YPT - Will's journal

Groups of three, two at the ends, one in the middle. Everything was one touch. Pass in to the middle, one touch back out, then long, then long back again. Added to that was a bit of movement in between passes. After this warm up was completed, we split into two games, 4v4 and 5v5. In one game, large traffic cones were set up in a grid. The goal was to get two passes, then hit the cone. All two touch. The other game was a grid with mini goals inside at random, two touch, must pass it through the goal to another player to score. We did that for awhile then split into teams of 6.

We played 6v6, small goals, with 6 on the outside. Two touch on the outside, unlimited in the middle. That went well and at the end we played full field for about 10 minutes. Overall my first impression is that the game is fast, and it is tough. Big tackles, holding, pulling, all of it goes on. The passing was excellent. Possession was the priority, but at times they hit the ball long to catch the defense unawares. That tactic keeps the defense on their toes that way you have more room for possession.

The practice was hard but highly enjoyable. They want me to train with the U15's tomorrow at 2.

TUESDAY - 1.30.07 - TRAINING WITH THE u15s

Last training session was with the U15 Birmingham Team. In truth only 8 players were there. I'm not sure why only 8 were there but I believe it is because the U16 team had a game and some players went with that team. The training session was excellent. We started in the gym doing stations.

I just got back from the first session. It started at 7 and ended at 9. They gave me all new Birmingham

equipment to use and we played inside a huge dome, turf field.

The session was a difficult one, considering the team didn't have a game on Sunday and so they had to get in shape. We started out doing 5v2 while the coach set up the warm-up grid. The 5v2 was all one touch in a confined space.

The warm up consisted of 4 groups, all jogging out to a cone, turning and going on with their individual part. One group dodged through mannequins, another jumped over mini hurdles, another went through a mini ladder, and a final one high stepped over mini hurdles. That went on with different progressions in the way we ran to the cone. After that came passing.

the week at YPT teaching Will how to play defensive center-mid. Will took this knowledge and played as defensive center-mid during the qualifying process for the National team. I am convinced that the techniques he learned from Stuart helped him to stand out, particularly since Will had never played this position before."

YPT player Will Packwood, from Massachusetts, is a player with the potential and desire to play at the highest level. He is a 3 year veteran of YPT's Residence Program. Within a few weeks of completing his second Residence Program in July 2005, Will went on trial at Manchester United. You can go HERE to read about his experience with the EPL giants.

Following his 2006 experience with YPT Will was selected to the u14 National Team. His father, Richard, believes the level of professional training he received had allot to do with Will being selected. "I give a lot of credit to his coach at YPT this past July, Stuart Leicester, of Manchester United, for helping Will get selected for the National team. Stuart spent

There were 8 stations, you do 10 reps, a rest, then ten more reps, then you go find a new station. One station was jumping up to a step, first without, then with a medicine ball. The second was stepping up to a bench, then back off on the other foot. A third was doing pushups with your feet on a bench, and a fourth was to do triceps pushups with your hands on the bench behind you, pushing up and down. Another station was to stand on a balance platform, hold a medicine ball, throw it down to the ground, catch it, and go straight into a squat on the platform. That worked to strengthen the hips and balance. Another station was sit ups, another was to lie on a large inflated ball, then lift your upper body off it. And another was to leap back and forth between two cones. The last one was to take a light dumbbell in one hand, and to bend over and touch your ankle, trying to keep your back flat.

After all these exercises were done, we put on our cleats, and went up into the indoor dome. We did a little sprint work, trying to work on running mechanics. Striding out to the half field then slowing. We did some fast foot races, as in fast feet between cones then racing out to a marker.

