Train and play the game or win ugly?
What is the best thing to do?? Have a successful team that wins matches, wins
trophies and is always top of the league. The performances are always dull and
the usual scoreline is 1-0, most of the time this goal is a long punt up the
field that a forward scrambles into the back of the net. The defense and
midfield always battle away and passing is usually a big hopeful kick down the
field somewhere. Its not pretty to watch but its effective. Is there more to
just winning in this way??
Can a team play the beautiful game in a way the fans and even the players crave?
Pass the ball, show off skills and continually attack………and win all the time?.
Usually the team playing this type of soccer has defensive frailties and its
mentality is we will enjoy our game and score 3 goals if you score more, well
done. These teams have trained hard and probably spent most of their time
training on skills, passing and attacking – neglecting the defensive part as it
seems negative and against their team ethics.
The defensive battling team mentioned above may have trained hard, may have tried to
incorporate skills and passing into their game but they are solely focused on
winning and grinding out results. These types of team exist in professional
soccer at club and international level where everything is results driven -
prize money, glory and trophies are the motivator. At youth level they also
exist and that is wrong, winning should not be the sole focus – especially at
young beginner ages. This focus will ultimately harm the development and
progression of the youth players.
Should a young player only learn how to tackle and kick the ball, not pass the
ball accurately but just kick it up the pitch. Or should the youth player be
developed so their game is all encompassing they have the ability to perform
skills, pass, shoot etc?
At this level soccer is fun, it’s fun for the young players and helps build
confidence and team spirit amongst the players. If they are trained in all areas
of the game and time is spent nurturing their skills and they have natural
talent they will progress to the professional ranks. Once a professional and
playing the game seriously will they value the trophies they won grinding out a
1-0 win as an 8 year old or the World Cup Winners medal they ultimately started
to achieve by losing as an 8 year whilst learning and honing those invaluable
skills?
Skill enhancing drill
Position 5 cones in a line in front of the goal.
Position 2 cones 10 yards behind the last of these cones.
Position the players on the furthest cone with a ball each.
Stand on the other cone.
Get the player to pass to you, return the pass to them.
They will now dribble the ball around the cones, upon reaching the final cone do 5
kickups and shoot for goal.
