| John Ellinger's blogs |
|
Filter By Blogger:
Filter By Topic: Filter By Month: |
|
John Ellinger's Bio: John Ellinger is Technical Director for US Youth Soccer. He brings experience from MLS, NCAA, U.S. Soccer and US Youth Soccer. At US Youth Soccer he is responsible for the association's coaching initiatives, including a renewed focus on player development. Read his complete bio by clicking here. |
Improving Our Ability to Strike Balls Cleanly - Part 3
| Jun 10 2008, 12:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
 The last technique to be discussed regarding this topic will be improving the player's ability to chip a ball. This technique can be applied when the player is attempting a short delicate chip over a defender into the open space that a teammate is making a run into, or a longer chip over the opposing goalkeeper who has ventured too far from their goal line, or it could be used to play a soft, longer ball to a specific teammate or open space on re-start situations. Whenever players master this particular skill, they are often referred to as players who have great touch. In order to reach this status as a player, the player should realize that besides the many extra training hours that are spent developing this technique, there has to be a tactical brain that goes along with the execution of this technique. A player needs to know when it is an appropriate moment in the game to even attempt the tactic of chipping the goalkeeper for example.
Again the mechanics of this technique are:
There are many simple training exercises that players can do by themselves or with a teammate. For example, one player can practice the jab chip by attempting to chip over objects such as cones, benches, goals, etc., or with the help of a teammate players can practice stationary chipping or chipping a moving ball over distance. The coach can set up a training exercise where the Goalkeeper plays a ball to a Player A (red) who is about 10 yards outside of the penalty box and then the goalkeeper must run out to the top of the penalty area, which now creates an opportunity for Player A to attempt to chip the goalkeeper. Utilizing several goalkeepers and chipping players, this set-up will allow for some quality repetition work in improving a player's ability to score goals through chipping.
 |
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| Jun 3 2008, 12:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
After discussing the techniques necessary and giving an example of a training exercise for bending balls in last week's blog, it is time to discuss how we can improve our ability to drive a clean ball over distance. One of the most rewarding moments in a soccer game for a player is right after they have just sent a 30 or 40 yard long ball right on the money to teammate, or after scoring a long range goal from outside the "D".
Mechanically, all of the points that we have previously mentioned still hold true when you are driving a ball over distance:
The bottom line is that in order for the player to master this particular skill it is going to take many hours of striking balls to various targets/or at goal from distance on the training field. The player will undoubtedly experience a few "shank you very much moments" along the way (I did mean to say shank).
Other than having two players with one ball placed thirty yards apart from one another and striking balls repetitively, while gradually increasing the distance, here is an exercise that can be used in training to help improve the players ability to strike balls over distance. Set up a coaching grid 50 x 70, with two target zones at each end which are 10 x 70. The middle zone will now be a 30 x 70 grid. The coach now splits the team up into pairs, with each pair having one ball. Player A (who is in one end zone and wearing red) must check into the middle zone and then make a run back into the same end zone. Player B (who has the ball and is in the other end zone) now takes one touch of the ball once their partner begins their run back into the other end zone and then drives the ball to their partner so that it can be received in the end zone (the driven ball has to reach Player A in the air). After several minutes of practice, the coach can turn this activity into a competitive exercise by stating that once the pair of players are unsuccessful in completing the task for the second time, they are now eliminated from the competition and they now must practice juggling with their partner in the space outside the grid being used for the competition until this game ends. The coach can repeat this exercise several times. The players, while participating in this exercise, will get a great deal of practice striking a moving ball to a moving target, as well as valuable practice striking straight and bending balls over distance. If the coach wants to add an additional element of difficulty, the player receiving the ball only has two touches to get the ball under control in the end zone.
Next week we will discuss the technique of chipping a ball to a teammate or at goal. |
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| May 27 2008, 11:30 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
Last week we talked about the importance of striking balls cleanly with the various surfaces of the foot. How does the player improve their ability to bend balls, drive a ball over distance to a specific target and chip a ball to a teammate or over the opposing goalkeeper? Let's start with the mechanics of each of these technical skills.
The ability to bend a ball takes considerable practice time by the player. The player chooses whether they want to hit an in swinger or an out swinger (again banana or bender are other common terms for bending balls). If the player wants to hit an in swinger, they have to hit the ball with either the outside or inside of the kicking foot and strike either the inside or outside of the ball. For example, if the player is taking a corner kick from the right side (to the goalkeepers right side) of the opposing goal and they want to hit an in swinger towards the goal, they would strike the ball with the right foot using the inside/instep of the foot and strike the outside of the ball. If the player decides to use their left foot, they would strike the ball with the outside of their foot and again strike the outside of the ball. It is extremely important for all players to realize the importance of locking the ankle of the kicking foot. This is simple, but important action allows for the ball to move in the intended direction and required distance. A simple exercise to practice bending balls is for two players, with one ball, to set up 20 yards apart from each other. Then, set up two sets of cones in the middle of this space five yards apart to the left and right of center. One player attempts to hit a bending ball through one set of cones to their partner. The second player now attempts to bend the ball back to their partner. At first, the player should not try and hit a bending ball with pace, just work on getting it to bend properly so it is bending back to the target. The players should practice hitting both in swinging balls and out swinging balls. The players should also use both feet. Remember to lock that ankle. Gradually, the players should increase the distance of attempted bender and the pace of the ball.
 Next week we will address striking balls over distance. |
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| May 20 2008, 12:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
Essentially, there are two common ways of striking the ball with the foot. They are ground kicks and volleys.
