|
||||||
|
|
||||||
ZenFooty Blog Archive - November When a Child "Stinks Up the Field," Let Them Know It! Period!!Published on Mon 11/24/2008 | 29 total comments I have had it with the Pollyanna nonsense!! A kid can not fix what he doesn't think is broken!! When a player is performing below their own standard and is showing little desire to step it up, we need to tell them; clearly and bluntly. I am beginning to see the ill effects of giving kids credit for just kicking a straight ball or running downfield. And what is up with the: "its OK" when they have blown three throw-ins by lifting their back foot at U11. Its NOT OK folks!. What is that crap? We are turning into "soccer wusses" (maybe a new glossary term here). They are supposed to be able to execute the fundamentals they are taught!! The game is no less developmental than a spelling test or a math test in school. Do we say "Its OK" when the child comes home with a "D" on something you know they have studied and learned? No! So why with soccer? Positive support does not always mean you caress the kids with nice words every time they tie their shoe? I am seeing a generation of soft players emerging that think that wearing the uniform and getting a touch in here or there is enough..then its off for ice cream or pizza....can you say "Fantasy Land"? All I hear these days is "good job and great kick." Are we even watching the same game? That stuff is all fine for AYSO and Park District (no offense to either). But if you are competing at club level, the bar is higher and the kids can't be coddled every time they make a failed attempt. What does that teach them? Sure there is a time for support and a time for admonishing the child. But give me a break, these kids have been trained and are expected some level of excellence. Letting them off the hook every time they make a bad play is BAD FEEDBACK and offers no learning for the consequences of not playing aggressively, missing the goal, flubbing a pass, or squandering a dribbling opportunity. If a player is letting themselves down or letting the team down, they need to know it. It is our job as coaches and parents to make them aware and build honesty and reality back into the game. Our kids are less competitive because they are not being taught what it means to compete, raise their game, and rebound from poor performance!! What say you? « comments » Who is Making the Money off of Soccer? Are We Barking at the Right People? Published on Thu 11/20/2008 | 14 total comments This stuff is getting expensive!! Registration fees, Uniform Fees, Tournament Fees, Hotel Fees, Rental Cars, Air fare, Academy Fees, Private Training, Camps, ODP, Eating on the Road, Spirit-Wear, Gas, Tolls, Parking, Chiro bills, Shoes, and more!! The total cost of being in the game is going through the roof!! Why is this the case? What can be done? Who is making the money? Where is this all headed? Well folks, its called the cost of organized soccer spun out of control!! The more organized, the more expensive!! The premier mega-programs market their capability to get the players exposed to national competition and, in return, demand the most from your pocketbook. But they are not alone in the race for the soccer dollar: The property owners of the facilities and fields are emerging as the big winners in this soccer craze. Land is still king!! And property owners are flexing their muscle to reap the soccer related dollar. Sure there are retailers and e-tailers looking for their cut. But on the whole, when you take a look at the costs for registration, insurance, fields, indoor facilities, lighting, and travel, there is precious little that remains for the people who are actually teaching your children how to play the game; the coaches and trainers. Yet these are the coaches that we as parents continue to bark at when we don't like the coach-to-player ratios or the fact that our children don't get enough playing time. We as parents need to remember that a very small percentage of what we pay actually goes to the person delivering value to your child. So what does the ZenMaster say about this apparent soccer inflation? I say go back to pick-up games, group technical training, and high quality academy soccer where travel is not an issue. Especially for U-12 and under. By playing the pick-up games, you dismiss the registration and club overhead, by doing group technical training you share the cost but get the most direct player development, by playing academy soccer, you are playing against other great talent from the local area without being in the circus of frequent flyer mega clubs. We have made the mistake of taking youth travel soccer and "professionalizing it" creating a new breed of landlords who tie up with league managers to create excessive structured play to generate wealth (and not necessarily great players). Capitalism at its finest!! It needs to stop!! What say you? « comments » Where are the Black Players…..ZenMaster is On the Recruiting Trail!! Published on Fri 11/14/2008 | 26 total comments I have coached and trained ton of players over the past ten years and am sad to say that the African American population in soccer is sinfully underwhelming. Frankly, the statement should be broader than that: I think that the soccer talent pool is undermined by the socioeconomic status of