eNewsletter

for Indiana

Soccer Club

Directors of

Coaching

2012

March-April

Table of Contents

1. Upcoming Coaching Education Courses

2. Youth Goalkeeping: Catching and

Explosiveness

3. Parents should hush on the ride home

4. Book Recommendations

5. ZONAL MARKING: Milan 0-0 Barcelona:

Lots of Little Battles

6. The National Youth License Course -

What It's All About

7. Photo of the Month

1.

Dear Club D.O.C.s and Administrators,

What’s up D.O.C.? - will be my way of trying to get closer to you and share

some important and fun things that are going on in Indiana Soccer. I

hope to share with you informative articles, opportunities to grow with

the game, and just interesting soccer tidbits. If you have anything that

you feel you want to share with the rest of the soccer community

please send to me.

Upcoming Coaching Education Courses:

USSF "E" License Course April 13-15th, 2012 - Portage High School. NEW

USSF "D" License April 13-15, and April 20-22, 2012; Zionsville Youth Soccer

Association, Whitestown, IN

Youth Module 1 & 2 April 23, 2012; Fort Wayne Sport Club

Youth Module 1 & 2 June 18, 2012: Fort Wayne Sport Club

US Soccer National Youth License - July 9th-13th, 2012; Bloomington, IN

(Karst Farm Soccer Park)

USSF "E" License Course - July 13-15th, 2012; Butler University NEW

USSF "D" License Course - July 20-22 and 27-29, 2012; Butler University NEW

USSF "E" License Course July 27-29th, 2012; Batesville Soccer Club.SEI United

NEW

Youth Module 1 & 2 August 30, 2012; Fort Wayne Sport Club

USSF "C" License November 3-11, 2012; Town and Country complex, Wilder,

KY (South of Cincinnati)

Youth Goalkeeping: Catching and Explosiveness

Today’s featured activity works on explosiveness and catching.

1. Start with a line of keepers behind a hurdle (the height of the hurdle can vary but between 1-2 feet high is ideal). A server starts with a ball 10 yards on the other side of the hurdle. (fig.1)

2. The first keeper jumps off of 2 feet over the hurdle and the server plays a ball in for the keeper to make the save. The emphasis is on landing softly and in a set position so the keeper is NOT diving over the hurdle). (fig. 2)

3. As soon as the ball is saved, the ball gets returned and the keeper goes to the end of the line and the next keeper goes.

4. After each keeper gets 5 turns we change it so the keeper now hops over the hurdle with one leg (this doesn’t mean runs over the hurdle but instead hops off of one leg and lands on that same leg). The keepers do 5 on each leg.

5. Next the hurdle gets moved sideways and the keeper, while facing forward, jumps off of two legs over the hurdle and then makes the save. (fig. 3)

They do this 5 times in each direction and then do the same off of each leg.

The server can vary the serves (hard, soft, high, low etc) and this is a great way to work on a keepers explosiveness, balance and catching.

(fig.1) (fig. 2) (fig. 3)

Congrats to

Parents Should Hush On the Ride Home By Mike Woitalla

"What is your worst memory from playing youth and high school sports?" That was the question posed to college athletes in a survey by Proactive Coaching. The overwhelming response was: "The ride home from games with my parents." Children, not surprisingly, don’t enjoy a critique of their performance when they settle into the backseat. Who, no matter what age, would? Imagine a rough day at the office -- an office that resembles a typical youth soccer game. Your boss screams instructions while you work and lectures you before and after. Then you ride home with your parents. They’ve witnessed your mistakes. So they offer you advice. No matter how well-intentioned, their advice will likely register as admonishment. And they’re denying your desire – your right -- to wind down and contemplate your feelings on your own terms. If a parent actually did have some advice for a young player that might help the child, after the game -- when the kids are physically and emotionally spent – is certainly not the time. In that same survey, the athletes were asked what words from their parents they remembered most fondly. The by far most common response was, "I love to watch you play."

Book Recommendations

This section is dedicated to book recommendations – perhaps some suggestions for Christmas.