After all those we brought out the balls. We set up two triangles, about 30 yards apart facing each other. Two balls were going at the same time. The man at the top of the triangle passes it out to the man at the bottom, he takes a touch to the side, then clips it long to the other man at the other triangle. After passing it short, the man who was previously at the top of the triangle moves down the the bottom of the triangle to receive the long ball from the other side. he touches it in to the next person who is at the top of the triangle, who plays one touch to space, and then the man who received the long kick, clips it long to the other side then follows his pass to the back of the line at the other triangle. That drill went well, with very accurate chips. We the moved to 4v4 on half the field. Four goals, two touches, if your walking and the coach sees you, it's a goal to the other team. After that the losing team did a few sprints then we stretched at finished. It was a great session.

The U15's were strong, fast, and skilled. It was tough to keep up with them, but by passing quickly I was able to stay away from being tackled. I have training on Thursday then Saturday, then hopefully a game Sunday.

THURSDAY - 2.1.07 - TACTICAL TRAINING

Today's training was tactical. It was a light session with the U14's.

We set up with 10v5, with the goals pushed up to the 18. The 10 set up regularly in their 4.3.3. formation. The 5 set up with 2 backs, two midfielders, one forward. All the 5 had a ball. The coach would yell out the name of one player on the 5 team. That person's ball was then in play, the 5 team tried to score on the 11's goal which had no goalie, and the 11 team tried to keep the ball, once stolen, for 10 passes. the coach stopped the game to explain where players should be and when. The most interesting part of the training was the way Birmingham played the 433. They played with 3 center mids. No outside players.

The three in the middle made a triangle. Two players stepped up and played as regular center mids, then the other sat back a little more, giving options. But when the ball went into the striker's feet he sprinted past the other two to support from a deep position. One of the two sat back to cover his position with the other stepping up on attack. The outsides were covered by fullbacks stepping up and joining the attack. The three forwards worked as a unit, having one central, two wide. The one's wide switched and changed positions all the time. It was a great system and keeping the ball was so easy. I loved the formation.

At first I was a little nervous, being my second training session with this team. One thing I could really feel was that I was expected to prove myself. Yes I was there, sure I was going to stay there, but to gain respect you have to earn it. By playing well, tackling hard, and working for teammates, you gain respect. Prove that you good enough to be there, that's the hard part. Being nervous is a terrible set back. If you have ANY doubt while you play; you won't play well. The best thing is to be confident, expect a lot from yourself, and expect a lot from other people. That's something I learned with the U15's; they expect everyone to be good.

SATURDAY - 2.3.07 - EARLY MORNING TRAINING

We had an early morning training session this morning. We were up on the top fields, and it was wet last night so the field was pretty muddy. In truth, we worked on crosses and finishing from a cross the whole time. Evidently their last game they didn't put in enough crosses, nor did they score enough from crosses. So we set up 4 lines, two centrally, two wide, acting as a midfield 4. The coach passed either long to the corner for the winger, or short centrally where the midfielder would pass wide then get into the box. He stressed the need for the runs to cross, and be fast. Always put on a burst of speed right as you cross your other player. At that point the defender needs to chose between players, that means one is always open. It went well overall, everyone at one point or another completely missed given the circumstances. It was not my favorite practice but still fun as always.

One great part of the day was after training, we all went to go home, but my mom was late coming to pick me up. Given 30 minutes to do nothing, I decided to head up to the dome because I could hear somebody playing. It turned out to be the reserve team. That was amazing, Julian Gray was there playing, I knew him from the Birmingham first team. Their play was so accurate, so fast, and so tough. All the tackles were hard, all the passes were quick. Julian Gray had one really nice turn which beat two players. Seeing them play really gave me a sense of what it was like. They were all laughing, and having fun playing soccer. This time of year is really important in the Academy. The U16 team players are hearing whether or not they will be signed. Once they know, the ones who are not signed will leave. That movement opens space for the U15 team to move up to U16,

that opens space for the U14 team to move up. So, as the coach said to the team, your goal this year should be to be playing in the U15 squad by the end of the year. That really puts it into perspective how close the chance to be professional is... Two short years and hopefully I'll be the one being signed.

