Coaches Corner
Originally coming from a basketball background before being introduced to soccer in high school, I was exposed to a training that we utilized in hoops that made us creative players. It was called “open gym”. At certain times, kids would show-up, pick sides, and just play. There were no coaches, no parents, and we were encouraged by those around us to try things in “fun” game situations that you wouldn’t in more competitive games. Kids of all ages and abilities were involved, and kids learned from the diversity. This can still be seen on the playgrounds of Brazilian futbol, as older siblings and younger siblings play together or against each other and their friends. Taking this one step further, the teams selected are usually equal in talent, versus stacking one side with all of the talented players.
Compare this to American models for development, where kids of the same age and abilities are grouped together, mainly play with and against each other, and are almost always in structured environments with adults present.
At NEO, we realize that either of these models is extreme, and try to balance the training with the best of both worlds. We have team practices, but also have “open gym” type practices – where kids get exposure to players from our whole club. We also utilize our central approach to give players the opportunity to participate on occasions with different teammates with different abilities and ages. We have found that over time, this makes them more adaptable, able to react to change and adversity, and to lead. We believe that our most successful players are the ones who thrived and were challenged in this environment.