Well, finally back out flying around the soccer country.  This past weekend I attended the Coaching Committee meeting for US Youth Soccer Region IV, hosted in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

 

I arrived a few days prior to the workshop so I took advantage of an opportunity to train some of the teams and coaches from Jackson Soccer Club. This invitation was offered by Anne Moore, the director of coaching for Wyoming Youth Soccer and Jackson Soccer Club. I was able to observe first hand the training methods of players U-5 to U-12. What a sight. Six turf fields filled with young, energetic players that seemed to be having a lot of fun. I can only attribute this joy to the leadership of Carlos Elizondo, who just happened to be the only coach holding a US Youth Soccer National Youth License.  

 

On Thursday, at the Jackson Hole High school facility, I worked with a very enthusiastic and motivated group of U-12 Boys, who were more than willing to follow my instructions. I worked on decision making opportunities by Small-Sided Games. They seemed to grasp the concept and made great progress toward the end of the session. I also brought a guest coach with me, Greg Maas, technical director of Utah Youth Soccer, to provide a different style of coaching but still supporting the same message of having the players make decisions. The players seemed to work very hard with Greg in his technical and fitness session.  They also seemed to be having fun. What a great combination, fitness and fun. Sounds like Youth Soccer Month stuff. Thanks Greg, great job as always.

On Friday, after the meetings during the day I slipped out to work with Jackson Soccer Club U-8 players and coaches.   We had just a few players but they were more than enough to get the point of U-8s working in pairs and cooperating to resolve problems. Great job U8s. If you think I wouldn't take advantage of all the coaches attending the workshop, think again. I invited the US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Region IV Head Coach Platini Soaf. Now, Platini and I go back to 1985-86 when I was one of his assistants for the US Youth Soccer National Championships. Platini demonstrated and discussed moves, and what the differences are when coaching girls as opposed to boys. Thanks Platini, always magic.

 

During the workshop, we discussed US Youth Soccer ODP, camps, the U.S. Soccer technical meeting in Washington, D.C., a wish list for video clips on the US Youth Soccer Web site and development of a US Youth Soccer coaching director's course. It is great to be back out on the road again.  Jackson is a beautiful place for a vacation.  I wish had the time to enjoy the sites. I hope to see all the coaches who attended the clinics in Jackson in the near future at a US Youth Soccer National Youth License course in their town.