- Welland 2000 Wizards Team Blog - LEAGUE CHAMPIONS (2012 U12 NYSL) : Letter To Parents

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Letter To Parents - Coach's Thoughts

Hello everyone:

I want to take a few moments to share with you my thoughts on where our team stands today and to also share with you the messages the coaches have and will be relaying to the boys at practice and during games. Thanks for your time in reading this and helping with our message.

The players continue to grow and bond as a team and are truly a delight with their personalities. The past two weekends were the foundation of our program and will pay-off for us in a big way. This is such a great age to coach – I really do enjoy it very much.

Looking back at the Vision Statements I shared with you at the parent’s meeting (from the Team Package) - I see us moving toward that vision with our on-field product. Also the messages of “Pass & Move” and “Outwork Your Talent”, my cornerstone themes for the season, are also working well with the players.

Training

Shin pads are required at training. If you don’t have shin pads, you risk injury. If you worry about getting hurt and you have no shin pads, you will not tackle hard and challenge at training, meaning you are also cheating your opponent of his game-like situation.
We will be doing more positional work this year and slowly giving the kids more tactical information, in various forms. I have handed out information on Defensive Principles and will continue to give them more as we develop. I also share information and training videos on our team facebook page and team blog. Some players will read it, others will not. Some parents may never show it to them. I can’t control that, I can only prepare and deliver.
As coach, it is easy to identify the boys who not only pay attention but who put in extra work outside of practice and show the commitment level and motivation required to make themselves better soccer players.

Tackles

We tell the players that when you step in for a tackle: full tackle, body strong, with force. Not to hurt the other player, but to prevent injury to you. Failing to tackle hard not only causes you to look silly and is poor defending, it’s very dangerous. Tackle correctly or don’t tackle. A U12 soccer player must be able to tackle and play to win the ball.
First to the ball - go in to win the ball. Strong. Going in weak is not only poor soccer, it’s dangerous. If you’ve played any sport you see people getting hurt by going in “second” and trying to recover. Going in strong forces you to be ready for impact (which doesn’t hurt) and requires balance, minimizing injuries. Poor-balance Injuries can occur on impact or when moving your body into the next movement.
I do not teach slide tackles and do not want my players experimenting. I believe slide tackling should be taught to players at an older age, not U12. Honestly, I do not see any of my players possessing this specialized skill as of yet. If not performed properly, slide tackling has the potential to seriously hurt themselves and other players. Slide tackling must be ball only and not late or from behind, going through a player. If not performed properly it will be considered careless, reckless and dangerous. If in the referee’s opinion it is careless, reckless or dangerous play, it will lead to a foul, free kick, card, or penalty kick. Too many times I have seen players (not mine!) try to slide tackle because they have been beaten by the attacker or because they are out of position. Also, once a player leaves his feet and slides, he takes himself completely out of the play. So, instead I teach my players to get themselves into proper defensive position first and foremost.

Heading the Ball

The boys are at an age now where they are a little more fearless when heading the ball. My message to the players is this: If you head the ball, you must attack the ball, not let the ball hit your head. Eyes open, body strong, through the ball. Failing to apply the proper technique is not only poor soccer, it’s dangerous and can cause shoulder, neck and head injuries.
Bending down and heading a ball with the top of your head is a sure-fire trip to the chiropractor or dentist if you get a cleat in the mouth. The problem is this - either head the ball correctly, or don’t head it.
If you want to play U12 soccer and beyond, you need to head the ball, so we will work to do it correctly. We are sincerely afraid every time a player doesn’t go into a head ball with full intentions.

Proper Technique – Kicking the ball

Our message:

Kick the ball or don’t kick the ball, but don’t just swing your foot in it’s general vicinity. Striking a ball with intention and purpose forces balance and strength and prepares you for your next movement.
A lot of injuries at impact are technique related and we don’t want any of our boys getting hurt. That’s why hockey coaches work so hard in teaching how to deliver and take a body check. From my personal experience, as youth football player, I blew out both my knees before I was taught proper technique and form... proper technique is crucial for player safety.

Conditioning

Our message:

There is no being “tired” - even if you are tired ;-)
You feel some fatigue, try to work through it and find your second wind. You play or don’t play. If you are on the field, you want to play and you don’t want to come off.
Inspire each other with your own hard work. If you work hard, your teammate will work hard. If you don’t, neither will your teammate.
Of course, safety is always first and we will follow OSA Heat Alert Guidelines.

Technical Skills

Our practices will always contain a technical skills portion. We will always practice the basics of passing and receiving a ball, first touch, turns, moves such as stepovers, rollovers, fakes and feints, Cryuff etc.
We will also always emphasize juggling the ball or kick-ups. I want the boys to work towards achieving 100 juggles. Some have done so already, so I take it a step further with them in terms of patterns such as “inside-laces-outside-laces” “laces-thigh-laces-head-laces”
Juggling or as Pele calls it “ball control”, helps with all aspects of soccer development because it improves coordination, balance, touch and conditioning.

