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Coach's Corner

Ian Bradley
 		 Chris Adrian
 
Ian Bradley
ISA State Director of Coaching		 Chris Adrian
Associate State Director of Coaching
D/O/B 15/5/69 - Leicestershire, England
Education
BA Honors Degree Sport and Recreation Management Staffordshire University, England
Post Graduate Degree - Marketing Management Staffordshire University, England
Coaching
USSF 'A' License
English FA Preliminary Coaching Badge
NSCAA Advanced National Diploma

D.O.B. 1/12/77 Kalamazoo, MI.
Education
Undergraduate: Drake University, International Relations/Spanish
Graduate: University of Notre Dame, M.Ed.
Coaching
USSF "C" License

His main responsibility will be the development of recreational players and coaches.

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
Coaching Comments and Their Messages 

Ian Bradley, ISA State Director of Coaching: 

There is no doubt that one of the major reasons that players drop out is that they have never developed the competence to enjoy the game of soccer and play until adult-hood. Coaches don't teach players to be comfortable on the ball or to make intelligent decisions and they tend to promote a more direct style played through the coaching comments that they make. As coaches and parents we must be careful in the messages that we send to our players and create a less pressurized environment that allows players to become more comfortable on the ball and to enjoy the game. 

Tommy Turner, Director of Coaching for Ohio North Soccer Association:

A great article titled "Modeling the National Style of Play at the State Level" identified many of the comments that coaches and parents make during practices and games and how they can have a negative effect on the development of our players. I ask all coaches and parents to read through the following article and rethink some of the comments they make in every game. Much of what players hear from the sidelines reinforce the "fear of soccer" of the direct style and moves them farther away from the playing habits that will help them grow as intelligent soccer players. What follows is a sample of typical comments heard at soccer games, and the underlying messages that are being subtly relayed to the players about their significant adults' respect for understanding of the game.

  • Comments:  Get it out of here!/Great Kick!/Get rid of it!/Boot it long!/Don't pass it backwards, you might lose it!/Don't ever pass the ball across the field! 

  • Message to the players:  Don't take any chances in trying to keep possession. You are going to be under pressure, so get the ball as far down field as early as possible so that the ball is away from our goal. Don't take the time to look for a teammate and don't worry where the ball ends up. Just make sure you don't lose possession and risk losing a goal.

  • Developmental Conflict:  If we never ask young players to take risks and try to play constructive soccer at an age when results don't matter, when will they ever develop the skills, insights and confidence to play in control, at speed and under pressure? 

  • Comments:  Don't play with it!/ Too many touches!/Don't hold onto the ball! 

  • Message to the Players:  You don't have the skill to dribble the ball to create space or buy time for a pass, and we might lose a goal if you are dispossessed. Better play safe and clear the ball forward out of the end.

  • Developmental Conflict:  Dribbling is the most important skill a young player can learn because they will never have a chance to become a creative player. 

  • Comment:  Never kick the ball like that!/ Always use the inside of your foot.  There is only one correct way to kick the ball and that is not the right way.  I have all the answers and you must follow my direction because I am the coach and I am in charge. If you do not do as I say, you will sit on the bench. 

  • Developmental Conflict:  Creative players solve problems in novel ways. They do the unexpected and use whatever insights they possess to arrive at solutions. A good pass, for example, is one that arrives at it's target and can be used to the team's advantage, regardless of how it was delivered. When we tell players they "cannot" use techniques in a unique way, we are chipping away at their ability to think for themselves and perpetuating a culture where players have limited skills and no creativity. 

  • Comment:  Always play the way you're facing. 

  • Message:  I heard this maxim somewhere and I haven't thought through what it means, but you were just caught in possession when trying to turn up field, and this seems like the time to make a coaching point. 

  • Developmental Conflict:  This is a coaching contradiction. Players are often asked to receive the ball with their back to goal and turn against pressure. The most difficult opponents are unpredictable in their ability to receive passes and attack space behind and beside the defenders. It is a difficult, yet necessary, skill for forwards and midfield players. If we ask players to pass the way they are facing, they make play too predictable and devalue the skills and insight necessary to recognize the opportunity to turn a defender or receive the ball into an open space. The most common reason why players lose possession is that they have no vision of the field behind them before trying to turn. 

  • Comment:  Always look to pass the ball "short-short-long".

  • Message:  I saw a coach demonstrate this drill at a coaching clinic once, but I have not thought through what it actually means, other than you should play two short passes and then make a long pass.

  • Developmental Conflict:  Another coaching contradiction, usually featured in warm up drills. In the real world of soccer, passes should be played short or long based on the position of defenders and teammates, and the skill level of the player in possession. In the real world of soccer, players are never required to play the ball long after a number of short passes until there is tactical advantage in playing a longer pass to a teammate in space.

  • Comments:  That's a card Ref!/Offside!/Hey Ref call it both ways!/Unintentional Ref; that's not a foul!/That's handball!/Didn't you see that Ref!/Ref, you suck!/What game you watching ref?

