Sunday, 14 June 2015

All You Need Is Green Grass and a Ball

It's a simple game.

You need something to use as a ball(actual soccer ball, tennis ball, bunch of rags tied up as a ball, whatever), some players and some space, preferably with some grass.

These are the essentials that every coach and player needs to edify, etch permanently, tattoo and chisel into their brain.

Without these three elements you cannot play the game.

Let's talk about the key elements of places where you can play.

Anywhere. It only need be relatively flat, not on a hill, and preferably not near a cliff. I have played in tennis courts, back yards (I destroyed my parents barn door practicing free kicks), pastures, driveways, streets, parking lots, and all classes of fields, from muddy swamps, to unbelievably green and pleasant. It should be clear of obstructions, although minor ones like large rocks and shrubs help you pat attention to your surroundings and keep your head up. One guy I played with used his parents shrubberies as a "wall" to shoot over and around. After he nearly killed them by consistently hitting it for a couple of months, he became quite good.

Nets. Got a couple of shoes, rocks, jackets? Well put them on the ground and use them. Be prepared to argue that it went in when it didn't and vice versa. Arguing is part of the game.

Balls. Get them anywhere. They are cheap. Even the worst ones will last a month or so. If not use a basketball, volleyball, European handball. Just make sure it has some bounce and will roll a bit.

Players: Anybody who wants to play. From 2 to 200, who cares. Get them on the field. Just pass and move. Shoot and score. Stop and save.

Just play the game.


Sunday, 31 May 2015

haters gonna hate.......YNWA Liverpool FC

In the words of the great post modern philosopher, Taylor Swift, "haters gonna hate hate hate".

Well stop it.

Liverpool FC sucks. We all know it. And picking on us is like a pack of hyenas going after a wounded three legged rhino. It's just mean.

Every club, team or squad (other than those with infinite bank accounts accumulated through oil wealth and political influence, or banking, real estate and television stations). The Boston Red Sox and pork belly futures can only take you so far.

So how does a coach or manager  get a team back on track. Or even near a track they should be on?

Amateur coaches like me are faced with this challenge every season. Every team is new and needs to be examined and evaluated as to what its potential is at the start of a season, to see what has to be done to make them a good team and better players.


Here is the "Barefoot Scousers" approach to the start of the season:


1. Get the players together for their first training session. Do a FIFA 11+ style warm up. make the course about 30 to 40 metres in length. This will allow you to assess player focus to instructions, fitness, attention to detail and attitude. Detail and attitude are important. Are they maximizing the benefits from the warm up, are they "cutting corners", do they care? A very good initial fitness assessment can be done at this time and used a yardstick for the balance of the season. If they are huffing and puffing at the end of the warm up, they are out of shape. make note of it and work it into your future practice sessions.

The link to FIFA11+ is as follows:  http://f-marc.com/11plus/manual/


2. Run a couple of game based training drills. Use passing and movement, or possession as the objectives. This allows you to focus on the single most important aspect of technique. Touch. You can see how a player receives a ball, how they pass a ball, and how they move in relation to the ball when they aren't in possession. Fitness comes into play here  as well.

3. Lastly, run a larger game, using keepers if you have two, or multiple small target goals ( such as PUGG or Kwik Goal), and assess tactical ability, competitiveness, physicality and desire.


Take from this session all the information that you can, and develop a short and medium term training plan to address short comings and enhance strengths.


Next post will be about a short and medium term plan to develop passing and fitness.

And Liverpool FC transfer goals that don't include Chelsea FC loanees.

YNWA

Hal White

The Barefoot Scouser