BOOKS ON TACTICS, COACHING AND STATS

Inverting the Pyramid, Jonathan Wilson

The daddy of all football tactics books. Explains the development of formations and systems from the frenetic 1-2-7 shape used in early British football in the 19th Century, right through to the strikerless systems used in recent years by Roma and Manchester United.

But it isn’t a coaching manual, it’s a historical account of how football has unfolded throughout the decades – bringing to life the great Hungary side of the 1950s by demonstrating quite how differently they approached the game, and outlining why Brazil were so fabulous to watch in the 1970s.

Direct links: Buy Inverting the Pyramid at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com (US) or or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

Sir Alex: The Official Manchester United Celebration of 25 Years at Old Trafford by MUFC, David Meek, Tom Tyrrell in Books

The official Manchester United celebration of Sir Alex Ferguson's 25 years as the club's record-breaking manager Not only celebrating what Sir Alex Ferguson has achieved at United, this fascinating book also seeks to explain just how he has gone about creating this remarkable dynasty, constantly rebuilding the team and driving

them forward to yet more glory. When Ferguson joined Manchester United in November 1986, he came with a great track record from his time in charge of Aberdeen. But reestablishing the Reds as the most successful club in the land was an enormous task. Famously, he knew he had to knock Liverpool of their perch.

Training Soccer Champions by Anson Dorrance

This book is an excellent guide for ways to develop your soccer team and take them to a new level. This is more for advanced coaches, but I think beginning coaches can utilize these techniques also. Covers great program building techniques for youth boys and women of all levels. Great resource for all soccer coaches

Direct links: Training soccer Champions at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com (US) or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

Catch Them Being Good: Everything You Need to Know to Successfully Coach Girls by Tony DiCicco, Colleen Hacker and Charles Salzberg

Catch Them Being Good provides an outline for how to build a team-from selecting players and setting team goals to giving instructional feedback, dealing with wins and losses, and building chemistry. The book also offers exercises and drills that any coach can implement, along with invaluable advice on the differences in coaching

males and females. In addition, this book is an important tool for parents, as DiCicco and Hacker answer some of their most common questions: How can I tell if the coach is doing a good job? What if I have a problem with the coach? What should I do if my child wants to quit? Abounding with stories about the personalities of the championship teams, Catch Them Being Good is the ultimate soccer book for parents, coaches, and athletes-from America's soccer authority.

Direct links: Buy Catch Them Being Good at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com (US) or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

How to Score, Ken Bray

Takes a scientific approach to analysing football games – for example, it explains how to put the optimal amount of swerve on a football at a free-kick.

Tactically it’s most interesting in the first two chapters, it explains the development of football tactics in a briefer way than Inverting The Pyramid, although it is no replacement for that book and explains it in a more matter-of-fact way. The chapters about set-pieces are also interesting, and the highlight is the long-overdue analysis of

penalty shoot-outs.

Direct links: Buy How to Score at Amazon.co.uk orAmazon.com (US) or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

Teambuilding, Rinus Michels

One of the most legendary books about a football team, its style and its tactics. Michels was the father of Total Football, and this book spends a lot of time reminiscing about his coaching career, but of more interest is his thoughts about the functions of the team, and there are also training drills in there too.

The book can be difficult to find – certainly brand new editions are – but it’s well worth finding a second hand copy. Few other managers have gone to such length to explain

their thinking, and very few as successful as Michels. Good reading in conjunction with A Perfect Orange, below.

Direct links: Buy Teambuilding at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com (US) or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

Coaching Soccer -National Soccer Coaches Association of a America (Various Contributors/Authors), Tim Schumm (Editor)

Fundamental skills, offensive and defensive strategy, team offense and defense, conditioning and motivational techniques--every conceivable aspect of the game is discussed in this official coaching handbook from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Never before has so much information by so many renowned soccer authorities been collected in one volume. The National Soccer

Coaches Association of America wa formed in 1941 and its mission today is the same one set forth by its founding members in New York: to promote the sport of soccer in the United States, while at the same time providing an educational environment for individuals at all levels of the game to improve their coaching skills. It is their belief that better coaching will improve the play of the sport in this country. The NSCAA membership has grown to more than 11,000 coaches nationwide, male and female, from the youth level to the collegiate ranks.

