Interview About Jurgen Klinsmann & US Football

I was asked recently to answer a few quetions about Jurgen Klinsmann, the new Head Coach for the US mens national team and how it relates to football in Washington. Below is my response:

1. Was this the right hire for the USA? Why/why not?

Jurgen Klinsmann: US Men's National Team Head Coach

I think this was absolutely the right choice of Head Coach for the US for two main reasons. As Klinsmann stated on his appointment, US soccer needs a clear, defined identity – a philosophy in which the nation’s fans, coaches, parents and players can appreciate, understand and ultimately follow. The US now has someone with a vast amount of experience within different ‘football’ cultures such as Germany, Italy, England and club level and national levels of the game in which to develop such a philosophy and identity. I’m sure that he will use this experience to develop the game over here because not only does he have this experience from Europe, he actually knows and understands the US culture and wants to develop it also – the second reason why I believe he will be successful.

Klinsmann has lived on the west coast in California for about 15 years now and understands that the culture is so different to anywhere else in the world. It might be difficult for most Americans to understand but the US collegiate sports culture is so unique here and I’m not so sure that it works for developing soccer players –to develop well rounded student athletes the system is great and works well for American football, basketball and baseball etc but to compete with the rest of the world at soccer where players all around the world are already being placed into reserve teams and 1^st teams at 16-18 years of age (where in the US, players go on to represent colleges with players of a similar age/ability for another 3-4 years) it can prove to create a disadvantage for potential US national team players. They miss a good 3 years of being in an environment with older, better and more experienced professional players.

I believe Klinsmann understands this and whether he works out alternatives to the development system or just adapts to it, I am sure he will get the most out of what he can. The main thing now though is the entire nation to understand that Klinsmann has been brought in to succeed over a long term period. If fans think that his appointment is going to help the current group of US players go to Brazil in 2014 and bring back the World Cup then they may need to have a rethink….!

2. Do you agree with him that MLS must lengthen its season to build US players?

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/10/10/klinsmann-says-extra-work-required-mls-based-players

In all honesty I think that this is just one of several elements that Klinsmann has identified which needs altering in order to compete with the rest of the world and the media just decided to place the spotlight on this one.

Klinsmann discusses the physical elements that are affected by a shorter season compared with other leading nations in the world but the mental elements are also vital here. A longer season means more time that the players have to be focused on the game which has to be good. A quick change to this would be to make the US Open Cup a larger competition by making it longer by having MLS teams placed in the early rounds with more USL/NASL and USL PDL teams.

 

The Lamar US Open Cup: Could it be a longer competition?

More PDL teams added to the completion would create more ‘David & Goliath’ scenarios similar to those that make the English FA Cup so intriguing each yea. This would be great over here – I know that Americans love this kind of situation, where there is a massive underdog against a massive favorite. This would be great for players to compete in, make the season longer and improve the game’s attraction quality if marketed well.

I understand that in the states the soccer season has to try and fit into a schedule dominated by American Football, basketball and baseball but if the game is to grow there has to be more games that the fans can watch in the stadiums as opposed to watching their own team once every couple of weeks and games overseas on the television.

3. What do you make of these comments?

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-01/new-coach-klinsmann-says-u-s-soccer-needs-identity-youth-development.html

Klinsmann: Former Head Coach of Bayern Munich

I think that everything he says makes complete sense but I that’s because I share the same kind of philosophies as him regarding youth development. I have always been a student of Dutch and Spanish football which is very technically oriented. The German way is very similar although there is slightly more focus placed on the organization and tactical elements that are typical of the entire German culture, one of organization, discipline and industry. The German belief in detail and precision has done much to help define the soccer philosophies of that nation ever since the forming of many of its clubs from simple gymnastic organizations over a hundred years ago.

Klinsmann is clearly a very intelligent individual with a desire to improve the game in this country yet as I have spent a lot of time at the kind of level in which he outlines needs to be influenced in order to produce more technical players I have to say I am quite pessimistic of his chances of seeing this happen in any great volume– at least in my lifetime anyway. It means influencing an entire culture and that will take generations really – a culture that is built on believing that bigger is better, built on fighting to be the biggest in business, fighting to be the biggest and most powerful military force in the world, the biggest and most powerful athletes who hit the biggest, throw the biggest, run the fastest in the world based on win, win, win and clearly it has helped to create quite a nation with quite a wonderful sporting culture – but just not a soccer culture.

Messi: Arguably the worlds greatest player

You only have to look at the best players and some of the best teams in the world currently to see players from Barcelona, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Corinthians and the Spanish, Dutch and Brazilian national teams. These players are more ‘piano player’ than ‘piano movers’ - players who are more likely to create images of a swift and agile sword-fighting musketeer than a GI Joe. You can imagine how much longer it takes to become the former in each of these comparisons than the latter. The game at the top level of the world is being dominated by teams and players that dominate possession and to do that, delicate, intricate mastery of the ball in 1v1 situations and an acute awareness within the moment are prerequisites for survival.

