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February, 2013Issue 4
Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Coaching Newsletter
THE EVOLVING GAME
Mike BarrEPA Youth Soccer
Director of Coaching
The Critical Role of the Club Director of Coaching with Young
PlayersYouth Soccer in the United
States is changing and
evolving every day and with the
changes the
responsibility of the director of
coaching must grow to
meet the needs of players,
coaches, parents and
administrators.
An important issue that they must
address is ge=ng
quality instruc?on to the zone one
players (U6 to U10).
Establishing a firm technical founda?on
assures
success at the older ages in
much the same as exci?ng,
engaging and informed elementary
teachers prepare students for middle
and high school. Why not hold
your director of coaching and your
paid coaches to the
same standards and accountability a
community holds
their teachers? Establishing a
club wide mission
statement to meet the needs of
these young players and to make
sure the informa?on is provided
to
parents on a ?mely basis, makes
this objec?ve easier
to implement within the club.
Part of that mission statement
should address the
following:
• Quality instruc?on for young players
with US Soccer
licensed or equivalent licensed
coaches
• A suppor?ve, fun and rewarding
environment for all
players no maQer what their skill
level
• Equal par?cipa?on in training and
games
• Outcome based individual objec?ves for
each player
• Small sided matches 3v3 at U6
to 6v6 at U10
• Posi?ve parental support during
training and
matches through a parent educa?on
program
• Designing a code of conduct in
order for players to respect
the game, teammates, coaches and
referees
• Monitoring of coach’s demeanor,
following the
curriculum, and engaging players through
ques?ons
in training and games
• Thorough background check of all
coaches and all volunteers including:
team managers, field workers,
concession stand workers and any
adult involved
with the club or a team
Many clubs now have full-‐?me
directors of coaching.
These full-‐?me directors must pursue
con?nuing educa?on trends in player
development instruc?on,
establish posi?ve rela?onships with
their coaching
staff, and provide proper guidelines
and honest answer
to parents as they aQempt to
navigate the changing
soccer landscape. Strong organiza?on at
the younger ages provides smooth
transi?on to travel and elite
play
at the older ages and will
make the director’s job
easier moving forward.
E License at Penn Legacy
Gary StephensonEPA Youth SoccerAssistant Director
of Coaching
National Coaching License Program UpdatesUnited States Soccer
Federation - reviewed and updated the National E License at the US
Youth Soccer Workshop in January. The feedback was very positive
from all the state technical directors. All the small issues have
been resolved in the workbook and pre-requisites and new video
content has been added to. The updated D License is being beta
tested and will be implemented in July 2013. From the presentations
I have seen, it compliments the National E license.
The United States Soccer Federation has also stated that the E
License is the starting point for the coaching pyramid. This
removes the waiver program for playing college or years of coaching
unless you played for the senior national team or on a FIFA
recognized professional team.
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COACHING EDUCATION HONOR ROLLNational E License(s) - Penn
LegacySuccess for Soccer National D LicenseLititz SC
• Matt Terry• Kenny Archer• Stephen Boston• Joy Shelly• Laura
Wagner• Adam Good• Kai Lueng• Derek Buckley• Corey Dueler• Randy
King• Nate Davis• Peter Succoso• Nate Herrington• David Simpson
• Erik Temple• Paul Stubenrauch• Chris Magness• Jack Signor•
Marcus Barr• David Brown• Christopher Castronova• Erin Cho• Howard
Cho• Troy Czapor• Gian Claudia Finizio• Michael Goldovich• Andrew
Kummerer• Matthew Montera• Paige Phillips• Bob Prachar• Karl
Reddick• Patrice Rutland• Jacob Marino• Mike Eversman
• Max Spencer• Stephen Yarosh• Kevin Nuss• Emmanuel Nagbe•
Victor Lonchuk• Dimitar Iaramboykov• Evan Scheffey• Toby Ranck•
Paul Larrea• Rudy Estrada• Robert Patrick• Jake Rowlands• Michael
Newman• Travis Myernick• Brent Duffy
UPCOMING COACHING COURSESF License
Dover Area SADover Community, 17315
16 March, 2013
F LicenseFalls SC
Falls Twp Community Park23 March, 2013
E LicenseParkland ASC
Allentown8-10 March, 2013
D LicenseParkland ASC
Allentown8-10 March, 201315-17 March 2013
E LicenseVE SC
Davisville3-5 May, 2013
E LicenseUkrainian Nationals
Horsham8 -10 March, 2013
NATIONAL TEAM UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE YOUTH
GAMES
FEB. 6, 4:00PMHonduras v USA
Feb. 9, 5:00PMUSA v Scotland
Feb. 13, 2:45PMR. Madrid v Man. Utd.
