This week’s assignment is to watch the USA vs. Belgium match and study the game like a coach, not just a fan. One player I want you to pay close attention to is Folarin Balogun. Many people have debated whether he should have started, but instead of listening to opinions, I want you to build your own by watching what he actually does on the field. As you watch the game, answer these 5 questions: 1. What does Balogun do when he DOESN’T have the ball? Pay attention to his movement. Does he check toward the ball, run behind defenders, create space for teammates, or stay between defenders? 2. When Balogun receives the ball, what is usually his first decision? Does he turn and attack? Play one touch? Hold the ball? Pass to a teammate? Give examples from the game. 3. How does Balogun help his teammates even when he doesn’t score? Think about his runs, positioning, pressing, communication, or the space he creates for others. 4. When the USA loses possession, how does the team react? Do they press immediately? Drop back? Stay organized? What did you notice about their defending as a team? 5. What is one thing the USA did well, and one thing they could improve against a top team like Belgium? Explain your answer using something you saw during the match. 📌 Remember: Great players don’t only watch the ball. They watch players away from the ball, movement, decision making, communication, and positioning. I’m excited to read your answers. Let’s keep improving our soccer IQ every week! ⚽🧠 We will cover some of these details on the coaching on Wednesday!

This week's coaching call focused on learning how to watch soccer like a coach instead of simply watching as a fan. We used the recent USA and Mexico World Cup matches as examples and discussed how top teams solve problems both in and out of possession. Key Topics Covered 1. Mexico's Movement Off the Ball We broke down why Mexico has been so dangerous in recent matches. Some of the biggest takeaways included: - Constant movement after passing. - Players making runs even when they know they may not receive the ball. - One-touch combinations to speed up play. - Creating space for teammates by moving defenders out of position. - Aggressive attacking mentality. The biggest lesson: Good movement creates opportunities before the ball even arrives. 2. USA's Progress and Upcoming Challenges We discussed the USA's recent performances and why their upcoming matches will be a much bigger test. Topics included: - Maintaining intensity after scoring. - Whether the team became more defensive once they took the lead. - Communication between teammates throughout different moments of the match. - Preparing for stronger opponents and adapting tactically. 3. Transition Moments One of our biggest discussion points was: What should a team do immediately after losing possession? Players were encouraged to observe: - How quickly teams react after losing the ball. - Whether they press immediately or recover into defensive shape. - How teammates communicate during transitions. - Which players lead the defensive organization. 4. Defensive Shapes We introduced three common defensive approaches used by professional teams: - High Press - Mid Block - Low Block Players identified which defensive shape they believed each team was using throughout different moments of the match and discussed why coaches choose one over another depending on the game situation. 5. Learning to Analyze Matches Instead of watching only goals or highlights, players were challenged to study:

Hi everyone, Tonight’s 7:00 PM training session has been canceled. If your player normally attends the 7:00 PM class, please try to attend the 6:00 PM session instead, if your schedule allows. This will help ensure they don’t miss this week’s training. If you’re planning to switch to the 6:00 PM class, please leave a comment below or send me a message so I can plan accordingly. Thank you for your flexibility, and I’ll see everyone on the field tonight!

Hey everyone, I just wanted to share with you guys my analysis of Mexico in their match against Czechia. This is the national team I aspire to represent, so I wanted to share some of my insights with you guys. What does Mexico do immediately after losing possession? Mexico’s reaction within the first few seconds of losing the ball is to win it back almost immediately and sometimes even fouling due to the aggressiveness of the press. How does Mexico build out from the back? From goal kicks, a centre back would frequently pass it to Rangel where he would look to find Mora or Romo to play a 3rd man combination with either Montes or Reyes respectively. What movements happen before a player receives the ball? Players always know what they are going to do with the ball prior to receiving it and adjust their first touch accordingly and even play off one and two touches under pressure. Where does Mexico win the ball most often? Mexico frequently win the ball back in the middle of the park, as they’ve been playing a mid block most of the game and have been effective in stopping the build up. Which player impressed you the most and why? Chavez impressed me the most, as this was his first World Cup start and he did well to use his pace and put the ball in the back of the net even though he had time to think about it. If you were the coach, what is one thing you would improve after watching this match? I would want the team to play with a little more intensity at the start of the match, as it was a slow start that could’ve led to a worse result had the opposition been more clinical. What is one thing you learned from watching this match that you can apply to your own game? I learned that I need to play with more pride and passion and worry less about playing football in a way that looks great and not be afraid of doing anything to get the result. We've had a great tournament so far, but it's only going to get harder from here on out. Do you guys think we can go all the way and win the World Cup?

Tonight, I want everyone to watch the USA vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina World Cup match. Your job is NOT to watch the game like a fan. Watch it like a coach and a student of the game. I’ve attached a match analysis worksheet that will guide you through what to look for during the game. As you watch, answer these questions: ⚽ 1. Momentum Did the USA score first? How did the team’s body language and game plan change depending on whether they were winning or losing? 🛡️ 2. Team Defending How did the entire team defend? Pay attention to pressing, defensive shape, communication, and how all 11 players worked together. 🎯 3. Midfield Battle Who controlled the midfield? Did the USA dictate the tempo, or did Bosnia disrupt their rhythm? Give one specific example. 🧠 4. Composure Under Pressure Knockout games are different. Did the USA stay composed, or did they look rushed and nervous? What moments made you think that? 📈 5. Strengths & Weaknesses After watching the full match, what was the USA’s biggest strength today? What was their biggest weakness? Use specific examples from the game. ⭐ Bonus Challenge If you were the head coach, what is ONE change you would make before the next match? Come Ready to Discuss During our coaching call, we’re going to break down the match together and compare observations. Remember, the goal isn’t to get every answer “right.” The goal is to train your eye to understand the game beyond the ball. The best players don’t just play soccer. They study it. 📄 Access the Match Study PDF The questions are also available in the PDF attached to this post. Please open the PDF, follow the guide while watching the match, and come ready to discuss your answers on the coaching call. 👇👇👇 See you all on the coaching call!