MONDAY - 2.5.07 - LIVERPOOL THIS WEEKEND

I just got done with all my homework. All my schoolwork is going well, it's been a bit tough to keep up with the class's reading and such but through the internet it can be done. My tutors have been great and I feel like I'm keeping up fine. Yesterday was a nice day off to rest without tutors or soccer. That's something that I don't get often here, rest.

Tonight's training session was rather light given that the team played a game the day before in Cardiff. I didn't get to play because they had some kids on trial who needed to play. Instead I'll b playing next weekend at home against Liverpool. I'm a little nervous to be playing Liverpool but it will be a great game. They told me today that I would be playing again tomorrow with the U15's, that was unexpected but I can't wait to play.

Tonight's training went great, I played really well and didn't make many mistakes. We did passing drills to start off with then did some 4v4 and finished with 7v7 four goals. The 7v7 was tight and hard to play. The speed at which I was closed down with proved to be a problem but I adjusted by passing faster. I find that less touches always works better here. The tackles are always strong and once you take the ball off someone, they come after you and try to take it back. One player in the middle has good feet, but sometimes does the same move over and over, so it gets a little predictable, I only need to step ahead and take it before he does the move.

My second week here in England has started well, nothing amazing has happened but next week is the half term holiday and so perhaps I'll get a little more time off soccer. Then again... why would I want more time off soccer?

WEDNESDAY - 2.8.07 - TRAINING WITH PLAYERS UNDER CONTRACT

I haven't written in a couple of days so I thought I'd write now while I can. On Tuesday I played with the U15's again. That was a really eye opening experience because this was with the U15's and the U16's. There was a ton of tension because of the decisions being made. The U16's were all fighting for contracts. 6 or so kid's already had them and so they were just playing for the fun of it all.

It was a great session and I actually held my own with them. I tackled strong and passed quickly. That age group is a good one and they are all good players. I feel happy with my performance but I didn't stand out. Then again it's hard to do while playing U15/16 soccer. Yesterday I had training with the U14'a again. It was a great training session, lots of shooting. The coach always reminded us to keep it realistic. Shoot from where you would in a game. We made runs and combinations to goal. One twos, little turns, all the usual. The keepers were excellent but the shooting topped them. The shooting without pressure was amazing. Hard, low, curving shots were the average. From there it got even better. My shots were right up to par with theirs given that I pride myself on my shots.

That night I got my surprise. I am going to play tonight with the U15's in Stoke on Trent. I'm really excited and can't wait to get on the field. I'm a bit nervous but I know it's going to be great.

Oh ya, It's snowing here! 6 inches or something, it's pretty weird.

FRIDAY - 2.9.07 - SNOW

Wow the game last night was cancelled FOR SNOW! I'm so mad right now. My game last night AND my game this Saturday have been cancelled for snow.
The weather must be trying to kill me... ugh.

Hopefully Saturday practice will be on but for now I'm SUPER bored.

SUNDAY - 2.11.07 - STILL SNOW....SO A SHOW

For the last four days I have not played soccer. The snow is a plague. It RUINS all good plans. I would have had two games and a practice in those 4 days... but now I don't. I have been the epitome of boredom, the personification of dullness, the embodiment of ennui (how awesome is that word?). You may think that with no soccer it would be amazing, no, the snow locked us into our house, the roads were a mess. Everything went against me.

I did, on Saturday night, go out with my family and cousins to a Greek restaurant. It's name was Zorba's and it was rather odd. They got everyone up from the tables and forced us to Greek dance. It was interesting.... Another of my snow time exploits was to go the Royal Shakespeare Theater. My mom and I saw Henry VI. It was actually really fun. It was violent, funny, and exciting. It was the first of three parts about Henry VI in the War of the Roses. From what I could discern it was the Lancaster's versus the York's. Going on also was the war with France and Joan of Arc.

GO HERE FOR PAGE TWO OF WILL'S JOURNAL GO HERE FOR RESIDENCE PROGRAM INFORMATION