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Archive for March, 2017

The ‘FUNdamental Flow’ – Soccer Coaching Drills for 4-5 Year Olds

Tuesday, March 28th, 2017

In this article, we will explore the fundamental flow of effective Soccer Coaching Drills that not only engage young athletes but also help develop their basic skills. By incorporating these drills into your training sessions, you can create a fun and educational environment that fosters a love for the game. Whether you’re a coach or a parent, understanding and implementing these Soccer Coaching Drills will lay a solid foundation for the future growth of your young soccer stars.

Soccer Coach’s Question

Help I coach 4 and 5 year olds.  It is really hard to keep their attention.  Can you suggest some drills that I can work with them on?  Coach Katherine,

FUNdamental Response

Coach Katherine, when dealing with 4-5 year old players you really don’t need much help! What you do need is lots of PATIENCE!

But, to answer your question: Do not look for any ‘drills’ to keep these children active.  All soccer players including your 4-5 year olds come to practice to PLAY!  So make your first goal to: KEEP the PLAYERS and the SOCCER BALL MOVING in other words KEEP THEM ACTIVE – ALL THE TIME PLAYING SOCCER!

The Formula

  1. If the players and the balls are moving = Soccer learning is taking place.
  2. If the players or the balls stop moving = Soccer learning stops!
  3. You will be able to keep the players and the balls moving by using and patiently teaching your players the ‘FUNdamental Flow.’

FUNdamental Flow – Soccer Training Drills for Coaches

1.  Begin Practice

Tell Them the ‘Practice’ Rules and What They Will Learn.

2.  Warm-up

  • Inside a marked-out square (grid)
  • Have each player move their own ball around the square (dribbling).
  • Occasionally call out a simple instruction such as “Stop the Ball” and then “Continue Dribbling”.  (Note:  Don’t worry about how they Stop the ball as long as they don’t use their hands.)
  • Show them a simple move with their foot (taking it around the ball) use the word ‘around’ and hope they follow your instructions.  Note: Don’t worry about how well the foot goes around the ball as long as the ball and player are moving some learning is taking place J
  • Show them how to and (pretend) stretch at this age.

Note: Since they all have a ball and Since they are moving (your objective) you may want to continue this portion for a looong time.  Be sure to add more simple instructions for what you want them to do with the ball (pull-back) and again … Don’t worry about the technique just keep them and the ball moving J

3.  ONE + ONE (Cooperative Play)

PATIENTLY Try to teach them ‘how to’ attack one goal while defend the other..

4.  ONE vs. ONE (Competitive Play)

SEE (observe) if they learned what you tried to teach them in the 1+1 game.

5.  HALF TIME

Teach them (PATIENTLY) what will happen at halftime.

  • Drink water (no oranges – not enough liquid)
  • Give them compliments (away from parents)
  • Tell them what will happen next

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6.  SMALL SIDED GAMES (Cooperative & Competitive)

Have teams of 2 or 3 players play against 1 or 2 other players.

Cooperative (Teach)…

Talk to them and help them attack and defend the appropriate goal.

Competitive (Test)

SEE if they learned what you tried to teach them in the cooperative game.

7.  SCRIMMAGE (Cooperative & Competitive)

Cooperative (Teach)…

Talk to them and help them attack and defend the appropriate goal.

Competitive (Test)

SEE if they learned what you tried to teach them in the cooperative scrimmage.

Very Important: 

  • Leave them alone and watch them be the best they can be.
  • Don’t get discouraged if some decides to ‘stop’ and watch the clouds ‘go by’.

8.  COOL DOWN

Have them pretend that they are ‘stretching’ their muscles – just like the big players. Use this time to give each individual some praise for improvement.

9.  END PRACTICE

Give the team praise for improving and give them a homework assignment (play 1vs.1 against brother, sister, Mom or Dad).

  • Have them help you clean-up the facility.
  • Stick to this ‘FLOW’ and you will find that as the children begin to understand what is expected
  • They will become more and more attentive.

