To understand soccer and to know how to win games, it is necessary to have an understanding of all facets of this sport. It is my opinion that in North America, where this sport is gaining a strong foothold, it is frequently not very well understood. Often it is erroneously perceived to be an uncomplicated game. At one time it was, but with the development of modern ground ball soccer, the game may be considered to fall into two categories: the mostly outdated “long-ball” game and the modern “short-ball” game. In “long-ball” soccer (frequently a game of kickball), the ball is often kicked or headed up-field indiscriminately. The ball changes teams very frequently. The “short-ball” game is performed with strong defenses and with all players making accurate, short passes to teammates in any field direction. The intent is to maintain possession of the ball while waiting for opposition defensive mistakes, thus gaining the best opportunities for attacks on the opposition goal.
This book is designed to instruct entry-level as well as experienced people about all of the aspects of soccer that are necessary for developing a sound foundation for successful players’ careers in this sport. This foundation is attained through the practices of ball control and basic techniques; later more advanced techniques can be developed. This book is intended to be both an elementary and advanced reference handbook. These basic techniques are the building blocks that are required to enable those players who fully or even partially master them to have a place in this sport for many future years. Just how far these players go depends upon several factors such as (1) being able to control the ball, (2) developing self-confidence through ball control and self-control, (3) love and understanding of the sport, (4) the parents’ encouragement, (5) the ability to accept constructive criticism, (6) the ability to learn from both good and bad experiences, (7) good coaches who not only teach all players, but also give individual attention, and (8) parents who see that the child does not remain on a team that has an indifferent coach who may destroy that child’s athletic confidence for his lifetime.
If the child has a strong desire to quit his team, the coach is probably not giving that child sufficient playing time in games. If the child plays on a house league team, there is probably a rule requiring that each player is to play at least one-half of each game. If you are a parent of a child on a team that has this rule and it is being overridden by the coach, you should bring this to the attention of the league at the next meeting. You as a parent should provide guidance by developing an interest in the child’s training. Whether or not your child has a gift in this sport, he will benefit greatly if you become involved and develop an overall understanding of this sport to monitor his progression throughout the years.
Soccer is known as a noncontact sport. This is not quite true, as contact is frequent. It is generally not a heavy contact sport, however. Light shoulder charging and body pushing (under certain circumstances) are legal tactics. Body pushing is permitted when an opposing player purposely obstructs (screens) a player from access to the ball. Heavy contact is illegal, but it does occur. If it is observed and the laws are enforced by the referee, a penalty will result.
As stated previously, soccer has become a complex sport as a result of the many skills that are required to be a skillful player. Nearly all players lack some of the skills, but the better ones master thirty or forty skills. (Many must be learned with both the right and the left legs and feet.) Soccer players must make decisions quickly, and the advanced players mentally prepare their moves prior to contacting the ball. That is, they think about what will be the most advantageous move to make should they come in contact with the ball. It is also advantageous to verbally assist teammates (quietly) who may not see an oncoming opposing player. While there are many skills needed for the advanced player, these are not necessary for the beginning players.
Some of the advanced skills for the ten field players are as follows (many should be performed on both sides of the body):
1. Trapping with the inner part of the foot (near the ankle)
2. Trapping with the outer part of the foot (the top of the toes)
3. Trapping under the sole of the foot
4. Trapping with the thigh (top and side)
5. Trapping with the chest and body (several types)
6. Trapping with the head
7. Shielding (two types: when first contacting the ball and after possession of the ball)
8. Kicks with as least four parts of the foot: with the area just below the ankle for a push pass, with the instep, with the top of the four smaller toes, and with the big toe for a toe poke
9. Kicks that are meant to be high or low
10. Head passes
11. Dribbling (many types, dependent on the situation)
12. Crossing, passing, back-heel passes, when to pass or when not to pass
13. How to defend properly
14. How to draw off players
15. Throw-ins
16. How to score
17. Volleying (front and side)
18. Tackling
19. Learning the laws of the game
In addition to the individual skills (there are more than those listed), players must be taught that they are not the focal point of the team; the team only wins tough games that are played as a team. Therefore each player with the ball should, most of the time, be unselfishly looking for opportunities that involve teammates. When a player is without the ball on offense, he must constantly be going into open spaces to receive potential passes or to lure away opponents.
