CRISIS team meltdown!

[Micky P]

Originally Posted by dethfire

My team is selfdestructing! We lost our first game 0-14 second 0-6 third 0-8 and fourth 0-8! We've had a couple girls quit the past could week and now I have word a few more are pondering it. Team morale is very very low. I don't know what to do! Like I've said in other threads, this team is very unskilled and inexperienced. We have several complete newbies to the game, and only 1 girl on the team plays club. Only a couple girls on the team would have a chance at making a decent varsity team. Now I find out why, last year they played only JV and still struggled, I got hired and the AD moved us to varsity!! We had a team meeting to talk about everything and it seemed settled, but after tonights game everything went back to bad blood. There are many internal personal conflicts and people are mad at lineups and personally I think they don't respect me now.

One of the big problems is that they don't work as hard as they could in practice and I don't know how to get that across. I yell at them all day long, but they don't give 100%. Many are just not atheltic and haven't ever been, so they don't know what it means to give 100%. They don't know what it means to work hard and focused. I get so upset after games and practice because they are bursting with energy on the bus back and at halftime. I told them they should be nearly passed out and barely able to walk. And they say "ok sure" but I have yet to see anything change. We also never have a full team at practice or games. Either a few are on vacation or doing homework or on a field trip or forgot cleats or is injured. Our two best players have shin splints and infected blisters. I mean this is really turning into a real nightmare. Now I fear everything is doomed because the season is already lost and no one has anything to play for. My power to push them is gone because they they feel "what is the use". Even if they worked they're *** off I doubt we could win a game, keep it close, but not win. And that is how they feel too.

I really am at a loss of what to do.

Wow... I hear what you are saying here. I do not know what feedback you have had but as I have only just joined here's my input. Don't ask for 100% effort, only ask for 100% commitment but make sure you know the difference. Go to basics, 1st defender then 2nd defender and when that's all onboard go with 3rd defender training. Everybody must understand those concepts, please ask if you need more. Make sure they can trap and pass a ball properly and from there with those skills you can build a wealth of skills. Make it fun. Never yell at them as that only shows you don't know what you are talking about. It's like speaking to an Icelander....it doesn't matter what you say if he doesn't understand you and shouting at him doesn't make him understand any easier. I know it's very frustrating but pair them up on drills, keep them active and go around and show each player how they can improve what they are doing......remember the OREO cookie, tell them one thing that isn't good BUT tell them 2 things they did well. This is critical because if you continue to tell them they aren't good they will give up. The other drill you should show them is how to defend the ball using their body. The drills just mentioned will take many practices to get somewhere being decent. Start off your practice with juggling and move to juggling with both feet then 5 juggles left then 5 juggles right. REMEMBER they are new to this and no pilot is thrown into the cockpit without training. Please do not yell at the youth players as that will only serve to drive them away as they will be frightened to make mistakes........that's how we all learn. Let me know if this is of any value and if it is I think I can help you build a team that should kick some butt! Or at least score some goals. My practices are 2 hours long and end with Plyometrics, I'll be happy to provide you with some of my practice plans - free of course! Micky P

[lanesra]

Originally Posted by Micky P

My practices are 2 hours long and end with Plyometrics, I'll be happy to provide you with some of my practice plans - free of course! Micky P

What have you got on plyometrics? I admit to being woefully unknowledgeable about plyometrics and actually using them for a team. Heck with only a couple of 1.5 hour sessions I'm loathe to work much on stretching.

[djasha68]

If you've got an uneven # of girls, you can play too.

NO, NO, NO YOU CANT PLAY. You must not play, you are far too physical and powerful to play with young girls, even if you play in goal. Far better to let them play with an uneven number.








PANSHANGER WHITES U15

[djasha68]

Just forget results, you wont change that until you have improved technique. Work at least 40% on technique, then ssg and leave at least 10 minutes for a game without any coaching, just observing.

[Jerzy]

Originally Posted by djasha68

NO, NO, NO YOU CANT PLAY. You must not play, you are far too physical and powerful to play with young girls, even if you play in goal. Far better to let them play with an uneven number.

Oh I disagree with this completely. I am also too powerful and physical to play with boys, in case this is just a gender issue. Of course, I am not throwing my weight around and pushing. I'm in control of myself. Sometimes it helps to model play for your kids. Plus it is fun.

