|
|
Post by blueronin on Sept 19, 2014 16:23:05 GMT -5
What makes a soccer player elite?
Is it the size of the player? The strength of the player? The speed of the player?
Or is it the touch? The caressing of the ball when dribbling? The off ball movement? The understanding of the game?
When asked, many who are in the know would say its the touch, the ball control, the game understanding. However if take a look at the elite team construction by those in the know, you would find that size, strength and speed rules. The quality is no where to be found. And this is at the rec level, academy level, classic level, ODP level, DA level, national level.
So if you are in the know and you believe that quality is not solely based on size, strength, and speed, why wouldn't your product reflect your beliefs? It starts with the kids at a very young age. How do you produce the eventual elite player if you never gave them the chance from the start?
|
|
|
|
Post by rifle on Sept 19, 2014 16:40:59 GMT -5
Nice first post.
I think elite players are born with something others lack - and it's in the heart and mind. Many can learn skill through repetition and willingness to train; many are strong and fast; fewer have real soccer IQ. But Elite players (should) have all those things plus an intangible: the ability to be unstoppable, even if it means carrying everyone else. You can't coach desire, it has to be there.
I never had it. My own kid doesn't have it yet. But when you see it, it sure is amazing.
|
|
|
|
Post by lovethegame on Sept 19, 2014 17:15:40 GMT -5
Nice first post. I think elite players are born with something others lack - and it's in the heart and mind. Many can learn skill through repetition and willingness to train; many are strong and fast; fewer have real soccer IQ. But Elite players (should) have all those things plus an intangible: the ability to be unstoppable, even if it means carrying everyone else. You can't coach desire, it has to be there. I never had it. My own kid doesn't have it yet. But when you see it, it sure is amazing. It is amazing when you see it. But, I would ask if speed, size and strength at a young age allows opportunities to develop to a level more difficult for shorter and slower players to reach. I am the parent of a shorter than average player who is quick and strong. But when she was young she was overlooked because of her size. When she was moved up there were some tactics that were taught to the top team that she completely missed. The new coach figured she had already learned what he had taught a year or two before. She's never had a coach who welcomes questions, and she's a bit shy. She is a hard worker who has good skills which has gotten her where she is. I often wonder what would have opened up for her had she been three inches taller. On the other hand, I see the strong, quick, athletic player who grew early. They had great opportunities when young, but have never gotten past relying primarily on their athleticism. Some seem to have less than average understanding of the game for their age. So, aside from the truly gifted, there's probably positives and negatives of both. |
|
|
|
Post by soccergator on Sept 19, 2014 17:25:55 GMT -5
i think there are 2 different things. making an elite soccer play through hard work, commitment, practice, etc, then the 2nd is some kids just have it!
|
|
|
|
Post by blueronin on Sept 19, 2014 17:51:54 GMT -5
Kids that have this "intangible" can also be labeled "aggressive". At an early age, kids who are aggressive and physically more mature are the difference makers as their impact to the game is easier to identify. Kids who quietly impact the game with technical skill and game understanding tend to get lost in the shuffle. More opportunities for development are given to the aggressive kids at the expense of the technically skilled kids who might not be as aggressive. Willing to bet that given two kids - one aggresive, big, strong, fast and other that's not quite as aggressive and quick not be flat out fast but technically and tactically superior, the average coach would choose the aggressive kid 9 out of 10 times. Nice first post. I think elite players are born with something others lack - and it's in the heart and mind. Many can learn skill through repetition and willingness to train; many are strong and fast; fewer have real soccer IQ. But Elite players (should) have all those things plus an intangible: the ability to be unstoppable, even if it means carrying everyone else. You can't coach desire, it has to be there. I never had it. My own kid doesn't have it yet. But when you see it, it sure is amazing. It is amazing when you see it. But, I would ask if speed, size and strength at a young age allows opportunities to develop to a level more difficult for shorter and slower players to reach. I am the parent of a shorter than average player who is quick and strong. But when she was young she was overlooked because of her size. When she was moved up there were some tactics that were taught to the top team that she completely missed. The new coach figured she had already learned what he had taught a year or two before. She's never had a coach who welcomes questions, and she's a bit shy. She is a hard worker who has good skills which has gotten her where she is. I often wonder what would have opened up for her had she been three inches taller. On the other hand, I see the strong, quick, athletic player who grew early. They had great opportunities when young, but have never gotten past relying primarily on their athleticism. Some seem to have less than average understanding of the game for their age. So, aside from the truly gifted, there's probably positives and negatives of both. |
|
|
|
Post by youthsoccerdad on Sept 19, 2014 21:44:07 GMT -5
How about an early birth month creating a perception gap? I never get over seeing how often that kid with the August - September birth month not only look bigger/faster but even more importantly they are more aware. The interesting part with that is DA switches to a calendar year. I am curious if any of you have seen kids struggle during that transition and the opposite, kids who may appear average look like studs when they move to a calendar year.
