Youth sports has lost it’s way, early specialization, fear of missing out, burnout at young ages from a must win culture, and a lack of commitment to chase short term rewards.

Developing the human is so important, coaching the person and not just the football.

We are incredibly grateful to have a great human in Max Allen

This Christmas, Max Allen asked his family friends to donate to the club, rather than receive a Christmas present. Specifically to help support the Financial Aid program that helps us provide the youth soccer experience to any player/family, no matter their financial situation.

Max has been with us since he was 5, both his Mam and Dad were volunteers in the U6 program, and he has been with us ever since both parents very supportive of the program, and his Dad a team manager.

Thank you Max, you are a credit to your family.

In the first session of Day 3, Aaron Negel, CEO of the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club presented on building a successful operating system within youth organizations. The first question he asked was “Why?”, why are we here, why is this club here, what is the club’s purpose”, this led to the development of club values, beliefs, behaviors, attitudes that the club would adapt and that they would be committed to moving forward, this means every decision moving forward reflect at least 3 out of the 4 values and beliefs of the club. Aaron discusses how important it is for a youth organization to have a clear identity, purpose, belief and the people in the right positions to make it happen. As they move forward, the Rapids main motto is “Develop remarkable coaches”, they believe that investing in their coaches will make for better players, a better program and more importantly an organization that is constantly evolving and improving as they are always pursuing to improve in every regard.

Session 2, a field session working on modern attacking and defending trends in youth soccer, Paul Payne worked on shaping the team in those two phases of the game. Paul emphasized that field players must have

• A clear understanding of the positional responsibility within the team dynamic. Communication channels between coach and player must be open and democratic.
• Good understanding of roles and responsibilities in relation to other units.
• Good understanding of specific roles and responsibilities within pair-partnerships (RB and RW).

Session 3, Molly Grisham worked on team building. Molly was quick to establish that team bonding, team building and team development are all different but also simultaneously very relevant in each other’s success.

Team Bonding can be short lived, as they are surface interactions where players find similarities within activities which can be perceived as a positive interaction within the team dynamic. Team building can have a significant impact but also comes with considerably more risk, as players will have to get to the root of issues and consequently requires very careful and deliberate planning from the coach or organizers. Team development is Molly’s bread and butter, which dives past issues, to find leaders within the team, find specific players that fill specific roles and how those players can fill other roles that they are interested in or the team needs them to fill.

Day 2 of the 2023 United Soccer Coaches Convention was kicked off with an on-field training session, put on by Eintracht Frankfurt coaches Armin Kraaz and Nicolai Adam. The session topic was on Pressing & Counter Pressing. The main take away from the session was how the coaches allowed the players to have input and empowerment within the session. For example, instead of telling players what position they should play when looking to add a player within the activity, the coaches asked players what position they would like to play. Another takeaway from this session was the emphasis on the 5 “W’s” (Who, What, When, Where, Why).

The day’s 2nd on-field session came with the Football Association of Ireland. James Scott’s session topic was Reality Based Training. Immediately we recognized the training activity (passing & receiving), as this was the same exact session from our Fremont Youth Soccer Club’s training curriculum. Focus during the session was on spacial awareness, and close control of the ball.

The 3rd on-field session was presented by Schellas Hyndman, formally with MLS side FC Dallas for 6 years and 31 years as a Division 1 college coach. The session was on Modern Attacking Trends and took a dive into some of the technical requirements for the modern player. The session also had a focus on awareness and scanning, which are two key elements of the modern game. “See far, look short.” – Schellas Hyndman.

The amount of detail the coaches had in all 3 sessions was immense. The Coaches, made sure to really emphasis the “Why”, and “Where” for each scenario that was taking place in, by referring to the 11v11 game.

