Landon Donovan Part !

Landon Donovan Part I

This week Landon Donovan was left off the United States World Cup roster for 2014. Many people have spoken out about this truly great player’s perceived snub. But if we look deeper into this, we may find, for the first time in a long time, a National coach setting the precedent that it is truly “play by performance” when it comes to making an elite team and  subsequent playing time no matter what your credentials are up to that point.

Donavon, the MLS all time leading scorer has started to get old. Aren’t we all? But in a game that increasingly has gotten younger, as seen by the deletion of some all time names form the participating nation’s World Cup rosters, a hidden fact is emerging as what we can only hope is a mantra that filters down all the way to high school and post puberty youth sports.

Those who play best play most. And playing the best players means the players who are playing the best at that time, not necessarily the most talented players. This is a fluid situation, not one cemented in stone. It means both a mental and physical commitment to a team. You can only get that, or ask for that, if all who play, get an equal and repeated chance to play and excel, thus lifting the entire team’s performance.

And no that does not mean a 12 year old child has to play one sport year round, miss a family vacation, or miss another activity, just so a youth or high school team can show off its control over their players under the guise of commitment. That full time commitment should only happen when the player turns 16 and has been given repeated chances to play any sport they want, for as long and as little time as they want.

You see Donovan has only one goal so far this year on his club team. He was pulled from a game with the national team. Last year, he took time off, which he deserved to do, if that is what he wanted. And look, there is still time between now and the World Cup, and maybe things will change. Maybe he will get to play and this exercise will be a wakeup call for everyone involved in soccer.

But the simple fact remains that the U.S. squad has not won a world cup with him on the roster. Now I am in no way blaming him for that fact. But if what you are doing is not working out, why would you not change? The U.S. has not won a World Cup or even gotten a medal in the Olympics in soccer.  Why continue to do the same thing over and over and expect different results?

Why not bring in some new players, some very young players, and let them give it a go? Let that “new blood” bring enthusiasm and a different approach to a team. Why not encourage multiple sport athletes and develop the athlete first, and the player second? Let’s see over time what sport they choose, not a single sport chosen for them.

 Inner team competition is the only way to truly get better as a team and as a player. You then take that competition into a game, and see how you stack up versus an opponent.

Playing Time

I had a conversation with a parent about her son. He had made the varsity team and was not playing. Certain things may or may not have been said while he was playing junior varsity, but as I explained, that is in the past.

The parent wanted to know what she should do. I understand that parents want what’s best for their children. I do too. But what a life lesson their son is learning in this environment. He will be faced with adversity in his adult life and this is a good, safe place for him to learn that life is not fair.

He is a good student and the parents run the risk of putting so much emphasis on this that he loses his value of getting great grades.

You see, it really is none of the parents business. I know this is harsh. I could write to you  about all the grey areas involved here but the bottom line for 99% of the children playing youth sports, is that the it is the child’s choice, the child’s life, and any problems he should deal with on his own.

This is not to say I am not sympathetic with the parents’ plight. Their son has shown a acumen to play sports and the parents have spent a lot of money and time with him doing this activity. But it was their choice. And now when they see something they don’t like or may be unfair they react. To their credit, they came to me first.

When a younger player was called up that too irked them. Maybe I said your son could befriend this kid. How cool would that be?

Maybe you could stop going to the games and sitting in the stands. I have seen parents trying not to make a scene, but there body language says they are. They shake their head, fidget in their seats, and secretly hope another child makes a mistake so their son can get in.

It’s really just another form of entitlement. If another parent intervened with their child, although if they were a friend they would be sympathetic, they would see that parent looking to get an edge, and they would not like it. The rules apply to everyone but me.

Now let’s say this boy goes on to play college ball and as a freshman has a chance to play. The coach plays a senior because he’s a senior over their child. Roles reversed. How do you feel then?

I know this is difficult. But your child is going to face these problems later on in life at work and in relationships and isn't this an excellent place, a safe place for him to learn on his own, how to cope with adversity isn't this a great place for him to find his own path? Isn't this a great place for him to figure out how to deal with problems in a group setting?

Sectional Points

It is the time of year where once again the talk around high school sports points to the sectional playoffs in each sport. Along the way, while working with many coaches, athletes, parents, and talking to Athletic Directors I have heard a curious new mantra. “We need to get as many sectional points as possible for seeding purposes.”

