Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an excellent illustration of a shot that should not be taken precisely because it is well defended. Ariza is wide open at the elbow.

Look, you are obviously free to waste your kid's time on training that isn't efficient. More power to you. But if you're in a situation where you need to maximize skill development for a young soccer player, unopposed individualized extra training at some allegedly "elite" warehouse is the last option you should choose.

This is where you seem to want to deal in absolutes. There is no ONE BEST option. There are many options for many varying needs. Learning a foundation of individual unopposed drills can be used and adapted by a player over time as needed as a part of a warm up, a daily routine to just get touches in etc. It is portable and FREE. Does it replace small group or team training? No, and NOBODY said it did either. These types of drills are just a small piece of training that players can use over time.

It doesn't mean that such individual training should be done exclusively but for a variety of reasons at many levels it can be a benefit. A series of 1v1s and small group sessions are also only beneficial if the other kids are even good. What do you learn if the other kid rarely sticks a tackle or cant make a move for you to try and defend?

Anonymous wrote:This is an excellent illustration of a shot that should not be taken precisely because it is well defended. Ariza is wide open at the elbow.

Look, you are obviously free to waste your kid's time on training that isn't efficient. More power to you. But if you're in a situation where you need to maximize skill development for a young soccer player, unopposed individualized extra training at some allegedly "elite" warehouse is the last option you should choose.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an excellent illustration of a shot that should not be taken precisely because it is well defended. Ariza is wide open at the elbow.

Look, you are obviously free to waste your kid's time on training that isn't efficient. More power to you. But if you're in a situation where you need to maximize skill development for a young soccer player, unopposed individualized extra training at some allegedly "elite" warehouse is the last option you should choose.

...and we wonder why the US can't qualify for the World Cup. You are right, we should just purchase the training from you at the Club.

Anonymous wrote:This is an excellent illustration of a shot that should not be taken precisely because it is well defended. Ariza is wide open at the elbow.

Look, you are obviously free to waste your kid's time on training that isn't efficient. More power to you. But if you're in a situation where you need to maximize skill development for a young soccer player, unopposed individualized extra training at some allegedly "elite" warehouse is the last option you should choose.

Anonymous wrote:Shooting IS an unopposed action, fool. You don't shoot when you're covered LOL

Anonymous wrote:There's more than one person pointing out the issues with unopposed drilling here . . .

When parents ask me about outside training, this is what I tell them:

Very focused small group training with expert coaches, as mentioned above, is the type of training that's absolutely worth the time and cost. You will see 10x improvements or better than individual training.

With individual unopposed training, the player gets better at the drill (so improvement seems to happen) but there is little relative game transfer when you take into account the effort required.

You must watch like a hawk for negative transfer from cone drills with players younger than about 13.

Unopposed drills on a very limited basis are absolutely critical for building player confidence and giving them easy successes that they can use as a foundation for advanced technical training.

Unopposed technique work is extremely good for practicing ball striking because you play a cross when the defender is body lengths away or you strike a free kick when the wall is distant.

Unless players conspicuously lack coordination, balance, and core strength, they should smoothly master unopposed cone drills very quickly. At that point, you let them compete! Again, small group training is best.

There is a tendency by soccer parents today to want to hide players from competition during training. They like to watch orderly cone drills where players aren't stressed. What players of every age need for accelerated development is to be placed under defensive pressure, very nearly at all times.

Lecture over, let the angry comments continue.

Anonymous wrote:I think the point is this...Yes, I think everyone is in agreement that soccer IQ is essential. You need to know when and where to perform skills, etc. I actually stated this in my original post when I answered what I personally thought quality training was. I said that, currently, we are focused on improving technical skills outside of team practices and we search out good quality trainers and a small group of kids to train with. With that said...I think what the angry poster is trying to say is that...you need technical skills first. You need to be constantly trying to perfect the technical skills. He nor I disagree that you can find a wall and there are many FREE options. I also addressed this when I said...sometimes a U9, u10, U11 really don't like standing in front of a wall or getting pushed by dad for 2 hours a day. That is why I put my son in small group training with serious trainers and trainees. We are all in agreement I believe except the guy who just has a thing against unopposed training. I don't understand you or the many others that agree with you...so we'll agree to disagree. But to me, unopposed technical training is a must! Juggling, footskills, a wall/rebounder, etc. they are a must to work on every day...if you want to continue to improve.

Anonymous wrote:I think the point is this...Yes, I think everyone is in agreement that soccer IQ is essential. You need to know when and where to perform skills, etc. I actually stated this in my original post when I answered what I personally thought quality training was. I said that, currently, we are focused on improving technical skills outside of team practices and we search out good quality trainers and a small group of kids to train with. With that said...I think what the angry poster is trying to say is that...you need technical skills first. You need to be constantly trying to perfect the technical skills. He nor I disagree that you can find a wall and there are many FREE options. I also addressed this when I said...sometimes a U9, u10, U11 really don't like standing in front of a wall or getting pushed by dad for 2 hours a day. That is why I put my son in small group training with serious trainers and trainees. We are all in agreement I believe except the guy who just has a thing against unopposed training. I don't understand you or the many others that agree with you...so we'll agree to disagree. But to me, unopposed technical training is a must! Juggling, footskills, a wall/rebounder, etc. they are a must to work on every day...if you want to continue to improve.

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...

: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.

I sound bitter? Lmao okay bud why don't you go dribble at your cones.

Anonymous wrote:

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.