Makki Training Academy: Meet Coach Sam Makki
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I played professional soccer for almost 12 years in Europe and Asia. I was the leading scorer for almost 8 years...what they would call in Michigan, the MVP of the team. After an injury stopped me from playing professionally, I started to coach in Scotland for a second division professional team. I also trained several under-21 teams and some of those players that I trained are now playing in the European professional leagues.
My professional qualifications and completed coaching certifications include:
Scottish Football Association:
February 1998 - "E" and "D" Licenses
March 1998 - Youth License
May 1998 - "C" License
July 1998 - "B" International License Diploma
NSCAA:
March 2002 - Regional Advanced Diploma
August 2003 - Youth National Diploma
August 2005 - High School Coaching Diploma
October 2006 - Director of Coaches Diploma ICA:
December 2005 - Fitness and Conditioning for Soccer Players Certificate
NETA:
November 2003 - Certified Personal Trainer Speciality Coursework in: Speed, Strength and Agility Training, Total Body Conditioning and Marathon Running Training
I have been coaching youth soccer for 18 years (in Michigan for 6 years). The teams in Michigan that I have coached have won over 25 tournaments all over the United States, 8 league championships in the State of Michigan, 3 National Indoor Championships, 6 Regional National Championships, and 5 National Finals.
For my youth soccer coaching philosophy, I understand that winning is not as important as the development of individual skill. For young players, skill, technique and good movement are most easily grasped in a simple form. I am critical of coaches who set up practices but do not correct faults. They make general statements to the players, such as "That wasn't good" or "That was poor", which merely states the obvious but helps no one. What a coach needs to do is to identify where the problem lies and then help to correct the fault. Too many coaches see a practice and copy it without realizing that it will be only as effective as their actual ability to coach. A coach who knows how to diagnose and correct faults can develop the simplest practice into a very technical session. I think that some young players have a natural gift. They make things happen and make other players play. They demand that other players give them the ball or make runs. This tells me that these young individuals have more advanced understanding of the game than others in their age group.
Later, as the players get older, the coach will have to develop collective elements such as team spirit, the will to win, competitiveness, urgency, aggression and mental toughness. Players should be encouraged enough to show that they can stand up for themselves and try to make their own decisions, while remaining disciplined enough to play in a team's pattern. You always hear me saying on the playing field to "pass and move". All the great players know when to time their runs and where to run. Running all over the field is a trait of poor players who let their hearts rule their heads. Running has to be intelligent. This can be coached and must be based on the philosophy of pass and move. Passing and moving is the key. Whenever a player receives the ball he or she already should be assessing the situation. Can I put the ball in there? Can I play it forward? Can I play I to the player's feet? Should I run with the ball? The coach's job is to help prepare the young players to make these decisions and to create options for each other by making intelligent runs. I think that the younger the players are, the better they get by keeping the ball close to their feet. This will develop their ball mastery which over a period of time helps them to become confident enough to try things in the game.
Good luck to you all, Sam Makki
COACHING RESUME FOR SAM MAKKI
SAM MAKKI
Professional Playing Experience: 12 Years Europe/Asia
1986-1992: Irish Army, United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon
MVP, Leader Scorer
1992-1997: Division I Al-Tadamon Football Club
1993-1994: Drafted for the Lebanese National Team
1997-1999: East Fife Football Club, Scottish Division II
Coaching Experience: 19 years Club Coach, 3 Years Professional Coach
1997-1999: U21 East Fife
1997-1999: U18 Dundee United
5 were drafted for the Scottish National Team
1999-Present: Club Coaching All Levels
2004-Present: Makki Training Academy, Technical Director/Owner
2006: Harrison High School Girls Varsity, Trainer
2007: Lutheran Westland High School Girls Varsity,
Head Soccer Coach
International Coaching Qualifications:
March 1998: SFA (Scottish Football Association) Youth License
May 1998: SFA "C" License
July 1998: UEFA "B" International License
Jan 07: NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Assoc. of America)
Advanced National Diploma
Aug 2003: NSCAA Youth National Diploma
Aug 2005: NSCAA High School Coaching Diploma
Oct 2006: NSCAA Director of Coaches Diploma
Dec 2005: ICA (International Coaches Association):
Fitness and Conditioning for Soccer Players
Nov 2003: NETA (National Exercise Trainers Association)
Certified Personal Trainer
NETA Specialty Certifications in:
Speed, Strength and Agility Training
Total Body Conditioning
Marathon Running Training
Tournament Results: (Since Coaching in the United States)
7 times Indoor National Champions
23 times League Champions (WSSL, MSPSL, MCL)
47 times Tournament Champions - All Levels
How Well Do You Know Sam Makki?
Ever since I was young, I wanted to become a professional soccer player.
Soccer was my favorite game to watch and to play, and still is. I love the game to the point where I set my goal to coach soccer after retirement from playing professionally due to an injury.
