How do we develop Elite soccer players (Part 2)?

Read Part 1 here

Developing Elite players is a skill when it comes to coaching.  There is more to it than simply throwing down a bunch of soccer balls, putting on a session and determining that one player is better than the rest.  Technical, Tactical, Physical, Psychological and Social aspects all come into play.  In recent years, it seems that no one has done a better job of this than the nation represented by the reigning World Cup champions, and women's World Cup 4th place team, Germany.

To give you a brief understanding of the history behind the current German Development philosophy, back in 1990, West Germany (the Berlin Wall had been knocked down but the Football Federations were still separate entities) were crowned World Champions, beating Argentina 1-0 in the final.  At Euro 96, they were crowned European Champions.  Roll forward 4 years to Euro 2000, and they finished bottom of their group, with 2 defeats and a draw to show for themselves.  An investigation went in to why the performance was so bad, why the players were not able to replicate the same form and levels as the likes of Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller and current USMNT head coach (and USSF Technical Director) Jurgen Klinsmann.  The investigation brought together the DFB (German abbreviation for German Football Association), the Bundesliga (Germany's equivalent of the Premier League ) and the professional clubs.

One of the key aspects that the DFB introduced was the Talent Development Program in 2002, which consisted of 390 development centers designed to work with young players on technical skill - passing, receiving, finishing, ball manipulation - and tactical understanding - decision making, positioning, awareness.  Similar to the Premier UK Elite Developmental Program, the Talent Development Program allowed players from Academies as well as Local Travel Clubs to attend.  By combining the 2 groups, this meant that local players were allowed to receive high level training, as well as work alongside those who were playing at a higher level to help improve their speed of play, speed of thought and understanding of the game, with the opportunity to progress to a higher level team if they were able to improve to the desired level.  Academy level players were able to receive a different view point a compared to their clubs "play the (insert club here) way" and, no doubt, develop their leadership skills by working with less able players (as mentioned in part 1, personality plays a big part  in being an Elite soccer player).

What made this program all the more impressive and worthwhile was that the 2 teams that competed in the 2013 Champions League final (Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund - both German) had a combined 26 players on their rosters who came through the Talent Development Program.  As far as additional training being a benefit goes, that takes some beating!

Similar to the Spanish and the Dutch, the DFB believe that technical skills are the cornerstone for all players.  Size and speed cannot compensate for this at Elite Level.  Robin Dutt, Sporting Director of the DFB stated that size was important for defensive players, but they still need to be able to play with the ball at their feet, citing German International Mats Hummels as a prime example.  If a player cannot control a ball under pressure, strike a ball cleanly, manipulate a ball to keep it from the opposition and pass a ball accurately and with the correct weight, they will have a ceiling on how far they can go in the game.  Similar to American Football, fast strong players are important, but how effective can a Running Back be if he has butter fingers?!

The German system sees competitive soccer introduced at U12, very different from the British model and something that we seem to have agreement with in the US.  Players need to learn that some games are there to be won, and learning the will to win is a key component in Premier UK's philosophy, but as Dutt says, it is not the main priority between U8-U14, "the main thing is to do good training."  One of the challenges we face in the US is the competitive nature of not just the players, but the adults as well (coaches and parents).  With limited time at practice (on average, 2 sessions a week), having the patience to focus on the long term development of each player as opposed to looking at the short term gains of winning a game is difficult.  As a result, technical development is often overlooked for tactical performance.  Sadly, certain tactics cannot be applied without good technique.  Asking a team to switch the field is all well and good, but if a player cannot play a cross field pass, the success of this is unlikely.  Technical training centers allow for these skills to be developed, without the pressure of the "need" to win.

Similarly with the Germans in 2000, it seems that after every international tournament, the English Football Association (FA) go through their very own investigation as to why the National team struggles.  Rather than looking at things long term, the here and now seems of most concern.  Of course the mentality of the nation doesn't help, seemingly happy to criticize the National team at the drop of a hat.  The last tournament, Euro 2016, was no exception.  For years supporters have said they wanted new blood in the team instead of the same players who had let us down previously.  With England having one of the youngest squads in the competition, we once again struggled, with certain fans citing a "lack of experience".  You can't please everyone.

