February, 2013Issue 4

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Coaching Newsletter

THE EVOLVING GAME

Mike BarrEPA Youth Soccer

Director of Coaching

The Critical Role of the Club Director of Coaching with Young PlayersYouth  Soccer  in  the  United  States  is  changing  and  

evolving  every  day  and  with  the  changes  the  

responsibility  of  the  director  of  coaching  must  grow  to  

meet  the  needs  of  players,  coaches,  parents  and  

administrators.

An  important  issue  that  they  must  address  is  ge=ng  

quality  instruc?on  to  the  zone  one  players  (U6  to  U10).  

Establishing  a  firm  technical  founda?on  assures  

success  at  the  older  ages  in  much  the  same  as  exci?ng,  

engaging  and  informed  elementary  teachers  prepare  students  for  middle  and  high  school.  Why  not  hold  

your  director  of  coaching  and  your  paid  coaches  to  the  

same  standards  and  accountability  a  community  holds  

their  teachers?    Establishing  a  club  wide  mission  

statement  to  meet  the  needs  of  these  young  players  and  to  make  sure  the  informa?on  is  provided  to  

parents  on  a  ?mely  basis,  makes  this  objec?ve  easier  

to  implement  within  the  club.  

Part  of  that  mission  statement  should  address  the  

following:

• Quality  instruc?on  for  young  players  with  US  Soccer  

licensed  or  equivalent  licensed  coaches

• A  suppor?ve,  fun  and  rewarding  environment  for  all  

players  no  maQer  what  their  skill  level

• Equal  par?cipa?on  in  training  and  games

• Outcome  based  individual  objec?ves  for  each  player

• Small  sided  matches  3v3  at  U6  to  6v6  at  U10

• Posi?ve  parental  support  during  training  and  

matches  through  a  parent  educa?on  program

• Designing  a  code  of  conduct  in  order  for  players  to  respect  the  game,  teammates,  coaches  and  referees

• Monitoring  of  coach’s  demeanor,  following  the  

curriculum,  and  engaging  players  through  ques?ons  

in  training  and  games

• Thorough  background  check  of  all  coaches  and  all  volunteers  including:  team  managers,  field  workers,  

concession  stand  workers  and  any  adult  involved  

with  the  club  or  a  team

Many  clubs  now  have  full-‐?me  directors  of  coaching.  

These  full-‐?me  directors  must  pursue  con?nuing  educa?on  trends  in  player  development  instruc?on,  

establish  posi?ve  rela?onships  with  their  coaching  

staff,  and  provide  proper  guidelines  and  honest  answer  

to  parents  as  they  aQempt  to  navigate  the  changing  

soccer  landscape.  Strong  organiza?on  at  the  younger  ages  provides  smooth  transi?on  to  travel  and  elite  play  

at  the  older  ages  and  will  make  the  director’s  job  

easier  moving  forward.

E License at Penn Legacy

Gary StephensonEPA Youth SoccerAssistant Director

of Coaching

National Coaching License Program UpdatesUnited States Soccer Federation - reviewed and updated the National E License at the US Youth Soccer Workshop in January. The feedback was very positive from all the state technical directors. All the small issues have been resolved in the workbook and pre-requisites and new video content has been added to. The updated D License is being beta tested and will be implemented in July 2013. From the presentations I have seen, it compliments the National E license. 

The United States Soccer Federation has also stated that the E License is the starting point for the coaching pyramid. This removes the waiver program for playing college or years of coaching unless you played for the senior national team or on a FIFA recognized professional team.

