May 30, 2012

Winning and Development for Youth Soccer Players

May 30, 2012/ Wayne Harrison

I have been teaching a certain way of development for 15 years and more; as I am sure many of you out there have too, and low and behold the English FA now decide it is all about SSG”s and development not winning.

At EPSC I would not allow top teams to develop until U12 because then it was about WINNING. No one liked it at the time but it proved successful when they got older, look at all the good teams that were created. I took it down to U11 because too many did not get what I was doing nor more importantly WHY I was doing it.

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Soccer Awareness developmental training focuses on the concept of the THIRD EYE of Awareness, Imagination and Anticipation in Performance. Soccer Awareness is a highly innovative concept which aims to develop the thinking coach and player. Soccer Awareness focuses on the creation of a player centered environment which encourages autonomy and an ability to make correct decisions within a game specific context.

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This video is an example of a “One Touch Mentality” game situation U14 boys.

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