Our interviews with pros often include nuggets that could prove useful for youth coaches. Here are five from the pages of Soccer America.
5. “During the week and in training, coaches need to coach. But on game day — of course, if there’s something that needs to happen you can intervene — I believe that it’s time for the players to grow and to make their decisions. And also to shine. So during the game, it’s time for the players and the team to perform. And during the week, that’s when coaches work.”
— Steve Cherundolo on fame in Germany, World Cups with the USA, and coming home to coach the Las Vegas Lights. (The season following this interview, Cherundolo became LAFC’s head coach and won MLS Cup 2022.)
4. “More than the tactics, more than all the different things that go into preparing for a game, and then subbing and getting guys fit. More than all of that is the relationships you’re able to create. You have to get to know each player individually. I have 15 different countries represented. Every kid grew up completely different. You have to get to know them as people. That applies to your staff as well.”
— Jim Curtin on his coaching rise from toddlers to pros, what makes Philly special, and Chicago locker room lessons.
3. “They need to enjoy the camp. Being responsible, being professional is the most important thing. But it is our responsibility to create a very nice environment. They need to feel when they arrive in camp like, ‘We are going to be altogether. We are going to enjoy playing football. I need to play with freedom. I need to help the national team earn all that we want.”
— Mauricio Pochettino the defender: USA’s new coach played on Argentina’s backline
2. “I read an interesting quote in Arsene Wenger’s autobiography. He mentioned this idea that as a coach you have to talk to the inner child inside the professional player. They’re here because as a child they grew a love for the game. And if you can connect with that, you’re probably going to connect with their essence.”
— Brett Uttley: Array of coaching roles prepped former Rhode Island youth star well for Austin FC II helm
1. “I always asked my coaches questions. Sometimes I disagreed with the answer. Most of the time, when they answered, I said, OK, you’re right. But a lot of time I didn’t get an answer. If they said it’s this way because that’s my way — it’s not working for me. It’s OK to disagree, but coaches should explain their way. Players should be able to ask questions and the coach should be able to answer.”
— Javier Morales: Argentine ‘El Maestro’ leads young hopefuls at Inter Miami after starring for Real Salt Lake
Thanks Mike, for approaching a specific direction of soccer that is wholly missing in American soccer journalism. In other words, I would call it trying to get an ‘insight’ or glimpse into the ‘witche’s kitchen’.
Although the tips given were not really thought provoking but instead the standard ‘MO’, of typical coaches who really didn’t say anything, very general , nothing new, or making the reader able to say,”hmmm, didn’t know that”.
READ Brett Uttley’s quote and then click on youtube what Michael Laudrup thinks about soccer coaches and that Northern European players tend to ask always “WHY” coach. Then he explains why Cruyff is so different from other coaches he ever played for on YOUTUBE
‘He had one thing different from all other coaches I had’ | Michael Laudrup on Johan Cruyff
Coaches feel very uncomfortable when asked “why” this or that for they feel challenged. Dutch players always question the coach ,on what are the intentions behind his tactical approach or is this way the best approach…For a long time English coaches viewed dutch players, too nosy, too challenging , felt they were put on the spot when having to explain ‘why’ this or that… Historically English coaches are not known for being tactical geniuses- it’s ‘roll up the sleeves and fight’.
It’s good to have players question or inquire the ‘why’ for it tells you the player is thinking which there are so few of…. The American soccer players is not smart nor a thinker type of the game. Their first reaction is ” what do you want me to do coach ?” …It’s so brainless. And this is one of the reason we produce neither technicians of the game nor thinkers in the past 50 years…..
Don’t forget it’s the use of technique that jump starts and makes the player begin to think the game. When a player in ‘street soccer’ or pickup watches another player get out of a situation employing a technical move, he obviously sees ‘why’ he employed that move as related to the situation and furthermore the result or effect it has on the game.. THIS IS ALL COMES WITH THE USE OF TECHNIQUE.
Street or pickup soccer not only improves technique but alongside develops also the THINKING aspect that plays a nurturing role as well and that is so overlooked by many who just look at PICKUP as just an technical exercise. Pickup soccer nurtures LEADERSHIP, INDIVIDUALITY, MENTAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECT, MOTIVATING ACCOMPLISHMENT, ESTEEM.
Players playing pickup grow mentally as well as technically. Both aspects develop together in a NATURAL MANNER , unlike when coaches get involved who break down the game and specialize in various aspect to teach. This is one of the reasons why so few players can think the game, instead they are told what to do using scripts, flip-over charts, computer analytics, etc…And worse they are taught by coaches/assistant coaches ,who are very limited types in soccer themselves and worse only specialize in a certain aspect of the game. This is why we now have a coaching bench of ten thousand assistant coaches, each specializing but unable to see the total picture or tie it all in. We have so many assistant coaches, the only coach we’re missing is one that specializes in designing plays for ‘throw-ins’ . We keep this up we’ll probably start a union for assistant coaches ,sooner or later.
Cruyff as coach would try to draw discussions, questions from his players, he wanted to debate and argue to force them to think. As Michael Laudrup, stated , Cruyff explain technically and follows why you have to play this way. Other coaches will tell you that it is how he wants it….But it really says is that the coach lacks the deeper insight of the game which the large majority of coaches are settled with and therefore feel threatened…
At Ajax when Cruyff coached like at Barcelona, there was a saying employed by his players that you couldn’t argue with Cruyff for he knew the game so intricately that he didn’t leave even a tiny hole to fit your argument…he had it all bases covered….And this is what players respect in a coach in Holland and not the Knute Rockne types….
Frank, so much to be gained from pick-up soccer – but also – there is a knifes edge and parents need to be aware – reading the Zidane The Biography book (Fort & Phillppe) – Zidane developed in the cement grounds outside his project – but also – it almost consumed him – and the edge he took – was with him all his career – and came out in the famous head butt in the WC vs. Italy. It is the same for Suarez, his biting. For my son, the playground scuffles were a consideration – and we moved him from a school that could not control him. He took many red cards – before he learned to channel those feelings. Yeah, he learned along the way – a lot – but it’s a bit like lord of the flies and requires some parent interventions. Anyway, all good. Thank you.
Soooo much , that’s right Humble.
Army culture has commanders routinely state their intent up front so that “players” can keep the commander’s objective in mind as they improvise to overcome problems during execution of the plan. Seems to me that the Dutch practice is excellent for any group undertaking.
A lot of what is written above encapsulates the experience my son his having in college soccer in his first year. There are a half dozen players from Europe, he is in a different state in a different region of the country there are many locals, he is the only player on the team that speaks Spanish, this is a first for him, no point to curse in Spanish, no one will understand. But so much of what is written above, the human elements – they are part of growing as unit. As far as questioning the coach – the college context is singular – you the player – especially the first year player – and the condensed season – there is little time – to question tactics or in-game decisions. As it relates to youth coaches – remember this – unless you player is at an academy – the coach will have more than one team and maybe a day job – getting to know 50 to 100 kids – this is not so easy. Any coach that coaches more than 1 team – forget it. Not gonna happen, getting to know the players, it will be hello, good-bye, nada mas.