Saturday and the Big Game

Saturday was a big day. We watched 6 games that day. We saw a few of the olders play at Ciudad Deportivo then headed back to the escola to see the youngers play. It was cool watching the skills of the younger players. I really liked the entire atmosphere of the game. The players and coaches were out on the field and the parents had to stay behind the fence in the walkway area. The players began the game by taking a picture with the other team. Both teams clapped for the parents before the game began. After the game, instead of forming a line, the players just shook each others hands like at a regular match and they all got together and clapped again for the coaches and parents. They didn't even have snacks! haha Oscar mentioned that parents are not allowed to tell the coaches anything at all about their children (where they should play, playing time, etc...), otherwise they do not play with FCB.

We later saw the second team play a match at 5:30 at the Mini Estadia. They played the same style and pace as the 1st team and dominated possession, winning the game 4-0. There were some talented kids who I'm sure will be playing up very soon.

And then came the Super Classico. The atmosphere couldn't have been better. Even though it was pouring rain and cold there were ~120,000 people packing Camp Nou. These were the most passionate fans I have ever been around. Greg mentioned that the little old man that was next to him was crying on his cell phone when Messi scored. It was a great match. FCB dominated possession of the ball about 65-35% for the game. Both goals were scored on the half of the field where Manny and I were sitting so we had a great view. Messi's goal was incredible! Definitely an experience I will never forget.

Friday

The morning session was all done at the Escola training fields and it was intense. Oscar really worked us hard today. We bagan with the Rondo session and then moved to juggling. After that we played a 4v4 keep away game with our hands where the first to 10 received a point. After that we bagan the tactical portion of the session and focused on the defenders and midfielders positioning. We then progressed to a 3v3 attacking session for the fowards w/ neutrals on each side. The ball had to be played from a nuetral player to be scored. We finally fincished up with another attacking drill where the 3 mids played the ball in a triangle and served it to the 3 forwards who attacked 3 defenders. Oscar also showed us one final drill for 1v1 shooting/defending which was very cool and intense.

We watched the 15 year olds play at Ciudad Deportivo today after our morning training session.

Later that evening we went w/ Mazinho and Cicinho to the Barcelona Beach Club and had a Brazilian feast. It was great. Cicinho told us stories of how Ronaldinho and Deco used to hang out there and party until 6 in the morning. On the way back home Greg, Josh and I help Oscar w/ English lessons.

Thursday

Today we actually got to watch the 1st team Barca boys practice. They walked right by us and said hello. We saw Victor Valdez (who has a striking resemblance to Josh, coincidence?) Xavi and Henry up close. The practice was incredible. Puyols the captain was a workhorse. He worked extremely hard and was always the 1st one back to the coach. I was very impressed with the amount of skill and pace with the exercises. It was very cool to see the team in a different atmosphere. They had fun and worked hard at the same time.

The morning session focused on tactical. Barca systems are always 4-3-3 or 3-2-1 no matter who is on the team. They train their players to be successful in these systems from day 1. Oscar showed all of the descriptions for each position on the field. Barca will develop the right players based on their strngths to match the job they have on the pitch. 

A couple of other interesting ideas:

• there is no specific fitness work under the age of 14 (all fitness is done w/ the ball)
• after training - never do stretching
• after easy session - static stretching
• warm up is dynamic stretching
• the escola that Oscar teaches in always uses size 5 balls for the players, regardless of age - it was very interesting that he didn't even really understand using a size 3 or 4 ball, the concept didn't even seem to register with him

Tonight when we were watching the escola train (Oscar trains 7-8 year olds) it was impressive to see all of the session being trained exactly the same way. There were about 10 sessions happening at the same time! Oscar showed us his training plan. They actually use the same plan all 3 nights for a month before they move on to a new lesson. No wonder why they have such sick skills! The boys were very nice and respectful, they shook all of our hands as we left the pitch.

In general, people seemed very excited to meet us and liked our US logo.

Tomorrow is the big day before the big game. We met a gentleman w/ Paul this evening that was very excited about us seeing the match saying it was bigger than the superbowl and will be an incredible event that we would enjoy. I'm sure we will! 

We are supposed to meet the players tomorrow so hopefully we will get some good pictures and autographs.  