COACHING EDUCATION HONOR ROLLNational E License(s) - Penn LegacySuccess for Soccer National D LicenseLititz SC

• Matt Terry• Kenny Archer• Stephen Boston• Joy Shelly• Laura Wagner• Adam Good• Kai Lueng• Derek Buckley• Corey Dueler• Randy King• Nate Davis• Peter Succoso• Nate Herrington• David Simpson

• Erik Temple• Paul Stubenrauch• Chris Magness• Jack Signor• Marcus Barr• David Brown• Christopher Castronova• Erin Cho• Howard Cho• Troy Czapor• Gian Claudia Finizio• Michael Goldovich• Andrew Kummerer• Matthew Montera• Paige Phillips• Bob Prachar• Karl Reddick• Patrice Rutland• Jacob Marino• Mike Eversman

• Max Spencer• Stephen Yarosh• Kevin Nuss• Emmanuel Nagbe• Victor Lonchuk• Dimitar Iaramboykov• Evan Scheffey• Toby Ranck• Paul Larrea• Rudy Estrada• Robert Patrick• Jake Rowlands• Michael Newman• Travis Myernick• Brent Duffy

UPCOMING COACHING COURSESF License

Dover Area SADover Community, 17315

16 March, 2013

F LicenseFalls SC

Falls Twp Community Park23 March, 2013

E LicenseParkland ASC

Allentown8-10 March, 2013

D LicenseParkland ASC

Allentown8-10 March, 201315-17 March 2013

E LicenseVE SC

Davisville3-5 May, 2013

E LicenseUkrainian Nationals

Horsham8 -10 March, 2013

NATIONAL TEAM UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE YOUTH GAMES

FEB. 6, 4:00PMHonduras v USA

Feb. 9, 5:00PMUSA v Scotland

Feb. 13, 2:45PMR. Madrid v Man. Utd.

Feb. 20, 2:45PMAC Milan v Barcelona

Feb. 9, 7:45AMTottenham Hotspurs v

Newcastle Utd.

Feb. 24, 8:30AMMan. City v Chelsea

Indoor Cup Finals

Feb. 9, 1:51PMU16 Boys @ Wyoming Valley

Feb. 10, 2:45PMU11 Girls @ In the Net

For more information, details and registration, please visit EPYSA.org

January, 2012

Coaching Licenses Awarded

Game Watcher

National C License News

National C License being scheduled for August in Delaware at the Kirkwood Soccer Club. Registration and further details will be released in February. 

IAIN MUNRO, YSC Academy DirectorMEET THE COACH

Start up game (free Play)As the players arrive they step on the field and start playing. The players call the game themselves. Only condition is they can not just ‘one time’ it making them control it.The players love this and the only pressure put on them is by themselves.

Iain’s 3 Favorite Exercises

5 v 5 to 4 goalsAnother scrimmage base exercise. As I mentioned before, you learn by playing. This exercise allows for changing of the point of attack as well as flank play.

4 v 2 + 6 supportThis is a possession exercise that puts the ball under a lot of pressure with twice as many defenders in the action grid. Around the grid are support players who all the attackers to play the ball to and continue making runs.

As a playerIain started his career with St. Mirren in Scotland 1968 as a 16 year old. He signed as a professional the next year on December 11 and within two weeks made his debut. He later moved to Hibernian then moved to Glasgow Rangers. He moved back to St. Mirren (where Sir Alex Ferguson was the manager). While at St. Mirren he was called up to the Scottish National Team. Scotland was coached by the legendary coach, Jock Stein. After St. Mirren, he was sold to Stoke City for 250,000 GBP. He was there for one year and followed the manager to Sunderland for the same fee (250,000 GBP). He was at Sunderland for three years and was named captain. He then moved to Dundee United in 1984. Dundee and Iain  were in the European Cup semi-final that year. After another year he return to his home town club Hibernian to play for a good friend. After 18 months Iain retired with a hip injury (1987). He played 19 years as a professional,  captaining his country’s team as well as teams from Scottish and English Premier League. As Coach/ManagerIain attended the Scottish Coaching School where the instructor was Andy Roxburgh OBE (FIFA technical Director). At this time Iain had graduated from Scottish School of Education as a teacher with former graduates and National Team coaches Andy Roxburgh and Craig Brown. Andy Roxburgh recommended Iain to Dunfermline Athletic as a coach; they were a small club which had just been promoted to the Scottish Premier league. The team was young, thus allowing Iain to learn his trade in a low pressure environment. Dunfermline with Iain as

manager, won the First Division and got to the cup final for the first time in 25 years. He then moved to Dundee and won the first division also. Iain then moved to Hamilton and the team won the BQ cup. He finished his managing/coaching career at Raith Rovers. He and his wife moved to Florida to enjoy a very short retirement from the game. YSC, from a recommendation from Bobby Clark, wisely brought him to Pennsylvania in the summer of his first year of retirement. He has had a major impact on the elite players in Eastern Pennsylvania since his arrival. Not the best player in your street?

