Author: Brad Carlson

Brad has coached a variety of sports in the community, middle school, and high school for 40 years including coaching the MN 2021 Class A State High School Champion.  He has coached soccer from U6 at the recreational level to U19 at the club level and all age groups at the high school level, including 11 years as a head coach.  He holds a USSF "B" coaching license and USC diplomas.

Soccer Lesson Plans For Teachers

Alan shares advice for elementary, middle school, and physical education teachers on how to integrate proper and effective soccer lesson plans into in-person, hybrid, or distance learning curriculum and teacher lesson plans.

Alan Merrick is an international soccer legend both as a professional player and coach, Alan now dedicates his time to teaching the sport with MOTI Sports’ 3D Mobile Soccer Training Platform.

Get the MOTI Soccer Training app:
MOTI Soccer for Android: https://motisports.com/google-soccer-app/
MOTI Soccer for iOS: https://motisports.com/apple-soccer-app/

US Soccer Return To Play

U.S. SOCCER FEDERATION RELEASES COMPLETE RETURN TO PLAY
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR “PLAY ON” CAMPAIGN DURING COVID-19

“PLAY ON” Phases Provide Guidance for Return to Full-Team Competitions;
Each Phase Should Be Implemented Only If and When Local Regulations Deem It Safe

U.S. Soccer has released the final phase of its five-phase PLAY ON campaign, providing coaches, players, parents, referees, and administrators with the complete return-to-play guidelines during COVID-19 to help ensure the safety of all participants.

PLAY ON was created to inform and assist in the process of organized soccer returning to play nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic and is divided into five progressive phases, from Phase 0 (stay at home) to Phase IV (no COVID-19 related restrictions). With Phase I and II already released, Phase III has now been published at ussoccer.com/playon, providing the complete return-to-play recommendations as Phase IV is the return to normal soccer activity without restrictions.

While Phase III allows for full-team competitions to return, each phase of the return-to-play recommendations should only be taken if and when state and local COVID-19 regulations deem it safe.

“While we’ve now released our full return-to-play guidelines, it’s important that everyone first follow local and state regulations before taking any steps forward,” said U.S. Soccer Chief Medical Officer George Chiampas. “Different areas of the country are at different phases, or even returning to previous phases, as the entire country continues to deal with coronavirus outbreaks. Clubs and teams should take a slow and methodical progression between phases to make sure that all participants will be as safe as possible.”

PLAY ON includes a comprehensive Grassroots Soccer Recommendation Guide that provides all those involved in youth soccer – players, coaches, parents, administrators, and referees –important safety protocols to consider and implement at each stage of return to play. The guides also contain valuable information that can be applied to all levels of the game.

Phase I of PLAY ON allows for training in small groups, while Phase II provides for full-team training and the newly launched Phase III presents recommendations for the safe return and management of the full-team competition. Even in Phase III, COVID-19 prevention and response protocols, outlined in earlier Phases, should still be followed. Social distancing should be maintained when possible and teams are recommended to only participate in regional single-day events to avoid significant travel or overnight stays.

Each phase should follow sequentially, with Phase I suggested to last four-six weeks and Phase II three-six weeks before progressing to Phase III.

“Regardless of which phase a club or team is operating in, everyone should be prepared to take a step back and revert to an earlier phase if needed,” said Chiampas. “This can be in response to increased risk, cluster outbreaks, updates to public health guidelines, or an inability to safely maintain COVID-19 prevention and response protocols. It is important to remain vigilant and flexible as we prepare for every scenario. By prioritizing the safety of our soccer community, we can preserve the health of those around us and help ensure that our sport can remain a part of our lives at this time.”

For additional insight on the safe return to play, U.S. Soccer Coaching Education hosted a webinar with Dr. Chiampas earlier this summer that can be viewed here.

U.S. Soccer also encourages all players, coaches, parents, referees, and administrators to take the PLAY ON Pledge, an oath to stay informed and to follow recommendations from medical professionals, to be honest in their self-evaluation and to be responsible to themselves, their family and their communities.

Through PLAY ON, U.S. Soccer will continue to provide updates and resources to the soccer community as the summer continues, to help it navigate the challenges of COVID-19. Along with providing best practices in the detailed and in-depth recommendation guides, the PLAY ON initiative includes instructional videos, sample training exercises, infographics, and other resource materials. All the resources for the PLAY ON initiative can be found in a virtual hub at ussoccer.com/playon.

Returning to the field after a long period off may add to the stress your body experiences while coaching. U.S. Soccer partner KT Tape® can help provide pain relief and support. KT Tape® offers a wide variety of products from kinesiology tape for a new ache or pain, or an ice/heat product for pre- or post-workout. Check out their latest deals at www.kttape.com and watch their video instructions to learn how to apply KT Tape® at www.kttape.com/instructions.

Reprinted with permission.

