Help! I Have Mixed Talent!

Mixed talent. Grassroots finest - some players are future pro players. Others are future flower arrangers. How do I run a practice or lead a team that has such a mix of ability and even interest?

Collaboration

Ask the players why they are playing, and what is important to them.

Find a common ground - build your team principles from this.

Individual challenge

Find what makes each player ‘tick’. Ask their parents what other sports they play or what other things they like and who they are at home and away from soccer.

Use this knowledge to challenge them on their level:

I coached a player who loved to play baseball (normal). I learned he was a very good short stop. So, he played ‘short stop’ when working to stop the other team from building out over the 7v7 build out line. He could anticipate where the ball was going to go and even started directing the team around him. Versus criticizing him because he would miss soccer for baseball sometimes, I chose to embrace it and make his skills transfer.

In practice

You can run two of the same activities for different levels of play.

Stronger players on one field, weaker on the other.

If you have an assistant coach, it makes it easier, but one coach can do this.

Specify the rules, set a timer and let them play. Use stoppages to coach them all, versus stopping the activity and coaching. (The coaches toolbox)

Set up games where the best defenders play versus the strongest attackers. The same for your weaker players.

Do not also be afraid to mix them up and give specific team leading instructions to your best players. They don’t need to become a coach, but they can guide their team mates for the benefit of everyone - they’ll learn to be a great team mate here.

In games

Avoid ‘hiding players’ by putting them in a wide position or a striker “out of the way”.

Instead, tell them what they are going to play and how they can play it. Give them equal playing time.

Partner them up with a strong player.

For example. At 7v7 I love a 1-3-2-1 (players call it a Christmas Tree). The outside players of the defending three are ‘partnered’ with one of the middle 2. I always ensure of each partnership is a strong player so they can support the weaker player. Does it always work? Of course not, but I try! This is where SUPPORT is used A LOT!!

Note. They only get better when they play the game. If they don’t play. They cannot improve.

Reflect

Did every player get fair and valuable attention from me, my assistant coach, and the team? Did they all get fair playing time

Was anyone put down for being a lesser, or overly praised for being a better, player? I want to answer no to this, and focus instead on keeping it even throughout the team.

We want them all to come back and play tomorrow. There will be plenty of coaches and situations later in their soccer career where someone will get it wrong (shouting, cursing, uneven playing time), but your role, at this level is to help them love the game.