Comments on: Style Over Stamina: Why it’s time British children had a ball at their feet http://soccerlens.com/style-over-stamina-training-british-children/5955/ Football News Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:36:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Steve Amoia http://soccerlens.com/style-over-stamina-training-british-children/5955/#comment-81695 Steve Amoia Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:35:55 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/style-over-stamina-training-british-children/5955/#comment-81695 Chris: A few days ago, I read a comment by Leo Messi of Barcelona. "We always had a ball at our feet at their youth academy." Last week, we had a guest contribution from Mark Carter of Ministry of Football. He raised many of the important points that you have. Especially about more time with and on the ball, the focus on learning and enjoyment, along with less vocal parents. He made an interesting observation: "Would you yell at your child while they learn how to read a book?" www.ministry-of-football.com/ Chris:

A few days ago, I read a comment by Leo Messi of Barcelona. “We always had a ball at our feet at their youth academy.”

Last week, we had a guest contribution from Mark Carter of Ministry of Football. He raised many of the important points that you have. Especially about more time with and on the ball, the focus on learning and enjoyment, along with less vocal parents.

He made an interesting observation: “Would you yell at your child while they learn how to read a book?”

http://www.ministry-of-football.com/

]]> By: United on Fire http://soccerlens.com/style-over-stamina-training-british-children/5955/#comment-81689 United on Fire Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:25:42 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/style-over-stamina-training-british-children/5955/#comment-81689 As a coach of 5 and 6 year olds, I fully agree with this and in fact, so do the FA. As a proud holder of a Level 1 badge (didn't see Avran Grant at the sessions btw) this is what it being taught to the future generations of football coaches. Our kids have a ball at their feet all through their training session and the only time they don't have a ball each is during the short match at the end of the session. There is still a huge problem though. The leagues that the teams will go into in the future are too completive and many coaches seem to be of the "win at all costs" ilk. Their attitude is "why train up the skills when we can punt it forward to the really fast kid up front and win 11-0". Until this changes, I see the problem remaining. Another problem is playing the best players in one position. The great tackler? He plays at CB. The speedy small kid? Winger. Move the children round so they experience more positions and then they will become better players. As a coach of 5 and 6 year olds, I fully agree with this and in fact, so do the FA. As a proud holder of a Level 1 badge (didn’t see Avran Grant at the sessions btw) this is what it being taught to the future generations of football coaches. Our kids have a ball at their feet all through their training session and the only time they don’t have a ball each is during the short match at the end of the session.

There is still a huge problem though. The leagues that the teams will go into in the future are too completive and many coaches seem to be of the “win at all costs” ilk. Their attitude is “why train up the skills when we can punt it forward to the really fast kid up front and win 11-0″. Until this changes, I see the problem remaining.

Another problem is playing the best players in one position. The great tackler? He plays at CB. The speedy small kid? Winger. Move the children round so they experience more positions and then they will become better players.

]]> By: Gary Andrews http://soccerlens.com/style-over-stamina-training-british-children/5955/#comment-81685 Gary Andrews Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:00:49 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/style-over-stamina-training-british-children/5955/#comment-81685 Good article (although I'd disagree that the 4-4-2 system is necessarily a problem. If you've got good enough players and tactics, it can work well. And there's variants of 4-4-2 itself). Fitness is important, especially for winning games in the last ten minutes. But the best teams, in my view, are the ones who give equal amounts of times to skill. Then you've got a skillful team who're likely to hurt you in the final few minutes. Good article (although I’d disagree that the 4-4-2 system is necessarily a problem. If you’ve got good enough players and tactics, it can work well. And there’s variants of 4-4-2 itself).

Fitness is important, especially for winning games in the last ten minutes. But the best teams, in my view, are the ones who give equal amounts of times to skill. Then you’ve got a skillful team who’re likely to hurt you in the final few minutes.

]]> By: Svenalike.co.uk http://soccerlens.com/style-over-stamina-training-british-children/5955/#comment-81682 Svenalike.co.uk Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:21:05 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/style-over-stamina-training-british-children/5955/#comment-81682 Well Chris, I share your frustration at the recent return to pre-Sven/Becks international performance but I am amazed that you propound the myth of Svennis' "underachievement"? Sven-Goran Eriksson's "favouritism and lack of adventure" resulted in dragging England out of a decade of mediocraty and resulted in England's rise to FIFA world rank No.4 while cruising to top qualifying place in all three tournaments, losing only 5 competitive games under his stewardship during a statistically unmatched five and a half year turn around that did everything but bring home a well earned trophy (or two?). Does anyone really think England would be on the bench for Euro 2008 if Sven hadn't been driven out by a xenophobic minority among the arm chair experts within the media? The foreign press and England Official fan groups looked on in amazement as our press crucified what they consider "the world's best coach" and the only consolation is that England's loss looks like being Manchester City's gain... Lets hope that Fabio is half as good and we may at least qualify for W-Cup 2010? The rest is down to a bit more luck (and a lot more support?)than S-G E enjoyed.... Well Chris, I share your frustration at the recent return to pre-Sven/Becks international performance but I am amazed that you propound the myth of Svennis’ “underachievement”?
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s “favouritism and lack of adventure” resulted in dragging England out of a decade of mediocraty and resulted in England’s rise to FIFA world rank No.4 while cruising to top qualifying place in all three tournaments, losing only 5 competitive games under his stewardship during a statistically unmatched five and a half year turn around that did everything but bring home a well earned trophy (or two?).
Does anyone really think England would be on the bench for Euro 2008 if Sven hadn’t been driven out by a xenophobic minority among the arm chair experts within the media?
The foreign press and England Official fan groups looked on in amazement as our press crucified what they consider “the world’s best coach” and the only consolation is that England’s loss looks like being Manchester City’s gain…
Lets hope that Fabio is half as good and we may at least qualify for W-Cup 2010? The rest is down to a bit more luck (and a lot more support?)than S-G E enjoyed….

]]> By: Graham Fisher http://soccerlens.com/style-over-stamina-training-british-children/5955/#comment-81679 Graham Fisher Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:47:22 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/style-over-stamina-training-british-children/5955/#comment-81679 I don't think I could agree more with this article. I saw a piece on Sky Sports the other day where a young lad played a small sided game and then a full eleven a side game. In the small sided game he touched the ball 70 (seventy) more times! At that crucial age of 10, 11, 12, that sort of time on the ball must be invaluable. When my son was on the books at an English professional club, I got friendly with a couple of the scouts. Their instructions were to look for big, strong lads with pace. I think that sums up the problem. I don’t think I could agree more with this article. I saw a piece on Sky Sports the other day where a young lad played a small sided game and then a full eleven a side game. In the small sided game he touched the ball 70 (seventy) more times!

At that crucial age of 10, 11, 12, that sort of time on the ball must be invaluable.

When my son was on the books at an English professional club, I got friendly with a couple of the scouts. Their instructions were to look for big, strong lads with pace.

I think that sums up the problem.

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