East Bay United Soccer Blog
For news and information on EBU, youth soccer, reffing, coaching, and health and fitness.
EBU DOC Talk - THINK LIKE A WINNER using COGNITIVE STRATEGIES
Dear Players and Parents,
FIRST - LET'S LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS
(article from is from experts ...J.Lefkowits PH.D, D. McDuff M.D., C. Rijsmandel B.A.)
THINK LIKE A WINNER - COGNITIVE STRATEGY
WHAT IS IT? Cognitive strategy involves the relationship between thoughts and athletic performance.
The way you think, directly affects feelings and behavior. Even though your best performance often
occurs with no conscious thinking ('being in the zone'), this does not happen all the time. Developing
these cognitive strategies can help limit distractions and aide performance.
WHY BOTHER? The pressure of the game can lead to self-criticism and negative self-talk. This will
and beliefs conscious. What we say to ourselves can be positive or negative.
The first step is making it conscious.
(1) Awareness - First, you need to be aware of your inner voice. Some of you may be very conscious
of your internal dialogue. If not, pay attention. Recall your best and worst game from last season. What
was going through your head during each game. Many soccer players find they do best when they are
focused on what they were doing (engrossed in the tasks of marking up, being first to the ball, or
making runs). In contrast, poor performance often occurred when worrying about the result ('I have to
score a goal or deny this player the ball or the team will lose').
(2) Focus - Certain words can help you regain or sharpen your focus. You need to find what works
for you. For example, 'Keep your body over the ball', 'Shield the ball', 'Know your mark', or 'See
the field' can act as cues.
(3) Building Confidence - Self-confidence has to do with your expectation for success. Self-talk can
either boost or undermine your confidence. Since you can usually control self-talk, keep it focused on
performance, not outcome or your sense of self. For example, say 'I can take this player one on one,
just stay loose and focused'. In contrast to 'I'm an idiot if I lose the ball again'.
(4) Changing bad habits - Self talk can be an aid in correcting technical errors. Lets say your not
getting your body over the ball on shots. As you strike the ball you may say 'lean forward' or even
Glenn Van Straatum
510-414-8716
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
DOC Talk -BUILDING SELF-CONFIDENCE (Individually and as a Team)
BUILDING SELF-CONFIDENCE
WHAT IS IT? Self-confidence is the belief that you can handle the demands and challenges of the game. It is based, in part, on how you have performed in previous games. It is also depends on how well you manage your inner critic and the way you think and feel about soccer.
WHY BOTHER? Self-confidence comes more easily to some players than others. When you're feeling confident, you play better. It's easier to manage intensity, you're more focused and better able to handle adversity.
MAKING IT WORK FOR YOU. At times, even the most self-confident soccer players have lapses, begin to doubt their abilities. In order to give your self-confidence a boost, here are three practical and useful approaches.
(1) Develop a fist of personal affirmations - Write down a number of positive statements about yourself. Start with just a few and add to it over time. These are meant to be general sport-related affirmations. For example: *I have made great progress this year. *1 am mentally tough *1 love the challenge of critical situations *1 focus well under pressure
Once you have come up with a number of affirmations, write them on an index card and repeat them on a regular basis. They should include important aspects of your game that have meaning for you and can be repeated during practice, in the locker room, on the sideline, or even on the field. It is useful to change or add to this list over time.
(2) Develop a list of achievement reminders - Three British Sport Psychologists, Bull, Albinson and Shambrook (1996) recommend having this second list which speaks to your best previous performances. For example:
* I played great at tournaments this year. * I was team MVP last year
*My save/assist/defensive play/intensity/goal won the game last month
Don't worry about being modest. This is for your eyes only. Like the personal affirmation list, you can update and change the list as needed. Try and be specific, yet it does not have to be related to winning a game or award. Feel free to review it as much as necessary.
(3) Personal pep talks - Recall some of the most useful things a coach or friend ever said to you about soccer or even life. Remember how that felt and how you were able to use those words and support. Repeat them to yourself. Add to it, develop it. Write it down or just focus on it when you need to.