  • Message:  "I know everything about the interpretation of the rules, and the referee, players and parents need to know it." By attacking the credibility of the official, we send the message to the players and the parents that referee abuse is acceptable. When we serve as a negative example, or condone a vocal parent or players negative outbursts by not rebuking them, we are demonstrating disrespect for the game. We also send a strong message to the players that appealing decisions and questioning the authority of the official is an acceptable part of a soccer education. 

  • Development Conflict:  Refereeing is a matter of opinion and many new referees are just learning to understand the nuances of officiating what can be a very fluid game. There are good and bad referees, good and bad players, and good habits and bad coaches. Everyone makes mistakes and everyone should be allowed to learn their craft without undue abuse. Coaching players to react to any call by taking a quick restart or by organizing the defense is much proactive and productive approach to dealing with refereeing decisions. Without a playing background, a refereeing license, and years of experience in soccer, questioning calls is usually the last action an inexperienced coach should undertake. Coaches who truly work from a developmental bias, view positive and negative refereeing decisions as an integral part of the game, and which present valuable learning opportunities for their players. Life is not always fair!

In summary, the safety first, fear driven, direct approach to youth soccer develops players who are uncomfortable and, probably, incapable of playing constructive soccer. Only through more focused, less pressured coaching, and more appropriate small sided games, can we provide an environment where our young players have the opportunity to play soccer as adults.

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT ISSUES FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM
By Ian Bradley, ISA State Director of Coaching
 
As we enter the new millennium, Iowa can be very proud of its achievements over the past few years. Iowa teams have become much more competitive at the regional level, Iowa players are now playing and being recruited in record numbers to Division I schools, and the ODP program had one of its most successful years ever. The ODP program placed seven players on the regional pool teams and won the girls ODP regional competition. The 1984 girls will now represent Region II in the ODP National Championship in February 2000.
Although we have experienced a great deal of success, we must continue to improve our player development strategies to compete with other states and to make Iowa players the best they can be.
What can ISA and the clubs do to help Iowa players continue to improve? Player development issues can be divided down into four main areas. 1) Increased player pool, 2) Raise competitive age to Under 12, 3) Focus on player development not player recruitment, 4) Less structure at the Under 6 level.

1) Increased Player Pool: We must continue to promote the sport of soccer and expand on the massive growth that has occurred over the past ten years. The Eastern side of the state must try to improve their feeder programs and expand the recreational element to their clubs. Many of the developmental programs throughout the state (such as YMCA's, dads clubs, parks and recreation districts) have very limited access to educational programs which would allow their players to develop at a faster rate. Many competitive based clubs select players at U11 and neglect their development up until this time. In order to compete at the highest levels, technical skills must be developed at the 8, 9 and 10 year old age levels. Clubs should work to attract this age group to participate and should provide an appropriate training environment.

2) Raise Competitive Age to Under 12: The drop out rate for players U11 through U13 is around 50%. This is a large amount of players to lose at such a vital time in their development. One of the major reasons for this high dropout rate is that players do not make select teams, they become disillusioned and then no longer want to participate in the sport of soccer. I recommend that clubs hold their select team tryouts at U12 instead of U11. This would give an extra year for players to work to develop technically. Additional technical training opportunities could be added to make up for the lack of a competitive environment. Two major competitive clubs in the Des Moines area are currently looking at the possibility of moving their competitive programs to the U12 age group.

3) Focus on Player Development No Player Recruitment: The focus of professional coaching at the youth level should be player development, not player recruitment. Many coaches are looking for a quick fix by forming teams through recruiting rather than be developing talent. Parents should select clubs or teams because of their commitment to player development, not because the team has been organized to win competitions. Be wary of clubs that recruit heavily and focus too much on winning. these clubs should take a long term approach and work to improve their youth development programs.

4) Less Structure at the Under 6 Level: Another reason for the high drop out rates at the U10-U14 age group is that players have been involved in soccer since age 5. When they reach U12 they are often burnt out and looking for other options. Therefore, we must try to have less structure at the U6 age group. My recommendation would be that there are no practices in the U6 age group and that there is a maximum of 4 scheduled games in any one season. Any additional sessions should be fun days or festivals.

In conclusion, we enter the new millennium with an opportunity to improve. We struggle to compete on a regional level because of the size of our state and population. To overcome this, we must continue to focus and be innovative in our player development process. I encourage all club programs to adopt some, if not all, of these approaches to player development.

POSITION PAPER

HOW TO TREAT THE ADVANCED PLAYER AT THE YOUTH AND RECREATIONAL LEVEL

Chris Adrian – ISA Associate State Director of Coaching
Ian Bradley – ISA State Director of Coaching
 
Inherently, at the youth and recreational levels of soccer, coaches come upon players who are at varying levels of advancement and talent. The more advanced player, naturally experiences a greater level of success, whether that be scoring goals or being able to possess the ball for sustained periods of time by dribbling. Oftentimes, coaches feel they must restrain or place limits on the advanced player. The coach will either lessen the playing time of the player or instruct him that he must pass instead of dribbling or scoring. These actions punish the player for experiencing success, discourage him from enjoying his skills, and stunt his development as a player. The advanced player should be given the same freedoms and opportunities as his cohort, including equal playing time and no restrictions.