Feb. 20, 2:45PMAC Milan v Barcelona
Feb. 9, 7:45AMTottenham Hotspurs v
Newcastle Utd.
Feb. 24, 8:30AMMan. City v Chelsea
Indoor Cup Finals
Feb. 9, 1:51PMU16 Boys @ Wyoming Valley
Feb. 10, 2:45PMU11 Girls @ In the Net
For more information, details and registration, please visit
EPYSA.org
January, 2012
Coaching Licenses Awarded
Game Watcher
National C License News
National C License being scheduled for August in Delaware
at the Kirkwood Soccer Club. Registration and further details will
be released in February.
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IAIN MUNRO, YSC Academy DirectorMEET THE COACH
Start up game (free Play)As the players arrive they step on the
field and start playing. The players call the game themselves. Only
condition is they can not just ‘one time’ it making them control
it.The players love this and the only pressure put on them is by
themselves.
Iain’s 3 Favorite Exercises
5 v 5 to 4 goalsAnother scrimmage base exercise. As I mentioned
before, you learn by playing. This exercise allows for changing of
the point of attack as well as flank play.
4 v 2 + 6 supportThis is a possession exercise that puts the
ball under a lot of pressure with twice as many defenders in the
action grid. Around the grid are support players who all the
attackers to play the ball to and continue making runs.
As a playerIain started his career with St. Mirren in Scotland
1968 as a 16 year old. He signed as a professional the next year on
December 11 and within two weeks made his debut. He later moved to
Hibernian then moved to Glasgow Rangers. He moved back to St.
Mirren (where Sir Alex Ferguson was the manager). While at St.
Mirren he was called up to the Scottish National Team. Scotland was
coached by the legendary coach, Jock Stein. After St. Mirren, he
was sold to Stoke City for 250,000 GBP. He was there for one year
and followed the manager to Sunderland for the same fee (250,000
GBP). He was at Sunderland for three years and was named captain.
He then moved to Dundee United in 1984. Dundee and Iain were
in the European Cup semi-final that year. After another year he
return to his home town club Hibernian to play for a good friend.
After 18 months Iain retired with a hip injury (1987). He played 19
years as a professional, captaining his country’s team as
well as teams from Scottish and English Premier League. As
Coach/ManagerIain attended the Scottish Coaching School where the
instructor was Andy Roxburgh OBE (FIFA technical Director). At this
time Iain had graduated from Scottish School of Education as a
teacher with former graduates and National Team coaches Andy
Roxburgh and Craig Brown. Andy Roxburgh recommended Iain to
Dunfermline Athletic as a coach; they were a small club which had
just been promoted to the Scottish Premier league. The team was
young, thus allowing Iain to learn his trade in a low pressure
environment. Dunfermline with Iain as
manager, won the First Division and got to the cup final for the
first time in 25 years. He then moved to Dundee and won the first
division also. Iain then moved to Hamilton and the team won the BQ
cup. He finished his managing/coaching career at Raith
Rovers. He and his wife moved to Florida to enjoy a very short
retirement from the game. YSC, from a recommendation from Bobby
Clark, wisely brought him to Pennsylvania in the summer of his
first year of retirement. He has had a major impact on the elite
players in Eastern Pennsylvania since his arrival. Not the
best player in your street?
