The Giants Smash the Minnows 3/27/13 Day 1 of the MIC allowed for the Giants of the soccer world, Manchester United, FC Barcelona, Ajax and Villareal, to showcase their class against local inferior teams. These clubs are able to attract talent from across the globe and are consistently producing the next soccer superstar. Villareal Villareal […]
Game vs Junior FC: Preparation for MIC Tournament Opener
Friendly vs. Juniors 3/25/13 5-0 After a long trip across the Atlantic the squad was dying to get a game in. A local club in Barcelona, Juniors FC, Infantil “B”, would be the perfect test for the boys. We arrived for pregame at their modest sporting facility. Pregame Warm up was shaky, and the players […]
3four3 and CelebreightFC Partner Up: Time for Your Own Barcelona Experience!
We’re happy to announce we are offering trips to Barcelona for competition, opportunity, education, and experience. 3four3 has partnered with CelebreightFC in offering a component which has invaluable benefits to your soccer education. Why Barcelona? CelebreightFC is a company started by Danny Lederman, whose son Benny became the first American to join the famed La […]
Ramping up for the MIC Tournament: Barcelona Tour 2013
Before we get to the status entry below, a touch of background: Brian has been traveling to Barcelona every year for the last 5 years to learn and have his teams compete. This year is no different. On Wednesday his 2001’s will open group play in the Mediterranean International Cup against the 800 pound gorilla, […]
Set Tactical Training
We’ve mentioned the phrase ‘Set Tactical Work’ often, but I know this is a foreign notion to the American Soccer Community at all levels. So let me try to give a more familiar concept. Set Tactical Work is essentially Choreography. Here’s an example from the 3four3 curriculum. Now, Rich asked the following: I think for […]
Coaching Defined – The 3 Key Elements
What gets us in trouble is that anyone, absolutely anyone, can be a “coach”. Everyone’s got thoughts and a narrative about the game. And no matter how ill-developed, incoherent, or superficial they may be, that falls into the philosophy bucket. Everyone’s got activities. And everyone can take a player, or two, or 22, and […]
Freestyle “let the kids play” versus Formal Structured Competitive
Both the ‘freestyle‘ game and the ‘structured‘ game are critical. But much like the rec & pro mindsets, each has their place. Freestyle This is the place for tons of experimentation and individual play. This is where you “let the kids play”. Where you: Dribble all you want Long ball all you want Play on […]
Chivas USA is a Lemon
In case you don’t follow us on Twitter or Facebook, we were in St. Louis, Ft. Lauderdale, and Indianapolis last week for the MAC Hermann award, MLS combine, and MLS superdraft, respectively. The most worthwhile thing to mention from the combine and draft is the comportment of Chivas USA. I think it’s safe to assume […]
Quality Pro Player Development or Recreation? People don’t know the Difference.
Before we go any further, something must be made clear. A line must be drawn between two camps: Those who ultimately view soccer as recreation. Those who are about creating professional footballers of the highest quality. Both have vastly different requirements. 1) Recreation This does not mean the ‘rec soccer community’ – as in reserved […]
Who Developed Him?
A player ‘makes it‘, and then everyone who’s ever touched him claims development credit. So who’s responsible? All of them? Some of them? None of them? And how can credit (or blame) be distributed? Age So at what age(s) was a certain player under the tutelage of a certain coach? Much is made of “the […]