Watching all of my teams play over the course of the spring I began to notice that one thing that separates the more advanced players from the rest is their ability to change their running pace easily, to be able to stop quickly then burst back into a full stride or to change their pace mid stride with stutter steps and feints.
I think that all of our Legends players have at least one really good change of direction move that they can rely on and they all, I think, understand in a general way how to use that move in game situations. For some it's a simple cut to left or right. For others it's something flashier. But few of them are comfortable yet using change of pace as a way to deceive an opponent. Rather they tend to get up to full speed and stay there until they lose the ball, running "down hill" in the same gear all the time.
This season I want to work with all of my teams to develop each player's ability to use their speed more dynamically, to be able to accelerate fast, to stop quickly and with control and to change pace with ease. At each practice this season we'll start with a stretching/strengthening routine (about 10 minutes) that I hope will help the kids to develop their running stride, their balance and their feel for how to accelerate explosively. Then in each practice we'll also work on a deceptive dribbling move that I think specifically emphasizes change of pace with some sort of stop-start component.
My plan for this season is to not move on from one skill to the next until I'm satisfied that all of my players on the teams are comfortable executing the skill and are ready to try it in a game, and this is where the influence of the parents, of our "supporters section", becomes so important. My instructions to my teams on game day will be simple: I'm not interested in the final score, I'm interested in seeing each of you go out there and use the skills we've been practicing. So when you are watching them play, please be sure to cheer loudest when you see them try to use a deceptive move, when they try to possess the ball and take control of the situation rather than booting it away. Let them know that you see them taking chances and playing bravely.
Here are video clips showing the first few moves we'll be working on this season.
The first is the famous Puskas or "V" move.
Next is the Cruyff turn, an essential move for every player. And then the Mathews, a great little hesitation and cut move. We'll also work on the mirror version, the Elastico.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Monday, July 14, 2014
Quality
The best part of this World Cup was the ignominious exit of Brazil from the tournament. From their very first game in the group stage the "Seleção" demonstrated that while fabulous ball control skills are a wonderful thing for Nike ads, when it's game time you forget the fancy moves and just start diving...shamelessly. The flop by Brazilian star "Fred" in their opening game versus Croatia was so egregious that I really expected FIFA authorities to issue some sort of post-match fine or at least an apology for the referee. As it was, Fred's transparent simulation led to a PK for Neymar and ultimately to a 2-1 win for Brazil.
And that's how they played every match. All of the commercials for Nike and Coke were highlighting the romantic tradition of Brazilian joga bonita, the bare-footed, play-in-the-alleys-and-on-the-rooftops-to-the-beat-of-a-samba version of the game. But the team in the tournament, dressed proudly in their national colors, was showing the world what most fans know to be the true nature of Brazilian soccer: flop, dive, simulate, whine...feign injury and writhe in pain until the ref produces a yellow card...and then when you take the PK be sure to point to the sky and thank Jesus. Man, I loved watching these losers get waxed by Germany and then again by the Orange.
There were other divers and floppers on other clubs but, thankfully, there were also some great examples of players who don't tip over so easily. At the top of that list is Lionel Messi. Coach Mark was able to isolate some video from the Argentina v Belgium game that shows Messi being fouled repeatedly and yet he does not go to the turf until he is literally forced down. In the closeup you can see that it's not until Fellaini actually steps on Messi's foot, pinning him to the ground, that Lionel finally tumbles down. Until that point he keeps stumbling forward not wanting to give up on his chance to get off a shot. Brilliant quality.
And that's how they played every match. All of the commercials for Nike and Coke were highlighting the romantic tradition of Brazilian joga bonita, the bare-footed, play-in-the-alleys-and-on-the-rooftops-to-the-beat-of-a-samba version of the game. But the team in the tournament, dressed proudly in their national colors, was showing the world what most fans know to be the true nature of Brazilian soccer: flop, dive, simulate, whine...feign injury and writhe in pain until the ref produces a yellow card...and then when you take the PK be sure to point to the sky and thank Jesus. Man, I loved watching these losers get waxed by Germany and then again by the Orange.
There were other divers and floppers on other clubs but, thankfully, there were also some great examples of players who don't tip over so easily. At the top of that list is Lionel Messi. Coach Mark was able to isolate some video from the Argentina v Belgium game that shows Messi being fouled repeatedly and yet he does not go to the turf until he is literally forced down. In the closeup you can see that it's not until Fellaini actually steps on Messi's foot, pinning him to the ground, that Lionel finally tumbles down. Until that point he keeps stumbling forward not wanting to give up on his chance to get off a shot. Brilliant quality.
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