May 2016Issue 32

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Coaching Newsletter

THE EVOLVING GAMETo appreciate the accomplishment, all you have to do is look at the odds: 5000-1. How did Leicester City win the Barclays English Premier League? With luck? Yes. Good health? Sure. Lackluster performances from England’s biggest clubs? That too.But you can’t ignore the positive team spirit that defined the Foxes from August to May. With the help of overlooked players—hello Riyad Mahrez, N’Golo Kante and Jamie Vardy—manager Claudio Ranieri’s men showed us how powerful belief can really be. Leicester may have been an underdog in our eyes but never in theirs.Congratulations and thank you for reminding us how wonderful this sport can be.

What does the FOX say? “We are the Champions!” - BANDWAGON

After a season of disappointments, no one knew what to expect from the Philadelphia Union in 2016. The team made several changes in the offseason, most notably in the front office, where former United States international Earnie Stewart stepped in as the club’s new Sporting Director.Stewart’s accolades were plentiful, but there was no telling how quickly he could turn around a Union team that had made the MLS playoffs just once in its six-year history.So far, the results have been outstanding. With the help of additions like Chris Pontius, formerly of DC United, and Tranquillo Barnetta, who joined the Union late last summer, the Union is off to its best start since 2011.As of this writing, Philadelphia sits in second place in the MLS Eastern Conference with a record of 4-1-3. The Union have yet to lose at home.Stewart should get credit but so too should Oreland native Jim Curtin, who is in his second full season as manager. Curtin, a former Eastern Pennsylvania ODP player, has the team playing well week in and week out.We look forward to following the Union the rest of this season and beyond.

Philadelphia Union 2016

DIGITAL COACHING CENTER (DCC)

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Game WatcherU.S. NATIONAL TEAM BUNDESLIGA ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE ITALIAN SERIE A

May. 22, 12:00PM USMNT v Puerto Rico

May. 25, 8:00PM USMNT v Ecuador

May. 14, 9:30AMBor. Mönchengladbach v

Bayer. Leverkusen

May. 14, 9:30AMMainz v Hertha Berlin

May. 10, 2:45PMWest Ham v Man Utd

May. 11, 14:45PMSunderland v Everton

May. 15, 9:00AMAC Milan v AS Roma

May. 15, 9:00AMSassuolo v Inter.

UPCOMING COACHING COURSES

@EPaCoachingEdFor more information, details and registration, please visit EPYSA.org

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This design embodies the spirit of U.S. Soccer, but it also transcends our teams and the game. It’s uniquely and unmistakably American. The crest finds its strength in its simplicity:

• A crest with 13 vertical stripes of red and white under a blue field is a traditional American style.

• Seven red and 6 white stripes come directly from our flag, demonstrating that the crest is rooted in the history of our nation.

• Uses the traditional field of blue to celebrate the three most important letters in the vocabulary of our fans, from stadiums to watch parties to the local bar – U.S.A.

• The colors stay true to our nation’s colors with the red and blue drawn straight from the flag.

• Notably, the new identity no longer features stars or a ball. In soccer tradition, stars are placed above the logo to represent World Cup victories. The WNT crest will prominently feature the three stars earned in 1991, 1999 and most recently, the historic 2015 victory.

The new crest also does not include the soccer ball that has been featured in the past two iterations. Symbolically, the Federation represents the sport and our country both on and off of the field. 

U.S. SOCCER FEDERATION’S NEW CREST

U.S. SOCCER ONE TEAMONE NATION

NEW CREST

MEET THE AWARD WINNERS Prior to Brad Sorkin’s Huntingdon Valley AA Pride, Huntingdon Valley had never had a girl’s travel team play beyond U15. The Pride have changed that in a big way. In 2015, Pride won the U17 Eastern Pennsylvania Presidents Cup, the Region I Presidents Cup and finished third in the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup where they conceded just one goal in four games. In addition, Pride has won its Inter-County Soccer League division four times and PAGS twice

Leigh has become one of the more respected club coaches in the state throughout his long career at FC Bucks, where he serves as Coaching Director. Said his colleague Dan Mannella, "Eddie is the face of the club. It's a pride factor to play for an Eddie coached team." Leigh is the only two-time winner of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer's Girls Travel Coach of the Year. He won the award in 1998 and 2009. His reach goes beyond coaching, however. Leigh was a pioneer in the girls’ game, where his teams became state and regional powers. The FC Bucks Vipers, coached by Leigh, was the first Eastern Pennsylvania girls team to win a US Youth Soccer National Championship. As a player, he competed for Walter Bahr coached teams at Frankford High School in Philadelphia and at Temple University.

