Atletico Flames Futbol Club

Login

Mailing Address:

Atletico Flames

PO Box 1776

Elizabethtown, KY 42701

Player Development versus Team Performance

By Ian Muliner, Director of Coaching, Illinois Youth Soccer Association

Having been involved in youth soccer for the past several years at the club, state and regional levels it is becoming apparent that player development is taking a backseat to team performance, it seems that the rush to create a successful team has become more important for coaches than allowing players to improve within a team environment. We are producing teams full of role players who can perform efficiently within their present team structure but are fish out of water or worse still production line players who lack creativity and flair outside of that environment. A common question asked by youth coaches at coaching courses is "where do I hide my weaker players?" My answer to that is why do you feel the need to "hide" them when it is our job as coaches to develop them. If we never expose those players to situations that arise in games, how do we expect them to get better?

Why are we more concerned with team performance than player development? Our culture is one that thrives on winning and anything less is unacceptable and therefore if your team does not win the majority of its games it is deemed a failure in the eyes of the world and because no one likes to be associated with a failure the migratory instincts kick in and players move to the most successful team they can make or which will accept them. This equates to teams that do not fair well becoming extinct due to lack of available numbers, which is very unhealthy for the sport as a whole.

The answer is neither easy nor very palatable as it involves communication, education and sacrifice. Communication on the part of the coach, parents and players; beginning at the initial preseason team meeting where goals and objectives are laid out and commitments made by all parties. Communication is an ongoing process and the coach should be open to parent and player meetings either by appointment or predetermined times through the season. Parents have to be sensitive to the role of the coach and should avoid confrontations at practices and games when emotions can be running hot. Players must feel they are able to approach the coach at any time with any questions or concerns about what is required of them during games and practices. The coach must be prepared to go through coaching education courses to best serve the needs of the players in their charge. It is through these courses the coach will learn how to conduct equalization practices that provide challenges for the wide array of talent that he may encounter within his team and will help EVERY player to develop. Coaches also discover the need for a strong technical foundation and the activities required to enhance these techniques and how to create practices with a repetitious theme/topic using different activities to bring out the skill.

Finally the most difficult aspect of player development comes in the form of sacrifice. Coaches must be prepared to accept that by giving ALL of their players an opportunity to participate that the outcome of the game will become less important than achieving the goals set out for each player during the game. The players must be prepared to accept that although they should set out to win every game, that their personal performance and overcoming the challenges of an opponent or attempting a new skill can be just as rewarding as the outcome of the game. Parents must be prepared to accept that it takes time to develop and for some children it will happen much quicker than others and that the coach is doing everything they can to help their child get there.

Creating this environment of communication, education and sacrifice is much easier from the initial stages of involvement and the sooner this structure is in place the easier it is to implement and the less problems will arise as the players evolve. To attempt to create this for an established group of parents and players, whilst not being an easy task initially should prove fruitful in the long run. "Sow the seeds now and reap the benefits later" has to become the credo for the youth soccer community to give the players a chance to develop and the game as a whole.

Sports Today

BY HANNAH STORM

After two decades as a sportscaster covering the best athletes in the world, and more recently as an anchor on CBS's The Early Show, Hannah Storm asserts to the fact that even the most elite sports stars play for the love of the game-and so should your child and offers a series of helpful tips to nurture that passion without putting on pressure.

It's that time of year again-homework, car pools and, of course, sports. If your family is like mine, you're probably headed back to the field to cheer on your kid's games and practices. As a mom of three active girls, I've seen how great organized sports can be, helping kids learn cooperation, discipline and respect while also encouraging lifelong exercise habits. But I've also seen how even the most well-meaning parents can undermine the many benefits that sports have to offer.

Yelling advice from the stands, challenging coaches or referees, or putting too much emphasis on winning isn't the support your child needs. The simple golden rule in youth athletics: Make it fun. As I learned while researching my book Go Girl! Raising Healthy, Confident and Successful Girls through Sports (Sourcebooks), as many as 70 percent of kids quit organized sports by the age of 15. And one of the top reasons why is they weren't having fun, according to a nationwide survey by the Youth Sports Institute at Michigan State University.

And after two decades as a sportscaster covering the best athletes in the world, and more recently as an anchor on CBS's The Early Show, I can attest to the fact that even the most elite sports stars play for the love of the game-and so should your child. Follow these tips to nurture that passion without putting on pressure.

Redefine winning and losing. A few years back I enthusiastically took my four-year-old to her first team soccer game. We were both so excited-after all, I loved soccer as a kid. When we got to the field, the coach asked the preschoolers to "take a knee" and huddle right up. Then he told them they were there to beat the other team and win! These little kids didn't even know what a goal was, much less which one was theirs! While it's natural for kids to become more competitive as they get older, when they're little, it's more important that they simply be participating than winning. Indeed, several studies have shown that kids would rather play on a losing team than sit on the bench of one that wins all the time.

