United Soccer Grassroots Coaching Podcast Grassroots Soccer Coaching - Jon Johnson

In this episode I talk to Mike about the reasons why some clubs and coaches are still using an early selection model, using tryouts and cutting young players when we should be trying to develop as many as we can we look at what the long term affects are of this practice and why it needs to stop ASAPWe also discuss some different approaches we have both used and seen others instead of simply trying to select young players based on what we may perceive as talent at a young age

















 







Topics Include
Tryouts
Early Selection
Talent ID
Alternatives and ways to be more inclusive

Yeliz a Coach, Player and School Teacher talks candidly and at length with me about a whole host of ideas and topics related around Gender groupings. Something I am always looking to get more ideas about and find out what a female coaches perspective is on gender groups. We talk about different ways of grouping, different ages and stages for gender based groups, how we can be more flexible to more players needs, the upsides and downsides of different approaches and also how we may approach each group differently and how we might want to treat them exactly the same.

My latest podcast with Brian Peggs from Saffron Waldon Community FC in Essex England was recorded a while back and was another impromptu Zoom call that we decided to record at the last second and Im glad I did! Brian is one of the leaders and coaches at Saffron Walden which has a large girls contingent. They have some really unique ways of doing things, the clubs approach is refreshing, Brians ideas and knowledge he has gained from 12 years of coaching and a lifetime in the game were shared openly, A great chat worth the listen.

Fantastic episode with Rod Underwood. I got to discuss Rods thoughts on grassroots soccer and his experiences coaching grassroots all the way up to coaching in the professional game and with National teams. Very interesting to hear what stays the same and whats changes as you progress through the levels of Soccer and what Rod feels is still so important fundamentally for young players. We also managed to get some discussion on cows and Caribbean cuisine for good measure.Rod has coached with Portland Timbers (MLS) and head coaching roles with Cleveland City (USL), North East Stars (Jamaica), Mount Aureol (Sierra Leone), Montego Bay FC (Jamaica) where he led his team to CONCACAF Championship qualification, and most recently with Stumptown AC (NISA) in Charlotte

Great Chat With Joel the Director Of Youth Sports The Film A Documentary In Development I Didn't Have A Clue Who I Was Going To Be Chatting With Prior To Starting This One And Was Not Expecting An Italian Coach Now Living In Vegas !!!! We Covered A Wide Do You Dream About Coaching Sessions? Why Coaches Don't Like Giving Younger Players More Autonomy Starting A Girls Team And How Its Different Do Non USA Coaches Share More Info? Will Things Change After Covid?

A real eye opener for me in this chat from a great coach who is always sharing and helping the football coach community on Twitter. Pete is involved in coaching both Blind and Deaf National teams in Australia and we discuss his learning curve and the challenges he has had to adapt to with coaching these players. We also dive into how Grassroots Soccer operates in Australia and what highlight some of the good initiatives and discuss some fo the changes that could be made to improve grassroots for young players.