Think Like a Midfielder

This video is not instructional, it's philosophical - it's all about how to think like a midfielder and understand the midfielder's job on the pitch.

Futsal Homework/Inspiration

We will be playing in the Dave Fromer Indoor Soccer league in Marin.

For inspiration, here are two videos to watch. Note the passing combinations, the deception, and especially how the players trade positions continuously to throw off the defense.

- highlights from UEFA futsal 2010 world cup (click for video)

- a very good men's team competing against average men's teams. (click for video)

Love the Game!

Reminder, here is the page for Barca videos, pictures, and training slide-shows.

Juventus Tourney!!!

Well, we didn't have the excitement of motels and pools and dinners together like in Redding, and a fair number of kids had to miss games for school commitments, but the Juventus tourney grew into a super-exciting weekend, with an extra-time penalty shootout in the final game Sunday afternoon. The work we put into penalty technique in Redding really paid off. Our only loss was to a Class 1 team (the Earthquakes, from the East Bay), and we might have given them a tougher game if all our team had been able to attend. Nevertheless, we learned a lot from that one loss - the Earthquakes were not faster than us, nor stronger than us, they were just more technical, positioning themselves better without coach help. They were inspiring and a model for what we should become with another year of training together.

Player Tracking Explained

Some parents have asked about the Player Tracking boards that are occasionally done on the sidelines. Rather than yelling at kids, it helps to show them their actual performance statistically. Player tracking is a nice way to do this, and for those who do the tracking, it's also a good learning experience. Most games, we track a coupla players. How they did in any one game is not important - it's just a way over time to draw their attention to their possession-turnover ratio.

On the board we put a "P" for a pass, an "L" for a loss of possession, a "D" for a successful dribble around an opponent, and an "X" for a defensive steal or interception. When a player gets subbed out, we can show them how often they turned over the ball.

Rather than show you one of our kids', the above graphic is the Player Track that Kiran filled out when watching Stanford's star striker, Adam Jahn, during the first 30 minutes of the game against St Mary's. It was interesting that most of Adam's L's came at a certain spot on the field.

Don't Overrun the Hole

this video explains the concept of "not overrunning the hole" - staying put to stay open, rather than running forward into the defense, eliminating the pass opportunity.

Italian Style Defending Line

This video describes the defensive tactic we had to implement in Redding because we were playing older teams. Rather than pressing full-field, we dropped back and began defending at the top of the center-circle. This crowded our opponents, forced them to pass, and when they booted it ahead it usually went to us, to start counter-attacks.

Redding Tournament of Champions

What an incredible weekend for the kids, and what a treat for us watching.

The kids had to play U11, up a year, but made it into the finals and lost by a goal.

We succeeded in letting every kid start half the games and get equal playing time.

The kids keep saying they want a rematch against Kaos Rage, since we actually dominated possession in the second half of the final.

Man-Marking vs Zonal Marking

For the most part, we play a zonal defense with ball+ cover tactics, the sweeper usually providing the cover. However, there are specific situations during games that we need to be alert and man-mark: on throw ins, corners, free kicks, and on the backside when the opponent is attacking. This video explains it best.

Success in the Last 25 yards.

This video looks at nine great goals scored recently in England and Spain. It then breaks each goal down into common pieces - pieces that we regularly teach at practice:

1) Coming back to the ball and passing it off

2) Dribbling sideways to build space, not into defenders

3) Cut-back pass on the ground into the penalty box, rather than a cross in the air

4) sprinting ahead into the box to provide man-advantages on attack

Advanced Tactics for Strikers & Forwards

This video introduces advanced movements for Strikers and Attackers - the importance of sideways runs along the line of the defense.

Overlapping on Defense

This video describes what to do when you lose the ball - go back to provide defensive support.

Why Strikers Get the Glory, but rarely the ball

This video helps describe the tradeoffs of playing forward on the field vs midfield or defender. The former might get the goals, but the latter get the ball way more often.

Pass Direction Homework #1

Watch this 6 minute video to learn about charting pass direction.

World Cup Pool Points Totals

Since the 3rd place game was an official game, I decided points for that game had to count. But then, it seemed absured that Spain winning the final was worth less points than Germany winning 3rd place. So doubled the points for the final winner (those who held Spain got 20 rather than 10 points). Here's the final point totals.

BARCA SF CLUB PLAYERS
Jasper	372
Josh	310
Luke B	263
Sho	256
Kai S	249
Aaron	248
Isaac	244
Henry	239
Mikey	236
Kian	232
Taig	232
Miles	223
Cameron	217
Sebi	210
Eli	204
Ben	203
Pasha	201
Peyton	197
David W	189
Sam	176
Shae	169
Jake	164
Kiran	161
Richard	159
Kai N	139
COACHES & PARENTS:
Scotty	286
Dave	264
Caitlin	255
Po	251
Mark	226
Steve	219
Paul	217
Casey	196
Frankie	170
Kazumi	149

Summer League Schedule

Click here to go to the League schedule.

