Motivations behind the youth soccer player...why do they play?

Most often kids start to play sports because their parents sign them up for exercise, socialization, and fun...but why do they continue to play is my question?
 
With my U-9 team, it is already pretty clear to me who is naturally talented, who has potential, and who will probably never play past the age of 11.  All of that is expected at this age group, kids are playing for fun, or so I hope!  At that age, in my opinion, it is okay if a player does a cartwheel on her way to a water break.  It is okay that between drills they fight over the ball and kick and run all over the field.  It is even okay, that sometimes they just want to take a break from soccer and work on a team cheer : )

NY Kosmos, making tunnel of cheers for opposing team post game.

When my sisters and I started to play soccer at the ages of 6, 8, and 11 our parents had one rule, "Play until it is no longer fun."  For me the fun has yet to stop, for my sisters it changed with they were introduced to other sports but the rule was the same for us all.  We did not play soccer, or any sport for that matter, for our parents.  My father played sports growing up but at no time did we ever feel he was living vicariously through us.  In my 25+ years in the soccer community, I now have an even greater appreciation for that family rule and wish more kids had that rule to follow.

Training a new U-16 team has been one of the biggest challenges I have ever faced.  I was thrilled to work with a team that I thought would have the same desire and intensity I had at that age.  I thought that their desire to play post high school would encourage them to push themselves to the highest level at all times.  Turns out I was wrong.  After further discussion, most told me they play because "my dad grew up playing" or my "mom played college sports and wants me to", or "I want a scholarship".  

Those "motivations" are not really motivations at all.  I believe it is impossible to compete at your best when you are not doing it first for yourself!  Growing up with the rule of " having fun", was often interpreted differently by me and my sisters, for instance one day I was pitching on my 6th grade softball team and I walked about 12 players in a row.  I started to cry when the inning finally ended and my dad said "Grab your glove you just quit" and I said "No! I am having fun" through my pathetic tears.  Losing that game was a good life lesson for me at the ripe old age of 11, haha.  Was I really having fun? See to me, having fun means winning, and if I wasn't winning I was the BIGGEST sore loser.  Turns out a lot of people share in that theory with me but over the years I also learned that a lot of people don't.  

So heads up to you coaches and parents who push kids to play more than they want for an outcome that they don't really are about...just having fun isn't a bad goal to have either. : )

The motivations behind a club soccer coach...who really wins?

     When I started to play soccer in the late 80's, I believe a lot of my coaches were actually volunteers.  If they were paid it wasn't enough to live by, probably just enough for gas to our games and practices...the coaches always had a "day job".  Soccer has grown so much since then, that now youth soccer coaches can make a comfortable living off of the profession.  But what is the driving force behind the motivation to coach full time? What is the ultimate goal of "the club coach"?  

     From what I see current club coaches try to win as many games as possible, and get as many kids as they can playing at the collegiate level.  Some coaches will not take on groups that aren't in a top league, and will look to combine clubs to make a super team to travel and win tournaments. Sadly, parents are part to blame in this "winning at all costs epidemic", pushing for victories over development. 

     Where did the developmental coaches go?  Where are the coaches who want to teach life lessons and teamwork?  Where are the coaches that are able to teach more to the players when they lose, so that in the long run they are better for it?  From what I know, those coaches do still exist! Sadly, they just aren't getting the job.

     When I was around 11 years old, my team did not win many games.  What I did gain was the ability to kick comfortably with my left foot, how to attack the goal instead of run straight to the end line, and how to defend.  By the time I was 15, I was on a team that was undefeated State Champions and 3 time regional finalists.  The process was sometimes painful, no one likes to lose, but the long term benefits of learning all the facets of the game proved to be more useful as my career progressed.  

     This year I started to train a U-16 team and one day when I asked an outside defender to move up to outside midfield she said "I don't know how to play there".  I was shocked.  How can you play the game and not even have an idea of how each position should be played?  Coaches need to stop taking short cuts and teach the game!  In truth, the continued growth and success of college and professional soccer depends on the instruction received at the youth levels.  So, lets go youth coaches!  Sometimes it doesn't click as quickly as we want, sometimes there will be losses but in the end everyone will benefit from a proper soccer education.

Competitive can be Fun!

Jillian- "Coach Casey, does the "F" on your sweatshirt stand for fun?
Me- "Yes, Jillian.  Yes, it does!"

