How to coach soccer at Junior High?
September 20, 2010 3:28 PM
Can you help me become a passable soccer coach for middle school?
I've coached the same Junior High team (12–15 years old) for the last 3 years. Our first year we did great, but we also had some great talent that year. I thought of myself as a decent coach.
Since then, we've been on a big losing streak. We just lost our first game of the season today. Don't get me wrong, the kids are having a blast out there and are trying their hearts out, but I feel like I'm letting them down as a coach.
So, we're definitely physically smaller than the other teams as a lot of players go into hockey and other sports. What strategies can I suggest for the following games to keep it close?
A couple of specifics:
– we're going 4–4–2
– we have one very fast striker
– we have one midfielder and one defender who communicate very well together and have good field awareness
– apart from that, we are a pretty slow and small team
– I've emphasized communicating, ball up the wings, and just general hustle
– We don't have much time for practice, so it's basically whatever simple strategy we can put in place within the game itself.
Thank you for your time.
I've coached the same Junior High team (12–15 years old) for the last 3 years. Our first year we did great, but we also had some great talent that year. I thought of myself as a decent coach.
Since then, we've been on a big losing streak. We just lost our first game of the season today. Don't get me wrong, the kids are having a blast out there and are trying their hearts out, but I feel like I'm letting them down as a coach.
So, we're definitely physically smaller than the other teams as a lot of players go into hockey and other sports. What strategies can I suggest for the following games to keep it close?
A couple of specifics:
– we're going 4–4–2
– we have one very fast striker
– we have one midfielder and one defender who communicate very well together and have good field awareness
– apart from that, we are a pretty slow and small team
– I've emphasized communicating, ball up the wings, and just general hustle
– We don't have much time for practice, so it's basically whatever simple strategy we can put in place within the game itself.
Thank you for your time.
Quite frankly, it sounds as if coaching is not your issue. Size and talent is. At some point, no amount of coaching is going to make them better. You may be able to win a game here or there based on some strategy you choose for the game, but over time, talent will prevail. I say keep doing what you're doing and make sure they keep having fun. Fun is the point. I am all about competing to win (why they keep score) but if they are giving a 100% effort, enjoying themselves yet losing that is ok. Measure success by progress. What mistakes are they making less of? What short term goal such as no break aways have they reached? Set performance improvement goals for each individual player. You are measuring success by the wrong yardstick. Wins are only a good measure if they are obtainable. Measure them on something else to get them feeling proud.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:27 PM on September 20, 2010
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:27 PM on September 20, 2010
Exactly what doublehappy said: "For a junior high team you're probably best to ensure every player has an opposition player to mark, and makes that player's life miserable by simply always being goal side of them."
Your defensive players need not be particularly strong or fast. They only need to stay with their mark and keep themselves between that person and the goal. They should force them down the wings and into the corners. They should think about limiting the number of options the player has by containing them. They can just take up space and herd the offensive player into places where they don't have good options. Defense at junior high levels can work quite well if they simply contain rather than attack.
The typical problem is that the defender takes one jab at the offensive player to try and take the ball, the offender makes a little move or accelerates and then runs by the defense. If the defenders instead work to contain - no jabbing at the ball - and herd the player along and to the outside, they will eventually have the time to capitalize on a mistake by the offensive player and have an opportunity to clear the ball.
As far as quick tips for midfield - talk to them about never being caught rocked back on their heels. You can't generate any quick acceleration when you are standing on your heels. They should keep their weight on their toes like they are always about start a race. And you can talk to them about running to the ball - if a defender clears the ball, midfield should not wait for it to take a bounce and come to them. They should go to it and take possession as soon as possible. Always move to a pass.
It sounds like you have a strong core for your team, and it sounds like you are a great coach. If you can reduce the number of errors made by your supporting players, I think your team should make some real progress.
posted by tumble at 6:41 AM on September 21, 2010
Your defensive players need not be particularly strong or fast. They only need to stay with their mark and keep themselves between that person and the goal. They should force them down the wings and into the corners. They should think about limiting the number of options the player has by containing them. They can just take up space and herd the offensive player into places where they don't have good options. Defense at junior high levels can work quite well if they simply contain rather than attack.