The technique of striking balls can be broken down into several functions:
(1) Proper body balance throughout the kicking process
(2) Position of the non-kicking foot is crucial (3) Choosing the proper surface of the foot to strike the ball (4) Striking the ball in the correct spot In looking at the first function of striking balls, the player has to understand that if the body is leaning backwards as they strike the ball, it will tend to rise and if the body is leaning forward, the ball will tend to stay low. Also, if the player can keep the knee of the kicking leg over the ball or in line with the ball at contact, it helps to improve both the accuracy and power of the strike. Finally, balance is crucial in a proper follow-through after contact has been made. The player should follow-through in a sweeping motion in the direction of the intended target, and also by landing on the foot that they just used to strike the ball.
The position of the non-kicking foot (or support foot) is critical in the sense that a poor placement can cause the ball to be off target. If the player places their foot behind the ball, it will cause the ball to rise. This is acceptable if a rising ball was the intention of the player striking the ball, but if not, then it is important that the player learns to place the non-kicking foot directly beside the ball or even a little bit in front of the ball. If the ball is moving, then it is even more important to place the non-kicking foot in front of the ball to allow for a proper strike. The next function in creating the proper strike is to choose the correct surface. The player has to determine whether to use the inside of the foot or the instep to strike the ball. Also, do they position themselves to strike a ground ball or will they need to strike the ball with a volley? What about a chip? If the player wants to chip the ball, they have to place their non-kicking foot beside the ball and then drive the toe of the kicking foot sharply under the foot in order to create the proper loft necessary to move the ball up and forward. When attempting to strike a volley, proper balance and body positioning are essential before the player begins to swing at the ball. There will be times when the player may even have to jump to strike the volley, so once again timing, body position and balance are critical to performing a clean strike. The last function in cleanly striking a ball is making contact with the correct part of the ball. If the player wants to produce an outside curve, then they need to strike the inside of the ball. If the player wants to produce an inside curve, then striking the ball towards the outside of the ball is what is needed. Common terms used to describe this action would be hit a banana, hit a bender, or hit a slice, etc. If the player wants to hit a long, straight ball over distance, then they need to strike the ball in the center and use the instep of the kicking foot. In next week's we look at some training ideas to help our players improve their ability to strike a ball cleanly. |
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| May 14 2008, 12:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
There are many simple exercises that players can use to improve the quality of their first touch.
Let's start with just one player and a ball; something the player can do in their backyard. The player would simply toss the ball several feet above their head and then attempt to control it by using what we call the "drag" technique. This is where the player uses either the inside or outside of one foot and then turns the foot at a 45 degree angle in the direction they would like to move the ball.
The player will also then lean the body in that same direction and then attempt to control the ball just as it is leaving the ground (short hop as some like to call it). The player will get the sensation that they are trying to "drag the ball" in the direction they are moving. The player should practice this procedure many times using the inside and outside of both feet. Also, the player should gradually increase the height of the ball toss in order to increase the difficulty of this exercise.
If another player is available, then one player can toss the ball to their partner at various heights. Then after the receiving partner drags the ball away in one direction and passes it back to their partner, you then repeat this process several times and then switch roles.
The above exercise helps to improve our first touch when receiving balls out of the air. Next is an exercise that can help the player when receiving the ball on the ground.
Player B can use either the inside or outside of the foot to receive the pass, but if the player uses the inside of the foot on their first touch, have the player pass it back with the opposite foot. If the player uses the outside of the foot on their first touch have them pass it back with the same foot.
This exercise is designed to help a player understand the principle of moving the ball away from pressure. After the player receives about ten balls, then have the players switch roles. The difficulty of this exercise can be increased with the passing player adding more pace to the pass or by adding a third player as a passive defender that tries to force the receiving player to move in a specific direction.
Next week we look at improving the technical quality of striking balls cleanly. |
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| May 6 2008, 12:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
In a previous blog, I mentioned the importance of the first touch. I will say it again and again, the first touch is everything. One of the core objectives of US Youth Soccer's player development plan is for players to become more comfortable with the ball under pressure. After observing several US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) Boys' and Girls' Inter-regional events, both domestic and international, and also every round of US Youth Soccer's National League, I can say without hesitation that improving the quality of the first touch is US Youth Soccer's number one technical objective. The first touch can encompass a number of different elements. It is how the player receiving the ball deals with the pace of the pass; how does the player deal with spin or bend of the ball; how does the player handle the location of the incoming ball (is it on the ground or is it in the air) and which surface should the player use to control this ball; based on pressure from opponents, space, or time, which direction does the player move the ball with the first touch; does the player have the ability to "feel the pressure" and effectively make a correct angle back to the ball or the proper run into space; can the player receive the ball and turn with it in one fluid movement; because of the previously mentioned type of pressure, does the player make the decision to play it one touch to a teammate; and does the player elect to make a strike at goal on the first touch or take another touch to get a better look at goal or a better shooting angle? Watching Landon Donovan develop into a young superstar would be extremely rewarding for any and all coaches to watch. He was simply incredible with his first touch. He knew when he could effectively take it away from pressure, and he knew when to lay it off to another player because of pressure. Coaches often talk to their players about when to take risks or not to take risks in the various thirds of the soccer field. Watch Landon sometime and see how many risks he takes in the defensive third or middle third of the field regarding his first touch-zero. As part of Freddy Adu's development, he and I sat and watched this feat while Bruce Arena and the Men's National Team were training and playing matches in Bradenton, Florida several years ago. Developing young players need to see these types of situations for themselves. They need to understand that mistakes involving the first touch can create scoring opportunities, counter attacks or create numbers up situations for the opponent. Next week some ideas in training to help improve our players first touch. |
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| Apr 29 2008, 12:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
This will be the final installment of, "What qualities does a player need to have to be successful in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program." Up to this point we have talked about qualities from the Technical, Tactical, and Physical components of soccer, now it is time to address the Psychological component. For me there is only one quality essential for the player to becoming a successful US Youth Soccer ODP player, and that quality is attitude.
