Slow grassroots progress
Posted on | October 1, 2009 | No Comments
On Monday I dragged myself away from the keyboard to do a bit of football coaching at my local primary school.
‘Coaching’ being a flexible phrase here – I was only helping out and am only qualified by virtue of the fact I’ve played football more than most eight-year-olds.
Nearly ten years ago I had a regular slot at another primary school when I was about 17. Therefore it’s now basically a decade since I got a close look at how children are taught football at school in England.
Not much has changed – but what is different is imporant
Two things stood out;
1. More of the kids can now control the ball with both feet
2. There are girls, well, there were three of them I think
Back in 1999-ish girls’ football was well and truly still a niche interest, second firmly to netball, but they are now very much a proper part of the school game, and at primary school age are fine to join in with the lads.
They were decent too – they could pass, move and had some spacial awareness, showing they are not just involved because the school thinks they should be. One girl broke all the stereotypes by getting tonked on the head by the ball at close range, then got hit in the stomach, and still carried on.
I was also pleased to see there are one or two players very comfortable running with the ball now – only one or two, but it was better than the re-shape, hit long pass, re-shape, hit long pass rhythm of the kids who had a decent touch 10 years ago.
I’ll be helping out for another four weeks only, but I’m glad to see there are some subtle changes to the way very young children are encouraged to approach football in England.
Chris Breese
Tags: childrens' soccer > football coaching > school football > youth football development
The weekend round-up
Posted on | September 28, 2009 | 1 Comment
Spain – La Liga: Barcelona and Real Madrid both kept up their 100 per cent records, Barca thanks to a 2-0 win at Malaga and Real with a 3-0 win over Tenerife, with Karim Benzema scoring twice.
Valencia drew 2-2 with Atletico Madrid at the Mestalla on Saturday, with Maxi grabbing a last-gasp equaliser for the visitors, who are still down in 18th and without a win in five games.
Sevilla dented Athletic Bilbao’s strong start to the season by tonking them 4-0, while Xerez now have a point but still no goals after a 0-0 draw at Espanyol.
England – Premier League: Chelsea lost their top spot berth after a shock 3-1 defeat at Wigan, with the visitors playing the last 40 minutes with 10 men after goalkeeper Petr Cech was sent off.
Manchester United slid back into first place after beating Stoke 2-0 away, while Liverpool beat Hull 6-1 at home thanks to a stunning hat-trick from Fernando Torres.
Arsenal continued their ominous progress with a 1-0 win at Fulham while rock bottom Portsmouth lost again, 1-0 at home to Everton.
Italy – Serie A: Inter were stunned away at Sampdoria, the leaders going down 1-0 thanks to a goal from Giampaolo Pazzini.
In a low-scoring weekend in Italy, Milan drew 0-0 at home to Bari in a result which leaves them in 11th and Juventus missed out on the chance to go top with a 1-1 draw at home to Bologna.
Fourth-placed Fiorentina won 1-0 at Livorno thanks to a penalty from Stevan Jovetic.
Elsewhere, in Germany, first placed Hamburg beat Bayern 1-0 at home to leave the Munich side in seventh and yet to get their season off to a fully convincing start.
Leverkusen are second due to goal difference only and one 1-0 away at Cologne. Champions Wolfsburg beat Hannover 4-2 at home.
In Portugal Porto beat Sporting 1-0 thanks to an early goal from Falcao, while Benfica beat Leixoes 5-0. Table-toppers Braga beat Olhanense 1-0 away.
Finally, in France’s Ligue 1, Bordeaux beat Rennes 1-0, while Lyon beat Toulouse 2-1, also at home.
Chris Breese
[Photo: Philip Gabrielsen]
Tags: bundesliga > fernando torres > Karim Benzema > la liga > Liga Sagres > ligue 1 > Petr Cech > premier league > Serie A
The weekend preview
Posted on | September 25, 2009 | No Comments
Spain – La Liga: Barcelona and Real Madrid are now the only two sides left with perfect records after Athletic Bilbao went down in midweek. Real are at home to Tenerife on Saturday and Barcelona travel to Malaga on the Sunday.
Both Ronaldo for Real and Lionel Messi for Barcelona have started the season in frightening form, although defending champions Barca will probably have to do without new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Sunday thanks to an ankle knock.
Much of the talk in Spain is also now about Atletico Madrid’s dreadful start to the season: they are in 19th, above only Xerez after picking up only two points in the first four games. Pressure is mounting on coach Abel Resino (pictured), although both star strikers, Kun Aguero and Diego Forlan, are hitting form and could yet dig the club out of the relegation zone.
Atletico are off to Valencia on Saturday, with the home side’s David Villa on five goals already for the season.
England – Premier League: Third-placed Liverpool play Hull on Saturday and first-placed Chelsea visit Wigan, while Manchester United visit ‘battling’ (ugly) Stoke, also on Saturday.
Chelsea are top, and looking strong under Carlo Ancelotti, although Manchester United may be boosted by a late victory over rivals Manchester City last Sunday.
Arsenal, who are hitting form again after losing to Manchester United earlier in the season, are heading to Fulham, who have also made a strong start to the season and boast a strong home record.
Italy – Serie A: Inter Milan remain top after a 3-1 win over Napoli in midweek. They head to Sampdoria on Saturday, who have also started well, but who lost their 100 per cent record after losing 2-0 to Fiorentina in midweek.
Juventus, in second, are at home to Bologna and will be looking to build on their strong start, while struggling Milan are at home to Bari.
Elsewhere, in Germany Bayern travel to Hamburg on Saturday while Werder Bremen host Mainz. Champions Wolfsburg play Hannover.
Portugal’s Liga Sagres sees Olhanense play host to first-placed Braga, and Porto host Sporting.
Finally, in France, Ligue 1 will see Lyon host Toulouse and champions Bordeaux play Rennes.
Chris Breese
Tags: Abel Resino > Atletico Madrid > barcelona > bundesliga > chelsea > inter milan > Juventus > la liga > ligue 1 > Lionel Messi > Liverpool > Manchester United > premier league > Real Madrid > Serie A