This article is a must read written by Gregg Thompson
who was a 1984 U.S. Olympian, 1985-86 U.S. National Team
(12 caps).
I brought 4 boys from our club to a soccer camp
featuring Pepijn Lijinders from PSV Eindhoven, one of
the premier developers of youth talent in the world.
After the final day of camp, I discussed with him why
Europeans are so much more comfortable with the ball
than Americans. The answer was simple...touches on the
ball. He said at the younger ages, the top American
players are fairly even with the European players but as
time goes on, the Americans fall further and further
behind.
Once I got home, I did some quick calculations on my
calculator and Pepijn's point really hit home. I
approximated the touches the players received at the
soccer camp during Pepijn's 90 minute session and
compared them to the number of touches players receive
at a "typical" 90 minute soccer practice I see every day
of the week.
In 90 minutes, Pepijn's practice consisted of
approximately:
-15 minutes: Individual fast foot work warm up - 900 touches
-15 minutes: Fast foot work with passive defender - 500
touches
-20 minutes: 1 vs 1 competition - 400 touches
-20 minutes: 2 vs 2 competition - 200 touches
-20 minutes: 3 vs 3 competition - 100 touches
Total number of touches in 90 minutes = 2,100
In 90 minutes, a "typical" American practice:
-15 minutes: Running/stretching without the ball - 0 touches
-15 minutes: Running around the field with a partner and
passing the ball - 150 touches
-20 minutes: Shooting drill / 2 lines toward a big goal - 125
touches
-20 minutes: Shooting / Crossing drill...1 player crossing, 2
players attacking goal - 100 touches
-20 minutes: 7 vs 7 scrimmage - 50 touches
Total number of touches in 90 minutes = 425 touches
Assuming 3 training sessions per week and a 9 month
season:
Number of touches per week:
-PSV team: 6,300
-Typical American player: 1,275
Number of touches per month:
-PSV team: 25,200
-Typical American player: 5,100
Number of touches
per season:
-PSV team: 226,800
-Typical American player: 45,900
In just 5 years, the PSV player or similarly coached
players will touch the ball nearly 1 million more times
than the American player. Tough to argue with those
numbers!
Granted most coaches don't have the knowledge of a PSV
coach; however, if volunteer coaches at the rec/select/competitive
levels just focused on touches on the ball, our players
would be way ahead. To take a step back and ask our
coaches not to worry about drills and to just play games
of 1 vs 1, 2 vs 2, 3 vs 3 and 5 vs 5 at practice with
little instruction, there would be a tremendous increase
in number of touches and a corresponding increase in
player development. The small sided competitions
unintentionally/naturally teach the game to the players
with little input from coaches.