Attitude: There is so much written material out there covering the phrase "attitude is everything Trevor." Moawad, the Director of the International Performance Institute at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida used to emphasize this on a consistent basis when speaking to all of the athletes enrolled in the IMG Academies and the US Soccer U17 Residency Program. If you think about it for a moment, as a soccer player almost every decision that you encounter during a match, other than pure technical execution, will involve the player's attitude.
Does the player understand the importance of following the game plan for the match; can the player make choices that are good for the well being of the team-tracking players, runs without the ball, etc.; can the player the exhibit the proper sportsmanship regardless of the final outcome of the match; does the player have the proper attitude regarding training sessions; does the player have the proper attitude regarding training habits—regeneration after matches, nutrition, care and prevention of injuries, etc.; can the player take criticism and praise from coaches, teammates, and spectators; does the player understand the importance of self analysis and possess the desire to improve one's performance—can they turn a weakness in their game into a strength; can the player enjoy the sport of soccer, both as a participant and spectator; and does the player possess the attitude to accept leadership responsibilities when needed and to follow another teammates leadership when necessary?
You can talk to me about mental toughness, drive, passion, motivation, desire, dedication, etc., but each one of these traits is determined ultimately by one's attitude.
The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program covers a wide variety of age groups, so you can imagine the wide range of player attitudes that are exhibited at the State Association and Regional levels of play. Most US Youth Soccer ODP staff coaches will agree that players exhibiting proper attitudes are already half way there in becoming successful US Youth Soccer ODP players.
I would like to know what you think about this blog and the other blogs to date regarding a successful US Youth Soccer ODP player. Click the comments link to provide your input. |
|
| Permalink | Comments: 5 | Submit a comment | |
| Apr 22 2008, 12:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
Over the past several weeks in my blog, I have been addressing the four pillars of what qualities a player will need to be successful in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program. Last week I addressed the Fitness component (Endurance/Work Rate, Agility and Starting Speed). This week I will continue by discussing ""essential training habits"".
To look back at additional blogs on this topic please click the appropriate link:
4/15 - Starting Speed [link] 4/9 - Agility [link] 4/1 - Endurance and Work Rate [link] Essential Training Habits: this quality would cover the player's understanding of hydration and nutrition, proper warm-up and cool-down and knowledge of prevention and care of common soccer injuries. Soccer is one team sport where the player needs to understand that proper hydration and nutrition is necessary because of the constant physical demands (stop and go activities, speed and agility movements, etc) of the sport. The player needs to begin training sessions and matches properly hydrated. During exercise the player needs to understand the importance of rehydrating. At the completion of a match or training session there is a need to replenish any accumulated fluid loss that occurred because of the match or training session.
The Gatorade Sports Science Institute offers the following facts on hydration (click here for more)
The player needs to understand how important proper nutritional habits are to enhancing their performance. The player needs to have an understanding that there should be a pre-workout high-carbohydrate snack or meal 2 to 3 hours before training sessions and matches. The player should also understand that within 30 minutes of finishing the training session or match there is a need to replenish lost energy with a carbohydrate-rich snack.
Understanding the need for properly warming up the body for training sessions or matches, is something that the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program player must believe to be crucial to ensure quality performances. The player should have knowledge of dynamic stretching exercises (taking the body through the types of movements that it will do during the activity), static stretching exercises (holding the stretch for about 15-20 seconds—no bouncing), and how to move the body from some light jogging to some short sprints just prior to beginning the activity. The player should also understand that following training sessions and matches that it is essential to properly cool-down. A proper cool-down would include some light jogging and stretching exercises which can go a long way to assist that players body to recover quicker before beginning the next training session or match.
The player needs to fully understand that proper warm-ups and cool-downs, proper hydration, and proper nutrition go a long way to aid in the prevention of athletic injuries. Other precautionary measures include (1) blister prevention when the player is preparing to wear a new pair of soccer shoes in training or a match (ideally the player should have two pairs of shoes—one that is broken in and another pair that the player is gradually breaking in during training sessions) and (2) an appropriate level of overall fitness to play competitive soccer.
Finally, once injured the player needs to have the knowledge of how to care for athletic injuries. Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE) is still an effective plan in dealing with most injuries. The bottom line is that the player has to know when to compete and when to rest---playing at 80% of one's normal performance level at times may be effective, but at other times may be creating more harm than good for the player.
|
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| Apr 15 2008, 12:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
As we continue to look at what physical qualities a player must have to be successful in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program the third quality that is important for the player to possess would be Starting Speed.
Starting Speed: a player who possesses quality starting speed creates significant advantages for themselves during both training and match play. This player will have the ability to reach the ball first, possess the ability to beat an opponent 1 v 1 and have the necessary explosiveness to overtake an opponent. Most soccer coaches will agree that the first three steps that a player takes in the various competitive soccer situations are more crucial than the later steps.
It does not necessarily mean that the first person to get to the ball is the faster player, but that the player most likely has a combination of decent starting speed and speed of thought (tactical speed, which in this instance would be their ability to anticipate). Think about all the situations in soccer where the player has to step in front of an opponent to win the ball, or when the player has to turn and move in another direction, or move backwards or sideways, or use a quick burst of speed after getting by an opponent on a dribbling run. These are all situations where possessing good starting speed will help the player be successful in these soccer moments. There have been many players who have lacked blazing speed, but yet because they possess good starting speed they have had successful playing careers at both the National Team and Professional levels.
