How to turn around a losing soccer team

Below is a letter I received from a soccer coach who was losing and wanted to know how to improve his team.

Hi SoccerHelp,

Since my original letter, we have had mixed success. The next soccer game we played, we won 3-0. I moved player 3 back to block for the middle of the game and used player 9 to block in the second half. The guys played really well and I thought I had finally cracked the code on where to get the different guys to play.

But the following week we lost again. We were scheduled to play a team that, by all means, we could have played the same or, based on our game the week before, beat. We lost 5-1. My guys were playing without energy and I found it extremely frustrating watching them rotate in place while watching the other team run between them. At least half, if not more, of the team was playing as spectators. Most soccer goals were scored because my defenders were out of soccer position and not attacking the ball.

We lost our game this last weekend 8-0. I started playing my strongest players in the first quarters to try to keep the score low and morale high. We were playing against the number one team and we started playing pretty even, but we couldn’t score anything in front of the soccer goal, because our attacking players weren’t in position and we allowed three goals in the first half. because our football defenders were out of position. Again, we had a large crowd on the pitch and after a while the defenders I had, who weren’t playing very aggressive to begin with, stopped playing completely. I had to take out a player because he actually stopped moving, it was like watching the Bad News Bears play football. Towards the end, even my good players were giving up.

Obviously I’m not being very effective in my soccer training. What are some activities that I can do to try to help children play their positions? We cover it at soccer practice regularly, but it doesn’t seem to be taking in? Also, what are your thoughts on even playing for the kids? I have enough good players that I could put together a pretty good team, but usually half the team at any given time is on the not-so-skilled side. I’m trying to give everyone about equal time, but when the kids aren’t trying I think I should take them out (I haven’t been doing this because it would mean some players are going to be sitting down most of the time).

Coach T

Hello Coach T,

I want to encourage you not to get too discouraged by your loss to the number one team. It is very important that you are realistic; keep in mind that you are SUPPOSED to lose against that team. What happened was that your team saw that they couldn’t win and gave up in the second half. It’s not pretty, but it’s understandable and practical (Why keep killing yourself if you can’t win? That just drains your energy. I think it’s best to admit it’s not your day and mentally focus on the next game. Save your best efforts for the teams you have a chance to beat). I suggest telling your team that they are improving, but the opponent was better that day and losing that game is nothing to be ashamed of. It is very important that you are realistic about your team and its potential. You are not a miracle worker and you cannot do the impossible. All he can do is do his best with the talent, speed, aggressiveness, and practice time he has. You are SUPPOSED to lose to a better and faster team; all you can do is minimize the damage and try not to let your team’s morale and confidence suffer too much.

I have a few ideas for you to consider:

1. Do you play in practice? If you do, stop playing. kids play more enthusiastically in their actual games if they don’t play in practice.

2. I see that you use the iron-on patches with your equipment. Your biggest needs are aggressive play, defense, and scoring, so I would only give patches for those 3 things. I would give him a patch for NOT JUST scoring, but for BEING IN SCORING POSITION – if your players do the right thing, they will start scoring. Once they learn how to score, you may want to stop issuing patches for goals, but for now you need to do that to teach them how to score. Your team must also develop a DESIRE TO WIN. If you get more patches, buy the V and A patches… when you win, make a big fuss. Don’t give patches for participation, give them for effort, achievement and aggressiveness. The exception may be a practice attendance patch, but you can give one for every 2-3 practices you attend. Attendance at practices is critical to the success of your team.

3. To stay motivated, try Motivational Quotes in Premium… I read them myself.

4. Do you play Dribble Around Cone & Pass relay practice game? Use it to teach Aggressive Catching – this is important – your players need to be more aggressive to win the ball. Play with your mates and give a patch to the winners. You’ll get better and faster results by concentrating on the aggressive catch than by concentrating on passing. Aggressive reception is more important than teaching.

5. Do you play Dribble Across a Square at all driving ranges? This is important: Play it at the beginning of the practice as a warm-up, twice with a 10-step wide square, and then twice with a 14-step wide square.

6. Don’t try to emphasize passing yet, except by playing the Dribble Around Cone & Pass relay game: tell your scorers to try to score and teach them to rebound and be aggressive. Tell defenders to kick hard forward and teach forwards to win the ball and give them a patch if they do.

7. Do you have sports drinks and water at the games? If not, try it, it can make a difference (there is a good article on Hydration in Premium)

8. Play the Game of Shoulder Tackle and Strength on the Ball to toughen up your players.

9. Regarding equal playing time: Most leagues require each player to play 50% of the game. Check what your league requires. If a player doesn’t try, rush, or do what you ask, he shouldn’t expect to play as long as someone who does; I think that is a fair approach. You have an obligation to the players, but also to the Team.

10. Have you taught Training Rule #3? It is worth 2 goals per game in Sub-9

11. Have you taught First Defender/Second Defender? How to teach it is in Quick Team Improvement.

12. I recommend you make a GREAT DEAL on BRAVERY and give him a red patch and ONLY for that: the BRAVERY patch (also called Blood Patch). Trust me, that works. I used it myself.

13. You’re right, you MUST have brave players at Fullback and Stopper, that’s CRITICAL. If you defend deep, they don’t need to be skillful or fast, but they MUST be brave.

14. If defending deep (if you keep your Fullbacks deep), think about letting your strong Fullbacks play most of the game or even the whole game (perhaps rotating 3 players into those 2 positions).

15. Try Win the 50/50 ballgame and use it to teach players to slow down their attack if they can’t win the ball.

I think you are closer than you think. The key is to motivate your players to play hard. Don’t judge your progress by the 8-0 loss, that loss is understandable, it was like an avalanche, once it started you couldn’t stop it, it was better to try not to get hurt. .

Please let me know which of these ideas helps and any other ideas that help you.