Georgia Soccer - Georgia Soccer - YouthYouth

PARENT EDUCATION PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAMPROGRAM

Careful !! - Children at Careful !! - Children at PlayPlay

Our GenerationOur Generation Had more unsupervised free timeHad more unsupervised free time Made our own rulesMade our own rules Ownership/power to decide what to play/how longOwnership/power to decide what to play/how long

Our ChildrenOur Children Constantly supervised/shieldedConstantly supervised/shielded Monitored by overbearing adultsMonitored by overbearing adults Evaluated to adult standardsEvaluated to adult standards Fast tracked to achieve goalsFast tracked to achieve goals Losing their autonomy/creativity opportunitiesLosing their autonomy/creativity opportunities

YOUTH SPORT HIJACKED YOUTH SPORT HIJACKED BY ADULTSBY ADULTS

WHOSE NEEDS AREWHOSE NEEDS ARECONSIDERED?CONSIDERED?

WHOSE EXPECTATIONSWHOSE EXPECTATIONSARE MET?ARE MET?

WHOSE AGENDAS ARE FULFILLED?WHOSE AGENDAS ARE FULFILLED?

WHY PARENTS FIND IT HARD TO VIEW YOUTH WHY PARENTS FIND IT HARD TO VIEW YOUTH SPORT AS JUST ANOTHER LEISURE ACTIVITY?SPORT AS JUST ANOTHER LEISURE ACTIVITY?(the return on investment syndrome)(the return on investment syndrome)

THE CYCLE OFTHE CYCLE OFUNDER-DEVELOPMENTUNDER-DEVELOPMENT

Impact PhilosophyImpact Philosophy

We want each child to reach his or her We want each child to reach his or her maximum potential. maximum potential.

Individual development is more important Individual development is more important than team performance. than team performance.

HOW CHILDREN DEVELOPHOW CHILDREN DEVELOPThis presentation will cover:This presentation will cover:

Cognitive developmentCognitive development Understanding players’ needsUnderstanding players’ needs Phases of commitmentPhases of commitment Trainable componentsTrainable components Optimum practice to game ratioOptimum practice to game ratio State of flow for max creativityState of flow for max creativity Player Evaluation / Playing upPlayer Evaluation / Playing up Responsibilities of the soccer parentResponsibilities of the soccer parent

COGNITIVECOGNITIVEDEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT(Piaget)(Piaget)

SENSORY – MOTORSENSORY – MOTOR (birth to age 2) (birth to age 2) PRE-OPERATIONALPRE-OPERATIONAL (from 2-8 years) (from 2-8 years)

Egocentric – Imagination – Non logical thinkingEgocentric – Imagination – Non logical thinking

CONCRETE OPERATIONALCONCRETE OPERATIONAL (8-11) (8-11) Logical thinking related to concrete objectsLogical thinking related to concrete objects Less egocentric – more cooperative - rulesLess egocentric – more cooperative - rules

FORMAL OPERATIONALFORMAL OPERATIONAL (11 and up) (11 and up) Logical thinking related to abstract objectsLogical thinking related to abstract objects Time and space – Thinking in advance - rulesTime and space – Thinking in advance - rules

Characteristics of Characteristics of ChildrenChildren

U-8 PlayersU-8 Players

Physical abilities still immaturePhysical abilities still immature Playmates emerge. ‘Best friend’Playmates emerge. ‘Best friend’ Team identity limitedTeam identity limited Attention span still shortAttention span still short Limited self-evaluation: Effort equal successLimited self-evaluation: Effort equal success Still can mostly attend to one task at a timeStill can mostly attend to one task at a time Looking for approval from adultsLooking for approval from adults Energy to burn – constantly in motion.Energy to burn – constantly in motion.

Characteristics of Characteristics of ChildrenChildren

U-8 Players – ImplicationsU-8 Players – Implications Movement Education still a priorityMovement Education still a priority More pair activities – Cooperative & competitiveMore pair activities – Cooperative & competitive Introduce 1v1 activitiesIntroduce 1v1 activities Still mostly dribbling and some passing/shootingStill mostly dribbling and some passing/shooting Wean them from dependence on adultsWean them from dependence on adults Generous praiseGenerous praise Difficulties with throw-ins, goal kicks, etcDifficulties with throw-ins, goal kicks, etc Tactics still beyond themTactics still beyond them

Phases of Soccer Phases of Soccer DevelopmentDevelopment

Phase 1 – Introduction to soccer Phase 1 – Introduction to soccer (romance)(romance)

Phase 2 – Commitment to soccer (refine Phase 2 – Commitment to soccer (refine skill)skill)

Phase 3 – Commitment to excellence Phase 3 – Commitment to excellence (perfect skill)(perfect skill)

Phase 4 – Commitment to winning Phase 4 – Commitment to winning (fitness, tactics)(fitness, tactics)

TRAINABLE COMPONENTSTRAINABLE COMPONENTS

TECHNICALTECHNICAL Ability to control the ball. TouchesAbility to control the ball. Touches

TACTICALTACTICAL Ability to solve soccer problems (cognitive)Ability to solve soccer problems (cognitive)

FITNESSFITNESS Endurance, speed, strength, agilityEndurance, speed, strength, agility

PSYCHOLOGICALPSYCHOLOGICAL Enjoyment, coping with anxiety, confidenceEnjoyment, coping with anxiety, confidence

