I was scheduled to coach my soccer team on the same pitches, at the same time also the very next day, and my plan was to go out early and do a pitch inspection before making a decision on whether soccer training would take place, and inform the parents of the soccer players whether soccer coaching was on. You never know what can happen overnight.

And so it came to be – bright and early the next morning I tentatively walked out on my garden lawn to get an idea of the ground was like, and the ominous crunch-crunching sound of my boots on the semi-frozen ground rang in my ears. Not a good sign. But I decided to head out to our soccer pitches and check the state of those as well.

A swathe of icy-whiteness greeted me as I walked across our soccer grounds towards the training area where most of the soccer coaching took place. If anything, the conditions seemed even worse. The hardness of the ground was evident as my boots hardly made an impression on the knurled, unevenly frozen surface.

But as I approached the end of the training area, I began to feel the ground beneath me give way somewhat as this part of the soccer training area seemed to have softened out. I was not sure why this corner of the grounds was different, perhaps the large nearby trees with the large overhanging branches had something to do with it, but there was an area roughly 30×40 in size that was playable. Perhaps not completely safe for a match, but certainly good for some light training.

So the training session went ahead. Just some dribbling skills, ball retention activities and even a short game afterwards. And it was a welcome relief to all, including the parents who had got the children out the house for a long-overdue run-around. (For more soccer coaching techniques click here)

Did all the soccer players attend? No, some had stayed away, their parents not bringing them due to the weather conditions. I even got a call from one of them.

“I assume training is off today George” one mother quoted.

“Err no, we’re training alright” I responded.

“But my husband is adamant that it’s too unsafe to play football in these conditions” she quipped.

“Well….if it was unsafe then I wouldn’t be training” I retorted rather obviously.

Perhaps I could have been somewhat more diplomatic…but the fact that they had made assumptions as to what the conditions were at a place they had not been to I felt did not warrant it.

In any case, I am just as guilty of making hasty assumptions as the next person, but this proves that it pays to check things out first. Soccer training can take place in seemingly impossible conditions. But always of course, with the safety being the top priority.        

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As you can imagine, pre-school children between the ages of 3 -5 have a different set of requirements than say even 5 – 7 year olds. This is because typically, players of pre-school age have come into soccer (or any other sport for that matter) not of their own choice. So making the soccer training experience a fun and enjoyable one is a very important aspect of soccer coach’s method of coaching soccer to children of this early age.

But there still needs to be some form of structured learning practices included for the children to learn the game of soccer, and simple ones I find work best. For example the well known Traffic lights game (where different coloured cones –red, yellow, green are held up by the soccer coach for distinct skills to be executed) is a great way for the children to learn the basics of looking up to see what is around them.

Also, placing various parts of the body on the ball at various intervals (left, right foot, knee, elbow, head!) at various intervals reinforces the same thing with the advantage of having them have numerous touches of the ball.

For more information on more specific soccer coaching techniques click here.

The “soccer parents” watching also enjoy this type of fun related soccer training, with the added advantage of taking away some ideas to practice with future football stars in the back garden! Including a soccer match towards the end of a practice session is a must for these young soccer players as it is probably the most fun they can have as far as they are concerned. At this level, I am quite happy to let the game flow and see how the children develop with minimum intervention.

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This is also true for the short breaks over the Xmas and New Year’s period. The players are all off school or college or similar institutions, and after even a few days are looking for something to do. I have headed this post “soccer parenting” as I think that this is more of a parent management thing rather than a soccer coaching process, (as I am both!) and take this opportunity to involve my children in fun, soccer-related activities over the holiday break. This serves a number of purposes:

It keeps them involved with some physical exercise, it allows them to “keep up” their touch and feel of the football (the first thing that seems to get lost when not playing the soccer over a certain period) which then also allows them to maintain this momentum into the next regular training sessions.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple things that almost any parent (or soccer parent!) can do, like just passing the soccer ball around in the local park (but somewhat specific, like long and short passing, or ball control) or even having a game like soccer tennis (a great way to get your child’s anticipation, quickness of feet and ball control practiced) on a disused tennis court. If you can rustle up more players (always available as even though it’s the holidays, children will always want a fun game of soccer) even better, then a match situation can be developed.

Either way, the importance is for the player’s, the younger ones especially, to continue to be involved in something they love like soccer over an enforced break, with the added bonus of a parent’s input can only be a positive process for all.      