Soccer Lesson Plans for Teachers

Alan will share advice for elementary, middle school, and physical education teachers on how to integrate proper and effective soccer lesson plans into in-person, hybrid, or distance learning curriculum.

Alan Merrick is an international soccer legend both as a professional player and coach, Alan now dedicates his time to teaching the sport with MOTI Sports’ 3D Mobile Soccer Training Platform.

USSF Return to Play

It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to enjoy the game we all love, and I know you’ve all missed it as much as we have here at U.S. Soccer.

As soccer starts up again in your community, we realize coaches like you may have questions about how to return-to-play safely, and keep the health & wellness of yourself, your players and your soccer families a top priority. While it’s a new, and at times uncertain, environment, we are going to navigate this together through knowledge, information and shared responsibility.

To support coaches of all levels as you return to the field, U.S. Soccer has created a new initiative called U.S. Soccer PLAY ON. Through PLAY ON, you can explore real recommendations and useful resources that will help you make decisions about managing your team, trainings, and ultimately, competitions.

U.S. Soccer has organized return-to-play considerations into five phases from Phase 0 (no organized activities; stay home) through to Phase IV (no playing restrictions related to COVID-19). Each phase includes a recommendations guide, infographics, and more to ensure that clubs and players have the opportunity to appropriately adapt and implement safety measures.

https://www.ussoccer.com/playon/fastfacts

Phase I & II are currently published in English & Spanish for your use, with subsequent guides to follow.

These guidelines and best practices are intended for use WHEN AND IF your local authorities have deemed it safe to return to the practice field. U.S. Soccer is in no way endorsing holding practices or games in violation of any Federal, State or Local mandates. At all times, please defer to your Local and State public health authorities for specific modifications and/or alterations.

Soccer’s PLAY ON virtual hub: ussoccer.com/playon.

Thank you for all you do as a leader in this sport, and helping us PLAY ON safely, together.

Sincerely,
Dr. George Chiampas
Chief Medical Officer
U.S. Soccer

(Used with permission.)

Let’s Grow Soccer!

Whether you are back to playing soccer, still in a restricted phase of play, or have cancelled soccer completely now is a good time to evaluate how you can grow soccer in your area.  Did you know that MOTI can help your Organization grow soccer in your area?  Let me lay it out for you, and you can decide if MOTI is right for you.

We all know that the base for a financially solid Organization is the U6 and U8 age groups.  If you can expand the number of players in these age groups, it creates stability within your Organization and prevents others from drawing players away from you in the older age groups.  The larger the base of U6 and U8 players, the more players will remain with your Organization.

MOTI Sports is uniquely positioned to help grow these younger age groups by:

  • Providing FREE Foundation Foot Skills to all players through our App.  This is a perfect way to get players to practice their techniques at home during our time of social distancing.  It is also fun!  Check it out by simply downloading the MOTI Sports App from iTunes or Google Play Store.  Choose “I am new to MOTI Sports” and you are on your way – for FREE!
  • Beyond the Foundation Foot Skills, players can add to their skills at home on their own time and level-up as they are ready with our Advanced and Premier Foot Skills.  This can all be done through an inexpensive ($1.49 to $1.99) monthly subscription so there is no cost to the Organization.
  • Providing Coaching Plans through our App to give both new and experienced coaches step-by-step guidance for every practice and game-day experience.  These Coaching Plans are geared specifically to age groups and are ready once you are given the go ahead to play again.  This can also be done on a subscription bases at $80 per year, so there is no cost to the Organization.

As your young players improve their individual foot skills, their confidence begins to grow.  They experience success on the field, enjoy the game and want to continue to play as they grow older.

Your U10, U12, and U14 age groups will also grow.  You may find a demand for some players to play at a higher competitive level.  You have successfully grown your competitive pool of players and you will find that your Organization is the place where everyone wants to play.  Why?  Because it is fun to play for your Organization.  Your players have developed a great set of soccer skills beginning at an early age.  They have experienced success.  The word gets out – come play here!

Ah, but it all begins at the youngest level, those U6 and U8 players who are most often coached by volunteer parent coaches or high school players.  Wouldn’t it be great if those coaches and players were given the tools to be successful at soccer?

We can help you reach your Organization’s goals.  Let MOTI show you how.

Coaching Children Ages U6/U8 – Part 3

This is the last in a three-part series on coaching children at this young age.  Look back to the previous months to view the first and second parts.

Introduction:

Children at these ages are being introduced to just how much FUN it is to play soccer.  By providing a safe and fun environment you can insure a positive experience for the children.

You are coaching because you care for children.  You may not even know much about soccer (well, not yet anyway), and that is OK!  What you bring to the soccer field as their coach is your personality!  Your enthusiasm for them will show through any misgivings you might have about your soccer coaching abilities.  Remember that these children may not remember what you teach them about soccer, but they will always remember how you make them feel.

