Spring Break CampsMarch
30-April 3 – MI location TBD
April 6-April 10
April 13-April 17
U8 and older players welcome!
All camps are daily from 10 am-12 noonCost: $125.00/ $100.00 for EYSA players plus $10 off for additional kids in family. Includes EFC Training T-shirt. Go to our website at www.eysa.org/efc and click the Bonzi link for registration. Send an email to cdecillia@comcast.net to let us know you will be joining us.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Season Planning and Motivation
Since we have been on the theme of motivation, I thought it might be helpful to look at it from a larger perspective.
Wherever you are in your season - just starting out, in the middle or in off-season planning mode like me - it is always nice to have a checklist to see where you are and what things might have escaped you while you are competing.
Here is a possible "blueprint" or outline for a typical soccer season from a coaches point of view. This example is for competitive teams, although I believe portions of it could be adapted to younger ages ...
"Off-Season"
Planning
Pre-Season
Tryout
Team Selection
Pre Season Training
1st match
Season
Match Evaluation
Training
Match
Repeat
Post Season
End of Season Feedback
Team
Player
Coach
Program (if applicable)
Banquet
"Off-Season"
Planning
Each area is "blocked" because it is kind of its own thing or cycle within the season.
The larger cycle is basically:
Plan → Season → Plan
A few smaller cycles of note are:
Pre Season → Season → Post Season → Feedback
Match → Match Analysis → Training → Match
What does this have to do with motivation?
If you just go about your business in the above structure, you will most likely increase your chances of having a nicely planned season but you will not have the best season possible.
Chances are players may still default to confusion and motivation may slowly erode.
That is because during your season the players want to play in games. They also want to improve so that they can either keep playing or play more than they are currently. At the very least, they want to know where they stand and how to get where they want.
Here is a key, smaller cycle to be added within the season:
Clear Expectations → Actions → Constructive Feedback & Teaching → Improved Actions
If you can add this cycle into the larger one where it makes the most sense and consistently, your players motivation, abilities and experience will improve ... almost guaranteed.
And in my view, it is the area where a coaches effectiveness is judged.
All the Best,
Randy
www.soundsoccer.com
P.S. As always, your comments on this tip are welcome, just hit "reply". Also, please feel free to forward this on to those who might be interested.
P.S.S. If you are looking for a coaching resource that not only comes from experience but is customized to coaches requests, check us out here.
Sound Soccer, LLC502 8th Ave NWPuyallup, WA 98371 USA
Wherever you are in your season - just starting out, in the middle or in off-season planning mode like me - it is always nice to have a checklist to see where you are and what things might have escaped you while you are competing.
Here is a possible "blueprint" or outline for a typical soccer season from a coaches point of view. This example is for competitive teams, although I believe portions of it could be adapted to younger ages ...
"Off-Season"
Planning
Pre-Season
Tryout
Team Selection
Pre Season Training
1st match
Season
Match Evaluation
Training
Match
Repeat
Post Season
End of Season Feedback
Team
Player
Coach
Program (if applicable)
Banquet
"Off-Season"
Planning
Each area is "blocked" because it is kind of its own thing or cycle within the season.
The larger cycle is basically:
Plan → Season → Plan
A few smaller cycles of note are:
Pre Season → Season → Post Season → Feedback
Match → Match Analysis → Training → Match
What does this have to do with motivation?
If you just go about your business in the above structure, you will most likely increase your chances of having a nicely planned season but you will not have the best season possible.
Chances are players may still default to confusion and motivation may slowly erode.
That is because during your season the players want to play in games. They also want to improve so that they can either keep playing or play more than they are currently. At the very least, they want to know where they stand and how to get where they want.
Here is a key, smaller cycle to be added within the season:
Clear Expectations → Actions → Constructive Feedback & Teaching → Improved Actions
If you can add this cycle into the larger one where it makes the most sense and consistently, your players motivation, abilities and experience will improve ... almost guaranteed.
And in my view, it is the area where a coaches effectiveness is judged.
All the Best,
Randy
www.soundsoccer.com
P.S. As always, your comments on this tip are welcome, just hit "reply". Also, please feel free to forward this on to those who might be interested.
P.S.S. If you are looking for a coaching resource that not only comes from experience but is customized to coaches requests, check us out here.
Sound Soccer, LLC502 8th Ave NWPuyallup, WA 98371 USA
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Player Motivation - from Sigi Schmid - coach of Seattle Sounders FC
Hello Brian,
I was recently reading a feature article in my local newspaper about a soccer coach.
The quotes gave great insight into the nut and bolts of player motivation so I thought I would share them with you.
They seemed to fall into the following 3 categories:
Player Centered
"The beauty of coaching, to me, is in the interpersonal relationships with the players ... seeing them grow and develop," he said. "You work together and you work hard, and then you see your results (in the game). It's like studying and having a test every week."
"I always thought the measure of a good coach was how many players you prepared for the next level."
"It's not always finding good players, but finding players to complement them, then you try to make a style fit the talent you have. It all has to allow for the individuality of the player. Soccer lets you have that creativity in the game, and you can't take that away from the player because then that might take away the joy of the game."
"Soccer... needs to be serious fun."
Earns Respect
"Nobody works harder, ... He's always breaking down tapes ... He wants to make sure there's no stones unturned so that when the team gets in a situation in the match, they'll be ready. When you see your coach working that hard, you never want to let him down."
Demanding AND Caring
"You know he's demanding of people, but he's not a dictator," ..."You can talk tohim; he's not a guy running around screaming at people. You can tell it all comes from a good place."
... with my players, it's not necessarily what you would call 'tough love' but I care an awful lot for them. They're very important to me."
The coach is Sigi Schmid, NCAA National Champion and MLS Champion.
Is seems coach Schmid has found a winning formula: hard work, a demanding yet caring approach and a clear appreciation for why players play soccer ... for the love of the game.
All the Best,
Randy
www.soundsoccer.com Sound Soccer, LLC502 8th Ave NWPuyallup, WA 98371 USA
I was recently reading a feature article in my local newspaper about a soccer coach.
The quotes gave great insight into the nut and bolts of player motivation so I thought I would share them with you.
They seemed to fall into the following 3 categories:
Player Centered
"The beauty of coaching, to me, is in the interpersonal relationships with the players ... seeing them grow and develop," he said. "You work together and you work hard, and then you see your results (in the game). It's like studying and having a test every week."
"I always thought the measure of a good coach was how many players you prepared for the next level."
"It's not always finding good players, but finding players to complement them, then you try to make a style fit the talent you have. It all has to allow for the individuality of the player. Soccer lets you have that creativity in the game, and you can't take that away from the player because then that might take away the joy of the game."
"Soccer... needs to be serious fun."
Earns Respect
"Nobody works harder, ... He's always breaking down tapes ... He wants to make sure there's no stones unturned so that when the team gets in a situation in the match, they'll be ready. When you see your coach working that hard, you never want to let him down."
Demanding AND Caring
"You know he's demanding of people, but he's not a dictator," ..."You can talk tohim; he's not a guy running around screaming at people. You can tell it all comes from a good place."
... with my players, it's not necessarily what you would call 'tough love' but I care an awful lot for them. They're very important to me."
The coach is Sigi Schmid, NCAA National Champion and MLS Champion.
Is seems coach Schmid has found a winning formula: hard work, a demanding yet caring approach and a clear appreciation for why players play soccer ... for the love of the game.
All the Best,
Randy
www.soundsoccer.com Sound Soccer, LLC502 8th Ave NWPuyallup, WA 98371 USA
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