MYSA wraps up successful Winter Symposium

Goalkeepers pair training

MYSA concluded their Winter Symposium on Saturday, February 7th. Besides meetings for DOC’s coaches and directors of clubs, the organization also presented 7 coaching clinics and 2 clinics that were directly related to soccer coaches, players and parents.

Friday evening saw presentations by Peter McGahey, Minnesota State University, Mankato Women’s Soccer Head Coach on ‘Training Priorities for the U12 player: A Player-Centered Approach.’ There was also a presentation on ‘First Step: Injury Prevention and Performance Enhancement Training.’

Tony Englund

Tony Englund, Burnsville Fire Director of Coaching, presented a goalkeeper clinic that was well attended. His presentation examined the possibilities of intensive pairs training for goalkeepers. Specifically, topical modules in the areas of the game-day warm-up, footwork, fitness, handling and distribution, diving, pressure training, reactions, and shot-stopping in a pairs format. Englund covered many exercises. The overall concept was to teach the keepers these drills so that once mastered, the coach can easily assign a relevant module for the goalkeepers to work on while the team is working on topics where it is difficult to comb in the goalkeepers. The idea was to maximize the intensity and productivity in the team training environment for this very specialized position.

Roberto Lopez, USSF National staff coach also presented a clinic on Friday evening called “Training Priorities for the U14 Player: Developing Instinctive 1v1 Players.” Using the concept, “The Game is The Great Teacher,” Lopez brought coaches through a series of drills that may have been familiar but with some unique takes. Lopez showed how to bring out different aspects of the actual game, like switching the point of attack, looking both ways, getting the ball out wide and then quick penetration up the middle, and defensive line shifting.

Roberto Lopez works with players

Saturday’s presentations were by Wayne Harrison, Eden Prairie Soccer Club Director of Coaching. He presented ‘Awareness training for Soccer.’ Sheila McGill, St. Thomas University Women’s Soccer Head Coach with ‘Fitness In The Game,’ and Lang Wedemeyer, South Dakota State University Women’s Soccer Head Coach with ‘Competing to Win In the Right Way.’

Roberto Lopez may have had the best attended session on Saturday with a B-licensed topic called, ‘Playing out of the Back with 3 Defenders’. Lopez addressed how to use the Defenders, Central Midfielders and The GK to come out playing out of the back in control and possession of the ball.

JumpForward presentaion

In a seminar after lunch on Saturday, JumpForward gave a presentation to players, parents coaches and club administrators. JumpForward spokesman Adam McCombs gave an outstanding talk on a new online tool called, JumpForward.  The website is an important tool for all student athletes thinking about playing college soccer as well as their parents. The site is free and is packed with information you have to know and understand if you are looking to play college soccer. It also helps you track your progress for grades and core classes needed to move onto the college that you hope to attend.

The site also has a wealth of information on colleges, their sports programs and what necessary to be excepted by these colleges. It is also filled with tips and suggestions from those who have been involved with the college recruiting process for years.

After watching McCombs’ presentation, I’m sold on this online tool and highly recommend it for any student athlete looking to attend college.