July Newsletter

Summer Camp News

The Intensive Training Week for Boca U11 and U12 subgroup was just completed with great success; give or take a few sore muscles! We built on what we learned from last summer's camp and had an even more demanding and successful week this summer. The session was well attended and the players were focused on our goal of attempting to improve by learning something new every day and above all maximizing the number of touches of the ball! The coaching staff was enthusiastic and found the attitude of our wonderful children even more motivating. We asked our players to focus on improving their touches such as in passing, dribbling, receiving, heading and finishing. In addition we organized small sided games and were pleased that the players understood and enjoyed trying to play a purposeful possession- oriented game.

Dribbling : We worked a great deal on the techniques involved in dribbling. First we worked on various controlled touches of the ball using all surfaces of the foot. Then moving and turning with the ball and finally adding some complicated but fun and useful moves that use deception and setting up the opponent. This introduces the fact that the dribble starts with total possession of the ball while in motion, setting up the move to beat an opponent, making the move to beat the opponent and quickly regaining dominance of the ball or finishing with a pass or shot. We also practiced some fun moves and feints that we may or may not have the confidence to use in games but they were fun anyhow. Trying some difficult move in motion and risking losing balance or falling while trying and giggling about it was encouraged. During the learning phase the coaches constantly encouraged players to take small touches such that one can touch the ball every step while moving and then taking quick baby touches while turning.

Passing: Basic inside-of- the-foot passing was easy for these players. However, the coaches found it necessary to emphasize the point that the teammate preparing to receive a pass ought to shape his/her body to not only receive the pass but also to give information to the teammate where he/she would like the pass (right or left foot) and also shape the body to be able to make a pass to another teammate without having to stop or redirect the ball first. The players did very well with grasping and practicing these ideas. Then in larger groups we were able to practice the ideas of supporting and moving by organizing larger groups in more complex passing games. While trying to teach the habits to allow players to play with as few touches as possible, the coaches also emphasized the reality that not all balls one receives can be played with one touch and that players must make instantaneous decisions to play with one touch or clean up bad passes by taking an extra touch or two before going back to playing with as few touches as possible.

Receiving Air Balls: Most of our instructions dealing with receiving ground- balls were incorporated while teaching passing and these players were quite good at it. But we worked quite a bit with receiving air-balls where the cue was to visualize catching the ball with your foot the way you try to catch a water balloon with your hands. In other words, meet the ball with the foot (or other part of the body) and gently cushion it so that, "the water balloon does not burst." The players did very well with this and had some nice giggles and a lot of success with this process. We also had a chance to work on smothering a bouncing ball gently with the inside of the foot or outside of the foot. Many of our players could also do this while cutting the smothered ball behind the standing foot. The motivation and joy in doing this was great to witness!

Heading: The coaching staff first organized the players in pairs to work on the basic mechanics of heading with each player tossing the ball for themselves and heading to their partners. Then the partner would serve the ball and the receiver would head it back to the partner. Then the inevitable heading rallies. We had players who could rally a few times and others who could rally a couple dozen times and everyone was encouraged to improve their records and did so. The final exercise was well received and the players did not want to stop doing it. It consisted of a small square about 4 or 5 yards wide. Essentially partners would be on goals across from each other. The object of the game was for partners to rally heading to each other and then surprise the opponents by scoring to the right or left in the middle of their rally. The opponents try to prevent the scoring and take the ball to similarly rally and score on their opponents who would serve as temporary goalkeepers in turn. This competition removed the monotony of simple repetitive heading and was well done by our players.

Finishing: The fundamentals of shooting were reviewed by the coaching staff and all players got a chance to practice this. Then by introducing more dynamic shooting exercises the players could simulate game-like conditions while shooting at make-shift goals with temporary goalkeepers. Then the difference between shooting and finishing was briefly discusses and players practices finishing at big goals with keepers. Eventually the finishing exercises were done with pressure of an opponent. Players were asked to recognize when there was a need to beat the keeper with a driven shot and when there was a need to calmly slot the ball into the corner of the goal. The finishing exercises were as always very well received and enjoyable!