Despite the fact that the "F Soccer" logo on my shirt represented my alma mater, I realized that fun was a better representation of what I was trying to accomplish while teaching the game I love.  Over the past couple months I have spent hours trying to make the perfect practice plans for my U-9 team.  I agonize over several drills and small sided games that could help teach this game to 15 young minds each week...but what I have discovered is that they learn nothing if they get bored, they learn nothing if the game is too complex, and most of the time the girls have found the competitive nature of the game the fun part!

My girls favorite warm up has been playing sharks and minnows (typically played in a pool) across the width of the field.  Between rounds I lead them through a series of stretches and try to throw in some information on the muscles they are using.  After a few rounds of just running, I like to add in the ball and make them keep possession while running through the "sharks".  Although most of them prefer to play this game without the ball (something I am trying to work on haha), they run with smiles, giggles, and enthusiasm trying not to lose the ball.  I think I enjoy watching them play almost as much as they like playing.  Each round there is a winner, and they are proud to be the last "minnow".

Kosmos (in blue) getting ready to win a throw in

Despite leagues all over the country trying to remove the competitive nature of the game by not keeping score, or giving everyone a medal for participating...I have discovered that the girls give more effort and focus if I make the drills competitive.  Not necessarily against another group but against themselves.  For example, I give them 30 seconds to see how many passes they can complete with their partner, then time them again and have them try to get a better score.  They literally jump for joy when they get better scores, and love to share with their teammates what they got.  In these situations they can actually see themselves getting better and what is a better feeling that that?!?   

The other day I played Steal the Bacon with my girls, and I myself was not keeping score, I was just focused on calling the numbers making sure everyone got a chance. And BOOM, few rounds in the girls start announcing the score before each round "Oh my god we have to score its 4-3, I hope she calls my number!"  When I finally announce that the game is over the winning team jumps on each other like they just won the league title, often with the losing team joining in just to sing along! (and yes these girls have a lot of songs they love to sing!) 

As I continue to labor over new and fun drills to play with my girls at each practice to keep it "fun" I now realize that it is okay to also make it competitive.  The girls on this team get pumped for each other when they succeed and I hope that support continues for them as they continue grow.

US Women's National Team in Search for New Leadership...but why...

There has been a lot of speculation in recent weeks about the dismissal of former US Women's Head Coach Tom Sermanni.  He had a record of 18-2-4 and brought a new fresh look to the national squad while preparing the team for a trip to the 2015 World Cup in Canada.  Then boom! Fired!

He claims that he did not see it coming, and actually blames himself for not having a better feel for what the players were thinking and feeling. Some people say that the 7th place finish at the Algarve Cup was the reason for his sudden departure and others think that the veteran players complained.  

If the veteran players in fact complained about the coach, I would say I am embarrassed for them but also for President Gulati for listening.  Do you think President Gulati cares if players on the men's national team like Jurgen?  Do you think Carlos Bocanegra was asked if his feelings were hurt when he went from team captain to essentially nothing in one years time?  Or how Donovan feels being left on the bench because he supposedly didn't train well enough at practice the week prior?  I doubt it...

A veteran should act like a veteran.  If you don't know where you stand on the team then ask!  The truth is, veteran players like Wamback, Lloyd, and O'Reilly won't be able to play forever and we needed to bring in some fresh legs.  If it is because we lost two games in the Algarve Cup, I would say Gulati jumped the gun.  The team is in a time of transition and with that sometimes comes losses.  Bringing up youth members at this time also allows them to learn from the more experienced players.  The game is changing and the US team needs to keep up.  The time of athleticism and toughness has left. The speed and intelligence of our new young crop of players is the fun and refreshing style of soccer this team needs to be successful.

Having said all of that...I love the US National Team and will always cheer loud and proud, but going forward I think the coaches for all US National teams should be American.  Complaints of a coach not understanding "the culture" of the team and players will not be an issue if you hire someone who knows the competitive nature of Americans, and trust me, there are plenty of amazing coaches right here in Red, White, and Blue Country to get the job done!

 

USA on a positive path to Brazil

One of the things I have noticed over the years, is that you can have 10 people watch one soccer game, and get 10 different opinions on what they saw.  It's one of the main reasons I think it is impossible to stop learning about the game of soccer, and also the reason there are so many debates about it.  