In order for the player to improve his quality of the fitness component of soccer, the player first has to look at those explosive moments in a game and be able to analyze that performance. How quickly does he move from one point to another?
There are many athletic performance facilities popping up all over the country that specialize in speed training, acceleration training, strength and power development, etc., and if after this self diagnosis, the player feels the need to improve in this area, then that is one possible solution to solve this deficiency. Plyometrics and weight training are also common training methods to improve a players starting speed as well. It is important that the player be aware that training activities with and without the soccer ball should be utilized to improve this aspect of player fitness. |
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| Apr 9 2008, 12:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
In the previous blog on the topic of "What Qualities are Necessary for a Player to be Successful in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program," we began addressing those qualities that make up the third pillar of soccer, which we call Fitness. The first quality discussed was the need for the player to have endurance or work rate. The next essential fitness quality would be agility.
Agility—Agility is usually sport specific, by that I mean that soccer agility will be at times different than what is required of the tennis player; although, there are many similar carry over values in the various components which comprise the players overall agility.
Agility consists of a player's balance, coordination, reflexes, speed and even strength. A soccer player needs to possess all of these traits. Think about all of the moments during a soccer game when a player has to jump to head the ball; the player's need to change direction with or without the ball; the player's need to quickly move forward to close down an opponent; the need for the player to move sideways across the field, or backwards during transitional moments during the run of play; and the need for the player who either loses their footing or gets knocked to the ground to be able to react quickly and get back into the game. Soccer players must possess the ability to react both physically and mentally to the movements of their opponents and to the movement of the ball during training and matches. Most experts agree that agility training exercises such as fast footwork training with ladders, obstacle courses with and without the ball (limited leaping and bounding exercises for younger players), and exercises where players have to react to commands or a signal from the coach (these would include stop and go exercises; up, turn and run exercises, etc.) will all have a positive influence on improving a players agility. The above exercises are great for agility training in young players, but as a player becomes older (ODP age groups), then it is an acceptable training philosophy to increase both the intensity and duration of these exercises.
Unfortunately, there will always be a debate in soccer of whether a player should be a soccer player first and an athlete second or vice versa. The merits of the physical component in soccer certainly do not outweigh the merits of a sound technical base for the player. However, if a player wants to achieve success in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program, then that player must possess some physical abilities to go along with their technical ability and tactical knowledge. Improving ones soccer agility will certainly improve the chance for success at all levels of soccer competition. |
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| Apr 1 2008, 12:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
For the past few weeks I have been talking about the technical and tactical qualities a player should possess if he wants to be successful in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program. It is now time to address the third of the four components (pillars) of soccer known as fitness. We generally call the component that deals with the physical abilities of a player, fitness. The obvious and most noticeable physical quality that a player may or may not possess is speed or pace, as some like to call it. However, it is not the most necessary quality a player must have to be a successful ODP player. The one quality that is vital to a player's success is endurance or work rate.
Player endurance or work rate: One phrase that coaches say quite often is, "A player doesn't play soccer to get fit; he must be fit to play soccer." It has always amazed me when I would see players in a tryout (ODP, HS, College, Professional levels) situation and they have poor levels of fitness. The one thing the player can control without anyone's help is their own fitness level. You can be sure that at the end of the tryout, the coach evaluating players will have noted one of two things in regard to player fitness:
(1) The player was fit (2) The player was not fit. It is that simple. Coaching candidates of the US Soccer National Coaching schools are currently taught that one way to improve a player's conditioning is through Speed Endurance Training. Without getting too technical here, there are generally two types of Speed Endurance Training:
(1) Production Training (2) Maintenance Training Production training usually involves training exercises that are for short periods of time (20 to 40 seconds); rest periods are in the range of 2 to 4 minutes; and the players are always working at a high level of intensity. Maintenance training involves training exercises that are for longer periods of time (30 to 120 seconds); the rest intervals should be as long the exercise periods that are used; and the player will become progressively more fatigued as the work to rest ratio cycles continue. A player who trains following the above guidelines will certainly help them to improve their power (distance covered or ability to maintain work rate) output. This system allows the player to train at a higher intensity level during the training session and for a longer period of time. The importance of a player having a quality such as work rate allows the player to become a more effective player on both sides of the ball. For example, when coaches' decide that the team needs to change tactics and go into a high pressure defending situation, coaches need to feel comfortable with the knowledge that all of their players can still be effective once the ball has been won. A player's ability to recover and work further is essential. A player's work rate and level of fitness will affect a player's choices made during a competitive match—the choice to track back and pick up opposing players or the choice for the player to push forward on attack from their outside back position is certainly easier for the player who is fit. |
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| Mar 25 2008, 12:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
The last tactical quality that players need to possess in order to be successful in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program is, a heightened awareness of the importance that restart situations have in determining the outcome of a match:
