Controversies

In the book, Arnold is an aquatically challenged alligator. On the team, he's responded well to the sink-or-swim skill building approach. For a laugh during games of Alligator River, he still puts on his snorkel and inner tube.

Gorinda excells at beating the offside trap. In the book, she and her fellow ghosts are victimized by text books that aren't scary. A constant need for group hugs has damaged her popularity on the team.

Stan saves penalty kicks with his head. In the book, he feasts on blinkies and can only by stopped by multiple layers. He sees the team psychologist for headaches and a fear of weanie roasts.

In the book, Francina is taken down by the triathlon scandal at the Animal Olympics. On the team, she's known as a one-dimensional dribbler who hitchhikes to practice.

Gilbert now pays better attention thanks to the Coachable Moment teaching style. But in the book, he'd rather prance on rocks than listen to fishing lectures. He still snares fifty/fifty balls with his beak.

In the book, Flash is a deviant squirrel who sprints directly away from danger. Thanks to those scrimmages with special rules, he's become more unpredictable as a soccer player. Wise Old Yazoo has advised him to apply for free agency.

In the book, Antonio and other black ants lift weights to prepare for their day of reckoning. He still pumps iron after every practice, but he's serving a suspension for headbutting a red ant.

Coach frequently looks skyward for inspiration. He was originally featured in the Thoughtful Soccer logo. The baseball cap and clipboard led to his demotion.

A cure for Bunch Ball? This article playfully looks at Bunch Ball and explains Thoughtful Soccer's quick solution.

Better than Keep-Away? An explanation of why Thoughtful Soccer scrimmages are more useful than Keep-Away games when practicing possession. Published in the NSCAA Soccer Journal.

Multiple-Theme Practices? Also published in the NSCAA Soccer Journal, this article compares and contrasts Thoughtful Soccer's multiple-theme practice with the standard single theme/logical progression practice.

One-Size-Fits-All Practices? A hypothetical discussion with a critic. Learn why the same basic practice organization works with different player levels.

A Triangle-Three Defense? Russ Carrington likes a defense with three in the back, forming a triangle that points toward the ball. Find out about the defense and the controversy it has aroused.

Thoughtful Soccer is based on some ideas that aren't really new or controversial. "Thinking skills are as important as physical skills." "Possession makes everything easier." "The more frequently players try something, the faster they improve."

That which seems different is inevitably attacked. This section is devoted to the controversies that Thoughtful Soccer has aroused. I welcome dissenting opinions, criticisms, and controversies, and I have no interest in convincing you all my ideas are the best. My hope is that, by reviewing these controversies, you'll become clearer about your own views.

We all probably want soccer that is thoughtful, but we might not agree on what that includes. What does Thoughtful Soccer mean for Russ Carrington? It's just a term he's applied to all his soccer beliefs, terminologies, and activities. It would be a shame to cast the entire package aside just because you don't agree with one concept!