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Quote of the Week
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"Be sure to thank your opponents. They are like the friends you have invited over to play. Without them you are all alone on the field."
Charles Cotton
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 Recommended Media
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Today's recommendation is a fitting addition to this issue's theme. It's written more for a business audience, however, the lessons and values are immediately and universally applicable to sports. Jon Huntsman is definitely a Soccer Genius in the making!
Winners Never Cheat - Even in Difficult Times
by Jon M.
Huntsman
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HomeSkills
Challenge |
Weekly challenges for you to do at home. Taken from Charles' groundbreaking Book Series: HomeSkills Magic: The Soccer Genius HomePlay System
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Rules Mastery
The Soccer Genius Training System ensures all players learn, practice and master the Laws of the Game (in every internationally governed area of soccer, including Beach Soccer and Futsal plus the International Soccer Genius Association rules).
This week's 3 part challenge is a combination of several levels of training in the HomeSkills Magic series.
Challenge yourself to complete it without looking on the internet or a book.
You'll need a piece of paper and a pencil or pen.
For a bonus challenge get a stopwatch or clock and complete the
following challenge in 3 minutes or less.
Part One:
Select the correct number of FIFA Laws of the Game.
9
17
13
21 15
Part Two:
Name the Laws of the Game.
Part Three:
Now put the Laws of the Game in the correct order.
Mastered the Challenge?
Then email me to tell me about it. I love hearing about and celebrating Soccer Genius Successes.
Email me at:
charles@enlightenedsoccer.com
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News Flash! ( I just had to share ;)
SoccerGeniusTraining.com Featured on Yola.com!
Here's what Yola has to say...
"Charles Cotton, international soccer coach, owner and creator of Soccer Genius Training
scores big with soccer students and parents alike using a combination of
skills and theories all developed to help young footballers excel on
and off the field."
Click here to read the featured blog.
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I Am A Soccer Genius!
A warm welcome to issue #3 of Soccer Genius Planet. Things are really starting to heat up as we ignite more and more of your Soccer Genius.
This week I tackle the iron-clad youth development principle: Equal Playing Time - Every Time! This has become such a hot button topic for me personally in recent days that I just had to move it up to the top of my planned weekly magazine editions. I'm sure many of you will be able to relate to the story below.
I just returned from a 1400km (870m) trip that was to be a celebration of youth soccer as my daughter played with her team in a Canada Day tournament. Instead of it being a celebration, however, I witnessed the ugly and all too common coaching behaviour of unequal playing time and 'shortening of the bench' as the team moved closer to the gold medal game. I sat in disbelief as my daughter and several other teammates watched from the sidelines while other kids played every minute. One player even told me that she "was just happy to play a full half for the first time all year". I was dumbfounded that an adult responsible for the soccer education and development of 12 and 13 year old girls would find this sort of 'winning is more important than fair, equal play' attitude even remotely justifiable. The really sad thing is that I witnessed the same actions from countless other coaches on countless other teams at the tournament. And we all know that this scene is played out endlessly in youth soccer leagues around the world.
With this in mind, the featured article on equal playing time is very timely (and timeless). I've kindly been given permission to include the writing of one of North America's Soccer Genius leaders, Andy Barney. I know it will really get your genius gears going full speed.
I've also written an article that addresses why winners never cheat and how we can make this the 'standard operating procedure' for all developing players and programs. The Better Out Than In video has me questioning how far coaches and players are willing to go to win and how cheating has become an acceptable part of competition at every level.
Once again, please enjoy the articles, weekly tips and challenges, the videos and whatever else catches your eye and your Soccer Spirit! Feel free to share the newsletter with friends, teammates and colleagues.
From My Soccer Genius to Yours!
Charles Cotton
charles@enlightenedsoccer.com
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Featured Article
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Equal Playing Time - Every Time!
The pledge of every Soccer Genius Coach, Trainer and Ambassador. Equal Playing Time is a guaranteed feature of all Soccer Genius Programs.
Excerpt taken from Andy Barney's brilliant book "Training Soccer Legends", with permission.
