Adam Johnson

Teacher, Director/Coach, @stlhawkssoccer @moyouthsoccer

[Adam Johnson @AdamJohnsonSTL]

Wait!
#ZlatanUFC

[Adam Johnson @AdamJohnsonSTL]

Security @ufcfreedom looks like @Ibra_official
#FOXSports #FIFAWorldCup #ZlatanLookalike #UFCWhiteHouse

[Adam Johnson @AdamJohnsonSTL]

@afcjaygooner Tim Howard, Brendan Aaronson, Tim Ream, Josh Sargeant, Demarcus Beasley.

[Todd Beane @_ToddBeane]

Coaching players Ages 12–16?

Growth and Maturation
Players at this stage enter one of the most important developmental periods. Coaches must recognize that maturation is not the same as talent. Physical, emotional, and cognitive maturation can vary greatly. Some athletes develop early and appear stronger or faster, while others mature later and may temporarily struggle physically. Development requires patience and understanding so that both early and late bloomers continue to feel valued and motivated.

Ball Control
Training should become more demanding and game-realistic. Players should refine passing speed, first touch, finishing, dribbling under pressure, and positional receiving skills. Training should include increased tempo and complexity while still maintaining high repetition and enjoyment. Small-sided and positional play games create continuous decision-making opportunities aligned to the realities of match play.

Decision-Making
Players are increasingly capable of understanding concepts such as architecture, positioning, profiles, pressing and collective movement. Coaches should encourage players to solve challenges. Guided questioning and reflective learning help players develop deeper game intelligence and adaptability.

Physical Development
Growth spurts can temporarily affect coordination, balance, and confidence. Coaches should avoid comparing players solely on physical performance. Training should emphasize movement quality, agility, coordination, mobility, and injury prevention rather than early specialization in strength or size advantages. Each player’s developmental timeline is unique.

Emotional and Social Growth
Adolescence brings emotional challenges alongside increased social awareness. Confidence can fluctuate significantly during these years. Positive coaching relationships, supportive team culture, and psychological safety are essential. The goal is to help players develop resilience, self-awareness and a lifelong connection to learning.

#TOVO
#intelligentfootball

[Todd Beane @_ToddBeane]

If parents knew how children learn best, they would run away from youth clubs that actually inhibit profound growth and learning.

We, including myself, need to continue to innovate as we know more about how children learn.

#TOVO
#intelligentfootball

[Todd Beane @_ToddBeane]

I have coached thousands of US youth players.

One major issue I see is that they play vertically toward the goal even when the odds are ridiculously low of success.

If our Federation 🇺🇸 @ussoccer is insisting on “directional” training we are reinforcing one of the worst habits in youth players. Thus, we make the problem worse.

▪️Proposed Solution:

Recognize this issue and reinforce multi-directional solutions so that our players recognize that the game is indeed not a one way street. It will require us rethinking and redesigning our curriculum to nurture greater vision, better decisions and precision.

🗣️Creativity does not come from insistence, it comes from intelligence.

#TOVO
#intelligentfootball

[Adam Johnson @AdamJohnsonSTL]

@ByDougMcIntyre Blame the club soccer and “elite” youth club soccer landscape in the US. It’s expensive and the coaches struggle to build up the players vs focusing on winning. @ussoccer

[Adam Johnson @AdamJohnsonSTL]

@WindhorstESPN were you staying at a courtyard by Marriott by chance?
#notastalker

[Adam Johnson @AdamJohnsonSTL]

@paramountplus can there be an option to pay to not have commercials in the main card @ufc fights?
@joerogan @dc_mma

[Adam Johnson @AdamJohnsonSTL]

@ufc @paramountplus maybe use all the commercials in the early fights. Let us hear the corner work in the main card!

[Adam Johnson @AdamJohnsonSTL]

@RealMikeWilbon why do you guys not cover @ufc on @PTI ?

[Adam Johnson @AdamJohnsonSTL]

@MMAJunkie Shouldn’t be ads over the corner talks.

[Adam Johnson @AdamJohnsonSTL]

@FabrizioRomano @PaddyTheBaddy

[Adam Johnson @AdamJohnsonSTL]

@ChicagoPopeXIV @PatMcAfeeShow @KirkHerbstreit @tyschmit Shhh

[Pat McAfee @PatMcAfeeShow]

It's getting REAL LOUD about that Iowa and Oregon game @KirkHerbstreit..

"Don't get too loud" ~ @tyschmit #PMSLive

[Adam Johnson @AdamJohnsonSTL]

@JayBilas @stephenasmith would basketball officials be best served to pause before whistling, as they do in soccer for “advantage” instead of an immediate whistle? This would benefit referees by allowing them a few seconds to think.

[Adam Johnson @AdamJohnsonSTL]

@dc_mma @joerogan @wewantpicks what would @LokdogVinicius vs @SugaSeanMMA or @MerabDvalishvil look like!? 👀
#UFC318 #espn

[Adam Johnson @AdamJohnsonSTL]

@loufusz07ga Go get em!

[Adam Johnson @AdamJohnsonSTL]

@FS1 your audio is behind your video @USMNT vs Saudi Arabia @GoldCup @FOXSports

[Adam Johnson @AdamJohnsonSTL]

@espn @espn Why not try the "glowing puck". Technology has to be better now than in the early 2000s right?