One of the observations I have made with the games I have watched in the low country in both club and high school is the lack of commitment to the pass even when players are open or have made a run. Some coaches are generally seduced by the one or two players on their team who are good handlers of the ball to give them leeway to do whatever they want with the ball. Typically these players will hold the ball too long as they won't be looking for the open pass until they have beaten 3 to 5 people.Depending on the competition they are playing on that day, the team might still win the game and the coaches go home feeling like it has been a good day at the office. Unfortunately this a real setback for player development. The players who have been moving around all day to get open for a pass and those that have been making diagonal runs to get in position to score are tired and discouraged because the ball never came. If I would say anything to american coaches as a fundamental development strategy it would be - "commit to the pass". With this as a foundation, the first touch is developed to receive passes effectively and moving without the ball is either to receive or prevent a pass.
Yeah. I am over simplifying but you know what I mean.
I am hoping the new US Soccer system will address this.