The 2023 USC convention was kicked off with a fantastic session with renowned sports psychologist Dan Abrahams who worked on integrating sports psychology into daily coaching practices. Dan challenges coaches to ask themselves “who they are as a coach”. Memory, imagination and perception were key to gaining perspective

In session 2, Jeremy Gunn delivered a presentation on creating a high performance environment, emphasizing the need for clear direction, consistency, high demands and high levels of commitment as crucial components of high achievement. Growth was a key word that he used, stating that growth is about “trying to improve”, not the result of winning but the journey and process of improving.

We were also privileged to see 3 field sessions that worked on attacking in the final third, multiple avenues to use the warm-up/activation phase more efficiently and lastly, a detailed session on counter pressing.

Hello everyone,

We now return to resume the 2022/23 season.

We have a player centric, proactive curriculum which ensures the players will cover all the necessary mechanics, skill work, and give players a chance to be decision makers and creative players. Through the long-term development from U8 to U19, the players will pass through different stages and priorities. Everything we do is supported by theory in youth sports development, and we apply those theories to a working model to make sure the players receive the most up to date coaching methods from research.

• Here is a link so you can see what goes on in the structure of the curriculum – https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vdRtIP_Xpd2aaUbJfRfZNE28x9yoRhM1U_U-uFE8CxY/edit?usp=sharing
• The presentation provides the theory as to why we do certain things – Constructivist Theory of Learning

This is a difficult task. Not only do we need to be brave to embrace new methods, but also to step away from the youth sports culture which is not serving the best interests of the kids. That certainly opens us up, as it is certainly different, and the long-term approach requires significantly more patience, and a greater understanding from coaches. Our philosophy is that we are all learning, players and parents, and also the coaches, as all good coaches must be lifelong learners.

Some key points from the presentation attached:

• Learning is a change in the persons behavior’s – that means by joy-sticking and telling the player what to do, they do not learn, but respond, this takes away a key part of the learning process, ‘why’.
• Learning is age appropriate – players will learn chronologically, i.e., from simple to complex, however, the rate of learning is not dependent on age. Therefore, we should not be judging or comparing players against each other, we are all biologically different, some will be early developers, while others late, and there is no problem with this, we are all on the same path. Youth sports is an individual journey.
• Learning is messy! – Mistakes will be made, and repeated, and it will not always look like we think it should. Coaches always want the perfect looking practice, but if it looks like this then it clearly isn’t challenging, it should be full of learning moments, i.e., mistakes and challenges. Parents want the games to look like professional athletes, if it looks like the adults there is something wrong, it should be messy and chaotic. If it looks like the adults, then either opposition isn’t appropriate, or the players are not learning but being told what to do, rather than given direction with the ‘why’, so they can make their own decisions, resulting in long term deeper learning.

There is a lot more to take from the presentation, please take the time to read through. As always, we would rather hear your thoughts, and ask us questions about anything you are unsure of, we are here to support the youth soccer parent, just like we are the players. If we don’t speak up or ask questions, we prevent ourselves from learning.

Enjoy the season and looking forward to seeing you all on the field.

Barghav has been with Fremont YSC since he was 8 years old, joining the 2007 Boys age group. Barghav started with the 07B ID I team that began playing competitive soccer at the bronze level and has progressed with the team to the State Premier Bracket, now U16’s.

Barghav has been selected to the Cal North Olympic Development Program upon recommendation by the Fremont YSC Coaching Staff. The Olympic Development Program is a national process for identifying and developing the best youth soccer players. The process promotes players to the U.S. National Teams, which represent the United States in international competition, such as the Youth World Cup and the Olympics. Cal North ODP is dedicated to developing the highest level of youth soccer in an atmosphere of integrity, fairness and impartiality. The player’s physical and cognitive skills and attitude are the only criteria for the program.

As his creativity, work ethic, desire and character are some of his major strengths, Barghav’s leadership qualities and genuine passion for the game drives his interest to keep improving and make all the players around him better as well. Barghav is a great example of the long-term player development pathway we have here at Fremont YSC, being able to play all positions on the field with comfort, high level of technical ability, and demonstration of game intelligence. While clearly an excellent soccer player, more importantly he is a great example of a good human being.

