Mass Youth Soccer Monthly Connecting Soccer families across Massachusetts
Summer 2017
Summer of Soccer
• DICKS Sporting Goods Discount Weekend! August 25th-27th • The Importance of Coach Education - Ian Mulliner • Action and Team Photo’s from MTOC and District Select YOUR CHANCE TO PLAY ON THE FIELD AT GILLETTE! JOIN MASS YOUTH SOCCER ON SATURDAY SEPTEmBER 9TH AT THE REVS V MONTREAL GAmE SEE INSIDE COVER FOR DETAILS!
Summer Updates Summer 2017 It has been a very busy summer of activity at Mass Youth Soccer, kicking off with the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions (MTOC) hosted at the beautiful Progin Park complex in Lancaster. 184 teams representing our 10 affiliated town leagues from across Massachusetts participated in a fantastic weekend of soccer. Please visit the MTOC 2017 website for pictures and scores! Players in the Olympic Development Program travelled to Pennsylvania in July for the Region 1 ODP Camps at Kutztown University (Boys) and Gettysburg College (Girls). 29 Massachusetts ODP players were selected for the Region 1 Pool and will be invited to training and game events with the very best players from the 15 Region 1 states in the Fall of 2017. 1274 players participated in the ever popular District Select Program, with games taking place at our Progin Park Facility in Lancaster this summer! We thank all players, coaches, administrators and referees for another fantastic year of DSP! Mass Youth Soccer player development staff have also been running camps and clinics in the communities of Ashland, Attleboro, Falmouth, Foxboro, Martha’s Vineyard, Wilmington and Yarmouth.
Preparing for the Fall
This fall season our Technical Department are scheduled to be delivering players and coach development programs in 21 Massachusetts communities. In addition, we will be providing US Soccer and United Soccer Coach Education courses throughout August and the Fall. The Technical Department will also release their coveted session plans for Fall 2017 prior to Labor Day.
Adult Credentials
If you are preparing to step onto the field this Fall as a coach or volunteer please remember that you must have your Mass Youth Soccer Adult Credentials! All volunteers and coaches who may have contact with youth soccer players must have their Adult Credentials readily available at all times for youth soccer related activities.
Town Select League Tryouts Acton Boxboro - Tuesday 15th August ABRHS Lower Fields, 66 Hayward Road, Acton Wenham - Wednesday 16th August Iron Rail Field #8, 91 Grapevine Road, Wenham Danvers - Thursday 17th August Gates Field (Lower) , 172 Hobart St, Danvers Click the picture below for more information
CLICK HERE FOR TSL TRYOUT INFO
Save the Date TOWN SELECT LEAGUE TRYOUTS Tuesday 15th - Thursday 17th August DICKS Sporting Goods Discount Weekend Friday 25th - Sunday 27th August Mass Youth Night at the Revolution Saturday 9th September Olympic Development Program Tryouts Saturday 4th / Sunday 5th November Saturday 11th / Sunday 12th November Mass Youth Annual Awards Friday 26th January Mass Youth Soccer 2018 Workshop Saturday 27th January Urban and Underserved Workshop Sunday 28th January
click here to view our upcoming coach education courses
The Importance of Coaching Education A
Ian Mulliner Director of Coaching
t the conclusion of every coaching course that I am fortunate to instruct, as we say our thank you’s and interject our parting words of wisdom I will inevitably state: “It’s not the number of coaches who attended that we have impacted through this course, but the multiplied factor of players that you as coaches coach who will ultimately be impacted by your attendance at the course.” So that’s it in a nutshell - Sure coaches acquire new knowledge but it is the children who ultimately benefit, as they will receive (in theory at least) better coaching, which will lead to more enjoyment and hopefully player retention. Which by the way should be the ultimate goal for every organization and individual coach.
The four main areas covered in every course are: • How to work with children by understanding their characteristics based on chronological age. • How to plan a practice to meet the needs of the play based on the age and ability of the players you coach. • How to coach, including different delivery methods to provide coaching points. What the difference is between technique and tactics and how to apply them. • Practical application of coaching methodology and terminology.
“We’re all in this together” If there were no other reason to attend a coaching education course, would that in itself not be enough? The answer may require some introspection but the reality is the coach also gains so much more from the experience. I have never instructed a course where every coach attending arrives with enthusiasm and excitement for what’s in store but by the same token have never left one where a coach has proclaimed “well that wasn’t worth my time or effort!” In fact it is generally quite the reverse. So what is it that coaches feel they gain by attending a course? My sense is that it starts with a “We’re all in this together” type camaraderie. In short the issues you may face while coaching are the very same issues many other coaches face when they coach. Of course the environment created by the instructor is a vital component in creating this atmosphere of “we” and not one of you and I. After all we are all coaches trying to help children enjoy the sport and improve. An adult learning environment is quite different than that of a child’s. Adults tend to be self directed learners meaning that they like to find things out for themselves with less structure and oversight from the teacher. Children on the other hand tend to be more teacher or adult led with their learning. This is important to understand when instructing a course. It is crucial to get the adults interacting as quickly as possible so that they can share their experiences and knowledge to improve their understanding of coaching methodology.
