FJSC U14s 3 v 0 Redgate Green

A heavy pitch with a leaden ball really didn't suit our usual flowing football, making it difficult to gain control of the ball, pass and go.

Redgate battled well for the first half, but with them offering little up front to trouble Tom Quinn in goal, the Formby frustration surely wouldn't last?

However half- time came and went and it was not until the last 15 mins that the long awaited first blood came with a looping strike from distance from Luke Gilham, who had replaced the non-stop work horse that is Andy Halsall. The ball seemed to hang forever in the air before dropping over the keeper just under the bar.

A well deserved goal for a player who you can always rely on to give the team a lift with 100% effort and no shortage of quality.

Alex Gomez added the second after being drafted into midfield, making space for himself with a neat turn to dispatch an unstoppable left foot drive.

Rory Collins slotted seemlessly into the centre of defence with an assured display.

Alex Towse replaced the tiring Carter Costello who had provided real quality from the right wing, and made an immediate impact with purposeful running and quality crosses.

Just before the final whistle Alex G, revelling in his latest role, provided a tempting cross into the heart of the penalty area which was clinically headed into a beckoning net with a perfect timing from Greg Banks, against his former team!

On reflection, the coach was a tad harsh summarising the performance as awful, more accurately it was an awful game to watch, but a great effort in difficult circumstances.

Jamie Milburn was as sound as ever, as was Kyle Walker, and Alex Garrow continually stretched Redgate from right back with non- stop running.

It wasn't a day for Ollie Roberts or Joe Gallaghers flair; a result just needed to be ground out, epitomised by Declan Blackwell's closing down of Redgate defenders, and the whole squad can take praise for job done!

U9s Game Off

Today's match v Redgate Black has been postponed, frozen pitch!

What do you mean you don't get it?

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Football Culture

Football Culture - no apologies for repeating this!

The essence of the football culture is that football is the "player's game".

What this means is that, once the game is underway, the players are expected to make their own decisions as to the right thing to do in any situation, without interference from coaches or spectators.

Of course, in a professional game, there are plenty of spectators with an opinion but their input is thankfully lost in the noise of the crowd.

In a youth football game with only a handful of spectators, loudly-voiced opinions and "suggestions" are all too easily heard (at least by the other spectators - see below).

Once the whistle blows there are no practical mechanisms provided by the laws of the game for a coach to influence the outcome.
The players make individual decisions, good or bad, and collectively have to react as a team to the strategy and tactics of the their opponent.
They learn to do this in two ways, first at practices, where the coach does have control, and second and, ultimately more importantly, by experience at the games.
This is the origin of the soccer coaching adage "the game is the teacher". It takes a lot of games to get the experience, but there really is no short cut, much as coaches might wish there were!

Many coaches find this situation frustrating, especially if they also coach a sport in which they do have more control.

A common reaction is for the coach to become a "shouter". In the extreme this takes the form of a continuous barrage of shouted verbal instructions to the players, which is essentially an attempt by the coach to "control" the game. At any game with a noisy crowd this doesn't work, of course, although some coaches develop remarkably loud voices trying.

This style of coaching at the game is sometimes also referred to as "mini-coaching".

What's the Law?

FIFA law states that a "coach may convey tactical instructions to his players during the match and must return to his position immediately after giving these instructions.
The coach and the other officials must remain within the confines of the technical area, where such an area is provided, and they must behave in a responsible manner"..
The spirit of the FIFA law is that coaches convey only occasional instructions to players and these are limited to "tactical", that is "off the ball" instructions.
The expectation is that coaches use the game to observe their players in action and use what they see as feedback into the practice situation.

Discussion

Myths;

1: Instructions get through to the player on the ball.

It's hard to accept this if you have never played a team sport. The truth is that, when concentrating on the ball, it is impossible to process instructions.
Players shut out extraneous inputs; all they hear is a general background noise.
Of course, if they are close and you shout really, really loud, they'll hear you, but in doing so they will probably lose focus on what they are doing and lose the ball.

