Is American youth soccer moving to possession style?

[Anonymous]

Has theire been any official pivot by the powers above to implement possession play?
We spent last 3 years in Germany and our 10 year old boy is a fish out of water still at the end of season in rec.
He is very technical and in practice they use him as the model/example for everything; but in the games no one actually passes like they practice or designed.
He loves soccer but does not understand to shoot and break out whenever possible. He won’t stop passing and play our style and i am not sure if we need to drill it in his head to play the way the other boys play or if our sons style is right and his team is wrong.

[Anonymous]

Where do you live?

Rec you will be hard pressed to find any team playing possession style.

There are approximately 2-3 Clubs in the entire DMV that play possession style. If you give location and willing to do travel, I can give some options.

Definitely don't break his style of play.

American soccer is very different. It's not a 'winning' method as you can see on the World Stage.

[Anonymous]

My son’s u10 (soon to be u11) team plays possession style. The coach is European. They mostly go up against teams that don’t play possession style. At this age, it feels like a disadvantage but I’m told that possession style will pay off in the long run.

[Anonymous]

I have a u13 DS and his rec team plays punt and run. Oddly enough it has worked for them since they have 2 speedy guys up top that can beat most players but got totally exposed in the semi finals when the other teams defense could keep up with these guys. I honestly hope it was a lesson learned for the coach but doubt it. Other typical issues with a must-win attitude, weaker players ride the bench, players are forced to only play certain positions unless winning by more than 5. I told this coach this is the fundamental reasons why US soccer is broken; EVERYONE SHOULD PLAY. Sent him articles and everything but no dice. And yes to doubledown this is rec soccer...not travel.

[Anonymous]

OP, from your post, it sounds like the coach is advocating possession style, but that the rec team players do not have the discipline to execute it in games. Is that correct?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has theire been any official pivot by the powers above to implement possession play?
We spent last 3 years in Germany and our 10 year old boy is a fish out of water still at the end of season in rec.
He is very technical and in practice they use him as the model/example for everything; but in the games no one actually passes like they practice or designed.
He loves soccer but does not understand to shoot and break out whenever possible. He won’t stop passing and play our style and i am not sure if we need to drill it in his head to play the way the other boys play or if our sons style is right and his team is wrong

This seems like a very common byproduct of learning possession based. players should eventually learn to look up and be aware of pressure or ball advance opportunities. but sometimes it needs to be reminded/reiterated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a u13 DS and his rec team plays punt and run. Oddly enough it has worked for them since they have 2 speedy guys up top that can beat most players but got totally exposed in the semi finals when the other teams defense could keep up with these guys. I honestly hope it was a lesson learned for the coach but doubt it. Other typical issues with a must-win attitude, weaker players ride the bench, players are forced to only play certain positions unless winning by more than 5. I told this coach this is the fundamental reasons why US soccer is broken; EVERYONE SHOULD PLAY. Sent him articles and everything but no dice. And yes to doubledown this is rec soccer...not travel.

Frustrating. But this is not soccer, what you are describing is kickball.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We live right on the border of McLean and Arlington. He played ASA rec this spring; only because a neighbor said that is where most boys his age play and based on how he looked (only scored 4 times this season) we did not think ADP or travel were a good idea for him.

For the fall we were thinking of trying MYS...

The ASA coach is nice enough - I am not sure if he really has a “style”. They really only have a few set plays they practice regularly, but never do they seem to execute them in a game...seems like whenever they get within 50-60ft of the goal instead of making the next pass they fire away. If on net rebounds are the typical way they score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a u13 DS and his rec team plays punt and run. Oddly enough it has worked for them since they have 2 speedy guys up top that can beat most players but got totally exposed in the semi finals when the other teams defense could keep up with these guys. I honestly hope it was a lesson learned for the coach but doubt it. Other typical issues with a must-win attitude, weaker players ride the bench, players are forced to only play certain positions unless winning by more than 5. I told this coach this is the fundamental reasons why US soccer is broken; EVERYONE SHOULD PLAY. Sent him articles and everything but no dice. And yes to doubledown this is rec soccer...not travel.

Frustrating. But this is not soccer, what you are describing is kickball.

Sadly I know. I try to make recommendations but it goes unheard. The funniest is they play a 4-2-4. The midfielders get crushed on the counters and "strikers" dont run back to defend.

[Anonymous]

HAHAHAHAHHAHAA a 4-2-4!!!! What is it 1958??? Your coach must have recently watched the Pele movie or something. “We play straight 4-2-4” XD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HAHAHAHAHHAHAA a 4-2-4!!!! What is it 1958??? Your coach must have recently watched the Pele movie or something. “We play straight 4-2-4” XD

LOL. I am glad I can get a laugh about of it now, I wasnt laughing during the season. There are 3 positions Defense-Midfielders-Strikers. Players are put into one of the groups and you stuck with it all season. Ultimately I want my kid to play and have fun...but sitting on the bench he blew up during the last game. So the question is do I stay and try to change things so that he can play with his friends or find a new team? Playing with his friends seems to be at the top of the list. For me its just that he has the opportunity to play regardless of skill level.

Sorry to hijack the thread but it is closely related.

[Anonymous]

I mean it’s your decision, but me personally I would’ve laughed at the coach the entire way out the door. 3 positions??!!! Nah, there’s 11. Oversimplification pisses me off, kids are much more receptive than we give them credit for, they just have short attention spans, and too many coaches just treat them like they’re stupid rather than being patient with them and allowing them to learn principles.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you looking for a possession style club for rec or travel? I know a couple travel clubs that play a possession-based game, but I don’t know if that philosophy is used in the rec program as well at those clubs.

Some rec clubs provide coaches detailed practice plans, some give a generalization of what should be accomplished at a developmentally appropriate level and others give nothing at all. It sounds like your club might be in the last group...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean it’s your decision, but me personally I would’ve laughed at the coach the entire way out the door. 3 positions??!!! Nah, there’s 11. Oversimplification pisses me off, kids are much more receptive than we give them credit for, they just have short attention spans, and too many coaches just treat them like they’re stupid rather than being patient with them and allowing them to learn principles.

Haha, you are going to laugh a REC out the door? Please, you know hard it is to get someone to volunteer to teach those kids, especially the ones that mommy and daddy signs up so that they aren't playing fortnite all day long. Most likely that volunteer coach is there for their kid and wishes someone else would step up and assist. You should find out the need of that club for coaches and if they even provide continuous coaching education or if your coach even has time. Likely they are on their own.

OP, stay with your friends and get some additional private training to supplement.

[Anonymous]

Obviously I wouldn’t laugh at the coach (to their face) I’m just being fastidious. The point I was trying to make is if you’re not happy then find someplace else, especially, as the poster before me said, because they are a volunteer and just as a rule of thumb, you won’t change a coach. You can suggest things so they see it for themselves, but if they don’t, then just drop it and leave. Hearing the 4-2-4 part just cracked me up because I’m dealing with something very similar at the moment.