The above discussion of skills mainly involves the ten field players. The goalkeeper must eventually master many catching, diving, pushing, and punching ball defensive techniques. Offensively, his role is also vital to the team’s performance but this role is often misunderstood and therefore played to a minimum. This player needs to gain self-confidence to utilize many verbal commands and develop into a team leader who can play the most important role on the team: taking full charge of the defense.
If you are an entry-level coach or parent, you should be aware of the complex nature of the skills that will be observed in highly skilled games seen at the college or professional level. What you will be seeing at the highest level of play is ball control and self-control. But at young-age levels, very few skills will be commonly exercised except by a few exceptional individuals. Playing the modern “short-ball soccer” (generally an on-the-ground passing game), young players must use parts of the body they are unaccustomed to use for ball control. It is especially difficult for them because of the approaching speed of opponents and their limited mobility in a crowded space. With the very young, games are played on smaller fields, and thus their space is even further limited.
A primary objective for a potentially good coach is to understand the problems of the players from an overall standpoint. Skillful play is difficult when there is opponent pressure, but this quality of play should be an objective. Insisting that the players stick with the basic ball control skills when one is coaching these skills at practice will instill some respect from the players. Allowing unskilled playing in scrimmage games to continue after the players have been taught proper methods is counter productive. Also, it may be your desire to promote skillful activities, but sharing team responsibilities with another may cause conflicts. If you are co-coaching or managing a team with a veteran player, he may only desire to have immediate wins and have a complete disregard for promoting basic skills. This is definitely a difficult situation. It is best to agree upon each coach’s duties and training objectives beforehand to remove future disagreements. If this is not arranged on a permanent basis, much of the coaching enjoyment will be reduced because disagreements will be unavoidable. If you are just an interested parent and observe activities that are in your view counterproductive, you should make your views known at league meetings.
To improve your own powers of observation, try to get an overall understanding of skillful game play by observing high quality games. Notice that the ball is usually on the ground and there is prolonged possession of the ball by each team. In poor games, observe the lack of ball control, the poor officiating, and generally uncontrolled activities. Whether or not you have soccer experience, get involved with the team’s training and practice games and play in scrimmage games as a goalkeeper or defender; do not be concerned about looking “bad.” Practice the homework drills outlined in the book. All coaches and future coaches could benefit from some additional practice that would help them comprehend modern soccer better.
Soccer is a natural sport for mixed teams. It brings both genders closer together for a common soccer cause. This fosters leadership. It seems that girls stay on mixed teams longer in soccer than in other sports, allowing more functional interactions and communication between the sexes. Historically, it is quite apparent that sport has evolved from very early times from a form of combat or defense, and it is traditionally the older males that pass on their skills to the young males. At the present time, most of the sport’s skills and knowledge are with the males. Today, however, there are many girls playing in mixed gender soccer. As the girls get older, many will switch to all-girls teams. They will carry with them the idea of leadership they picked up from the coaches who taught them the sport. They will now possess either good or bad leadership skills based on their experience. If the coaches are aware of the image that they present to others, they would be careful to present a good one by having self-control, by being consistent in following through on statements, and by showing a sense of fairness.
The girls also add to the mix, the element that boys need—maturity—because girls are more mature in general. With the girls around, boys and men are more apt to use self-control and to have more self-awareness. This may seem a minor issue, but in reality, leadership has two main ingredients. Those ingredients are self-awareness and self-control.