I lived in View Park just out side of Glasgow, housing state with lots of space to play. We played 3-4 hours all winter long, it was fun and relaxed, from the one square mile I lived, there was 47 professional players, four internationals! You graduated with Physical Education degree has this been beneficial to your coaching? It was key! The course was purely Physical Education; no English or Mathematics components. They taught us the body, and  the dynamics of every sport, rugby, basketball etc. All the top coaches from the country taught at the school. It was very

practical to my future. I learned that playing is the key. Ask yourself, would you become a better golfer by listening to Tiger Woods or by picking up a club and playing? Playing right!

 Influences on your coaching I played on the same field as Maradona, Eusebio and Kenny Dalglish. I was coached by the best coaches in Scotland for last 40/50 years, Jock Stein, Alex Ferguson, Walter Smith, Craig Brown, Andy Roxburgh, Eddie  Turnbull, Jock Wallace and Jim Mclean. They are National team managers, they have won the Champions League, and domestic titles.I am still learning! I probably have learned more now than when I was playing. As a coach we have horror stories about parents! How did your parents impact you play? They saw it as my hobby, no pressure. We played 50 weeks a year, with two weeks off. It was the same time as Wimbledon, so we played tennis for those two weeks. My father saw me play twice as U12 due to the fact that the games were at 3:00 and he could not get off work. When I played HS & boys club we played on a Saturday, so that’s when he saw me. My mother never saw me play. Both my parents passed away before I turned professional. My father never gave me advice he would say after the game, “How do you think you did?” then he would just listen. The only time he gave me some type of advice was for a Scottish School Boy tryout, he gave me red socks and bright orange shorts (to stand out).  I got selected.

Goal Keeping - Basic DiveBy Simon Robinson, ODP Goal Keeping Coach

ORGANIZATION / OBJECTIVES

Gk kneels with 2 balls placed 2 yards away from them on the left and right. GK must collapse dive on one ball, returning to the starting position before collapse diving to the other ball. 5 saves each side.Gks Progress to a “Baseball Catcher” type stance, thus allowing greater use of the “Positive” step towards the ball..GK’s Progress to a “Game” Ready position, as the keeper progresses,

move the ball further away allowing for an extra step before the collapse dive to help improve timing of the dive.

COACHING POINTS

Focus on correct catching techniqueMove body in line with the ball, no reachingHead still, eyes fixed on the ball

SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY

ORGANIZATION / OBJECTIVES GK’s line up in 4’s, each with a ball. Gk at the front throws the ball to the coach, who is 6 yards away. Gk then gets set and receives a serve from the coach to the right. After keepers have all gone through, repeat to the left.Progress to a reaction save where the coach does not let keeper know which direction the serve is going. Progress to reaction saves in the air and along the ground. The ground serve is dropped just to the coaches left or right and the keeper must advance dive and make the save..

COACHING POINTGet set before the serve each shot.Maintain eye contact with the ball not the server. Make sure body weight is forward and the keeper is on the balls of their feet hands slightly forward. Nearest foot goes towards the ball with a ‘Positive’ step. Hands follow the direction of the foot and go straight to the ball Body lowers towards the ball, hands behind the ball, arms extended away from the body. Stay on side, not on stomach.

ORGANIZATION / OBJECTIVES

3 GK’s work in Pairs, 6 yds apart. GK’s roll the ball to the side of their partner for them to collapse dive & save. Using a standing position, the server initially roles the ball to the opposite GK with a ‘saveable’ serve. Progress to serves in the air, stretching the keeper to advance their diving distance each time.