Direct links: Coaching soccer - NSCAA at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com (US) or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

Attacking Soccer, Massimo Lucchesi

A dream of a book for those interested in the theoretical concepts behind tactics and formations. It doesn’t focus upon actual matches, particular teams or coaches. Instead, it lays out how different formations line up against each other.

As the title suggests, it focuses on how to break down the opposition, a welcome break from many tactics and coaching books which merely look at how to set out

defensively. It also features diagrams on every page to break up what might otherwise seem a difficult read.

Direct links: Buy Attacking Soccer on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com (US) or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

Why England Lose / Soccernomics, Simon Kuper

Or, to give it its full name outside the UK, “Soccernomics: Why England Loses, Why Germany and Brazil Win, and Why the U.S., Japan, Australia, Turkey – and Even Iraq – Are Destined to Become the Kings of the World’s Most Popular Sport.”

Not strictly about tactics (or even about tactics at all, really), but takes an interesting approach to football writing by dealing with statistics and economics, in relation to

topics such as when to buy and sell players, and how goalkeepers have started to prepare more effectively for penalty shoot-outs.

Direct links: Buy Why England Lose at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com (US) or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

Soccer Modern Tactics, Alessandro Zauli

This should be one of the greatest books on football. It analyses formations and tactics and interviews some of the best coaches in the world including Carlo Ancelotti, Marcello Lippi, Arrigo Sacchi and talks to them specifically about their tactical outlook.

It also uses diagrams on almost every page, which is very welcome. Its downfall comes because the book is translated so poorly from Italian to English, which is very

frustrating. The text is still readable, and if you can get over the poor translation, it’s a fascinating read.

Direct links: Buy Soccer Modern Tactics at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com (US) or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

Football and Chess, Adam Wells

How many times has a cautious tactical battle been described by the commentators as something like ‘a game of chess’ between the two managers? This site treats almost every match and footballing situation like that, and this book outlines why.

Taking both games together, it outlines the similarities under different subjects – creating space, stretching the defence, pressing, build-up play, dominating the midfield, using width – and explains why the two are similar. It also brings in classic

matches from both games. No prior knowledge of chess is needed…

Direct links: Buy Football and Chess at Amazon.co.uk orAmazon.com (US) or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

Coaching the 4-4-2, Floriano Marziali and Vincenzo Mora

This is a coaching book rather than a nice light read, focusing purely upon a 4-4-2, primarily about what positions the defenders should take up in what situations, depending upon where the ball is. More than half the book consists of diagrams.

The downside is that it is entirely about the 4-4-2 formation – written in 1997, some of this can seem slightly outdated considering how many sides now play 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-

1 systems. Still, it mainly looks at the defence, and with a back four still overwhelmingly popular, it’s a useful resource.

Direct links: Buy Coaching the 4-4-2 on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com (US) or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

BOOKS ON FOOTBALL NATIONS

Brilliant Orange, David Winner

A book about the history and culture of Dutch football. Explains the nature of how the game is played at youth levels in Holland, and puts forward an interesting argument for why the national team has so often underachieved at major tournaments – particularly interesting after the 2010 World Cup campaign.

In tactical terms, it is most interesting when outlining the true nature of the great Total Football system of the 1960s and 1970s, describing a system that was more

intelligent, structured and methodical than is often implied in mainstream retrospective analysis.

Direct links: Buy Brilliant Orange at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com (US) or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

The Italian Job, Gianluca Vialli and Gabriele Marcotti

A top-name footballer linking up with a top-name football journalist to write a collaborative piece, focusing upon the differences between English and Italian football.