The FA's Director of Elite Development, Dan Ashworth, has recently introduced an "English DNA" model, designed to incorporate the characteristics that each England player and team should have going forward.  First and foremost, the long term aim of the England DNA is to create winning senior teams, with the performance of the development teams being the main aim.  Though this should be the focus of every coach working with young players, learning the will to win is surely an important mentality for players to have.  The Academy system in England currently does not have competitive league play until U18, which, looking at the Spanish and German models (the last 2 World Cup winners) is too late.  Some clubs have taken it upon themselves to enter their Academy teams into tournaments to allow players to feel that pressure to win games, learn about managing games and develop that will to win, but with how the game schedule runs, this is hard to do on a consistent basis.

As with most nations, the FA have declared that players need to be technically proficient, capable of receiving, turning, traveling with the ball, passing over varied distances, finishing and heading, withe the aim of developing these skills at a young age.  Looking at these well known soccer countries, it has to be taken as a given that technical development is of paramount importance when developing Elite players.  If players cannot control the ball, the team cannot possess the ball effectively.  If they cannot combine passes with one another, they will struggle to break down opponents.  If they cannot use 1 v 1 moves and turns, panic ensues and the ball will be lost. 

There is little doubt, looking at some of the most successful soccer nations in history in terms of the players they have produced and how they are producing players now, that technique is the foundation.  Tactical decision-making is not far behind as well as creating strong psychological aspects of each player. 

Next week will look at the US Development model, South American influence and the role that adults, both parents and coaches, have in the development of Elite soccer players.

Like us on Facebook

Learn more about Premier UK

How do we develop Elite Soccer players (Part 1)?

With the launch of the Premier UK Elite Developmental Program, a lot of work has gone into creating an environment where Elite players can flourish, improve, challenge each other and, as was the case with our 97/98 boys, progress to college or the pro game.  Developing Elite players is no way an easy task however, and with a number of countries offering differing opinions, producing their own blueprint for the Elite player, it begs the question of what exactly a young soccer player with aspirations to reach the top will need to demonstrate and work on throughout the age groups.

When it comes to youth development, it is commonly regarded that AFC Ajax Amsterdam are the Godfathers of bringing through Elite players.  Their Academy, aptly named "De Toekomst" (The Future) costs, roughly, $30 million a year to operate.  This includes coaching costs, analysis equipment, uniforms for their players (game day and practice), coaching equipment (balls, pinnies, mannequins, cones etc), not to mention the running costs of 5 grass fields, 5 turf fields, indoor dome and turfed athletic area to work on players running technique.   As you can see in the photo below from a trip there in 2014 (and yes, it was as cold as it looks!), it's an impressive sight

Ajax, 4 times winners of the European Cup/Champions League, have produced such Elite players over the years as Dennis Bergkamp, Wesley Sneijder, Marco van Basten and their very own Godfather, Johan Cryuff.  It was Cryuff's ideas that helped implement the academy that not so long ago, made it the envy of World Soccer.

When developing their Elite players to play in the first team, Ajax use the acronym TIPS - Technique, Intelligence/Insight, Personality and Speed - for traits they want their players to eventually bring into their first team.  This is the Ajax way and if players do not have these attributes at the level they require, they are let go and told to find a new Academy.  During my visit there, I was fortunate enough to watch the U17's play against Roda JC  (another pro club academy, but not quite at the level).  These were players who were now competing for a pro contract.  After the game we were asked to give our thoughts on who we think should be offered a contract.  The No.4, Center Back, came up.  Everyone in the class agreed that he was a yes.  The instructor, whose name I can't remember, told us that he was debatable at that time.  His TIP was where it needed to be (great on the ball, intelligent enough to read the game, captain of the team so a strong personality) but his speed was a concern.  The reason was due to him not growing upwards anymore, but outwards.  With this being the case, they were concerned about his hips growing wider, affecting his mobility.  Thus, he would not be able to change direction quickly enough.

It's fair to say that in order to be an Elite player, physical proportions and capabilities come into play.  We certainly agree with this SAQ makes up a big part of our training, especially in warm ups.  Do particular exercises work better than others?  Well, at Ajax, speed training for U8-11 players involves 30 minutes of tag games!  No one said it always has to be serious...

Another interesting insight that came at the end of that game was Ajax's winger, the no. 7.  I personally never seen a player move so fast, both acceleration and at full speed (and I've had the fortune to watch the likes of Messi and Ronaldo live) while taking a player on.  He was frightening and I couldn't imagine any left back being happy to face him.  Afterwards, we all agreed, he was a definite for a contract.  Once again, we were told otherwise.  He went "missing" for a large chunk of the game when it was 0-0, 1-0.  As soon as Ajax had a 3 goal lead, he was wowing the crowd again.  As our instructor said, anyone can play when the game is over, but what are they doing when it is closely contested?  How are they impacting the game then?  Can they come back from adversity if the game is not going their way?