2: Players like being shouted at [told what to do]

Even if they do, [I haven't met any yet - and you have to ask them to really find out], it isn't helping them make their own decisions, and they'll never become good players if they don't.

Some coaches justify their behavior on the grounds that the kids really need the instructions and that it helps them become better players. It's possible that this could be true but at what cost?
Again, it's hard to appreciate this if you haven't played a sport with a "coach", but most adults would find it irritating and unsettling to be the subject of constant verbal instructions.
Kids spend their whole lives being told what to do by adults. Historically they learned to play sports without adult involvement. Times have changed so that organized sports are now the norm, for better or worse, but that doesn't give adults the right to take over their games. It's the players’ game.

3: I only ever provide positive instruction and encouragement

I hear this a lot and I'm sure some coaches really believe it. However, if you're a real shouter, you will inevitably get seriously involved in what's happening out there on the field.
Eventually when something goes wrong, you'll let your guard slip and some not-quite-positive remark will emerge, because it's practically impossible to keep the brain properly engaged when in verbal torrent mode.
As an example, what do you think is the impact on your players of a shout of "wake up, defence!" immediately after a goal is scored? I would suggest to you that this belittles the players and simply expresses the coach's dissatisfaction with their play. It is not positive coaching and it is unlikely to improve performance on the field.
Other tell-tale phrases are those containing "you should have..." or "you need to...". While well intentioned, these remarks will be perceived as criticism by the players.
I don't know too many adults who respond well to public criticism, let alone kids. Just remember, the players only "need" to enjoy their football.

Finally, panic shouts of "Get it out of there!", "Shoot!", "Boot it!" just overload the players with noise. They rarely have any useful effect, except to make players feel more nervous and unsure of themselves. Great performances are not made in a mental state of panic.

4: I have a really nice voice at 90 decibels

My experience is that listening to a shouter coach, however well intentioned he/she is, just gets annoying after a while. It certainly spoils my enjoyment of the game. Spectators (parents) come to watch their children play, not to listen to the coach.


5: The parents expect me to instruct the kids at games. No parent has ever complained about my coaching style.

Many parents are equally unaware of the soccer culture, and simply transfer their expectations from other sports. Others are themselves intimidated by a coach who is a shouter.
Some, seeing progress in their child's soccer development, may put up with the shouting because "my child is learning a lot this season". [Many shouter coaches are good at actually coaching in coaching sessions].

6. It's ok to complain to the referee if he/she makes a call you don't agree with.

Mini coaching often goes hand-in-hand with public complaining about the refereeing. Again, if you are involved with the game at the mini-level, you are going to react deeply to every call, just as if you were actually out there on the field, and if you're verbalizing, you'll find it very hard not to say something critical. There is no margin for discussion on this one: public complaining about the refereeing is not acceptable, period.

7: It's very important to me that my team wins the game.

A lot of mini-coaching has its roots in the coach being too personally invested in the success of the team.
This is dangerous ground that can lead to some truly bad behavior by coaches.
And, yes, it happens every season. Sometimes a coach is trying to make up for his or her failed success in sports by playing vicariously through the team.
Other times the drive to win (at all costs) is just too deeply embedded in his or her personality. Other times the coach feels inadequate if the team isn't successful and attempts to remedy this by mini-coaching. If any of these resonate with you, just remember "it's for the kids". You are a teacher not a player.

8: Should coaches be silent at games?

No! The opposite extreme of a shouter is the truly silent coach, which is easily mistaken for indifference.
Players do like to be praised when they do well. There are plenty of opportunities at a game to provide praise and positive encouragement to your players.
It's also perfectly ok to communicate tactical suggestions just so long as you don't do it continuously. For example, instructions to your defence to move up with play, and occasional positional advice.
What you should not do is try to teach positional play at a game by constant instruction.

Conclusion

If while reading this you recognised some of your own behaviour at games, try to examine your reasons for mini-coaching.
Hopefully some of the arguments above will persuade you that there is another way that will achieve the same results and, in the process, let the kids play their game in as natural a way as possible.

U9s v Redgate Black

Sunday game @ Redgate School 11.25 prompt for 12.00 KO.

