#237 Professor Mathias Lochmann on Reinventing German Youth Soccer, Funino and the Focus on Developing Game Intelligence at the Same Time as Technique

Matthias Lochmann is a sport scientist in the field of training and coaching, a sports physician and a UEFA A licensed coach.  Since 2008, he has been working as a professor at the Department of Sports Science and Sport at the Friedrich-Alexander-University of Nuremberg. There, he is the head of the Division of Sport and Exercise Medicine. His current project is the reinvention of German youth soccer through introducing Funino as the games model for 9 and under kids. Funino is the brainchild of the late Horst Wein, an dis played 3v3 with 4 goals to encourage creativity, attacking play, and spacing by changing the structure of the game.

Lochmann played football at SV Darmstadt 98. As a coach, he worked in various positions at the professional youth academy of FSV Mainz 05 under Jurgen Klopp. His 2018 speech to German pro license coaches on game intelligence led to his current project and has led to his worldwide travels to speak upon making youth soccer more child-centric. In our conversation today we discuss Horst Wein, Funino, game intelligence as a model for development, and why Germany is staying ahead of the crowd by reimagining their youth soccer programming. 

Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matthias.lochmann.9

https://www.facebook.com/FUNino4.0

Keynote Speech ITK 2018: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpd1ws2ohTs (In German) English online article: https://www.dw.com/en/the-future-of-youth-football-in-germany/a-49231568

This episode is sponsored by GoodSport!

GoodSport™ is a natural sports drink that delivers superior hydration backed by science with a delicious thirst-quenching taste. And what’s really cool about it, is that it’s made from milk.

It turns out, milk is packed with electrolytes and has been shown to hydrate better than traditional sports drinks and water. GoodSport ultrafilters milk to remove its protein and harness its electrolytes, carbs and vitamins to provide superior hydration in a clear and refreshing beverage. GoodSport™ has three times the electrolytes than traditional sports drinks with 33 percent less sugar. GoodSport™ is lactose free and provides a good source of calcium and an excellent source of B vitamins.

I really enjoy GoodSport™ but what gets me most excited is the brand’s commitment to fostering a positive sports culture aimed at getting and keeping more people in the game.  GoodSport™ supports athletes with naturally powerful hydration and celebrates the natural good that comes from sports. GoodSport™ – Grab the Good.  Check it out at goodsport.com.

This week’s podcast is also brought to you by our friends at Sports Refund. Many of you probably buy trip insurance, every winter I buy ski pass insurance, to make sure that if I get injured I can get my money back on that expensive investment. Well, many of us spend thousands of dollars on our kids sports club fees, but what if they get hurt? In many cases you cannot get your money back, but now with Sports Refund you can. And it’s not just for long term broken bones or torn ligaments. It is only a 14 day waiting period, so you even get a refund if you roll that ankle or pull a hammy! For just pennies on the dollar, you can make sure that if your child gets sick or injured and misses a month or more you can get your money back, or your club can get paid. It’s a great product, just go to www.sportsrefund.com/game and get your free quote, and if it sounds good you can either get your club to sign up, or you can purchase on your own. 

Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our most popular online courses, a $300 value. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will have access to never before released and bonus material, including:

• Downloadable transcripts of our best podcasts, so you don’t have to crash your car trying to take notes!
• A code to get free access to our online course called “Coaching Mastery,” usually a $97 course, plus four other courses worth over $100, all yours for free for becoming a patron.
• Other special bonus opportunities that come up time to time
• Access to an online community of coaches like you who are dedicated listeners of the podcast, and will be able to answer your questions and share their coaching experiences.

Thank you for all your support these past four years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions