Mike Slatton is a 2nd generation American youth soccer coach since 1984, and the son of one of the nation's first female licensed youth soccer coaches (Anita Slatton, 1979). He's also a professional soccer scout, a player since 1977, and the father of three adult and teenage children who all play or have played the game. "My job as a youth soccer coach is to develop confident, detail oriented problem solvers who can react quickly under pressure. It's important that players NOT be afraid of making mistakes, to encourage an appreciation of failure as a learning tool. This relates to life - not just soccer."
Free-play is the single thing that America lacks, and we can never win a World Cup until we fix it.
The key is “varying ages and skill levels”. Younger players playing against older players increase reaction speed and reflexes, while learning skills “beyond their years”.
Artificial turf fields may be INJECTING CANCER directly into your player’s blood stream. Every time…
Cheap goalkeeper gloves from the big shoe manufacturers are also cheap in quality. But cheap goalkeeper gloves from an independent glove brands are just cheap in price.
[su_box title=”*DISCLAIMER” style=”soft” radius=”0″]If your child is “the best” athlete on his or her team (relative…
From the beginning of their soccer endeavors, the kids who hit puberty first in the age group, will get the most attention. Those players will feel like things come easy for them, and their parents will act like their child is “the chosen one”. Then, when everyone catches up to them in size, and the soccer world stops revolving around them, they will quit.
Consider that it took a field-wide effort of ten other boys to give your player the opportunity to knock the ball into the goal.
Your player’s ability to score goals is 100% reliant on their TEAMMATES. 100%. In other words, they have NO CONTROL over whether or not they score, as the opportunity to score lies is someone else’s ability – or willingness – to give them the ball. In fact, if you want your child to score goals – and you have money to throw – you should probably throw it at your child’s teammates, for assists.
Every great athlete needs confidence. Without confidence, there is no risk, and without risk, there…
Americans are traditionalists. The reason Americans call football “soccer” is because “soccer” is what the…
A young college player sent me a message looking for guidance on his professional soccer…
We are training the wrong kids. Period.
Youth soccer is a multi-billion dollar industry in the U.S. and those who run it (US Soccer, Youth Soccer Club Directors, MLS / NASL / USL pro teams, & independent player development organizations like Coerver) INTENTIONALLY target the parents and players who can most AFFORD the RISING COSTS of training and “opportunities” they offer.