Can work rate be improved?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD recently joined an ECNL team from EDP. We were thrilled to see she was selected, but have quickly found her playing time is limited. The big difference between her play and her teammates seems to work rate. She just looks lazier than everyone else on the field although I don’t think that is the case. Maybe ECNL is not for her and we’ll figure that out this year. In the meantime, is there anything that can be done to improve work rate?

Do you mind sharing the age group? Age group really does determine the answer.

U14

Time. She may be overwhelmed. When things slow down look at getting some extra training, if you can do it. One day a week. It sounds like lack in confidence.

[Anonymous]

There is attacking work rate and defending work rate
Get her to focus on one area she will give max effort to

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Work rate is a combination of fitness and desire (plus a little soccer IQ of where to run on the field). Can all definitely be improved if the player wants to put in the work

No it’s a combination of speed, how the player looks when they run and running around a lot. I have seen many a player at the ECNL level run around a lot but do nothing. They look good running and the coach likes that.

My coach dad always said “never mistake activity for efficiency”. Sometimes coaches see a player running around like a spaz, chicken with their head cut off and mistake for “great work rate”.

A better player times their runs, is in the right place at the right time, steps to the ball, is calm and collected on the ball—let’s the ball do the work. Put a kid like this in with players that run all over and don’t know positioning and they will appear out of place.

It takes time to adjust to the next level. I saw when my kid had to skip the entire U12 year because of birth year change and was on the big fiend with kids that had already played there a year and when my one kid jumped from CCL to DA. They have less time with the ball, more pressure faster, it takes time to adjust to the speed. She will get there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Work rate is a combination of fitness and desire (plus a little soccer IQ of where to run on the field). Can all definitely be improved if the player wants to put in the work

No it’s a combination of speed, how the player looks when they run and running around a lot. I have seen many a player at the ECNL level run around a lot but do nothing. They look good running and the coach likes that.

My coach dad always said “never mistake activity for efficiency”. Sometimes coaches see a player running around like a spaz, chicken with their head cut off and mistake for “great work rate”.

A better player times their runs, is in the right place at the right time, steps to the ball, is calm and collected on the ball—let’s the ball do the work. Put a kid like this in with players that run all over and don’t know positioning and they will appear out of place.

It takes time to adjust to the next level. I saw when my kid had to skip the entire U12 year because of birth year change and was on the big fiend with kids that had already played there a year and when my one kid jumped from CCL to DA. They have less time with the ball, more pressure faster, it takes time to adjust to the speed. She will get there.

This. Ignore the goofs on here talking about “being the better athlete”. They don’t know anything beyond garbage US Soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Work rate is a combination of fitness and desire (plus a little soccer IQ of where to run on the field). Can all definitely be improved if the player wants to put in the work

No it’s a combination of speed, how the player looks when they run and running around a lot. I have seen many a player at the ECNL level run around a lot but do nothing. They look good running and the coach likes that.

My coach dad always said “never mistake activity for efficiency”. Sometimes coaches see a player running around like a spaz, chicken with their head cut off and mistake for “great work rate”.

A better player times their runs, is in the right place at the right time, steps to the ball, is calm and collected on the ball—let’s the ball do the work. Put a kid like this in with players that run all over and don’t know positioning and they will appear out of place.

It takes time to adjust to the next level. I saw when my kid had to skip the entire U12 year because of birth year change and was on the big fiend with kids that had already played there a year and when my one kid jumped from CCL to DA. They have less time with the ball, more pressure faster, it takes time to adjust to the speed. She will get there.

This. Ignore the goofs on here talking about “being the better athlete”. They don’t know anything beyond garbage US Soccer.

+2... DS is a bit like your DD OP... HE doesn't "look" flashy. Some of his teammates have gone on to domestic greatness (D1 offers) based on their spaz ability and superior raw athleticism. In youth travel soccer they always benefitted from constant subbing too. They would run their ass off and come out for a quick 5 minute drink/breather then go after it again. His HS team is full of big fast athletes with what I would call mediocre soccer IQ and touch. The HS coach was instrumental in getting several of these boys into ECNL greatness and subsequent D1 spots. Meanwhile DS had a direct USL2 offer and opportunities abroad. You can watch these guys on ESPN+ this fall.

