If we had to describe our mentality towards soccer at the age of 8, we would say “I WANT THE BALL!” was its core value. No one told us to swarm around the ball like some amoebic mass of immature humanity. We did it, just because we liked it.
Anyone who has seen playground soccer at any point in their lives has seen this mentality in action, and can appreciate how hard it is to just get children to space themselves out, let alone pass the ball to one another.
Some coaches, however, have the golden touch. Case in point, this team.
Every one of the players on Borussia Dortmund Yellow and Black touches the ball during their flowing, quick counter-attack, even the keeper. By the time the ball is in the back of the net, they have left Barcelona Orange and Yellow for fools. Talk about youth talent.
So how did Yellow and Black’s coach get his U9 team to forgo their natural instincts and play as one cohesive, dare-we-say-world-beating team?
Emphasizing teamwork and valuing hard work are the seemingly obvious choices, but our money would be on some sort of talent stealing operation a la the Monstars from Space Jam.