The chapter on tactics is very interesting and interviews some of Europe’s top managers – Jose Mourinho outlines why his 4-3-3 shape at Chelsea was so effective, Arsene Wenger puts forward the argument that 4-4-2 covers space more effectively

than any other system, and Sir Alex Ferguson claims to have never played a system with two out-and-out strikers in his career.

Direct links: Buy The Italian Job at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com (US) or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

Calcio, John Foot

There seems to be more (English language) quality literature about Italian football than any other footballing culture. This book is a big read and mainly focuses upon the culture and history of Italian football, but it is a great introduction to calcio.

The section about catenaccio and stereotypical Italian defensive-minded play is interesting – Foot puts forward the view that Italians have rarely been more defensive than other nations, they’ve simply been better at defending, and therefore have relied

upon their defensive abilities more than other nations have been able to.

Direct links: Buy Calcio at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com (US) or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

Morbo, Phil Ball

This history of Spanish football came out in the early 2000s and was an interesting read because La Liga had come to the top of the UEFA coefficient standings, whilst Real Madrid had won three European Cups in five years. The national side, however, continued to underachieve.

Following Spain’s successes in 2008 and 2010, it’s even more enlightening, explaining the traditions and culture of Spanish football, the influence of the Franco

regime and the regional differences within the country that have shaped the attitude of the European and World Champions.

Direct links: Buy Morbo at Amazon.co.uk at Amazon.com (US) or Amazon.CA or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

Futebol, Alex Bellos

The best book around about the most successful footballing nation in the world. As with many of these books, the obvious line is that it is ‘not just a book about Brazilian football, but also one about Brazilian culture’.

But as interesting as some of the more general parts of the book are, it is at its best when discussing the actual football, after all, Brazil has probably the most distinctive

way of playing the game of any national side. The parts about some of the great characters (the likes of Pele and Zico) and the great games, like the 1950 and 1970 World Cup finals – are excellent.

Direct links: Buy Futebol on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com (US) or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

Englischer Fussball, Raphael Honigstein

A book looking at the nature of English football from a German perspective might seem an unusual way to approach the subject, but look at some of England’s biggest moments – 1966, 1990, 1996 – and it’s interesting to know how they were viewed in Germany.

In those famous defeats in 1990 and 1996 England were defeated on penalties, but in 2010 England were inferior in terms of tactics, fitness, technique and mentality, making this book an even more interesting read. But overall it’s simply an honest, brutal but humorous take on English football, regardless of the author’s nationality.

Direct links: Buy Englischer Fussball on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com (US) or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

Tor, Ulrich Hesse-Lichtenberger

The best book about a footballing nation surprisingly overlooked in a lot of good football literature. The subheading is ‘the story of German football’ and it is just that – a story rather than a mere history.

Football on the pitch generally takes a backseat, as there is more focus on football in relation to political and cultural events in Germany. From discussing how teams picked up some slightly unusual names to the surprisingly late development of the national league becoming professional, it is perhaps the most comprehensive of any of the ‘national history’ books on this list.

Direct links: Buy Tor! on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com (US) or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

BOOKS ON A SPECIFIC CLUB / PLAYER

Barca, Jimmy Burns

Barcelona are one of the most fascinating club sides in the world: how they nurture players and create a distinctive, cohesive playing style. Off-pitch political issues are equally important in understanding the nature of the club, and both aspects are covered at length here.

The most interest comes from the Dutch influence on the side, mainly centred upon Johan Cruyff’s impact both as a player and a manager. There is a direct line from his era down to the Guardiola years, where Barcelona have established themselves as arguably the most influential side in Europe in terms of playing style.

Direct links: Buy Barca at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com (US) or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de orAmazon.fr

So Paddy Got Up, Various (including ZM)

A compilation of various articles about Arsenal from various writers, put together by the writer of the acclaimed Arseblog site. It includes chapters on the history of the club, on individual players, on finances, on board members and much more.

ZM’s contribution is on…tactics, of course. Discussing Arsene Wenger’s 15-year reign on the pitch, the evolution of the side he inherited into a team of his own at the

turn of the century, and then the attractive but broadly unsuccessful side of the last few years.

