www.elitesoccercoaching.net
APRIL 2011
NEW!
SOCCER COACHING PRACTICES FROM ENGLISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE MANAGERS AND COACHES
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
HARRY REDKNAPP
ENCOURAGING CREATIVITY INTRAININGANDONMATCH DAY Exclusive Training practices nal from top professio managers
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
MILLWALL
MK DONS
CREWE ALEXANDRA
LUTON TOWN
STEVENAGE
KENNY JACKETT Perfect wing play
KARL ROBINSON Counterattacking plays
DARIO GRADI Defensive progressions
DAN WALDER Pole to pole vision
JIMMY GILLIGAN Switching forward focus
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Elite Soccer is published by:
ISSUE 08 MARCH 2011: FROM THE CHAIRMAN Green Star Media Ltd Meadow View, Tannery Lane Guildford, Surrey, GU5 0AB, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1483 892 894 Fax: +44 (0) 1483 894 148 Email: elitesoccer@greenstarmedia.net Publisher: Kevin Barrow Editor: James Evans Contributing Editor: Matthew Amos, LMA Design: Jimmy Egerton Illustrator: Richard Palmer Customer Services: Duncan Heard Operations Director: Toby Curthoys Managing Director: Andrew Griffiths Photos: Action Images
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League Managers Association The Camkin Suite, 1 Pegasus House, Tachbrook Park, Warwick, CV34 6LW, UK Tel: +44 (0)1926 831 556 Email: lma@lmasecure.com President: Fabio Capello Chairman: Howard Wilkinson Chief Executive: Richard Bevan This publication is protected by national and international copyright laws. Elite Soccer will take legal action against any individuals or organisations found to be infringing our rights, and will make that action public. Elite Soccer members who have purchased this report may circulate electronic or hard copies to members of their own club or school, provided this is done without commercial gain. However, no part or whole of this report may be circulated elsewhere or displayed on any website or distributed commercially except under licence from the copyright owners. © Green Star Media Ltd. All rights reserved
2 APRIL 2011
Toptrainingsessionsfrom the creamoftheEnglish game
03 Harry H Ha r Redknapp TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR T
Encouraging creativity
Dear Coach, Wel Welcome to the April issue of Elite Soccer. This month, we’re delighted to Socc present an exclusive coaching session pres from Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp. The Spurs boss has provided his side with incredible success in the Champions League and Premier League this season, and has come up with a really interesting session focused on creative play. Our contribution from the npower Championship comes courtesy of Millwall first-team coach Kenny Jackett, who offers a training session which is great for coaches looking g to utilise wingers to dynamic effect. In addition, MK Dons’ Karl Robinson offers his thoughts on controlled counterattacking, while Crewe Alexandra boss Dario Gradi uses the experience gained in taking charge of over 1,000 first-team m matches, to produce a really interesting session dealing with defensive progressions. Also included are additional coaching sessions from Stevenage’s Jimmy Gilligan and Luton Town’s Dan Walder, who look at switching forward focus and pole to pole vision respectively. At the end of the magazine, we have a new feature which looks at the key managerial achievements over the course of the past month, plus our profiled sports coaching book. I hope you’ll find all our offerings of real value and we look forward to bringing you more material next month.
06 Kenny Jackett MILLWALL
Pure wing g play 07 0 Karl Robinson K MK DONS M
C Countera attacking p plays 10 Dario Gradi radi CREWE ALEXANDRA
Defensive nsive ression progression 12 Dan Walder LUTON TOWN
Pole to pole vision Howard Wilkinson, LMA Chairman
Elite Soccer is a monthly publication for professional, semi-professional and aspiring soccer coaches and is available by subscription only. £97 for 12 issues. To subscribe email duncanh@greenstarmedia.net or call on +44 (0) 1483 892 894
14 Jimmy Gilligan STEVENAGE
Switching forward focus 16BOOKED
Elite sports book review
18MANAGEMENT MATTERS
Ourreviewofthepastmonth www.elitesoccercoaching.net
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Harry Redknapp Encouraging creativity Overview: This is an all-action session that brings together fitness and technique in a fastpaced competitive game. It relies on individual skill and good teamwork. It encourages shots at goal and must be played at Premier League pace – in other words, at a high tempo. We play this intensive game every Tuesday if we have no midweek match as it acts as a brilliant maintenance session, using up to 14 players in the exercise. In the session, we constantly encourage creative players such as Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart to shoot at goal when they create half a yard for themselves. It’s great for fitness - hence why we do it early in the week – and for team spirit too, because it builds camaraderie and the will to win. I have used this at every club I’ve managed.