VIDEO from OnlineSoccerAcademy on dealing with BUILDING SELF-CONFIDENCE
How to be Confident - YouTube
YouTube - Videos from this email
Popular EBU Bay Oaks Jr Coach program has added 30+ new Jr Coaches
Popular EBU Bay Oaks Jr Coach program has added 30+ new Jr Coaches
posted Jun 20, 2012 12:31 AM by Glenn Van Straatum
Dear Jr Coaches, potential Jr Coaches and parents, Coaching License requirement is the basis for entree. Each BO Jr Coach will have the requirement to complete their NSCAA level 2 license course. On June 10th, we had over 45 coaches signed up for the NSCAA Level 2 course and over 30 where Jr Coaches taking the course. Community Service (to the club and team) and Continual Training components are very important Every BO Jr Coach will perform their educational session within a community service week in which the Jr Coach is mentored on coaching from the DOCs and/or current Bay Oaks Staff during summer camps, clinics and trainings. Level 1 BO Jr Coach This level Jr Coach must have their NSCAA Level 2 course completed. In addition, BO Jr Coach level 1 coaches must perform a video taped and critiqued warmup or functional session that is done with a group of players. Feedback and mentoring is done by attending DOCs/Asst DOCs and attending coaching staff. Level 1 BO Jr Coaches can assist in Clinics and Camps under supervision of a lead BO Head Coach or Asst DOC. Minimum requirement for Level 1 Jr Coach is that a player must be 12 years or older. Level 2 BO Jr Coach This level has all the requirements of the Level 1 BO Jr Coach. In addition, Level 2 -BO Jr Coaches must perform a Functional session and need to coach a full game cycle - a Pre-Game talk, Half-time talk and post-game talk. Level 2 BO Jr Coaches can assist in Clinics and Camps. In addition, level 2 coaches can assist level 3 BO Jr Coaches in U8 practices or support BO Head Coaches in coaches at games of younger age-groups. (difference in age-group must be a minimum of 3 age-groups younger than the level 2 BO Jr Coach.) Level 3 - BO Jr Coach This level BO Jr Coach must have all requirements of a Level 2 BO Jr Coach. In addition, this coach must be 14 years of age or older (U15-U18 players). Level 3 - BO Jr Coaches must also complete their NSCAA Level 3 course. For their certification, they must assist a total of three practice and a minimum of two games with a Coach. The BO Jr Coach will be reviewed by a DOC or Asst DOC on his/her preparation of the team at practices and their inputs and performance in assisting during games. The level 3 BO Jr Coach will also be giving a report to the parents on the performance of their kids. Level 3 BO Jr Coaches will be able to coach in U8 as head coaches, can be assistants for U9-U11 teams. They will be able to help in camps and in clinics.
HERE ARE SOME KEY ADVANTAGES FOR OUR BAY OAK JR COACHES -
Attached are the detailed list of all BO Jr Coaches in the program. If you have updated information please contact me directly by e-mail or by phone. Sincerely, Glenn Van Straatum Director of Coaching 510-414-8716 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it East Bay United-Bay Oaks www.eastbayunitedsoccer.org http://www.facebook.com/EastBayUnited.Soccer The Premier Club for Player and Coach Development |
Preparing Kids for Tryouts, and Rejections
Responsible Sports published this guide to helping kids through the tryout process.
Tryouts can be very tough on youth athletes. We know that tryouts are part of the youth sport experience at some point during a youth athlete’s career. (To be sure, we acknowledge the debate about when tryouts – at what age and what level – should begin.) Tryouts are one of the many experiences in youth sports that prepare us for similar situations in our adult lives – college applications, job interviews, church choir auditions, and for some even professional auditions.
Why Ice May Be Bad For Sore Muscles
The New York Times discusses an article in the journal Sports Medicine which suggests that for sore muscles, ice is not always the panacea that most of us believe it to be and that, in some instances, it can be counterproductive. The bottom line: don't ice if you're planning on exercising or playing again right away.
Check out the full article here.