Summary

The points above are not a knock on any player. These are things for me as coach to fix. We will continue to find ways for players to experience game-like situations at training so they are more prepared, and less fearful for the confrontations in a game. If a boy is scared of a certain situation, it’s our job to find ways to expose him to it and allay those anxieties. The nice thing is if you work past any reservations you have with all situations, you are not only safer, you also become one hell of a soccer player.

The game is not dangerous, but I know it’s scary living this physical reality for the first time. This is an interesting time in the boys development physically. Some boys have started growth spurts, others have not yet. I’m sure you all saw at the tournament last weekend that some teams have more than just a few bigger boys. Coaches Rowan and Beri and I were watching a U13 team warm-up and we thought they were U15! The boys will grow and change very much over the few years. As coaches we need to understand that and coach the boys with that in mind.

In U12/U13 competitive sports, players who were successful before are being pressured for jobs by boys who are blooming later. Don’t assume your spot is your spot. There is more turnover on teams and what starts to separate players are their level of commitment, hard work/grit, their durability and their competitiveness in all situations. This applies to all sports. Coaches also like to see who the players are that push others to compete – leadership qualities. We want to prepare the boys for this and make sure they are mentally and physically ready to challenge at the next soccer, basketball, hockey or lacrosse tryouts.

Parents please make sure the players have access to our facebook page or the team blog. This is important because they can feel “connected” to the team whenever they want.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Coach Jim

*a special thank-you to Coach Frank D for his ideas helping me with this letter.

PLAYER ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1) MENTAL ATTITUDE/APTITUDE FOR THE GAME & TEAM PLAY

i. Commitment to Game – The player exhibits good Team Player attitude. He is confident in his abilities and doesn’t second guess himself. The player is coachable/respectful at all times. He shows up for practices, listens, makes progress, shows good competitive sportsmanship and applies lessons well. Shows a desire to play soccer for the love of the game. Focused at games and practices. Eager to learn because he is aware of his own strengths and weaknesses. Always makes best effort. Rarely late. Player has courage and plays with urgency, willing to sacrifice.

ii. Game Sense – The player understands the tactical side of the game. Player understands the principles of attacking and defending, and rules of the game. Aware of situational play, transitions well between attack and defend mode, can make fast decisions and makes a positive difference in most plays with his teammates. Communicates with team-mates. Knows when to be “selfish” and knows when to be “unselfish”. Can “shake-off” mistakes.

iii. Positioning/Spatial – A player’s ability to read the game as it develops and to position themselves in the most advantageous area from which to support their team effectively. The player moves to space. The player understands their position and his position on the field. Understands the format the team is playing. Adjusts his play to support those around his and usually makes the BEST choice during play. Player is always moving.

2) SKILL CATEGORIES

i. Dribbling/Ball Control - Player’s ability to move the ball quickly, while under complete control combining pace, deception, and skill. Using both feet, inside and outside, under control, under pressure. Composed manner, shielding and seldom losing possession. Attacks opponent straight-on, makes opponent commit. Player works towards achieving 100 juggles/kick-ups using both feet (including inside/outside of feet), thighs, head and chest.

ii. Passing/Serving/Crossing – To accurately pass the ball at the correct pace to a teammate. Proper passing/receiving technique, passes to feet of teammate and to space, can keep the ball on the ground and lofted as needed. Uses both feet and all parts of the feet. Anticipates opportunities/plays for team-mates. Communicates with team-mates.

iii. Receiving/First Touch – Shows for the ball and receives cleanly. Eyes on the ball, body behind the ball. Checks away. Uses either foot to trap the ball. Uses their body effectively to trap air balls. Does not wait for the ball, runs to the ball to receive it and always moves to open space to minimize a challenge.

iv. Shooting/Striking – The ability to strike on goal with a variety of techniques from differing ranges and angles, with composure, showing the touch to score goals. The ability to drive long passes from goal and corner kicks. Proper shooting technique, on goal, off passes and volleys. Head down and eyes on the ball

v. First to Ball/Winning the ball – The “smarts” and ability to get to the ball with efficient and fast movements in all areas on the field. Winning possession of the ball, shows courage. Overall speed with the ball. Overall speed without the ball. Quickness & reaction time.

vi. Fitness – Overall endurance, ability to work hard the entire practice session and in games. Athletic abilities of running, quick change of pace and direction (agility), leaping, and strength on and off the ball. Game fitness.

vi. Defensive Technique – Understands transition to defense. Demonstrates ability to contain attackers and knows when to challenge (tackle). Understands Goal Side. Communicates with team-mates. Wins the ball under control (not just clearing). Provides defensive support to team mates.