3 APRIL 2011
ENCOURAGING CREATIVITY: MAIN SESSION SET-UP AREA
30x20 yards EQUIPMENT
Balls, goals (full size) NUMBER OF PLAYERS
12 plus 2 keepers
What do I get the players to do? Having divided players in two teams, and with a goal placed at each end of the playing area, we begin by playing 2v2 in the middle. One keeper starts with the ball, playing out to his team. Players must combine, making short and precise passing patterns before attempting to score in the far goal. We try to create a very intensive game, with coaches positioned at each end so as to immediately get a ball back in play should it go dead. We play for two minutes; each team of two is replaced by two new players. We enhance the move by placing additional team members around the side of the pitch, up to a maximum of four players per team. Now, players involved in a 2v2 can combine with those on the touchline to create more elaborate passing angles and options, though these peripheral players can only play using one touch. Players again swap after two minutes with each individual 2v2 score contributing to an overall head-tohead score, something that makes this
1 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
In a 2v2, the white team combines before scoring in the goal
2 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Using one touch, a white team mate on the flank adds to the attacking options
3 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
The teams are rotated at regular two-minute intervals
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
ENCOURAGING CREATIVITY: PROGRESSION session very competitive for players. Each player will usually play four or five games with the total session lasting 30 minutes.
What are the key things to look for technically/ tactically?
“Precision is key because there is no room for error. Making a mistake often leads to a goal in this game, just as it does in the Premier League.” 4 APRIL 2011
For strikers this is a quick and reactive game. We are looking for them to find an angle to shoot, and to immediately dispatch a shot whenever they can. We have times throughout the season where frontmen hesitate when in shooting positions, so this session is great practice to get them back into the mindset of getting shots off early. Players must construct quick passing moves, always willing to break forward. They must be looking to create overloads and overlaps, whilst staying aware of their defensive duties should a forward move break down. Precision is key because there is no room for error. Making a mistake often leads to a goal in this game, just as it does in the Premier League.
How do I progress the session? We progress the session by varying playing numbers, starting at first with a 1v1. This is very hard work but our players enjoy the challenge. The fact the exercise offers plenty of touches of the ball makes it extremely gamerelevant. As a final progression, we play 3v3 with an emphasis on creating 2v1 situations by using overlaps. Too often in today’s game players rely on their ability to beat opponents. But if a footballer can make something happen with movement in a 3v3, it adds another string to his bow.
4 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
In a 1v1, players must show excellent dribbling skills and a sharp eye for goal
5 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
With 3v3, good player movement is used to create space and shooting opportunities
6 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
When a ball goes dead, a new one is immediately served so as to maintain a high tempo
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
ENCOURAGING CREATIVITY: AC MILAN V SPURS, PETER CROUCH’S GOAL Feb 15, 2011Champions League, round of 16, San Siro
Harry Redknapp TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR As a tough-tackling midfielder, Harry Redknapp was on the books with West Ham United and Bournemouth, and enjoyed a spell in the US with Seattle Sounders. But it is as a manager that the 64-year-old is best known, having cut his teeth in the dugout at Bournemouth in 1983. After masterminding a famous FA Cup win over Manchester United, as well as promotion from the old Third Division, he quit the game for two years before reemerging at West Ham United. There, he helped bring through a wealth of future England talent, including Rio Ferdinand, Jermain Defoe and Glen Johnson. Two spells at Portsmouth (in which time he won the FA Cup) sandwiched a year at the Club’s south coast rivals Southampton, but it was upon joining Tottenham Hotspur in October 2008 that Redknapp really enjoyed success. He steered the Club away from relegation danger in his first season, securing Europa League football, then took Spurs to an unprecedented fourth-place finish in the Barclays Premier League, and with it, Champions League football. This season, Tottenham have defeated Inter Milan, AC Milan, Werder Bremen and FC Twente in progressing to the quarter-final stage. 5 APRIL 2011
Peter Crouch’s winning goal in the San Siro against AC Milan was a perfect example of this session. We broke quickly to create a 2v2 scenario LENNON where Aaron Lennon beat his man before squaring the ball to Crouch who finished well.
