Anonymous wrote:Watch top professional teams on TV
Listen to the commentators during the game
Focus on players playing your position, especially what they are doing without the ball
Don't listen to American commentators on Fox

Most of the English commentators are garbage too.

Watch top professional teams on TV
Listen to the commentators during the game
Focus on players playing your position, especially what they are doing without the ball
Don't listen to American commentators on Fox

The younger the player, the more they will all coalesce to the ball, by U10 however, they should be comfortable enough with spacial awareness, the concept of sharing and team work.

At the rec level, if he's one of the better players, or has been for most of his time playing this can be a harder habit to break, as he's likely had success by just going after the ball.

Watching professional matches is something every player, at all levels, should do. It not only helps learn the game, but also to develop a passion for it.

Additionally if your club or a nearby club has a decent travel program, watching kids closer to his age play at a higher level, may help to reinforce the concept. It may also help you realize what is and isn't possible at his age.

If he's had the same coach the whole time, I'd say switch, but I also wouldn't expect much from most rec. coaches. Nothing against them, it just is what it is.

There are also lots of professional game videos on Youtube which explain why a player does what he does on the pitch. I too grew up with the American sports and head to learn soccer from my daughter's interest in the sport.

I had to watch Youtube videos to understand what she says to me about how players do what they do on the pitch. She watches lots and lots of soccer on TV and online. I learned my kid's soccer lingo from informative Youtube videos. Coaches and parents say she has great game vision. I think she just enjoys the sport, watches pro games and understands what the players are doing.

Similar to what you say about you understanding other sports.

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for the great recommendations. I’ve never watched soccer on tv (we’re a baseball, football, basketball house) and DS is my first child to play soccer. We can try watching together.

I only have a very general understanding of soccer. DS plays everyday on recess and with the older kids in the neighborhood - which is less formal. I guess I’ll need to learn more to help explain things to him.

If you are going to watch, make sure you watch Manchester City or Real Madrid games.

Thank you for the great recommendations. I’ve never watched soccer on tv (we’re a baseball, football, basketball house) and DS is my first child to play soccer. We can try watching together.

I only have a very general understanding of soccer. DS plays everyday on recess and with the older kids in the neighborhood - which is less formal. I guess I’ll need to learn more to help explain things to him.

Some kids never get it. This may be your kid.

If your kid has played three years of rec and doesn't know where to move get a better coach. Or, at home review the positions he plays most and show him where to move based on where the ball is.

Somebody better tell Man City and Liverpool defenders they shouldn’t be crossing the midfield line so often. They don’t seem to know what they are doing…

too bad you can't post graphics here or its an easy fix. areas of responsibility: if you're a defender, you are responsible for the defensive half of the field and you can move to about the top of the center circle to help out on offense.

that's as far as you should go.

Ask the coach to explain AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY to the players, and your son. This is different than positions (which are job descriptions).

If the coach doesn't know what areas of responsibility are, you're screwed.

Yes. Watch soccer.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe watch a high level (college or professional) game with him on TV and explain what the players are doing and why.

Yes, have him watch a lot of soccer on TV and in person. This is a big problem in this country. Few kids actually know the intricacies of the game. You can learn a lot by watching and listening to the commentators. Most kids here get this deep understanding of basketball and football because that's what they watch on TV, Youtube highlights, and play on the playground.

Maybe watch a high level (college or professional) game with him on TV and explain what the players are doing and why.

Break him of the habit now, because it's causing massive problems for my U13 kids team

DS is a U10 and plays rec soccer. This will be his 6th season (spring/fall for the last 3 years). He doesn’t seem to have much soccer IQ. If he’s playing defense, he’ll be all the way up with the forwards. And he doesn’t seem to understand that he needs to match up on defense. I hear the coaches yell at him in games to get to his spot. I don’t think he really knows what they mean. He seems to just go the ball, wherever that may be on the field.

When do most players develop soccer IQ and what can we do to help him? He is otherwise a strong player - fast, good ball handling, passes well. And he really enjoys playing.