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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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."[/quote]

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[/quote]

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.[/quote]

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.[/quote]

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. [/quote]

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