To keep it simple…Make your first goal – To Teach the Children ‘How to’ keep the ball and themselves moving… Make sure they eventually go to attack one goal and also defend their own goal.  Teach them the “FLOW” and with lots of PATIENCE you will find your 4-5 year olds actively PLAYING in your practices.

If you keep changing from drill to drill (lots of variety) they will not understand what you want and you can not build on that!

No Understanding = No Learning!

FUNdamental Flow - 9 Step Soccer Training Drills for Coaches

Final FUNdamental Words of Wisdom:

It is rather sad that we organize this wonderful sport at such a young age.

It would be wiser if administrators made every effort to just organize PLAY DAYS for the children in this age group.  That is, have a Saturday when the children are dropped-off at the playground.  Yes, have the parents go home and enjoy some quality time together while their children are outside in a safe environment – PLAYING SOCCER!

Final Notes:

Have a question?  Please send it to me at: koachkarl@fundamentalsoccer.com

Thank you for taking the time to read this article and Sharing it with your soccer community.

Your FUNdamental,

Koach Karl (Karl Dewazien)

Portable Soccer Goals for Small Sided Soccer Training

If you are interested in buying soccer goals for training your soccer team, a good place to order from is Farpost Soccer Goals Ltd. Farpost Goals builds very high quality portable soccer goals that are used by coaches and soccer clubs across North America. They are built strong for competitions and portable for everyday training, making them a great asset for coaches. Visit Farpost’s online store to order yours.

If you have any questions or require any assistance in picking a soccer net for your coaching practice, please don’t hesitate to contact Farpost Goals.

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Enhance Your Soccer Program

Friday, March 17th, 2017

Join the Far Post Goals Soccer Program in Monroe, NJ!

Welcome to our blog, where we delve into the exciting details of our Soccer Program in Monroe, NJ! At Far Post Goals, our Soccer Program is designed to nurture young talent, providing them with the skills and confidence to excel on the field. Whether your child is a beginner or looking to enhance their abilities, our Soccer Program offers comprehensive training and competitive opportunities to help them grow. Join us as we explore what makes our program a fantastic choice for aspiring soccer players in the community!

A quick reminder in case you missed the memo, Farpost Soccer Goals Company will be presenting a fun-?lled soccer program featuring our adjustable 3-goals-for-the-price-of-1 and a presentation by author, clinician, and hall-of-famer: Koach Karl (Karl Dewazien).

Program Highlights and Benefits

As a manufacturer of high quality, adjustable aluminum soccer goals, Farpost goals are safe, strong, easy to set-up, and to dismantle. Our soccer goals meet the new goal sizes mandated by US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. Learn why over 800 soccer clubs in North America already use Farpost Goals!

Emeritus Director of Coaching, California Youth Soccer Association, Karl Dewazien will be offering an overview of the 9 Step Practice, another winner in the FUNdamental series of books, which offers a unique, child-centric approach for younger soccer players.

Registration: To register for this program, please visit our Facebook Page (click “interested” under upcoming events and we will register you), or contact us at info@farpostgoals.com!

Program @ SportsZone Koach Karl“The outcome of our children is infinitely more important than the outcome of any game they will ever play!” -Koach Karl

 

Directions How to Get There

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Soccer Tactics for Shooting: “Follow Your Shot”

Monday, March 13th, 2017

A shot is taken on goal the ball bounces off the goal-keeper or the goal post and there is no one there to simply tap the ball into the net. Then, one hears the frustrated coach and a chorus of bewildered spectators screaming, “Follow the Shot … Follow Your Shot!”

One would think that soccer players would instinctively follow-every-shot and yet there is a lack of urgency to do so even at the highest level.  Makes one wonder why since we know that the key to creating good soccer habits comes from good consistent repetition.

