Hammer FC
Euro United
Strikers United
12U Girls Pioneer Valley Storm
Galway Rovers
13U Boys SSU Blazers
NE Rush
Mutiny FC
Galway Rovers
13U Girls FC Blazers
FC Stars
14U Boys Among the highlights of the first weekend of play was the final for the 19/20 U Girls group. Nova Premier Soccer (pictured on the front cover) were victorious in a closely fought batttle with a talented New England Rush team.
Hammer FC
FC United
Dream Team FC Galway Rovers
14U Girls FC Stars
Synergy SC
JSSA
NE Rush
15U Boys NE Rush
FC Blazers
Hammer FC
Valeo FC
15U Girls FC Stars
Euro United
FC Stars
Vipers
16U Boys FC Stars
Mutiny FC
Nova PSC
Mutiny FC
16U Girls FC Stars
Fortis FC
Galway Rovers
Fortis FC
17U Boys Boston Rams
FC Blazers
Chestnut Hill
Hammer FC
17U Girls FC Stars
JSSA Napoli
Vipers FC
Galway Rovers
18U Boys Euro United
Boston Rams
18U Girls FC Stars
FC Blazers
NE Rush
Explosion FC
19/20 U Boys Hammer FC
SSU Blazers
FC Blazers
Nor’easter
19/20 U Girls Nova Premier Soccer*
New England Rush
click here for 2017 USYS State Cup schedules and scores
Attention youth soccer coaches, players and parents:
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Goal of the Month! William Sarhaddi from Dover Sherborn Youth Soccer was our April 2017 Goal of the Month Winner. Relive his experience at Gillette by clicking the video below!
Your GOAL could be shown on the Jumbotron at Gillette!
Each Month winners of the Mass Youth Soccer Goal of the Month will receive a family pack of tickets a New England Revolution game, as well as having their goal shown on the jumbotron at Gillette Stadium during a Revs game!
To submit a video for our Goal or Save of the Month competitions, tag Massachusetts Youth Soccer (@mayouthsoccer) in a video of your Goal or Save on social media via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Alternatively email a copy of your video to marketing@mayouthsoccer.org. All video’s must be in horizontal format!
Click here to visit the Goal of the Month webpage
How to make the team Ian Mulliner
A
Technical Director
ccepting that there are two sides to every coin, we thought that this month it would be good to take a look at tryouts from both the players perspective and the coaches perspective. For a player the angst of trying out is almost palpable. Questions that invariably niggle away, such as - Am I good enough? Will the coach like/notice me? What do I need to do to stand out from the crowd? - are dominating every players thoughts. So how does one calm the inevitable nerves felt by every player who tried out for a team in any sport.
What are coaches looking for? Be assured of one thing though as you try out. The coaches are watching you and they are looking for you to do something positive with the ball or to work to try to recover it as quickly as possible if you do not have the ball. From a coaches viewpoint tryouts can be a tricky time when we think that we are going to improve the team and that the next Christian Pulisic or Malory Pugh is sure to turn up to try to make the team.
Firstly let’s understand that this is much easier said than done. But if you can find a way to use visualization prior to the try out date you will surely be headed down the right path. Many players focus on what could go wrong but the best and most successful players focus on what they do well and use that positive energy to drive them during the tryout. Visualization for me is one of the most underutilized tools by many players. It is the act of thinking about potential events and living through them in your mind or imagination and believing or seeing a positive outcome. It has been well documented that visualization can help enhance performance in any scenario. Here is link for those of you seeking more information on visualization: http:// www.sportpsychologytoday.com/sport-psychology-forcoaches/the-power-of-visualization/ Outside of visualization you have to try to figure out what you do well and stick with that. Some of you may be great dribblers and are able to manipulate a soccer ball as if it were attached to your foot. Others amongst you may be great passers and can thread the ball like cotton through the eye of a needle between 2 defenders. Yet others may be the great destroyers able to break up plays and quickly restart your teams attack. No matter what your best attribute focus on it and use it to your advantage once the tryout begins.
