Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss Part II

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have actually heard parents say "the only reason _____ is better is because they get him extra training." This is complained about as if it is somehow unfair to their kid.

If your kid was in band this is how you would sound:
"You know, the only reason Suzy is first clarinet is because she practices 5 nights a week instead of the required 3. It is so political that the only kids who get invited to do the extra band stuff like playing in the pit for the school musical ALWAYS goes to the top two chairs. It is so unfair those opportunities are not given to the 9th or 10th chair."

Yet it's so difficult to find extra training that's truly valuable. Individualized skill development activities typically do nothing to improve visual perception and decision making, which are critically important, not to mention athleticism. I'm not the money grab guy, but it's just more #MONEYGRAB and especially young players would be better off getting a good night's rest or practicing a different sport than attending the endless extra training sessions.

Don't get me wrong: I do wish the right kind of extra training was widely available, but it ain't.

# M O N E Y G R A B

There's plenty of quality extra training worth the money out there. You just need to find it. At young ages if the parents aren't grinding most likely the kid isn't either. My kid loves soccer and he loves training. I constantly am talking with parents/friends from other clubs asking for ideas on quality training and we often create our own small groups and approach coaches/trainers that we like and see if they are willing to train the kids in the off season or whenever.

If you have a minute, could you describe what that "quality extra training" looks like? What do the players do at these sessions? I apologize that I'm such a cynic but I can't count how often clubs and coaches and trainers promise that sort of thing and then offer up unopposed drills and other utter wastes of time.

Well I'm one that believes in unopposed drills and then adding pressure but technique starts with unopposed drills and thousands of touches. Kids don't need a defender to improve. Just the pressure and intensity of the drill causes mistakes...and mistakes are good. So yes, most of the training I seek is technical unopposed work. Dribbling at cones and working on different turns/changes of direction, getting reps reps and reps. Then adding maybe two goals and one defender. Ladder work with passing is another example. Unopposed passing drills where the coach is watching technique, checking shoulders, losing their man, calling for the ball, etc. Then add pressure with rondos for example. Shooting drills where the coach is watching technique then adding passive pressure or working in 1-2s then a shot. Working with weak feet, etc etc. Training where the standard is perfect technique. sure, you aren't always learning when and where to use the skills but you need to have these technical skills before you can use them. Currently, that's where my son is in his development...improving his technical skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have actually heard parents say "the only reason _____ is better is because they get him extra training." This is complained about as if it is somehow unfair to their kid.

If your kid was in band this is how you would sound:
"You know, the only reason Suzy is first clarinet is because she practices 5 nights a week instead of the required 3. It is so political that the only kids who get invited to do the extra band stuff like playing in the pit for the school musical ALWAYS goes to the top two chairs. It is so unfair those opportunities are not given to the 9th or 10th chair."

Yet it's so difficult to find extra training that's truly valuable. Individualized skill development activities typically do nothing to improve visual perception and decision making, which are critically important, not to mention athleticism. I'm not the money grab guy, but it's just more #MONEYGRAB and especially young players would be better off getting a good night's rest or practicing a different sport than attending the endless extra training sessions.

Don't get me wrong: I do wish the right kind of extra training was widely available, but it ain't.

# M O N E Y G R A B

There's plenty of quality extra training worth the money out there. You just need to find it. At young ages if the parents aren't grinding most likely the kid isn't either. My kid loves soccer and he loves training. I constantly am talking with parents/friends from other clubs asking for ideas on quality training and we often create our own small groups and approach coaches/trainers that we like and see if they are willing to train the kids in the off season or whenever.

If you have a minute, could you describe what that "quality extra training" looks like? What do the players do at these sessions? I apologize that I'm such a cynic but I can't count how often clubs and coaches and trainers promise that sort of thing and then offer up unopposed drills and other utter wastes of time.

Why are unopposed drills a waste of time?