Phase 1
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
SANDRO IBRAHIMOVIC
MODRIC
CROUCH
YEPES
ABATE
NESTA
Ibrahimovic’s pass is intercepted by Sandro. He feeds Modric, who has Lennon overlapping to his right
Phase 2
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Lennon and Crouch sprint clear in a 2v2. The winger’s pace sees Yepes commit and the defender goes to ground early
Phase 3
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Crouch makes the most of the 2v1 overload as Nesta is forced to close down Lennon – the England striker sweeping it home first time for the Tottenham winner www.elitesoccercoaching.net
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
MILLWALL
Kenny Jackett Pure wing play
PURE WING PLAY: MAIN SESSION SET-UP AREA
60x45 yards
Overview:
EQUIPMENT
Pure wing play is about developing wingers’ ability to cross the ball, whilst promoting relationships and understanding with strikers and other attack-minded team mates. Forwards should begin to understand where a ball will be delivered to just from the winger’s body shape and how he is positioned. It’s important to practise this because in today’s game so many opportunities are created from wide areas. Using the full width of the pitch allows wingers to create more space for the attacking team, and we see rehearsed wing moves paying off frequently in matches. In our recent Championship match at Norwich City, we took the lead when James Henry was released down the wing; he crossed first time for Theo Robinson to score. It was a goal that had been practised on the training ground a number of times, and was played out to perfection. We’ll practise this session for around an hour.
Balls, goals
6 APRIL 2011
NUMBER OF PLAYERS
16, plus 2 keepers
What do I get the players to do? Having placed a goal at each end of the playing area, along with two wing channels five yards wide, we first practise unopposed crossing routines. We use five players – a winger on each side, two strikers and a supporting midfielder. The ball is played out to either flank where the winger either dribbles and crosses, takes a touch then crosses, or crosses first time. The key is for the winger to send balls in using a variety of crosses... lofted balls, drilled centres or clever cutbacks. In addition, if the ball is crossed from the right, the left winger attacks the far post looking to score, and vice versa.
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Unopposed, rehearsing crossing enables the winger to pick out any of the attack-minded players
1 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
RULE 1 A ball to the wing is taken down the channel and fired across to the near post
How do I put this into a game situation? On the same playing area, we create an 8v8 small-sided game. Both teams have a winger in each channel leaving 6v6 in the middle. Play is always encouraged out towards the flanks, where wingers can be asked to follow a number of different progressions and rules.
2 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
RULE 2 A first-time cross from deep is aimed at the far post where the opposite winger has come in to attack space www.elitesoccercoaching.net
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
PURE WING PLAY: MAIN SESSION
Kenny Jackett MILLWALL Kenny Jackett has been in charge of Millwall since November 2007. As a manager, he has an impeccable record, having led numerous clubs into higher divisions, beginning with Watford, for whom he achieved backto-back promotions between 1997 and 1998. He guided QPR to promotion as well, before switching to Swansea City in 2004 – securing a secondplaced finish in League Two. The south Wales club finished sixth in League One the following season, with Jackett missing out on another back-to-back promotion only because of a penalty shoot-out defeat in the play-off final against Barnsley. After a short spell as reserve team manager at Manchester City, Jackett returned to London to manage Millwall. Last year, the Lions secured a return to the npower Championship, and are well placed for a late charge towards the play-offs as the season nears its climax. As a player, Jackett spent his entire playing career at Watford, and was capped 31 times for Wales.
Rule 1: The wide player has unlimited touches, so he can dribble the ball along the flanks and then cross. Rule 2: The winger only has one touch so is required to cross the ball from wherever he receives it. Rule 3: Limit the wide player to two touches so attackers know when the ball is coming in. Rule 4: The winger must run on to a pass into his channel though only has one touch, therefore much of the emphasis here is on the set-up pass from a central player. Rule 5: An opposition player is allowed access to the channel to attempt to win the ball. Under pressure, the winger must act quickly and decisively Rule 6: The winger can enter the main playing area, looking to shoot or cut the ball back for an inrushing team mate
3 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
4 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
What are the key things to look for technically/ tactically? Obviously, the type of cross is crucial in this move, so we look for variation and imagination in the balls that are played in. We also expect quick decision-making on the wings, because the earlier a ball comes in, the better the scoring opportunity.