In a similar situation, I went to see a former player of mine, who is attending the Elite Development Program and has previously played for PUK Elite a few weeks ago.  Her team were dominant, with 2 players scoring a hat trick (including the player in question).  The difference being, our EDP player scored her goals when it was 0-0, 1-0 and 2-0.  The opposition, although over-matched, were still working hard to keep the score close, meaning space was limited, challenges wee firmer and clear cut opportunities were harder to come by.  The other player scored her hat trick when the game was already over (I think it finished 9-0) and the opposition had give up caring.  For coaches looking at players to step up a level, whether ECNL, College, Pro or National Team, these things will get noticed.  Character, especially in the face of adversity, is a key element when developing the Elite player - and it is probably no better highlighted than Man Utd's Champions League Final victory in 1999.

Cryuff's influence stretches further than Amsterdam however.  After playing and coaching FC Barcelona, Cryuff introduced a similar blue print with the clubs Academy, La Cantera (The Quarry).  Here, players mains concerns are "to control the ball very well, to have the ability to run with the ball and to think very quickly and execute their passes very well," according to FC Barcelona's senior youth coordinator, Albert Capellas.  Players are also worked on to be tactically aware, not only in terms of team shape but decision making on the ball, as to fit in with the philosophy of the club.  Size of the player is seen as secondary compared to a players ability of the ball, as players can be taught how to use their body to protect it, regardless of how big their opponent is.  In fact, the team that won the Champions League Final in 2011, had 8 players in the starting XI that had graduated from La Cantera, with an average height of less than 6 foot throughout the team.  Barca ran out 3-1 winners and had 68% of the ball throughout the game.  So much for small size being a disadvantage!

The ability to pass and move is a key element in all Elite players.  Accuracy, first touch, the ability to play 1 and 2 touch to catch the opposition off guard and the speed of thought to do this is vital for players to step up to the next level.  Passing activities are a regular staple of the Elite Development Program, often including 2 or more balls so that players have little time to think, encouraging them to think and react fast to the situation.  Though mistakes are inevitable, constant repetition is the key to making this a habit in game days.  Though some teams will like a tall, fast player who can have the ball stuck over the top in front of them to run onto, this becomes negated if a team decide to sit back.  One of my former teams did this against one of the top 3 ranked teams in the state last Fall.  the opposition had relied on using speed up front to combat high pressing teams.  During that game they created ONE clear cut opportunity.  Needless to say, we ran out 2-0 winners and it should have been more.

One outstanding element that needs discussing is the 10,000 hours theory.  The theory, devised by Dr. Anders Ericsson, is that in order for someone to become a master at anything, it takes 10,000 hours worth of practice.  Even at high level academies, where players will train on average 6 hours a week - meaning a total of 2,496 hours between the ages 8-16 - this is hard to achieve.   While the theory is open to criticism - and some have - the study that he ran to prove it true showed that those who practiced more turned out as higher level performers.

With this being the case, AFC Ajax revealed that their players are assigned homework tasks to make sure they are getting the required hours away from structured practice, as well as having the facilities at  De Toekomst open to Academy players, who can attend when they wish to play pick up, a key element  in developing their own creative imaginations in the game without the pressure of coaches and parents observing their every move.

Similarly, Cristiano Ronaldo is well known to have worked as hard as anyone away from team practice (and still does), to the point that when he was at the Sporting Lisbon academy as a youth player, they had to lock him in his room at night so that he wouldn't sneak off to the gym and put extra sessions in.

I heard a story of a PUK Elite player who was that disappointed by her performance in a tournament earlier this year, that the minute she got home, she put her cleats back on and practiced in the yard for 90 minutes, through no pressure from her parents, but due to her own desire.  It later turned out this was the case, win, lose or draw.  She is now at US National Team Training for her age group.

Additional practice is key in allowing young players the opportunity to progress in the game.  Through additional training sessions, homework and personal practice, players can reach achieve this very high target, providing the desire is there.  We as coaches can import  our passion for the game onto the  children, but it is ultimately up to them to do the work, a great life lesson in all walks of life. With this in mind, desire links into the personality aspect of becoming an Elite player.

