Teaching Awareness

/
Teaching Awareness

Some idiot commentator said today that the LOOK Fabragas did today for Barcelona to see the next pass before he received the ball; he was born with and it couldn’t be taught. What BS, of course it can be taught. I wasn’t good at it when I played professionally but I am damn good at it now because I teach it and have taught myself it how to demonstrate it in dynamic action. In other words ONE touch football. If I can learn it anyone can. Where do they get these commentators from?

Read More

Coaching the Right System

/
Coaching the Right System

When I joined San Diego Surf SC, I knew that this was a club with a reputation and history of success, and there was the great potential to build on that. One thing that great international youth academies like Barcelona and Ajax have in common is a standard system of play throughout their teams. This is one of our goals at Surf – to bring a standard system to the club.

We will use the 4-2-3-1 system of play, the most popular system at professional level throughout the world now. This system, which was used by Spain to win the 2008 and 2012 European Championships and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, is a fluid, attack-minded system also used by Arsenal, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and many others. With this in mind, we will also teach the players alternate systems of play to suit particular moments in game, all developing from the 4-2-3-1.

Read More

How Do You Define Soccer Intelligence?

/
How Do You Define Soccer Intelligence?

I call it Soccer Awareness

This is the “thinking” part of the game. The game starts in the head of the player and we as coaches must guide the players to think more quickly and with better accuracy in decision making. 

Therefore soccer intelligence is based around players being able to identify their options BEFORE they receive the ball; and pick out the best option of hopefully several available to advance it; and maintain possession of it in the next phase of play.

Read More

What is "Soccer Awareness"?

/
What is "Soccer Awareness"?

The “Soccer Awareness” idea originated from what I felt were the most important things to teach players.

I looked beyond the technical process as that is easy to implement and wanted to get INSIDE the head of the player.

Thus the “Thinking Process” of a player became my focus, developing ways to teach an awareness of space, time, and movement, but significantly BEFORE the player received the ball.

Read More

Book Endorsement from The Institute for Jugendfussball

/
Book Endorsement from The Institute for Jugendfussball

The 4-2-3-1 is the favored formation of many top teams in world soccer at both club and national team level. This fluid, attack minded system has come to the forefront thanks to its success at the highest levels. Most notably, Spain utilized the 4-2-3-1 in winning both the 2008 European Championship and the 2010 World Cup. Top club sides Arsenal, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich have also had success with the system. In this book, Wayne Harrison breaks down the 4-2-3-1 and discusses the principles, player roles and responsibilities, variations and adjustments based on the opponent´s strategy.

Read More

Wayne Harrison Joins San Diego Surf SC as Boys Director of Coaching

/
Wayne Harrison Joins San Diego Surf SC as Boys Director of Coaching

Wayne Harrison, a former professional player with Blackpool F.C. in England and former Youth Director at Al Ain Football Club in the UAE, will join San Diego Surf SC as Boys Director of Coaching beginning on December 1, 2012. Harrison holds a UEFA ‘A’ license, the NSCAA Premier Diploma and a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Physiology and Sports Psychology. In addition, Harrison is a well known and respected author with eleven books published on soccer player development and coaching.

Read More

Book Review - Soccer Awareness: Developing the Thinking Player

/
Book Review - Soccer Awareness: Developing the Thinking Player

This is a review from Amazon on the book: Soccer Awareness: Developing the Thinking Player

As a long time coach (not of soccer though), I took to the task of coaching my daughter’s travel soccer team. It’s not difficult to find drills for dribbling and passing and small sided games and such. What is difficult is getting the kids to look around and play the game. These drills provide dribbling and passing practice, but also awareness training.

Read More

Comments from World Class Coaching Clinic

/
Comments from World Class Coaching Clinic

Wayne is an outstanding clinician, and was well-received by coaches attending the Nebraska World Class Coaching Seminar. His passion for the game immediately rubbed off on the players he was working with, and they clearly enjoyed the sessions he conducted. He has the ability to convey relevant information to his teams while at the same time fostering an environment for learning by encouraging his players to figure out various situations for themselves. Wayne interacts with players and coaches alike in a thoroughly positive manner, which I am sure contributes toward accelerated learning for any individual fortunate enough to work with him.

Read More

Winning and Development for Youth Soccer Players

/
Winning and Development for Youth Soccer Players

I have been teaching a certain way of development for 15 years and more; as I am sure many of you out there have too, and low and behold the English FA now decide it is all about SSG”s and development not winning.

At EPSC I would not allow top teams to develop until U12 because then it was about WINNING. No one liked it at the time but it proved successful when they got older, look at all the good teams that were created. I took it down to U11 because too many did not get what I was doing nor more importantly WHY I was doing it.

Read More

Jose Mourinho - Real Madrid Head Soccer Coach

/
Jose Mourinho - Real Madrid Head Soccer Coach

I Wrote to Jose “The Master” Mourinho; as he bought my first book in 2002.

Recently, I have had the chance to to send Mourinho my latest two books.

I am rather delighted; first the fact he actually replied; which shows a humble and human side to him, as I am nobody to him, plus his comments below inspire me to keep trying to improve myself.

Read More

Soccer Symposium for Player Development

/
Soccer Symposium for Player Development

On Sunday, April 29, coach Wayne Harrison of CV Manchester Soccer Club presented a coaching symposium focused on his “Thinking Process” of training. The symposium, held at Carmel Creek Elementary School, was open to all interested coaches, parents and players. Harrison shared his views on coaching players to develop “vision” and to play a thinking style of soccer.

A former professional player with Blackpool Football Club in England and Oulu Palloseura in Finland, Harrison also represented Great Britain in the World Student Games in Mexico. His coaching experience includes Youth Director at Blackpool and Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates. Harrison holds the UEFA “A” License, the NSCAA Premier Diploma and a degree in Sports Psychology and Applied Physiology.

Read More

Pepe Guardiola - An End of an Era?

/
Pepe Guardiola - An End of an Era?

Pepe Guardiola; Possibly the most successful manager of all time if you base it on the length of time in charge (obviously Sir Alex has the record for that for longevity and winning) and what a shame he has quit.

He is an inspiration to us all, he shows that LONG TERM planning works at youth level, that there is no quick fix, that what he achieved in 3 years is on the back of 15 years work of which he was a significant part of; starting as a young players going through that system of development to ultimately being the top man.

Read More