RULE 5 An opposing player comes into the channel to force the winger into a quick pass
5 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
7 APRIL 2011
RULE 4 Laying a channel ball into the path of the winger requires a measured pass from the midfielder
RULE 6 The winger dribbles out of the channel, feeding a ball across goal for his opposite winger to attack www.elitesoccercoaching.net
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
MK DONS
Karl Robinson Counterattacking plays
COUNTER-ATTACKING PLAYS: MAIN SESSION SET-UP AREA
Full pitch EQUIPMENT
Overview:
Balls, goals
This session looks at improving players’ ability to sustain position, deal with pressure, and produce confident counterattacking play. Particularly away from home, the ability to counterattack with pace and quality offers teams the option of sticking or twisting. I find that, if done properly, counterattacking shouldn’t be something that compromises team shape, because players are advancing into empty space. The session should last approximately one hour.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS
“When breaking, pace and precision is a necessity. We need to ensure the attack is direct and towards goal so that no momentum is lost.” 8 APRIL 2011
22
What do I get the players to do? In any counterattacking move, the key player is the one who acts as the pivot. This player controls the breakaway pass, is composed in surveying forward options, and releases to a supporting team mate when the time is right. In our warm-up, this man is either of the two attacking players in a 4-4-1-1 formation. To begin, we have two banks of four players – a back four defending deep on the edge of the box with another four players further ahead but in the defensive half. One holding striker hovers near the arc of the centre circle with an out-and-out striker on the halfway line. We rehearse two variations – either playing out from the back to the holding striker, who pivots and progresses forward looking for support from the full-backs; or hitting the top striker whose job it is to hold the ball, wait for support, and lay off a pass.
How do I put this into a game situation?
1 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
The front striker holds up play before releasing to a counter-attacking runner
2 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
In contrast, the holding striker builds using his bank of four midfielders
1 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
In the main session, team mates in the 5v5 must complete three passes
The game provides the main part of this session, and requires www.elitesoccercoaching.net
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
COUNTER-ATTACKING PLAYS: MAIN SESSION
Karl Robinson MK DONS Karl Robinson was appointed manager of MK Dons in May 2010 - at the age of 30 becoming the youngest manager in English professional football. Robinson stepped up into the role following the departure of Paul Ince, and has impressed in his first full season in charge at Stadium MK, with the club well positioned in the npower League One play-off picture. As a midfielder-cumstriker, Robinson played for a number of non-league sides, exclusively around the north-west and north Wales. Having departed his twelfth and final club, Warrington Town, in 2007, he coached at the Liverpool youth academy before linking up with Ince for the first time at Blackburn Rovers.
“Counterattacking shouldn’t be something that compromises team shape, because players are advancing into empty space.” 9 APRIL 2011
11v11 (including keepers) on a full pitch. We create a 30x30 yard box around the centre circle, in which there is a 5v5. At each end of the pitch there is a 3v2 defensive overload . Play starts in the central box with either team looking to string together three consecutive passes. If successful, the ball is played to one of the two strikers. Three team mates from the central box can now break in support of the move. One defender can also come out, attempting to slow the attack. The attacking team has eight seconds to score. If they fail to, either because they time passes, or the defensive team wins back possession, play restarts with the other team in the central box.
What are the key things to look for technically/ tactically? We look for good ball retention from the first pass into either striker. When breaking, pace and precision is a necessity. We need to ensure the attack is direct and it’s important to support with both wings. So two of the three breaking players should go to the flanks and the other will hold in support of the two strikers in the box. Defenders must be solid in their positions .
2 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Having completed three passes, the ball is fed to a striker. Three supporting midfielders break, as does one defender
3 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
With a 5v4 overload, the red team works space in the box
4 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
In this instance a tackle is made and play will be returned to the central square
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
CREWE ALEXANDRA
Dario Gradi
DEFENSIVE PROGRESSIONS: MAIN SESSION
Defensive progressions
SET-UP
Overview:
Final third
This session is about working defensively… as individuals, as pairs, as a back four, and as an entire team. It’s always important to include a technical element to any coaching session, and combining that with defensive practice has been important for us this year because we felt we had been leaking too many unnecessary goals. We’veseenanotable improvementinthe secondhalfofthe campaign,andsuchis itsquality,thissession isverymuchan ongoingoneforus.
EQUIPMENT
“It’s always important to include a technical element to any coaching session.” 10 APRIL 2011
AREA
Balls, cones, goal NUMBER OF PLAYERS
9 (4 attackers, 4 defenders, 1 keeper)
1
What do I get the players to do? We begin working in twos or threes, practising half-volley technique. A player who receives the ball in the air has to pass it back along the ground, while anyone receiving along the ground has to return it in the air – then switch. We do this for 15 minutes. For the main exercise, we use the final third of the pitch with a coned line running down the centre and through the penalty spot, thus creating two channels. Infrontofthekeeper ineachleftandright channelisa1v1‘attack versusdefence’set-up. The defender starts five yards outside the box, facing away from goal, with the attacker eight yards further away, facing him with a ball at his feet. The attacker advances with the ball, attempting to beat his opponent and score past the keeper. Play stops if the ball crosses the line of cones, and is restarted in the event of a tackle or a goal. Each channel goes in turn at high intensity with additional players ready to come in to ensure the drill remains at high tempo. We play this for 15 minutes.