Next week we will look at how nations such as Germany, Italy and England develop their elite players, their thoughts on what players need and how this ties in with the thoughts of Premier UK.

Like us on Facebook

Learn more about Premier UK

What do the Heading guidelines mean for the future of US Soccer?

The USSF have recently passed a rule that all heading of the ball will be banned from practices at U12 level and below.  Should a player deliberately head a ball in a game, an indirect free kick will be given to the opposition.  This has caused a rather large debate among the soccer community.  Is this is case of overprotective to players?  Should lighter balls be used?  Will players completely forego heading as they get older?  It certainly makes for a fascinating discussion.

Interestingly, the player with the most international caps for the US Women's National Team, Abby Wambach, scored 77 of her 184 international goals with her head.  Likewise, the number 1 draft pick in the inaugural MLS season, Brian McBride, was often known to go where angels fear to tread and was well known for his combative nature in the air, as displayed by this relegation saving goal for Fulham (4:30).  Heading certainly has played a big role in the successes of recent US Soccer history.

That is not to say it is without it's dangers.  Jeff Astle, a legendary center forward  for West Bromwich Albion, passed away in 2002 at the age of 59.  Astle is a cult hero at WBA, due to the amount of goals he scored for the club and his stereotypical target man approach of winning as many headers as he could.  Astle's death was as a result of chronic traumatic encephalopath (CTE), which doctors related to multiple concussions being obtained through heading the ball.  The doctor studying Astle's brain said that he thought it belonged to an 89 year old man.

The evolution of soccer balls has helped reduce the possibilities of this occurring.  In Astle's time, the ball was a lot heavier, soaking up water rather than deflecting it adding the weight.  Heading the ball must have felt like taking a punch from Anthony Joshua.  In recent years, balls have become lighter, have less panels on them and take in no water at all.  Derby Star have gone one step further and designed a ball especially for youth players, weighing as little as 290 grams.  On a study visit to the Ajax academy, I got to hold one of these balls and it felt like I was holding a feather.  Ajax had determined that all teams up to U11 would use these balls for practice and games, to not only improve the technique and skill behind lofted passes, but also to reduce the risks associated with heading.  One coaching employee said that they have to teach heading from U8, as it is part of the game.

So why have the US put these rules in place?  One word - lawsuits.  In 2014 a litigation was filed against US Soccer, US Youth Soccer, American Youth Soccer Organization, US Club Soccer and the California Youth Soccer Organization.  A resolution was agreed in 2015 which has led these rules to being put in place.  Though the ruling is a recommendation only, most states have heeded the warning and decided to implement these rules as mandatory.

The research and studies that have been put in place state that children up until the age of 14 have heads that are too big for their bodies and as such, the neck muscles are not fully developed to cope with the stress of heading the ball.  It has also been shown in a study published by the JAMA Pedriatics journal that most concussions among children aged 14-18 who play soccer are caused by heading the ball.  The data that is being provided certainly points to the benefits of limiting heading practice at specific age groups.  Repeated blows to the head are not good for anyone, especially children whose brains are still developing.

However, is a ban of heading in all games really necessary?  Unfortunately, the data on how many headers take place in U12 games and below is not available.  But think back to all the U10/11/12 games you have watched over the years.  How many headers can you recall seeing?  In my own experience, I can probably count less than 10 in the last 5 years.  The context of the situation should certainly be taken into account.  I once coached against a team that had a number of older, bigger girls in their team and played for corners.  Those corners would be aimed at the back post for one of their taller players to win the header and score.  This is certainly a coach taking a win at all costs mentality over the safety of the individuals involved.  This rule would also require the coach to focus on other ways to break the opposition down, such as using clever combination play, 1 v 1 skills and movement off the ball, which can only add to the development of the players.

At the same time, if a ball is coming towards a player and the best way of dealing with it is with their head, what are they supposed to do, duck?!  Teaching that habit at an early age cannot be good for the long term development of the player.  When they are allowed to head during games, balls will be traveling at a faster speed and poor technique can lead to whiplash, as well as concussions.

This ruling is only in place in the US.  The English FA, as mentioned in the Guardian, said they would continue their research into concussions and head injuries, even starting a campaign to raise awareness, but would not be changing the rules regarding heading the ball.

Despite the research, there is no real way of telling what impact the rule with have on US Soccer as a whole.  On one hand, the data suggests that kids will be less likely to suffer from concussions as a result of heading the ball, which can only be a good thing.  But as players progress to college & professional level, only time will tell if this will have a long lasting improvement or not on the performance of both the MLS and the National Teams.

