The day US soccer starts demonstrating combination play like this, is the day we’ll graduate to the next level.
How many times have you ever seen it on our National Teams or MLS?
Here’s the video. (If you can’t see it, click here).
This is what we should be striving for, this is what fans should be demanding, this is what parents of our youth should look for in a coach, this is what should be taught from youth to professional!
It can be done and we do have the players to pull it off. But do we have the coaching?
Best article so far, I love it and this is first-class for youth soccer improvement. The concept of effective teamwork is a foremost piece that is missing in US youth soccer development. We all see how teamwork in basketball or football makes a team good but effective teamwork makes that team GREAT.
Pointing censure is not my style, I love to find both short term and long term resolution. I was talking to a friend and she made a comment. “ The variation between soccer players of yesterday and today is that the parents of yesterday have no hint what soccer is but the parents of today have some understanding, some of them played it either for excitement or at AYSO level, this is going to help restructure American soccer in the future”
Players also should take more some responsibility, incapability to maintain their shape, relentlessly watch soccer clips, or soccer training, train on their own and not leave everything to the coach.
I was watching a game last week and a teammate took the ball from the defense, ran all the way to the opponent’s side and lost the ball and his teammate were like “good run pal” and I ask myself, what is good about the run, this is affecting the mindset of a US soccer player. Mentality is a player that can run and run and run and run, teamwork 50%, mental 50%, fitness 150%, skill 10%. Great players have skills, these great players take over a game not only by touching the soccer ball, but by their existence on the soccer field, their positioning, their off the ball run.
What can be done
a. Training for teamwork on the pitch.
b. Make it a priority to interact with teammates.
c. Develop an instinct for how each player reacts
d. Participation is key – I have seen some players come to practice and cry about injury but want to have playing time during regular games, soccer relationships can only be built through many hours of practice as a team
e. Building better teamwork off the field, social activities bond teams together so you can understand each others personalities.
f. Training like a pro start from home where the players show better organizational skills, learning how to read a play like certain kind of free kicks etc…
Above all, everything starts from HOME. Coaches can only facilitate the development of players talent, the parents, society, business owners, fans and especially the players have to make this a better soccer nation.
FYI – I abhorrence to continue with the aphorism “soccer”; when we all know it’s universally called Football, only in America
WOW Mayo! Lot’s of good points in your comment.
Each one is a post on it’s own. I think the most important thing you touched on is the idea that everything starts from HOME.
That is so very true. Two or even three days of training along with a game on the weekend is simple not enough to develop a player. The coach can only do so much and the player can only get so many touches during that time.
Players need to have the ball at their feet constantly to develop technique, and need to watch countless high level professional games/clips to develop their Soccer IQ.
Oh and for the record … I also can’t stand the term “soccer”. 🙂