5yd 8yd 5yd 8yd
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
A coned line marks out two channels of 1v1 plays
2 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
The attacker edges past the defender and prepares to shoot
3 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Here, the defender does his job by forcing the attacker wide and away from goal www.elitesoccercoaching.net
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
DEFENSIVE PROGRESSIONS: MAIN SESSION
Dario Gradi CREWE ALEXANDRA Dario Gradi MBE is one of only three managers to have taken charge of over 1,000 senior games for the same club – the others being Manchester United duo Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson. Gradi, who was born in Milan, first oversaw the Crewe Alexandra first-team in June 1983 with the simple task of keeping the Railwaymen in the Football League. In the past 28 years he has overseen numerous promotions, as well as fostering an incredible list of talent, that includes former England stars David Platt and Geoff Thomas, plus Danny Murphy, Rob Jones, Ashley Ward and Dean Ashton. The 69-year-old moved upstairs to assume a Director of Football role in 2007, though after spells as caretaker following the departure of managers Steve Holland and Gudjon Thordarson, he returned to the hotseat in 2009.
“If a defender is turned, he must attempt to show the attacker to the wing in order to prevent a shot to the far post.” 11 APRIL 2011
W What are the key tthings to look ffor technically/ tactically? We are looking to ensure that the defender does not let his opponent get behind him. If he is turned, he must attempt to show the attacker to the wing in order to prevent a shot. While defenders are always trying to win the ball, they must ensure that tackles are clean, and must never give away free-kicks or penalty kicks.
4 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Progressing to 2v2 in each channel, attackers combine to find space and move forward
How do I progress the session? We progress the session by playing 2v2 on both sides, looking for team mates to communicate and combine in what has become a much tighter playing area. Removing the cones offers us a 4v4 scenario where the principles remain the same. Strikers are expected to use overlaps and overloads in creating space and goalscoring opportunities, and each additional progression lasts 15 minutes.
5 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Removing the cones creates a 4v4 scenario
How would you put this into a game situation? To put this into a 20 minute small-sided game we add another goal 18 yards back from the 18-yard line and play 8v8, looking for attackers and defenders to put into place the skills they have developed from the main session.
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
18m Doubling the area lengthways and adding a second goal creates the small-sided game www.elitesoccercoaching.net
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
LUTON TOWN
Dan Walder Pole to pole vision
POLE TO POLE VISION: MAIN SESSION SET-UP AREA
40x30 yards
Overview:
EQUIPMENT
This session is about visual awareness, rehearsing players in the idea of looking around and interpreting detail - in essence processing things in their peripheral vision. It’s important to practise this because every decision in football is based on or inuenced by what players see. Frequently in the Premier League we see players making subtle but intentional visual checks before receiving a pass, so that when the ball does come to them they can switch or develop play immediately, and to devastating effect. We work this practice for 30 minutes, ending with a 15-minute full-size game.
Balls, bibs or ags, poles
“This is a session basedalmost entirely on visual awareness.� 12 APRIL 2011
NUMBER OF PLAYERS
12
1
What do I get the players to do? A pole is placed in each corner of the area, along with a goal at each end. Poles of one colour are placed at diagonal opposites. On top of these are hung four different coloured ags or bibs. Each team adopts a 2-3-1 shape (goalkeepers are optional though not used in the example shown). When the reds pass the ball, they must call out the colours of the two ags on the two red poles; and the yellow team likewise the ag colours on the yellow poles. As the game progresses, assistants located around the pitch will swap the ags, so players must stay alert. The game is fully opposed and each team must make four passes without miscalling a colour before they can score. If a wrong colour is called, possession passes to the other team.
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
The passing red player calls out the ag colours on the red poles
2 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
3
During the session, ag colours are changed randomly. Switching ags means players must stay alert
What are the key things to look for technically/ tactically? This is a session based almost entirely on visual awareness. Players should adjust their feet and body in
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
A tackle is made and yellow players call out their own respective colours
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
POLE TO POLE VISION: PROGRESSION
Dan Walder LUTON TOWN Dan Walder is Technical Development Coach at Blue Square Premier side Luton Town. Walder works with ďŹ rstteam manager Richard Money in shaping the Bedfordshire club’s technical training programme, having previously been employed at Northampton Town as Development OfďŹ cer. With his help, the Hatters appear a certainty this year for the Conference endof-season play-offs, as they look to plot a course back to the top division of English football having lost their place in the old ďŹ rst division back in 1992.
order to adopt a good body shape, and so as to avoid having to spin round to see the ags. And they must still pay attention to good ball control and accurate passing between team mates. There is a lot to take in at ďŹ rst, but players should relax as the session develops, adapting to the requirements and constantly checking ags when both in and out of possession.