Originally Posted by djasha68

Just forget results, you wont change that until you have improved technique. Work at least 40% on technique, then ssg and leave at least 10 minutes for a game without any coaching, just observing.

And this I agree with. Good post.

[djasha68]

We are all entitled to our opinion, but for me to play with youngsters male or female puts yourself at risk, as well as the kids. I am sure you would try to be carefull and chances are nothing will happen, but what if?

Dont know where you are from, but on my FA course they told us you should not get involved for safety reasons.





PANSHANGER WHITES U15

[djasha68]

Originally Posted by dethfire
My team is selfdestructing! We lost our first game 0-14 second 0-6 third 0-8 and fourth 0-8! We've had a couple girls quit the past could week and now I have word a few more are pondering it. Team morale is very very low. I don't know what to do! Like I've said in other threads, this team is very unskilled and inexperienced. We have several complete newbies to the game, and only 1 girl on the team plays club. Only a couple girls on the team would have a chance at making a decent varsity team. Now I find out why, last year they played only JV and still struggled, I got hired and the AD moved us to varsity!! We had a team meeting to talk about everything and it seemed settled, but after tonights game everything went back to bad blood. There are many internal personal conflicts and people are mad at lineups and personally I think they don't respect me now.

One of the big problems is that they don't work as hard as they could in practice and I don't know how to get that across. I yell at them all day long, but they don't give 100%. Many are just not atheltic and haven't ever been, so they don't know what it means to give 100%. They don't know what it means to work hard and focused. I get so upset after games and practice because they are bursting with energy on the bus back and at halftime. I told them they should be nearly passed out and barely able to walk. And they say "ok sure" but I have yet to see anything change. We also never have a full team at practice or games. Either a few are on vacation or doing homework or on a field trip or forgot cleats or is injured. Our two best players have shin splints and infected blisters. I mean this is really turning into a real nightmare. Now I fear everything is doomed because the season is already lost and no one has anything to play for. My power to push them is gone because they they feel "what is the use". Even if they worked they're *** off I doubt we could win a game, keep it close, but not win. And that is how they feel too.

I really am at a loss of what to do.

Dont feel afraid to get outside help. Sounds to me that you have too little experience to really turn this around. Find a more experienced coach, ask parents for a contribution to pay for a more experienced coach for a couple of sessions. See what a difference this can make. I have been coaching for 10 years and we paid for a coach this season, from an academy to help us out, it has been a breath of fresh air for everyone, the team are enjoying training even more, I have picked up a few new games, it is worth every penny. New ideas are great for you and your team. See how they respond to a professional coach. You cant beat a hands on experience, books, dvd etc are good but they dont teach you their and then, when it matters. By the way this was not expensive.

[Val]

Originally Posted by djasha68

We are all entitled to our opinion, but for me to play with youngsters male or female puts yourself at risk, as well as the kids. I am sure you would try to be carefull and chances are nothing will happen, but what if?

Dont know where you are from, but on my FA course they told us you should not get involved for safety reasons.

I dunno, I play with my kids all the time too. It's just a lot of fun. And I'm guessing what the biggest risk is. I guess I could fall on one of them (my kids are U11 girls) but I think they would recover. Actually, the biggest risk is me making an arse of myself, which happened about three practices ago when I fell flat on my face during a game. I was too busy looking at players and talking to them and not paying any attention to the ball and I stepped on it and splatted. Even then, the girls got a great laugh...

Of all the risk mitigation things to worry about, I just don't see playing with the kids as being a very big one. But more importantly, this is part of someone's coaching style andeveryone ought to do what they are most comfortable doing.

[djasha68]

I have played many times with my team, stopped when I did my FA course. I found myself using my strength to my advantage, every now and again I would be taking on the whole team, I found I just could not help myself. Never thought it was wrong untill I saw a Football Association video. Whilst you have the ball at your feet you are taking it away from the kids, its their game not yours, your their to help them improve. At the end of the day your going to do what you want to do at training, personally I would rather let them play and watch to see if they have learnt anything from training.

[ian.curry]

I join in quite a lot. At a younger age I often went in goal to keep everyone happy, and sometimes as a winger out of the action - just to keep things even.
Now they are 14/15 year olds, I can join in both in playing and physical actions too. The risk assessment for me, like Val, is looking ****. Most of my players are better than me now, so it's at my own mercy to join in.