Why do kids play soccer...and what can we do to help?

A few years ago the English Football Association (FA) ran a study to monitor the reasons why children play soccer.  Similarly, US Youth Soccer did some research in to finding the reasons why children stop playing.  What was interesting about both sets of these findings, is the reaction to winning...namely, kids are not as invested in it as adults.

According to the findings, the English FA listed the top 6 reasons why children play to be the following

- I want to try my hardest
- It's fun
- I love the game
- It keeps me fit and healthy
- I like making new friends
- I like playing with my friends

As you can see, nothing here is mentioned about winning games/tournaments/trophies/medals etc.  That is not to say that kids don't enjoy those things.  We have all been at tournaments where our team has won a competition and the players have big smiles on there faces (as you can see from the above photo), but it  is certainly not the be all and end all as far as the players are concerned.  I can recall a situation where a player I coached had conceded while playing in goal and the team ended up losing 1-0.  She was in tears at the end of the game, completely inconsolable, yet 5 minutes later she had an ice cream in her mouth and a big smile on her face.  Game well and truly forgotten!!!

As you can also see, these findings suggest that kids like to play the game for intrinsic reasons, namely, why THEY want to play the game and not why Mom and Dad want them to play.  The FA released this video to highlight the experience of a child when playing for parents, rather than themselves.  Even though this was aimed at English parents, it is also very prevalent in the US.  The support that players get on game days still amazes me to this day, despite having coached over here for 12 years, and the turnout from parents, siblings, aunties, uncles and grandparents turns the game into a real family event, something I never fully experienced in England.  However, it is important that we as adults remember that it is only a game and in the grand scheme of life, Little Johnny winning a U11 Classic Division 2 East game 3-0 isn't going to have that great of an impact on future endeavors. 

US Youth Soccer's findings into why kids drop of soccer show a sharp contrast to that of why they play.  Instead of being intrinsic reasons, the majority are extrinsic, or more specifically, adult controlled.  The top 7 reasons are as follows

- Lack of Playing Time
- Overemphasis on winning
- Other activities are more interesting
- Lack of Fun
- Coaching/Adult behaviors
- Dissatisfaction with performance
- Lack of Social Support

6 of the 7 reasons can be attributed to that of an adult influencing the player.  Lack of playing time is decided by the coach.  Having played in an era whee roll on, roll off substitutes were non-existent, I can fully empathize with this.  I once played for a team where in the final 6 games of the season I received 8 minutes playing time.  It wasn't fun.  I was even told in one of those games not to bother putting on my uniform.  Thankfully we are in a better day and age now, where roll on roll off subs are allowed, giving players opportunities to get plenty of minutes.  It is still an issue however, and as coaches it is something we should look to address, monitoring playing time, keeping log books and utilizing our assistant coaches to keep track of timings.

An overemphasis on winning can come down to both parents and coaches.  For those players who have aspirations of playing College or even higher, that is the end goal, not whether or not they win the U12 Mickey Mouse Tournament Bronze Division.  College coaches will be looking for players who are intelligent, who know the game, can communicate, act as leaders and possess both technical and physical attributes.  Playing a game against a team coached by an assistant coach at UNC Charlotte, we lost 4-3.  However, the coach made a point of coming up to me afterwards and saying that one of our players was the best on the field by a long way, comparing her to Steven Gerrard (maybe an exaggeration on his part).  That girl is now playing at a National League level.

For those who don't have  those aspirations, learning to deal with setbacks, team work, communication, leadership skills and fair play will stand them in good stead as upstanding citizens and employees in their futures, not the win and loss ratio from when they played youth soccer.

One of the more interesting reasons I found was a dissatisfaction with performance.  This could be seen as intrinsic, but the questions has to be asked, what are we doing as adults to impact this?  Having experienced this in the past, it is fair to say that some parents feel the need to give their child their opinion on how they performed during the game.  If the game was lost, this is likely from a source of negativity.  "You should have passed better, you should have hustled more...".  Even in a win, I have experienced parents being negative when speaking to their child afterwards.