Travel Coach of the Year, Boys, Brian Hearn, Montgomery United Soccer Club

Brian Hearn helped his Montgomery United team win the 2015 U17 Eastern Pennsylvania Presidents Cup. In a thrilling final, MontU defeated Huntingdon Valley 1-0. From there, Hearn led the state champions to a 2-1-1 record at the Region I Presidents Cup. They finished third in their group.

Brian Hearn, Travel coach of the year

Brad Sorkin, Travel coach of the year

MacWilliams, a Philadelphia native, has been a staple in the soccer community since his days at Philadelphia University, where he led the nation in scoring as a senior and was named an All-American. MacWilliams enjoyed a professional career as a player before turning his attention to the sidelines. He's been the head coach of Temple University Men's Soccer since 2000. MacWilliams has won more than 100 games at the helm of the Owls. The Philadelphia Soccer Hall-of-Famer is also active in the youth soccer community. He currently coaches for Montgomery United. MacWilliams won multiple national championships as part of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer’s Boys ODP staff.

Dave MacWilliams, Excellence in Coaching Award Winner

Eddie Leigh, Service to Youth Award Winner

MEET THE AWARD WINNERS Severini, who passed away in 2014, was a staff coach for Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer for more than 25 years. Prior to coaching, Severini played professionally in his native Argentina as well for the Philadelphia Atoms of the NASL. He then made a home in the Philadelphia area, winning more than 200 games as the head coach of the Haverford High School Boys Team. Severini was also successful in the youth ranks. His 1990 Willingboro Strikers (NJ) girls team won the US Youth Soccer National Championship and reached the final four each of the next two seasons. Severini also won the Eastern Pennsylvania State Cup with the Haverford Heat girls in 1995.

Jorge Severini, Excellence in Coaching Award Winner

A Huntingdon Valley native, Walsh has enjoyed a distinguished career at all levels of coaching. She was an assistant coach for the gold medal-winning US Women's National Team at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

In nine seasons as the head coach of the Nittany Lions, Walsh has won or shared eight Big 10 regular season titles. Penn State has reached the NCAA Tournament in all eight of those seasons, finishing runner-up in 2012 and winning the National Championship last fall.

Walsh coached with Eastern Pennsylvania's Olympic Development program as well as the US Women's Youth National Teams prior to heading to Penn State.

Erica Walsh, Excellence in Coaching Award Winner

@EPaCoachingEd

U5-U8 By M Barr & G Stephenson, Technical StaffComfort with the ball

TRAINING AREA 20X20 grid, each player with a ball dribbling, two posts side by side (gates) throughout the grid which the players must go through. They cannot go through the same gate two times in a row. Count the number of times each player goes through the gates in each repetition.

Coaching Points:Head up, Dribbles into space, different surfaces of the foot used

SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY 2v2 to 4 goals

GAME

TRAINING AREA All players 20X30 grid, on coaches command players begin dribbling with various surfaces of the foot. Coach calls out dribbling turns: spin with inside of foot, pull back, and cut with the out-side of the foot.  Coach gives each player the name of a car and now tells them to change speed while dribbling. For example slow, fast, super-fast and reverse. Players can park their car in hoops also, which are distributed throughout the grid one or two car garages.Coaching Points: Correct technique, Comfort with a ball, Aware of surroundings

SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY Slalom Dribble

TRAINING AREA Four pugg goals midway between each corner, two teams of players in pairs at a corner with the coach who has a supply of balls. As the coach plays the ball out towards the center of the grid both teams compete to get a goal in any of the four goals. Keep score.

Coaching Points:Dribbling technique, head up  attacking the open goal

4 v 4 with no GK Rather than a coach playing a new ball in each time after the ball goes out. Players will play kick-ins. Make sure the players are aware of the ball going off the touchline or end line and what they must do… Kick in or goal kick 

Coaching Points dribbling technique moving into space

Comfort with the ball, going to goal, dribbling to change direction, and agility training

TECHNICAL WARM-UP

U12-U18 By M Barr & G Stephenson, Technical StaffTo Improve the role of the #6 & #8 while in possession

TRAINING AREA Field Dimension, top of the 18 to ten yards from midfield, attacking team limited to two touches, after five successful passes in a row they can play a ball into the opposite keeper or continue to possess. Defensive team- unlimited touch should play ball into target keeper at the midfield line, both keepers act as target players. 