The typical problem is that the defender takes one jab at the offensive player to try and take the ball, the offender makes a little move or accelerates and then runs by the defense. If the defenders instead work to contain - no jabbing at the ball - and herd the player along and to the outside, they will eventually have the time to capitalize on a mistake by the offensive player and have an opportunity to clear the ball.
As far as quick tips for midfield - talk to them about never being caught rocked back on their heels. You can't generate any quick acceleration when you are standing on your heels. They should keep their weight on their toes like they are always about start a race. And you can talk to them about running to the ball - if a defender clears the ball, midfield should not wait for it to take a bounce and come to them. They should go to it and take possession as soon as possible. Always move to a pass.
It sounds like you have a strong core for your team, and it sounds like you are a great coach. If you can reduce the number of errors made by your supporting players, I think your team should make some real progress.
posted by tumble at 6:41 AM on September 21, 2010
Two things made a big difference for me that coaches told me when I was a middle school player (and I still utilize them when I play now).
Firstly, if you have a talented striker, indicate to them that their job is to score. Identify for them a professional player they'll have heard of, and talk about how that person's job is to get the ball in the back of the net by any means possible, and if they've done that, they can't be asked for more. At the middle school level perhaps more than any other time, a goal scoring instinct and a drive to go for goals can make a huge difference. At that level a lot of flukey goals can go in just for the attempts being made.
Secondly, at that level most teams might have a only a few players at most who are truly a threat to score or control the game. Tell one of your best defensive players in each game that their job is to stick to that player as closely as possible. Speaking from experience as a young forward, when teams did this to me it was incredibly difficult. Give a good player space and they can work wonders, but keep them from ever getting a clean touch on the ball and they'll be unable to do much and additionally become frustrated and play worse. Especially if your team knows the opposing player is really good, and your defensive player helps shut them down, they'll be exceedingly proud.
Sounds like you're already doing the right things, make sure they keep having fun even if they lose and then winning if you can will just be a nice bonus.
posted by haveanicesummer at 10:29 AM on September 21, 2010
Firstly, if you have a talented striker, indicate to them that their job is to score. Identify for them a professional player they'll have heard of, and talk about how that person's job is to get the ball in the back of the net by any means possible, and if they've done that, they can't be asked for more. At the middle school level perhaps more than any other time, a goal scoring instinct and a drive to go for goals can make a huge difference. At that level a lot of flukey goals can go in just for the attempts being made.
Secondly, at that level most teams might have a only a few players at most who are truly a threat to score or control the game. Tell one of your best defensive players in each game that their job is to stick to that player as closely as possible. Speaking from experience as a young forward, when teams did this to me it was incredibly difficult. Give a good player space and they can work wonders, but keep them from ever getting a clean touch on the ball and they'll be unable to do much and additionally become frustrated and play worse. Especially if your team knows the opposing player is really good, and your defensive player helps shut them down, they'll be exceedingly proud.
Sounds like you're already doing the right things, make sure they keep having fun even if they lose and then winning if you can will just be a nice bonus.
posted by haveanicesummer at 10:29 AM on September 21, 2010
All of these answers have really helped alot. Tomorrow we'll focus on marking a man, going to the ball, and containing instead of trying to tackle the attacker.
We'll see how it works. If nothing else, it'll give the kids something to focus on while they're out there.
Thanks again for all the helpful responses.
posted by fantasticninety at 11:03 AM on September 21, 2010
We'll see how it works. If nothing else, it'll give the kids something to focus on while they're out there.
Thanks again for all the helpful responses.
posted by fantasticninety at 11:03 AM on September 21, 2010
Unfortunately we lost the season, but some of the suggestions here (especially about containing on defence) did help with the kids confidence level in general. At the end of the day, the boys did have a great time so that counts for something. This is a great thread for any Junior High amateur soccer coach. I'll reference it again next year.
posted by fantasticninety at 6:33 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by fantasticninety at 6:33 PM on October 23, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
It's not "how to be a better junior high soccer coach," but reading about strategy in the professional game might give you some ideas on maximizing your team's strengths. ZM also has an active comments section. Who knows, maybe you could get some help there.
posted by thebergfather at 4:19 PM on September 20, 2010