Eastern NY Youth Soccer Association

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Coaching Education

Our Youngest Players Deserve Better

By Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

I spend a good amount of time on fields all over Long Island and am lucky enough to work with a staff of 16 fellow educators who spend a similar amount of time around fields all over the state. We talk frequently about the inherent joy in coaching, the challenges of teaching courses and the coaching we see on the fields.

However, with our recent grassroots mandate, we have created a tipping point with travel-aged players. No such tipping point has been created for the huge number of intramural players involved throughout the state and the unfortunate truth of the environments these young players are being taught the game in is quite scary.

The most common issues seen are:

  • Too many players on the field. Fewer players, more touches, more decisions, more goals, and as most kids do not begin to understand space until age seven watching 10 kids crowd around one ball should make it clear how unproductive games with larger numbers can be at the ages of 4, 5 and 6. It is worth noting that US soccer is currently piloting 2v2 and 3v3 games with ball never-out guidelines. There are so many evidence-based articles on the difference in the number of touches and associated fun that as I write this, I wonder what drives the move to bigger games.
  • Young children doing stretching routines and running laps around a field. Their young bodies are quite elastic and stretching young players is a complete waste of time. Nothing is less needed than running laps without a ball.
  • Developmentally-inappropriate training. Young players love activity, they need a huge number of fun activities with the ball so they can become comfortable enough to start to look up and see options, which is the start of decision-making. They hate lines, sitting out, waiting to take a turn, not being involved and being coached like a miniature child.
  • Training Companies supply coaches who have zero expertise or knowledge of the skills needed when coaching players aged 4-7.
  • Clubs in collusion with training companies who have decided that dragging 2-year-olds out to organized soccer is a good idea.
  • The move back to LAPS, LINES AND LECTURES, none of which have any place in teaching young players. I have witnessed firsthand a young coach employed as a professional trainer spend 3+ minutes explaining a line-based activity to a group of 4-year-olds.

All should remember that their first steps in the game are VITAL. They must love the experience and look forward with smiles to the next training session. The sessions should be filled with howls of joy and constant activity. Only then will they keep coming back and learn to love the game.

I have written lots of activity-driven curriculum for these age groups and if you have any interest in looking at it, please e-mail me at tbradbury@enysoccer.com

Become a Better Coach By Registering for the “C” License Course

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

March 1, 2024-Soccer coaches can unleash their potential when the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) hosts the “C” Coaching Course.

“This is a great course that is a vital stepping stone for those that wish to move onto the B and A courses,” commented Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching for Eastern New York. “The C is the foundation of all high-level licenses and is full of vital teaching strategies and game concepts.“

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, be currently coaching and have held a National “D” License for a minimum of one year or meet the waiver guidelines: https://learning.ussoccer.com/coach/courses/available/4/course-info

This “C” course and first-class curriculum is designed for coaches working with players ages 13 and up. The course encompasses the various tasks of the coach, including training sessions, coaching games, leading players, leading the teams and managing a performance environment plus vital theory sessions on periodization and principles of play with field sessions. There is both an instruction/development period and an assessment period.

The fee for each course is $1,650. The course at Afrim’s Sports Park in Colonie has begun but there are still openings for the Downstate course:

Long Island

Field of Dreams, 424 Salisbury Park Drive, Westbury, NY 11590

Course opening webinar: May 5, 7:00 to 8:30 pm

In-person meetings, a mix of field and classroom sessions: June 17 to 20

Course closing webinar: August 24, 7:00 to 8:00 pm

Register here 

Registration needs to be through the US Soccer Digital Learning Center. Any questions can be directed to Eastern New York’s Director of Coaching Tim Bradbury (tbradbury@enysoccer.com).

With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 10 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Become a Better Coach in 2024 by Registering for the C License Course

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

January 9, 2024-Soccer coaches can unleash their potential when the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) hosts the “C” Coaching Course both Upstate and Downstate.

“This is a great course that is a vital stepping stone for those that wish to move onto the B and A courses,” commented Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching for Eastern New York. “The C is the foundation of all high-level licenses and is full of vital teaching strategies and game concepts.“

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, be currently coaching and have held a National “D” License for a minimum of one year or meet the waiver guidelines: https://learning.ussoccer.com/coach/courses/available/4/course-info

This “C” course and first-class curriculum is designed for coaches working with players ages 13 and up. The course encompasses the various tasks of the coach, including training sessions, coaching games, leading players, leading the teams and managing a performance environment plus vital theory sessions on periodization and principles of play with field sessions. There is both an instruction/development period and an assessment period.

The fee for each course is $1,650. The meeting dates are:

Upstate

Afrim’s Sports Park, 969 Watervilet-Shaker Road, Colonie, NY 12205

Course opening webinar: February 25, 7:00 to 8:30 pm

In-person meetings, a mix of field and classroom sessions: April 8 to 11

Course closing webinar: June 29, 7:00 to 8:30 pm

Register here 

Downstate

Field of Dreams, 424 Salisbury Park Drive, Westbury, NY 11590

Course opening webinar: May 5, 7:00 to 8:30 pm

In-person meetings, a mix of field and classroom sessions: June 17 to 20

Course closing webinar: August 24, 7:00 to 8:00 pm

Register here 

Registration needs to be through the US Soccer Digital Learning Center. Any questions can be directed to Eastern New York’s Director of Coaching Tim Bradbury (tbradbury@enysoccer.com).