Tactics: By applying the concepts of Economical Training the coaching staff was able to focus a great deal on technical training but still taught a great deal of tactical concepts while doing that. All the habits taught in the course of passing exercises are directly related to the tactical awareness of our players. For the most part in the afternoons tactics were taught in the context of technical competence and then organizing small possession groups, emphasizing ideas of support and body shaping and ending with small sided games. This allowed the coaching staff to emphasize the importance of taking care of the ball and being aware of team play as a result of that. The most important part of the games was allowing the players to diagnose problems and attempt to find solutions on their own. An important part of this process is the recognition that mistakes are part of the process and that players should not be afraid to try things even if they risk making mistakes. Our kids did just that and had many successful outings and seemed to enjoy playing.

Fitness: Fitness at these age groups is not the same as fitness for teenagers or adults. In general cardiovascular fitness is not an issue for ten and eleven year olds. However, agility and coordination are the most important requirements that children at these ages need to develop. This again emphasizes the importance of economical training where the coaches tried to garner fitness benefits while working on technique. In all the exercises of the week and especially in dribbling, players were asked to do a lot of work that developed agility and coordination. A simple working definition of agility is 'the ability to change direction while in motion'. In our sport agility is the ability to change direction while in motion with possession of the ball. We started the warm-ups with agility exercises with and without the ball. Emphasis at these ages especially has to be on agility with the ball and our players did well practicing dribbling and feinting and beating an opponent. Similarly, while working on receiving the ball there was a great deal of receiving and turning which also helped develop agility. There was no need to spend much time on just working on agility without benefit of the ball.

The Mental Game: Our coaching staff kept it simple but by speaking with our children intelligently and respectfully, they were able to relate to them about good training habits. These included willingness to try things that at first might seem too difficult, trying to keep on improving all the time, recognizing that mistakes are part of the game etc. All the children seemed to recognize the importance of focusing on the task at hand. Above all their recognition of the importance of playing a constructive game and avoiding aimless kick-and- rush football was very gratifying! They are our future and the future is bright!

Glossary:

• Technique: The process of controlling, receiving and delivering the ball
• Tactics: The recognition of options and making decisions by players
• Progressive Coaching: Organizing practices by starting simply with minimal or no pressure and
• Economical Training: Organizing technical or tactical practices such that while focusing on one topic at a time, benefits in other areas can be attained. For example organizing a technical practice and gradually increasing the pressure of time, space and opponents such that tactical benefits will be gained and decision making is involved even though the emphasis is on the technique being practiced

The Youth Academy boys and girls completed their Intensive Training with our Technical Director, Berhane Andeberhan and Youth Academy Coaches. The Methodology of the Intensive Training is a great stepping stone for our teams to follow through the summer and into the fall. Due to the weather, we had to make some last minute adjustment to the schedule. The players and parents were very cooperative which is greatly appreciated.

The boys and girls did a tremendous job during the camp. The method was 1v1 attacking and defending, how to beat a defender 1v1 & 2v1 and how to defend an attacker 1v1. All the coaches see a ton of potential in the Youth Academy. Berhane saw a big improvement in individual technique and decision making with the ball which we are happy to see.

Moving into July, we look forward to teams building on the methodology Berhane started to establish with the boys and girls during the Intensive Training. The more repetition to solve problems on and off the ball is important at the young ages. These ideas can be encouraged and honed in practice, small sided games (Ice Cream Socials), and Play Days.

Have a Happy 4th of July!

Hot Boca Nights

I have to admit, I have a love/hate relationship with this time of year: I love the summer training schedule for the club, seeing all the play days, ice cream socials, and tournaments our players able to enjoy. On the other hand, I'm not big on the Sacramento heat!!

Now that we've entered peak temperature times in Sacramento, the Boca Goalkeeper Academy training has continued to ramp up the intensity as well. Our keepers continue to put in valuable GK training time, in addition to their own team's training and game schedules. Many nights we've averaged 8-10 keepers per age group!

CONGRATS!

· Erin Rost, keeper for our Boca Jrs 90 U18 girls Academy Team , was recently named the top goalkeeper at the Air Force Academy's Soccer Camps in Colorado Springs, CO. Way to go Erin!

· Brandon Briggs from our Boca Jrs 90 U18 boys Academy Team has been accepted to attend the Elite 300 camp in Pennsylvania later in July.