When people get angry, they are out of control. Anger occurs fairly often on the soccer field. When a child sees an adult get outraged, that child may think that anger can be appropriate; but, it has no place in soccer. When a person is angry, that person is out of control. Anger usually occurs on the soccer field because of poor and biased officiation involving issues such as unpenalized violence. It also may occur when a player is penalized for exercising a legal tactic such as shoulder charging or when a player bumps another because the opponent was illegally screening the ball. Referees themselves are leaders. They are good leaders when they fully know the laws of the game and fairly control the game. Poor refereeing should not be acceptable; leagues should pay more attention to officiation. There should be a referees’ trainer and a referees’ coordinator. The referees’ coordinator job is discussed in the next section. Discipline of poor officials is a necessary function of the league. If the league is willing to pay higher fees to referees, it will attract better quality officials. With less anger on the playing fields, the players can concentrate on the game and the skills. Also, coaches who have only one objective—to win—are not doing the league or the players a service. They should also be disciplined even though they are “badly needed.” When the league does not discipline itself, the sport’s objectives are compromised. Leagues that exercise fairness are healthy ones exhibiting good league leadership.
Negative leadership is encouraged by some coaches who acquire little or no knowledge of what this sport is all about. Getting the ball through the opponent’s goal as many times as possible may seem central to entry-level soccer, but one would hope that as one goes up in level, the coach learns that skills are required to counteract the defensive play of skillful opponents. With a lack of this knowledge, they negate their training by shouting contradictions or meaningless statements such as “get the ball,” “kick it,” “burn him,” “good kick,” or “good try” (when it was not a good try).
There is a correct situation for trapping the ball or not trapping it, for dribbling or passing, etc. These situations become known to players when they are allowed to experiment with the knowledge learned in the drills. They must be allowed to make mistakes using their newly acquired training knowledge (on valid tries) and not be chastised because they tried to trap the ball or tried to dribble. On the other hand, “star players” often are not chastised when their play is self-serving.
One of the worst examples of negative leadership is telling players that they will not play in games if they do not appear in practices. It is the rule rather than the exception that coaches who make this statement do not keep their word on this issue. Those poorer athletes who come to every practice often sit out much of the game while a “star” player who missed many practices plays the whole game. If you as a coach are going to play these better athletes to the maximum, it is best not to make any statements regarding showing up for practices.
As a good coach, maintain consistency, allow the players to experiment with the tactics you taught them, and maintain self-control at all times. Find channels to report unfair practices and possibly set up formal methods to air complaints and formulate solutions to these complaints.
Coaches entering youth soccer come from a variety of soccer backgrounds. Many have had no soccer background to speak of, but are parents who want to get involved. Whatever the background, most coaches are inexperienced in handling up to 18 players for 11 different positions. Even with experience, viewing the team as a whole is very different from having played just a few positions. Nevertheless, I have known many soccer coaches without playing experience who have been successful.
An inexperienced coach can begin by familiarizing himself with the objectives of a good soccer coach (besides winning the next game). Then he can segment the team for general defense and general attack. It is also imperative that he watch top-class indoor and outdoor soccer on TV or live. It is important to be able to discern the difference between good and poor quality soccer. One useful method for determining soccer quality is to observe the negative aspects of the game.
Coaches who have experience in soccer have an initial obvious advantage over inexperienced coaches. This experience may, however, actually act as a hinderance to learning about the game from a coach’s standpoint. There can be 18 players to manage instead of just oneself. The experience may also prevent a coach from accepting modern soccer if she was not well trained in this discipline. Modern soccer, as stated before, is played by maintaining possession of the ball with short no-risk passes as frequently as possible. Long-ball soccer is for the most part outdated in the better leagues. It is a game in which the ball is kicked or headed down field to attacking players. Unfortunately, they usually do not receive the ball, or when they do, they often do not maintain control of it for constructive purposes.