It takes tremendous courage to commit to an equal playing time approach in every game. Yet this is the only way to ensure that both your better and weaker players learn the right lessons for life from their youth soccer career. The weaker players learn they are valued by you and will take greater risks with the ball in the knowledge that they won’t be punished with reduced minutes. Often the weaker players on your squad, (who may have dropped out of soccer because of reduced playing time on other teams), will become your stronger players as they mature because of your fairness and support for costly creative risks while they are learning.
By playing all players evenly you let everyone know that you believe in them and care only for their development, not the wins and losses for the gratification of your own ego. The stronger players, (who would get more playing time on any other team), learn the more valuable lesson that every child who is part of a team and makes a solid commitment, should be given equal opportunity to learn and develop. There’s plenty of time later in life for the “only the strong survive” approach.
In all youth educational environments equality of educational opportunity is a child’s right. Taking away a young person’s chance to learn and grow because that player is not as effective at that developmental stage sends the wrong message to both the better and the weaker players. The weaker players get the message that they’re not as valuable and, because they get less than fair playing time, the negative message and reduced minutes eventually guarantees their demise.
Players receiving less time cannot feel as good as, or improve at the same pace as, those receiving more. In the meantime the stronger players learn the cynical attitude that it’s OK to cheat a teammate just so long as the team wins.
Any argument that uses development as the reason for extra playing time being allocated to the stronger player is actually an anti-developmental argument. I would encourage the readers of this book to see the unequal playing time proponents for who they are. These people are individuals who regard the win as more important than the self-concept of the bench sitter or non-starter. If we are honest with ourselves an unequal playing time policy isn’t about the development of the stronger player. It is about getting the statistical win on the board at the end of the game and the coach being able to walk away and beat his chest about the win.
by Andy Barney (and wholeheartedly supported by Charles Cotton)
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Winners Never Cheat
| Cheating is when a person misleads, deceives, or acts dishonestly either on purpose or as a learned (subconscious) pattern of behaviour for one's own gains.
I have yet to meet a person in my 41 years who has not cheated at least once in their life. I know that I have and I know that I still do. Every time I go for the ice cream instead of water when I'm hungry (most hunger aches are signs of dehydration not food hunger) I know I'm cheating myself out of what's best for my well-being. Likewise, every time a player chooses to cut their effort short in practice they are cheating themselves out of a great opportunity to be their best possible player at every moment. In both cases, the pattern of cheating is reinforced and the opportunity to 'win' in our life and sport development is set back.
Jon Huntsman, in his book "Winners Never Cheat", acknowledges that "the rationale that everyone fudges, or that you have to cheat to stay competitive, is a powerful lure, to be sure." What a weak, and ultimately irresponsible, reason to do anything in life. Competitive ends (the soccer win) never justify unethical means.
Here are just a few of the 'losses' that soccer players and coaches face when cheating is practiced and discovered:
- Yellow and Red Cards
- Team, Club and League Expulsion
- Difficulty finding new/future teams to play with
- Getting the hard to overcome label of "cheater"
- Difficulty fitting in with teammates or peers
- Setting up a lifetime behaviour that increases the chance for greater negative consequences than just not being able to play. For example, while cheating players may be expelled from leagues, tax evaders may be sent to prison.
The 'winning' successes that come with committing to a lifetime free of cheating are abundant and include:
- Developing and mastering
a variety of skills
- Increasing self-confidence and positive self-image
- Experiencing the inner personal strength that comes with integrity, generosity and honesty
- Winning more games in the long run because fair players are often given more opportunities to play and compete
- Creating winning friendships
- Having a greater number of positive life experiences
Players and teams that are taught and led by the examples of universally shared values more often achieve their goals, experience higher degrees of happiness and enjoyment, and find much greater purpose in their lives than simply winning a game or tournament. They realize that the accumulation of negative 'losses' that come from cheating are far outweighed by the positive 'wins' that come with playing by the highest values that sport calls us to live by.
This is the way of the Soccer Genius.
