Friday, July 10, 2020

Soccer Mirrors Life


Soccer Mirrors Life

Similar to life itself, achieving success in soccer requires a solid grasp of its fundamental principles (rules) to derive maximum satisfaction, both individually and collectively, from the experience. Naturally, this necessitates personal dedication to attain physical and psychological preparedness to meet the demands of the game. This process encompasses continuous enhancement of technical prowess, striving to become the best possible player.

On a collective level, the team must internalize soccer's core principles of play, comprehending when to attack, defend, maintain formation, and sustain equilibrium. Within these aspects lie offensive and defensive strategies. Offense entails elements such as penetration, depth (support), mobility, width, and improvisation. Defensive tactics encompass pressure, coverage, balance, and concentration/compactness.

As a united team, the depth of our comprehension and adherence to these play principles directly influences the effectiveness of our joint endeavor. Thus, during training sessions, our efforts should surpass those during actual matches, facilitating a more enjoyable experience during games.

The absent component in the team-building process is the psychological aspect. Each player should introspect: Am I taking complete responsibility to elevate the team's performance every time I interact with the ball? Is my commitment unwavering towards the team's objectives? (If applicable) Is my drive to improve myself unrelenting on a daily basis? Do I possess a passion for competition?

Once again, soccer team dynamics reflect life itself in numerous ways. The more we, as individuals and a team, internalize the principles of playing the game, the higher our probability of success.

In conclusion, the key to assuming accountability for your life hinges on recognizing that each of your choices inevitably guides you towards either success or failure, as per your personal definitions of these terms. Each choice serves as a building block—some sizable, others smaller. Yet, every one contributes to the foundation of your life's structure.


Football est le miroir de notre vie! 


Comme la vie elle-même, le succès dans le football exige que vous connaissiez et observiez ses principes de base (règles) afin d’obtenir la plus grande satisfaction à la fois individuellement et collectivement de l’expérience.
Évidemment, il doit y avoir un engagement individuel à se préparer physiquement et psychologiquement à supporter les exigences du jeu. Au fil du temps, cela inclurait de devenir le meilleur joueur technique que vous pouvez être. 
Collectivement, le groupe doit comprendre les principes fondamentaux du football, quand attaquer, quand défendre, garder notre forme, garder notre équilibre.
Il y a, bien sûr, des tactiques d’attaque et des tactiques de défense. Les attaques sont la pénétration, la profondeur (soutien), la mobilité, la largeur et l’improvisation.
Les tactiques de défense comprennent la pression, la couverture, l’équilibre et la concentration/compacité.
En tant qu’équipe, plus notre compréhension et notre observation de ces principes de jeu seront grandes, plus notre effort collectif sera efficace.  
C’est pourquoi, lorsque l’entraînement a lieu, nous devrions travailler plus fort pendant les séances d’entraînement que pendant les matchs. Donc, pendant les matchs, nous devrions nous amuser. 
L’ingrédient manquant dans tout le processus de construire une équipe est la composante psychologique. Vous, en tant que joueur individuel, devez vous demander: Est-ce que j’assume l’entière responsabilité d'être le meilleur pour mon équipe chaque fois que je touche le ballon? Suis-je totalement engagé dans les objectifs de l’équipe ? (Si vous en avez) Ai-je faim d’être le meilleur joueur que je peux être - tous les jours? Est-ce que j’aime me pousser au meilleur de moi-même?
Encore une fois, l’expérience de l’équipe de soccer reflète, à bien des égards, la vie elle-même. Plus individuellement et en tant qu’équipe, nous observons les principes de jeu du jeu, plus nous réussirons.
Conclusion: la clé pour accepter la responsabilité de votre vie est d’accepter le fait que vos choix, chacun d’eux, vous conduisent inexorablement à la réussite ou l’échec, quelle que soit la définition de ces termes. 
Chaque choix est un bloc de construction – certains grands, d’autres petits. Mais chacun fait partie de la structure de sa vie... 


Sunday, October 16, 2016

Meaning of playing good soccer

What is the definition of "playing good soccer"?

In the last few years, an explosive controversy has dominated soccer. It refers to the elusive concept of "playing good soccer". Many of the people believe that believe that good soccer is exclusively the domain of teams utilizing the indirect "tiki-taka" style of play, a style based on sustained possession of the ball in the middle third of the field. 

Last night, Hawks played against The Saints. In one side, the tactics is to sub every five minutes. One day, I am going to talk to the coach and he will have to explain to me why he has been doing this for years. He doesn't know the concept of making a "mayonnaise". Give time to make the mayonnaise so all the ingredients are one. On the other side, it is screaming at his players. Who knows why?

