Philosophy
The philosophy of Golden Touch Soccer youth development program is that a child can only be fully developed when put in an environment that provides he or she with the appropriate mind-set for the game of soccer. Once a child has an understanding of the game, he or she can be challenged to achieve his or her fullest potential through a variety of exercises, drills and games that are serious FUN. The skills that are taught are considered to be the tools necessary to be successful in any game situation. In order for the child to develop into a successful player he or she must be able to learn and utilize the three basic skills that are considered essential factors of the game. SPACE - How much space you need to execute your basic skills? TIME - How much time do you need to execute your ball skills? SUPPORT - What are you doing to assist your teammate when you don’t have the ball? The ability to identify coaching points and make corrections technically and tactically is necessary for player development. Developing the technical skills sufficient to generate interest and confidence to continue participation in the sport and having FUN is our goal.
After visiting with two of Brazil’s top teams, Sao Paulo F.C. (2 time World Club Champions) and Santos F.C. (Home of Robinho and the Great “King” Pele) Winston has incorporated some of Brazil’s Training and Coaching Methods into the Golden Touch Youth Program.
Dribbling vs. Passing the Debate Continues (article posted in Soccer America, Sept 7, 1998)
“Letters, faxes and emails continue to pour in on the great “dribbling vs. passing” debate. Controversy arose over whether it is more important to teach young players to dribble, pass the ball, and learn individual moves.
Winston Buddle, Director of the Golden Touch Soccer in New Rochelle, N.Y., agrees that while dribbling is an important aspect of the game, young players need to learn how it fits into the “big picture.” The real issue, he says, is “at what level do you coach players to pass effectively, accurately, and have the foresight to read the game in order to make those passes?”
He believes that youths up to the age of 13 must first be taught skills to control the ball completely and effectively with a first touch and confidence will follow. This comes, he says, “only through encouraging children to hold the ball both in practice and in game situations.” The vision necessary to make meaningful passes, he adds, comes only with “experience and a certain level of intellectual development”. Such abstract thinking increases at about age 13.
“That is why at the youngest levels we must teach ball control in order to develop confidence to hold the ball,” he says. “Dribbling in a game is only a manifestation of that skill and confidence.” He is discouraged that too many American youngsters are encouraged to pass the ball or kick it away. When they reach the next level, he says, "they lack the arsenal of skills needed to decide whether to hold the ball, dribble, make a quality pass or play-one or-two touch".
He concludes with an analogy about parenting. “We control our children during their young years by giving them the essential tools so that when they reach their teens into adulthood, they can begin to spread their wings, exercise creativity and freedom, and make sound independent choices. The same principle applies to soccer. Let’s concentrate on teaching our youths touch and ball control. When they are teenagers they can begin, not only to release the ball to their teammates, but also make creative, independent and sound choices within the context of the game.” www.socceramerica.com