Understanding children’s characteristics is crucial to being a successful coach, understanding the 3 domains to develop within each child: Cognitive, Psychomotor and Psychosocial will help a coach design and create a learning environment that is fun, challenging and age appropriate to meet the needs of the players on the team that you coach. The importance of planning a practice session cannot be overstated but at the same time a coach must understand that sometimes we need to have a plan B. The plan should be derived based on the observations from games that the players play What types of observation tools do you employ? What do the players do well? What do they need to improve on - individually and collectively? No matter the need of the players, without a plan it is difficult to determine the right path for development to occur. The coach has very few tools at their disposal outside of the equipment that we carry everywhere, however the most important coaching tool is our voice. Coaches have to learn how to use their voice to impart knowledge using tone and inflection
click here to view our upcoming coach education courses
Massachusetts Youth Soccer www.mayouthsoccer.org and knowing when and how to raise (project over distance) or lower it. All of this needs to be done while delivering information either in the flow of play, to an individual player, during a natural stoppage such as a throw in, corner kick or goal kick or by taking a freeze to address the entire group. Combined, these interventions become the coaches toolkit which is discussed, practiced and assessed during every coaching education course.
The Value of Assessment Probably the most nerve racking part of a course for any coach regardless of experience and ability level is to perform in front of their peers and instructors. As nerve jangling as this can be it provides a valuable opportunity for every coach to receive feedback on their coaching ability. This feedback is designed to assist the coach being assessed to become and even better coach. All coaches have areas of strength and areas of growth that must be refined and improved to give the players in their charge the best experience possible. As one of my mentors said to me as I set out on my coaching career “You never want your players knowing more than you do.” - That has been a driving force for me ever since. What is your motivation to coach? Don’t you owe it to your players to be better educated than they are? Ian Mulliner is the Technical Director for Massachusetts Youth Soccer. Ian is a National Course instructor for US Soccer and the NSCAA and holds the US Soccer A License, National Youth License and KNVB Coach’s License.
Which Course do I take? All of the coaching education pathways offer excellent information pertinent and relevant to the age of the children you are coaching. When considering your next steps, begin with the end in mind. Where do you want to go with your coaching experience? The pathway you choose is ultimately a personal preference, based on your level of experience, the age groups you are currently coaching, and the age groups you plan to coach in the future.
Upcoming Coach Education Courses Massachusetts Youth Soccer is proud to offer coaching education opportunities from our nationally recognized coaching education leaders. US Soccer National E License Lancaster - September 9th & 16th Click here to register for a US Soccer E License course in MA. US Soccer F License - Link The “F” license is a 2-hour course, conducted entirely online, intended for all parents and coaches of 5-8 year old players. United Soccer Coaches (Formerly NSCAA) recently updated their logo to better reflect the service they offer to members. Please visit unitedsoccercoaches.org for more info. United Soccer Coaches - 4v4 Diploma Easton - September 16th Braintree - September 18th United Soccer Coaches - 7v7 Diploma Franklin - August 19th & 20th Harvard - September 10th Reading - September 24th United Soccer Coaches - 11v11 Diploma Franklin - August 26th & 27th
click here to register for a coach education course
Goal of the Month! Mass Youth Soccer have partnered with the New England Revolution to offer a once in a lifetime experience for youth soccer players.
Your GOAL could be shown on the Jumbotron at Gillette!
Each Month winners of the Mass Youth Soccer Goal of the Month will receive a family pack of tickets a New England Revolution game, as well as having their goal shown on the jumbotron at Gillette Stadium during a Revs game!
To submit a video for our Goal or Save of the Month competitions, tag Massachusetts Youth Soccer (@mayouthsoccer) in a video of your Goal or Save on social media via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Alternatively email a copy of your video to marketing@mayouthsoccer.org. All video’s must be in horizontal format!
Click here to visit the Goal of the Month webpage
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Focus Video Analysis become Official Partners of MYSA
Focus Video Analysis are very pleased to have become the official partners of the MYSA (Massachusetts Youth Focus Video Analysis become Official Partners of MYSA Soccer Association). Focus is a video analysis software business that provides world renowned software which allows the user to tag up events & analyse their games in detail. They offer their specialist analysis tool on a multitude of Focus Video Analysis are very pleased to have become the official partners of the MYSA (Massachusetts Youth mediums such as Windows 10, Android Application, IPAD & MAC. Soccer Association). Focus is a videoDirector analysis software business that provides world renowned software which allows the user to new partnership with Managing of Focus, Ian Donnelly said: “We are very excited to announce this tag up events & analyse their games in detail. They offer their specialist analysis tool on a multitude of the MYSA as we will be able to provide their coaches with a fantastic opportunity to purchase the mediums such as Windows 10, Android Application, IPAD & MAC.
revolutionary software at a highly reduced rate.”
Managing Director of Focus, Ian Donnelly said: “We are very excited to announce this new partnership with the MYSA as we will be able to provide their coaches coaches with fantastictheir opportunity purchase the with an ease of touch to review The revolutionary software allows to aanalyse gamestoon the move revolutionary software at a highly reduced rate.” which can then be shared back to their players for further analysis. their events & create highlight movies The revolutionary software allows coaches to analyse their games on the move with an ease of touch to review Director Marketing Communications for be MYSA, commented: partnership is a great strive their events of & create highlight movies which can then sharedRob backHolliday to their players for further “This analysis.
in our plans to continue improving youth development as Focus will allow our coaches to analyse games in a
Director of Marketing Communications for MYSA, Rob Holliday commented: “This partnership is a great strive much more detailed way with a tool that is simple to understand & use.” in our plans to continue improving youth development as Focus will allow our coaches to analyse games in a much more detailed way with a tool that is simple to understand & use.”
The software will be available at a discounted rate of $150 for all MYSA members, to purchase Focus you can The software be available at aatdiscounted rate of $150 for all MYSA members, to purchase Focus you can visit their will official website www.focusanalysis.com visit their official website at www.focusanalysis.com
Click here to view all MTOC photos
Click here to view all District Select photos
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Mass Youth Soccer Monthly