Area of Play, Not Phases of Play

by john cartwrightFor years coaching here has relied on the use of Phase-play as a method for teaching specific situations or ‘slots’ in the game. These phases, be they for the use of an individual or a small group, are constructed by the coach to familiarize players with either individual situations or aspects of team-play. I feel that this type of coaching practice has several flaws and is unlikely to produce satisfactory improvements, in either...

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Soccer Academy

US Soccer started the US developmental Academy in 2007. This was a result of an extensive review on soccer development in the US. The idea was to identify elite male athletes, put them to reach full potential.Of course, it is not perfect system because of the size of the US. That means the national team is made up of players from academy system not the entire nation. And who are these scouts?Now we have Sporting KC connected with the largest club, Blue Valley. Are the coaches going to do something different? Is it good for MLS teams to sign home...

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Interesting article from the KC Star

Terez A. PaylorThe Kansas City StarIn many ways, Kevin Ellis’ story is one of redemption.After Ellis, a defender, was announced as Sporting KC’s second-ever Homegrown Player at a news conference Friday, coach Peter Vermes rained praise on him, using terms like “huge upside,” “impact” and “huge ceiling.” But the truth is: Ellis, a 19-year-old Oak Park graduate who spent the last two years at Barton County Community College, hasn’t always been in Vermes’...

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2011

Happy New Year!FSA Les Bleus—U12 Boys—D1Our goal is to create a team with players who truly enjoy the game and playing together. We will strive to help each individual fulfill their potentials with challenging and enjoyable weekly practices. www.kcforcesoccer.comI plan to develop a winning attitude that will approach every game with a serious desire to play well. We are in a phase that I will still focus on developping individuals but starting to move the ball around more. Physical attitudes are going to be more and more important too. Soccer is...

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