Working for results cultivates the best attitude for kids!

One often unrecognized negative side-affect of the ego based need to win is that the better athlete is given more playing time and becomes an unhealthy target for the rest of the team. This player is usually fast, strong, powerful and exceptionally mature in many ways.




In one of the contradictions of premier soccer this player is often pigeonholed as a striker and becomes the target of an unusually high percentage of passes from team mates. As a consequence he isn't expected to create his own opportunities or chances for others. This results in short-term recognition but undermines long-term development of the brave, creative and ethical leadership character so essential to a fulfilled life. Such individuals are more likely to develop a "peel me a grape" attitude. When the late maturer catches up and easy opportunities are no longer available this type of player often struggles. When the "go to player" is no longer producing the rest of the team also struggles because too much of their historical success relied on the genetic talents of one player. When one or two key players are injured the rest of the team is often unable to adjust because they were never taught or expected to be maximally self-sufficient.

For teams taught to rely on one or two key players such player losses would have been the end of the dream. We simply re-positioned our remaining brave, creative leaders to accommodate the losses and reached the Final Four!

Players (and their parents) who receive seemingly preferential treatment should carefully examine the long-term consequences of the "use what he's got to win now" approach. When individuals are constantly served the consequence is dis-empowerment. When individuals are taught to create their own opportunities the result is empowerment.

Which of these two opposites do we want our children to experience?

Beware the friendly imposter! He may rob your child of their future for his own ego.

The Touch and Hop Aka Matthews

At our first practice we worked on basic dribbling and shooting. This was so I can get an impression of where each player is individually. Needless to say I am very impressed. I think that I only have 2 of 14 players who do not have any prior soccer experience.

The second half of practice I introduced the team to the Touch and Hop also known as The Matthews. To perform the Matthews you stand with the ball between your toes feet about twelve inches apart. Touch the ball 6 inches with the inside of one foot (Just a little touch!). Hop away about 12-14 inches sideways from the ball with the other foot (Big hop!). Turn your chest and shoulders a little away from the ball before to enhance the fake before playing the ball away at a 45 degree angle in the opposite direction to the fake with the outside of the original ball playing foot. Explode for 5 yards to finish.

See this move in action:

The Spider Monkeys - How it all started

Two year ago my wife signed the kids up for soccer for the first time at our local parks and recreation. A few days later I got this phone call while at work from an unknown number. I was totally blind sided it was the coordinator from the parks and recreation asking me to be a soccer coach. "Well…I know nothing about soccer." He assured me that it would be okay and I would learn as I went along.

Then it happened. A memory hit me. It was in the form of a scene in a movie. After my boy completed his t-ball season and I was tucking him in bed he says to me "Daddy, next time I play t-ball I want you to be my coach." And I reply kissing him on the cheek. "Yeah, sure that would be great! I'd like that!"

The coordinator started guilt tripping me saying that if I would not do it then my boy could not play because he does not have a coach. I took a moment and thought about my class schedule and figured I could swing a few nights a week. "Sure…okay I'll do it."

Two years later, and a total of five season (Fall and Spring) I'm still into it.

I learned everything by reading a few books on coaching youth soccer and also Wikis and Blogs. Those methods generally are teaching the kids to pass the ball as soon as they get it and shoot the ball as soon as they get somewhere near the goal. Let me tell you something. It is very stressful when you get down there to the goal. You simply fall apart because of the pressure and stress.

I've decided this year to take on a whole new paradigm. Instead of yelling at the kids to play hot potato out there on the field and hope they get a lucky shot in. I am only working two skills that will teach them everything they need to know.

Decisive Dribbling: This will entail handling the ball and using a series of fakes and moves which will shut down the other team's defense.

Shooting the ball: By practicing shooting the ball each team member will be confident in shooting.

Imagine a whole team that shows confidence in handling the ball and shows no fear.