Maybe one of the first questions we should ask is: Why are we having tryouts in the first place? As a coach we should be aware that all children develop at different times and at different speeds and todays superstar could be tomorrow’s forgotten hero! I have always believed that every player should be given time to develop, and have long espoused the virtues of giving each and every player that you select a minimum of 2 years (or 4 seasons) in your charge to measure their development. Too often we are in a rush to judge before we have given a child enough time to familiarize and absorb their environment and then adapt to make the changes necessary to be successful. For me if a child has committed to you then you should return that commitment in kind and allow them to develop while in your care. Again this is an easier said than done scenario due to the myriad of circumstances that arise in youth sports. I believe that if a family (I say family because
Check out our Session PLans for U6, U8, U10, U12 &
: Player Selection
Massachusetts Youth Soccer
www.mayouthsoccer.org
most youth soccer players cannot drive themselves to practice so it becomes a family commitment) commits to their child being on the team then so long as they are attending a minimum of 50% or better of the training sessions and games (not one or the other but both) and behaving in a manner conducive to their and their teammates learning, then we should repay their commitment by keeping them on the team. For those coaches who are entering into tryouts for the first time. The best advice that I have is to: JUST PLAY THE GAME! - Too often coaches run try outs where they have the players run through a series of activities in isolation and think, that this will be a good indicator of whether a child is a good player or not generally it is not a good indicator of that at all. Your tryouts should consist of small sided games such as 3 v 3 or 4 v 4 and then progress to a 7 v 7 or 9 v 9 game. This way you will see how players react in a small group setting and then a larger group setting. What are you looking for? Attacking wise: Players who can manipulate the ball successfully and who look to bring other team mates into the game are an asset. Goal-scoring instincts are something that is not easy to coach so if you find a goal scorer, that should stand you in good stead for the season. Defensively look for players who can get back behind the ball and then look to challenge the ball carrier for possession. For more information on how to run a tryout for your organization please contact Carla DeSantis via cdesantis@mayouthsoccer.org
Save the Date USYS Massachusetts State Cup Semi Finals and Finals - June 3rd and 4th MTOC Friday 23rd June- Sunday 25th June District Select Tournament Saturday 5th August- Sunday 6th August Mass Youth Night at the Revolution Saturday 9th September Mass Youth Soccer 2018 Workshop Saturday 27th January Urban and Underserved Areas 2018 Workshop Sunday 28th January
U14+ Age Groups at mayouthsoccer.org/coaches/
MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF HEALTH REQUIREMENTS: This camp must comply with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and by licensed by the local board of health. In order to comply to Board of Health regulations all participants on this camp must provide Challenger Sports with a copy of current immunization record and a past 24 month health history. Failure to provide this information prior to the start of camp will result in you not being allowed to attend camp. Please email records to: shughes@challengersports.com clearly marking the participants name and the camp to be attended. Records can also be sent to: Challenger Sports, Board of Health, 94 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick, RI 02888. All coaches are CORI and SORI verified. Parents/Guardians have the right to review the background checks, health care, discipline policies and grievance procedures upon written request.
Massachusetts Youth Soccer Camps have been designed to follow US Soccer best practices for player development. The camp curriculum will follow a Play – Practice – Play format incorporating activities that include periodization to sustain and optimize each player’s performance throughout the duration of the camp. All of our camp staff hold US Soccer National Licenses and have undergone extensive training on how to improve youth soccer players using empowerment and inclusive training methodology. Massachusetts Youth Soccer will partner with Challenger Sports to offer these programs to players in the Massachusetts soccer community. All camp participants will be provided with a unique environment that will develop their technical and tactical soccer skills over the course of five days, through individual ball mastery, small and large sided games.
Massachusetts Youth Soccer Summer Programs Locations: ● ● ●
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Interested in hosting one of our International Coaches. Contact Steve Hughes (shughes@challengersports.com) for more information.
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GOAL Shooting to score goals Age Group 8-U
Key Qualities Be Proactive, Take Initiative
Team Tactical Principles Pass or Dribble forward when possible or hold the ball, Spread out
Is Activity Organized? Game-like? Challenging? Objectives: Develop a shooting mentality. Maximize scoring opportunities.