|
|
|
|
Post by SoccerMom on Sept 20, 2014 5:39:44 GMT -5
How about an early birth month creating a perception gap? I never get over seeing how often that kid with the August - September birth month not only look bigger/faster but even more importantly they are more aware. The interesting part with that is DA switches to a calendar year. I am curious if any of you have seen kids struggle during that transition and the opposite, kids who may appear average look like studs when they move to a calendar year. It will switch to calendar year in ODP as well |
|
|
|
Post by blueronin on Sept 20, 2014 7:28:35 GMT -5
Yes. The early birthdays in the age cycles. I do see this quite often. For example, a few years back I was watching a u9 boys game. There's was a kid that was bigger than most of the other kids with average skill. He was dominating the opposition with his size and strength. Taking shots from half the field and making them easily. The parents of his teams were ranting and raving every time he touched the ball. Fast forward three years later, though he is still a physical presence, others have caught up enough. No longer can sheer power overcome and dominate the game. His average technical skill becomes more glaring. The once dominant player is now a role player. Coaches, parents, kids, and spectators put too much emphasis on physical dominance. Yes, this is a physical sport however it is a highly skilled sport. Skill that takes will take a never ending journey to master. I'm quite disappointed in what I generally see out there in youth soccer. Coaches that don't know soccer, don't teach, or don't care. Parents that just want instant gratification. Kids that don't want to put in the time. Spectators that are even more clueless. How then can we develop the elite player? No. Make that the world class player. How about an early birth month creating a perception gap? I never get over seeing how often that kid with the August - September birth month not only look bigger/faster but even more importantly they are more aware. The interesting part with that is DA switches to a calendar year. I am curious if any of you have seen kids struggle during that transition and the opposite, kids who may appear average look like studs when they move to a calendar year. It will switch to calendar year in ODP as well |
|
|
|
Post by mamampira on Sept 20, 2014 9:06:19 GMT -5
Excellent points all around. I always keep this in mind: soccer is not an individual sport. To find an elite player with all the qualities discussed here is rare. If you look at any balanced team, you will find players that might be a bit slower, that are physical, that have few technical skills. And on that same team, you will find short players who are highly grounded, technically. Each player will complement the other player and shore up the respective players' weaknesses. On a team, maybe 1 out of 10 players will have the elite qualities. In soccer, the positions are highly specialized, unlike some sports where you can have utility players - that can play all positions.
Having said that, I think one can create an elite player based on attributes that they possess. You (the coach), know what you are looking for. If you are looking for a defender, you are probably looked for a big, strong player, You concentrate on his strengths and shore up his weaknesses. Key to good coaching. That is how to create elite players. You find the skill set and then work with it. True, no player is born an elite player, some have certain gifts, but coaches can work on making them a complete player, and the team mates make them a better player.
Case in point. Look at Real Madrid. Cristiano Ronaldo cannot defend to save his life. And that is not his specialty. Yet, arguably, he is considered one of the best players in the world. He is not aggressive in the defensive half but offensively he is a monster. He is balanced in practically every aspect of his game. But he is not expected to track back or use his speed for tracking back as much as an out-and-out holding mid is expected to do so. Or take a player like Pepe, he is an aggressive defender, but technically he is clueless. He does not read the game well enough at times. But, he is still an important player on the team because what he does, he does well.