Almost a third of all goals scored are a direct result of restart situations (set pieces). In the 2002 Men's World Cup, restarts accounted for 45 of the 161 goals scored (28 percent) and during the 2003 Women's World Cup, restarts accounted for 39 of the 107 goals (36.4 percent). So what does all of this mean to the player who is competing at the US Youth Soccer ODP level? It means that as the competitive level of the event increases, it usually means that the result, often times, is generally determined by a single goal because of the increased technical and tactical abilities of the players involved. Now, players need to be concerned more than ever with the choices they make on the field during these higher quality games. The two areas that need to be addressed during game preparations are: (1) Player responsibilities when defending restart situations (2) The consequences of committing fouls, giving away corner kicks or throw-ins in critical areas of the field. The players need to completely understand what their responsibilities are during the various types of restart situations (free kicks, corner kicks, throw-ins). Does the player need to be standing in front of the opposing player who is throwing the ball in, or does it make more sense for that player to step back and front an opposing player so the ball does not get played directly into that player's feet. Do the player's understand that they should not give any type of tactical advantage to their opponents the moment their team has to begin defending a restart situation? Players have to know how to stop the short corner kicks attempted by their opponents; players need to know whether their goalkeeper likes to have the near and far posts covered during a corner kick; players need to know how to hold a defensive line on a free kick situation and who on their team is responsible when this situation occurs; and players need to be disciplined enough to carry out their responsibilities in defending restarts, such as setting the wall and communicating with the goalkeeper, being the first player in the wall, tracking players, attacking the ball, etc. Players need to be aware of where and how they should clear balls when defending restart situations—there are times when the prudent action from a defending player is to give away a corner kick or throw-in to their opponent. We have already mentioned that the outcome of the more competitive matches is usually determined by a single goal. With that being said, players need to realize the technical abilities of players are generally better in these matches. This means a single free kick, corner kick or even a throw-in (if the team possesses a player with a long throw-in) can win the game for a team. Players must realize that committing a silly foul in or around your defensive penalty area can cost your team the match (this would also cover things such as players not being baited by their opponent into any action that can cause a mental lapse). To avoid these critical restart situations, some coaches have found that by challenging their team not to give up any restart situations within 30 yards of their own goal, it helps their players remain more focused and to show more discipline. Next week we will begin to look at the individual's physical abilities that are important to a player becoming successful in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program. |
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| Mar 18 2008, 12:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
As we have previously shared, Transitional Play and Speed of Play/Possession are two important tactical qualities that players need to possess in order to be successful in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program. Another very important tactical quality is a player's ability to read the game.
Ability to read the game:
Personally, I have made the statement on numerous occasions to, "take what the game gives you" while coaching at various levels of play. What exactly does the coach mean when making this statement to their players? Players both on the ball and those who are off the ball are faced with making split-second, tactical decisions in an environment that is constantly changing over the course of the game. The players who consistently make the right decisions whether they are on attack or defense are usually given the honor of being labeled as a "player who can read the game". On attack, these players have an understanding of when to hold the ball; they know when to combine with teammates; they know when to change position on the field either with the ball or in support of the attack; they know when it makes sense to go for the quick counter attack versus the slow build-up; they understand the importance of knowing what type of pass and at what pace the pass is needed; they know when to change the point of attack; and they have an awareness of their role and responsibility to the team. When defending these players, understand the importance of how this is accomplished as an individual, in groups or as a team; they know the importance of communication with teammates during critical moments of the game, such as transitioning from attacking to defending, knowing when and how to close down an opposing players space, understanding the importance of delaying penetration or disrupting play of the opponent and being aware of the consequences of making poor decisions during the game. A player who can read the game does not have to be the fastest or the fittest player on the field. This player usually has a solid technical base, is one who is comfortable on the ball and handles the pressures of time, space and opponents consistently well. You will hear comments about this player such as "the player has vision" or as Manny Schellscheidt (former US Youth Soccer ODP Boys Region I Head Coach and current US Soccer U14 MNT Coach) always likes to say "the player has a soccer brain". This player does not have to be in the center of midfield, these qualities are essential to the development of all players.
|
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| Mar 11 2008, 12:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
In my last blog I finished up with the first tactical quality that a player should possess if they wish to be successful in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development program, the second quality that is essential would be:
Speed of Play/Speed of Possession-these could be considered two different themes, but I feel they should be taught together. It doesn't do the player any good if they possess the technical level to deal with pressure (from space, opponents, time, etc.) if they don't understand speed of possession (rhythm of play to some), they have to understand how to move the ball around the field while their team is in possession. Sometimes the ball movement needs to be quicker than at other times. Sometimes the ball has to be moved to the left side of the field first in order to attack from the right flank. Sometimes it has to be moved backwards in the team's defending third, before the ball can be successfully possessed in the team's attacking third of the field. There will be some teams who will have that special player who can serve as the playmaker and all of the attacking movements for their team are dictated by this player, but what if that player is injured, suspended or being closely marked during the game, what then? All of the players on the field should all feel comfortable in their abilities to hold possession of the ball in order achieve their attacking objective or even their defensive objective if they are trying to kill off the game for the win.
What are some of the elements of this tactical quality that the player needs to be successful, they include (1) effective short passing, (2) understanding of transitional play, (3) do they know when to pass instead of dribble, (4) understanding of when to apply pressure on the opponent when defending, (5) can they make the long pass to keep possession of the ball that then allows his team to open up the game, (6) individual composure on the ball, (7) understanding of depth and width in attack, (8) understanding of compactness as a team when defending, and (9) can they effectively assist their team in controlling the pace of the game. I know this seems like a lot to ask of one player, but if there is a weak link in this chain, you can bet that player will be exposed under pressure from your opponents as the level of competitive play increases. One of our team goals, during training with the U17 MNT leading up to the World Championships in 1999 in New Zealand, was to improve this tactical quality as individuals and as a team, we wanted to feel comfortable with any type of pressure that our opponents may throw at us---mission accomplished. I have always considered this tactical theme important enough that I always include a training activity to improve this quality in the player in every training session.
|
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| Mar 4 2008, 12:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
Continuing with the series "What does it take for a player to be successful in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program," I will continue looking at the first tactical concept of transition.
We have already addressed the tactical concept of transition-from defense to offense (attacking transition); we now will address the tactical concept of transition-from offense to defense (defensive transition).