[Anonymous]

USL2 is nothing to write home about
And has very little to help OP

If a coach talks work rate with the kid, have your player ask the coach for specifics on how to improve

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:USL2 is nothing to write home about
And has very little to help OP

If a coach talks work rate with the kid, have your player ask the coach for specifics on how to improve

OK champ.

[Anonymous]

Work rate is a garbage statistic, if that work amounts to nothing. Every player needs to be working, even the star striker or the under appreciated left back. Win the ball. Possess the ball. Make the best pass or shoot. If you don't have the ball, are you in a position to receive? Are you marking anyone? Are you making runs? Are you doing anything aside from maintaining the general position we put you in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:USL2 is nothing to write home about
And has very little to help OP

If a coach talks work rate with the kid, have your player ask the coach for specifics on how to improve

OK champ.

In the sense that the OP is asking about work rate yes the USL2 is pretty irrelevant.
Perhaps ask Sir Alex if he has any tips for U15 ECNL girls work rate

[Anonymous]

USL2 is candidly just a haven for college and post college players to hang out and hold onto a dream. The pay rate is zero pay and just a summer league for college players. They can’t be paid or lose eligibility.

So if you are touting USL2 then let people know that any “contract” would be unpaid

[Anonymous]

An offer to an unpaid position is well ….

[Anonymous]

We’ve gone off topic. Back to whether work rate can be improved: absolutely as long as the desire is there. But also give your DD time to adjust to the new team and speed of play. Still so early in the season. Maybe also talk to the coach and see what recommendations he/she has.

[Anonymous]

So I have a U15 son that plays on a large club top team. He struggles with work rate as well. So I told him that a parent on this forum was asking this question and what his advice would be (indirectly hoping he would take his own advice.) He said it is all mentality and fitness. So there's the answer from him. My answer is that Soccer IQ plays a very big part. As a dumb parent, I wanted him to be flying all over the field, but he has a better understanding of what he can and can't do and what is just senseless burning of energy. For example, no sense is pressing by yourself. So I think IQ is important to know when to work hard and when to save your energy. Even though there may be unlimited subs in the league your kid plays in, in ECNL you cannot reenter in the same half so the kids have to show some efficiency. As to being on a new team, often kids don't want to make mistakes and play "safe". So I agree with posters to give it some time. Work hard in practice. Have the kid talk to the coach and ask the coach for suggestions. Get more fit. But a question I have is....how do you get more fit in season without over doing it and being tired for the next training session or game. Kids need recovery too. But, if you only work hard at team training sessions, you probably aren't gaining fitness wise on any of the teammates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
[list]
As an uninformed parent, I wanted him to be flying all over the field,
For example, no sense is pressing by yourself.
Get more fit, if you only work hard at team training sessions, you probably aren't gaining fitness wise

You are on your way! Kind of Sounds like a coach pretending to be a parent, regardless this is the only way to improve the game. Better understanding and less fitness constraints. In the end between two competitive teams (in a limited sub game) , it comes down to which team makes less mistakes (when tired) and who capitalizes on those mistake by my making good resource decisions at the right time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So I have a U15 son that plays on a large club top team. He struggles with work rate as well. So I told him that a parent on this forum was asking this question and what his advice would be (indirectly hoping he would take his own advice.) He said it is all mentality and fitness. So there's the answer from him. My answer is that Soccer IQ plays a very big part. As a dumb parent, I wanted him to be flying all over the field, but he has a better understanding of what he can and can't do and what is just senseless burning of energy. For example, no sense is pressing by yourself. So I think IQ is important to know when to work hard and when to save your energy. Even though there may be unlimited subs in the league your kid plays in, in ECNL you cannot reenter in the same half so the kids have to show some efficiency. As to being on a new team, often kids don't want to make mistakes and play "safe". So I agree with posters to give it some time. Work hard in practice. Have the kid talk to the coach and ask the coach for suggestions. Get more fit. But a question I have is....how do you get more fit in season without over doing it and being tired for the next training session or game. Kids need recovery too. But, if you only work hard at team training sessions, you probably aren't gaining fitness wise on any of the teammates.

Fitness can only get you so far. It's definitely a mental issue with work rate. Some kids are good at pacing themselves and some know how to push themselves hard. My DS is a pacer, but has a good soccer IQ. he doesn't understand how to push himself hard. But that's what he brings to the team and coaches need to learn how to use him to his ability.