Soccer Mastermind
Kids Soccer, Soccer Coaching Tips, Education, News and Advice.

For the little soccer warriors that are too young to read this, I beg you, the loving parent to pass on this message.

The carrot has definitely been dangled in front of the soccer community. Inflated pay packets and the media coverage is enough to send any parent around the bend.

What’s the catch?

Kids soccer has become organized chaos with young children as young as 5 running all over the place competing for ball time and their chance to shine in the spotlight. The coaches and wannabes try and harness this chaotic energy while the parents try frantically to control and restore some order.

How do they control chaotic energy? Unless you’re some crazy scientist, you cannot control chaos, especially when it’s organized.

Apart from the usual control methods like yelling, screaming and pointing the finger, parents are evolving into this money hungry beast that specializes in criticism.

Criticism is the act of passing severe judgment and fault finding.

What about constructive criticism? What about it? Read More

If you’re a regular Soccer Mastermind reader you’ve probably come across some great posts and information. (Preens)

Only joking, but I put a lot of effort into my posts and try and provide the best information possible. Most of the information is based on facts and to some extent scientific research. A smaller proportion is based on experience with a sprinkle of egotistical ranting. Last but not least, those analogies and my attempts to be creative that magically appear from the depths of La La land.

So what’s the point?

The main objective of this site is to challenge the Status Quo, to challenge ideas and to challenge you as a soccer player, coach or parent.

An alarming statistic has Soccer at the top of the codes but with the smallest retention rate. The latest figures suggest that over 80% of youth players will quit the game before they become teenagers.

Surely this can’t be true? Read More

Great title don’t you think? I know, I know, a little misleading.

Did you believe it? Sorry!

Unless you’re living in Fantasyland or in the district of delusions, age is definitely not on your side. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, tick, tick, tick.

A.G.E in this case stands for Attitude, Goals and Execution.

Attitude is the most important out of these. Questions like

How do you deal with pressure?

How do you deal with failure or mistakes?

Are you happy and hungry for the game?

What about your likeability? Do you enjoy the game?

Do you train with enthusiasm and high spirits or do you merely drag your feet and go through the motions? Read More

Do you find value in questions?

How’s your soccer career going?

Is it going well and will you achieve your goals?

Do you think you have room for improvements?

If you were to pick one area to improve, what would it be?

Would you commit to it?

Would you even write it down?

The path less traveled has been mapped out for you, will you explore it?

Why don’t you train?

Could it be laziness or fear?

Could it be lack of faith or motivation?

Do you need a wake up call or a gentle kick in the balls?

Have you surrendered to the status quo? Read More