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A typical, and well known formation for example is 4-4-2. But even this formation can have variations within it in terms of where the players position themselves. What is less well known (and less well documented) are the formations for mini-soccer or 7 a side games.

This is a pity, as the player’s formative years in youth soccer are at this stage (up to U10), and it is a good opportunity for them to learn and experience positional play. Again, the criteria for selection of a particular formation for a 7 a side soccer team is much the same for the 11 a side team.

(For more information on soccer coaching click here)

There are a number of combinations to choose from, whether it is 2-2-2, or 3-2-1 or 3-3-3 or 1-2-1-2 or whatever. There are advantages and disadvantages to all of them. For example, the 2-2-2 formation (2 defenders, 2 midfielders and 2 attackers) is a robust and steady combination that has much of the pitch pretty well covered, but it is a very linear formation allowing for little flexibility and interchange.

The same issue arises with the 3-3-3 formation, with the added possibility of the front 3 players being isolated from the back 3. On the other hand a 1-2-1-2 (1 defending sweeper, 2 defensive mids, 1 attacking mid, and a forward) formation has a nice balance and creates triangles for interchange and passing moves, but can leave the midfield lightweight if not managed correctly.

I personally play typically a 1-1-3-1 formation. Why? Because it suits my team. The players I have can play in this formation with relative comfort. Is it ideal for all teams? No. In fact, for some soccer teams it can be a defensive nightmare. It is a bit of a risk, as there’s only 1 defensive mid, and a sweeper at the back. But both my wings are pretty quick and so is my sweeper, so danger is usually dealt with pretty quickly.

Ultimately, however, what I see is more important is the selection criteria as opposed to the formation itself. The soccer coach has to select the formation that suits and fits the players in the team and then experiment, refine and correct as time goes on.

And then I found out the options were, at best limited. Unless you were prepared to give up your time and pay for the whole course yourself. With the Level 2 FA soccer coaching qualification I had at the time, I could forget full-time employment in a soccer coaching related capacity, and even part time was really not an option. Not in the sense of being able to get paid a half decent salary anyway.

If a soccer coach wanted to expand his or her knowledge and further their career in the soccer coaching arena, at least in the UK, then that experience would have to be gained through voluntary soccer coaching, or at best be recruited into a professional football club, and start doing after school soccer clubs for that particular soccer club for a few (3 or 4) hours a week at a very basic level of pay. And after school clubs of course meant weekdays which of course the majority of people cannot do due to work commitments.

Well, the answer to the why there is a lack of soccer coaching personnel in the UK as this assessor put it, is, in my view staring them loud and clear in the face. There is simply no incentive for people to go on and get FA approved soccer qualifications….as there are very limited opportunities for them to get employment after they have invested their money in these soccer coaching courses.

It seems to me that the whole coaching system, at least at grassroots level here in the UK is heavily reliant on the individual coach’s own love of the game and commitment to teaching that has a coach spending his or her time and money on furthering their soccer education – for very little in return in terms of support from the governing bodies (or any body for that matter) and little financial incentive. You can only get so far on the love of the game.

I would like to know if anyone has had similar or perhaps even different experiences. Please leave a comment on my blog.

This really came about when one of the more senior assessors (basically a coach educator’s assessor – so in simple terms, the guy who assessed the coaches teaching us coaches) gave us a bit of a speech regarding the current state of soccer coaching here in the UK. Amongst some of the facts he mentioned, the one that stood out in my mind was a comment he made about the shortage of qualified football coaches here in the UK.

And statistically, as big and as popular the game of soccer is here in the UK, compared to the likes of Spain and Italy, the numbers of qualified soccer coaches is in no way comparable. There are far less qualified soccer coaches here in the UK, than there are in some of the other major soccer nations in Europe, such as Spain and Italy. I cannot remember the numbers exactly, but in ballpark terms, at least in Level 2 soccer coaches, the numbers where somewhere around the 20,000 mark for qualified soccer coaches in those two countries and only about 2,000 in the UK. A big difference.

(For more information on soccer coaching please click here)

“Why was this the case?” came the very valid question  from one of the trainee coaches. The answer came back from the external assessor that the structure of the coaching format currently in the UK did not really lend itself to producing a lot of coaches. Whatever that meant.

But I for one was sure surprised at the big discrepancy numbers between countries. Until that was, I tried to find a way to further my coaching experience and then perhaps go onto a Level 3 qualification. And the answer was not that difficult to find.