As a reminder, the Boca Goalkeeper Academy training schedule and information can always be found through the club web site at: http://capitalathletic.com/goalkeepsked or click the link below.

GO BOCA!

It seems that not long ago the U14 (now u15) boys were finishing up their fall CYSA season and looking forward to a winter break. Since that break the 93 Boys finished their 2006 - 2007 season with impressive results. Earlier this year the boys traveled to Stevenson fields for the Ajax Invitational and finished second overall after a hard fought match with a well matched Livermore team. Two weeks later, the team was in San Diego for the Nomads College Showcase. The weather was spectacular the fields were good and the team was treated to accustomed great officiating. The boys fought tough teams from all over California and Arizona to finally face a team they had bettered in an earlier bracket challenge. But this was not exactly the same team, being more local, they had borrowed a couple of players from within their club for the finals. So on a hot San Diego Spring afternoon the Boys finished behind United FC with a 1:0 loss. State Cup followed shortly after with injuries and ennui contributing to a disappointment for all.

Individually all improved immensely and two members of the team went on to roster spots with the CYSA Cal North State team, a testament to both the general ability of players on this team and the talents of coaches Rose and Field.

The new season brings us a new team, with the loss of two very talented players and the addition five new players and a returning goalkeeper from the teams past; we look forward to melding this team into a formidable playing machine in the next few months. Recently the boys have been honing their skills against some well matched teams in this seasons "NorCal Spring League" and are currently winning their bracket. The final results may be known by July 1. July also sends the team to Idaho for the US Club regional tournament followed by tournaments in early August, High School play and Nomads, fall and spring, and so it goes.

Is U.S. soccer missing the point with their new development league?

Recently, U.S. Soccer unveiled a plan for a youth development league. The main goal of which is to further expand the ability to identify and coach elite players around the country and to help improve the overall level of play in our national Team programs. The problem is that the development league is flawed in a number of areas.

U.S. Soccer targeted three specific age groups, and outlined the best way to coach and develop players in those categories. The age groups were 6-12 (Base Level), 13-17 (Growth Level) and 17+ also known by U.S. Soccer as "The lost years."

U.S. Soccer has chosen to focus it's energies on the middle group. As many as 80 teams hand selected by U.S. Soccer will participate in the league at the U- 18 and U-16 level, but will be prohibited from participating in their local leagues or state cup competitions. Players registered for club teams in the league will only be allowed to play for that club team and no others.

In theory it's not a bad idea: few games, less emphasis on winning with more emphasis on training and coaching. In fact, league registration is free for all participating teams, and the cost per player to join is $1. It seems great until you take into account the fact that these teams will be scattered around the country and some teams will need to jump on a plane or bus 30 times a year to play full schedule of games. The teams will have to pay 100% of their travel costs, meaning that any team coming from a low income area has little hope of being able to participate in the league due to prohibitive travel costs.

Furthermore, the age groups U.S. Soccer chose raises a few eyebrows. At the U-18 level, players have already been a part of the club system that U.S. Soccer is trying to get away from through this initiative for as many as 8 or 9 years. One season in a developmental league before heading off to college will do very little to improve a players progress, and it isn't that much better at the U-16 level when a player only gets two or three years at most before being dumped back into the same win first, development second mentality of college sports.

While the concept of creating an elite league is a good idea, it does nothing to identify new,previously undiscovered players. Any player that participates in this league would have gotten the same exposure to National Team coaches through state cup competitions and national club tournaments. Furthermore it does nothing to keep players who fall into the Base Level age group from continuing on with the game past a recreational level. It's simply a flawed concept.

According to Jim Moorhouse, director of communications for U.S. Soccer, the idea is to build from the top down and develop players who will have an immediate impact on the senior men's national team. U.S. Soccer feels that success at the national team level will spark new interest in the sport on a nationwide scale, thus changing the soccer culture in the United States. Sounds a bit too much like "Reaganomics." You don't build a skyscraper and start at the penthouse. You have to build a foundation first. Apparently nobody told U.S. Soccer that.

The culture of soccer can be changed in the U.S. but it has to be done at the base level. Millions of kids play soccer in this country but move on to other sports when they reach their teenage years. The harsh reality in this country is that soccer is at best the fourth most popular team sport behind American Football, Basketball and Baseball.