Games are on Field 2B, closest to parking (but that lot is often 100% full).

World Cup Picks

HINTS: Nani is out for Portugal (collarbone). Drogba is out with broken arm for Ivory Coast. Ballack is out for Germany. Mikel is out for Nigeria. Essien is out for Ghana. Ferdinand for England is out with bad knee. Pirlo for Italy will miss half tourney. Suazo for Chile will probably miss half the tourney. Robben for Holland, too. Iniesta and Torres for Spain have barely played and their country has struggled to score without them. Same for Bendtner and Denmark, who've lost without him. Some weaker teams still have a great chance to score points against even weaker teams: Honduras plays Switzerland, Slovakia plays New Zealand, Algeria plays Slovenia, et cetera.

* = picks were assigned randomly with roll of dice because didn't turn in picks.

PLAYERS:
Aaron: Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Germany
Ben: Spain, Portugal, USA, Denmark, South Korea
Cameron: Spain, Argentina, USA, Cameroon, Chile
* David G: New Zealand, Slovenia, Ghana, Serbia, Portugal
David W: Brazil, Portugal, Ivory Coast, USA, Ghana
Eli: Brazil, Portugal, Mexico, Nigeria, Uruguay
Henry: Spain, Brazil, England, USA, Japan
Isaac: Brazil, Italy, Portugal, Uruguay, Chile
Jake: Brazil, Italy, Portugal, Mexico, Ghana
Jasper: Spain, Argentina, Germany, Uruguay, Japan
Josh: Spain, England, Holland, Portugal, Uruguay
Kai N: Brazil, Japan, France, North Korea, England
Kai S: Mexico, South Korea, Holland, Chile, USA
Kian: Serbia, England, Japan, Holland, Mexico
Kiran: Argentina, Brazil, England, Ivory Coast, and New Zealand
Luke B: Spain, Brazil, Holland, Portugal, South Korea
*Luke L: Honduras, Slovenia, Denmark, Cameroon, Paraguay
Mikey: Spain, Brazil, Italy, Germany, South Korea
*Miles: England, Germany, Serbia, South Africa, Japan
Pasha: Brazil, Argentina, England, Italy, Germany
Peyton: Argentina, Italy, Mexico, USA, Japan
*Richard: Holland, France, Cameroon, Greece, Slovenia
Sam: Brazil, USA, Nigeria, Ghana, South Korea
Sebi: Spain, Denmark, USA, England, Argentina
Shae: Brazil, Portugal, Nigeria, Ghana, South Korea
Sho: Spain, England, Brazil, Argentina and Japan
Taig: Serbia, England, Japan, Denmark, Holland

COACHES & PARENTS:
Caitlin (David W): Brazil, Argentina, England, Holland, Ghana
Casey (Cameron): Brazil, Mexico, USA, Denmark, Chile
Dave K: USA, Holland, England, Spain, Argentina
Frankie (Isaac): Mexico, Chile, Serbia, Nigeria, Spain
Kazumi (Peyton): Brazil, England, Italy, U.S.A., South Korea
Mark (Taig & Kian): USA, Argentina, Serbia, Holland, Denmark
Paul (Cameron): Argentina, Germany, Cameroon, Denmark, Chile
Po: Brazil, Holland, Germany, Portugal, England
Scotty (Shae): Brazil, Germany, Denmark, USA, Uruguay
Steve: Holland, Nigeria, Chile, Greece, South Korea

World Cup Pool rules

Pick 5 country teams. Every game one of your teams wins, you get the number of points listed below. If your team ties, you get only 5 pts no matter how strong or weak the team. All teams play at least 3 games in the Group Stage. The most games a team can win is seven, if they make it to the Final.

Spain 10 pts
Brazil 12 pts
England 13 pts
Argentina 13 pts
Italy 13 pts

Holland 14 pts
Germany 15 pts
France 18 pts
Portugal 18 pts
Paraguay 20 pts

Ivory Coast 25 pts
Serbia 25 pts
Mexico 25 pts
USA 25 pts
Nigeria 25 pts

Cameroon 25 pts
Uruguay 25 pts
Ghana 25 pts
South Africa 25 pts
Denmark 30 pts

Chile 30 pts
Greece 30 pts
Australia 30 pts
Slovakia 35 pts
Slovenia 35 pts

South Korea 35 pts
Japan 35 pts
Algeria 40 pts
Honduras 40 pts
Switzerland 50 pts

New Zealand 50 pts
North Korea 60 pts

Champions League Brackets, Final Points

These players got 6 points for picking INTER: Luke, Po, Scotty, Shae, Kian, Taig, Kai, David, Caitlin, Sam

These players get 2 points for predicting that both teams would not score: Po, Scotty, David

These players get 2 points for predicting only 2 goals would be scored: Po, Scotty, Taig, David, Mikey

These players get 2 points for predicting the game would not end in penalties: Luke, Scotty, Shae, Henry, Josh, Kiran, Mark, Kian, Kai, David, Caitlin, Mikey, Sam

FINAL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TABLES TOP TEN + GROWNUPS

1. Scotty (Shae's mom) 27 pts
2. David 25 pts
3. Shae 24 pts
4. Kian 21 pts
5. Caitlin (David's mom) 21 pts
6. Kai S 20 pts
7. Sam 19 pts
8. Coach Po 19 pts
9. Luke 18 pts
10. Josh 15 pts
11. Taig 15 pts
12. Henry 14 pts
13. Kiran 14 pts

French American vs Barca United CROCKER Fri May 21st 5:30 pm

Field 1, the northwesternmost pitch. One hour game.
The French American School team is Jaguar Red, a combination of the two Jaguar teams.

