CASL Coaches Connection

Hi Coaches,

Information that I want to pass along to our entire community of recreation coaches. 

How to manage a one-sided game


In youth soccer leagues, one of the key ingredients to good player experience is to ensure competitive games with balanced teams. However, despite efforts to create equality between teams, there are occasions when one team is much stronger than the other. This presents a problem for both teams; the weaker team has morale issues in the face of a negative goal margin, while the stronger team does not really gain from playing a one-sided game.
 
One of the more difficult challenges for a volunteer parent-coach is when he finds himself in this situation managing a soccer game. If you are coaching the losing team, there are a limited number of things you can do. A defensive alignment may reduce the final margin, but it will not change the reality. Keeping your strongest players on the field at the expense of the weaker players is not fair either. In the end, the only real relief will depend on the actions of the winning team's coach.

If you happen to be that soccer coach, you are not in an easy situation. In fact, many coaches will confess that being the winning coach in a one-sided game is far more awkward than being the losing coach. At least, as the winning coach, you have a chance to do something about it. But how does a coach tell his players not to score anymore, especially when that's the whole point of the game?

Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to ensure that the score remains reasonable and the other team is not humiliated. You should avoid "running up the score" and instead should seek new challenges for your own team within the context of the game. When a game score margin reaches five goals (5-0, 6-1, 7-2, etc.), the winning team should take immediate measures to limit additional goals without embarrassing the opposing team. 



Try some of the following tips:

• Switch players into unfamiliar positions (defenders into attack and vice-versa)
• Provide more playing time to players who pose less of a scoring threat (while still allowing all players to play at least one half)
• Require multiple passes before a goal can be scored (for example, three or more consecutive passes must be completed before a shot can be attempted)
• When you win the ball, ensure that you play the ball back into your defensive half before going to goal
• Allow players to shoot only from outside the penalty area
• Allow players to shoot only on a volley or with a headball (suitable for older teams)
• Allow players to only score off of a pass (1 touch finishing)

 Thank you for all you do and please make an effort to keep these ideas in mind during your games.

Bryan Farnsworth