Soccer can get to a point where it's mentioned in the same breath as those other sports, but it won't fix itself. U.S. Soccer needs to be willing to put its stamp on the young players in this country. They have actually outlined a good plan for developing the Base Level age group. Free play, less structure, more playground soccer and the inclusion of futsal to develop ball skills highlight the list. That's where the U.S. Soccer Foundation is trying to step in. The U.S. Soccer Foundation is the charitable arm of U.S. Soccer, and while they ultimately have the same ambition as U.S. Soccer, the two sides don't always work in conjunction with one another. The Foundation is taking the responsibility of bringing the game to previously untapped areas of the country, like urban communities.

Those efforts however are barely emerging from the planning stages. According to John Koskinen, President of the U.S. Soccer Foundation, a consortium of people, including himself, key members of U.S. Soccer and MLS Commissioner Don Garber, have gathered to discuss ways to introduce the game to these communities, but a final game plan is yet to be established.

There is a way to change the culture of soccer in America, but it has to begin from the bottom up. The benefits won't be reaped overnight, but if done right could revolutionize the U.S. game within a decade. If U.S. Soccer follows it's own plan and invests both the time and the money needed to tap into a relatively undiscovered talent pool then the rewards could be staggering.

1. LOCATING NEW TALENT

U.S. Soccer needs to go into low-income areas to identify new talent. For years people have argued that if the best athletes in the United States played soccer, we'd be amongst the world's powerhouse teams. Even Kobe Bryant of the LA Lakers hinted at this prior to the 2006 World Cup. But the best athletes in this country don't play soccer. They play basketball and football, and nobody seems to be doing anything to try and lure some of those athletes to soccer. It has to start at an early age. You can't wait until a player is 14 to target and locate them. You need to bring these players into soccer at an early age, and the best way to do this is through street soccer and futsal.

The reasons futsal makes so much sense in an urban area is twofold. First off, the hundreds of rec- centers and basketball courts that already exist in cities around the country lend themselves perfectly to the dimensions of a futsal court.

The second thing is the skill sets that futsal develops in general. Because of the smaller playing surface players are guaranteed more touches on the ball, they must make quicker decisions and the game promotes better technical ability on the ball as a result. The thing that makes basketball so enjoyable to watch is the free-flowing, creative and improvisational nature of the game. It's the same thing that makes players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Theirry Henry and Ronaldinho so much fun to watch. This is the area of the game that needs to be emphasized to attract a wider audience, and change the overall perception of 0-0 score lines that the average U.S. sports fan associates with soccer.

2. PROVIDE AN OUTLET

This is where things get costly. It's all well and good to show the attractive side of soccer to the United States, but without an outlet for new players to get out and play, especially in cities where patches of grass are rarely larger than a postage stamp and are a few and far between, it's a wasted effort.

A FREE after school program for elementary aged school children needs to be set up in cities around the country to provide a place for kids to play. Knowing that there are very few fields available anywhere in the country, let alone in the inner-city, futsal becomes the obvious way to go. Instead of the U.S. Soccer foundation donating money to build fields, they need to construct rec-centers or rent preexisting facilities where soccer and education can go hand-in-hand.

Any program that is implemented needs to be open to anyone who wants to play, not just players who are spotted or scouted as potential superstars. The only requirement for participation in the program is that a student stays academically eligible at school.

As kids fall in love with the game the very best will have the connections of U.S. Soccer at their disposal to be discovered by Youth National Team coaches, MLS youth academies, and college coaches. The difference between these players, and the typical player coming out of today's youth soccer ranks, is that they will have had the creative and technical sides of their game developed from an early age, with the emphasis being placed on playing rather than winning.

It's not the final solution to producing world-class talent in the United States, but if countries like France, Italy and Brazil encourage futsal at an early age (last time we checked those three countries have won the last four World Cup's) then the U.S. needs to take measures to introduce the technical and creative style of the game to the youth of America and make soccer an equal partner in the U.S. sports landscape rather than wait for a handful of elite players to emerge on their own. Until that happens, U.S. Soccer is simply missing the boat. 90:00

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