Champions League Final Picks

Hints: Ribery is out for his two-footed spiking of Lisandro. In the last ten years, the game has gone to penalties 4 times. Both teams have scored (in regulation + extra time) 6 times. Three or more goals have been scored 6 times. German teams have been in the final 3 of the last ten years, never scoring more than one goal. Last year, the Champions League Final was watched on television by 109 million people worldwide, more viewers than the Super Bowl - and it was on a Wednesday. For the first time it is being played on a weekend, so the viewing audience may skyrocket.

INTER: Luke, Po, Scotty, Shae, Kian, Taig, Kai, David, Caitlin, Sam

BAYERN: Henry, Josh, Kiran, Mark, Mikey

Both teams do score: Luke, Shae, Henry, Josh, Kiran, Taig, Kian, Mark, Kai, Caitlin, Mikey, Sam

Both teams do not score: Po, Scotty, David

3+ goals: Luke, Shae, Henry, Josh, Kiran, Mark, Kian, Kai, Caitlin

2- goals: Po, Scotty, Taig, David, Mikey

The game does not go to penalties: Luke, Scotty, Shae, Henry, Josh, Kiran, Mark, Kian, Kai, David, Caitlin, Mikey, Sam

The game does go to penalties: Po, Taig

Scoring system for Champions League Final

Bayern plays Inter on Saturday May 22nd.

From the final, each player can earn a possible maximum of 12 points.

Who will win the final, Bayern or Inter? (6 pts)

Will both teams score a goal? (2 pts)

For the total number of goals that will be scored by both teams in the 90 minutes, plus overtime (if necessary) - will it be 2 or less goals, or will it be 3 or more goals? (2 pts)

Will it go to penalties to be decided, yes or no? (2 pts)

Champions League Bracket Scoring

The Kober family now dominates the table. Only Scotty correctly picked both Bayern and Inter to earn 8 points. About half the kids had picked Lyon as well as Barca, and earned no new points in the semifinal round. However, nobody is yet out of it, because the scoring for the final of Inter vs Bayern will include points both for picking the winner and for predicting the final score, with 12 points possible. I will send the scoring system soon.

Shae 16 pts
Scotty (Shae's mom) 15 pts

David 13 pts
Josh 13 pts
Kian 13 pts
Caitlin (David's mom) 13 pts

Isaac 12 pts
Henry 12 pts
Kiran 12 pts
Kai S 12 pts

Sam 11 pts

Luke 10 pts
Peyton 10 pts

Eli 9 pts
Sho 9 pts
Coach Po 9 pts

Miles 7 pts
Taig 7 pts
Mikey 7 pts
Mark (Taig's dad) 7 pts

Champions League SemiFinals Picks

4 pts each semifinal.

David: Barca, Bayern
Henry: Barca, Lyon
Isaac: Barca, Lyon
Josh: Barca, Bayern
Kai: Barca, Bayern
Kiran: Barca, Bayern
Luke: Barca, Lyon
Mikey: Barca, Lyon
Miles: Barca, Lyon
Peyton: Barca, Lyon
Sam: Barca, Bayern
Shae: Barca, Bayern
Sho: Barca, Lyon
Taig: Barca, Lyon
Coach Po: Barca, Lyon
Scotty: Inter, Bayern
Kian: Barca, Bayern
Mark: Barca, Bayern
Caitlin: Barca, Bayern

Only Coach Po and Scotty correctly picked Bayern Munich over Man United. The fate between the two French teams caused the greatest disruption to the tables, as the kids were evenly split between Lyon and Bordeaux. Only Mikey had picked Moscow, and only Kai had picked Arsenal. Taig's dad, Mark, managed to get all four winners wrong, and remains stuck on 3 pts (the first round minimum).

Isaac 12 pts
Henry 12 pts
Shae 12 pts

Luke 10 pts
Peyton 10 pts

David 9 pts
Josh 9 pts
Eli 9 pts
Sho 9 pts
Kian 9 pts
Coach Po 9 pts
Caitlin (David's mom) 9 pts

Kiran 8 pts
Kai S 8 pts

Miles 7 pts
Taig 7 pts
Mikey 7 pts
Sam 7 pts
Scotty (Shae's mom) 7 pts

Mark (Taig's dad) 3 pts