And I’ll give you the lowdown on that in my next post.

On one of the refreshment breaks, I called him over and asked him if he was feeling OK. “Fine” he answered rather brightly. I then notice that he had different soccer boots to what he normally wore, so I complimented him on them, an asked him when he got them. “Oh, they’re not mine” he answered, “they’re my sisters”. I knelt down and had a closer look at them. They were at least one size to big for him. That explained his performance.

I mentioned to him (and subsequently his mother) that a pair of right fitting soccer boots were important not only for his playing ability, but also for his safety. He was basically “swimming” around in them, trying to get into position and balance with his feet slipping around everywhere.

This also highlighted another issue that I come across with the younger age groups in soccer training, especially first timers, in that their parents bring them into the soccer coaching sessions with soccer boots that have inappropriate studs (or cleats) for the particular type of weather and pitch conditions. The most common is wearing soccer boots with the longer type metal “screw-in” studs that are suited for wet weather or heavy pitch conditions – and they wear them all year round, even in dry conditions when the pitches are dry. A recipe for injury.

A couple of pairs of boots would be advisable, to have for the varying conditions in the year. I advise parents that if they are going to buy one pair of boots however, then it’s probably most appropriate to buy moulded studs, where they can be worn in almost any conditions.

There are of course exceptions to this. Some players in youth soccer actually want and like to play in goal. This is a good option to have as a soccer coach, but I try not to get drawn into the easy option of playing them in goal all the time – to the detriment of their overall soccer development. As I have mentioned before, there is a time and a place for specialisation – and that comes later. Not now, not at this age.

(For more on soccer coaching techniques, click here)

 But back to the goalkeeper. Now, I’m no specialist goalkeeping coach, but you need a goalkeeper, so for those playing in goal, there are some good general tips you can offer that can make players improve their soccer goalkeeping skills and make them more effective in that position.

The most important one is communication. The goalkeeper has the a unique view on the soccer pitch, and from this postion can communicate to his team (especially defenders) about what to do or where danger lies. Loud, clear instructions make all the difference to a soccer team’s organisation, particularly at the back.

Another factor to highlight is for 100% commitment. Even if a player does not really want to be in goal, they have to show the same commitment in goal as they do if they were playing in the outfield.  Try save the ball at every occasion. Even if they feel they cannot make a particular save or interception. They might surprise themselves!

Blaming the defenders.  When a goal is scored and it’s a defender that’s at fault, the keeper blaming that defender does not help anyone. Whatever has happened has happened, so ask the keeper to get on with the game, and work on the defensive error if it’s a fundamental one at the next practice.

Ultimately, if a player wishes to be a keeper, there is specific soccer training for this position and players are recommended to do take this up if they want to make the most of this specialised area of soccer

The first thing I noticed were that the girls were rather more relaxed about the whole soccer coaching experience than boys. Especially in the small sided games. That competitive streak was not so evident, and that gave them a time to be a little more attentive and analytical about the what they were trying to do on the soccer pitch, and apply what they were being taught.

In addition, the social aspect of the get-together for soccer training was much more important. Girls seemed to treat the training as more of a social occasion than the boys did, and this is something that the coach needs to wary of. Not so much to disallow it, but manage it in a different way. Allowing too much socialising would of course be counter-productive to the whole soccer coaching session, but just as importantly, allowing a bit more time for girls to socialise at water breaks and between skill sessions would help reduce this on the pitch during training.

 Also, girls seemed not to be as concerned about the soccer skill level or ability of the coach. With boys, this is – rightly or wrongly – an area they find important and pay attention to, and you will, as a coach, generally gain or lose respect with boys to the degree to which you are able to play soccer.

And although it may seem unfair to some, there is some reasoning behind this. Being able to correctly demonstrate a technique or skill you are trying to teach, (for this in the end is the best way of transferring you knowledge to younger players – visual references – for more details on coaching techniques click here) whether it is something as simple as trapping the ball, or correct passing, or shooting, (never mind the more difficult skills such as volleying or diving headers) will simply make you an more effective soccer coach. It stands to reason.

However with girls, the skill level of a coach does not seem to be as important – or something at least they focus on. Coaching a girl’s soccer team was an excellent experience and one which tested my coaching ability in a different way, and the lessons learnt and experiences gained are something that I can apply to all the teams that I am involved with.