Coaching Points: Encourage players to shoot the ball and praise shots that are goals. Spread out. Guided Questions: When is praise and encouragement too much? When you positively cheer on everything players are doing, good or bad. How can you tell if the players enjoy the game? All the players are engaged, no one is standing around.
Organization: Make two to three 15W x 20L fields w/goal at each end. Goals, cones, pinnies, balls. Rules: Start games with a kick off. Play local rules on restarts. Monitor infractions. Play 2v2, 3v2, 3v3 games, up to a 4v4 game per field. Allow players to have free play.
Is Activity Organized? Game-like? Challenging?
Does activity allow for Repetition? Coaching?
PLAY - SMALL SIDED GAMES
Does activity allow for Repetition? Coaching?
PRACTICE - CORE ACTIVITY
Less Challenging Activity
More Challenging Activity
Shooting Gallery: Play 1v1 to score in opponents goals. Rules: Players in 2 teams on either side of coach at midfield sideline. Coach has all balls. Coach plays ball out onto field, one player from each team enters the field. Activity Duration Bonus pts for goals outside the far away markers. See diagram.
Time Active
20 min
# of Intervals
1 min
Active Rest
Shooting Gallery: Play 2v2 to score in opponents goals. Organization: In 20Wx25L yd grid w/2 small goals on each end line w/far away markers placed 3-5yds up the sideline from the corners. See diagram. Players in 2 teams on either side of coach at midfield sideline. Coach has all the balls. Rules: Coach plays the ball out onto the field, 2 players from each team enter the field. Play to score in the opponents goals. Bonus pts for goals outside the far away markers.
Is Activity Organized? Game-like? Challenging? Objectives: Shoot whenever you can. Score lots of goals. Organization: Have a 25W x 35L field w/ a small goal at each end. Make equal teams of 4, and manage restarts, substitutions, fouls, water breaks and rest periods. Goals, cones, pinnies, ball. Rules: Allow for free play. All modified 4v4 rules apply.
10 1 min
Shooting Gallery: Play 3v3 to score in opponents goals. Rules: Players in 2 teams on either side of coach at midfield sideline. Coach has all balls. Coach plays ball out onto field, 3 players from each team enter the field. Bonus pts for goals outside the far away markers.
Coaching Points: Shooting. Attacking forward w/the ball by dribbling or passing into a shooting space. Spread out. Guided Questions: What techniques should you teach with shooting? Show players how to strike and shoot the ball w/different surfaces of their feet. Surfaces such as the inside, outside or toe for shots at close range. Longer range shots use the laces. When should players shoot? Shoot whenever they are near the goal.
PLAY - LET THEM PLAY
Does activity allow for Repetition? Coaching? Coaching Points: Help the players to see moments in the game when they should shoot, dribble, or pass. Spread out. Guided Questions: How can you tell if players are positively engaged, that the practice worked? They are happy, playing the game, and all of them are trying to go forward and score goals.
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GOAL Attacking third build-up 1: Possession to create scoring chances Age Group 10-U
Key Qualities Be Proactive and Take Initiative
Team Tactical Principles Pass or dribble forward when possible or hold the ball, Create 2v1 or 1v1
Is Activity Organized? Game-like? Challenging? Objectives To create scoring chances to out score the opponent. Play a game as the players get to practice. Organization Set up two or more 20Wx30L fields with a goal at each end. Play 2v2, 2v3 up to 3v3.
Coaching Points - Pass or dribble forward when possible or hold the ball, Spread out - Create 2v1 and 1v1 - Receiving, Dribbling, Passing and Shooting Guided Questions Why do we dribble and pass forward? To penetrate and create scoring chances.
Rules Out of bounds: Pass or dribble the ball in.
Is Activity Organized? Game-like? Challenging?
Does activity allow for Repetition? Coaching?
PLAY - SMALL SIDED GAMES
Duration: 3 games of 2.5 minutes/30sec rest.