Coaching Points:Spacing in depth and width, runs in support by #’s 6 and #8, first touch to retain possession, decision making of #’s 6 and 8. Disguising of passes by 6 and 8 in order to retain possession, teams should play at pace

EXPANDED SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY

GAME

TRAINING AREA Use of half the field #’s 11, 9, 10, 7 and 6 on one quarter of the field, #’s 11, 9, 7, 10 and 8 on the other quarter field. Ball moved between 11, 9, 7 and 10. # 6 or #8 providing depth. Playing double passes or getting the ball wide, by changing the point of attack. Utilize recovery time to talk about positioning of the 6 and 8.

Coaching Points: Coaching points- #’s 6 or 8 providing adequate depth, moving from side to side in support, playing diagonal balls to forwards inside the 18 or flighted air ball to opposite forward. Double passes and combining with the #9 and #10. Does the # 6 or # 8 in proper position to maintain possession and in the proper position to create a goal scoring opportunity. 

SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY

TRAINING AREA 6V6  (5V5 U 12) half field to goal, two target players for defense on wide on top of the 18,  3-3 (2-3 U12) formation attacking team, 1-4-1 (1-3-1 U12) formation defensive team, AR’s, play throw ins and goal kicks

Coaching Points:Is there rotation from the #6 and # 8 in support, providing proper depth in support of the forwards, decision making in possessing or going to goal, determining whether #6 or #8 supports in attack or provides depth, Communication of the #6 and #8. 

11V11, full field, both teams play a 1-4-3-3, FIFA Rules utilize AR’s

Coaching points –Connection of #’s 6 and #8 with forwards, roles in transition (go forward or possess, Movement of #’s 6 and 8 side to side, Recognition of depth support based on ball position in the attacking half or penetration.

TECHNICAL WARM-UP

Examining the roles and responsibilities of the #’s 6, and 8 within the 1-4-3-3 system in build-up, support, possession, rotation and balance in width and depth in the attacking half. Through the progression of the exercises roles will be reinforced and understood. U12’s play in a 3-2-3 formation;

with 6 and 8 in the midfield. 

U15-Senior By M Barr & G Stephenson, Technical StaffDefensive roles of the #6,8,10 in the defensive half playing 1-4-3-3

TRAINING AREA 6V6 including keepers, width of the penalty area X 40 yds, two full size goals, your team paying with a 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 and attacking team playing with a 4/5, 6, 8, 10, 9.

Coaching Points:recognizing roles in larger area, utilizing the 4 and 5 in verbal communication to the central midfielders, proper rotation as ball is played by opposing team, transition from attack to defense and defense to attack, decision making on winning ball or cutting down passing angles.

EXPANDED SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY

GAME

TRAINING AREA 5V3 Rondo 20X25 yard grid, #’s 6,8,10 in center of the grid defending; must stay in grid while defending. Outside the grid 4 attacking players remain on each side of the rectangle and a central player also in the center. Attackers play one or two touch while in possession. Examine the rotation of the 6, 8, and 10 as the ball is moved around and through the grid.

Coaching Points: Recognizing who becomes the first defender as the ball is moved. Do the three center midfielders move in a circular rotation in applying pressure and recognizing each of their roles in unison? Communication between the 3 center midfielders, cutting down passing angles and opportunities as a unit.

SMALL-SIDED ACTIVITY

TRAINING AREA half field, attacking team plays a 2-3-3 (2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 7, 11, 9)  defending team (your team) with keeper plays a 1-4-3 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10) The team you are coaching plays into two target players on either side of midfield) Use AR’s, target players play ball back to the attacking team.

Coaching Points:When the midfielders step together to apply pressure, making sure there are few gaps as central midfielders move side to side defensively, applying proper rotation defensively, transition to attacking roles when winning the ball, relationship between backs and midfielders when pressing vertically or horizontally.

11V11, full field, both teams play a 4-3-3, FIFA Rules utilize AR’s

Coaching points – Rotation, spacing through the middle in the defensive half, strong transition play, communication and spacing with forwards and backs, transition play of central midfielders.

TECHNICAL WARM-UP

Roles defensively of midfielders in the defensive half while playing a 4-3-3. Utilizing counter and clockwise rotation of the central midfielders as ball is played horizontally or vertically. Recognizing roles of first, second or balance defender in rotation.