Once the ball is lost, where does the team begin organizing its efforts to win it back, does it start with the player that has caused the turnover, does it start with the attacking players? These are questions that the player will often ask their coach. The answer to both of these questions is yes.
The first principle of defending is immediate chase. The player who has lost the ball, if possible, should make every effort to track down the player they have lost the ball to, and attempt to win the ball back or delay that player from attacking any further. Attacking players often times become the team's first line of defense when the ball has been lost in the teams attacking half of the field. Attacking players have the responsibility of organizing the team's defensive pressure in what we call the higher areas of the field, they have to make decisions immediately during these turnover situations of whether to help win the ball back right away or to delay and drop back towards their own goal.
When a team has sent several players forward into the attack, and then that team loses the ball, it creates counter attack opportunities for the other team. A player has to have an understanding of what their role will be during such situations, especially if they are one of the players who has been caught forward in attack. Players should understand the concept of getting numbers back behind the ball, and they should also understand what is meant by getting numbers inside the ball (getting back goal side). As much as we talk about Brazil and how great they are in attacking transition, they are also extremely good at this part of the game as well. They often do not get enough credit for how organized they are defensively as a team because they get back into defensive positions quickly, with numbers around the ball in a compact defensive organization; they now make it look easy when they go from defending to attacking.
How many times have we heard the phrase, "offense does not win championships, defense wins championships," this especially is critical to the sport of soccer. Transition play from attack to defense is not the fun part of the sport, it at times is called "doing the dirty work," players have to make a choice—will they track back and win the ball back, will they sprint back to get back behind the ball and help their team get properly organized against the opponents attack? The best players in the world understand the tactical concept of defensive transition; the days of the attacking player, or any player for that matter, just standing around and watching their team attempt to win the ball back at this critical moment of the game are long gone.
|
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| Feb 26 2008, 9:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
After addressing those technical qualities of "what a player needs to be successful in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program," it is time to start defining what tactical qualities the player needs to possess. One of the most essential tactical concepts necessary for the player is:
1. Understanding of transition play on both sides of the ball (from attack to defense and from defense to attack): Let's first talk about transition from a team defending situation to now moving forward into the attack. The player needs to understand their role in this tactical situation, where their team has just won the ball back. Their team is now looking to possess the ball and wait for more numbers, or they could be looking for penetration of their opponent's defense through passing or someone making a run forward with the ball. If the player is a wide defender, they need to know when to make a run forward to provide width and to give additional support in attack. They also need to know when not to make that run forward, but rather when to stay back and pinch in providing additional defensive coverage for their team. If a counter attack opportunity exists, where the team can gain an advantage by quickly playing a ball in behind their opponent's defense, the player needs to understand their involvement in this attacking movement.
One National Team program that has a phenomenal understanding of this transitional phase is the Men's and Women's National Teams from Brazil. Players from both programs understand the importance of quickly having supporting players around the ball the moment the ball is turned over to them by their attacking opponents. This tactical understanding of this transitional element allows them to play "the beautiful game" (having unbelievable technical abilities helps as well). There are many in the soccer coaching ranks who feel that soccer has three phases of play and the outcome of most matches will be determined by the following: (1) what happens the moment the team has lost the ball, (2) what happens the moment the team has won the ball back, and (3) what happens during those moments when neither team is in possession of the ball. Interesting, don't you think? Two out of the three phases deal with transitional play.
Next week we will look at the player's need to understand transitional play when their team has now lost the ball while attempting to attack their opponents and now must immediately begin to defend their own goal. |
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| Feb 19 2008, 12:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
This is the third installment of the topic "what does it take to be a successful ODP player", I have already addressed four important technical qualities necessary for players to possess in order to be successful in this program they include (1) quality of the first touch, (2) the ability to strike a ball cleanly, (3) the ability to dribble to penetrate and to maintain possession, and (4) the ability to head the ball in attack and defense. The last technical area to be addressed will be:
(5) The ability to finish with their first touch—this may be the most difficult skill to master of all five of the technical qualities mentioned. I am not talking about composure on the ball, which also plays a big part of quality finishing; I am talking about the player's technical ability to strike on goal with their first touch. The player has to possess the ability to solve problems technically under intense pressure when receiving the ball close to their opponent's goal. There are many variables a player encounters in this situation, such as the position of the goalkeeper, the flight and pace of the pass they are about to receive, the position of defending players, etc., which forces the player to choose a technique to use to strike the ball at almost "warp speed". The biggest problem for young players is that many believe scoring goals is all about striking the ball with power. I am going to show my age here by quoting a line from the old FA Instructional films that were made after England won the World Cup in 1966, whenever a player missed a goal scoring opportunity by going for power instead of accuracy, the announcer would say "he went for power when clinical accuracy would have done him better". Landon Donovan is by far the best pure clinical finisher I have ever had the pleasure to work with at any playing level. When you watch him closely, his decision making as to what surface to strike the ball with, what pace to put on his finishing attempt and the placement of his this attempt are exceptional. Maybe this is why he holds the records for scoring goals with the US Men's National Teams at both the youth and senior levels. Another interesting fact is that something like 70% of all goals scored are scored from the player's first touch—more reason for the player to become comfortable with dealing with goal scoring opportunities with their first touch.