If you have a 10 year old player the most important thing is time on the ball. If you are going to get a training for a very small group or one on one unopposed drills are absolutely a great way to go. If you are going to build comfort and confidence on the ball it is best done unopposed when technique can be improved. When technique is proper then you can work on speed of the movement within the drill. THEN when your kid is in practice or in a game the mechanics of the moves are natural. Also, all those small space cone drills can be done in the house or as part of a warmup before a game or practice that become a foundation that players use throughout their career.

Juggling is a unopposed drill and nobody ever questions the benefit of doing that.

But I suppose it would be better to just send kids out in endless 1v1 situations without a basic set of skills and watch them just use their athleticism to achieve the goal of getting by the other player.

I believe the bigger issue is how immediate the impact of extra training has on the player in game or in practice. It probably takes over a year of dedicated extra work for a truly noticeable difference, and by difference I mean at a competitive level. The affect is obviously cumulative and extra work in some fashions needs to be done in conjunction with team practices. HP, Golden Boot etc can make training more intense and fun but can be costly. One on one training can be costly too but the drills can be replicated for free at home.

But probably the biggest thing that needs to change ultimately is your overall attitude. Not everyone is out to just take your money and get rich off of you. Also, why should anyone put in the effort for you or your kid for free? If you know how to do it and what is important than shut up and do it yourself. If you don't know how to train your kid then be a educated consumer but the constant cynicism will not get your kid any better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have actually heard parents say "the only reason _____ is better is because they get him extra training." This is complained about as if it is somehow unfair to their kid.

If your kid was in band this is how you would sound:
"You know, the only reason Suzy is first clarinet is because she practices 5 nights a week instead of the required 3. It is so political that the only kids who get invited to do the extra band stuff like playing in the pit for the school musical ALWAYS goes to the top two chairs. It is so unfair those opportunities are not given to the 9th or 10th chair."

Yet it's so difficult to find extra training that's truly valuable. Individualized skill development activities typically do nothing to improve visual perception and decision making, which are critically important, not to mention athleticism. I'm not the money grab guy, but it's just more #MONEYGRAB and especially young players would be better off getting a good night's rest or practicing a different sport than attending the endless extra training sessions.

Don't get me wrong: I do wish the right kind of extra training was widely available, but it ain't.

# M O N E Y G R A B

There's plenty of quality extra training worth the money out there. You just need to find it. At young ages if the parents aren't grinding most likely the kid isn't either. My kid loves soccer and he loves training. I constantly am talking with parents/friends from other clubs asking for ideas on quality training and we often create our own small groups and approach coaches/trainers that we like and see if they are willing to train the kids in the off season or whenever.

If you have a minute, could you describe what that "quality extra training" looks like? What do the players do at these sessions? I apologize that I'm such a cynic but I can't count how often clubs and coaches and trainers promise that sort of thing and then offer up unopposed drills and other utter wastes of time.

Why are unopposed drills a waste of time?

If you have a 10 year old player the most important thing is time on the ball. If you are going to get a training for a very small group or one on one unopposed drills are absolutely a great way to go. If you are going to build comfort and confidence on the ball it is best done unopposed when technique can be improved. When technique is proper then you can work on speed of the movement within the drill. THEN when your kid is in practice or in a game the mechanics of the moves are natural. Also, all those small space cone drills can be done in the house or as part of a warmup before a game or practice that become a foundation that players use throughout their career.

Juggling is a unopposed drill and nobody ever questions the benefit of doing that.

But I suppose it would be better to just send kids out in endless 1v1 situations without a basic set of skills and watch them just use their athleticism to achieve the goal of getting by the other player.

I believe the bigger issue is how immediate the impact of extra training has on the player in game or in practice. It probably takes over a year of dedicated extra work for a truly noticeable difference, and by difference I mean at a competitive level. The affect is obviously cumulative and extra work in some fashions needs to be done in conjunction with team practices. HP, Golden Boot etc can make training more intense and fun but can be costly. One on one training can be costly too but the drills can be replicated for free at home.