13 APRIL 2011
4
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
The required four passes are made and a goal is scored
How do I progress the session? To progress the session, we ask players to call out the ag colours on opposition poles when they receive the ball, as well as their own ag colours when passing. This makes the exercise signiďŹ cantly more difďŹ cult, though strengthens the link between physical activity and mental agility.
How would you put this into a game situation?
“As the game progresses, assistants located around the pitch will swap the flags, so players must stay alert.�
We often ďŹ nd it useful to end the session with a standard 11v11 game, with assistants counting looks made by individual players. You should be looking for players to make a similar number of looks out of possession, as they do in possession. It is important that players take the principles learnt into the matchday scenario.
5 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
In the progression, the passing player shouts his teams colours and the receiving player must call out the opposition’s colours
In the 11v11 game, coaches count player looks and glances www.elitesoccercoaching.net
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
STEVENAGE
Jimmy Gilligan Switching forward focus
SWITCHING FORWARD FOCUS: MAIN SESSION SET-UP AREA
20x20 yards EQUIPMENT
Overview:
Cones, balls
This session looks at switching play and the direction of attack. Starting with a basic passing exercise we progress it into to a challenging multi-directional possession game. As youth-team coach, this works well with our lads. But at any level, it’s important to be able to switch the direction of attack so that the team can expose the opposition in areas where they are not set up to defend, or are ‘out of balance’. We run this session across all age groups. The principles involved paid off in this season’s FA Youth Cup second qualifying round match against Dagenham & Redbridge. After sucking in the opposition, we switched play to the opposite wing, found space, and scored. We allocate 20 minutes for the warm-up and 25 minutes for the game that follows.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS
“Displaying quick, positive decisionmaking in receiving and switching is crucial.” 14 APRIL 2011
16
What do I get the players to do? We begin with 16 players - 8v8 - and the ball in hand at all times. There are four balls per team. Each player throws to - and receives passes from - members of their team, whilst moving around. Next, the task is to throw and catch involving only opposition players. Progressing further, we add eight gates randomly scattered around the playing area. Each gate is five yards wide. The ball is still in players’ hands, and now they can pass to any player, but must run through a gate before releasing. We’re now at a point where the players have established a theme and a multi- directional approach, so we re-run the three phases with the ball at their feet.
What are the key things to look for technically/ tactically? Each player must move the ball quickly and open up his body in order to switch the direction of play efficiently and effectively. He must stay alert, always attempting to predict where the ball will go. Displaying quick,
1 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
With the ball in hand, passes are made to a team mate
2 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Now balls are played only to members of the other team
3 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Players can now pass to any other player but must move through a gate first.
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
SWITCHING FORWARD FOCUS: MAIN SESSION
Jimmy Gilligan STEVENAGE A prolific lower league goalscorer, the Hammersmith-born 47-year-old found the net for a number of clubs including Cardiff City, Swansea City, Portsmouth and Watford during a 12-year professional career that ended in 1993. Following his retirement, he took on several roles at Watford, including Assistant Academy Director and Head of Football in the Community. He went to on serve Nottingham Forest, Wimbledon and MK Dons, and has also scouted for Stuart Pearce’s England Under-21 set-up. He joined Stevenage in May 2010.
“Players in the first channel are screeners, initially trying to prevent a pass reaching the target player.” 15 APRIL 2011
positive decisionmaking. When passing the ball, we look for good weight and direction. Care and attention over the type of pass is important as well – we want players to concentrate on weight, speed, and whether the ball should be driven, punched, caressed or chipped.
How would you put this into a game situation? In a larger area measuring 40x40 yards we play a directional game with passers, target men and screeners. Starting with a 4v4 in the middle, white players score a point by getting the ball to and receiving a pass back from their target player in either of the far zones. White players have a target man on each side zone. The target areas are five yards wide. Playersinthefirst channelarescreeners, initiallytryingtopreventa passreachingthetarget player.Butshouldit makeitthrough,they thenneedtocutoutthe returnballcomingback theotherway. The target player is only allowed two touches. Either team scoring a point by receiving a pass from a target player then attacks in the other direction. Any move that breaks down is restarted in the middle.
