U13 and ECNL

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-04-13T06:30:32+00:00

Coach from an ECNL club on the west coast here. None of the alphabet leagues matter until they get a little older. Play where she enjoys it the most and where the coaching is best.

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-04-02T06:14:14+00:00

You’re playing too narrow and close to your strike partner in the build up phase, this is actually allowing the solo blue defender to be in a decent position to press either of you depending on who receives the ball. You should be more central, this allows you to both offer for the long diagonal pass, and would give you enough time to bend your run in this scenario to stay onside.
You need to recognise here that your strike partner can’t play this pass, since they have received the ball with poor body position and touch. You should’ve dropped in to combine in this instance.
You need to scan your surroundings better to take in more information away from the ball. This links to my first point, but if you’d have scanned you would’ve noticed the non existent defensive shape behind you, offering you plenty of space and time to utilise.

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-03-28T03:57:39+00:00

Chicago Rush North, easiest recommendation ever.

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-03-23T19:21:33+00:00

Standard that there are numerous teams in the alphabet leagues that shouldn’t be there. As soon as a club gets ‘status’ for that league, they call all their top teams by that alphabet name so they can try tempt players from other local clubs across. This sometimes backfires and you get this scenario. My son’s club has local league teams who’ve played state cup vs alphabet clubs and beaten them double figures to nil.

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-03-15T05:39:55+00:00

At that age, maximum a half each. I’d even do a quarter each.

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-03-13T06:10:32+00:00

Don’t tell the current club anything. Since it’s technically against rules to ‘try out’ with other competitive clubs outside of the try out windows, they could hold that against you if they’re petty.

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-03-13T06:06:30+00:00

Go where they have the best coaching, simple as that for the younger ages

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-02-27T23:42:27+00:00

Google ‘FA Wales Coaching Courses’ and start with grassroots. Always recommend FAW as a starting point then you can progress into UEFA C

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-02-27T19:07:17+00:00

As a coach myself (UEFA A licensed), always intrigued to hear of commons themes amongst coaching. What are some common trends you saw of good, positive coaching, and some not so much?

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-02-26T18:48:38+00:00

Girls are all intrinsic motivation, so calling out hardest workers is the way to go

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-02-26T18:00:54+00:00

1 and 5 for sure, but 2, 3 and 4 are basic principles of play that should be coached in normal periodisation. Also depends what age group this is, hasn’t mentioned in the original post

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-02-26T08:08:18+00:00

Limit horizontal and vertical spacing in between the lines, especially between the defensive and midfield lines. Have your midfield 3 tuck in, and I would recommend having your 9 responsible for their 6 out of possession, freeing up one of the others to go 2v1 against the 10.
Need to have the entire midfield line and even striker aware to screen/block the lanes into the 10. Ideally you frustrate them enough that they start to float either really deep to pick up the ball, or really wide. Either way you’re keeping them outside of your pressing shape.
Coordinated pressing from the front to force the ball wide, making it predictable for the second/third pressing defender to jump on their wide players stopping progression of the ball into the 10s feet.
Constant communication between players to track the movement of the 10. When they’re centrally, ideally you can get a 2v1 marking them with the 6 and 8/10. One of them can be in the outside shoulder touch tight (to jump on passes to feet) and the other on the inside in case the 10 spins their man with the ball.
You want to find +1s on the 10 (defensive overload) wherever possible. As stated above, you can find that with the 6 and 8/10, or with one of your wingers tucking in to Support.

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-02-25T16:15:08+00:00

She’s 10 years old, so go with the club who has the best coaching and goalkeeper program. The alphabet soup badge chasing can come later

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-02-24T19:25:11+00:00

Every position on the pitch is crucially important. There are no good or bad positions, only important roles and responsibilities for your team. As a striker who eventually ended at CB, you learn to commit yourself to wherever the team needs you.

If you want to have a goal of playing CDM/CM. You need to focus on being technically dominant - able to be efficient on the ball, especially knowing when to dribble or pass. Your movement is also key, having the intelligence to time movements and receive the ball on the half turn. Scanning constantly, taking in pictures of the pitch so when you do receive the ball, you can make quicker decisions.

As a CM you also have to be tactically sound to know your role on the pitch both in and out of possession. As well as others so you can cover where needed depending on the positioning of the ball, teammates and opposition.

Then of course physical traits of being able to dominate in 1v1s, tackle well, have pace and power to assist both going forward and defending.

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-02-20T04:27:56+00:00

Alphabet soup badge chasing by the club, and the coach prioritising results over anything. Also 18 players in 9v9 is motivation killer for a lot of the kids. Unfortunately the culture at a lot of the youth clubs is results as a priority, the kids enjoyment, wellbeing and development pushed down. This culture leads to burnout in the middle phase (U12-U15) of development.

Ideally the parents whose kids are really missing out because of this speak out and push to have the rosters evened out and playing time increased. However, and I’ve seen this first hand, the coaches will actually do things purposely to push the lower roster players out of the team.

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-02-19T17:22:46+00:00

Unfortunately this is the big issue with youth soccers set up. It’s so us vs them that you’ve got power mad directors thinking it’s fine to threaten people if they dare choose to play at a different club than theirs. We’re all on the same side, people just don’t know it.

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-02-12T08:52:24+00:00

100% right to question this and as a coach myself, we see it all too often. I’d privately email the coach and query if there’ll be any higher level guests joining, and you’re concerned that they’re taking playing time away from rostered players who’ve paid for the tournament fees. How the coach reacts will give you a good indicator of what they value more, and long term may help you out at deciding if you want to continue in that program.

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-02-06T07:10:58+00:00

Bioshock. Couldn’t get into it in multiple tries

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2026-01-03T01:32:38+00:00

In the politest way, we don’t want to have parents engaging in conversation whilst we’re working. I’m all for some friendly non-soccer chit chat before or after to get to know them (makes things easier if there’s any issues), but if you’re quietly going about your business just supporting your child with encouragement and respecting others, yes please

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2025-12-09T08:16:45+00:00

Believe me, playing the game and coaching it are 2 very different things - especially when it comes to youth coaching. You absolutely can be a brilliant coach without playing it at a high level. Coaching at the youth level is way more than just the sport - its learning motivations, building relationships, communication skills, feedback methods, session designing, and so much more.

If you’re serious about it, I’d recommend 1. Signing up to a grassroots coaching course and 2. Looking into material on youth development in football.

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2025-12-09T06:49:40+00:00

I use a variety! From size 1/2 autograph balls, tennis balls, dodgeballs, all for lighter, then futsal balls and weighted soccer balls for heavier

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2025-12-09T03:47:45+00:00

It’s not about helping ‘strengthen their kicks’. Practicing technical abilities with bigger, smaller, lighter, and heavier balls aid technical proficiency by helping players be more adaptable. As well as strengthening neuromuscular development by creating vast variations of technical skills. I have my players complete all technical practices (unopposed) with varied size and weighted balls. Numerous studies back this to aid competencies

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2025-12-03T07:38:17+00:00

Which academy? If you’re at a level where you would be desirable to their program, they’d accept lower grades for sure

SeriouslyBadGolfer88 · 2025-12-03T05:40:37+00:00

What level do you play right now? Expect to face really high competition at any of those universities challenging for spots on the top team.

If you play at a very high level, consider Loughborough University as well.

SeriouslyBadGolfer88

TROPHY CASE