We wish Barghav the best of luck with the ODP program as he enters the national selection process in January of 2023.

It’s time for our annual food drive as part of our sponsorship of Tri-City Volunteers. Each year we have an incredible response, can we go even better again – https://www.fremontyouthsoccer.com/2020/11/tcv-food-drive-thank-you/

See below the poster for this years food drive, and the list also below for the items requested –

Please help us by dropping off your food items at the practice field in the green collection bin. The office is also open throughout the week for drop-offs. We are incredibly proud of our partnership with Tri-City Volunteers and they great work they do supporting the community.

October 20th we were incredibly fortunate to have Frans Hoek return to Fremont YSC for further coach education. While all the staff are committed to their further education through licensing, courses, and literature, nothing is better than learning from some of the best in the industry while in the working environment.

The day involved a refresher of the previous material learned from Day 1, covering the importance of global language throughout football, and the underlining principles of what football is.

The day was focused on game analysis, with reference to the process and specifically in relation to the guiding principles of play at the club when designing and delivering the coaching session.

Fremont YSC has a framework of playing principles, through all the age groups to ensure player development is age appropriate, and with a player pathway for individual development.

The 2007 and 2008 boys joined us for the field session to help with group task, and for demonstrating the coaching methodology for reality based learning through game scenarios and in reference to the framework principles. Our philosophy is a commitment to the long term development of the player, and throughout the education process, this always remains our aim and focus.

Frans now heads home to the Netherlands to enter preparations for the World Cup, and we wish him the best at the World Cup in Qatar. We look forward to having Frans return to the club in the new year to continue with coach education, to keep the coaches learning, and to provide the best experience for the players.

Day 6 Review – Phoebe, Kobe, Rhium, and Zayden

An incredible day. We say goodbye to London, and arrive in Liverpool for a training session with Ray Hall.

Life long Everton fan Ray Hall joined the Everton staff in 1991, serving almost over 20 years of leading and guiding young footballers to achieving their destiny at the higher level, Ray Hall has seen players from this generations Everton team grow up through the ranks including some big names of the likes of Leon Osman, Jack Rodwell and even ex Everton starlet Wayne Rooney one of those big names.

Ray Hall was glad to retire on a high as he saw his team finish top of the F.A Academy Premier League this year topping it all off for the Everton veteran.

Although Ray Hall’s time at Everton has been long and ever so sweet, ! he himself will admit he has witnessed some sad times seeing many managerial departures over the many years he has served, seeing managers such as, Mike Walker, Joe Royle, Howard Kendall (again), Walter Smith and now, David Moyes.

In this current football climate, club’s all over Europe depend on a good youth system, Ray Hall believed it had a sense of added value towards a club, he said ‘Academies gave a more professional value to youth development. It almost became an autonomous department within football clubs.’

Ray Hall will always remain in the hearts of Everton football club as a legend and an international ambassador of the club and academy, where he can reflect on the ever so nearly two decade duration he has spent at the club.

We started our 6 hour drive departure from London to Liverpool at around 9 am. On our drive, I noticed the scenery in the country area of the UK was fairly like the area of Central California but without the mass amounts of agriculture and with green scenery. Once we arrived in Liverpool, the city area compared to London seemed much more modern and clean. The city was banked right next to the River Mersey. After checking into our hotel, we went to training with legendary Coach Ray Hall. Surprisingly, our warm up was based on more motor skills warm ups. For example we played tag but when players held possession of the ball, they were not allowed to get tagged. When they did not have the ball, they were able to get tagged. This forced us to scan the field to help throw the ball to other teammates for them to not get tagged.

