Casey Wheel

Shift from overcoaching to a game-based approach to build better athletes
“Wanna play?”
Strength Coach → Pacific Ridge School
VT🍁 ➡️ CA🏄‍♂️

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

How to utilize games instead of boring drills at a team practice.

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

When coaches shift from seeing games as just messing around to skill development, everyone will win.

Not only will the kids be more engaged, coaches can become more creative in their ability to manipulate the space, time, rules, and incentives to help players problem solve.

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

@tim_whitey Hopefully they keep it real light and fun. We have a guy in our area who did a fantastic job with littles. Our daughter loved it.

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

Alright soccer folks, what develops players better?

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

@TradingDave36 Ages 5-12 ideally, I’d want mostly pickup.

Ages 12+ start to mix more organized.

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

@rtinfow Will check that out!

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

@NobletStrength I see it so rarely. I go to many parks. I live in the capital of private skills trainer world however.

What’s my false dichotomy?

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

@egervase It’s the heart of development. Pick up culture is what breeds love of the game.

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

@CallMeKinslow Who needs me to be recruiting over here this week?!?!?

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

@maizefoodtruck I think that’s USA soccers 1 development issue

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

@andreperrotta13 Yep!

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

@proctorzt @NobletStrength That’s the USA soccer problem. Not coaching or club systems, it’s that.

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

@clh_strength We’ve seen way worse

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

My blueprint for how to “Make It A Game”

Try it out next time you’re working on something with your kid.

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

We want competition but we ask for compliance….

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

Every time you attack 1 v 1, there is a battle for who owns the athletic rhythm. This can happen in a variety of styles, initiating contact, changing direction, creating/closing space, etc.

Own the rhythm, and you can own your opponent.

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

@CASporleder expect a ton of inefficient mechanics. It's part of it. For some, they will naturally develop it; others need some coaching/constraints to get there. If a cue works, great! I love external cues that relate to something they already know.

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

Helping the kid who lollipop throws.

With a game, of course.

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

@lowrisk26 yep. beating dad for no reason is a high incentive

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

Stop correcting, make it a game: Pop Flys edition

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

@SelfApproved1 if he wasn't consistently dropping them, I wouldn't have messed with it.

[Casey Wheel @CoachWheel]

@CASporleder if a kid is really struggling? if you have another coach/parent play catch in the dugout if available.

If not, I'd have a point system if they throw it below your head they get a point and above it, the parent/coach would.