Coerver Method

Coerver Method or the Coerver Coaching Technique is a football coaching technique created by Wiel Coerver.

Wiel Coerver, the Dutch coach of the 1970s, analysed videotapes of great football players including Pelé to conclude that excellent play is not just inborn, but also teachable.

His technique develops from the basics of ball mastery to a tactically driven group attack. This includes essentials such as 'Receiving and Passing', '1 on 1 moves', 'Speed' and 'Lethal Finishing'.

1 on 1 moves from the Coerver Method are generically known as "Coerver moves." Examples include the scissors, double scissors, Rivelino move or step over, Matthews move, Puskás move or v-move, Maradona move or 360, Cruyff move, Scotch move, and Elastico. These moves are used to provide misdirection to get the defender to lean in one direction, so that you can dribble past him. Many of these moves can be seen at [http://www.expertfootball.com/training/techniques.php] .

The central theme of all Coerver Coaching concentrates on the improvement of both individual skills and small team group play, especially in the 6 - 14 age group.

Coerver Coaching believes that the game is made up of a series of movements and plays involving a small number of players (1 on 1, 2 on 2, 3 on 3 etc.) in different parts of the field. It is when they are linked together, or broken up defensively, that these small group plays make up a game of football.

Coerver Coaching concludes that any system of team play is only as good as the players involved. It therefore focuses on individual development, alone and in small team play. This curriculum is delivered through the Pyramid of Player Development.

"Wiel Coerver"

Wiel Coerver spent more than 25 years as a professional player and champion coach in the Netherlands. In 1970 he coached Feyenoord to the European Club Championship.

He was also Head Coach of the Indonesian National Team and has served as technical advisor to the Swedish, Dutch, English and other national federations.

Some of the young players he developed now play for top European clubs.

"Alfred Galustian"

Alfred Galustian is the International Director of Coerver Coaching. He worked for many years with Wiel Coerver and in 1985 was asked by Wiel to head up Coerver internationally. He has since been responsible for establishing Coerver Coaching WorldWide. Alfred has worked as coaching consultant to the English Schools Football Association, the Italian Coaching Association, the Irish Football Association, the French Football Federation, the Japanese Football Association - as well as many of the J League Clubs (Japan), Arsenal, Everton (England), Auxerre (France), AC Milan (Italy) and Parma (Italy). Alfred started his soccer career as a player with Wimbledon in England, moving on to coaching after an injury. He has earned coaching licenses in both the United Kingdom and the USA. In addition to coaching, he has also produced many of the Coerver Coaching videos and writes for many of the leading soccer publications around the world.

In 1994 Alfred was appointed Technical Director for Special Olympics (Soccer).

As of December 2007, Alfred is still the English FA Technical Consultant.

Coerver Coaching in USA

Coerver USA is headed by Charlie Cooke, who played for Aberdeen, Dundee, Chelsea and Crystal Palace before ending his career in the United States.

Cooke began his professional career with Aberdeen in 1960 and moved to Dundee in December 1964, where he was voted Player of the Year. He signed for Chelsea in April 1966 for a then club record of £72,000.He represented Scotland 16 times in full international appearances and also represented the Scottish League and Scottish U-23 National Team. Charlie played in the North American Soccer League for the LA Aztecs, Memphis Rogues and the California Surf. He was head coach of the Wichita Wings in the Major Indoor Soccer League Charlie Cooke oversees a fast growing football school in the world from Cincinnati, Ohio.

Coerver Coaching in Europe & Africa

Martin Clark is Coerver Coaching's Director for Europe and Africa and has been involved with the program for many years. Martin has been instrumental in the introduction of the Coerver Coaching Program in fifteen countries. In this time he has worked with recreational players, elite players, professional clubs, National Federations and International Governing bodies. Martin is also the Global Business Operations Director.

Coerver Coaching in Japan

Coerver Coaching in Japan started when Tom Byer, amn American football coach, adapted the Coerver Method to the football clinics he ran all over the country.

Byer sums up the philosophy: "Coerver Coaching teaches players to be attacking, attractive-type players. A study by FIFA says there are 200 ‘one-on-one’ situations per match. If you can teach one-on-one skills, then in a match, the more one-on-ones you can win, the better chance your team has of winning. It is the keystone of Coerver Coaching.”

This philosophy equates with what is happening in top-level soccer today. The idea that only forwards need to be technically gifted is outdated. Teams such as Arsenal, Real Madrid and Valencia are proponents of having 11 technically gifted players on the pitch, all comfortable one-on-one.

Back in 1993, Coerver Coaching was well-known in Europe and America as the leader in youth soccer development, but unheard of in Japan.

Byer convinced some business friends and Coerver Coaching International Director and world-renowned coach Alfred Galustian that it would be beneficial as a business and as an educational pursuit for kids to launch Coerver Coaching in Japan.

The company (Byer and three employees) formed in 1993, the same year the J.League began. Riding on the coat-tails of the early successes of the J.League helped Byer: Clubs signed famous players such as Zico, Dragan Stojković and Gary Lineker to play in stadiums packed with converts to the beautiful game. Japanese kids had a new type of hero to try to emulate: the professional soccer player.

Coerver Coaching provided an outlet for those youngsters to practice their skills through the production of training videos and books.

Coerver Coaching Japan employs 70 people at its Omote-sando office and in its schools around Japan. It also has a full-time, one-year Coerver coaching school academy in Urawa for aspiring coaches.

Coerver Coaching in Singapore

Recently established in 2006, [http://www.coerver.com.sg Coerver Coaching Singapore] is one of the fastest growing football school in Singapore.

Coerver Coaching Singapore is headed by its Director, Jimmy Beh.

After completing his coaching licences in Singapore, Jimmy Beh was trained under the tutelage of Coerver Coaching International Director, Alfred Galustian.

He followed Alfred to Coerver Coaching centres all over the world to be schooled and taught the Coerver Methodology.

Upon his return, he assembled a team of dedicated, committed and passionate coaches to form a group of coaches who believe in not just teaching football:but teaching life skills as well.

As of September 2007, Coerver Coaching Singapore has moved to its new world-class facilities at Tampines SAFRA Clubhouse.

Coerver Coaching in Other Parts of the World

*Coerver Coaching UK & Ireland

*Coerver Coaching Sweden

*Coerver Coaching Thailand

*Coerver Coaching Canada

*Coerver Coaching New Zealand

*Coerver Coaching China

*Coerver Coaching Hong Kong

*Coerver Coaching Australia

External links

* [http://www.coerver.com Official Coerver Coaching Site]
* [http://www.coerver.com.sg Coerver Coaching Singapore]
* [http://www.coerver-coaching.com Coerver Coaching]
* [http://www.coerverwa.com.au Coerver Coaching Western Australia]
* [http://www.halftimetalk.net Coerver Friendly Site - whose members children play for Championship and Premiership Academies ]