To develop the technical masters of the ball that Klinsmann is referring to, time must be spent on practicing the technical fundamental elements of the game with precise, intelligent instruction yet with encouragement to express the ‘inner-artist’.To do that means mistakes will most certainly be made before attaining mastery. Goals will be conceded and in all honesty, from direct experience from working within the US youth soccer culture here in Washington I believe that families and other coaches will most likely prevent that from happening. Families will often take their child to the club next door that is ‘winning’ games by smashing the ball forward at the earliest opportunity rather than allow their child to experience the ‘failures’ that are so vital in learning to succeed. Why would parents want their child to risk losing the ball and conceding a goal by consistently passing out from the back when they can simply kick it out of bounds and avoid that risk? Why would they want their kids to be told to try and beat the defender again when they have failed once and may risk doing so again if they try it again?

Families believe so much that the best way to help their child is to have them be in the team that wins the most so coaches will recruit the biggest, fastest kids because at the youth level when there is often so much physical difference between some kids as they grow, this will most likely deliver the easiest way to achieve ‘wins’ which is what the majority of people perceive youth success to be based on….still……in 2011.

Klinsmann has an extreme winning mentality without doubt but he understands youth development and knows there is a clear difference in which there does not have to be sacrifice in having a desire to win – everyone wants to win as that is the aim of the game. He was raised by good development programs in Germany, he has seen them and influenced them at the excellent Bayern Munich Academy and he understands that developing excellent individuals at the youngest age groups is the priority over developing winning youth teams.

Ultimately, to define a US ‘style’ the men’s team must adopt Klinsmann’s vision immediately so that people can see it for themselves at the top level of US soccer. I believe Klinsmann has begun to do that already and it can be seen in the recent games. It is going to be very hard as he is working with ingredients that have not been grown in this way so fans must understand that the ‘results’ for the men’s national team will not be great immediately. Patience is needed.

To help accelerate this process I believe that there should be a modification or even complete overhaul of the national development centers on the east coast and west coast of the country and to undertake a massive identification process at starting with the U13 level if not a little younger and create a couple of long term national centers where these players are based, trained and attend school. At these centers coaches that Klinsmann knows would develop players in the way that he wants. They would be assisted by US coaches that are being developed also for the future. These young players must be immersed in Klinsmann’s new philosophies in order to enhance their chances of improving the national team for the World Cup AFTER the one in Brazil (2018) and certainly for the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. I am sure though that Klinsmann is already planning for this.

4. What can the state of Washington do/change to fall in line with Klinsmann's ideas

I know that Gary (White - Washington State Technical Director) is on the right track in terms of trying to deliver the US curriculum and development philosophies unveiled not too long ago by Claudio Reyna. He has a tough task of trying to influence mindsets regarding development over winning though. He is already delivering seminars and clinics for the associations within the state but he has to be supported by the clubs who in turn must try and educate families and its coaches regarding this kind of philosophy. They also must hold their staff to high standards in coaching.



Rinus Michels: Teaching Principles

It is extremely tough as people don’t understand why anyone would not be concerned about winning. England certainly has the same kind of problem as do other nations in the world where I have worked. I found out recently from a recent visit to Spain that even some clubs and coaches there still focus heavily on winning games at the youth level– not Barcelona, Manchester United, Ajax or PSV Eindhoven however. Such clubs with some of the best youth development programs in the world and a history of developing some of the world’s best players to prove it.As I discovered from several visits to the Netherlands the best development programs have been created by formed coaches with a beleif in teaching principles, such as Rinus Michels who helped to create the KNVB National School for Dutch players in the 1960s. 

These clubs understand that child development in football should not be viewed as any different to child development in the education system where kids are not simply given sample test papers every day so they are able to pass the test at the end of the week or year. They are taught a variety of things year by year with patience and care. They are tested of course but the aim of the system is to get them onto college and good jobs after that and every test along the way is simply part of a process. They make mistakes and are taught how to correct them for themselves without teachers and parents standing over them giving them the answers.

The state, as with Jurgen Klinsmann can only do so much – it is up to the clubs, coaches, families and players to take on the responsibility of improving the game in this nation. I’m glad to say that the Highline Premier FC coaches and players understand this but whether it is ultimately appreciated by everyone remains to be seen.

Communication For Coaches - Part I: Are you a Conscious Communicator?

Regardless of whether you like it or not, you are ALWAYS communicating. It is this vital fact that many people, not just coaches are unaware of and often it can create extensive problems or get exactly the kind of response/outcome they sought.  

It is this vital fact that drives every politician with at least a minute amount of intelligence to spend vast amounts of money, time and effort attempting to manipulate the way their communication is received by people. It is also exactly the same fact that enables the advertising industry to command billions of dollars worldwide.




Jose Mourinho: Psychology Diploma

 

In education a degree is required to be a teacher where a vast amount of time is spent educating potential educators of the next generation so that they are able to impart knowledge in the most efficient and comprehensible way.

In recent years the English Football Association’s Advanced Coach Education Licence (the UEFA A Licence), was comprised of two 14-day residential courses (including assessments) that were mandatory in attaining the qualification. There was only one, 90-minute seminar dedicated to communication for coaches in their field of practice.