But probably the biggest thing that needs to change ultimately is your overall attitude. Not everyone is out to just take your money and get rich off of you. Also, why should anyone put in the effort for you or your kid for free? If you know how to do it and what is important than shut up and do it yourself. If you don't know how to train your kid then be a educated consumer but the constant cynicism will not get your kid any better.

Unfortunately, there are many people who even question the benefits of juggling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have actually heard parents say "the only reason _____ is better is because they get him extra training." This is complained about as if it is somehow unfair to their kid.

If your kid was in band this is how you would sound:
"You know, the only reason Suzy is first clarinet is because she practices 5 nights a week instead of the required 3. It is so political that the only kids who get invited to do the extra band stuff like playing in the pit for the school musical ALWAYS goes to the top two chairs. It is so unfair those opportunities are not given to the 9th or 10th chair."

Yet it's so difficult to find extra training that's truly valuable. Individualized skill development activities typically do nothing to improve visual perception and decision making, which are critically important, not to mention athleticism. I'm not the money grab guy, but it's just more #MONEYGRAB and especially young players would be better off getting a good night's rest or practicing a different sport than attending the endless extra training sessions.

Don't get me wrong: I do wish the right kind of extra training was widely available, but it ain't.

# M O N E Y G R A B

There's plenty of quality extra training worth the money out there. You just need to find it. At young ages if the parents aren't grinding most likely the kid isn't either. My kid loves soccer and he loves training. I constantly am talking with parents/friends from other clubs asking for ideas on quality training and we often create our own small groups and approach coaches/trainers that we like and see if they are willing to train the kids in the off season or whenever.

If you have a minute, could you describe what that "quality extra training" looks like? What do the players do at these sessions? I apologize that I'm such a cynic but I can't count how often clubs and coaches and trainers promise that sort of thing and then offer up unopposed drills and other utter wastes of time.

Why are unopposed drills a waste of time?

If you have a 10 year old player the most important thing is time on the ball. If you are going to get a training for a very small group or one on one unopposed drills are absolutely a great way to go. If you are going to build comfort and confidence on the ball it is best done unopposed when technique can be improved. When technique is proper then you can work on speed of the movement within the drill. THEN when your kid is in practice or in a game the mechanics of the moves are natural. Also, all those small space cone drills can be done in the house or as part of a warmup before a game or practice that become a foundation that players use throughout their career.

Juggling is a unopposed drill and nobody ever questions the benefit of doing that.

But I suppose it would be better to just send kids out in endless 1v1 situations without a basic set of skills and watch them just use their athleticism to achieve the goal of getting by the other player.

I believe the bigger issue is how immediate the impact of extra training has on the player in game or in practice. It probably takes over a year of dedicated extra work for a truly noticeable difference, and by difference I mean at a competitive level. The affect is obviously cumulative and extra work in some fashions needs to be done in conjunction with team practices. HP, Golden Boot etc can make training more intense and fun but can be costly. One on one training can be costly too but the drills can be replicated for free at home.

But probably the biggest thing that needs to change ultimately is your overall attitude. Not everyone is out to just take your money and get rich off of you. Also, why should anyone put in the effort for you or your kid for free? If you know how to do it and what is important than shut up and do it yourself. If you don't know how to train your kid then be a educated consumer but the constant cynicism will not get your kid any better.

Unfortunately, there are many people who even question the benefits of juggling.

Of course they do because, well frankly, juggling is a Money Grab.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have actually heard parents say "the only reason _____ is better is because they get him extra training." This is complained about as if it is somehow unfair to their kid.

If your kid was in band this is how you would sound:
"You know, the only reason Suzy is first clarinet is because she practices 5 nights a week instead of the required 3. It is so political that the only kids who get invited to do the extra band stuff like playing in the pit for the school musical ALWAYS goes to the top two chairs. It is so unfair those opportunities are not given to the 9th or 10th chair."

