Assistant Field Hockey Coach – Lycoming College ||| Sport Performance Coach
Pittsburgh, PA
Joined June 2010
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Adam Matter, CSCS retweeted
👀 The Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) for severe weather on Tuesday has been expanded to include portions of southeastern Pennsylvania. Damaging winds will be the main hazard during the afternoon and evening hours but cannot rule out a few tornadoes and large hail, too. #PAwx
Adam Matter, CSCS retweeted
⚠️⛈️ There is increasing risk for severe thunderstorms and flash flooding Tuesday. Scattered to numerous thunderstorms will be capable of producing damaging winds, tornadoes, flash flooding, and large hail. Multiple rounds of storms expected. (1/2)
Adam Matter, CSCS retweeted
Mentioned it a few times throughout my notes during the World Cup, but those who utilise create invasion with progressive passe, win.
Another reason why so many teams have moved to back 5s (either as a base or situationally) so they can handle these types of runs better.
Using in-house data, FIFA’s Football Performance Insights team have noticed a trend at this summer's World Cup.
Compared to previous editions, they have spotted that possessions including an off-ball run which targets the inside channels and the space in behind the opposition defence are leading to successful actions more frequently.
In other words, attacking the gap between the widest defender and the centre-back nearest to them with a forward run is increasingly valuable.
Compared to the previous World Cup four years ago, possession sequences that include such a movement in the 2026 tournament are leading to around 2.7 shots on goal per 30 minutes of ball-in-play time — an increase of around 34 per cent.
Those runs are effective because they cause tension in the opponents’ defence. Most often, that full-back will have their eye on a winger, while the centre-back on that side will be tracking the striker.
@ThomHarris_
🔗 nyti.ms/4yiUz3t
Adam Matter, CSCS retweeted
Tornado Warning including Williamsport PA, South Williamsport PA and Montoursville PA until 9:45 PM EDT
ALT This graphic displays a tornado warning plotted on a map. The warning is in effect until 9:45 PM EDT. The warning includes Williamsport PA, South Williamsport PA and Montoursville PA. This warning is for Central Lycoming County in north central Pennsylvania and Sullivan County in north central Pennsylvania. The threats associated with this warning are a radar indicated tornado and no hail is expected. There are 59,166 people in the warning along with 19 schools and 2 hospitals.
Adam Matter, CSCS retweeted
Severe Thunderstorm Warning continues for Williamsport PA, South Williamsport PA and Montoursville PA until 9:00 PM EDT
ALT This graphic displays a severe thunderstorm warning plotted on a map. The warning is in effect until 9:00 PM EDT. The warning includes Williamsport PA, South Williamsport PA and Montoursville PA. This warning is for East Central Centre, Eastern Clinton, Central Lycoming, Southeastern Tioga and Central Union Counties. The threats associated with this warning are wind gusts up to 60 MPH and penny sized hail. There are 89,577 people in the warning along with 25 schools and 3 hospitals.
Adam Matter, CSCS retweeted
U9–U13 is the GOLDEN AGE for coaching principles. ⚽️
Not just technique anymore.
Not yet about complex tactics.
This is where players learn how to PLAY.
Here’s why 🧵
Adam Matter, CSCS retweeted
I used to use very small spaces in SSGs to force players to “think fast”.
The problem?
You often remove the chance to run in behind, the only real option left is to shoot.
Bigger spaces can help develop player's movemens, not just the player on the ball.
Adam Matter, CSCS retweeted
Worked in professional down to youth soccer in Spain 🇪🇸 and noticed:
▪️Development first
▪️Ball mastery starts earlier and higher standards
▪️SSGs are bigger influence
▪️Everything flows through clubs
▪️Free play more encouraged
The US 🇺🇸
▪️Development second
▪️Pay to play (too many games)
▪️Rehearsed drills heavy (not enough tactical intelligence)
▪️Next to no free play
▪️Late specialization in skill
@PaulSpacey
Adam Matter, CSCS retweeted
Football is full of pressure, transitions, and chaos.
Yet too many drills remove all three.
Adam Matter, CSCS retweeted
Next time you see a “Pep possession drill” or “Arteta small-sided game”…
pause for a second.
Don’t copy it.
Understand the idea behind it. 🧵
Adam Matter, CSCS retweeted
Don’t just coach clean touches.
Coach purposeful ones—into space, away from pressure, toward the next action.
Adam Matter, CSCS retweeted
🧵 Why Ball Mastery Matters at Foundation Level in Football ⚽️
1/
Let’s talk about something simple but often overlooked:
Ball Mastery.
The touches. The repetition. The hours of building a relationship between player and ball.
At the foundation level (ages 5-11), this is where the magic starts.
👇
@SundayShare10 #SundayShare
Adam Matter, CSCS retweeted
Coaching U9–U13?
This is the golden window for player development.
But many waste it chasing “tactics.”
Here’s why tactics should stay simple—
…and why principles are what actually shape players. 🧵
#SundayShare @SundayShare10
Adam Matter, CSCS retweeted
If you coach U9–U13, you’re in the golden age for developing decision-making.
But how do you actually know if what you’re doing is working?
The answer: track KPIs.
Here’s an example using Bravery on the Ball 🧵
#SundayShare @SundayShare10
Adam Matter, CSCS retweeted
The language we use when we coach is important
Especially for younger age groups where exploration & curiosity is 🔑
If I choose to use coaching cues I want them to ENABLE & EMPOWER, not constrain
Some ideas by game phase & directed at players on, around or away from the ⚽️:
When designing a drill/game it is imperative for the coach to ask “is this how I want my players to play defensively?” when creating drills for attacking moments. Where we place players in the field is important because they will learn patterns whether or not they are effective.
Adam Matter, CSCS retweeted
Started with this group at u16 in 2022, when I returned to Chicago from the college coaching world. 8 gals who have gone on to play college field hockey are pictured here. Zero have transferred. Zero players who have stopped playing due to being burned out or unprepared for the next level and its pressures. That is a point of pride for how we do things at RISE. It’s about fit and honesty, something I found was completely lost by the end of my college coaching career. It’s also about trust built with my college coaching friends. That is something money cannot buy and I cherish.
There’s much more behind the photo. When I first envisioned starting my business in beginning of 2022, I believed it would be while I was still college coaching. I knew I still loved coaching field hockey and wouldn’t be able to give it up, but didn’t know how I would start providing mental health support again and navigating NCAA restrictions as a college coach. I had a conversation with a mentor while recruiting this very club down in Florida - RISE. A little known club to many. Young, but a gem I knew was run with integrity and with great athletes and families. My mentor heard my vision for starting my business and coaxed me back to Chicago to help her direct this club, recognizing the need for someone who could open up more college recruiting support and prep as the club grew. She believed I could provide this level of training without pressuring athletes toward things they didn’t desire. The goal was that they just love the game of field hockey and learn life lessons, even when difficult. I never knew what an answer to prayer this was.
This conversation and several other amazing developments allowed me to resign from college coaching, start my mental health practice @BYondSportCoach and continue coaching and developing young women even more than I was permitted to as a D1 head coach. The bonus was connecting me with @OPRFSoftball as well, unbelievable. I sold my house to a football coach moving to town and made a move in a week back to Chicago. College coaches are the masters of quick life changing decisions.
I ask a lot of people to work hard and also have courage in the face of uncertainty. I ask them to dream. I can ask this because I have lived it over and over again. I understand the tension, fear, and the reward of living a life with the courage to maintain your principles. The joy is seeing those leaps of faith pay off for people like the gals in this picture.