As mentioned earlier, all coaches (including nonskilled coaches and potential ones) are encouraged to participate in practice games. A new coach could start out as one of the goalkeepers or a wing defender. As a goalkeeper, assure that each of your defenders is keeping an eye on the opponent in his territory. Do not try to catch most of the balls at the end of your reach; instead, tip them away safely. As a defender, never forget this rule: always stay goalside of your opponent in your territory. This means always place yourself between the ball and the goal and always watch the opponent in your territory. Also keep your legs closed up to prevent a pass from going under you. Do not try to dislodge the ball from the opponent unless she loses its control. These topics are further discussed in the goaltending and defensive sections in the book. Jogging and running are also strongly suggested. Get involved with the homework drills and possibly build a body rebound board shown in Chapter 6 to practice heading with your eyes open.
The following information should enable anyone to distinguish between good and poor quality soccer (poor quality being a game of kickball).
1. If the ball goes over the touch line (sideline) in outdoor soccer and indoor soccer with sidelines more than once every minute, the game is poor; more than once every five minutes, the game is of medium quality. It is a high quality game when the ball almost never goes over the touch line.
2. If the ball is placed into the air and kept up three or four times in succession without being settled and controlled on the ground by one or both of the teams, and this happens continuously throughout the game, the game is of poor quality. If this happens once in five minutes, the game is medium quality. If the ball is almost continuously kept on the ground and both teams pass it around at least four or five times to themselves, it is a high quality game.
3. If players are constantly getting injured or the referee stops the play every one or two minutes for a penalty, the game is of poor quality. Also, if the referee does not stop the game when there are continuous rule infractions, the game is of poor quality. If these problems occur less frequently, the game is of medium quality. If very few infractions occur, say in ten minutes of play, the referees have excellent control of the game and it is probably a high quality game.
4. If five or more players usually converge on the ball in front of the goal, the game is poor quality.
These negative aspects of soccer are pointed out to show coaches what to look out for in their own games. These negative aspects will generally occur whenever the people who are involved are out of control. Coaches who have an interest in high quality soccer should work towards the positive aspects of soccer. The more that the sport is understood, the more control will be placed in the areas of coaching the players and refereeing.
1. Control of Officials. It is up to each parent and coach to insure that the league has the highest level of referees possible. Often teenage players are chosen to referee younger age group games. They usually miss calling many fouls because of their inexperience. Along with your league’s referee coordinator (a person linking the league president and the head referee), there should be a referee trainer. This person’s job is very important to the league, but is often overlooked as being not worth the time and effort. As a new coach, if you find that your league does not have a referee’s trainer, you should bring this to the attention of the league officers at meetings. This individual’s job is an on-going job of continuously updating the referee’s knowledge of the game. If the matter is brushed aside, everyone involved will eventually pay the price because referees will call legal tactics fouls and will overlook many fouls, some of them serious ones. In some instances, frustrated coaches who have taught perfectly legal, but less familiar, skills may tell players to stop employing them because they fear a player will be ejected from the game. If the league is interested in developing the highest standards, it will pay attention to this very important aspect of the game.
2. Ball Control. This is what every team should strive for. The ball is more manageable on the ground because it only has to be maneuvered in a single plane. This type of soccer enables the players to have better control and to maintain possession longer. Maintaining possession longer is the object of modern soccer because it enables the team to take clearer and better directed shots on goal instead of taking too many wild and wasted “once-on” shots on goal in a kickball match. For example, a short ground pass to a player 10' (3 meters) to 15' (4 ½ meters) away can take three seconds to settle, but it takes about eight seconds to settle an air ball going the same distance. I have demonstrated this in practices every season, but it sometimes takes a few attempts to make an effective demonstration and to prove the point.
Ball control starts with trapping to settle the ball. Doing this under pressure requires an accompanying move called shielding. It is the most basic skill needed for ball control. It is strongly recommended that this single most important skill be encouraged and mastered by all players, including the goalkeeper, who will at times dribble the ball outside the penalty area. If the concept of shielding is not clear, use the analogy of this tactic in basketball. Shielding is done naturally in basketball after the player starts moving and dribbling: basketball players always shield the ball with their back to the opponent who is nearby. In soccer there is one basic difference, however. Shielding is necessary at the time of trapping. The types of shielding are discussed in Chapter 3.
3. Coach Control. This section mainly applies to coaches, but it also applies to parents. It is important to remain calm and maintain self-control at an amateur soccer match. If you remain calm or even smile when a nonpenalized infraction occurs, referees and others will often take notice of your attitude and may even try to come up to your level. This is important for you because while the players are being taught soccer, you are advancing your leadership qualities.
Coaches who see repeated infractions committed against their team that are not penalized by one of the officials may get angry. It is very difficult to remain calm under such circumstances, but an attempt must be made at self-control. It is better to gently call out the observed infraction to the referee, calmly stating, for example, “handball ref.” The same low voice can be used to correct players who are not performing as instructed in practices, using statements such as: “John, you were told to stay goalside of your man and not go for the ball, be more careful next time.” This of course must only be done in lower level leagues where coaching from the side lines is permitted. Anger does not resolve any problem, although some people think there is a place for it. If you have a complaint, and there is no formal complaint system in effect, report the incident at a league meeting, giving the name of the individual causing the problem. This complaint should be made by parents and coaches. If decisions are unjustly made to accommodate some “needed” coach or referee, the situation will not improve. If no satisfaction is given to you and the situation worsens, it is time to move on to another league, possibly in another town. Even if you are not a coach, but a parent, it is advisable to place your child in another (different) town league. In either case, you may have to volunteer your time for a job in the new league. While I believe that most leagues make an honest attempt to remain fair, I have known some leagues or coaches that did not have the players’ interests at heart.
4. Player Control. If the game is under control, with older teams, there should be two players controlling the field action of the other players. These players are the goalkeeper and the center halfback (providing that the formation requires a center halfback). In the child’s earlier years of play, however, these players will not be in control of the defense. Nevertheless, leadership can be encouraged, and these players should be taught to have some responsibility for the others’ activities on the field.
If the above controls are being implemented, then there should be a sufficient setting for good soccer contests. It sometimes happens, however, that a team that may be accustomed to winning is now losing because its players are outskilled. Because of their frustrations, they may start playing “dirty.” These players and their coach are out of control, and good referees will not permit this situation to exist. If the referees do not take control of the situation, however, there is little that can be done at the time except possibly to leave the field and file a formal complaint with the league. To be in control, you must decide your priorities. I have personally stopped games (as the head referee) and reprimanded the offending team’s coaches, telling them that the game will be terminated if the roughness does not cease.
A soccer team has up to 18 players, with 11 on the playing field during game play. That means that up to 7 players are waiting on the side lines. In outdoor soccer, as stated above, house leagues generally have a rule allowing each child to play one-half of each game. As an interested parent, assure that coaches abide by this rule. Placing the weaker players on the field for five minutes at a time and playing them for an accumulated time that is slightly less than half of the game does not actually fulfill each child’s right to play in half of the game. A child learns almost nothing constructive by only playing in five minute bursts of time (in outdoor soccer). This mischievous substitution method should not be condoned. This does not apply, however, to indoor soccer because five minutes on the floor will fatigue nearly any player since there is no time to catch one’s breath.
Coaches who are unfamiliar with soccer may apply substitution methods used in other sports. In football, substitutions may be made by placing a new line of players on the field. This does not work in soccer because a player must generally take several minutes to get into the tempo of the game. Also, changes are generally rather disruptive, especially when they are frequent. It is best not to substitute a particular player more frequently than in one-quarter blocks. Not only are frequent substitutions disruptive to the team, they are also nerve-racking to the coach. This is especially true when young players are constantly asking the coach “when can I go in?” Coaches may consider the following solution for substitution to allow themselves more time to watch the game:
1. Prior to the game, a substitution plan can be written down. This plan gives each player the allotted time of play. Substitute the players into the game by the clock. Do not substitute the same player more then three times. The plan should not use several weaker players in the game together. Spread them over the game and do not place them (when in at the same time) on the same side of the field. Instinctively, coaches like to use these weaker players in defense. This is not a good move: not scoring a goal is not the same as having one scored against you. Placing weaker players in the frontal attacking positions is the best option.
2. Appoint the assistant coach, manager, or a parent as the substitution coordinator. Substitutions cannot be made at any time, but only according to certain rules when the ball goes out of play. Typically, in outdoor soccer, substitutions are permitted when your team has a throw-in, during goal kicks by both sides, and when the clock is stopped for injuries. In youth soccer, these occurrences generally take place every few minutes. Naturally, deviations from the plan take place, but the plan works best when one adheres to it: this amounts to less stress on players, coaches, and parents. If you are a parent and your child is in a house league with the half-game rule for each child’s playing time and your child is not getting proper play time, it is best to discuss this at league meetings. It is the exception to the rule that this problem can be straightened out directly with the coach. If you are not confident about getting a fair solution, remember that you have paid the entry fee for your child and also cite the written rule for playtime.
The question may arise as to why it is desirable to increase your child’s playing time? It is desirable because you want your child to remain in the sport as long as possible to develop his confidence. There are obvious future benefits to scholastic and musical studies, but sport mastery has less obvious benefits. Having raised three sons in this sport (almost exclusively in soccer), I can associate these related beneficial results to their present-day lives. They have self-confidence, they do not use any harmful substances, and they are used to working hard to attain their goals and desires.
Very often it can be observed that a child will play a different sport before or after going to soccer practice. This is not recommended. Soccer is difficult to master and even more difficult to learn when it is competing with another sport. During soccer season, “pick-up” games in other sports should be discouraged. By applying the soccer principles learned at practice to playing in “pick-up” soccer games, the child will eventually outclass other children who do not take the sport seriously. So one sport should be encouraged, and a variety of simultaneous sports should be discouraged. It is not easy to learn something well, and one can do so only by the constant repetition derived from focusing on only one activity at a time. And it is rare that any child will become highly competitive in more then one sport.
The following information should probably be in a text on child psychology, but I believe it is pertinent here. As a parent, I think I am qualified to state this observation. I have often observed that only one of two children (generally of the same sex) who are close in age in a family seems to be the natural athlete and the other seems to have no athletic inclination. From observation, I see this to be the result of parental attitudes towards these children. The favored child is usually encouraged by adults. The favored child also often has the seemly unrelated characteristic that she knowingly provokes the other child only while not in view of adults. Then the other child retaliates, but often in the view of these same adults. The result is that an unfair judgment is made about the child who is not favored. This child develops little self-confidence, while the “protected” child actually develops a false sense of self-confidence. This excessive and deficient self-confidence is then carried over into sports. It is beneficial for both children for the parent to be aware of this situation and to encourage both equally. This will help develop true self-confidence that is necessary for advanced competition.
It is recommended that you as a parent observe your child’s soccer practices and go to games. You may be surprised at what you can learn. You may observe some undesirable characteristics that have thus far escaped your observation. By learning about these, you may prudently take corrective measures to encourage correct behavior before the child grows up. In my opinion, one of the worst characteristics that an athlete can have is to be “noncoachable,” to be unable to take corrective criticism. If this characteristic is observed, it is beneficial to the child to be instructed that corrective criticism is not to be confused with criticism.
A child on the verge of quitting soccer is probably a noncompetitive athlete or does not like the coach. In this situation, the coach often wants to have as little to do with this child as possible. While there is something to be said for allowing the child to quit, it may be better to encourage the child to remain on the team as long as possible, unless you think that the coach should not be coaching children. Allowing the child to immediately quit may encourage quitting something simply because of laziness. If the child blames others for his failures, bitterness is the result. There is a useful expression: “Don’t get bitter, just better.” It is really in the child’s best interest to remain on the team and improve by receiving encouragement and by practicing the homework drills. But immediate recognition by any coach is not likely to occur. The child may have a long way to go to become competitive.