To Pass or not to Pass?

Passing is a necessary skill in soccer.  However, you may find that at the U6 age level and younger it is a very hard concept for a child to grasp.  Remember that they are still very possessive of the ball and do not want to give it up.

Passing also takes a lot of decision making on the part of the child.  When is it a good time to pass?  If I have a clear path in front of me to dribble, should I dribble or pass?

If  you are coaching U6 children and younger do not get too hung up on teaching them passing.  Instead use games that focus on dribbling and control, advancing the ball with the dribble when there is an opening to do so, taking on an opponent if you think you can beat them with the dribble, and pass only if your way forward is blocked so you can give a teammate the opportunity to advance the ball.  You may need to train the parents of your U6 team also about passing, for you will certainly hear them yelling from the sidelines, “pass the ball” or even worse “kick the ball.”

Attitude and Behavior start with YOU!

Hey Coach!  Here’s a shock.  Your behavior needs to be GREAT!  You should not argue with anyone, including the referees.  Encourage every player, even players on the other team.  Build everyone up.  And don’t let your parents get away with bad behavior.  Be gentile but firm.

What does good behavior look like for the children?

  • Play with your feet, not your hands.  This is a hard one at the beginning, as soccer is the only major sport where hands are not used as an integral part of the game.
  • Play hard.  Run hard.  Soccer players love to run.  Running is so important to soccer that it is looked on as a positive attribute.  On a side note, because running is positive never use running as a consequence for bad behavior.
  • Work together with your teammates.  Have fun playing with each other and against your opponent.  Then, at the end of the game, build each other up – and the opponent also!  Begin teaching them good sportsmanship.

What might negative behavior look like?

  • What if the child does not do what I want them to do?  You will see this a lot with children who are not as engaged as you would like them to be.  Remember safety first and make sure they are not being harmful to others.  Then if a child does not want to become engaged in the activity, don’t push them.  Encourage them to play but do  not force them into playing.
  • Sometimes you may have a child that is being harmful to teammates or others.  Hitting, pushing, negative language, etc. are all inappropriate in soccer (and in life).  If this occurs, it is best to stop the action and address it immediately through a calm conversation.  You may need them to sit with their parents to give them a chance to calm down.  You do not need any further consequences.  Just missing the fun of playing soccer is enough for them.

Remember to praise positive behavior, especially if it occurs after you have had to deal with some negative behavior.

Now here is what is so crazy about coaching soccer.  What I learned about coaching as I have gone through many soccer seasons and taken many soccer coaching courses, I was easily able to transfer over to coaching other sports.  As I coached middle school basketball and high school baseball, I used this same philosophy to create a safe and fun environment for the players.  Sure, the skill set is different, but the ideas of how to put together a training session remain the same.  And, of course, I always loved watching them play.

View part 2 of this Article on Coaching Children here

Physical Ed Teachers, MOTI is for you!

A soccer module is being taught in elementary and middle school for at least one two-week session, and often two separate two weeks sessions every year.  What if these teachers, most of whom are not proficient at soccer, are given the tools to present to their students an all-encompassing soccer unit with measurable standards!

We have developed, with the help of Physical Education Teachers and experts in the education field, a great tool for teachers to use in their classrooms that is flexible, inexpensive, fun for the kids, and produces measurable results.

The MOTI One Teacher Soccer App For Educators has been designed specifically for the “new to the game” Physical Education Teacher.  The concept is simple – let the kids play while also learning the proper age-appropriate technical skills to allow them to be successful while playing.

By incorporating a study done by Weidong Li, Fatih Dervent & Xiuye Xie (2018) on “Soccer Techniques and Tactics for Third through Eighth Grade Students in Physical Education”, “Effective Classroom Management in Physical Education: Strategies for Beginning Teachers” by Grub, Ryan, Lowell and Stringer, Power Standards and Lesson Plans we have designed an App that, when shown to the students will teach them the proper soccer techniques.

The App allows the teacher to show the students the soccer skills for that day, listen to the expert coaching points in English or Spanish that go along with the skill, and try it right there with a soccer ball.  The players achieve instant success by seeing, hearing and doing the skill.  Then they take their newly acquired soccer skill on to the playing field to work it out in a series of small sided games. 

The teacher is given a suggested area set up for small sided games and skill work, done in such a way that everyone is active.  The Lesson Plan for the day outlines the complete time spent with the students including Safety, Equipment, Set Up, Power Standards, Learning Targets, Success Criteria and much more!

Check it out for FREE.  Download the MOTI App for FREE at your Apple App Store or Google Play Store by typing in MOTI Soccer in the search bar.  After opening the MOTI App, choose “I am new to MOTI Sports.”  Sign up.  Choose “Soccer Lesson Plan (for educator or teacher)” and you are on your way. 

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