When you get a bunch of coaches together, whatever the sport, there is a good chance that their passion is rooted in the memories and love of the game they had as child growing up. Today we got a chance to ""re-live the glory days"" by playing Street Soccer for our afternoon session. The philosophy of Street Soccer is to give the game back to the kids! Provide the players with the tools to do play (balls, cones, goals) and let them figure out, for examples, the size of the field or the dividing of teams.  Let the kids make decisions that the coaches normally are responsible for. 

 

There is a push both from the U.S. Soccer Federation and US Youth Soccer to eliminate the ""Command"" style of coaching. Soccer is different from sports like American football or basketball where the coach formulates plays that the players execute. Yes, there is some improvisation in these games, but to a much lesser extent than in soccer. It is a cerebral game and requires the players to react accordingly therefore you must ask yourself, ""why should the coach make these vital decisions for them?"" We talked this week about Guided Discovery—allowing the players to uncover answers themselves, but using questions that guide them in the right direction.

 

All week, the 32 candidates have been instructed on the physical, mental and social characteristics of children ages U-6 through U-12. Now it is testing! It is the candidates' turn to apply our knowledge in a practical setting…on the field with the kids.

 

Although we had our methodology exams and coaching philosophy due as well, most candidates were more worried about the testing (possibly because of the connotation of the word). In my eyes, you might as well of called it freedom. Being around the kids is pure fun! Their energy and creativity is simply contagious. No matter how bad your day is, you CANNOT at least smile, when a kid comes up to you and says ""My name is Rich. Richy Rhino!"" 

 

Since I moved from Ohio to Texas over a year and a half ago, I haven't had the chance to get out and coach here in Dallas. Between balancing the administrative duties here at the office with a personal life, I haven't had time to properly commit to coaching kids. This course has juiced up my battery again. It has renewed my personal goal to spread the game in the United States.

 

Thank you to Dr. David Carr, Sam Snow, Dr. John Thomas, Gary Williamson and Terry Eguaojefor all of their efforts in putting on an excellent course that gave me great insights.

The highlight of my day was a skit performed by a group that included a wild giraffe on the soccer field resulting in a child's ankle sprain. It's all too common these days…giraffes and their territorial ways! I think some of the candidates have contracted a form of cabin fever. 

 

Needless to say, after three days with my fellow candidates and instructors, I have settled into my surroundings. Although I haven't had this much homework since high school chemistry, I am beginning to find comfort in the fact that everyone else is in the same boat as myself. There is a lot of learning to be done.

 

So being a believer in the ""24 usable hours in every day"" philosophy, I went and played soccer instead! Being that the National Youth License is being held here in Frisco, home of US Youth Soccer, I was still able to get in a half with my men's soccer team. I'm a soccer junkie and I needed my fix. I brought my roommate, Nathan Thompkins, with me to play. He is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and works as the Director of Coaching for Racine Soccer Association while also creating an urban soccer league in conjunction with the Milwaukee Wave (NPSL team).  

 

His reaction to the Pizza Hut Park complex was very similar to my first experience- I've discovered soccer heaven! ""These kids have no clue how spoiled they are to play on these fields!"" Nate said. It truly is a soccer mecca and from being here for the past 22 months has spoiled me a bit as well. With the turnout of this National Youth License being so well attended, I can imagine we will be holding more here in North Texas.

 

Tonight was a late night. We have multiple assignments due tomorrow that include creating two lesson plans for tomorrow's testing, answering four ""methodology"" questions, creating a coaching philosophy, and formulating a skit for our group presentation. Who knows what tomorrow's group skit will include? Jumanji?

Today began much like yesterday. The morning classroom session began with Mosston's Slanty Line Theory presented by Dr. John Thomas. This theory focuses on the fact that not all kids develop at the same rate. Therefore we, as coaches, should create games that allow all of the children to have success at their own pace rather than eliminating those kids that are less developed at the beginning. As a competitive person, I did not want to hear this at first…being that knockout is one of my favorite games to play with the kids. However, being a ""student"" of the game, I quickly realized the validity of the Slanty Line Theory.