club soccer and the financial demands it imposes. This includes such things as travel commitments, training commitments, uniforms, miscellaneous fees, and so on; especially at the elite levels. Blacks are not in the space like they deserve to be. Where are they? Why can't we get them out and get them in the game? I believe in the African American and players of color in general and I want them in the fold. This game needs them!! Frankly, I can't seem to find them and when I do, I can't seem to get these players to commit to the sport. Our communities need help with strategies to recruit and retain these wonderful children. By the looks of ALL other teams in the league, I am not alone in this quest. Sure, there are the one or two black players on a team here and there but give me a break, there is no noticeable presence and I am truly afraid that we are overlooking a wonderful breed of children if we don't get our buts in gear and start recruiting. Let's make a positive inroad for the players of color and weave them into the fabric of our plans in youth soccer!! Soccer should represent life, not one or two segments of the overall population. I challenge any interested African American parent or player to come forward and I will arrange for them to play club soccer. What say you? « comments » The Most Important Skill in Soccer…Bar None…is Receiving the Ball! Published on Sat 11/08/2008 | 22 total comments I know, I know, there is dribbling, shooting, goalkeeping, defending and all of the other skills. But if a player can't receive a ball, he can't play this game on any level. Its like a receiver in football who can't catch, or a kick return specialist who can't hold on to the ball, or a quarterback who can't take a snap. And for you baseball fans, it like a catcher or a left fielder with a hole in his mitt. You can't catch, you can't play. Period! There are no designated hitters in soccer. Two soccer players can not play together effectively if one doesn't know how to receive a pass. A team can't hold possession and build an attack if its players can't receive the ball. It is the player who can receive the ball on the run, at high speeds, with a defender in his shorts that earns the right to play this game on the main stages. As parents and coaches, we teach striking the ball and a variety of different dribbling, shooting, and passing techniques. However, I would argue they are ALL secondary to learning how to receive a ball coming at you in a variety of ways and bringing it under control. If a player can do this, they can begin to take command over their own game and add value to others. The first touch is the most critical touch, always. What say you? « comments » Youth Talent is Outpacing Youth Coaching…...In Volume and Quality!! Published on Sat 11/01/2008 | 14 total comments Youth players are getting very good.......performing 3 man combinations, overlaps, diagonal runs, Maradona 360s, Rivelinos, side volleys, aerial redistribution, "slap scissor push" moves and much much more (I am talking about 8 and 9 year olds) . But......are their coaches and trainers capable of developing them at the level they need to make them GREAT? ZenMaster says NO!! Do they know how to stretch the players? To create that new soccer reality for the kid who is ready for an "upward step change" in his game!! I mean REALLY stretch them...technically and tactically!! ZenMaster says NO!! These kids have so much talent....and may be surpassing our abilities to develop them if we are not proactive in getting ourselves and our staff ready to lead them!! I am NOT kidding!! This is SERIOUS stuff!! And I am NOT picking on any one club here!! We may be slowing our players down if we don't constantly improve and increase our soccer trainers and coaches? We must perfect and grow our trade!! How about at the U-10 through U-16 levels? Do we have enough quality coaching in the US to keep up with these advanced players. ZenMaster says NO!! The ratios are bad!! Too many players...not enough quality coaches!! Any given club today has a shortage of great trainers and coaches. It is incredibly difficult and expensive building a coaching staff to develop these advanced young players. Clubs are starving for good coaches and trainers up and down the age groups and across gender. Even if they don't admit it. It is expensive to do well......and the math does not work. The lower the registration fees, the more difficult the ratio of player to trainer/coach, and the more challenging it is to find good staff!! While we have more educated coaches and trainers than ever, we are still not producing enough highly talented youth coaches and trainers to keep up with the increasing volume of capable players. Nor are we in a model that can pay them appropriately. This is creating a very mediocre fleet of players and a large disappointment gap in the eyes of the parents. It also impacts the world view on US soccer. And I think the parents and international viewers have a very good point. We need a fix!! ZenMaster has a solution...but.....first.... What say you? « comments » |
|
||||||
|
|||||||
| Contact Us Become a Member Guiding Principles Meet the Team Advertise Investor Relations ZenFooty Jobs |
| SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST | MAKE ZENFOOTY YOUR HOME PAGE © 2007-2008 ZenFooty.com |