Question Number: 19650

Character, Attitude and Control 7/25/2008

Al of Strathroy, ON CANADA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 19629

Guys: I don't usually give coaching advice, but after reading two pages of 'justification' for 'picks', I simply can't help myself.

Perhaps this may help you Pat: I had the great pleasure of refereeing a game yesterday where skilled soccer was played. I basically watched a beautiful game move around me from the best seat in the house. Teams that focus on using the Laws to their advantage aren't playing soccer. Spend time on basic skills. It's a whole lot smarter and effective than trying to outguess the game officials or your opponents.

If you want to 'bend' Laws: Try the slightly tapped corner kick or free kick and then have another player take over and dribble it in, have 6 players stand offside calling for the ball only to have an onside runner get the ball or dribble it through the 'stunned' defenders, hit an opponent with a throw in so you can dribble it in, teach your team to do flip throws.

I'm trying to figure out why I never see this stuff much beyond U14-16. It compensates for lack of skill? Hmmm???

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

We have a difficult time explaining to coaches about their trick plays because they are soooooooooooooo right and know sooooooo much about this Game. Sometimes we even have a bit of a rub with referees in their knowledge and breaking myth out of their knowledge. Take for instance those who suggest the slightly tapped ball is, in fact, kicked and moved. It is not!

Pat took the time to write us three times about 'picks'. He also wrote US Soccer for their take on the matter, funny thing -- we answered essentially the same. Go figure...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

When coaching I teach a basic program called SPAM! Space, pace, angles and movement. It is the interaction of understanding what off the ball really meant as it is 98% of the match. I often have my parents use a stop watch to stop start when their son or daughter has ball possession it is generally a very few minutes or even seconds in some cases . This highlights the importance of awareness when you do not have the ball and the brief time one has to use a specific skill or technique effectively when you do. While we can debate the finer points of subterfuge the three basic criteria for evolved play is to understand what is the most important and also the fastest thing on the field, what is the second fastest and what is required when the first two are beyond your control.
The brain, your mind the ability to think, to anticipate, follow directions, learn skills, employ technique is the FIRST.
The ball, it travels faster than any one can run but it does not think is number 2
Your heart, without the will all that is taught is useless. The heart can compensate for natural ability to a point is the third
Yes having fun is important as is safety, team work etc.. but success is tied into establishing correct habits instilled at the early ages which allows these concepts to develop and blossom
Cheers.