 

The majority of our conversation discussed the cognitive, psychosocial, and psychomotor development of U-8's. Big words I know! The distinction between the three is very apparent though. Having played soccer at a competitive level, I have always been under the impression that coaching the youngest ages would be simple. If you can coach the older, more skilled players, than you can coach a bunch of ankle-biting rugrats correct?

 

Wrong!

 

It's a completely different beast. Trying telling a 7 year old what speed of play is all about. Better yet, define a grid as it relates to soccer! My goal today was to eliminate all soccer jargon and to relate to kids on their level. Understand why they ask, "What's equipment?" when you ask them to pick it up at the end of a session.  Much of society is so focused on projecting this ambiance of how intelligent we are while kids, in all of their innocence, learn from that same environment.    

 

After our field session, we got a chance to go to dinner and socialize with our fellow candidates and instructors on more of a personal level. It is amazing to hear the stories of the other coaches…from the places they have been or the exercises that they have found to be successful. There is a ton of soccer knowledge in this course and I plan on continuing to share my ideas while picking as many brains as possible. 

Today was a very long day. We were up early for breakfast and then onto a classroom meeting covering Jean Piaget's model of Youth Development. Everything they impressed upon us had a logical reason behind the theory. For example, ask a 6 year old to create a small soccer grid out of a stack of cones and see the result. His or her concept of space and distance is still very restricted therefore 30 orange cones in a straight line touching should not be as unexpected as you may think. 

 

After a classroom session, we went out the fields for a session with Sam Snow. After having worked with Sam for almost 2 years with US Youth Soccer, I have to admit that, outside of assisting with a couple soccer clinics, I have never seen him in action. I have heard him address administrators in public lectures but have never seen Sam in his element… that is teaching other coaches how to coach youth. Granted Sam is a very good public speaker, but he had every coach at the field convinced that they were in fact 6 years old for the duration of the session. We literally had grown men prancing around like giraffes and horses at one point! It really made you re-think the thought process of 6 year old children. 

 

Then after another classroom session, it was the coaches' turn to apply the theory in a practical setting. Local Frisco parents brought out their U-6 children for some training…from the 32 candidates. We were told to develop a lesson plan for the U-6 age group with an emphasis on ""Developmentally Appropriate"" activities. Not knowing what to expect, I had my lesson plan ready in my mind, but not completely written down on paper. That was my first mistake. Come to find out, we basically had 5 minutes with the kids to do one activity that would be assessed by the instructors and recorded by video camera for later review. Needless to say, because I didn't fill out my ""homework assignment"" properly, I got drilled in my review. Lesson learned.  I will be ready tomorrow.     

After checking into the hotel, we had a quick orientation and got straight to business. Dr. Dave Carr, Sam Snow and Dr. John Thomas gave a background of the National Youth License. They provided an outline of what our days will consist of including not only field sessions, but also theory sessions held in the ""classroom."" I didn't realize how research intensive the development of the ""Y"" License was.  Between the many men that helped write the curriculum and the many years of their studying the behavior of children, I feel reassured that I will be getting a concise, thorough lesson on coaching youth.

 

Before the instructors began their lecture though, we went around the room and introduced everyone. Each candidate stated their name, city in which they reside, and their involvement in soccer. I was amazed to see the diversity in the room. It was very indicative of the sport. There were people from all over the United States, young and old, involved with all different levels of soccer. 

 

I met a gentleman from La Caruna, Spain who flew into the States to take the course. I even met a man from Toronto, Liam, who used to coach my best friend from college when he was on the Canadian youth National team. The soccer world is shrinking more and more everyday. 

 

There were also 2 Executive Directors of State Associations (Chuck Keers of Oregon and Gayle Smith of Arkansas) who don't necessarily coach kids, but realize how important it is to keep the players as the main focus when making decisions at the state level.

 

The instructors made it pretty clear that, although there will be testing and written assignments, there will also be a lot of fun.   At this point, I am not quite sure what to expect. Hitting the sack for now....I don't think the rooster is even awake at 6:00 AM.