Now this in itself is not disturbing or new. A team wanting to get a higher seed in a tournament is part of why we play and coach. But there is a troubling buzz in the background. It is almost like a white noise. These signals, mostly in the background, provide a constant tone that differentiates this desire for sectional points and real life coaching expectations and playing applications.

 Let me explain.

Over the course of the three seasons this year in high school athletics I have met, counseled, spoke, trained, and listened to as many people as possible. I have heard a new mantra emerge.” I will not play teams that can cost me sectional points or a championship.” It is not said directly. It is not even inferred by the participants. When you start to listen and question people I as I have in and around high school athletics, you hear “it is always the other team” that doesn’t want to play us. It is never their team, nor even their choice, but it is a curious coincidence that these scheduling conflicts appear over and over again, with the same teams, the teams that are higher up in the standings.

Now as a coach and player who believes in the mantra: “If you want to be the best, you have to play the best.” I am troubled by this new concept. Not only does it hinder the development of players on a team, by constantly playing and coaching to “win”, but it gives an excuse for entitlement. Coaches can manage the game to win instead of coaching the kids to get better. It is a convenient excuse to not play certain players.

My U-19 travel baseball team was given a choice by the league we were in to ply in the A division, or B division. I explained to the players on our team, which had no one over the age of 17, which I would prefer to play in the A division as that is the only way to get better. The completion would be tough, and there were no guaranteed victories anywhere on the schedule. I asked them privately what division they wanted to play. It was unanimous.

 After the season was over one of the parents came up to me and complained about our record. She was used to winning and this year we did not win many games. But boy, oh boy, the players and teams we played against were awesome. All the kids agreed. Not one kid complained all year when we were struggling. They thrived on the competition.

Conversely my son played on a team where the coach purposely played in much weaker division than they could have played in. When they lost in the first round of the playoffs, the coach and staff blamed the loss on the other team’s ringers.

Read more about it in my book “Stop the Tsunami in Youth Sports.”

Never once did I try, as a coach, to avoid scheduling a certain opponent. On many occasions I have scheduled in youth sports, modified, high school sports, and college the very best opponent every single time that I could. And if I couldn’t get them on the schedule this year, I found a way to play them the next year. I would rather play the best team in our league or the best opponent out there in non league games 5 times during the year rather than to play the worse team once. Playing those teams is how you get better. Not playing those teams is all about ego.

But now I hear it over and over, in many sports, and many levels, it’s all about winning. I hear from one coach that another coach refuses to play them. I hear from other coaches that they have this phenomenal record, yet when I look at their schedule there are an automatic 10-15 wins on their schedule.

 Recently I asked a coach about putting together a division of all the best teams each year on one division. He looked at me like I had three heads. He said no one would ever go for it because everyone wanted to win their division and play for a sectional championship.

Well, playing a tough schedule is how you and your team get better. Letting a lot of kids play so you have great inner team competition is the way to go. Letting them compete, without worrying about who is going to win one particular game, and more about the team getting better is what we have a responsibility to teach our children. This way leads to more championships than any other way I have ever seen.

But once again, it comes back to entitlement. It is just in another form. This time it is a white noise in the background, which will soon be a loud blast to our senses

If we will listen.

A different way to coach

A different way to coach

I was asked, after a talk I gave at a college to a Sport coaching class, by a student from the class I was speaking at, about playing time. He wanted to know if he played well, worked hard, shouldn’t he play all the time.

During the class I had asked him if he would still practice hard on his college team if he didn’t get to play in any of the six games. He said he would. I wouldn’t. I’d be upset. But he hung around after class was over and walked with the teacher and me to the cafeteria.

 I asked him to push against my shoulder for 15 seconds. I then asked him to stop for 15 seconds. I then asked him to start again. He could feel the difference when he pushed the second time.

You see in game, when you play all the time, you start to pace yourself. Sometimes, you get tired and just need a break. Sure your personal stats might suffer, but you and the team will be better for it.

I then asked him when he next played a pickup game to remove himself from the game and ask another player who didn’t get to play much to take his place. Put your arm around him and give him a little encouragement and tell him to go out and have some fun.

Here is what will happen. The new kid will play better. He will try harder and the competition in the game will pick up for everybody. Everybody will start to “pick up” their game and play better.

Since you were the one that started this, other players will look to you as a leader without having to address them directly.

You will come back into the game later and you will feel better, and will play better. The guy who went in for you will now be playing better, and will push others. This will increase inter team completion the, very essence of development and improvement.

He smiled, turned to he is teacher and said:” I really like this guy.” And left.