I lived in View Park just out side of Glasgow, housing state
with lots of space to play. We played 3-4 hours all winter long, it
was fun and relaxed, from the one square mile I lived, there was 47
professional players, four internationals! You graduated with
Physical Education degree has this been beneficial to your
coaching? It was key! The course was purely Physical
Education; no English or Mathematics components. They taught us the
body, and the dynamics of every sport, rugby, basketball etc.
All the top coaches from the country taught at the school. It was
very
practical to my future. I learned that playing is the key. Ask
yourself, would you become a better golfer by listening to Tiger
Woods or by picking up a club and playing? Playing right!
Influences on your coaching I played on the same
field as Maradona, Eusebio and Kenny Dalglish. I was coached by the
best coaches in Scotland for last 40/50 years, Jock Stein, Alex
Ferguson, Walter Smith, Craig Brown, Andy Roxburgh, Eddie
Turnbull, Jock Wallace and Jim Mclean. They are National team
managers, they have won the Champions League, and domestic titles.I
am still learning! I probably have learned more now than when I was
playing. As a coach we have horror stories about parents! How
did your parents impact you play? They saw it as my hobby, no
pressure. We played 50 weeks a year, with two weeks off. It was the
same time as Wimbledon, so we played tennis for those two weeks. My
father saw me play twice as U12 due to the fact that the games were
at 3:00 and he could not get off work. When I played HS & boys
club we played on a Saturday, so that’s when he saw me. My mother
never saw me play. Both my parents passed away before I turned
professional. My father never gave me advice he would say after the
game, “How do you think you did?” then he would just listen. The
only time he gave me some type of advice was for a Scottish School
Boy tryout, he gave me red socks and bright orange shorts (to stand
out). I got selected.
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Goal Keeping - Basic DiveBy Simon Robinson, ODP Goal Keeping
Coach
ORGANIZATION / OBJECTIVES
Gk kneels with 2 balls placed 2 yards away from them on the left
and right. GK must collapse dive on one ball, returning to the
starting position before collapse diving to the other ball. 5 saves
each side.Gks Progress to a “Baseball Catcher” type stance, thus
allowing greater use of the “Positive” step towards the ball..GK’s
Progress to a “Game” Ready position, as the keeper progresses,
move the ball further away allowing for an extra step before the
collapse dive to help improve timing of the dive.
COACHING POINTS
Focus on correct catching techniqueMove body in line with the
ball, no reachingHead still, eyes fixed on the ball
SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY
ORGANIZATION / OBJECTIVES GK’s line up in 4’s, each with a ball.
Gk at the front throws the ball to the coach, who is 6 yards away.
Gk then gets set and receives a serve from the coach to the right.
After keepers have all gone through, repeat to the left.Progress to
a reaction save where the coach does not let keeper know which
direction the serve is going. Progress to reaction saves in the air
and along the ground. The ground serve is dropped just to the
coaches left or right and the keeper must advance dive and make the
save..
COACHING POINTGet set before the serve each shot.Maintain eye
contact with the ball not the server. Make sure body weight is
forward and the keeper is on the balls of their feet hands slightly
forward. Nearest foot goes towards the ball with a ‘Positive’ step.
Hands follow the direction of the foot and go straight to the ball
Body lowers towards the ball, hands behind the ball, arms extended
away from the body. Stay on side, not on stomach.
ORGANIZATION / OBJECTIVES
3 GK’s work in Pairs, 6 yds apart. GK’s roll the ball to the
side of their partner for them to collapse dive & save. Using a
standing position, the server initially roles the ball to the
opposite GK with a ‘saveable’ serve. Progress to serves in the air,
stretching the keeper to advance their diving distance each
time.