Get involved and learn the game. As a parent and possibly the child’s coach, get personally involved with your child and spend several minutes a week alone with him on a particular skill. It may be throwing the ball for heading and observing whether the child keeps his eyes open and whether the ball is making contact with the correct part of the head. It may be to find a lawn, field, or street where you can kick and dead-trap fast balls back to each other: trapping the balls dead at the feet is a must. Keeping the eye on the ball is also a must. It may be throwing the ball for tipping practice if your child is a goalkeeper. Pick any one skill and work with him and continue with this drill until it is successfully used in games.
One of the most common mistakes that many parents and some coaches make is to assume that the child is correctly performing a certain skill. An adult may often be afraid to challenge the child because of fear of intimidation. It may be assumed that the child has properly learned some task or skill. After you correctly learn about the skill, insist that the child perform it correctly. Unfortunately, a few coaches may not know how to perform certain skills and may be demonstrating them wrongly. You should only work with those skills that you are certain you understand. The basics are in this book; you can teach them effectively.
A parent can increase the child’s playing time anywhere from a small increment to a large increment depending upon the personal effort expended. Using the same approach that is used for studying school work or learning a musical instrument—constant insistence on doing the homework drills—will have a positive effect.
Aggressiveness in sport should not be confused with acts of violence. Aggressiveness for the ten field players in soccer is the spirit for winning a “loose ball” (a ball not in possession of either team). An aggressive player tries to get to the ball first, shielding while trapping the ball, defends when the team is not in possession of the ball, and draws opponents away from a teammate who is dribbling the ball. An aggressive goalkeeper punches a ball out of a crowded goal area, quickly throws the ball to a teammate, commands respect from her defenders, and forcibly shouts “keeper” when she wants the ball.
When the playing starts to get rough and dirty, the line has been crossed from legal aggressiveness to violence. When a defender pulls the shirt of an attacking player or trips a player who has just dribbled the ball past him, the playing is getting rough and illegal. If such playing is not curtailed by the referees, it worsens. Players may try to hurt the goalkeeper, so they must learn ways to defend themselves. It is up to the referees to observe hostile situations and take proper measures to bring order to the playing field.
It is worth comparing aggression occurring with children in middle-class areas with that occurring with children from poorer areas. I have often observed that the children from poorer areas are more aggressive on the field and that middle-class children may be intimidated by them. There is a drill that equalizes this aggression and teaches legal aggressiveness and the amount of roughness permitted by the laws of soccer. This is the shoulder charging drill in Chapter 6.
An excellent soccer player has creative intelligence and curiosity for learning, develops endurance, develops skills, improves her speed, learns all of the aspects of the game, and is aggressive on the field. Many highly skillful players have all the above ingredients but lack aggressiveness. When matched up against aggressive unskillful players, they are often intimidated. Therefore it is necessary to teach players the amount of aggressiveness and roughness that is legally permitted by the laws of soccer. An example from my own experience is relevant. I was a manager-coach of a men’s ethnic soccer team. These players all had excellent skills brought over from the “old country.” During the first four games, we were two or three goals up on our opponents. As each game progressed, however, the “home grown” team learned that they could intimidate our players by excessive roughness. We lost all four games. I then decided to teach each one of my players my shoulder charging drill. I personally worked with each and every player to instill into him this skill that he was unaware of. From that point on, we won every game and went on to win the season’s championship. Possibly the players would have won anyway without my coaching, but I like to think that the shoulder charging exercise had something to do with our victories.
Soccer is a sport that requires a large amount of energy and power. Energy is necessary for players to have endurance for staying competitive in the game until its end. Power is needed for large bursts of energy that are required in a small time frame when accelerating or running at top speed. The training at soccer practices strives to build up each player’s endurance limits to meet the rigorous requirements demanded of a soccer player; much of this training must be done in the early part of each season prior to the commencement of official games.