1 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
The white player looks to pass to a target man, but his grey opponent prepares to step across and cover
2 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
A pass is made from the target player back into the middle and a point is scored
3 KEY Ball movement Player movement Dribble
Here a pass is intercepted and blues work quickly to feed the left target man
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How to win the Lombardi way man’s son and one of many sources of Lombardiisms. Touted as “The Employee Handbook for Enhancing Corporate Performance” it is usually found on the professional education shelves, though it has as much if not more relevance to a football coach, hence its selection for review here. At first glance the headline The Lombardi Rules ‘rules’ look commonplace, 26 L Lessons ffrom Vi Vince L Lomba Lombardi b almost workaday instructions – the World’s Greatest Coach that you might expect from any Vince Lombardi, Jr leader worthy of the name. McGraw Hill 52pp Amazon £3.95 “Be completely committed” (why would you want or expect anything else?), “Be prepared to ince Lombardi was coach sacrifice”, “Build confidence”, of the Green Bay Packers, and “Lead with integrity” are all a lacklustre American so much motherhood and apple football team that he transformed pie. The interesting parts of this into champions during the 1960s. little volume are the insights Wherever you read a memorable within the rules – there is a sporting quotation, Lombardi is two-page description for each of never far away – the man was a the 26 lessons – that provide the walking fount of potted wisdom illumination. Coaches interested on the leadership qualities, in learning about ways to develop personal commitment and themselves will find much to discipline that contribute to ponder and selectively adopt. making a successful team. How There are three broad themes, ironic then that the Green Bay applicable to any coach that Packers won the Superbowl aspires to great leadership: XLV with a reputation as a badly behaved, if talented, bunch of 1. Only by knowing yourself can sportsmen. Lombardi will be you become an effective leader. turning in his grave. 2. A leader must build the crucial The Lombardi Rules is a business attributes of character and book, compiled by the great integrity.
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16 APRIL 2011
“They call it coaching, but it is teaching. You do not just tell them it is so, but you show them the reasons why it is so and you repeat and repeat until they are convinced, until they know.”
3. Use techniques to translate strength of character into successful leadership. To know yourself you must be honest, ask yourself tough questions and play to your strengths – each a rule in its own right. Building from a rigorous self-evaluation, a leader must ‘write’ his character by learning from hardship, applying discipline and following role models or heroes. In line with these first few rules, Lombardi was a human dynamo, often being the first to arrive at the office and the last to leave. His example supports the theory that leaders are made not born – it is apparent from the rules that Lombardi spent a great deal of time thinking, testing and analysing his approach as he built himself as a leader. He wasn’t born to the task. Part of strength of character, Lombardi felt, is commitment. The coach must be committed and his players must give their all. When he arrived at the Packers in 1959, he judged that perhaps half the team gave 100% most of the time. He told his players that to win a championship they all had to give 100%, all of the time. (This might provide a fun analysis to conduct with an amateur team.) Lombardi’s answer to increasing www.elitesoccercoaching.net
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BOOKED: THIS MONTH’S CHOICE effort levels was to inspire those around him by raising his own level of commitment. He then ruthlessly pursued a policy of weeding out those not working as hard as they could on the basis that an organisation that wins is populated by winners. Perhaps the most famous quote attributed to Lombardi was his observation: “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” That statement was in fact first uttered by UCLA football coach Red Sanders, but it comes pretty close to Lombardi’s mantra. Lombardi’s rules cover all the bases of player behaviour, and he was the complete coach in his messianic quest for success. He monitored not just skill development of players but their attitudes. These, he believed, should continue to improve as hard work paid off – especially after players have a couple of wins under their belts. The words “teaching” and “coaching” are used interchangeably by Lombardi because he saw himself as both – a moulder of men. “They call it coaching, but it is teaching. You do not just tell them it is so, but you show them the reasons why it is so and you repeat and repeat until they are convinced, until they know.” Thoughhewasastrict disciplinarian–“doitagain”washis favouritetraininggroundrejoinder –heheldbackhowever,frombeing atotaldictator.“Ineverneedtotell aplayer‘thisismyway,nowdoit’. Instead,Isay‘thisisthewaywedoit andthisiswhywedoit’.” Explaining the whys is an important Lombardi rule that
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THELOMBARDI RULES 17 APRIL 2011
A SAMPLE LOMBARDI RULE
Build Team Spirit Fit your game to the talents of your team: A team works together most successfully when each individual component is used to best advantage. Tailor your approach to fit the abilities of your team members. Emphasise responsibility and loyalty: Teams depend on an extraordinary cohesiveness. Encouraging all members of an organisation to support and aid other members in pursuit of shared goals will strengthen this bond. Focus on team success rather than personal glory: Strong team members place the interests of the team first, sublimating their personal visions of glory to the team’s success. A good leader will encourage – and exemplify – this trait.