COACHING POINT

Get set before each shotMaintain eye contact with the ball not the server. Make sure body weight is forwardHands in front of their bodyNearest foot towards the ball ‘positive’Hands follow the direction of the footBody lowers towards the ball.Hands behind the ball, arms extended away from the bodyStay on side, not on stomach

Gk kneel in between the cones. Server rolls the ball towards the cone. GK must collapse dive to save the ball. 5 saves each side.Progress to “Catchers” Position, with ball still being served via a roll.Progress to standing Position, alternate serves from roll to throw. Making sure the serve is ‘Saveable” to promote good technique and diving confidence.4, Coach does not tell the keeper which side they are going to GK must react with correct technique.

Get set before each shot.When standing, Make sure body weight is forward and the keeper is on the balls of their feet hands slightly forward. Nearest foot goes towards the ball with a ‘Positive’ step. Hands follow the direction of the foot and go straight to the ball Body lowers towards the ball, hands behind the ball, arms extended away from the body. Stay on side, not on stomach.

SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY

TECHNICAL WARM-UP

SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY

ORGANIZATION / OBJECTIVES COACHING POINTS

Defending - Part 1By Ian Mulliner, Technical Director, Massachusetts YSA

TECHNICAL WARM-UP

OBJECTIVES

In a 20 x 30 field. Play 2 v 1. Players dribbles into the field and 2 defenders try to get the ball back. Score by regular goal.Variation 2v2, 3v2

COACHING POINT

• Angle of approach - pressure/cover• Speed of approach - pressure• Footwork - pressure• Posture - pressure• Angle & distance of cover• Communication - what do say?• Balance

EXPANDED SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY

GAME

OBJECTIVES

Using a half field. Divide the team into groups of 3 with 1 ball per group. The players should pass the ball between the group and on the coaches signal the player with the ball keeps the ball and the other 2 players adopt a pressure/cover posture against the ball carrier

COACHING POINT

• Angle of approach - pressure/cover• Speed of approach - pressure• Distance of cover• Footwork - pressure• Deny penetration - pressure/cover• Win back the back• Communication -who speaks &

what do they say?

SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY

OBJECTIVES

In a 44yd wide x 35yd long, field play 5 v 5 to 6 goals. Each team can score in any of the 3 goals that they are attacking. Play to set score or a set period of time.

COACHING POINT

• Closing speed - pressure• Covering players - Who, why?• Pressure & cover working together• Shape of the defense - when, where• Transition - when, where?• when to step up and when to drop

off

OBJECTIVES

In a 75yd x 50yd field, play 7v7All soccer rules apply

COACHING POINT

• Pressure - How & when• Cover - Who, why?• Balance - Who & where?• Team shape - how & why?• When to step & when to drop?• Transition - When & to where?

Possession - Tempo By Paul Shaw, Coaching Education Director, Virginia YSA

TECHNICAL WARM-UP

3v3 +3 (Or, 2v2 +2): 10x20-‐2 teams combine to keep from 3rd teamDefending team works for 2 min, score by dribbling out of the area-‐Progress to which ever team loses ball, they become the defending group

•  Passing and receiving details

•  Angle/distance of supportif you can’t find someone’s feet—must solve problem off the dribble

Can pass beat more than 1 defender? Use tempo to bring this out.

EXPANDED SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY

GAME

Groups of 4:-‐Sequential passing (1-‐2-‐3-‐4-‐1)-‐Striking ball with different parts of foot-‐Receive with a “bigger” first touch to simulate aHacking space after we win the ball-‐Receive to self to simulate playing under pressure• Passing and receiving details.

progress: even numbers have 1 touch (odd slows game down – switch)

If time allows: Progression of combining 2 groups

SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY

Flying Changes 4v4: (Area is on a small sided soccer field) -‐Players are split into 3 teams-‐One team (red) aHacks the goal and if they score, they get another ball from “center” to play again

-‐Other team defends (white), if they get ball to 3rd team (yellow)—they are off!3rd team then aHacks the team that was previously aHacking (red)

Teams rotate

•  Technical details of passing and receiving

•  How quickly can we establish width and height?

•  Where is space? Can we exploit it?

6v6 Game:

• Coaching points applied here of whole session