After our warm up, Coach Ray had us practice a simple drill that involved touching the ball a lot. We would kick the ball against the fence surrounding the field and receive it and then pass it back in different ways; trapping the ball so it rolled to the outside of our body; rolling the ball across our body; and even a move from futsal where we could stop the ball and roll it. He told us that when he played as a midfielder, he would probably touch the ball around 30 times in a game. But here in practice, we had probably touched the ball at least 30 times for each different drill. He emphasized that while in game experience was important, practice was where you truly improved your technique and it was really necessary. The next drill was in groups of 3, where each person stood at one side of a square. The person with the ball would pass it and run to the empty side of the sqaure. Coach Ray helped us play smarter by reminding us to keep our hips open to the ball even while running to the empty side of the square and looking before passing. After a few more exercises, we ended early and Coach Ray left us with some closing words.

There were 3 things he wanted us to learn (as a minimum).

1. It’s football. Not soccer
2. Play with a smile on your face
3. Play with a chuckle in your boot

Overall, this training session was very engaging and motivating, and gave us new perspectives of the game.

The following is taken from an article from a program I like to follow, ‘Changing the Game Project’. An excellent organization trying to combat the toxic nature of youth sports and provide education and engagement to coaches and parents. Firstly, please see a selection of the article below, and then the following thoughts –

I kept thinking to myself how wrong it is that we have created a system that scares players into compliance with abusive coaches, who hold so much power to determine whether they will play at the next level. And who are scared and accept abusive and demeaning behavior from coaches because of this fear. And what about the parents, much like the culture of gymnastic parents, who continued to register their children for the abusive coaching and gladly paid for it? Why do we live in a world where we think making people feel worse about themselves will make them play better? Why do we risk our children’s physical, emotional and mental well being in pursuit of a college scholarship or on field performance? When will we say “ENOUGH!”

I do not blame the children, as many of them are so young they cannot possibly know better especially when they witness adults that they trust turning a blind eye. And I completely understand the fear many parents feel that if they speak up, their child can lose a coveted place on the team. I even hear from parents who stand up, blow the whistle on such behavior and get sued for their effort. Coaches lose their job when they stand up to abusive behavior or report on colleagues or board members who are engaging in sketchy behavior, but win a lot and place players in college programs.. Do you not find it ironic that in our race to take away childhood by adultifying youth sports, we neglect to act like adults when our children need us most? 

I truly hope the Yates report is a turning point, but somehow I doubt it. This occurs in every sport, boys and girls, and the incentives still favor abusive, win at all costs coaching. But at some point we need to finally say enough is enough, I am pulling my child, to hell with the consequences. So I will get off my pedestal now, but I am interested in your thoughts. Why do we tolerate this type of coaching behavior, and what can we do to change it?

• Behaviours in coaching is something I am passionate about, and is something lacking in coach education, modern coaching focuses more on this, moving away from the old methods of shouting and scorning. However, this is still so common in coaching, as we continue with the thought process of, ‘it’s what we did growing up’, ‘it didn’t hurt me’, ‘it will teach kids to be stronger, tougher’. All of this has been debunked by scientific research, and because it’s what we used to do, it doesn’t make it right, we now have the research to back this.
• The winning culture, so dominant in US sports is adultifying the youth experience. Cutting players at 8-9 years old. Making kids run if they lose games. Shouting at kids while the ‘play’, because they can’t do something. If you refused kids into schools because of a grade, made them write lines for making a mistake, and stood over them shouting while they were in maths class, you would call this crazy and abusive, but in youth sports… somehow accepted.
• There is too much adult ego in youth sports. The coach that tells you they can take your child to a college scholarship, how only being on their team will make your child an elite player, how they play in ‘x’ league, ‘x’ bracket, and have won so many tournaments. These ego’s should not exist in coaches, it’s the kids game, we are meant to be here for the kids.
• Parent ego stems from the coaches behavior and environment created. The importance as parents we place on a childs sporting success and how it affects the perception others might have on us as parents. The ‘cooler’ talk at work, the hoodie worn at school pick up, it’s not healthy for the parents nor the players.

We need to give youth sports back to the kids, and even more than ever before as we return from lockdowns which have had an effect on kids development, and also to stop the spiral of a toxic culture that’s taking away the youth sports experience for the kids.

For more resources and information, visit – https://changingthegameproject.com/