Comments for Soccer Coaching Blog | Professional Soccer Coaching Advice

Comment on Why ALL your players should get equal playing time by Keith

Keith — Wed, 01 May 2013 11:47:27 +0000

Brilliantly put Graham – I am finding it very difficult to find other parent with the same attitude & problems in the UK, even thought I know this is rife in the game. Players are not being treated fairly. Win at all costs, even though it means that players get upset & loose confidence and motivation. I think some of these coaches like the power they have.

Comment on 7 tips to get the most out of your coaching sessions by raimokow

raimokow — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:57:40 +0000

Good summary of coaching points of coaching. It´s not just about doing it but screening and thinking through it, and doing it better. Thx Dave

Comment on Reactive soccer can stifle stronger opponents by test

test — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 14:48:36 +0000

Wow! Thank you! I continually wanted to write on my blog something like that. Can I include a portion of your post to my website%3

Comment on Why I hate being the linesman by Alan Khoo

Alan Khoo — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:58:36 +0000

I feel for Martin Upson. I was volunteered for our U12′s state cup match as one of the linesman didn’t show up. We would’ve advanced to the finals if we won this game. The game was tied 1-1 and our forward dribbled through as the goalie came out. All he had to do was tap the ball in but instead, passed diagonally to a team-mate also ahead. I had to raise up my flag and the ref disallowed the goal. It was the right call but did I get a lot of good natured ribbing from our parents & coaches. If it was the other way around, it could’ve gotten ugly.

Comment on Match day and only 9 players turn up by Vosta Lee

Vosta Lee — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 04:01:56 +0000

Interesting story. I have a personal experience as a player in an amateur league where our prima donna players were late. We had to start a game of 7 vs 11 against a team that was second in the league the previous season! We decided on a simple damage limitation game plan, a 4-2-0 formation while defending in our own third. On attack it was about calculated counter attacks, possibly involving individual creativity. When we won the ball and couldn’t counter-attack we advanced it to the midfield and tried knocking it about. We played for 20 minutes like that and it was 0-0 with the opposition only able to get two tame efforts on our goal and us getting one tame effort at theirs.
Then the prima donnas showed up. It was bye bye to defensive discipline. We lost by five goals that game.
Never underestimate the power of commitment to the cause..

Comment on Match day and only 9 players turn up by Troy Stegenga

Troy Stegenga — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:27:32 +0000

I wish that I could say that our squad fared as well as did the OP’s, but we did not. 12 players from our roster got recruited to play in a club tournament one weekend, leaving our varsity with only 9 players, including just 4 starters.

I went with a 3-4-1 formation, with our backup GK the lone striker. For four of our players, this was the only game that they played all season. Only five players were at their regular positions.

Our starting GK and sweeper managed to organize our three-FB line brilliantly. We pulled offsides traps successfully 16 times. Our keeper played the match of his season, recording 25 saves. I was very proud of our team.

Still, we tired at the end of both halves and lost 7-1. I was shocked that we scored.

Comment on Match day and only 9 players turn up by Paul

Paul — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:19:34 +0000

Whenever this happens in my daughter`s team without a doubt every player ups there game they have less time to think, desire for the ball increases conversly the other team has a spare player or 2 you get 2 players doing one job or players become lazy

Comment on Match day and only 9 players turn up by Johnny

Johnny — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:12:27 +0000

Last Sunday our under 15 team played a team who like us are relegation strugglers. With a full team I had hoped to beat them but we started with only 8 players, and after 10 minutes a 9th came along.
We played a 4 – 3 – 1 formation. I stressed to them to always keep 4 men in defence. We actaully played quite well as we have 2 skilfull lads who continually took on their players and held the ball up. Our defenders fought for everything but we finally conceeded around the 20 minute mark, and went in 3 down at the break, actually should have been 6. We told them to not worry, just enjoy the game, we are doing very well etc.
Early in second half we scored from a pen, and with 20 mins to go from a corner got it back to 3 -2. i would have been happy with that but amazingly equalised with 5 mins to go.They piled on the pressure hit the bar and had a goal disallowed for offside and in the final minute we somehow nicked the winner. It was the ebst team display I had seen at any level. There was no great coaching involved, just a desire from the lads that as the match went on, they seen they could get something from the game. We had been working on possession and 1 touch drills in training during the week, and I feel the ability to keep possession with quick passing was one of the keys to the victory.

Comment on Match day and only 9 players turn up by charlesty

charlesty — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 13:30:44 +0000

That was a great strategy for that situation.
When someone is sent off, or you are forced to play a man down for some reason, is a striker normally the first position to give up?

Comment on Match day and only 9 players turn up by Steve Walker

Steve Walker — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:02:16 +0000

Did the other team consider also playing with nine players? Would you have done that in the same situation?