Please leave a comment below if not available.

Thanks,

Paul

Thoughts for the Day

The opposition - the breakfast of winners!

Attack wins games, defence wins championships"

"There are plenty of teams in every sport that have great talent and never win titles. Most of the time, those players aren't willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the team. The funny thing is, in the end, their unwillingness to sacrifice only makes individual goals more difficult to achieve. One thing I believe to the fullest is that if you think and achieve as a team, the individual accolades will take care of themselves. Talent wins games, but team work and intelligence wins championships" Michael Jordan

"Ive missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed" Michael Jordan

U9s

No training tonight, gym hall being used!

Shanks

'Of course I didn't take my wife to see Rochdale as an anniversary present.
It was her birthday.
Would I have got married during the football season ?
Anyway, it was Rochdale reserves.'

See 'Links' for more from the Great Man!

Long Ball Game

1. "Michael Owen - he's got the legs of a salmon"
2. "It was never part of our plans not to play well, it just happened that way"
3. "They didn't change positions, they just moved the players around"
4. "There are two ways of getting the ball. One is from your own team-mates, and that's the only way"
5. "The Liverpool players are passing the cup down the line like a new born baby. Although when they are back in the dressing room they will probably fill it with champagne, something you should never do to a baby"
6. "Well, I can play in the centre, on the right and occasionally on the left side" -when asked if he thought that he was a volatile player"
7. "Playing with wingers is more effective against European sides like Brazil than English sides like Wales."
8. "I was saying the other day, how often the most vulnerable area for goalies is between their legs."
9. "The World Cup is a truly International event."
10. "Game well and truly over." - Andy Gray after AC Milan's third goal.
    

(for more quotes follow the link below right menu!)

U9s/14s

Both matches called off today due to the weather and standing water on the pitches.

Training for U9s Wednesday at 5, Range.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Paul

U9 KO Sunday

Unfortunately ST Blue can not assist with an early KO, so please be @ Deansgate for 12.30 warm up prompt, 1pm KO.

I'll be there12.10 for goals etc, same request for help please.

I'll also have to go early to sort the U14s out so if someone could put the goals away I'd be very grateful.

Thanks

Paul

U9s KO Sunday

KO 12 midday Sunday v Southport T Blue @ Deansgate.

Warm up will start at 11.30, please be on time.

Any help putting goals up and cones out would be appreciated from 11.10.

Thanks,

Paul

ps please check blog Sat night to confirm KO time. If nothing further as stated above..

CML Link

Please note the CML link under 'History' for all fixtures and tables etc etc!!

I have made it!! But I had to look up what a blog was. Not really in IT

Just wanted to say, I agree with Paul that we had a good performance on sunday especially the second half where play was a little more open. Although we did miss Joe.

See ya all Sat/Sun

Well done Joe!

Congrats to Joe for making the final Sefton Schoolboys FA squad, cut from 22 to 16 last night.

They were impressed with his pace and skill, attributes once possessed by myself as a fly- half/centre! (I kid you not!).

Sunday 16 November

The U9s took on Ainsdale away and finished somewhat comfortable winners 5-2.
Goals from Patrick Staunton, Steven Dolan, Robert Ramsden, Ben McKittrick and Ben Gallagher, who, after a fine run, was up- ended in the box, composed himself to safely dispatch the penalty.

Another very good team performance from all and much stronger in the face of some wayward tackling! Well done boys!

No training Wednesday, Sunday v Sport T Blue, KO to be arranged.

The U14s took on one of the Big Four in Town Green and for most of the game were the better team.

Winning 2-1 with five minutes to go the points were all but in the bag when disaster struck and TG scored twice.

First defeat of the season will not dint our title aspirations as long as we learn from our collective errors.

Despite the defeat it was an excellent performance all round, and if the TG goal had not been so charmed it could have been at least 4-1!

Let's bounce back with a win against Indanet at Smithy on Sunday and show our rivals the lead!

A final mention for Andy Halsall who bagged two goals and was a beast in centre mid!

Training Friday, 7.00 prompt.