Next week I will begin to address the tactical qualities needed to be a successful player in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program. |
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| Feb 12 2008, 12:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
Continuing with last week's blog topic of, "What it take to be a Successful US Youth Soccer ODP player", we have already mentioned two important technical qualities the player should possess. They were (1) quality of the first touch and (2) the ability to strike a ball cleanly. The next two technical areas to be addressed are:
(3) The ability to dribble to penetrate and to maintain possession---the player should be comfortable dribbling with all four surfaces of the foot, the sole, inside of the foot, instep, and the outside of the foot. The player has to be comfortable in their ability to move at speed with the ball and to avoid challenges from opponents while still maintaining control/possession of the ball. Players at this level have some tactical understanding of when to hold the ball up/shield and wait for supporting players to combine with. They also have some tactical understanding of when to take a player(s) on in an attempt to beat the opposition. A player can understand tactically when and where during a match to execute this skill, but without the technical abilities of knowing how to make these tactical decisions actually work creates many frustrating moments on the soccer field for the player. As the competitive level of matches increases for players, they need to understand that turnovers because of a poor or a needless dribbling run puts their team at a defensive disadvantage from which many goals are scored.
(4) The ability to head the ball in attack and defense---Can the player effectively clear an incoming high ball with their head when defending, can the player effectively pass and shoot with their head when on attack. There are many things that can go wrong to affect the quality of a good header (1) mistimed jump, (2) poor assessment of the flight of the incoming ball, (3) closing of the eyes, and (4) mistimed thrusting of the head towards the ball. All of these situations will affect how the player strikes the ball with their head and how successful the header will become. Heading is a skill that often receives less than its normal share of appropriate training time during practice sessions. But think about the number of goals that are scored off of restart situations from headers or the number of assists that come from passes from headers, especially from flick headers. By possessing the skill to handle any type of heading situation while playing on both sides of the ball (attack or defense) allows players to increase their chances of moving up the elite player development ladder.
Next week I will finish up with the technical abilities necessary to be a successful US Youth Soccer ODP player before moving on to the tactical qualities needed by players to be successful in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program.
|
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| Feb 5 2008, 12:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
One of the questions that we are asked frequently at US Youth Soccer is "what does it take to be a successful US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) player"? The generic reply from most US Youth Soccer ODP staff coaches when they identify a player they like is to say, "that player can flat out play." There is nothing wrong with this assessment; in fact, the coach is paying the player a tremendous complement. What does the staff coach see in a player to merit such an accolade? Well, let's start with the technical areas that are necessary for a player to become a successful US Youth Soccer ODP player: (1) Quality of the first touch—does the statement "the first touch is everything" mean anything to you? A player needs to have the technical ability to receive any type of service (pass) from their teammates and even the opposition for that matter, and to be able to handle it cleanly. The first touch can either take you out of a pressure situation or it puts you back into pressure from an opponent or space. One type of two-touch soccer that is not conducive to what people call "the beautiful game" is when the receiving player's second touch is the tackle to win the ball back after a poor first touch. Two Men's National Team players who have a flawless first touch are Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley (both former US Youth Soccer ODP players). Both always look and feel comfortable with the ball at their feet. (2) The ability to strike a ball cleanly—it does not matter what surface of the foot we are talking about-instep or inside of the foot, the player needs to be able to put the proper pace on the pass. Can they drive a ball over various distances to the intended target (both diagonal and down the line passes), can they bend the ball into the open space in front of a teammate or around defenders to the feet of their teammate, can they execute a proper chip pass or lofted pass and can they play the ball with both feet? A good example of this technical ability is when you see a defender play a long ball forward in order to get his team out of a pressure situation—if that defender just played a 40 or 50 yd rope to his teammates' feet and he accomplishes this on a consistent basis, then this player has some talent and it is not an attempt to play "kick ball", "long ball" or "direct soccer". I have not worked with any defenders yet, who honestly do not feel that they can make that pass. The player who can hit this type of ball from the back or from one flank to another flank does have the ability to strike a ball cleanly. Next week we will continue with the technical qualities needed to be a successful US Youth Soccer ODP player.
|
|
| Permalink | Comments: 1 | Submit a comment | |
| Jan 29 2008, 3:00 PM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
Many youth coaches feel uneasy about making the move from training a team in a short sided playing environment to training a team to compete in an 11 v 11 match. You would think that this would not be the case, but I can't tell you the number of times that I have heard from coaches that "I don't have the background to coach them any longer", or "they are too old now, the players have outgrown me", or "I will just be holding them back". Coaches need to embrace the challenge that lies ahead as their team moves into the full-sided arena. There is no way that the players have outgrown the coach; it is simply a matter of giving the coach the tools he needs to be successful. So, how does the youth coach now prepare himself to meet a different set of youth training schemes? First, the coach needs to clarify the goals for team, both short and long term. The coach has to understand that the demands that are set for training sessions have to match the skills of the players. Having the ability to control the environment that allows for rewards and future confidence gains is essential. Next, the coach has to put some thought into the organization and progression of the training sessions. Organizationally, the training sessions need to address the playing area to be utilized, number of players involved, and the equipment necessary for the session. The starting point for following a proper progression would be to start with analysis of the team's last match or training session. The game always points out what needs to be taught. Following this premise, the coach now needs to make the training session age appropriate, understand what pressures your players encounter during skill development and do the players understand tactical application of technique during the game. Technical development and tactical development must follow a simple to complex format during every training session. The normal methodology for teaching technique is to progress through a fundamental phase, then on to a match related phase and then to the match conditions phase. When teaching a tactical topic, the coach needs to start with the individual phase, then to the group phase, then the team phase, and then finally to the functional phase. The bottom line in all of this terminology is that the training session just has to make sense. Continuing the education of a youth soccer coach should and always will be a primary focus of any national organization, US Youth Soccer State Association or member club. A tremendous resource for a youth coach is to refer to the US Youth Soccer website: www.USYouthSoccer.org. Here the aspiring coach can find information that will help them in planning their training sessions for their specific age group; they can find examples of training exercises that meet the requirements of following the progressions for the technical and tactical development of a young player; and find information regarding enrolling in a state or national license course. |
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| Jan 23 2008, 12:00 AM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
The State of Youth Soccer—Part 2
After participating as a panelist during the recent NSCAA Convention in a session titled ""The State of Youth Soccer"", it became more apparent than ever that education for everyone involved with youth soccer should be the primary priority.
