Coaching Communication and the Use of Small Sided Games to Reinforce the Behavior

It is always a challenge to get young players to communicate on the pitch, for a variety of reasons. However, it ultimately comes down to coaching and the ability to reinforce certain behaviors. This video will attempt to provide a window into just how to encourage communication on the pitch, at practice and at match time, and reinforce that behavior so it becomes habit.

CoachZ
216-712-6526
coachz@ultimatesoccertraining.com

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Hello!

Welcome To The Ultimate Soccer Training Blog! This is also being added to The Internet Marketing Quest Revealed Blog! This Is How I Built A Successful Athletic Training Business In A Recession, You Can Too!


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Why would a sex-specific, soccer-specific strength and fitness trainer go off the reservation, so to speak, and post a video about small sided games and training?

The answer is really very simple! I was speaking to a group of soccer coaches recently about soccer-specific strength and fitness training and during the question and answer portion, someone asked my my opinion on the use of small sided games as a coaching strategy. Well, he did it, he asked my opinion! During the next 45 minutes, we discussed all aspects of the small sided game technique, pros and cons. I have to tell you, it was a heated discussion.

Small sided games versus the traditional mode, drills!

Frankly, I believe there is room, and in fact a need for, both. That being said, I weigh in heavily in favor of small sided games and, as the title suggests, letting th e kids play! I have used a video, clearly not my own, to illustrate the small sided game technique. The video is a rather tame version of what I used to do as a coach. In all fairness to Jeff, he was teaching them a new technique and, as such, the kids weren’t really up to speed yet.

Speed of play and touches on the ball!

The main benefit to small sided games is in getting your players as many touches on the ball as possible. As the game progresses, the emphasis can change and the restrictions focused so you have to touch the ball once, twice, three times before passing and you need to complete five successful passes before trying to score. You can go two versus three, you can have a neutral midfielder. In other words, mix it up, depending on what your team needs, your weaknesses, and your strengths.

Fully adaptable model!

The real benefit to the small sided game is that it is fully adaptable, quickly and, in many instances, on the fly! You can see a need during training, adjust accordingly, and proceed with training. With drills, kids stand in line, wait their turn, and have limited touches on the ball. The small sided game eliminates this draw back and keeps the kids playing. The latter is far more intense and effective in so many ways.

Small sided games and the D License

I remember way back, well over ten years ago, I was in a coaching clinic for the D license and Tom Turner of Ohio Youth Soccer Association-North (Ohio-North) was the instructor. At the time, the debate about the small sided game technique had reached fever pitch, with Tom being one of the chief proponents, particularly in Region II but nationally as well. The emphasis of his classes? You got it! Small sided games. Well, the crowd was about 70-30 against until the end of the clinic. By then, every coach save one was sold. There’s always one, isn’t there! And this was an intense class, every soccer coach from just about every premier club (top level club teams) in Ohio-North was in that class, and a few coaches from nationally ranked high school and college squads, like Walsh Jesuit. So, it was a tough crowd, but Tom won almost every coach over, not by instruction but by demonstration.

Small sided games gain in popularity and favor

Well, it’s been ten or fifteen years now and the small sided game is the model. The drills of the past? Some things linger and sometimes the terminology remains but the practice defined is different. Unfortunately, drills has remained firmly entrenched in our lexicon. The military connotations notwithstanding, the word drills should be put to bed once and for all. In fact, one of the coaching methods I am currently advertising calls his program 20 drills! UGH! But the guy is good and he has some really helpful strategies. Do I think it could be better? Yes! Are there better programs out there? Not many! So, if you have specific questions you can always contact me, otherwise click the link below for one of the programs listed or the side panel Soccer U.

Three programs to get your team going, made for coaches starting out or wanting to step thing up a notch!

CoachZ
John P. J. Zajaros, Sr.
216-712-6526
Skype: johnzajaros1
coachz@ultimatesoccertraining.com

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Strength and Fitness Training has always been a point of contention among soccer players and coaches, alike. For years the argument went, “Soccer is played with the legs, and we run enough. Nothing else is necessary!”

Well, to that I say, “Beans!”

As you are by now well aware, the contention regarding whether soccer players should engage in soccer-specific strength and fitness training goes much deeper than whether soccer players need strength training or not, the argument as to whether female athletes would benefit from such training has also been hotly debated. Their can be little doubt, given the findings of several recent studies by such prestigious institutions as the Cleveland Clinic, that the benefits are many and there are really no disadvantages whatsoever!

The fact is, the belief that soccer players were fit enough and strong enough without soccer-specific strength and fitness training was completely wrong. It has been proven, not only in the lab but on the pitch, soccer players play better, are more fit, are a more formidable force on the pitch, play with more confidence and assertiveness, and can do things they couldn’t do before a strength and fitness program was integrated into their training routine; and, they are less injury prone!

It is a well known fact that female soccer players suffer a greater number of knee injuries than their male counterparts. There are myriad reasons for this difference and we will address many of them as we progress. The interesting thing about this, as it pertains to this article, is that female athletes who have engaged in a regular, supervised soccer-specific strength and fitness program were 73% less likely to sustain a career shortening or career ending knee injury! The statistic, supported independently by several studies, is staggering and puts to bed once and for all the notion that soccer players, male or female, need not engage in regular strength and fitness training.

The data supports the notion that sex-specific and soccer-specific strength and fitness training not only helps the athlete develop into a better athlete but it keeps the athlete playing longer by significantly reducing the incidence of injury. There can be little doubt that such a training strategy benefits the players, the coaches, and even the fans by keeping their favorite players on the pitch that much deeper into their careers.

Three programs to get your team going, made for coaches starting out or wanting to step thing up a notch!

CoachZ
John P. J. Zajaros, Sr.
216-712-6526
Skype: johnzajaros1
coachz@ultimatesoccertraining.com

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