This is not limited to parents, coaches can be just as bad after a defeat.  Having won a game last fall against an opponent who had not lost in over a year, the coach of the opposition had his team sitting down for 15 minutes after the game, telling them they didn't work hard enough, that the team I was coaching wanted it more and that they were no longer the best team in the state.  A number of thoughts came to mind - what kid wants to listen to someone tell them how bad they are for 15 minutes after playing in extreme humidity and not winning, how many are actually paying attention and what are the kids that are listening currently thinking???  I don't know for definite, but based on personal experience, I would imagine those kids were already pretty downbeat after losing the game.  The last thing they needed was to be told they were no good.

Frank Lampard once stated that after losing a game at Chelsea, Jose Mourinho came into the dressing room afterwards and said "Don't worry.  We can't change things right now.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.  We'll talk on Monday".  This is something that has resonated with me and something tat I have tried to emulate (not always successfully) after games, win or lose.  Coaches can have an impact on this, but parents can as well.  As opposed to giving your opinion, would it not be better to ask your son or daughter theirs?  Questions such as "what do you think you did well?", "did you enjoy that?" and "what can you improve on?" will surely have a longer lasting benefit than being told by someone what they did and didn't do well.

I think ultimately, it is important that we remember that the most important people in youth soccer are the kids, not the adults.  As adults we can help structure things in a way to make sure that all young players are getting out of the sport what they need, and not what we want, to make sure they are lifelong fans of the game and are able to pass down that enthusiasm to their kids.

Soccer Specific Conditioning - what attributes does your player need?

An oft-asked question is which are the fittest athletes in the World.  It's a fair question, but also a tough one to quantify.  The fitness attributes required of a boxer are different to that of swimmer, or a triathlete or a sumo wrestler.  One thing is for sure though and that is that if there were such a title, soccer players would be competing for it.

Running on average 7-12km per game, elite level professionals cover a great distance over a 90 minute game.  Not only are players required to run that distance, but at the same time considerations have to be made for changes of direction, speed, jumping, striking the ball and monitoring both their team mates and opposition players.  It is fair to say that running at a steady pace for 5 miles, while great for general conditioning, will not have the desired effect when looking to play at peak condition.  Historically laps of the field have been used for getting players into shape, but answer me this...how many times have you watched a game and seen a player run the perimeter of the field for the duration?

With that in mind, what soccer specific conditioning attributes do players need to focus on?

Agility

Agility is the ability to change one's body position efficiently.  If you have ever seen Lionel Messi in full flow with the twisting and turning with the ball, you will have seen a player whose agility is as good as anyone's. In this video, Cristano Ronaldo has his speed tested against that of professional sprinter, both in a straight line and through a zig zag.  Though the sprinter has the beating of Ronaldo in a straight line, when it came to constant changes of direction, Ronaldo was clearly the faster man.

Agility is not only limited to attacking players, agility is also key for defenders.  When being attacked by a flying winger 1 v 1, the ability to move backwards and change direction with the player in control of the ball is vital.  It is advised players utilize ladders, hurdles and poles to improve this ability, as well as attempting to move through them both forwards and backwards to help with any transitions from attack to defense or vice versa that take place in the game.

Endurance

Endurance is a key element to most athletic endeavors.  With players expected to perform and stay focused for 90 minutes, sometimes 120, this is especially true in soccer.  However, as previously mentioned, players will not be running at a steady pace for the entire time.  The speed they move at can be anything from a full out sprint to a steady walk and players must be prepared for this.

N'Golo Kante, a summer signing for Chelsea, made 28 high intensity sprints in his first game for the club, ranging between 10-30 meters each time.  Combined with the rest of the distance covered, making these sprints throughout the 90 minutes takes a lot of focus.  With this in mind, it is advised that players use High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) when building endurance - longer distance running mixed with 10-20 second sprints.

Power

Power is the combination of strength and speed (2 other elements we won't discuss here).  The ability to strike a ball, hold of an opponent, out jump someone for a header and accelerate away from on opponent or towards the ball are reliant on an individuals power at a given moment the game.  Former professional player and current QPR head coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was once recorded as hitting a free kick at 230km per hour, despite very little back lift in his leg.  As you can see from the video, the keeper had no chance!

Players can develop power through explosive activities such as jump squats, clap push ups and plyometric activities.

Flexibility

Changing direction at high speed, leaping for a header, striking a ball with full power all run the risk of a player suffering a muscular injury.  Hamstrings, quads and groins are all potential parts of the body that are exposed to a pull or a tear in a game of soccer.  For female players, due to the way their bodies form, are also at a great risk of experiencing an ACL related injury.  Dynamic stretching and movements are recommended when players warm up, as well as static stretching and slower paced movements when cooling down after games and practices.

