By: Roy Leatherbury, Youth Coach

Posted in the NSCAA Newsletter October 2nd, 2003

About the author: Roy Leatherbury has coached at the recreational, club and high school levels in Ohio since in 1981. After reading the article "Leave One on the Line" in Soccer Journal, Roy submitted this piece as another suggestion on balancing the competitive situation in a one-sided game.
 

Another suggestion on balancing the competitive situation in a one-sided game

Hey, we've all been there. Your team is playing an opponent who just isn't competitive with you. How do you finish the match with everyone walking away happy? Well, the time to consider what to do isn't during the match itself. It is important to think of a good plan and discuss it with your team well before you step on a field.

Your plan is going to impact three groups of people: your team, your opponent's team, and the spectators - especially if they paid money to get in. If you take time to consider everyone's feelings, a lot of the standard solutions fail. Keep-away or related "touch games" are boring for both of the teams and for the fans. Requiring conditions to be met prior to allowing your team to shoot is not only insulting, but it turns a fun activity into practice. Playing shorthanded is the absolute worst thing you can do.

Before I offer my solution, let's talk about avoiding a blowout in the first place. Everyone likes to give their defenders their time up top, the secret is to do it while the other team still thinks it's in the match. I've avoided a lot of problems by turning the hounds loose at 3-0 and calling them off at six. Many times the scoring stopped at four or five. Hey, that's why they're defenders! If the scoring gets to six, I return my offensive starters and we begin to play "negative shooting." The rules are simple. Your team continues its fine play, works hard to earn a shot on goal, and then shoots to miss. A perfect negative shot grazes the outside of the post as it rolls over the goal line. It's that simple.

There's more to it than that, of course. First, do not allow shots over the crossbar, as that teaches bad habits. Second, instruct your players to act pleased if they accidentally score. There is nothing worse than apologizing for a score. This is why I return my starters. They score often enough to be willing to miss. Third, talk about this with your team at practice. This is a good cool down topic. Remind them to keep a serious demeanor while they play. Ask them about how they would feel under a similar circumstance and guide them to the solution that disguising their purpose is the best way to insure a good experience for their opponents. Discussing sportsmanship with your team is always a good thing.

I've also used this game in practice, especially when I wanted to change the point of attack and to introduce the negative shooting concept to my players. Just place a cone outside each post and shoot accordingly.

There's two good ways to implement this short of shouting "O.K. Let's begin shooting negative!" The first is to make the change a half time adjustment. However, if things get out of hand too quickly, you can tell your forwards to quietly inform their teammates after they enter. If you've done a good job of preparation, things will go smoothly. If you do it well, only really sophisticated watchers will guess what you are doing. Best thing is that if the other team doesn't know what you are doing, they can't be offended. My favorite match moment occurred when the opposing coach said "We sure played better in the second half!" as we shook hands. I said, "You sure did, Coach, invite us back again!"

Whatever you do, don't include this in your pre game remarks or your blowout will become a 1-0 struggle.

Best team complement I ever received came from the mom of one of our opponents. She told me that her daughter looked forward to playing us even though she knew that they would probably lose. She said that we were fun to play and didn't act smart. I hope that all of you can have that experience.


 

Created: 12/20/99
Last Updated: 05/03/04

Since February 24, 1999
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