Sir Alex Ferguson: Master Communicator

What?

Coaching IS communication - You will be average with average communication but you will exceed expectations with clear, precise, deliberate and thought-provoking communication.

“..as a player I was never happy when a manager responded with vagueness or groping indecision.”   Sir Alex Ferguson    

“..of course he never lost the ability to make what he said produce an impact, whether he was expressing anger or dispensing grandfatherly wisdom, and there was never a greater exponent of the quiet put-down.”  
Sir Alex Ferguson about Jock Stein

“..those are the best two words in football. There is no need to elaborate. Well done’ says it all”         Sir Alex Ferguson

'Presence'

 If you are not concerned about the presence that you create within the learning environment you are looking to create then you are ignoring a fantastic opportunity to gain a huge advantage in your coaching practice.

So much of your success is not about ‘what’ you do but ‘how’ you do it….not about ‘what’ you say but ‘how’ you say it - coaches are people managers….influencers of minds - think, teacher, actor, business leader and politicians and/or leaders of nations.

 

 

“There was a promotion going for the next step up – manager.

There were two possible candidates, myself and Rob.

On paper I had more experience, more expertise, most of the staff wanted me as their manager and I generally knew the job better. Rob, to be honest was useless.

I was chatting to an outside consultant the company used and asked him what he thought my chances were. ‘Slim’, he replied. I was indignant.

I explained all about my experience, my expertise, my abilities. ‘Yep,’ he replied, ‘but you don’t walk like a manager’”

“Rob got the job. I had to work under a moron.”  

The Rules of Work - Richard Templar

Is there a difference.......and does it make a difference....??

Shirt out, socks down...is this you?

Smart & professional looking - it's a piece of the jigsaw

It is clear that there is a difference but does it make a difference? Does taking one piece out of a jigsaw affect being able to make sense of the picture? Surely not….but the jigsaw remains incomplete and yes, I did hear some of you say that it “depends on the piece”..! Well, is this piece an important part of your presence as a coach? Do you wish to communicate certain things without saying a word? REMEMBER.....

......YOU ARE ALWAYS COMMUNICATING!!

"A bit of fun"...or a bit of a mistake..?



• What you do
• What you look like
• What you say
• HOW you say it.....

So what types of communication are there that you could use to help develop your presence and to impart your knowledge, and do you maximize the opportunity to utilize each one’s uniqueness?

Written - Emails easily misinterpreted

Visual - Vital!

  

Kinaesthetic - Reinforcement



Verbal/Auditory - Overused....??

How much of this information do we receive?

Words                        7%

Voice Tone                 38%

Non-Verbal                 55% 

Are you really serious about developing as a coach? Whether you are a beginner or experienced coach end your subscriptions to boringcoachdrill.com and dowhatmycoachdid.org and start thinking about the way you talk, begin practicing or increasing eye contact (which is difficult for a lot of people), reflect on the way you look, acquire and/or refine the visual tools that you are going to use in order to support your words and coaching goals (teaching boards, powerpoint, email).

 

Focus on your communication - the most important element of your coaching practice - the most knowledgeable coach in the world is not necessarily the most effective coach in the world. What and who are you as a coach of this wonderful game? You can choose a lot when designing your coaching ‘character’……

What choices do you have when designing you as 'Coach'?

Practice communication. Reflect on your communication and then practice some more. Enjoy.

Communication For Coaches Part II: 'The Coaching Process' - to come at a later stage.

Dominating the 1v1.....THE single most important element of a young players game

If you study the game and look for all the situations where players either lose possession or fail to improve possession because they were unable to dominate an opponent when the pressure is applied at the side, in front or behind you will notice that it occurs often - the kind of situation where a player looks to complete a pass....looks again....looks again and despite not having a good option to pass to, the player just passes and hopes for the best.....the mere thought of a simple change of direction didn't even enter their robotic, one-dimension-thinking, 'must pass forward' conditioned brain.

Change direction - 'unpredictable'



All top players excel in 1v1 situations











Teach your players to cope with different types of pressure. Add a few intelligent methods of receiving and varied, purposeful passing and you have the foundation of a development program that you can implement over 6-weeks, 3 months or as a continuous and age-specific 12 month program as part of a long term strategy.


KEY FACTORS ('Gold nuggets' of information)

Change Direction: NO straight lines, Turn AWAY from pressure, fake (clever, deceptive), positive
Change Pace: Sharp, explosive, varied
Change Play: Switch left to right, back to front, back again

Dominating the defender at the side

Dominating the defender in front

Before progressing onto the actual micro elements of a curriculum where players are encouraged to be creative, thoughtful and free from restriction the most important, yet most understated element of coaching and coach education must be discussed.

So much in youth development is focused on 'WHAT' to coach. In 28 days total of a UEFA A License course with the English Football Association, only one '90-minute' seminar on 'communication' was dedicated to 'HOW' to coach. Being able to impart knowledge and experience to players of any age in order to produce evidence of learning and development and not just to dictate what to and what not to do, is vital - and so very often ignored.

Communication....communication....communication - not 'WHAT' but 'HOW'!