It should be noted that, despite flexibility being at its highest level up to the age of 11, younger travel soccer players should begin to gain an understanding of these movements so that the expectancy does not come as a shock to them when it is more required.

Premier UK runs soccer specific conditioning classes during teh spring and fall seasons.  Speak to your PUK coach for more information.

The benefits of Private Training

Soccer is a social sport.  Players get to play with their friends, make new friends, learn the importance of team work, leadership, fair play and the result is often dependent on the performance of the team as opposed to the individual.  Even during the 1986 World Cup, where it was widely considered that Diego Maradona single-handedly won the World Cup for Argentina, they still managed three shutouts en route to their success which would not have been possible without a rock solid defense.

Despite this, the team is made up of a number of individuals, each with their own specific skill set that will have been refined and worked on during their younger years.  The challenge for the youth coach is to make sure that these players receive the adequate amount of practice to not only enhance their importance to the team, but to develop the characteristics and skills need for each unique individual.  Two 1.5 hour sessions a week is not enough to cover all of this, even if the coach is somehow able to spend 1-2 minutes per session speaking to each player separately.

With this in mind, Private Training offers young players the opportunity to get that individual attention and allows the coach to really highlight the areas of improvement for each individual player.  But how does it benefit them and is it worth it?


Repetition

In a one hour session, players can run through the same technique/skill at least over 300 times if done correctly.  Robin van Persie highlighted that he knew what he had to do to reach the highest level when he saw Dennis Bergkamp stay out on the Arsenal training ground while the rest of the first team had their post training meal.  Van Persie claimed that Bergkamp spoke to one of the Academy players and had him serving passes along the floor as he continuously hit a first time finish into the bottom corner of the goal for an hour.

This kind of repetition allowed Bergkamp to place the ball instinctively when the situation arose on game days.  Private Training allows for this kind of repetition, allowing players to focus on the placement of their non-kicking foot, shape of their hips, stride into the ball and the part of the ball they strike consistently, so that it happens naturally during games on the minimal opportunities they get to score.  This can also be applied to passing, receiving, 1v1's, dribbling, Goal keeping, intercepting passes and a whole host of other techniques.

Although technical practices can be applied in team sessions to work on these skills, the amount of repetition a player can go through quadruples with a private training session.

Individual Attention

On a study trip to Ajax Amsterdam, a professional club out of the Netherlands with one of the most famous Youth Academies in the World, I learned that they spent close to €30 million each year to keep it running.  This expense took into account facilities and maintenance, uniforms, coaching costs and video analysis.  Video analysis was used not only for games and to view the team performance, but also the individuals technique and running style.  The speed, agility and quickness coach informed myself and the other visitors that he will review the footage and look for any irregularities in a players running technique.  If any players were not running 'properly', he would work with them individually to have it corrected.  If the player in question could not make the necessary corrections, they would be looking for a new club.

In youth club soccer, such luxuries are not at our disposal.  Even the US Developmental Academies and Elite Club National League teams cannot afford this kind of expense.  Private Training allows this individual focus, giving the coach a chance to work with players closely over a number of weeks, analyze and technical deficiencies, both with and without a ball, and help to correct them, which they will struggle to do when running a session and looking at 12-16 players at the same time.

Non-Dominant Foot Focus

Every player has a foot they prefer. Lionel Messi, will often use his left foot even when it does not seem possible.  However, find a youtube video of his goals collection, and you will see a decent percentage of them are with his right foot.

When completing the Coerver Coaching Youth Diploma, founder Alf Galustian told me how he visited Real Madrid's training ground and saw Zinedine Zidane practicing on his own.  Galustian asked Zidane why he was practicing alone, he was the best player in the World (at the time), what could he possibly have to improve on.  Zidane replied "I'm not happy with my left foot" (and this not long after scoring this goal).

The point here is that there will be situations in games where players will need to utilize their non-dominant foot.  A chance to score may fall to them in the box, they may have to put a cross in or the opposition defender may be playing them towards their non-favored side. The focus on working this foot that Private Training can provide far exceeds that of a team session.  A whole hour can be dedicated towards this, building the players' confidence to use it more often in games.

Bonding with the Coach

In a team session, big personalities will always be heard more often than those of a quieter disposition.  This is not to say one is right or wrong, but those who are a little quieter may not get the attention they need, due to those who are more outgoing taking the spotlight.