Does activity allow for Repetition? Coaching?
PRACTICE - CORE ACTIVITY
Less Challenging Activity
More Challenging Activity
Organization - 2v2 Scoring: In a 24Wx24L grid play 2v2. The attacking player with the ball dribbles in or passes to his partner. The defender, starting at the PK point will try to regain the ball to score in Activity Duration 24 min the small goal. Rules: Blue team gets two opportunities 4 min Time Active to score. Objectives To unbalance and disorganize the opponent in the attacking third in order to move the ball forward to create goal scoring opportunities. Organization - 3v3 Scoring: In a 24Wx30L grid with a regular goal and small goal play 3v3. The attacking player with the ball dribbles in or passes to his partner to score in the regular goal. The defenders, starting from the PK point will try to regain the ball to score in the small goal. Rules The blue team gets two opportunities to score and switch.
Is Activity Organized? Game-like? Challenging? Objectives To unbalance and disorganize the opponent in the attacking third in order to move the ball forward to create goal scoring opportunities. Organization 7v7 game with regular goals. Split the players into two equal teams. Play with the formations you will use on game day. Rules All FIFA rules apply.
# of Intervals Active Rest
Organization - 4v4 Scoring: In a half field with a regular goal and a small goal. Defenders start from the PK point. Blue team scores in the regular goal and the red team in the small goal.
4 2 min
Rules : All FIFA Laws apply.
Coaching Points - Pass or dribble forward when possible or hold the ball, Spread out - Create 2v1 and 1v1 - Receiving, Dribbling, Passing and Shooting Guided Questions When should the players play forward? -- The teammates have created a passing lane and can receive a pass, the dribbler has space to dribble forward or one defender to beat, or we can shoot at goal. What is influencing the topic in the session? -- The ability of the players to connect passes, to dribble forward and to shoot at goal.
PLAY - LET THEM PLAY
Does activity allow for Repetition? Coaching? Coaching Points - Pass or dribble forward when possible or hold the ball, Spread out, Create 2v1 and 1v1 - Receiving, Dribbling, Passing and Shooting Guided Questions How did the players feel after the game? Was it related to their performance? -- Ask this question to see how effective was the training session for the players. Duration: Two 12 minute halves/3 minutes rest.
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GOAL Create scoring opportunities through wide play Age Group 12-U
Key Qualities Be Proactive, Take Initiative
Team Tactical Principles Exploit opponent when unbalanced.
Is Activity Organized? Game-like? Challenging? Objectives To outscore opponent, get players playing early as they arrive. Organization Two 30Lx20W fields with two small goals. Players play as they arrive 1v1,2v2,3v2etc Rules Kick ins if the ball goes out. If a goal is scored conceding team start with the ball. Check local town rules.
Is Activity Organized? Game-like? Challenging?
Does activity allow for Repetition? Coaching?
PLAY - SMALL SIDED GAMES
Coaching Points Passing, dribbling, shooting long passing. Spread out Guided Questions What is the attitude of the players like? Good players are engaged and ready for practice. What should you do to keep players engaged? Positive reinforcement of techniques.
Does activity allow for Repetition? Coaching?
PRACTICE - CORE ACTIVITY
Less Challenging Activity Organization 55Wx40L. 1 regulation goal 3 counter goals. Rules Ball starts with the coach, kick ins if the ball goes out, if a goal is scored ball starts with any blue player. Players restricted to their zones
More Challenging Activity
Activity Duration 20 Time Active
3
Objectives Focus team (blue) get one point by dribbling through yellow gates and 2 for red gates. If reds win the ball they try and score in counter goals Organization 55Wx40L field. 1 regulation goal and 3 counter goals. play 5v5. Rules Play starts with the coach passing to a blue, kick ins,corners goal kicks. Play restarts with the coach, if player dribbles or passes through red gates players can go into the box to meet the cross.
