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Tips for a Losing Soccer Team
Team goes from losing to winning
8v8 Soccer Formations
Players Who Watch Instead of Playing
Had lost 4 games in a row - How he turned it around Free Soccer Patches
Below is a letter from a U10 Rec coach playing a 8v8 soccer formation, my recommendations, what he did and how it worked. Hello SoccerHelp, I have just recently joined as one of your premium members, and I am a U10 girls coach who has been coaching for three years. Our last four games have been all losses. One of the other coaches noted that our losses have been attributed to the fact that every one of my players plays at least half of the game. I have 14 players and we play 8 (including goalie). I recently tried going to a 2-1-3-1 formation where I use my toughest, third best player at stopper, my strongest player at center mid, and my best ball handler at forward. I rotate and 'hide' my four weakest players at the two other mids. I have only three girls who can really play defense and get it and another two who I can put in there just as long as a strong defender is back there or if I drop my stopper back to defense. During our games, it seems like whenever my center mid or forward gets the ball, everyone stops and watches them and doesn't really matter who is at these positions. It usually turns into a 1 v 3. We score our goals if the ball happens to bounce a certain way or if one of the better girls on the team fires a hard shot from longer distance. I have tried during practice to have our girls get down the field so that they can help the offense or get a ball off of a deflection. Is there an easy drill I can do in practice to work on this because the 3 v 2 I run in practice take a lot of explanation. I do want to thank you for the marking up idea because that immediately resulted in one of our goals in the last week. Our defense is inconsistent. We can stop the opposing team, but sometimes our defenders follow the ball to the wing and we get scored on because they can not get back to the middle of the field. Since I joined your site, I have been working on dribbling across a square during practice and also 3 v 2 simulating along with first defender and second defender. Also, doing the dribble and passing game which has helped. I need more help because our last game of the season is coming up next week and the playoffs start. I feel I am a decent coach and from what the parents tell me they are pleased and all of the girls are having a great experience with playing soccer, but I really want our girls to win. Even though I stress playing hard over winning, some of the girls on our team are feeling a little demoralized from not winning in the past month. We definitely have the talent to win all the games, so I was wondering if there was any suggestions, where I can still give all of my players fair playing time (I am one of three out of eight in our league that do) while winning some games. Please let me know what you think. I appreciate any feedback. I am always trying to make it the absolute best experience for my girls. Best,
Coach Mark ------------------------------- David's Recommendations to U10 girls coach Mark Hi Mark, Thanks for writing, Here are some thoughts for you: 1. I think the 2-1-3-1 is the best formation for you BUT consider a 2-3-1-1 where you leave your 2 weak players on the Halfway line or even deeper so they can at least stall the opponent's attack if they aren't helping with your attack. 2. The fact that you have 6 players to sub is tough 3. You MUST control the Center of the Field (between the 2 goals) and you have strength there with a Stopper, CMF and Forward. 4. You can GIVE up the wings and corners - your opponent can't score from there. In fact - tell your players to ENCOURAGE the other players to go to the sidelines and corners and tell them to NOT chase the opponents when they are over there - it is MUCH more important to defend the Center and the Goal Front. 5. You must coach your players during the games. Do this by calling them by name 6. If your FBs won't stay in front of the goal (if they keep going to the corners) take them out of the game and don't let them play as much until they learn to follow instructions. (You said We can stop the opposing team, but sometimes our defenders follow the ball to the wing and we get scored on because they can not get back to defend the goal front.). This may seem harsh, but by U10 players have to learn that soccer is a team sport and that they have a responsibility to play their position and follow the coach's instructions - they can't just run all over the field. Try to use a positive reinforcement approach and reward them for listening to you and following instructions. (See number 7) 7. Reward the actions that you want by giving rewards during a ceremony after each game or at practice. If you haven't tried our patches, try them - they really work for this - or use something else BUT MOTIVATION is the key. Read www.soccerhelp.com/Motivational-Plan-Players-Students.shtml for ideas. There are over 300 Testimonials for our motivational patches at www.soccerhelp.com/shshop/testimonials.php?classId=2 8. Most leagues require that each player plays half of each game, and I would do the same as you, but you are at a disadvantage if other coaches don't 9. You MUST use your practice time to do the MOST important things. SO, for several practices I recommend you ONLY work on the following things:See www.soccerhelp.com/premium/newsletter_archive/Soccer_Drills_11_30_2009.shtml Please let me know what helps. Thanks for being our customer, David at SoccerHelp -------------------- Coach Mark's Reply - What he did and what happened Hi Dave, Thank you so much for your response. I was waiting to email you until we had a game so that I can report to you how we did. I have warmed up with dribble across a square and the dribble around a cone and pass relay at each of my practices and implemented the Shoulder Tackle and strength game. That drill proved to be very helpful in winning 50 50 balls and also the girls love doing it, there are so many smiling faces while they are doing it. I also have emphasizing playing the Center of the field and making my center midfielder more aggressive offensively. Our league had a bye week last weekend, so we just played our game and won 2-1, beating a very good team. We played a 2-1-3-1 most of the game. This has been our first game we have won and the best game we played all year. We controlled the game and had a lot more chances on goal. We also won a lot of the 50 50 balls as our girls were very brave and fearless out there. My center mid fielder played the best game of the season and scored both of our games because she pushed up a bit more (like you told me). We scored one of the goals because we marked up on a goal kick. We are going into the playoffs with a nice win and figure that with our new style of play. This has a lot to do with your help and SoccerHelp! Thank you!!!
- Play the Dribble Across a Square or Dribble Around Cone & Pass Relay Race practice games as a warm-up to start practice
- Tell your FBs and Stopper to kick the ball straight ahead (don't try to dribble or pass out of the back) and your CMF and F MUST be shifting with the ball and win those balls AND attack together. YOU WILL HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE this on the field. How to teach it is on Premium at www.soccerhelp.com/premium/Dictionary_A.shtml#attacking_plan READ THIS.
- Your CMF MUST go into the attack and work with the Forward if she won't, move her to Stopper and see if the player now at Stopper will. If this doesn't happen, you won't score.
- Practice Coaching Rules No. 1, 2 and 3 (Marking on opposing Goal Kicks, Throw Ins and Punts) - this will make a HUGE difference. (You said - " I do want to thank you for the marking up idea because that immediately resulted in one of our goals in the last week. ") That can result in 2 or 3 goals per game and change the flow of the game.
- I never found 3 v 2 to be helpful and it isn't helping you - I don't think you have time for it and it isn't working.
- Play the Shoulder Tackle & Strength on the Ball game - that will pay off - read the Testimonials on the game instructions.
- Teach your players to -- GIVE up the wings and corners - your opponent can't score from there. In fact - teach your players to ENCOURAGE the other players to go to the sidelines and corners and tell them to NOT chase the opponents when they are over there - it is MUCH more important to defend the Center and the Goal Front. TEACH THIS BY showing your players on a field where you want them to stay and NOT to go (or use cones to mark a field)
- If your FBs won't stay in front of the goal (if they keep going to the corners) take them out of the game and don't let them play as much until they learn to follow instructions. (You said We can stop the opposing team, but sometimes our defenders follow the ball to the wing and we get scored on because they can not get back to defend the goal front.). This may seem harsh, but by U10 players have to learn that soccer is a team sport and that they have a responsibility to play their position and follow the coach's instructions - they can't just run all over the field. Try to use a positive reinforcement approach and reward them for listening to you and following instructions. (See number 7)
- Your CMF MUST go into the attack and work with the Forward if she won't, move her to Stopper and see if the player now at Stopper will. If this doesn't happen, you won't score.
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