Coaching is a GREAT adventure!

My first coaching job was as an Assistant High School Soccer Coach.  Our local high school was beginning soccer as a club sport.  My best friend and I applied and both got the jobs.

We were both graduates from this high school.  He played soccer in college.  I had never played the game, although I had played many other sports.  This was going to be the start of a GREAT coaching ride for both of us.

We got together in the summer before our first season to discuss why we are coaching.  Up until then, I had never put much thought into it.  Here are some of the questions we asked ourselves to help us think through the kind of coaches we wanted to become. READ MORE

World Cup Champion’s advise to kids and parents

I hope everyone is having an awesome time in the summer and enjoying the weather. I recently had the opportunity to interview the world cup champion, Lothar Matthäus. During the interview, we talked a bit about his carrier. I ask him what advice will you give to the kids and parents that want to play in five world cups and win at least one.

According to Lothar (we are buddies now so I can call him by his first name), not forcing the kids to play is a must. It is important to let the kids be kids and enjoy their game. He also mentioned to me how important it is to start young. He started playing since he was three years old, but he mentioned something that gained my admiration. “I always played to win, never for the money”. Ladies and gentlemen that is what I want to talk about today, “playing for that feeling of winning”. READ MORE

WVLT: New age app helping teach kids the sport of soccer

The MOTI Youth Soccer 3D App is helping youngsters learn the sport of soccer while developing their skill.

Alan Merrick was interviewed recently on WVLT TV about the MOTI Sports 3D Soccer Training Platform & MOTI Soccer App (previously known as MOTI Mobile). View the news story now.

WATCH ON WVLT TV

WCCO: Minnesota Soccer Veteran Designs Soccer Coaching App

The MOTI Youth Soccer 3D App is helping youngsters learn the sport of soccer while developing their skill.

Alan Merrick was interviewed recently on WCCO TV about the MOTI Sports 3D Soccer Training Platform & MOTI Soccer App (previously known as MOTI Mobile). View the news story now.

WATCH ON WCCO TV

It’s Game Day!

Here are a few tips from a seasoned coach:

Have your players arrive 30 minutes early (15 for younger players who are already cleated up, 45 minutes if they tend to be late).  The older players like to chat.  The younger players just want to run and play!

Use your time before you take the field to have your players get their technical touches in.  They can also do their stretching.  Remember to do everything as a team!  Build your team spirit.

You can use our MOTI Game Day Warm Up Plan as a template for your pre-game warm up.  It includes the off the field technical touches and stretches along with three on the field tactical drills:  passing in threes, a 6v3 rondo and a shooting drill.  For older and competitive teams I like to group my players according to position.  I will have my strikers pass together, my midfielders pass together, etc.  Have them warm up with the players they will be playing with on the field. READ MORE

TACTICS AND FORMATIONS from MOTI – Organizing Your Practices

Style of Play – Team Formation Recommendations

Playing small-sided games is recommended throughout the soccer community for ages up to U13.  Small-sided games allow the players to maximize their touches.  This will allow the players to improve their skills, confidence, and comfort on the ball, develop intelligence with and without it, promote faster decisions, and develop partnerships within the team.  And most importantly, it makes the game more fun to play!  It’s a good thing you have them practicing their MOTI skills. ? READ MORE

COACHES CORNER: Parental Advisory! A Beginning Guide Soccer Lingo

If you are looking to gain some credibility with your player(s) or in conversations with those in the know, here is a quick list of some fun dos and suggested don’ts of things to say.

First, two sideline pitfalls to avoid!

Boot it! – Usually used to instruct a player to get the ball cleared or plead with them to just kick it really hard.  The only time the word boot should come out of your mouth around soccer players is when you are quaintly referring to the soccer cleats on someone’s feet or instructing someone to grab some equipment from your car trunk. Think “cool new boots” or “could you please grab the cones from the boot, my car is the white Honda.” READ MORE