Comments on: Pass The Damn Ball!!! Or Not http://onthepitch.org/2007/09/19/pass-the-damn-ball-or-not/ Thoughts on Youth Soccer from a Soccer Dad, Fan, Coach and Administrator Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:34:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Steve http://onthepitch.org/2007/09/19/pass-the-damn-ball-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-68353 Steve Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:04:30 +0000 http://onthepitch.org/2007/09/19/pass-the-damn-ball-or-not/#comment-68353 My daughter plays U10 8v8 and the team can't pass to save their lives. Once Team A has figured out that Team B can't/won't pass the ball, the game of 8v8 soccer breaks down into 7v1 (assuming that one Team A girl is in goal). Without the threat of a pass, Team B doesn't have a prayer. Team A's U10 girls may not figure it out, but their coach will and then it's open season on the Team B ball hogs. If Team B could pass, they could open up the defense and create an opportunity for 1v1 challenges. I'm 43 and one of the few kids of my generation to play soccer (it was a "sissy" sport when I was in high school, but that's a completely different blog), and everyone knows that one kid who could juggle the ball for hours but didn't know which way to run when if the coach put him in the game (on my team his name was Doug). I say teach them the big strategic picture so that they know when it's appropriate to pass and when it's appropriate to drive and contest 1v1. My daughter plays U10 8v8 and the team can’t pass to save their lives. Once Team A has figured out that Team B can’t/won’t pass the ball, the game of 8v8 soccer breaks down into 7v1 (assuming that one Team A girl is in goal). Without the threat of a pass, Team B doesn’t have a prayer. Team A’s U10 girls may not figure it out, but their coach will and then it’s open season on the Team B ball hogs. If Team B could pass, they could open up the defense and create an opportunity for 1v1 challenges. I’m 43 and one of the few kids of my generation to play soccer (it was a “sissy” sport when I was in high school, but that’s a completely different blog), and everyone knows that one kid who could juggle the ball for hours but didn’t know which way to run when if the coach put him in the game (on my team his name was Doug). I say teach them the big strategic picture so that they know when it’s appropriate to pass and when it’s appropriate to drive and contest 1v1.

]]> By: Soccer Dad http://onthepitch.org/2007/09/19/pass-the-damn-ball-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-52483 Soccer Dad Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:05:23 +0000 http://onthepitch.org/2007/09/19/pass-the-damn-ball-or-not/#comment-52483 Agree 100%, though it's easy to focus TOO much on 1v1. I've done this and then the players will go in on 2-4 defenders when they absolutely should pass. Teaching them to make that split second decision is hard - I call it tryign to coach futility. Agree 100%, though it’s easy to focus TOO much on 1v1. I’ve done this and then the players will go in on 2-4 defenders when they absolutely should pass. Teaching them to make that split second decision is hard – I call it tryign to coach futility.

]]> By: seanb_us http://onthepitch.org/2007/09/19/pass-the-damn-ball-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-52482 seanb_us Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:55:52 +0000 http://onthepitch.org/2007/09/19/pass-the-damn-ball-or-not/#comment-52482 Footskills are key, followed by the confidence to take on a defender 1v1. Passing comes later. An over-emphasis on passing, especially at a young age, leads to games of kickball, not soccer. Cheers, Sean Footskills are key, followed by the confidence to take on a defender 1v1. Passing comes later. An over-emphasis on passing, especially at a young age, leads to games of kickball, not soccer.

Cheers,

Sean

]]> By: Soccer Dad http://onthepitch.org/2007/09/19/pass-the-damn-ball-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-40234 Soccer Dad Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:41:48 +0000 http://onthepitch.org/2007/09/19/pass-the-damn-ball-or-not/#comment-40234 Agree 100% It was confidence - they had a very soft touch on the ball and were ready for the 'next step' immediately. Looking back at my U11s first two matches, there's no question receiving hurt us just as much if not more than the passing. I don't know what it is but ALL the girls want to bring that knee up which is the worst thing in the world. Agree 100% It was confidence – they had a very soft touch on the ball and were ready for the ‘next step’ immediately.

Looking back at my U11s first two matches, there’s no question receiving hurt us just as much if not more than the passing. I don’t know what it is but ALL the girls want to bring that knee up which is the worst thing in the world.

]]> By: Old Soccer Guy http://onthepitch.org/2007/09/19/pass-the-damn-ball-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-40233 Old Soccer Guy Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:38:37 +0000 http://onthepitch.org/2007/09/19/pass-the-damn-ball-or-not/#comment-40233 There are a lot of interesting things in your post. The part about the good passing team struck me first. You write that they quickly got their heads up after receiving the ball. I had a mom tell me once that I needed to teach my players how to get their head up. I was nice in my response, but what I wanted to tell her was that I was teaching them that. Here's how 1. Receive thousands of balls using the correct technique. 2. Develop confidence and comfort when receiving passes. 3. Then and only then will kids be able to get their heads up. What you described in that good passing team was a bunch of kids who were comfortable with the ball. I think if you look closely, it's the first touch that allows kids to get their heads up. A bad first touch and the kid has to chase the ball for his second touch, sometimes third, etc. It's kind of a chicken and egg thing -- which came first, receiving or passing? There is probably no right answer, but I would argue that the ability to receive the ball has to come before the ability to pass it. Sure you almost have to teach them simultaneously, but first touch is everything. And I think first touch has everything to do with creativity and freedom. Without being able to cleanly receive the ball and being ready to play with it immediately, it doesn't matter if we encourage kids to dribble or not. There are a lot of interesting things in your post. The part about the good passing team struck me first. You write that they quickly got their heads up after receiving the ball. I had a mom tell me once that I needed to teach my players how to get their head up. I was nice in my response, but what I wanted to tell her was that I was teaching them that. Here’s how

1. Receive thousands of balls using the correct technique.
2. Develop confidence and comfort when receiving passes.
3. Then and only then will kids be able to get their heads up.

What you described in that good passing team was a bunch of kids who were comfortable with the ball. I think if you look closely, it’s the first touch that allows kids to get their heads up. A bad first touch and the kid has to chase the ball for his second touch, sometimes third, etc.

It’s kind of a chicken and egg thing — which came first, receiving or passing? There is probably no right answer, but I would argue that the ability to receive the ball has to come before the ability to pass it. Sure you almost have to teach them simultaneously, but first touch is everything.

And I think first touch has everything to do with creativity and freedom. Without being able to cleanly receive the ball and being ready to play with it immediately, it doesn’t matter if we encourage kids to dribble or not.

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