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Charles' "Better Out Than In!"
| Charles' weekly video clip highlighting an area of youth training, play and/or development that is in need of some serious updating. At the end of the day, it's better to get it out than to keep it in. Enjoy!
Focus on "How Far Will You Go To Win?"
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Weekly Genius Tech Tipd
Each week in this section I include a detailed description of a specific technical skill or ability. This information is offered to help you achieve technical mastery through perfect practice. After all, if you're going to practice you might as well do it perfectly!
The Rabona Kick (advanced Genius Level 8)
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I witnessed the most beautiful goal I had seen in a very long time during a coach scrimmage game at my International License training in England. A Brazilian friend executed a perfect Rabona kick from some 18 yards out that sailed sweetly into the top corner just over the keeper's reach. The most amazing thing about it was that my friend himself was actually a goalkeeper. Now that's pure Soccer Genius.
The Rabona is a unique and beautiful way to kick a ball for the advanced youth player (there are 9 other kicks that I help the students master before moving onto the Rabona). The first filmed Rabona was performed in a match by Pele in 1957. At the time it was simply called the 'crossed-kick'. (You can Google for Rabona videos to view one. Unfortunately, too many videos have music and view comments that are not appropriate for a younger viewing audience. Jay Jay Okocha, however, does a nice demonstration.)
All you need is a ball, a net or a wall to practice against. Do it with a friend to increase the fun.
Step One: With a stationary ball
- Place a ball 3 steps in front and 3 steps to the outside of your body.
- Focus on the bottom center of the ball where you will make contact.
- Approach the
ball at an angle from the same side as the leg with which you'll
be kicking. For example, kicking with your right foot will require you to approach the ball
from the
right side.
- Place your plant foot 6-12 inches (15-30cm) inside and slightly in front of the ball. This will provide room for the kicking phase and will also shield the ball from opposing players.
- Load up your kicking leg by bringing your kicking foot up behind your body, bending at the knee.
- Release and swing your kicking
leg forward from behind your plant foot leg. Your kicking leg will literally cross around behind the plant leg.
- Use the solid bone of the laces area to kick the ball. (You can also use the top of the toes to chip the ball or the outstep to create an outside-in bend.)
- Quickly uncross your legs and regain body balance. Prepare yourself for your next move into space.
- Smile and congratulate yourself on learning a new skill.
Repeat perfectly 9 times.
Repeat with the opposite kicking foot.
Step Two: With a Moving Ball
- Pass a ball 3-5 steps to the outside and slightly forward of your body.
- Complete Steps 2-9 from above.
Repeat perfectly 9
times.
Repeat with the opposite kicking foot.
Make it a fun challenge game to see how many you can do in a row.
And remember to celebrate your success at learning to master this challenging soccer technique by shouting out "I am a Soccer Genius!"
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Weekly Genius Success Habitd
Each week I provide a Genius Success Habit for you to practice perfectly for the next 7 days. If you're already doing the habit, then keep on keeping on!
And did you know that practicing the habit everyday for at least 42 days will give you a
far greater likelihood of making it a permanent success habit.
Some habits are harder to practice and make part of our life than others. Some are guaranteed to push a few buttons, as well.
adsf
| This week's Genius Success Habit
Lose Victoriously
Soccer and the rest of life provide us with many opportunities to experience losing. How
do you respond to these experiences?
Do you pout, rage in anger, complain or blame? Do you walk off the field with shaking hands and head held low? Do you cry? Do you quit?
OR
Do you demonstrate thanks for the opportunity to play? Do you actively seek out new chances to practice, improve and grow? Do you invite more challenging experiences into your life so that you can test your skills and discover more about yourself? Do you acknowledge your best effort and growing confidence?
When we are asked commit to the Genius Success Habit "Lose Victoriously" we are asked to find the wins in every moment of our soccer lives - both on and off the field.
So, I encourage you to "Lose Victoriously." It just may be the greatest winning habit of your life.
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See you next week!
Thanks for spending your time enjoying this week's Soccer Genius Planet.
Be on the look out for next week's issue loaded with new tips, challenges and more words from the heart, mind and spirit of Charles.
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