TRAINABLE COMPONENTSTRAINABLE COMPONENTS

PRACTICES FAR MORE IMPORTANT FOR SKILL PRACTICES FAR MORE IMPORTANT FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT THAN GAMES (MANY MORE DEVELOPMENT THAN GAMES (MANY MORE TOUCHES)TOUCHES)

YOUTH SOCCER’S BIGGEST PROBLEMS:YOUTH SOCCER’S BIGGEST PROBLEMS: OVER COACHING BY PARENTS AND COACHESOVER COACHING BY PARENTS AND COACHES MISGUIDED EMPHASIS ON GAMESMISGUIDED EMPHASIS ON GAMES

PRACTICES VS GAMESPRACTICES VS GAMES(*R = REC, S = SELECT)(*R = REC, S = SELECT)

AGE GROUPAGE GROUP GAMES PER GAMES PER YEARYEAR

PRACTICES PRACTICES PER WEEKPER WEEK

U-8U-8 20-2520-25 1-2 1-2

U-10U-10 20-3020-30 22

U-12U-12 25-3025-30 2(R*) 3(S*)2(R*) 3(S*)

U-14U-14 30-3530-35 2(R) 4(S)2(R) 4(S)

U-16U-16 35-4035-40 2(R) 4(S)2(R) 4(S)

U-18U-18 35-4535-45 2(R) 5(S)2(R) 5(S)

FLOW STATE MODELFLOW STATE MODEL(Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi)(Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi)

Activity or task matches abilityActivity or task matches ability Do not treat training like medicineDo not treat training like medicine Achievement = happiness (artists, athletes)Achievement = happiness (artists, athletes) Finished product less important than processFinished product less important than process If not in state of flow, other behavioral states:If not in state of flow, other behavioral states:

Distracted, bored, frustrated,Distracted, bored, frustrated,

anxious, defensive,anxious, defensive,

mischievous, undisciplinedmischievous, undisciplined

Player Evaluation -Player Evaluation -What parents should ask What parents should ask

the coachthe coach

U-6/U-8U-6/U-8 Is he/she having fun? Period.Is he/she having fun? Period.

Responsibility of the Responsibility of the Soccer ParentSoccer Parent

Understand the role of sportsUnderstand the role of sports Understand the oddsUnderstand the odds Be a role modelBe a role model Evaluate the club and coachesEvaluate the club and coaches Understand pursuit of excellenceUnderstand pursuit of excellence

Role of the Soccer ParentRole of the Soccer Parent

Understand the role of sportsUnderstand the role of sports Develop a healthy lifestyle (Sport = Leisure)Develop a healthy lifestyle (Sport = Leisure) Develop sport skillsDevelop sport skills Develop life skillsDevelop life skills

Social skillsSocial skills Positive self-imagePositive self-image Values character and coping skillsValues character and coping skills

Mission of youth organizationsMission of youth organizations

Role of the Soccer ParentRole of the Soccer Parent

Understand the oddsUnderstand the odds Academy/Select no guarantee of successAcademy/Select no guarantee of success Only 6% high school soccer players to NCAAOnly 6% high school soccer players to NCAA Only small percentage get athletic scholarshipOnly small percentage get athletic scholarship Only 2% of NCAA soccer players to proOnly 2% of NCAA soccer players to pro Only 0.08% high school to proOnly 0.08% high school to pro Need to prepare your child for disappointment. Need to prepare your child for disappointment.

Not build up his/her hopes unrealistically.Not build up his/her hopes unrealistically. College coaches only interested in U-16+College coaches only interested in U-16+ ‘‘Exposure’ over-ratedExposure’ over-rated

Role of the Soccer ParentRole of the Soccer Parent

Be a role modelBe a role model Listen to your child (likes/dislikes)Listen to your child (likes/dislikes) Sideline behavior – NO COACHING!!!Sideline behavior – NO COACHING!!! Dealing with game results (unconditional love)Dealing with game results (unconditional love) Don’t compare or be criticalDon’t compare or be critical Focus on positivesFocus on positives Be supportive (towards child, coach, club)Be supportive (towards child, coach, club) Shield from abuse, NOT from life lessonsShield from abuse, NOT from life lessons It’s your child’s game. Not your game.It’s your child’s game. Not your game.

Role of the Soccer ParentRole of the Soccer Parent

Evaluate the club and its coachesEvaluate the club and its coaches Consistent with mission statementConsistent with mission statement Club coachesClub coaches

No lines/lectures/lapsNo lines/lectures/laps Certification levelCertification level Philosophy of coach, motivation skillsPhilosophy of coach, motivation skills

Ethical issuesEthical issues Best interest of the individual playersBest interest of the individual players RecruitingRecruiting Playing timePlaying time Zero tolerance for abuseZero tolerance for abuse

Role of the Soccer ParentRole of the Soccer Parent Understand pursuit of excellenceUnderstand pursuit of excellence

Intrinsic motivation (if you need to push….)Intrinsic motivation (if you need to push….)Know the opportunitiesKnow the opportunities

Recreational- Academy - Select soccer – ODPRecreational- Academy - Select soccer – ODP

Know the two best coaches in the world:Know the two best coaches in the world:Watching professional soccerWatching professional soccerPlaying pick up gamesPlaying pick up games

How to reach potentialHow to reach potentialTouches on the ballTouches on the ballSelf trainingSelf trainingLearning from the prosLearning from the prosPractice to game ratioPractice to game ratioPerishable vs transferable skillsPerishable vs transferable skills

Focus on process. Where is he/she at 18?Focus on process. Where is he/she at 18?

If we take care in the If we take care in the beginning, the end beginning, the end will take care of itselfwill take care of itself