In the late 1980's, I was hired by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force, stationed in Lebanon as a soccer player and trainer. I helped in organizing soccer tournaments among the teams, which included 30 different nationalities. I learned the concept of teamwork, which is essential to be successful in all aspects of life.
In the early 1990's, I started training with my national team and playing at the competitive level, but it never stopped my desire to play soccer and to coach it afterwards.
In the mid-1990's, I decided to take my career to the second level. I decided to become a professional soccer coach. I have completed many courses through the Scottish Football Association, the National Soccer Coaches of America, the International Coaches Association, and the National Exercise Trainers Association.
After being certified as a professional coach, I began to coach a second division team in Scotland. I also coached a few teams of boy under the age of 21. My main intention as a coach was to refine player's techniques, keeping an eye on his or her ability to control, pass, tackle, and head the ball I highly emphasize the concept of teamwork, which I believe is the key to success and winning. I also tried to address how important it is to be disciplined and organized on the field and off the field. Fortunately, I was very successful in accomplishing my goal, since the team's record improved significantly after I took over.
In 1999, I had an opportunity to visit the United States where I have some relatives and friends who lived in Michigan. I especially wanted to stay when I found out that soccer is a growing sport in America and coaches are in demand. I coached a few teams in Troy, Michigan, including the Troy Heat in July 99. We won the Waterford tournament and second in the Troy City Classic. The team won all the indoor tournaments. In 2001, we were undefeated for the Michigan Premier League (U-16 girls) and won the championship. During the 18 game indoor season, we were unbeatable against all the high school teams. In 2002, we were the National Indoor Regional Champions and third place National.
Also, I trained a U-18 Premier girls team in Troy. With this team, we won the Waterford Cup and came in second in the Troy City Classic. We also won the Premier League in Michigan.
I coached a Waza Co-ed team who won the National Indoor Championship in 2002 in its highest division. I also helped train many other teams including the Schoolcraft College Men's team. My Waza U-16 boys team won first place in the 2002 Canton Cup.
In 2002, I started coaching with the Northville Premier Football Club. I started a girls team (89-90), they were U-12 at the time. With that team, I moved them up to Division 1 in just a short period of time. They were playing in the Select Division and in two years, they became very successful, competing in MSPSL Division 1. This team won Indoor Regional championships twice and were finalists in the Indoor National Regionals twice.
The Makki Training Academy was created in 2004 as a sports performance training academy for athletes wanting to train to compete at a higher level. We sponsor and train many indoor soccer teams throughout the team and hold summer soccer camps. Many high school and club teams call the Makki Training Academy to train their teams in the off season.
In 2004, I went back to the Waza Football Club. For the first year, I started coaching the 93-94 Boys team. This team won WSSL Division 3 both Spring and Fall in undefeated seasons. Also, the team played in the Michigan Champions League, won that league with a very successful, undefeated record. The team won the American Cup Tournament, Midland Soccer Tournament, and the Regional & National Indoor Championships.
I had a U-12 girls team which played in the Michigan State Premier and were Champions of their division. This team also played in the Michigan Champions League, at a high level of competition, and came second place. They only lost one game to the Future Stars team. These girls won the first and second session of the top division of indoor high school leagues.
I also coached a Young girls team for Waza, age group 95-96, that won the Novi Jaguar Tournament, the Midland tournament, and the Regional Indoor Championships. In the WSSL league in the fall, the girls placed second in Division II.
If you have any questions regarding my background as a player or coach, you can email me any time at: makkisoccer@yahoo.com.
Thank you,
Sam Makki
Fun Memories from Sam Makki
Fun Memories from Sam Makki's career
One day while I was at the beach, I juggled 3,516 times without dropping the ball!
Since the age of 14, I decided to keep a record of my goal scoring. I scored 1,016 goals during my playing career!
I have entered many running competitions over my lifetime, usually 10K races, and my best time was 31:30!
When I was 18, I beat everyone on the American University of Beirut track team in the 400 meter run. My time was :52!! I hadn't even prepared for the race. After that, they offered me a scholarship to be on the team. I decided against it because soccer was more important to me!
The most goals I scored was in a match versus the Norweigian army while I was playing with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force Soccer Team in Lebanon. I scored 13 goals!
Professional players I have met: Michel Platine from France, Pele from Brazil, Eric Cantona from France, Jurgen Klinsman from Germany, Alan Shearer from England, Ruud Guilet from Holland, Zinedine Zidane from France in a charity match in 1998, Michael Owen in the Liverpool soccer camp when I was a trainer, David Beckham in 1998 when Man U played Arsenal and so many Scottish players while playing for East Fife in Scotland from 97-99.
The best, most memorable goal that I scored was in an international tournament which included 30 different teams from different nations. I was playing with the Irish Army in the final versus a team from Ghana. I scored the winning goal with a bicycle kick from the 18 yard line.
These memories will stay with me for the rest of my life hoping that the players that I am coaching will have enjoyable moments in their soccer careers, as well!
I love the game of soccer! I hope you do, too!
Sam Makki