With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 10 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

New Hope in a New Year

By Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

Over the winter period, a number of youth participation reports that are published each year come out. These reports show encouraging numbers for youth soccer. Within Eastern New York, we have every right to be encouraged with the kick-off of 2024 due to the huge number of coaches who have found the time within the last two years to become minimally licensed with a grassroots coaching license or comparable diploma. 

All studies that have been carried out show an increase in player retention that coincides with coaches becoming more qualified. So I am hopeful that the Spring Season will be the start of a growth period for all clubs and leagues. I am acutely aware that for this hope to become a reality, we need all parents to support some of the key outcomes that should coincide with thousands of more educated coaches. These outcomes should include all below. 

  1. A renewed dedication to the belief that development and fun should come before a win-at-all-costs mentality.
     
  2. A renewed and obvious desire to teach in a way that helps instill a lifelong love for sport and soccer.
     
  3. A focus on the fact that it is the players’ game and that they should be allowed to think and make decisions, both good and bad, without some adult who has never played shouting at them about what they should have done.
     
  4. A focus on attention to individual player development where they come home from practice and games excited by the effort their coach has made to help each individual player.
     
  5. Renewed and constant attempts where coaches work to foster positive parent engagement.
     
  6. Perhaps for the first time, a team who look like they have a game idea and style of play and all sing from the same song sheet. 
     

Perhaps in the time between now and the Spring Season kicking off, parents can spend a moment reaching out to their child’s coach asking how they support the team this coming season?

Don’t Coach From the Sidelines

EASTERN NY YOUTH ASSOCIATION (ENYYSA) JOINS “DON’T COACH FROM THE SIDELINES” CAMPAIGN

(August 16, 2023) – EASTERN NY YOUTH ASSOCIATION (ENYYSA) is proud to join US Youth Soccer and 24 additional state associations to launch a “Don’t Coach from the Sidelines” Campaign targeted at improving sideline etiquette from spectators and coaches. Leveraged by the membership of the 24 state associations that are involved with this initiative, more than one million players and 100,000 coaches will directly receive the message of the national campaign.

As part of this initiative to improve sideline behavior, a video has been created to provide education and improve awareness around this critical topic

Click for Video: https://youtu.be/94xeCRYO9Hw 

EASTERN NY YOUTH ASSOCIATION (ENYYSA) has seen its membership base grow to over 100,000 youth players, 10,000 active coaches, and thousands of volunteers through its network of 10 member leagues and more than 350 member clubs across the state. This growth is thanks to efforts by the state association, member leagues, member clubs, referees, and the soccer community at large. To ensure the continued growth and development of soccer in our state continues, EASTERN NY YOUTH ASSOCIATION (ENYYSA) believes we must all do our part to create a safe, friendly, and fully inclusive soccer environment for our youth players to enjoy the game. “We’re grateful to Indiana Soccer for leading this project in an effort to improve the environment for our youth players,” said Laura Francis, ENYYSA Operations Director. Sideline behavior is crucial, and we will continue to make it a priority so that players enjoy their soccer experience”.

Ball State University recently conducted research that included parent surveys regarding their sideline experience, and their work also involved the surveying of referees who stepped down from officiating. Based on their research, the element that predominately led to a diminished experience for parents and the key reason officials leave the game is the negative sideline etiquette from spectators and coaches. The common themes were verbal abuse of the referees and the parent’s coaching from the sidelines. As a result, US Youth Soccer and participating state associations are developing a series of behavior modification videos to help improve the experience of all stakeholders.

“The recent survey conducted by Ball State University clearly revealed that only a small portion of coaches, parents and players are diminishing the experience for the vast majority of stakeholders,” said Dave Guthrie, Executive Director of Indiana Soccer. “Unfortunately, these few bad actors are ruining the game for the masses. It is our hope that through education, which is what the video was created to do, will educate the offenders and they will realize that their behavior is toxic and unwelcomed.”

The Don’t Coach from the Sidelines Campaign is an expansion of a focused initiative to improve sideline etiquette from spectators and coaches. Earlier this year, a Respect The Ref Campaign and corresponding video was launched, and the national initiative has now seen its efforts broaden to the commitment of 24 state associations.

Holiday Message from Tim Bradbury

A Time to Say “Thank You!”

By Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

Perhaps it is because I really love the idea of Christmas and the holiday season in the old-fashioned sense that we all get to breathe for a second and spend time with family and loved ones. Or perhaps it is just the idea of giving and saying, “Thank you!” that I like the most. Whatever the reason, with a few tweaks, this is the message this December 2023.

I would like to say an enormous “Thank you!” to the thousands of coaches who have taken the time to take their grassroots license courses. Since we introduced the idea that every child playing travel-aged soccer deserves a minimally licensed coach, we have had more than 6,000 coaches participate in a wide variety of course experiences. The obvious outcome of which is that tens of thousands of players will be placed in better soccer environments in 2024.

