Frustration

[4theteam]

I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the selfishness of junior soccer players. Whether it be in FUTSAL where players will not take their turn in goals, will not take their turn playing last man back and will only swan around forward of centre, whether playing scratch matches with players from the opposition team as teammates and refusing to pass to these players even though they are guests of the team, or players running around like chooks without heads destroying their teams structure and ultimately being completely ineffective. Having watched soccer since U6’s I would have expected as players reached U15’s and above they would have learnt to play a team game and not just play for themselves. I am starting to wonder if my son chose the right sport and look forward to the day he can play in a team with like-minded players.

Does anyone else experience this same frustration?

[Željko Jurin]

I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the selfishness of junior soccer players. Whether it be in FUTSAL where players will not take their turn in goals, will not take their turn playing last man back and will only swan around forward of centre, whether playing scratch matches with players from the opposition team as teammates and refusing to pass to these players even though they are guests of the team, or players running around like chooks without heads destroying their teams structure and ultimately being completely ineffective. Having watched soccer since U6’s I would have expected as players reached U15’s and above they would have learnt to play a team game and not just play for themselves. I am starting to wonder if my son chose the right sport and look forward to the day he can play in a team with like-minded players.

Does anyone else experience this same frustration?

So he has never had a coach ?? :?

[The Boss]

Welcome to football.

I see it all the time. Teams of individuals.

[Bomber]

Easy answer - find another team!

[4theteam]

Easy answer - find another team!

Thanks Bomber - that's exactly what we're going to do.

[Nice One Cyril]

Young kids are much the same the World over - they all want to have the ball all the time and score at every opportunity and it's up to the coaches to persuade them otherwise.

Sadly, some junior coaches don't have a clue and think that getting your head down and beating 3 players before losing the ball to the 4th is great football and is to be applauded.

If you get a coach like that, change clubs. There are some good coaches out there.

[Stitch This]

Wot Cyril said

[povman_2009]

I always encourage my players who could take on and beat a player to pass the ball as soon after and make another move, they have just taken a defender out of the game and then there was opportunity for them to open the game up with a pass.

The other thing I have noticed over the past few years is the reluctance of players to run off the ball, simple movement creates space for teammates but the "me gen" kids see it as a waste of effort... oh well , I have hung up my certificate so I can just sit back and get on with life now...

[Nice One Cyril]

[quote="povman_2009"]The other thing I have noticed over the past few years is the reluctance of players to run off the ball, simple movement creates space for teammates ........[quote]

Again, I go back to the coaches. How many of them actually look at what players do without the ball? Very few from what I've seen.

When I first started playing, nearly 45 years ago, I remember one of the first things my old man taught me was that only have the ball for 5 minutes a game so I'd better fucking learn what to do in the other 85.

[The Random Poster]

I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the selfishness of junior soccer players. Whether it be in FUTSAL where players will not take their turn in goals, will not take their turn playing last man back and will only swan around forward of centre, whether playing scratch matches with players from the opposition team as teammates and refusing to pass to these players even though they are guests of the team, or players running around like chooks without heads destroying their teams structure and ultimately being completely ineffective. Having watched soccer since U6’s I would have expected as players reached U15’s and above they would have learnt to play a team game and not just play for themselves. I am starting to wonder if my son chose the right sport and look forward to the day he can play in a team with like-minded players.

Does anyone else experience this same frustration?

I get frustrated with numnuts who call it soccer.

[The Magician]

I get frustrated with immature little fucks anyway....sometimes there is no talking sense into them without a backhand!

[MegaBonus]

Nice One Cyril

When I first started playing, nearly 45 years ago, I remember one of the first things my old man taught me was that only have the ball for 5 minutes a game so I'd better bottle of shiraz learn what to do in the other 85.

must have grown up in the UK!

[Nice One Cyril]

Nice One Cyril

When I first started playing, nearly 45 years ago, I remember one of the first things my old man taught me was that only have the ball for 5 minutes a game so I'd better bottle of shiraz learn what to do in the other 85.

must have grown up in the UK!

What gave it away?

[4theteam]

The other thing I have noticed over the past few years is the reluctance of players to run off the ball, simple movement creates space for teammates ........

Again, I go back to the coaches. How many of them actually look at what players do without the ball? Very few from what I've seen.

When I first started playing, nearly 45 years ago, I remember one of the first things my old man taught me was that only have the ball for 5 minutes a game so I'd better bottle of shiraz learn what to do in the other 85.

Cyril, I really like your philosophy on football (better say football not soccer for RP). Would have liked you to have coached my son. Was at training the other night and heard a coach say the same thing about only having a few minutes on the ball each game - had never really thought about the game that way but how true that comment is.

Your comment on watching what players do off the ball is also so true. My son is a defender and does alot of mental and physical work covering space and getting his angles right to protect opposition attacks. Unless you follow a player closely throughout a game it is difficult to appreciate the work they do as its often work without the ball. The same applies to strikers who make alot of runs and often aren't rewarded with a pass but they have created space for their team mates - often this work goes unnoticed. But thats football.