Players must be able to run backwards as well as forward for the time that they are out on the playing field, so the run training should include backwards running. During the game there is little time to rest. In indoor soccer, the ability to stay in the game is even harder to attain because there are virtually none of the resting periods that may occur briefly during outdoor matches. The athletes who have the most stamina are those who run and exercise on their own time, especially before the training season begins. A prudent coach will instruct her players to start with self-disciplined preseason conditioning that includes running and stretching activities.
A very important part of the soccer player’s supervised training is stretching and warm-up drills prior to the commencement of soccer drills and games. If these stretching and warm-up drills are not taken seriously, some players will probably experience torn muscles on the top of the thigh (the quadratus femoris—the kicking muscle), on the thigh near the groin (the iliacus, psoas, and abductors), or on the back of the lower calf (the gastrocnemius). Some of the players may also sprain their ankles or develop knee problems. A set of stretching and warm-up exercises should be put together by the coach under the supervision of a qualified medical person to help the team stay fit and to help prevent muscle and joint injuries. It is also highly recommended that each player consult a physician prior to the initiation of any strenuous exercise program.
Each player should own a good quality soccer ball and bring it to practice. A good quality ball probably starts at the moderate price range. Buying the lowest price soccer ball may not be economical in the long run because these balls just do not hold up under the abusive treatment given to them by constant kicking. In addition, certain low-quality balls can be painful when headed and they may not bounce correctly, especially if the ball is out of balance or becomes so.
If a player purchases an expensive ball, she must watch it carefully. Other people may take notice of it, especially at an “away” soccer field. Coaches, too, are to be advised that when they are supplying the game ball, they must retrieve it immediately after the match. During games, if possible, keep all extra balls in a ball bag and keep track of any training balls that are outside of the ball bag. Also, be aware of this common trick that can be employed to remove a soccer ball from your possession: two children may start kicking a ball around and then kick it over a fence or into a grassy or wooded area. The ball is now out of sight to be retrieved later. Your soccer balls should also be indelibly marked with permanent ink for easy identification.
Each player will need some personal equipment. This personal equipment should include a cup and a good set of shin pads that also provide ankle protection. Warm, under-the-uniform garments are also suggested. Goalkeepers should also have goalie’s gloves, knee, elbow, and hip pads. All players should also be requested to carry their own water to practices, preferably in quart- or liter-size containers.
Coaches should have at least three soccer balls and a ball bag. It is a good idea to have eight or ten field markers for drills and goalpost simulation. A first-aid kit containing the usual sport-emergency materials should be on hand at all times.
If oranges are to be supplied at games, there should be at least one for each player, and they should be thoroughly washed and cut into quarters. A parent should be designated to call a different family for each upcoming game to supply these oranges. There should also be a designated person to distribute these oranges evenly during the game. The coaches should not have to supply the oranges, nor have the task of assigning the player responsible for supplying them for each upcoming game. This job should be designated to a parent.
It is important to know the weather prediction for the game. If it is going to be about 100°F (38°C), the game should perhaps be postponed. If the temperature is around 50°F (10°C) or less, each player should have a winter coat and the spectators should be aware that long johns will make the game more enjoyable, especially if it is windy.
Soccer fields can be very windy because they are a large, open space. Players and spectators usually underestimate how cold they will become during a game. The wind is a strong coolant. Players, especially young ones, should play in track suits or some suitable and acceptable long-sleeve and long-leg type of garments under their soccer uniform when the temperature is below 40°F (4°C) and even at higher temperatures if the wind chill factor is in this temperature range. Players may complain about this extra clothing, but without it they may be exposing themselves to hypothermia, a condition in which the body temperature falls a few degrees below normal. The result of being exposed to the elements such as rain, cold, and wind can lead to a cold or something more serious. This is especially true for the players sitting on the sidelines. Under these unfavorable climatic conditions, players sitting on the sidelines should always be directed to wear track suits, coats, or rain gear.