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"In today's world most children no longer play
on the street.
Soccer has to be learned in a far shorter time,..."1
Coaching Soccer
Children in the 21st century do not have the luxury of time in which to learn as their parents had. Computers, cable TV and increased educational demands are just a few things that reduce the amount of leisure time that they have. The children and parents of today have a far different view of life and how to live it. Few can afford to spend three hours a day five days a week and ten more hours on the weekend in any single activity. Indeed most children spend only three to six hours a week at a soccer activity. This decrease cannot be made up at practices alone. If a child is serious about soccer they will need to dedicate a significant amount of time to it outside of the "team" time.
This time can be viewed as their homework time. If a child sees soccer as important, he values the game and will gladly work to improve his individual technique. To him it is important. If he doesn't value the game he won't do the extra work. The amount and level of homework that a child voluntarily does is a good indicator of their motivation.
Homework is essential to mastering the game. But even here it is important to practice the right things and in the right way. To aimlessly juggle the ball for an hour is less productive then 20 minutes of soccer tennis. To practice dribbling feints without opposition is less productive then a short competitive game of slam. Ideas and habits can be introduced and built during a practice that can inspire children to practice on their own.
One question that comes up in coaching clinics is "what do I do with the players that aren't playing in the small sided game?" They can be involved in an active rest. While the rest of the team is playing they can play a small technical game, (see the following or soccer like game), or the asst. coach can check their soccer homework. After a few minutes they can rotate back into the main coaching session. The active rest does not have to be a low-key affair. A small-scale competition (consecutive juggles) can be run over a few practices. This can help generate enthusiasm while they are out of the main practice and foster a need to practice their homework.
During an active rest the coach can introduce soccer strange homework problems. Dribbling feints, Coever moves, juggling challenges and ball and wall games can be practiced by the group. Coordination and motor skills exercises, i.e.. The Ajax and Schalke 04 video tapes available through Reedswain, can be done with advanced players. This is an excellent time to introduce new ideas and follow-up programs.
Small practice situations like 1v1 and 2v2 can also be done. When players are rotated out of the main practice for a few minutes they can focus on these specific problems. The situations can even reflect what is happening in the main session and reinforce the main coaching points.
Coaches also need to devote time to doing their homework. Even experienced coaches find that new ideas are constantly being generated. Books, videos, coaching courses and clinics or just chewing the fat with other coaches are some of the means of improving coaching technique and content. Internet coaching forums,(PaulvanVeen.com), are a good way of listening in and exploring problems and solutions. Without homework the average parent coach will soon find that the children know more about the game then they do. Now the coach becomes a soccer problem! Even experienced coaches can gain a new perspective that can help to keep their teaching sharp and fresh.
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