Some people see tactics, some passion and athleticism, and some might focus on strong offense which another would just see as poor defense.  Recently I observed a session of youth players with a colleague, and after 1.5hrs of drills and a short scrimmage, I was drawn to watching the weaker players, while she only saw the star.  It was a powerful moment for me because I could so clearly see how different every coach can be from one another.  Every coach, parent or player has a different vision of the game. 

In my opinion the US National team coach Jürgen Klinsmann, has made many great decisions with the rotation of national team pool players over the past several months.  He has shaken up the system, brought in youth with the balance of experience.  He has allowed all of our powerhouse GK's a chance at real international competition to ensure that they will be ready when needed. He has given players a fair shot at making the final roster, and in some cases more chances than they might have deserved. 

In the recent game against Mexico, the result can be seen as disappointing based on a strictly fan perspective, but can also be seen as a tremendous learning experience.  The ability to make 6 substitutions due to the "friendly" nature of the game, allowed for several players to showcase why they should or should not head to Brazil this summer.  I look forward to seeing Klinsmann make his final cuts, I just hope him and I are on the same page unlike his former assistant.  

GO USA!

"Coach Casey, why do we have to play when it is cold outside?"

"Coach Casey, why do we have to play when it is so cold outside?"  
"Well Katelyn, we play when its cold because it is fun and you can run around and get warm!"
"Okay, I can do that."

U-9 Kosmos-Pandora checking in with the referee

This "spring" season has been brutal, and I know I can speak for many that we cannot wait for it to get warm.  Coaching my first u-9 team has had its challenges but the one challenge I was not prepared for, is the terrible weather we have been having.  Working with
a group of fifteen 8 year old kids, in 40degree weather and endless wind, is not a great environment for them (or me haha) but I have to say, this group is resilient. 

Other than the occasional "my hands are freezing" and "I can't open my gatorade" these kids never complain.  They seem perfectly happy to just play.  I am so impressed that they have the ability to put the weather aside and make the best of practice time.  These kids are already becoming leaders of the future.  They have a healthy level of competition with an amazing positive attitude.   We lost a tough game Sunday 2-1, and instead of sulking, they got tremendous joy out of making a tunnel for the opposing team and singing "2-4-6-8 who do we appreciate."  When I was a kid, I only liked to sing that song when I was victorious.   I took being a sore loser to a new level, my own parents would draw straws about who had to drive me home if I lost hahah.  Sorry Mom & Dad!  

Each week I am amazed at what these kids teach me and by the end of the season I won't be surprised if I learn more from them, then they do from me.  Hopefully the 3 days a week they spend with me brings them  fun times in the fresh air, and a greater understanding of the sport we all love to play.

The Education I Receive Every Week from a Group of 8 Year Olds

I recently read the article "5 Reasons Every Aspiring Coach Should Work With U6 Players Early in Their Career" by Logan Hoffman, University of Wisconsin- Green Bay Assistant Coach.  The article referenced a topic that I had not often thought of and I found it very insightful.  However, I didn't truly realize the depth of the article until I, myself started to coach a group of U-9 players earlier this month.

My previous coaching experiences have been at the collegiate and high school level.  I had the chance to work with young adults who had already been instructed for many years on fundamentals, systems of play, and just overall had a much higher level of physical and emotional maturity.  I never had to process the development of a player I was coaching from back when she was 10 or 12, I just needed her to perform well as a college player.  In short, my job put a lot of faith in youth, rec, club and high school coaches to do a lot of work before I had the task of fine tuning them. 

In a short few weeks, I feel that I am already a better coach for having worked with a U-9 team.  Working with this age group has taught me how to really "dumb down" the game and convey basic teaching points of the soccer.  I had to learn how to speak of the game on a much more basic scale, less is more. One sentence explanations are good, two is okay, but by the third the girls have started to do cartwheels : )

Unlike in college, when you have to address multiple issues in a short span of time before the next critical game, I have learned that the development of these youth players is not a race.  I will not get 15 girls all to understand movement off the ball in a 3-3-1 system in one week of practice, but I will reach some.  Even at this level you can pick out the kids who have a gift, and the kids who will be successful just because they work hard.  The challenge so far is giving those kids enough attention to really blossom while having to simultaneously ask the girls who are rolling around in the grass to please stand up and play. :)

The biggest lesson I learned so far, however, is just to smile and create a fun environment.  If the kids aren't having fun at practice, they aren't going to want to play again.  The future of USA soccer could very well be on my pitch every Mon  & Thurs afternoon and it is my job to take care of them.