Direct links: Arseblog

Capello, Gabriele Marcotti

“The man behind England’s World Cup dream” is no longer accurate, but this book is an excellent read. Starting with Capello’s childhood, moving through his playing career and dissecting his managerial spells around Italy, it’s a brilliantly comprehensive biography.

The best bits are when the focus is on his reign at two Italian clubs: Milan, where he took over from the legendary Arrigo Sacchi, and Roma, where he built a fantastic side playing 3-4-1-2 with Francesco Totti as the trequartista and captain.

Direct links: Buy Capello at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com or Amazon.ca or Amazon.de or Amazon.fr

Cantona, Philippe Auclair

A brilliant portrait of one of the most fascinating characters in English football. This is both an ordinary biography and a highly unusual one – it covers Cantona’s career from childhood to retirement, but also considers various factors not specific to Cantona’s life – musings upon the peculiarity and beauty of football. That’s probably appropriate considering the subject of the biography.

Though the peak of his career was spent in England, some of the more fascinating parts of the book involve his difficult relationship with the national side, and his reputation back home.

Milan 0-0 Barcelona: Lots of Little Battles - March 29, 2012

The starting line-ups:

Both sides created chances, neither found the net.

Max Allegri was without various players, most notably centre-back Thiago Silva. However, Robinho was fit to start upfront.

Pep Guardiola named Carles Puyol at left-back, and used Seydou Keita in midfield with Cesc Fabregas only on the bench.

A brief summary of the tactical battle? Milan often did well to crowd out Barca’s attacks, but Barca should have stretched them more. There wasn’t a key battle, nor an overall tactical theme – but instead plenty of small areas of interest.

Barcelona shape

Guardiola used 3-4-3 in the previous fixture between the sides – it didn’t work that well overall, despite Barcelona getting the win. But it remained the logical shape to use

– Milan play with two upfront and one behind, so using three at the back in conjunction with a diamond midfield means a 3 v 2, extended to a 4 v 3, and therefore always the presence of a spare man, which Guardiola generally likes.

This was more like the 4-3-3 system Guardiola has generally favoured throughout his time in charge at Barca, although it was perhaps a hybrid of the two systems. Daniel Alves was filling in as the right-sided defender without the ball, but with Puyol staying deep and central in the left-back position, and dropping in to help the two centre-backs, it’s impossible to say that Alves and Puyol were playing the same role.

It was roughly 4-3-3 without the ball, then 3-4-3 with it – Alves becoming the only true wide attacker, with Seydou Keita or Andres Iniesta drifting to the opposite side sporadically.

In all, Barcelona basically kept a spare man at the back with the use of Puyol in a lopsided back three, despite playing with a back four…

Robinho

The game’s weakest player was Robinho, both in terms of his tactical role and his contribution to the match in general. His role was crucial to the shape of the game – did he track Alves, or stay high up and try to exploit the space in behind? He did neither particularly well – sometimes coming back, more often staying high up – but in central positions. Javier Mascherano came out to meet him, leaving Gerard Pique and Puyol against Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Interestingly, there was a similar problem in the group stage game at the Camp Nou, when Antonio Cassano played in the position Robinho occupied tonight. ZM said then: “It wasn’t quite clear what Cassano’s role in the side was – a deep-lying forward, yes, but what is that player meant to do when his side has no possession and barely gets into the opposition half? He could have come wider, or deeper, to drag Mascherano further out of position and to instigate an attack. Alternatively, Urby Emmanuelson could have been fielded from the start (which was expected amongst the Italian media before the game) to provide pace down the flank. Barca should have been tested more on the break.”

The same applies here – and Emmanuelson again seemed a good bet for that role. He can track Alves, then try to burst in behind. Allegri might consider this in the return leg.

Robinho was the first man to be substituted, but it was Stephan El Shaarawy who replaced him.

