http://www.steve.sturdevant.com/MathisTor3.avi

and another one!!!  4 in 5 games

http://www.steve.sturdevant.com/clint_hertha2.mpg

We design a coaching session in an effort to improve the way our team and the individuals within it perform. This is the nature of our job. The way we measure the improvement and the relative success of our session is through the scrimmage at the end. If there is no improvement in the way the players scrimmage then we have not been immediately successful in achieving our aims and objectives. 

The following guidelines propose a method of session planning where the coach works backwards from the scrimmage to the warm up. The idea is that we are always working towards a clearly defined goal.

Before planning a session the coach should have a very clear idea of what aspect of the teams play he or she wishes to improve and should then visualize them successfully performing that skill in the scrimmage at the end of the next session. The coach can literally play a perfect videotape in their ‘mind’s eye’! Improved performance in the scrimmage / game is the main goal and should be the measuring tool for successful coaching. This goal should be shared with the players at the beginning of the next session thus involving them more actively in their own learning.

The penultimate activity will normally take the form of a conditioned (restricted) game or functional activity which will maximize the opportunity to reinforce the theme of the day in a game like setting e.g. movement of the front two attackers. The nature of this activity will depend on the age and ability level of the players but should lead smoothly into the scrimmage as a bridging activity. Its relevance to the game must be apparent to the players. It may involve organizing the field area (in terms of size, placement of goals, number of goals, channels etc.) to facilitate the repetition of a particular theme, or it may involve placing the players in specific roles relating to team formation. This is an important part of the session which is often overlooked because other activities have over-run. It should be remembered that ‘everything goes back to the game’.

The preceding technical/tactical activities should ensure maximum activity, and quality feedback from the coach. This feedback should be specific to individuals whenever possible but to the whole group if relevant. As educators we must decide in each unique situation which method we should use. As with the later stages of the session the players need to be exposed to quality demonstrations so that they take away a very clear, visual imprint of the correct techniques. This is far more important than what you say to them! Remember, ‘a picture paints a thousand words’.

In this model the final aspect of planning will be the warm up and this should be designed to lead into the technical/tactical practice and should introduce the first couple of coaching points. If a coach specifically wants to conduct a ball- each warm-up then the first activity after the warm-up needs to be very sharply focused on the theme of the day, otherwise the players are going to be confused about the objectives.

By planning the session with a clear end in mind, (defined by performance in the game situation) there will be pace and a clear purpose to each activity. It will also be easier to evaluate the success of a session clinically. Simply put, if there is no improvement in the scrimmage then we have not been immediately effective in realizing our objectives and our planning for the next session will need to reflect this.

The MYSL  of D1 will be offering a Spanish Bi-lingual E license course on Memorial Day Weekend.  Please get back to me if you or any of your coaches are intrerested.  It is very popular, fun and should be highly interesting this year.  A group of coaches from the Ajax Soccer Program will present during the S.F. Cup and we hope to have them participate in some way with our class.  Please contact me ASAP.

Raul Martinez
mexicamotors@earthlink.net

Orca Sports Newsletter    March 7, 2004

TOURNAMENT DATES ARE SET FOR 2004!

Hey everybody,

          It’s the first newsletter of 2004 and it’s time to start planning your soccer summer. Please check out our updated and UPGRADED WEBSITE, we plan to have links that get you the info you want: Santa Cruz weather, surf conditions, hotels, soccer clubs and tournaments (near or far), soccer shops and stuff. Let us know if you have any suggestions!

           We really want to make the SIX ON SIX MASTERS TOURNAMENTtake off this year, please contact us early if you’re interested and let us know about other teams or clubs that we need to know about. If you’re still playing at this age, it must be because it’s fun and you like hanging out with your friends, so let’s make it a big party and get everyone here. Word of mouth is the key!

          Keep in touch! I have a NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS specifically for this newsletter and Orca Sports business, it is listed below. Make sure we have your updated contact info, let us know that you got this newsletter, let us know what we need to do to make sure we get past spam filters (or if you want off this mailing list!). Lookin’ forward to hearing from you.

Keep Soccer Fun!

  Troy  

www.orcasports.com     orcatroy@orcasports.com    (831)429-5464

 Santa Cruz Six on Six Masters

Skypark Fields, Scotts Valley, CA  July 10-11

Men’s Divisions Over-40 & Women’s Divisions Over-35

Co-Ed Seven on Seven

Skypark Fields, Scotts Valley,CA  July 24-25

Open and Over-30 Divisions 

18^th Annual Six on Six Open

Harvey West Park, Santa Cruz, CA Aug. 7-8

Men’s and Women’s Divisions 

16^th Annual Six on Six Over-30,

Harvey West Park, Santa Cruz, CA Aug. 21-22

Men’s and Women’s Divisions

Position Announcement

Junior Varsity Soccer Coach
Winter 2004-2005

Mercy High School, Burlingame, a private, all girls’ college preparatory school in Burlingame is seeking a coach for the junior varsity soccer team. The team competes in the West Bay Athletic League and preseason tournaments.  We practice at Skyline College in San Bruno, Mondays through Fridays 3:30-5:00 pm from November 1, 2004 through early February 2005. 

Collegiate or club soccer experience recommended.  A competitive stipend is available.

Anyone interested in this position contact:

Meave Fallon
Athletic Director
2750 Adeline Dr.
Burlingame, CA 94010
650-762-1107
mfallon@mercyhsb.com

www.mercyhsb.com

Hello everyone.

I'm hoping you can help spread the word for me. I am looking for a coach for my under-8 girls soccer team this spring. They will practice mondays and wednesdays from 4:00-5:00 at Dolores Park, and the games are on saturdays. The practice times are flexible if the person needs to alter the days or time.  The season starts very soon (first game this saturday, eek) and continues till mid-May.

The girls are primarily from the Mission and are currently finishing up an indoor soccer league where we have played against all boys. It has been a character building season, so they are ready to show off their new skills this spring.

Please spread the word if you know of anyone who would like to volunteer some of their time to change these girls' lives. for just the price of a cup of coffee you can...:)

tell them to call me at Jamestown at 647-4709 x118 or email me.

THANK YOU!

Deirdre