This framework answers one question every club director secretly has: “Why aren’t our players actually improving?” Bickham Soccer Consulting markbickham@sbcglobal.net 1-206-612-3338

Helping clubs, coaches, and parents replace subjective opinions with objective structure. Soccer taught like a school subject, with progression, assessment, and purpose. For more information contact markbickham@sbcglobal.net 1-206-612-3338

Often, it’s not a lack of ability, it’s a lack of understanding of the game context. Skills alone aren’t enough; players need clarity on what to do, when, and why. I see this every week, even at 8–10 years old. How do you currently help players translate training into match performance?” Please comment on the biggest problem you see with your players.

We say youth soccer in America is about player development. But our behavior says something else. We reward: • wins • rankings • trophies • college commits at 14 • coach reputations We don’t reward: • technical mastery • decision-making • tactical intelligence • learning over time • or whether players actually improve year to year So we end up with busy schedules… expensive programs… and very little clarity about what children are truly learning. That’s not development. That’s organized activity. If you work in this environment, you feel this tension every season. Tomorrow I’ll explain why the system can’t fix this without structural change.

“Good job” feels supportive, but it’s educationally weak. When praise is specific and measurable, it becomes a teaching tool, not just encouragement. Quantified praise: • Anchors confidence to behaviors, not identity • Teaches athletes what success actually looks like • Reinforces repeatable actions (decision quality, positioning, scanning, recovery runs, etc.) • Builds internal standards, not dependence on coach approval • Separates performance from personality (“you executed the trigger press on time” vs “you’re talented”) • Accelerates learning by closing the feedback loop In simple terms: Generic praise motivates for a moment. Quantified praise develops a player. If we want thinking athletes, not praise-dependent ones, we have to coach with the same precision we demand in their performance.