Category: coaches

  • 2-3 Goal per Game Difference: Home-Field Advantage

    The \’home-field advantage\’ is no myth. Youth and professional teams play better at home. Less travel, field familiarity, and friendly spectators help. In addition, scheduling and knowing the \’elements\’ can increase this advantage even more. Finally, incorporating several tricks can help a team both at home and away.

  • \’Adopt-a-College-Soccer-Player\’ Program

    A \’Adopt-a-College-Player\’ program will benefit youth soccer players, the soccer Club/League, the local College/University, the Club/League coaches, and the college/university player.

  • Player, Parents, and Coach Soccer Evaluations and Meetings

    Much like school where progress reports are regularly sent home and parent/teacher conferences are routinely offered, soccer players, parents, and coaches will benefit greatly from player evaluations and player/parent/coaches meetings. While the evaluations and meetings will require the coach to spend many extra hours to complete, it will be well worth the effort.

  • All High School Freshman and Junior Varsity Players Should Play

    At a recent Junior Varsity game I refereed, both coaches made only two substitutions each even though they both had over 20 players suited up. While I may not know the full reason why more players did not participate in the game, it is much more important for Freshman and Junior Varsity players to get…

  • Suggestions for Tournament-Downtime Activities

    One of the things I disliked about soccer tournaments was the potentially long gap between games. However, this extended time period can be a marvelous opportunity for players to participate in a fun and unique activity that they otherwise would not get a chance to do. Make sure the activities off the field are as…

  • 2-3 Goal Difference Per Game: Neutralize the Best Player

    What can a coach do when facing a team that has an exceptional player? At the youth level, an exceptional player can have a huge impact on a game. Therefore, he or she needs to be neutralized. But how? The answer is with \’The Glove\’!

  • Four Eyes Are Better than Two

    It is extremely important for players develop eyes-in-the-back-of-the-head. This demonstration will teach players the importance of developing these eyes in a fun and memorable manner.

  • 2-3 Goal Difference Per Game: Smart Pass-Backs to the Goalie

    Passbacks to the goalie can be an important strategy in soccer especially when it is done with purpose. However, it must be executed properly or else could end in disaster.

  • Are You Right or Left Footed?

    A great question to ask young soccer players are whether they are right or left footed. Most will say right. A few will say left. Fewer still will give the correct answer of \’both\’. In order to become a good soccer player, players must feel comfortable using both feet.

  • 2-3 Goal Difference Per Game: Follow-up the Shot

    Every time a ball is shot on goal, offensive and defense must anticipate that the goalie will make a great save and the ball will rebound back into player or it will be dropped. By following-up the shot, attackers will score more goals and defenders will save more goals.