I decided that I would do my best to ensure my girls team would use their weaker foot!

Today I am proud to say that my girls have scored 5 goals with their left foot.  I've drilled into them the following "If the ball is on your left foot and you swing and miss an open goal with your left foot, I will always admire you for trying", If they try the awkward outside of the right boot, whether they miss or score, I'll always tell them "Unlucky/Good goal, use your left foot next time!"

Don't be scared to have players practice with their weaker foot, even if its a warm up with the ball, take them for a jog and have them use their weaker foot only, it's is painfull to do and watch but it will get better, I promise!

On last thing (honest!) as a testament to playing with the left foot.  I have a player who crosses like David beckham - curling, fast and just in front of the goalkeeper.  The team couldn't keep up with her as they're busy wondering if she'll get another great cross in.  So I put her on the left - why?  Because everyone on the left never felt comfortable. So I explained to her that the left can be great for right footers.  She started taking on players and then draging the ball back on her right so she could now cut in and shoot.  Once she mastered it, I showed her another trick - cutting across a player and using your left foot to cross.  She tried it a couple of times and failed but I praised her for trying.  We then played a team at the bottom of the league, I told her this is the best opportunity to practice left foot crossing.  Because her left crosses were weaker, the ball would easily roll at a good pace for the midfielders and stikers to score.  That game she set up 3 and scored 5.  She is now the top goal scorer by a healthy 5 goal margin.

Cheers

Coach Sandy

Is it really down to bad coaching or just generations of players. Are you telling me that the likes of Rush, Southall and Saunders etc were a reflection of Wales having a good coaching system in the early to mid eighties or just the fact that those good players came through at the right time. Graham Taylor got so much stick but thats as much down to the generation of players we had at that time. No doubt in the future we will have a superstar dowm the left wing then be missing someone else from another position. Top class players have a certain amount of natural ability which can not be fully coached, you can work on them to be better but avarage players however good the caoching will only be so good and never a "Ronaldinho, Gerrard etc".

The modern game has come to a point where if you are 6ft tall and quite well built you can survive. How many past greats like Alan Ball etc would cope in todays game with their size and fitness it doesnt mean they were worse players it just highlights that as a whole game the priorities have changed.  

Just for the record i think Joe Cole does a perfectly good job on the left. Dont forget Zambrotta either, naturally right footed but everyone in Italy or Turin dont panic when he plays on the left. Its nice to have the balance but we have enough good wide players who at the standard they play should be able to and will adapt.