Ep. 18: Why We Need More Leaders! With Former US National Team Staff Coach Graham Ramsay

Episode 18 comes to us from guest Graham Ramsay of the Soccer School (est. 1969) on a topic that coach Ramsay has written about many times as a guest on multiple soccer blogs, coaching websites, and global publications. After a busy summer covering the World Cup, coach Ramsay's take on soccer in the US is not only a valid one but also one of great knowledge based on his many years as a national team staff member.

On a sidenote from your host: Coach Ramsay is brilliant, his perspective on US Soccer couldn't be more accurate and more worth the listeners time. We face a moment of reflection in the US as a soccer loving nation and Coach Ramsay offers a perspective steeped in expereince at every level on the pitch and off. He's the type of leaders we all can look to for guidance! He's the type of leader we need to create in our players!

In a message to other coaches through his own weekly publishment coach Ramsay writes:

Dear All,

From observing a college try-out and a month of World Cup soccer we are in dire need of producing "LEADERS". That are players who can read the play and the game that can rearrange the tactics of the team to inflict damage on our opponents. The coach is too important and often too far away from the critical zone that needs attention.

The two areas of recent concern was watching a college try-out where there was next to no coaching of each other. Most of the coaching was of the limp/meek variety. Compare that with a pro example of young players and the commitment is total. The demanding of both effort and coaching of each other is audible across the pitch.

At a higher level players, especially the captains, have to recognize the changing mood of a game and adapt your tactics to counter your opponents game. England fell into this trap versus Croatia. This can be done jointly between the captain and the coach and change on the fly. This means the captain & coach must have a great relationship. The best example I can think of is the relationship between Bill Nicholson, coach of Tottenham and Danny Blanchflower, captain & leader of Spurs. Nicholson had total trust in Blanchflower who often made tactical changes without telling his coach. A very rare & talented pair.

We need to create a lot of Danny Blachflower's if this country aspires to make a mark on the game.

GOOD LUCK & GREAT SOCCER,

Graham Ramsay, The Soccer School (est.1969)