How do you get individuals playing as a team?

[david machin]

Hi, this might be of intrest to some of you, and any feed back would be great.
I run a under 12s boys team (13s come september)and probably like all your teams have a mixture of players, some very good, some not so, some committed, some not ect, ect. I have been trying to get them to play for each other, telling them its a team game, and that they have to work for each other. Dont get me wrong, they are a good bunch of boys and some are starting to work as a team but not all of them.
So to the intresting bit, last week I asked them which one of the following they would honestly do in a game situation.
(1) take the ball on to goal and have a shot if there was onlya 75% chance of scoring, or (2) pass the ball to a team mate for a guaranteed goal, out of the 12 boys there 7 said they would pass, 5 said they would shoot. I then asked them if you could score a wonder goal (goal of the season) but loose the game 2 - 1, or do two lay offs for a team mate to score and win the game 2 - 0 which would you do. Again out of the 12 boys 5 said they would go for the wonder goal.
How do I try to get these players working for the team.
The five players are good players and attend every session, and one of the boys is probably the most comitted player I have, and one who gets most upset out of the squad when we loose a match.
I look forward to reading your responses.

[ian.curry]

I was in a similar situation with the same age group a couple of years ago - where some didn't really care about the result at all, and others cared only about their own performance. Since 12's I have taken on around 8-10 new lads and they get on brilliantly - because a) they mostly go to the same school/play each other in school's football, and b) they are successful.
Success breeds success.
We find it easy to go away on trips - Blackpool twice in last two years, Edinburgh at Easter - do bag packs regularly, go for sponsored walks around forests, car washes, Playstation tournaments. Next Sunday we are going to watch the North East Masters tournament - third year running!
Do these events/occasions help team spirit? I hope so, but I really think it is the fact that they respect each other as good players and are fairly successful that they want to win for each other as well as themselves.

[lanesra]

I don't think I would be too dismayed by those results David. Thinking about team is a higher order skill, and for the vast majority of kids this age, the game should be about fun. i'm trying to remember how I felt about the game/team when I was in 6th grade and while I could have cared less about who scored, I was always more critical of how I played than the team, meaning that if the team lost but I played as well as I could, I didn't lose much sleep. Now, if I played poorly, that was another story.

But back to your original quandry. You've got to model team, and that will take a while. You really have to work on building team spirit, and Ian listed several good ideas. You also have to highlight and reward the roles that everyone plays on the team. This may take a couple of years, so by all means start now, but I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[ian.curry]

I think age also plays a big part - at 11/12 they are kids, by 14/15 they are young men. As they mature they start going to town together, texting, going on MSN, sleeping over, discussing which girl they would like to take home etc etc. At 11 there are many kids who barely speak to anyone who doesn't go to their school, or even live near them.
It will all change for the good, and you will love it.

[huffsw]

I too have been coaching a U12 and am steeping up to U13 next season... I have given this precise subject much thought...

It is our job as coaches to be motivators and this goes for all areas of life... not just soccer.

Here are a few of my ideas to "GEL" a team... If they are as motivated as you say then these will not be difficult to emplement...

1. Communication off of the field... Email addresses of each with direction to send one email to each team mate every day. About anything just to have them start communicating... They will be surprised at what they have in common.

2. Homework... ask them to research a favorite player on a professional team. Because of computers this is easy.

3. Watch soccer on TV. It's really surprising what these kids find entertaining and soccer, for most will be a welcome and well spent tube-time. When you find that a professional, or collegiate match will be on, give them an email with the time and channel. At the next practice session you can critique it.

Teach them to Love soccer and Live soccer!!

Stephen

[lanesra]

Originally Posted by huffsw

3. Watch soccer on TV. It's really surprising what these kids find entertaining and soccer, for most will be a welcome and well spent tube-time. When you find that a professional, or collegiate match will be on, give them an email with the time and channel. At the next practice session you can critique it.

OK, now I feel like I'm stalking huff, but another good idea, just because kids seem to watch less sports in general, but in America, specifically watching soccer isn't done. I've thought about taking my kids to a college game but it hasn't worked out the last two years, so I'm thinking of showing the kids a couple of Arsenal games that I tivo'd. Plus it might make a few more Arsenal fans, and that can't be a bad thing, can it?

[huffsw]

Great!! If you don't expose the children to "REAL" soccer it's difficult if not impossible for them to get the picture in there "minds eye". After critiquing, You can allude to the game in practice. I believe any new soccer fan is a definate plus.

David, As far as creating a TEAM for individuals... Have them spend time together off of the pitch as possible. Set up "Possition Parties" This is where the fullbacks/defenders spend time together off the feild as a unit, this goes the same with strikers/forwards and halfbacks/midfielders. You also must set up a communications system which allows for open and honest communication with you as well as the rest of the team.

Another thing that I have for my team is an contract of participation and commitment. I ask the children to sign it as well as the parents. This is good to let them know where you stand as far as your commitment for the season. Do this and they will gel quickly!

Stephen