Wednesday

The Wednesday morning session focused on the tactical components of FCB training. Here are a few highlights:

FCB philosophy - always play to win by playing nice

coaching philosophy - where players leaern, develop and understand the game by using their own creativity

Training Education

• Education - human values, fair play
• School - student's role
• Technique
• Tactical
• Pyhysical training
• Psychology

 I will publish details when I get back to AZ

After the session we went out to the escuala fields and did a session with Oscar. We actually trained for about an hour. It felt great to get out and play in the cool Spanish air. The practice session was:

1. juggle in tight space for about 10 minutes (10x10)
2. possession 3v3 w/ 1 neutral player in 20x20 area
3. possession in 20v20 area - 2 greens players on opposite side of area, 2 oranges on opposite side of area, 2 yellows and 1 neutral inside - goal is to move ball away from 2 yellows inside
4. pass to side, dribble forward, cut, shoot and hit goal post
5. finish with possession in 10x10 area, 4 on outside and 2 in middle

Coaching points:

• make pass to feet if you can
• move to open space/dribble then make pass
• receive ball opened up w/ opposite foot

Muy importante:

teach ninos

• step overs/scissors at an early age
• move one way push ball he other way
• make move before you get to cone/defender

Oscar demanded concentration, effort and quick pace throughout session

Afterwards we took the FCB museo tour. It was very cool to see the stadium and the history of the club.

We are getting ready to go watch Oscar train the 7 year olds and then watch the 12 year old match against the team from Poland. 

Catch up with you all later.

Tuesday

Tuesday we started off in the morning at 9:30 in the FCB offices. We listened to a presentation on the FCB philosophy. Very interesting. The head of the Academy program spoke about the entire training program philosophy of FCB. The lesson was en espanol as was the ppt presentation. We should be getting a copy which we will share with our club back in AZ. 

In the afternoon we drove over to the John Gamper campus about 6 miles from Camp Nou to watch the 15-16 year old player, both the "a" and "b" squads. What an impression. The teams were doing a "recover practice" since they had a game last weekend and it was intense. I drew maps of the entire practice session which I will document when I get home. The practice flow was this:

warm-up

agility drill

passing/juggling

7v7 w/ keepers on half field

I was very impressed with the speed of play and the intensity that the kids played with. Every touch on the all had a meaning and no one ever stopped. The newer group (the a team) was paying on the next field. Oscar (our guide) said that if one of the b players wasn't making it then a b player could take his place. The competition is very, very strong.

As we were leaving we met a few superstars from the past: Cicinho and Macinho. We also met Cicinho's younger son, Jonathon who plays for the 17's (Giovanni de Santos little brother).

After a ride back to Camp Nou we watched the FCB vs Shakter match. FCB lost 2-3 and only played a few of their regular players. Alexander Hleb played a very nice match as well as #27. Even though they lost they played nice football. They had 63% possession and had incredible touches throughout.

  

Soccer ideas

A couple of ideas we talked about the first few days:

• invitation from rec to academy and from academy to competitive
• having certain pre-reqs before trying out with our competitive like: player can do a certain number of juggles
• Yossi mentioned that in Israel every kid could juggle, even the ones who weren't players - you learned it on the playgrounds
• recording results begining, middle and end of season: juggles w/ feet (weak foot), juggles w/ knees, juggles w/ head, juggles w/ whole body - length of kick from goal box - timing runs
• Paul mentioned FCB escuela next summer where Barca coaches will come out and do a 1 week training camp in California next summer, AZ can probably do one the following summer (2010)

Day 2

We didn't wake up until about noon (thanks to Josh/Greg for waking us). We ate breakfast at the hotel and then went with Brian, Yossi and Jose to see the Temple de la Sagrada Familia. We took the Metro (an underground subway) down to the temple. As soon as walking out of the subway I was in awe. The temple was incredible. This is the "unfinished" cathedral from Gaudi. Greg, Manny, Josh and I went inside while the Cali boys toured the blocks. The architecture from the cathedral was incredible. One of the sides had sculptures from the Passion and one side had sculptures from the Nativity. We took the elevator to the top of the spires and looked at some incredible views of the city.

Later that night we all went to dinner at a restaurant down by the stadium. It was a few blocks away. Good times and good conversation. We walked around Camp Nou after dinner and discussed a lot of soccer ideas with Paul.