Number of touches in just 5 years - Here are a MILLION reasons why you (American Youth Coach) need to ‘Open your Mind’ and change your way of thinking about our ‘9-Step Practice Routine!
a. Typical American player = 229,500
b. PSV Dutch player = 1,134,000
c. FUNdamental player = 1,620,000
One Million Reasons…By Karl Dewazien
A typical book/DVD review reads something like this, “Overall, the FUNdamental Soccer Practice Routine covers great material that is useful on the field but a lot seems unrealistic to use everyday (every practice) like the ‘Figure 8 Stretch Routine.’ My players will get bored with it quickly!”
Here are a million reasons why you (American Youth Coach) need to ‘Open your Mind’ and change your way of thinking about our ‘9-Step Practice Routine!
Greg Thompson a 1984 U.S Olympian, 1985-86 US National Team (12 caps), and is now a Placer United Coach took 4 boys from his club to a soccer camp featuring Pepijn Lijinders from PSV Eindhoven – Pepijn is one of the premier developers of youth talent in the world.
After the final day of camp, Gregg discussed with Pepijn why Europeans are so much more comfortable with the ball than Americans. The answer was simple “Touches on the ball.”
Some quick calculations on Gregg’s calculator and Pepijn’s point really hit home. He approximated the touches the players received at the soccer camp during the 90 minute session and compared them to the number of touches players received at a “typical” 90 minute soccer practice that he sees everyday of the week.
Note: I have taken the liberty to add stats accumulated at typical FUNdamental ‘9-Step Practice’ session.
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Typical "American" Practice
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Running/Stretching
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Minutes
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Touches
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Without Ball
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15
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0
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Running Around Field
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Minutes
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Touches
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Partner's Passing
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15
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150
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In Lines
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Minutes
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Touches
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Shooting
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20
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125
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Shooting
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Minutes
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Touches
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1 Crossing
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2 Attacking
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20
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100
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7 vs 7
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Minutes
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Touches
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COMPETITION
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20
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50
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Total Number of Touches = 425
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EINDHOVEN 2006
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CYSA circa 1999
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STEP 1. BEGIN PRACTICE
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Individual Fast Footwork
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Minutes
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Touches
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STEP 2. WARM-UP
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15
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Touches
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15
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900
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→
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Figure 8-Stretch Routine
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Minutes
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1800
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Fast Footwork
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Minutes
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Touches
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STEP 3. ONE + ONE
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15
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Touches
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with Passive Defender
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15
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500
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→
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Cooperative Play
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Minutes
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500
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1 VS 1
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Minutes
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Touches
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STEP 4. ONE vs ONE
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15
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Touches
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COMPETITION
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20
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400
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→
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Competitive Play
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Minutes
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400
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STEP 5. HALF-TIME ROUTINE
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2 VS 2
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Minutes
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Touches
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STEP 6. SMALL SIDED GAME
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20
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Touches
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COMPETITION
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20
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200
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→
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Cooperative + Competitive
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Minutes
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200
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3 VS 3
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Minutes
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Touches
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STEP 7. SCRIMMAGE
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20
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Touches
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COMPETITION
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20
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100
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→
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Cooperative + Competitive
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Minutes
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50
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STEP 8. COOL DOWN
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5
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Touches
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Total number of Touches = 2100
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With the ball
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Minutes
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50
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STEP 9. END PRACTICE
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Total Number of Touches = 3,000
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Assuming 3 training sessions per week and a 9 month season:
Number of touches - Per season
a. Typical American player = 45,900
b. PSV Dutch player = 226,800
c. FUNdamental player = 324,000
Number of touches in just 5 years
a. Typical American player = 229,500
b. PSV Dutch player = 1,134,000
c. FUNdamental player = 1,620,000
Gregg further states, “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.”
Do the Math and Open your Mind… There are a million reasons for you to apply our FUNdamental ‘9-Step Practice Routine’.
We have been teaching ‘how to’ focus on ‘touches’ since 1999. Your players could have had more than a million
more touches than the typical American player. And your book reviews would read something like this:
“Over all ‘Practice of Champions’ covers great material that is useful on the field and all of it is realistic to use everyday (every practice) like the ‘Figure 8 Stretch Routine’. My players are no longer getting bored and they are getting better quicker!
Thanks a Million!!!”