What exactly do we mean when we say ""we need to educate everyone""?
Let's take the topic ""small-sided play"". For those of us who have played, coached, refereed or has served as an administrator for several years, we know the importance of playing the game of soccer using smaller fields and fewer players at the younger ages.
But to those new to soccer—parents, club administrators, league administrators, state administrators and even players, we have to educate them as to why it is important to create this type of learning environment, especially, when they hear that ""small-sided soccer is not real soccer"".
The technical benefits of small-sided play to the young player include:
Increased contacts with the ball
More actual playing time
More time with the coach
More practical space to be successful
Young players are more efficient in small space
Players will more readily understand the roles and importance of their team mates
The smaller ball is lighter and more easily kicked, trapped, dribbled and passed
Youngsters are actively involved for a longer period of time
This makes perfect sense to those of us who have worked or played soccer, but might not to those new to the sport. There are many opportunities for those individuals new to soccer to obtain this information through the coaching education programs offered by the local youth organizations, state associations, and national organizations (for example US Youth Soccer Association and US Soccer).
Coaches can obtain all the necessary information through attending U6-U12 coaching courses called ""youth modules"", as well as attending state association coaching education courses such as the ""F"", ""E"", and ""D"" courses. Some state associations offer a ""G"" course, which is an introduction for coaches and parents to the sport of soccer.
Referees can be trained in how to officiate these small-sided activities, this usually occurs by attending courses offered by the local youth club and state associations. Administrators need to attend training seminars at the various State Association AGM's or the US Youth Soccer Workshop (the annual convention is in Pittsburgh this year from February 7-9).
Players will be the easiest to educate, because if placed in this kind of learning environment, they will develop the fundamental techniques necessary to play soccer and they will develop a passion for the game.
Next week, I'll continue to look at the State of Soccer…I look forward to your comments. |
|
| Permalink | Submit a comment | |
| Jan 15 2008, 5:00 PM | Topic: John Ellinger Blog |
The youth soccer landscape, as we once knew it, seems to be changing at warp speed. I feel a need to talk about the various player initiatives from US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, United Soccer League (Super 'Y'), US Soccer and Major League Soccer that all target the select player. In the first part of this series I will address Major League Soccer's Player Developmental Proposal. During the 2007 MLS season, for the first time, we saw the signs of the first real push by the league to showcase their youth programs with the Under-17 SUM Cup. The cup was held in Denver, Colorado in conjunction with the MLS All-Star Game. Most MLS teams sent youth teams to compete in a tournament format, with DC United winning the inaugural event. The plan is to once again to hold the 2008 version of this event again in Denver. Most people not involved with MLS ask what purpose this new program serves in the already crowded calendar serve. One answer lies in the "Home Grown Talent List". Each MLS team has a specific geographic region from which they can "tag" players. Basically, to "tag" a player means that the player has met specific training requirements during the year, playing and training with one of their (MLS) youth teams. An example of the geographic region for a MLS team would be that the LA Galaxy's region which is 150 miles from the Home Depot Center. An example of specific training and playing requirements would be that a player has trained/played for 100 hours. When you tag a player, and each club can, based on their geographic population, for example a smaller population can tag more players per year. A team could tag 2-4 players per year. For example, LA can tag two…Salt Lake can tag four due to a smaller population. If a player is tagged before college, the player, after completing their college playing eligibility could forgo the MLS draft and be added directly to that club's roster. So when you are watching the MLS SuperDraft this week, some of these players could have been added directly to that club's roster and saved that draft selection/pick in Baltimore for another player else. Makes you wonder what the draft will look like in the future. The "tagging" gets more interesting as MLS teams branch out from their assigned geographical regions, where they can have 0-2 non-jurisdictional programs. For example, Real Salt Lake's youth club, RSL Florida, located in Tampa, Florida can tag local players. This is a youth program that changed from the Tampa Knights to RSL Florida thus wearing the RSL uniforms and allowing RSL to tag players from Florida. So the Real Salt Lake team based in Utah now has the opportunity to select players from Florida. This change also gave RSL technical control of that program. At the moment about half of the MLS teams field full-time player programs, the other half will field teams that will play during the late spring and summer months. What this means is that there will be choices made by players and their families as to what youth programs the player will pursue. For example, some players will choose to stay with their current club team, play for a non-full time MLS club team and/or play with US Youth Soccer ODP. While at the recently completed US Youth Soccer ODP Boys SuperGroup in Florida, the US Youth Soccer ODP Boys Region IV 1990 team featured eight players on their roster that played for the RSL Utah club team, and the Region IV 1991 team featured five (2 RSL Utah and 3 RSL Arizona) RSL club team players. There might have been players from the RSL Florida in the event as well. Two examples of MLS clubs that work with existing programs to solve some of the calendar issues are RSL, who works directly with Utah US Youth Soccer ODP, and the Houston Dynamo, who works with South Texas US Youth Soccer ODP, to incorporate the top players in the state and maximize calendar dates. What will the future hold for the MLS Youth Initiative, how will the "tagging" of players impact the future of the MLS SuperDraft, will that impact players decisions to attend college… Tough choices for all are ahead. |
|
| Permalink | Comments: 3 | Submit a comment | |