Yet it's so difficult to find extra training that's truly valuable. Individualized skill development activities typically do nothing to improve visual perception and decision making, which are critically important, not to mention athleticism. I'm not the money grab guy, but it's just more #MONEYGRAB and especially young players would be better off getting a good night's rest or practicing a different sport than attending the endless extra training sessions.

Don't get me wrong: I do wish the right kind of extra training was widely available, but it ain't.

# M O N E Y G R A B

There's plenty of quality extra training worth the money out there. You just need to find it. At young ages if the parents aren't grinding most likely the kid isn't either. My kid loves soccer and he loves training. I constantly am talking with parents/friends from other clubs asking for ideas on quality training and we often create our own small groups and approach coaches/trainers that we like and see if they are willing to train the kids in the off season or whenever.

If you have a minute, could you describe what that "quality extra training" looks like? What do the players do at these sessions? I apologize that I'm such a cynic but I can't count how often clubs and coaches and trainers promise that sort of thing and then offer up unopposed drills and other utter wastes of time.

Why are unopposed drills a waste of time?

If you have a 10 year old player the most important thing is time on the ball. If you are going to get a training for a very small group or one on one unopposed drills are absolutely a great way to go. If you are going to build comfort and confidence on the ball it is best done unopposed when technique can be improved. When technique is proper then you can work on speed of the movement within the drill. THEN when your kid is in practice or in a game the mechanics of the moves are natural. Also, all those small space cone drills can be done in the house or as part of a warmup before a game or practice that become a foundation that players use throughout their career.

Juggling is a unopposed drill and nobody ever questions the benefit of doing that.

But I suppose it would be better to just send kids out in endless 1v1 situations without a basic set of skills and watch them just use their athleticism to achieve the goal of getting by the other player.

I believe the bigger issue is how immediate the impact of extra training has on the player in game or in practice. It probably takes over a year of dedicated extra work for a truly noticeable difference, and by difference I mean at a competitive level. The affect is obviously cumulative and extra work in some fashions needs to be done in conjunction with team practices. HP, Golden Boot etc can make training more intense and fun but can be costly. One on one training can be costly too but the drills can be replicated for free at home.

But probably the biggest thing that needs to change ultimately is your overall attitude. Not everyone is out to just take your money and get rich off of you. Also, why should anyone put in the effort for you or your kid for free? If you know how to do it and what is important than shut up and do it yourself. If you don't know how to train your kid then be a educated consumer but the constant cynicism will not get your kid any better.

Unfortunately, there are many people who even question the benefits of juggling.

Of course they do because, well frankly, juggling is a Money Grab.

Ha ha but after 100 it's just a #TIMEGRAB

[Anonymous]

Proper technique? How does your player do against actual pressure? As far as players using their athleticism in 1v1 drills... so are you implying that there's no creativity and decision-making involved?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Proper technique? How does your player do against actual pressure? As far as players using their athleticism in 1v1 drills... so are you implying that there's no creativity and decision-making involved?

I’m saying if you have to “think” how to win a 1v1 you’ve already lost the 1v1. Without technical proficiency and comfort winning 1v1s is just a random assortment of luck. If you can’t beat a cone you can’t beat a player.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you can’t beat a cone you can’t beat a player.

Wasn't that a quote from Patches O'Houlihan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you can’t beat a cone you can’t beat a player.

Wasn't that a quote from Patches O'Houlihan?

Pretty much the same thing.

[Anonymous]

And if you can't beat an actual player it doesn't matter how badly you "crossed up" that cone...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And if you can't beat an actual player it doesn't matter how badly you "crossed up" that cone...

That's great for "Drills". But what American's miss most is WHEN to even take on a player 1v1. It's actually very rare. There are probably 2 or 3 players out of the 11 on any team in the world that actually have it in their game plan that they're supposed to be taking people on 1v1 at all.