Why U-6 & U-8 Soccer Players Need to ‘Follow the Shot’

Coaches are taught: “If ‘it’ happens in the game –Practice ‘it’! ‘

(IT) in this case means, “Follow the Shot”

Let’s take a look at the U-6 and U-8 games which have No Goalkeepers; resulting in no Rebounds off GK; meaning no need to practice (IT); with no repetition of (IT) there can be no habit created in these years of play.

Goals in U-6 and U-8 games are many times marked-out by cones, flags or round-plastic tubes; resulting in very few (if any)-rebounds; meaning few (IT) practices needed; with a few repetitions (if any) creating the habit of (IT) may not happen.

In the U-9 and U-12 games goalkeepers are introduced; resulting in some rebounds off the GK; meaning there is a need to practice (IT).  But, how many shooting sessions have you observed, in these age groups, where balls were purposely deflected by the GK so that (IT) could be practiced?

Unfortunately, goals in these age groups are also marked-out by cones, flags or round-plastic tubes; resulting in very few (if any)-rebounds; meaning few (IT) practices needed; with a few repetitions (if any) creating the habit of (IT) may not happen.

We know that to create a habit one must repeat (I repeat) one must repeat the movement over and over and over again.

Learning Technique

In his article, “Brain Study and Learning Technique”, Paul Recer, Associated Press Writer had this to say…

“It takes the brain about six hours to store in memory a new physical skill, such as riding a bike and this memory can be wiped out if the mind’s storage process is interrupted by trying to learn another new skill researchers have found.

“We’ve shown that time itself is a very powerful component of learning,” said Dr. Henry Holcomb, a psychiatrist who heads a Johns Hopkins University group that studies how people remember. “It is not enough to simply practice something. You have to allow time to pass for the brain to encode the new skill.”

“By measuring the blood flow patterns in the brain, the scientists determined that it takes five to six hours for the memory of a new skill to move from temporary storage site in the front of the brain to permanent storage at the back.

During those six hours there is a window of vulnerability when memory of the new skill can be easily eroded if the person attempts to learn a second new skill.

If you were performing a piano piece for the first time and then immediately started practicing something else, then, that will cause problems in retention of the initial piece that you practiced”, said Holcomb.

 

It would be better, he said, if the first practice session was followed by five to six hours of routine activity that required no new learning.

 

In the Hopkins study, the researchers used a positron emission tomography device, or PET, to individually measure blood PET and then taught to manipulate PET image flow in the brains of 16 test subjects while they learned a new motor skill. The people were placed into an object on a computer screen by using a motorized robotic arm. The test required unusually precise and rapid hand movements that could be learned only through practice.

During the learning process showed that blood flow was most active in the prefrontal cerebral cortex of the brain.

After the learning session, the test subjects were allowed to do unrelated routine things for five to six hours and were then rested.

When operating the robotic arm this time the blood flow was most active in the posterior parietal and cerebella areas, said Holcomb.

“This shift in the brain is necessary to render the memory invulnerable and permanent,” he said. “What we see is the consolidation of the memory.”

It is such a consolidation, said Holcomb, that allows a person never to forget some skills, such as riding a bike or swimming (Inserted: FUNdamentally- Following-the-Shot) that were learned as a child.”

Using Real Goal Posts in Practice

There you have it –Common Sense that tells you, If it happens in the Game – Practice it and Scientific proof that practice of the movement (IT) must be as realistic to game conditions as possible.  And the one constant that we can use to create the habit of (IT) is the use of real Farpost goals!

Your FUNdamental,

Koach Karl (Karl Dewazien)

Why Coaching U-6 & U-8 Soccer to always 'Follow your Shot' is Critical

Ordering Portable Soccer Goals for Practice

If you are interested in getting portable aluminum soccer goals to start training following the shot for rebounds on, a good place to order from is Farpost Soccer Goals Ltd. Farpost Goals builds very high quality portable soccer goals that are used by clubs across North America. They are built for competitions and everyday training, making them a great asset for coaches. Visit Farpost’s online store to order yours.

If you have any questions or require any assistance in picking a soccer net for your coaching practice, please don’t hesitate to contact Farpost Goals.