Private raining offers more than just soccer training.  It allows the coach to get to know the player more personally, gaining a greater indication of what makes them tick, what their aspirations are in the game and what they thought about the way they recently performed, things that the players may not be comfortable talking about with others around.

Private Training has it's cons...unrealistic pressure, not working with team mates, the lack of game like practice...but the pro's certainly outweigh those.  Technique is the foundation of every player and private training is a great way to enhance those techniques and make them as consistent as possible when it comes to game time.  As the new saying goes, "practice makes permanent".

What should youth soccer players be eating?

"You are what you eat."  It's a saying well known in the western world.  As we all know, this does not mean that by eating nothing but donuts, you will end up round with a big hole in the middle of you,  but it will certainly have an impact on your body shape, energy levels and, as far as soccer players are concerned, performance.  Cristiano Ronaldo, 3 times player of the year, has even taken it a step further and hired a personal chef to ensure he eats the right foods at the right times of the day.  But what should players be eating, and when?

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates, or carbs for short, provide energy.  There are 2 basic types of carbs - simple and complex.  Simple carbs are formed of 2 sugars and are usually found in foods and drinks such as fruits,o candy and soda.  Simple carbs break down a lot quicker than complex and are good for providing quick, intense bursts of energy.  Complex carbs are formed of 3 or more types of sugars.  They are often found in foods such as whole grain breads, cereals, quinoa, beans and potatoes.  Taking longer to break down aat a far slower rate than simple carbs, they provide energy over a sustained period of time.

It is advised that players consume more complex based carbs 3-4 hours before kick off, moving more towards the simple variety the closer they get to that start of a game.  A peanut butter and jelly sandwich 1.5 hours before a game for example, would provide players with the necessary energy stores they need to perform over the 60 minutes, especially considering youth players can cover anything from 3-5 miles in a game.

Proteins

Protein is vital in repairing muscle and is often found in meat, eggs and fish.  For those of you that have seen the movie Rocky, the clip where he cracks 6-7 eggs into a jug and drinks them raw is a stand out scene.  From personal experience, I do not recommend kids do this!  The texture alone is enough to put anyone off eating eggs again.  However, it highlights how important protein is to athletes looking to perform at the top of their game.

As mentioned, 3-5 miles is a lot of running, even more so when you consider the changes in speed, direction, intensity and others factors such as jumping and avoiding challenges from opposing players.  This can have a of wear and tear on the body.  Considerations on this have to be made, especially when it comes to teenagers who are experiencing puberty and a level of growth that they are not use to.  It is recommended that all post game meals include a serving of high quality protein (chicken nuggets not included!).

Fats

There is a lot of misconception about fat.  With the advertisement of fat free diets, looking as slim as possible and the potential for school yard bullying, it is understandable why some young players may choose to avoid fats all together.  However, the difference between unsaturated fats and saturated fats cannot be dismissed and is vital for the performance of the aspiring soccer player.

Unsaturated fats, found in foods such as nuts, avocados, tuna and salmon, provide players with protection for their internal organs - the lungs and heart certainly getting a good workout during a game - and aid with a person's mental function.  Loss of concentration is a big thing in soccer, not only at youth level but in the pro game also.  I still have nightmares about a game my favorite team tied 4-4 after being 4-1 up with 10 minutes to go.  It is important that players limit their saturated fat content - fast food, bacon, butter etc which is liable to sit on a players stomach pre-game and not aid recovery post game.

Water

Players must stay hydrated.  In the intense heat in North Carolina towards the end of the spring/beginning of the fall, players are likely to sweat more often and be more susceptible to dehydration and the impacts on brain function and energy levels that it can have.  It is advised that players drink plenty prior, during and after each game.  The fluid they consume should be a combination of water and sports drinks, such as Gatorade or Powerade.  Despite the fact it "gives you wings", Red Bull is not suitable!

Players should be encouraged to drink during these times, despite the temptation for them to say "I'm not thirsty" or "I don't need a drink".  I have heard this many times, and have to stand there making unbreakable eye contact with a kid to make sure they have a drink when I ask them to.

The nutrition of players is important to peak performance.  The better they take care of what goes into their body, the sharper they will be on game day.  It is important that kids have the chance to be kids (I wouldn't begrudge anyone the occasional McDonalds), but the timing of these treats should be monitored.

For those after further information, visit our Facebook page or search #PUKperformance for regular updates and links for what players can do to improve their on field performance.