Soccer is a team sport! Team formation is complex and sometimes tedious; it requires time, effort, dedication and hard work. Before a group of players can form a team many things must happen. But by subbing all the times, players won't integrate the concept of the team, they won't be comfortable with his teammate, they won't understand the philosophy of play. Ok there is none!


Again last night was not a beautiful game, beautiful soccer. It is high school soccer. Sport is not solely about winning. A sport will keep moving forward and developing as participants maintain their passion and enjoyment of it. 

At the end of the game, that was it! Fans went into the field, were singing, were enjoying the moment. That was their moment! That was their meaning of playing soccer! 




Saturday, September 3, 2016

Mental Game

All coaches and athletes understand the importance of training the mental aspect of performance. The mind can have a positive OR negative influence how athletes perform....

The Olathe East Men's Varsity Soccer team played Park Hill South (PHS). Hawks didn't start the game very well on this beautiful Saturday morning. Panthers controlled the ball, were well organized on the field. We didn't have to wait too long for them to score. After a nice combination of play, they are leading the score board.

Athletes look at their coaches as models of thinking and behavior. I don't know what happened but the Panthers lost it! Like we say in French "ils ont disjonctés" - Hawks started to play together and controlled the ball. Panthers were just trying to play the man! As result, Shane got fouled just around the 18 yards. Shane took the free kick and scored! I pass the fact that the referee was handing yellow cards out like candy and PHS seemed to grow more frustrated as the half continued.

Half time 1 - 1


OE brought that momentum in to the second half with several early offensive opportunities, corners, and shots. Hawks dominated the game. Their efforts paid off around 13 minutes in to the second half, when Carson served a beautiful free kick in to PHS box. Julien timed his jump perfectly, going straight up and getting his head on the ball, sending the ball to the net. 2 -1! Now it is an ugly battle. 

The idea that all the athletes should be tough is an irony. Soccer is all about skills and movements. The coach can direct the athletes to image the competitive environment and their "game plans" as the team prepares for upcoming events. Panther's coach has a lot of work to do!!!

Hawks proved that they play as team. 




Friday, September 2, 2016

No Job for Old Man

The coach's role in building routines. 

It can take a tremendous investment of effort by the coach to develop new routines, but the cost of not making this investment can be high.

Tonight's  OE Men's Soccer Team game against Columbia Rock Bridge.   Former Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo said that U.S. players are not taught technical skills at an early age and that ultimately affects the quality of play in Major League Soccer. I will agree with this statement. 


Hawks started slowly and didn't control much the ball until the 34 mark. The game was very physical, there were a lot of running. Sometimes I want to scream to my son, "stop running".  Around the 15 mark, Julien saved a throw in by kicking the ball back to Blake who crossed it to Connor. Connor controlled the ball and push into the goal. Goal! The first half concluded shortly after Jesus made a great stop among a swarm of Rockbridge offensive activity inside the 6 yard box.

Half time 1 - 0 Hawks

Second half was pretty much the same. A lot of running. I was tired just by watching them! Our second goal came in the 33rd minute when Shane stole the ball in the middle of the field and ran forward. In front of him, Julien was running too. Shane passed the ball to Julien who lobbed the GK. Goal! 

Hawks got a free kick against them around 25 yards. The ball went above everyone and they scored. Now it was not panic time but when you don't have any routines, you don't possess the ball and there are 3 more minutes to play. You never know in soccer! 



Final score 2 -1 Hawks! 

Friday, August 26, 2016

Keep it simple, stupid

Maybe Mourinho does it better? Maybe Wenger? Maybe our coaches should google "soccer training session" and get the latest information. 

The Olathe East Men's Varsity Soccer team played Olathe North West! A cloudy sky had moved through the area and the forecast called for a humid and storms. Both teams came out hard and fast. When I am saying fast, it is too fast. It is like table tennis, back and forth. On both sides, it was long ball, high pressure and try your luck.  After 10 minutes, our central defender had a miscommunication with our goal keeper and could have critical for the Hawks! Few minutes later, we got a shot on goal without great conviction.
Our tactics is to sub every 5 minutes or to move players in a different position or to sub a player to tell him that they need to put more pressure. It is too bad because there is a fantastic player in the middle of the field that is trying hard. With a little more possession of the ball, Hawks could control their destiny. 

Hawks had 2 great opportunities to score! Hawks GK made 4 saves and we had 4 shots on goal and few misses... The weather stopped us. The game will be rescheduled.

It is hugely difficult to imagine the future. What do you think?