COACHING POINT
Get set before each shotMaintain eye contact with the ball not
the server. Make sure body weight is forwardHands in front of their
bodyNearest foot towards the ball ‘positive’Hands follow the
direction of the footBody lowers towards the ball.Hands behind the
ball, arms extended away from the bodyStay on side, not on
stomach
Gk kneel in between the cones. Server rolls the ball towards the
cone. GK must collapse dive to save the ball. 5 saves each
side.Progress to “Catchers” Position, with ball still being served
via a roll.Progress to standing Position, alternate serves from
roll to throw. Making sure the serve is ‘Saveable” to promote good
technique and diving confidence.4, Coach does not tell the keeper
which side they are going to GK must react with correct
technique.
Get set before each shot.When standing, Make sure body weight is
forward and the keeper is on the balls of their feet hands slightly
forward. Nearest foot goes towards the ball with a ‘Positive’ step.
Hands follow the direction of the foot and go straight to the ball
Body lowers towards the ball, hands behind the ball, arms extended
away from the body. Stay on side, not on stomach.
SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY
TECHNICAL WARM-UP
SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY
ORGANIZATION / OBJECTIVES COACHING POINTS
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Defending - Part 1By Ian Mulliner, Technical Director,
Massachusetts YSA
TECHNICAL WARM-UP
OBJECTIVES
In a 20 x 30 field. Play 2 v 1. Players dribbles into the field
and 2 defenders try to get the ball back. Score by regular
goal.Variation 2v2, 3v2
COACHING POINT
• Angle of approach - pressure/cover• Speed of approach -
pressure• Footwork - pressure• Posture - pressure• Angle &
distance of cover• Communication - what do say?• Balance
EXPANDED SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY
GAME
OBJECTIVES
Using a half field. Divide the team into groups of 3 with 1 ball
per group. The players should pass the ball between the group and
on the coaches signal the player with the ball keeps the ball and
the other 2 players adopt a pressure/cover posture against the ball
carrier
COACHING POINT
• Angle of approach - pressure/cover• Speed of approach -
pressure• Distance of cover• Footwork - pressure• Deny penetration
- pressure/cover• Win back the back• Communication -who speaks
&
what do they say?
SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY
OBJECTIVES
In a 44yd wide x 35yd long, field play 5 v 5 to 6 goals. Each
team can score in any of the 3 goals that they are attacking. Play
to set score or a set period of time.
COACHING POINT
• Closing speed - pressure• Covering players - Who, why?•
Pressure & cover working together• Shape of the defense - when,
where• Transition - when, where?• when to step up and when to
drop
off
OBJECTIVES
In a 75yd x 50yd field, play 7v7All soccer rules apply
COACHING POINT
• Pressure - How & when• Cover - Who, why?• Balance - Who
& where?• Team shape - how & why?• When to step & when
to drop?• Transition - When & to where?
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Possession - Tempo By Paul Shaw, Coaching Education Director,
Virginia YSA
TECHNICAL WARM-UP
3v3 +3 (Or, 2v2 +2): 10x20-‐2 teams combine to keep from 3rd
teamDefending team works for 2 min, score by dribbling out of the
area-‐Progress to which ever team loses ball, they become the
defending group
• Passing and receiving details
• Angle/distance of supportif you can’t find someone’s
feet—must solve problem off the dribble
Can pass beat more than 1 defender? Use tempo to bring this
out.
EXPANDED SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY
GAME
Groups of 4:-‐Sequential passing (1-‐2-‐3-‐4-‐1)-‐Striking ball
with different parts of foot-‐Receive with a “bigger” first touch
to simulate aHacking space after we win the ball-‐Receive to self
to simulate playing under pressure• Passing and receiving
details.
progress: even numbers have 1 touch (odd slows game down –
switch)
If time allows: Progression of combining 2 groups
SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY
Flying Changes 4v4: (Area is on a small sided soccer field)
-‐Players are split into 3 teams-‐One team (red) aHacks the goal
and if they score, they get another ball from “center” to play
again
-‐Other team defends (white), if they get ball to 3rd team
(yellow)—they are off!3rd team then aHacks the team that was
previously aHacking (red)
Teams rotate
• Technical details of passing and receiving
• How quickly can we establish width and height?
• Where is space? Can we exploit it?
6v6 Game:
• Coaching points applied here of whole session