Not so Great Expectations

Now that we almost won our league, what are we going to expect from our boys? Our last game against a younger team, was unlucky but it is soccer. We had our chances and didn't go through! We tied!

So how did these kids get so good a such a young age? Some of these kids have been playing premier for a while, when we started at U10. They have been trained through some academies and camps. The players passed, played the wall pass, played one and two touch, attacked the goal with combination play and worked hard on defense. They were fun to watch!

So should we push our players more? Should we expect more from them? In France, we played at school on concrete floor, with lines, no standing around and all children are playing, whether it is even or uneven numbers on each team. It was fun!

We came from recreational and we accomplished to be in D1 and finalist! But I want more. I want them to like this game, like I do. I want them to perform all the time and play hard in defense. Juggle more, pass more. And like always I can't do it by myself! I still need your help to commit even more! I know Basketball is coming, soccer will be second.... but we won't be like the younger team, if we don't expect more from our players! What do you think?

where the people are standing - there was a soccer field in my time.

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INTERNATIONAL STORIES FROM LES BLEUS YOUTH SOCCER TEAM!

INTERNATIONAL STORIES FROM LES BLEUS YOUTH SOCCER TEAM!
It’s very unusual, to find a kids’ soccer team made up of many boys with international backgrounds, right in the heart of suburban Overland Park, Kansas! But the draw of “Les Bleus” (The Blues) starts with their outstanding coach, Laurent Denis.

Laurent was born in France, and since he was a boy, he has loved soccer. In his youth, he was an enthusiastic team member of “Les Coqs Rouges” (The Red Roosters), a city football (soccer) club, and played until he was 18.

Laurent moved to America in 1995 to start his own business. (He and his wife Kathy own the magazine and website Restaurant Guide of Kansas City.) At the same time, he began teaching young children to play soccer. He earned his Advanced Regional Diploma in coaching and the NSCAA National Diploma. Since then, Laurent has been coaching some of the best youngsters at the soccer “rush.”

"Les Bleus were finalists in our first tournament in Topeka, and won our division at Heartland Soccer (http://www.heartlandsoccer.net/), undefeated!” this coach reports. “It was our first time playing competitive soccer, and we were able to move to a higher level of competition. It’s still all about having fun!”

Laurent has served as Director of Johnson County Park & Recreational Academy, and is currently coaching his premier teams of U10 boys. For him, coaching has never been a job, but a passion.

“My goal is to instruct, provide and increase coaching knowledge, in order to maximize the development of our youth soccer football players,” he says. “I want to create a great atmosphere for parents and kids. What we have is a big family. My kids and I play the same way. Next season, I will join the FC Porto Club. We will combine the international soccer team for guys like me with the U10 boys’ team next season.”

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Watching soccer

Not only we need to play with a positive attitude and have fun, we need to understand the game. Most of our soccer players are suburban and 2 criticisms that often are leveled at most players are that they don't have a game awareness.

Not only, coaches have 2 hours per week to train, generally soccer is not part of their environment.

Soccer players will take their game to the next level by practicing on their own, by playing soccer with their friends outside the team environment and by watching the game.

We have seen some big improvements around us. Adrian has a record of 109 juggling, Quinlan (I think) 99, Julien 144, Me 145!!! Watching soccer regularly - especially having an idol or following a team - serves to inspire to work harder in order to improve.

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Nature

How can the human mind and body interact? In order to lift a finger, we would have to sacrifice free will or break the laws of nature. Spinoza responded to this problem by claiming that mental and physical phenomena are attributes of a single substance. For Spinoza, there is only one substance: God is not separate from nature. God is nature. God created us as his own image. So our kids are our mirror.
I jumped very fast! Kids grow up but we influence them all the time. As parents and coaches we have to make sure we influence them in the right direction.

A player's relationship with his partner, his friend will reflect during a game. In the team, it is about creating a common purpose. That's next to impossible if the individuals don't come in with a clear mind and if the group of parents are not together.

If we have 11 kids with critical mass - no egos, but total belief in the theory that "together we're stronger" that's when the magic happens.

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Expectations for 2010

Today in soccer at the highest levels, players cover mor than eight miles, including 1.8 miles of high intensity sprinting, per game. The number of sprints in the English Premiership has double since 2002. People argue that these distances will increase by 20% by 2025! Players are moving faster over longer distances and are bigger, stronger and more resistant to injury than even five years ago.

Future Game

1. Speed of movement, number of sprints and distances covered by players are increasing. Speed reaction to the events in the game is increasing.
2. Ability to play one-touch football is improving, more craft and deception before receiving the ball and prior to passing are commonplace. All players are expected to be technically proficient.
3. Shorter passing, a "possesion-based" game and the ability to play into, inside and through congested areas are vital. Long pinpoint vertical passes over the "block" also are becoming imperative.
4. Counterattacking is a priority. Development of counterattack mentality upon winning the ball and upon losing the ball is key.
5. Zonal back four with a holding midfielder is the only constant. Flexibility and interchangeability ahead of these five players is the norm.

Future Player

1. Extended technical range. Ability to control difficult passes at difficult speed is vital. All players in all positions will need to be technically proficient.
2. Must be multi-positional.
3. Must have composure, awareness and ability to operate in congested areas and to use the body to shield and retain the ball under pressure.
4. Possess speed, agility and power
5. Must be capable in 1v1 situations and at the same time understand the team's playing philosophy.

In resume

1. First weeks of training will focus on conditioning with ball, 1v1, 2v1 and 2v2.
2. Every players have to be able to do 25 juggles and more
3. After our first tournament will start focusing in one-touch receiving and passing, 4v4 and 5v5

I will expect discipline, motivation and intelligence (do you know why you make a mistake?) and the desire to become better. You can expect from me to study the game development contextually as well as the highest levels, study outside the sport and be a lifetime seeker, try to teach the players in a fun environment and have fun with them!

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