 

 

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Koach Karl’s Soccer Conditioning Instructions for Coaches

Monday, March 6th, 2017

Coaching Question:

I was wondering if you can help me in this dilemma? I am a coach of a competitive boys soccer team. I have been reading about conditioning for my sport, and I have encountered different views in regard to which age is appropriate to start a conditioning program (aerobic, anaerobic, Strength) for youth soccer players that would allow performance to improve.

I would appreciate your input, and if you have any books you suggest I read it would be great.

Thank you,

Coach R. Tomarchio

*****

Koach Karl’s Komments:

I am a great believer in having the game take care of all technical, tactical, physical and mental improvement.

For soccer conditioning training you should focus on the application of Step. 3 (1 vs.1) Competitive Play, in my “FUNdamental SOCCER Practice”

Soccer Conditioning Tips for Coaches

 

Soccer Conditioning Instructions for Coaches

Allow the players to partner up with a player of their own choice. Have the players put down their own ‘small goals’ which should be placed, at least, 10 yards apart. Begin the game with ‘A Serve’ from the right side of their own goal. At the same time start your watch and allow them to play from 30 seconds to 1 minute depending on the conditioning you seek.

Incidentally, do not have any other boundaries; the ball is constantly in play for the full time. Allow them to score from either side; this also keeps the action going! When time is over call ‘stop’ and the last player back to his/her goal gives a point to their opponent (this forces them to sprint back into position).

Have a 1 minute (active) rest period. For example: ask the players to pass the ball back and forth between partners, while you ask each one ‘how many’ points they scored?
Keep a running ‘total’ of who scored. Then ask the players to “Rotate” and once again we begin the 1 vs. 1 game – stop on a signal – take another break – ask for points scored.
Once each player has played ALL the other players on the team – and they are back to their first opponent. Begin the whole sequence again – except, have them start the game by ‘serving’ the ball from the left side of their goal.

This part of the “Routine” was highly emphasized by three high school coaches this last season. Each added – that the ‘totaling of points” was used for their criteria as to who would be in their starting line-up.  They took the emotional part out of selecting their starting eleven – by totaling up points in the 1 vs. 1 game and the top eleven were automatic starters. No questions asked!

All three ended their season ‘on top’ of their league standings – two for the first time in tenure as high school head coaches. All three – claimed that they did not go back to their ‘traditional’ lap running and wind sprints for conditioning. The players ‘loved’ the exclusion of these non-soccer activities – and the coaches appreciated their player’s fitness, after they saw the game results.

Additionally, two of the coaches added variety and gave points in the 1 vs. 1 game for more than just scoring (i.e. preventing goals, good tackles, enthusiasm, etc.).  The final result, the players had to continuously give their best effort, in practice over long periods of time resulting in tremendous soccer fitness – Priceless..!

Your FUNdamental,

Koach Karl (Karl Dewazien)

 

Looking to Buy Small Sided Soccer Goals for Training?

If you are interested in buying aluminum soccer goals for your coaching or soccer conditioning training, check out the Far Post Soccer Goals’ online store. Far Post Goal’s high quality portable goals are used by clubs across North America; they are built for competitions, small sided soccer, soccer practice, tournaments, tryouts, and training at home!

If you have any questions or require any assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact our team!

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A Fun-Filled Soccer Program, Mar 18th 2017

Friday, March 3rd, 2017

A Fun-Filled Soccer Program, Mar 18th 2017

 

Farpost Soccer Goals Company will be presenting a fun-?lled soccer program featuring our adjustable 3-goals-for-the-price-of-1 and a presentation by author, clinician, and hall-of-famer: Koach Karl (Karl Dewazien).

Program Highlights and Benefits

As a manufacturer of high quality, adjustable aluminum soccer goals, Farpost goals are safe, strong, easy to set-up, and to dismantle. Our soccer goals meet the new goal sizes mandated by US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. Learn why over 800 soccer clubs in North America already use Farpost Goals!