At the end of the day, it is about how each individual player fits into a team concept.
|
|
|
|
Post by lovethegame on Sept 20, 2014 9:21:37 GMT -5
Excellent points all around. I always keep this in mind: soccer is not an individual sport. To find an elite player with all the qualities discussed here is rare. If you look at any balanced team, you will find players that might be a bit slower, that are physical, that have few technical skills. And on that same team, you will find short players who are highly grounded, technically. Each player will complement the other player and shore up the respective players' weaknesses. On a team, maybe 1 out of 10 players will have the elite qualities. In soccer, the positions are highly specialized, unlike some sports where you can have utility players - that can play all positions. Having said that, I think one can create an elite player based on attributes that they possess. You (the coach), know what you are looking for. If you are looking for a defender, you are probably looked for a big, strong player, You concentrate on his strengths and shore up his weaknesses. Key to good coaching. That is how to create elite players. You find the skill set and then work with it. True, no player is born an elite player, some have certain gifts, but coaches can work on making them a complete player, and the team mates make them a better player. Case in point. Look at Real Madrid. Cristiano Ronaldo cannot defend to save his life. And that is not his specialty. Yet, arguably, he is considered one of the best players in the world. He is not aggressive in the defensive half but offensively he is a monster. He is balanced in practically every aspect of his game. But he is not expected to track back or use his speed for tracking back as much as an out-and-out holding mid is expected to do so. Or take a player like Pepe, he is an aggressive defender, but technically he is clueless. He does not read the game well enough at times. But, he is still an important player on the team because what he does, he does well. At the end of the day, it is about how each individual player fits into a team concept. Well said. I don't know if you are a coach, but if not, you should be. |
|
|
|
Post by mamampira on Sept 20, 2014 11:31:24 GMT -5
Excellent points all around. I always keep this in mind: soccer is not an individual sport. To find an elite player with all the qualities discussed here is rare. If you look at any balanced team, you will find players that might be a bit slower, that are physical, that have few technical skills. And on that same team, you will find short players who are highly grounded, technically. Each player will complement the other player and shore up the respective players' weaknesses. On a team, maybe 1 out of 10 players will have the elite qualities. In soccer, the positions are highly specialized, unlike some sports where you can have utility players - that can play all positions. Having said that, I think one can create an elite player based on attributes that they possess. You (the coach), know what you are looking for. If you are looking for a defender, you are probably looked for a big, strong player, You concentrate on his strengths and shore up his weaknesses. Key to good coaching. That is how to create elite players. You find the skill set and then work with it. True, no player is born an elite player, some have certain gifts, but coaches can work on making them a complete player, and the team mates make them a better player. Case in point. Look at Real Madrid. Cristiano Ronaldo cannot defend to save his life. And that is not his specialty. Yet, arguably, he is considered one of the best players in the world. He is not aggressive in the defensive half but offensively he is a monster. He is balanced in practically every aspect of his game. But he is not expected to track back or use his speed for tracking back as much as an out-and-out holding mid is expected to do so. Or take a player like Pepe, he is an aggressive defender, but technically he is clueless. He does not read the game well enough at times. But, he is still an important player on the team because what he does, he does well. At the end of the day, it is about how each individual player fits into a team concept. Well said. I don't know if you are a coach, but if not, you should be. Thanks, and no, I am not a coach, just a lover and a student of the game like you.  |
|
|
|
Post by soccerpapi on Sept 20, 2014 19:28:05 GMT -5
Agreed with above... My top 8 in random order with 5, 6, 7 as priceless:
1) Love of the Game - Self Motivated Passion versus Parent Motivated
2) Great / Hard Work Ethic - Never Quit and Persistent
3) Lead by Example - Make Things Happen & Make Everyone Else Around them Better
4) Drama Free - Team Player
5) Technical Skill - Ball Mastery; Problem Solve in Tight Spaces
6) Game IQ - Situation Awareness and Vision
7) Athleticism and Speed
8) Special Talent & Gift - "Born with Something Special"
|
|