You don't need to pay anything at all for the best training that rarely happens in the US. Go find a wall, and kick the ball against it with good technique 1,000 times with each foot surface every day. And go play. There are more pick up games than most realize in the area. They might be adult men at a local school, but grab your boots and jump in. It's almost free. And it's far more valuable than anything kids can really learn from a youth coach in America that has never really played at a high level of accomplished anything in the game at all other than figuring out how to make money at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if you can't beat an actual player it doesn't matter how badly you "crossed up" that cone...

That's great for "Drills". But what American's miss most is WHEN to even take on a player 1v1. It's actually very rare. There are probably 2 or 3 players out of the 11 on any team in the world that actually have it in their game plan that they're supposed to be taking people on 1v1 at all.

You don't need to pay anything at all for the best training that rarely happens in the US. Go find a wall, and kick the ball against it with good technique 1,000 times with each foot surface every day. And go play. There are more pick up games than most realize in the area. They might be adult men at a local school, but grab your boots and jump in. It's almost free. And it's far more valuable than anything kids can really learn from a youth coach in America that has never really played at a high level of accomplished anything in the game at all other than figuring out how to make money at it.

This ^^^^.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if you can't beat an actual player it doesn't matter how badly you "crossed up" that cone...

That's great for "Drills". But what American's miss most is WHEN to even take on a player 1v1. It's actually very rare. There are probably 2 or 3 players out of the 11 on any team in the world that actually have it in their game plan that they're supposed to be taking people on 1v1 at all.

You don't need to pay anything at all for the best training that rarely happens in the US. Go find a wall, and kick the ball against it with good technique 1,000 times with each foot surface every day. And go play. There are more pick up games than most realize in the area. They might be adult men at a local school, but grab your boots and jump in. It's almost free. And it's far more valuable than anything kids can really learn from a youth coach in America that has never really played at a high level of accomplished anything in the game at all other than figuring out how to make money at it.

Please read. Many of these posters have failed to realize that soccer is just a business. We lived overseas for a year and my son was good before we left the US but after a year abroad he turned into a beast just by playing pick-up at school and at the playground. He was playing an hour a day for free.

This ^^^^.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if you can't beat an actual player it doesn't matter how badly you "crossed up" that cone...

That's great for "Drills". But what American's miss most is WHEN to even take on a player 1v1. It's actually very rare. There are probably 2 or 3 players out of the 11 on any team in the world that actually have it in their game plan that they're supposed to be taking people on 1v1 at all.

You don't need to pay anything at all for the best training that rarely happens in the US. Go find a wall, and kick the ball against it with good technique 1,000 times with each foot surface every day. And go play. There are more pick up games than most realize in the area. They might be adult men at a local school, but grab your boots and jump in. It's almost free. And it's far more valuable than anything kids can really learn from a youth coach in America that has never really played at a high level of accomplished anything in the game at all other than figuring out how to make money at it.

Yes! European coaches (different places abroad) have repeatedly told me that my kid knows exactly when to pass vs when to dribble (and go 1v1). He is exactly where he needs to be—knows how to move. They said he is incredibly, incredibly smart on the field. I’ve been told most American kids that have really great ball skill fail to have that insight and it is absolutely the single most important quality for a soccer player.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And if you can't beat an actual player it doesn't matter how badly you "crossed up" that cone...

:FACEPALM:

Look there is a reason you are bitter and your kid is likely being left out. You just don’t get it. You are ignorant, arrogant and stubborn. It doesn’t really matter how your kid gets their technical skills they just need to have them. Kick at a wall, get personal training, group training, pick up soccer, watch YouTube videos, play against the dog, the baby, Dad, big brother, the neighbor, a cone, a beanbag, teammates, friends, grandma, a car, etc..

There are a range of options and I don’t give a f*#k which one, if any, you choose because in your mind it is already either a waste of time or a money grab.

So my advice to you is this. Stay away from the game.