Emeritus Director of Coaching, California Youth Soccer Association, Karl Dewazien will be offering an overview of the 9 Step Practice, another winner in the FUNdamental series of books, which offers a unique, child-centric approach for younger soccer players.

Registration: To register for this program, please visit our Facebook Page (click “interested” under upcoming events and we will register you), or contact us at info@farpostgoals.com!

Program @ SportsZone Koach Karl“The outcome of our children is infinitely more important than the outcome of any game they will ever play!” -Koach Karl

 

 

Directions How to Get There

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Soccer Training Solo Tips: Juggling & Passing

Wednesday, March 1st, 2017

If you’re looking to improve your soccer skills independently, incorporating effective techniques into your routine is essential. In this blog post, we’ll explore Soccer Training Solo Tips that can help you enhance your juggling, passing, and overall ball control. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, these Soccer Training Solo Tips will provide you with valuable drills and insights to elevate your game without the need for a partner. Get ready to take your training to the next level with these practical Soccer Training Solo Tips!

 

Q.  I train a lot by myself and I like to get tips and training methods, so that I can develop into a ‘great’ soccer player.  Bill H.

FUNdamental Response

First, Bill, you are not alone when you train to become a ‘great’ soccer player. You have a ball and you must make that ball your friend.

You can make all your soccer dreams come true
Once you can make the ball do what you want it to!

Soccer Ball Juggling

Soccer juggling drill and practice tips for youth soccer coaching

This means that you must work on – Juggling the ball.  That is, keeping the ball in the air using:

  1. Your instep – the area where you tie your shoe laces
    • Be sure to bounce the ball from right to left foot and vice versa.
    • Avoid using only your strong foot – go from right to left instep.
    • Keep score of your highest repetition and beat it on your future attempts.
  1. Thigh – Your goal is to go as many times from right to left thigh as possible.
  2. Head – Your goal is to head the ball as many times as possible.
  3. Combination of the above – Instep-Thigh and Head!

Sequence should be: Lift the ball with your feet, tap it with right and left laces; tap it from thigh to thigh and finish juggling with your head. You know your goal is to set a ‘new’ record with each attempt.

Second, you are not alone when you train to become a ‘great’ soccer player if you find a wall or a bench that you can use as your partner.

Wall as your partner

Soccer passing drill and practice tips for youth soccer coaching - solo skills

With a ball and wall as your partners pass and/or shoot the ball against the wall while work on the following techniques:

  1. Read the Game: (Peek/Look) Take your eyes off the ball while it is traveling to and from your wall or bench.
  2. Run to Attack: (Move) Move toward every ricochet ball — do not wait for it to come to you.
  3. Receive the Ball: (1st Touch) Bring the ball under your control — use body parts that give you problems in the game. Don’t forget the ‘magic hop.’
  4. Retain the ball (Dribbling) Keep the ball under control — move the ball around objects; pretend to beat imaginary opponents with body feints or foot fakes.
  5. Release the ball (Pass-Shoot) Practice your passing or shooting techniques against the wall or bench, etc.

Congratulations 

Everyone is to be congratulated for having the ambition to work out with your friend the ball and your partners (wall or bench). You will find that this extra work will pay huge dividends in the future. Keep up this ‘private’ training and you will surely be a success in your soccer career!

Your FUNdamental,

Koach Karl (Karl Dewazien)

 

Buy Soccer Goals for Home Practice

If you are interested in buying excellent soccer goals for home to train on, check out Farpost Soccer Goals Ltd.. Farpost Goals prides itself on building top quality portable soccer goals that soccer players, coaches, and soccer clubs are always 100% thrilled with. Our high quality portable goals are used by clubs across North America, they are built for competitions, small sided soccer, soccer practice, tournaments, tryouts, and training at home! They are great at home and in the field visit our online soccer goal store.

If you have any questions or require any assistance in picking a soccer net for your backyard or home, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

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