I would also like to thank all the educators who have helped support the program and spent endless hours teaching these courses. A great commitment from a great team. None of this would have been possible without the support of all the staff that work in the ENNYSA office who over the last 3-4 years have dealt with thousands of calls and e-mails regarding the grassroots mandate program.

As a part of the grassroots course experience, coaches learn about the six tasks of a coach. The idea of two of those tasks “leading the player” and “leading the team,” perhaps with a third managing the performance environment, is I hope illustrated by all that follows.

I take great care and pride in the efforts I make to lead players and teams in a holistic way. I’m completely aware that although many of them may not become great players who play professionally or at college, they all may become great people who play for life, coach one day, and become active responsible adults. I spend time learning about my players’ lives outside of the game, how they are doing at school, and how family life is going and attempt to display a genuine interest in their likes and dislikes. 

As I coach a good number of teenage players, I frequently talk to them about how they are helping their families and what they do to actually support moms, dads, brothers, and sisters. Are they a positive member of the family community or are they purely wrapped up in their own wants? The conversation starts with how they perform and act at practice. The challenge I present to all the players I coach is: 

“Can you be the player who most impacts practice and ensures that the learning environment is ideal for all? Can you be the first one in ?, Can you be the most coachable player in the group? Can you be the one who most helps with equipment ?, Can you be the player who notices a teammate is down and gives them a word of inspiration or comfort ?” 

I work hard to make them aware that the mission above should be their number one priority and that if I can get all 18 to place it as their core mission, we will soon have a team that makes remarkable progress. 

Another of the core values that I work on with players is respect. The team dynamic is that we respect each other, we respect the refs, we respect the parents and all the work they do so players get to train and play. Part of this culture that deals with respect is saying “Thank you!” I encourage them to thank each other at the end of each game and practice, thank the refs at the end of each game and, of course, thank their parents at the end of the drive home. I ask them all to try and display their thanks by helping at home by doing something around the house that helps the family. 

It seems appropriate at this time of year to once again encourage a few thank-you notes (Jimmy Fallon-like). So not just because it’s Christmas but more because it’s just the right thing to do I encourage all 

“Players to thank your parents for the endless hours spent driving you to practice and games while remembering not to shout orders to you as you play.”

“Parents to thank coaches for their efforts in developing your child even though they didn’t win as many games as you thought they should have and have yet to recognize your child is the next Messi.”

“Coaches to thank club officials and administrators for all their efforts even if the biggest space you got to train in was only suitable for 3v3 and you got the 9:00-10:30 pm slot on a Friday.”

“Coaches to thank referees for the courage they show in turning up game after game knowing they will be subjected to endless ridiculous comments shouted at the top of their voices from an adult who obviously never kicked a ball.”

“Coaches to thank the refs who forget to give you and the players the 5-minute speech on when and where substitutes may enter the game like they are sharing some news on a discovery in creating energy.”

“Coaches to tournament organizers who remember that we live in the Northeast United States and that winter along with frigid temperatures arrives at about the same time every year. They also should be thanked for remembering how it feels to play outside when the real feel is so harsh you lose the feeling in your toes after five minutes.”

And lastly but most importantly: 

“Players to parents who spend the car ride home listening to loud holiday music and in so doing forget to share the latest post mortem on your performance in the game.”

Best wishes to one and all,

Tim

CJSL appoints Darren Marshall as Director of Education

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

December 7, 2023-The Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL), the oldest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and in all of American youth soccer, has announced the appointment of Darren Marshall as the first Director of Education (DOE) of the league. This newly established position underscores the CJSL’s commitment to elevating player and coach development plus providing a world-class soccer development platform for clubs in New York City. As the CJSL celebrates its 90th Anniversary, the addition of Coach Marshall demonstrates the league’s ongoing commitment to excellence and growth in partnership with US Youth Soccer, where Skip Gilbert, CEO of US Youth Soccer, addressed the milestone celebration.

In his role as Director of Education, Darren will collaborate closely with CJSL clubs, fostering personalized player development plans plus overseeing talent identification and growth evaluations. Key responsibilities of the DOE include maintaining up-to-date coaching education pathways, teaching courses tailored to league coaches, offering guidance and support to clubs plus monitoring coaching needs.

“The establishment of the Director of Education position represents a major milestone for our league,” CJSL President Ron Restrepo stated. “We are dedicated to providing our clubs and players with the highest level of coaching education and development opportunities. Darren’s appointment reaffirms our commitment to enhancing all our clubs and to be ‘more than a league.’ “

Darren has served as a staff coach at US Soccer’s National Training Centers, contributed to club development and coached diverse age groups. His impressive coaching background includes time with the Boston Breakers, leading Olympic Development Program (ODP) teams in international tournaments and evaluating ODP Regional Pools. He holds the US Soccer “A” License, US Soccer Premier Diploma and Grass Roots Instructor qualifications among others.

“As the Director of Education for the CJSL, I hope to open pathways on player and coach development and create a lasting support network within the league,” Darren said. “I want to use my soccer education and experience to contribute to the league’s mission of providing top-tier soccer development for all clubs and players.”

With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 10 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/