Pressing and Sitting

Allegri said before the game that Milan wouldn’t be submissive. This was half-true. Milan did press very well at times, particularly when Barcelona tried to play out from the back at goal-kicks. Robinho’s early miss came after Clarence Seedorf intercepted an underhit Sergio Busquets pass when the whole side moved up to pressure Barca’s defensive players. Also, Ibrahimovic’s first half chance came after Massimo Ambrosini got tight to Xavi Hernandez and made a good tackle. It was noticeable how much Barcelona were out of position when they lost the ball in deep positions – their preferred shape with and without the ball was very different, so they weren’t in a good position when they were dispossessed in their own half.

On the other hand, once Barca got into a passing rhythm in midfield, Milan reverted to a system of sitting deep and narrow on the edge of the box, defending with 4+3+1, with Kevin-Prince Boateng moving back to flatten the diamond and help out in midfield. Their shape was generally good, though they were often too narrow and let Alves have too much space on the right, which goes back to the Robinho problem.

Barcelona’s pressing wasn’t as good as usual. They seemed a little confused about when and when not to press, and who had the responsibility of moving with each Milan player. They press much better when (the out-of-form) Pedro Rodriguez is in the side – he sets the tempo for the rest of the side.

Physicality and Midfield Battle

One of the main features of the game was the physicality. This was obvious from the number – and type – of fouls committed. Milan broke up counter-attacks cynically in their own half, with Alessandro Nesta literally holding his hands up to acknowledge he was doing this. Barca, more subtly, foul consistently high up the pitch and stop breaks before they’ve even begun.

Of course, Milan are a side based around strength and steel in the centre of the pitch and Guardiola was guilty of over-compensating for this. The selection of Keita was an indication that he wanted to compete in this respect, but Barca would have been better off playing to their strengths with Andres Iniesta in the centre of midfield, and a true wide midfielder on the left.

Iniesta doesn’t like playing in the front three and his narrowness made Barca too predictable, always going down the centre and right, while Xavi had a good game but is more comfortable as the second function midfielder (ie between Busquets and Iniesta from bottom to top) than in a more advanced role. He received the ball too often with his back to goal, and couldn’t see the pitch ahead of him. Keita, the man this debate revolves around, did little wrong personally.

Both sides were both keen not to be outnumbered in the centre of midfield. Barcelona are used to dominating this zone with possession, and Milan do the same with numbers – four central midfielders. Therefore, both coaches crammed players into this zone, and with little width, there were only two corners in the entire game.

It was also interesting that Philippe Mexes and Javier Mascherano both came forward quickly from the defence to get tight to forwards dropping deep into the midfield zone.

Minimal Changes

There were substitutions, but only one significantly changed the tactical battle. That was when Cristian Tello replaced Iniesta. This was a good move from Guardiola – Iniesta was quiet and Barcelona needed to stretch the play on both flanks. Tello did that – he’s a natural wide forward and stayed up high. Whereas Iniesta got short passes into feet, the balls to Tello were longer, indicating how he was stretching the play, and he had a couple of late chances.

Conclusion

0-0 is always an interesting first leg result. Does it favor the side playing the second leg at home, or the side who know a score draw in the second leg will take them through?

Both coaches can learn lessons from this game ahead of next week’s re-match: Barcelona must stretch the play on both sides, Milan must use their second striker more effectively.

Barca remain favorites.

The National Youth License Course - What It's All About

watch the you tube

video here

The National Youth License is designed to provide club directors of coaching, youth coaches, physical education teachers, and soccer administrators with the knowledge to successfully structure soccer environments for children aged 4-12.

The role of the coach as a facilitator is explored; the physical, mental and emotional needs and capabilities of players from 4-12 are explored; the lessons from developmental psychology are explored; and the art of teaching is explored. Candidates are videotaped for analysis during live training sessions.

Course Offered This Summer in Bloomington July 9th-13th

Photo of the Month

RMA Jersey Winner Rick Fiege being presented an autographed Danny Welbeck Manchester United jersey from Erwin van Elst at the 2012 Indiana Soccer AGM