Is Activity Organized? Game-like? Challenging? Objectives To outscore opponent by making runs behind the defense to get through on goal. Organization 55Lx80W field play 9v9 or as close to as possible. Focus team play 1-3-4-1 Defending team 1-3-2-3 Rules All FIFA rules apply
# of Intervals
5
Active Rest
1
Organization 55Wx40L, 1 regulation goal and 3 counter goals. 7v7 Rules Ball starts with the coach, Kick ins if the ball goes out, if a goal is score ball starts with any blue player
Coaching Points Accurate passing, Beating players 1v1. Long passing. Spread out to create 1v1 opportunities in wide areas. Guided Questions What techniques are being repeated? Passing from central players to wide players. Receiving from wide players and crosses into the box Does anything need to change? Move to less challenging if players are struggling to find success. What cues should attackers look for to get into the box? Wide player has time on the ball.
PLAY - LET THEM PLAY
Does activity allow for Repetition? Coaching? Coaching Points Accurate passing, 1v1 dribbling, crossing. Attackers making runs into the box before cross comes in. Create numerical advantage in wide areas Guided Questions What did the team work on? Creating scoring chances form wide areas Why should you engage every player? Every player feels welcome and part of the team.
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GOAL Create Central Scoring Opportunities Age Group 14-U
Key Qualities Proactive, Take initiative
Team Tactical Principles Possession to Play Forward
Is Activity Organized? Game-like? Challenging?
Coaching Points Unbalance the defence, Passing, Receiving and dribbling Guided Questions How can you tell the players are engaged in the session? Players are constantly passing, moving and scoring goals. What if the game is lopsided? Allow for a water break and then re make teams.
Objectives Play forward when possible to score Organization 20Lx30W field with two small goals. Players play as they arrive 1v1,2v1 etc Rules Follow local town rules and regulations (each town may differ)
Is Activity Organized? Game-like? Challenging?
Does activity allow for Repetition? Coaching?
PLAY - SMALL SIDED GAMES
Does activity allow for Repetition? Coaching?
PRACTICE - CORE ACTIVITY
Less Challenging Activity Organization L30xW25 field with 2 counter goals and one regulation goal. Play 6v5 with GK in favour of Focus Team Rules FIFA Laws Apply
More Challenging Activity
Activity Duration 20mins Time Active
3 mins
Objectives Create scoring chances through central areas Organization L50xW50 field with the counter goals and one regulation goal. Play 6v6. Focus Team (Blue) with a numerical advantage through central areas Opposition Team (Red) are outnumbered. Focus Team maintain possession till forward opportunity is available to score. Rules FIFA Laws Apply
Is Activity Organized? Game-like? Challenging? Objectives To create scoring opportunities through central areas. Organization L100xW50 field play 11v11 (close to as possible) Focus Team: 1-4-3-3 Opposing Team: 1-4-3-3 Rules All FIFA laws apply
# of Intervals
5
Active Rest
1 min
Organization L50xW50 field with the counter goals and one regulation goal. 8v in favor of opposing team Rules FIFA Laws Apply
Coaching Points Play forward when possible or hold the ball (ball carrier), Shots when a yard is gained (The Shooting Window) Passing, receiving shooting Guided Questions When should you look to play forward? Players have created space from there defending player and are able to receive a pass. What tells you that the players are understanding the session topic? Players are trying to move the defending team by keeping possession waiting for the forward passing option. Where in the final third are the most scoring opportunities being created? Chances are being created close to the opposition goal as well as shots from distance
PLAY - LET THEM PLAY
Does activity allow for Repetition? Coaching?
Coaching Points Maintain possession to disorganize the defending team, Pass forward when gaps form through midfield/defence, shoot when possible Guided Questions Who did you praise after positive outcomes happened in the final third? Players involved in the build up and the goal scorer. How did the players influence the session? Passing and creating scoring opportunities
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Calling all Goalkeepers & PK Shooters We’re conducting research on penalty kicks in youth soccer. If you have ever taken penalty kicks (as a shooter) or faced penalty kicks (as a goalkeeper) at ANY level (youth, middle school or high school), we need your input! Please follow this link to a ten-minute survey, and tell us about your penalty kick experience.
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