What’s more, your child learns lessons when his team loses a game-like how to give a strong effort, show grace in defeat and overcome setbacks-that are just as valuable to his growth as winning. Kids seem to have an inherent understanding that there are other priorities in playing sports: One national study found that among girls ages 10 to 18, winning wasn't even mentioned as one of the top 10 reasons they played sports, and for boys it ranked only number seven. Also, when these same kids were asked what they would change about youth sports, they overwhelmingly stated they wanted to see less emphasis on winning.

Help your child set realistic goals. Your child has a lot less control over the final outcome of a game than she does over maximizing her individual potential. To help her keep a healthy perspective, encourage her to set goals that have some wiggle room. For instance, instead of, "I'm going to make every free throw I take," have her aim at shooting 70 percent in practices and 65 percent in games. Make sure goals match your child's age and skill level. They might include reaching base at least twice in a baseball game or getting in three out of four first serves in a tennis match. With my daughters, rather than asking, "Did you win?" or "How many points did you score?" I'll ask your hardest?" or "Did you do something better today than yesterday?" That way, even when the scoreboard isn’t in their favor, they can still walk off the field feeling accomplished.

Show up for practice. Every parent is time-crunched, but try to make room in your schedule to attend at least a few of your child's team practices as well as the big games. This sends the message that you value his hard work and appreciate the process of playing sports, not just the outcomes. This also gives you a chance to see if the sports program is run properly, such as whether the coach lets everyone play, how he interacts with the team, and whether everyone is having a good time.

Get your head in the game. Learn the rules, since youth guidelines often vary from the way pros play. And when you show up, pay attention, avoiding the temptation to chat it up with other parents on the sidelines. That way, when your kid says, "Mom, did you see the pass I made?" you'll be able to offer specific praise and feedback. You might say, for instance, "Weaving the ball between those two defenders really helped set up your team to score."

Keep it positive. As part of a special feature for The Early Show, I recently attended a soccer camp with my 8-year-old. She routinely beats me badly when we play in our backyard, so I hoped to pick up a few pointers from the woman running the camp, Olympic gold medalist Kristine Lilly. It happened that the best female soccer player in the world, Mia Hamm, was also there that day as a guest coach. I've interviewed her several times, but took that chance to ask her what was the most important thing her parents did to help her succeed in sports. Hamm said it was giving her hugs! Kristine Lilly also chimed in with this advice: What really matters to kids is a pat on the back and the words "Nice job, I'm proud of you."

Mind your manners. Sports create so much emotion, and we've all heard ( incidents in which parents go to the extreme-like the New Jersey soccer mom who allegedly attacked 17-year-old player on the team opposing her daughter's, or the Massachusetts father convicted of beating another dad to death in a fistfight over rough play during their sons' hockey practice. Thankfully, such violence is rare, but parents on the sidelines still indulge in plenty of appalling behavior.

No matter how heated a game gets, never yell at your child, other players, the coach or referees. Remember, your kids model their sportsmanship from you. How can you expect them to show respect for opposing players and officials if you don't? If you disagree with the coach's decision, speak to him after the game once you've calmed down and can talk without your child present. Also, never approach a game official: Leave it up to the coach to sort out any problems with the officiating with the referees. And it goes without saying, but never use profanity in a youth sports setting.

Applaud good play-- no matter who makes it. Focusing solely on your child sends the message that you're more interested in grooming the next sports phenom than encouraging team effort. Compliment other players as they get substituted in and out of the game. A great move by the opposing team deserves a cheer, not boos or taunts. And show respect for the other team's players, parents and coaches by welcoming them onto your field and congratulating them after a good game. Mix things up.

During my 20 years of covering both college and professional sports and hosting four Olympic Games, I learned one irrefutable fact: My children and yours have a minuscule chance at a college sports scholarship, much less a pro career. Elite athletes are few and far between, and while your child may be talented, he'll most likely go on to do something else wonderful with his life. Nurture a well-rounded child by supporting his interests in several extracurricular activities. I've interviewed the greatest athletes in the world, and even they played multiple sports in high school. For example, my friend and former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms was a much better baseball player than football player in high school, even though he went on to become a Super Bowl MVP.

Unfortunately, these days_ parents tend to be overzealous and a bit unrealistic, pushing their kids to win medals or trophies at one sport in particular, hoping they'll become the next Michael Jordan or Michelle Kwan. Specializing in one or two sports all year can cause burnout and injury, putting too much stress on certain body parts. What's more, by not participating in a mix of activities, these kids miss out on learning a variety of physical skills and meeting different groups of people. Your child's chance of going pro may be tiny, but he does have a 100 percent chance of growing up to love sports and physical activity with your winning support along the way.