“I never need to tell a player ‘this is my way, now do it’. Instead, I say ‘this is the way we do it and this is why we do it’.”
emphasises the importance of all players understanding the underlying reasons for their actions. And for all players to understand it is imperative for the teaching and coaching to be aimed at the slowest. “The strategy must be crystal clear to everyone in the organisation. This means drilling it until the slowest member of the team has it down.” ‘Keep it simple’ characterised Lombardi’s approach to game tactics. Rather than have an extensive playbook he would far prefer his players to know a few plays thoroughly. “Almost always, the plan is too complex. Too much to learn and perfect in too little time.”
To win one of five copies of T The Lombardi Rules answer T tthis h question: In which year did Lombardi join the Packers as head coach? tth
For a perfectionist like Lombardi, aiming at the top is never without sacrifice or side-effects. Lombardi’s home life was, according to his wife’s accounts, characterised by his authoritarian rule, tempers and sulks, and bouts of depression. Lombardi died in 1970 at the relatively early age of 57. Lombardi’s son inevitably sums up his father’s philosophy more warmly. “It’s about finishing first... but it’s also about being a person of character, finishing what you start, never compromising your goals, and giving everything you’ve got to achieve your goals.”
VINCE LOMBARDI’S CAREER Coaching Posts New York Giants (1954-1958) (Offensive Backfield coach) Green Bay Packers (1959-1967) (Head coach) Green Bay Packers (1968) (General manager) Washington Redskins (1969) (Head coach) Highlights and Awards AP NFL Coach of the Year (1959) Pro Football Hall of Fame (1971) 2× Super Bowl champion (I, II) 5× NFL Championship victories (1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967) 96-34-6 (regular season record) 9-1 (playoff record) 105-35-6 (overall record) Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame (1975) Washington Redskins Ring of Fame (1997) Win-Loss Record 96-34-6 Winning % 0.738 Games 136 Source: Wikipedia
Send your answer to elitesoccer@greenstarmedia.net before April 20th, 2011. Winners will be chosen at random and announced in the May issue of Elite Soccer. Full competition terms are available on request.
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MANAGEMENT MATTERS
PERFORMANCE IN FOCUS THIS MONTH: BRIAN MCDERMOTT OF READING
The League Managers Association fiveman Performance of the Week panel - comprising LMA Chairman Howard Wilkinson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Joe Royle, Dave Bassett and Barry Fry - were in agreement that, in the second week in March, the F&C Investments Performance of the Week Award went to Reading following their excellent 3-1 away win against Ipswich Town. The result, which came in the npower Championship on Tuesday, March 8, 2011, followed an impressive 5-2 home win over Middlesbrough. Royals striker Shane Long took his personal tally to 20 goals for the season by opening the scoring for the visitors. Ian Harte then added a second with an
unstoppable shot into the top corner and Noel Hunt later made it 3-0, before Connor Wickham scored a late consolation for the hosts. After the match, McDermott was delighted with a fine display that keeps his side in contention for a play-off place. “That’s as good an away performance as you’ll see in the Championship. We went to Burnley and played similarly to that and won 4-0. “We’ve had some really decent away performances but drawn too many games. We’ve been working on that and to start turning the draws into wins is good news. “This is a good stage of the season to find some consistency and that’s what we’re trying to do. There’s still a load of points to play for and many things can happen.”
DECISIONS, DECISIONS... with Paul Peschisolido, manager of Burton Albion What’s the best decision you have ever made as a manager? The way things are going at the minute it feels like I haven’t made any good ones! Seriously though, sometimes the best decision is to do nothing. In games, for instance, sometimes you don’t need to make a change in personnel to turn things around. We were 3-0 down at Rotherham United earlier on in the season. I didn’t make any substitutions, but we had a good honest chat at the break. I asked the players to break their game down and reassess every pass and every move – to get back to doing the simple things. I often think a little bit of psychology at half-time can go a long way. On that occasion it certainly inspired the players because we staged an impressive fightback to draw the game 3-3.
See issue one of Elite Soccer for a training session from Reading manager Brian McDermott.
MANAGER OF THE MONTH AWARDS
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was named the Barclays Manager of the Month for February. Arsenal established themselves as genuine Barclays Premier League title contenders, going unbeaten throughout the month.
Swansea City manager Brendan Rodgers was named npower Championship Manager of the Month for February. Rodgers led his side into the automatic promotion places with five wins during the period.
In npower League One, Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson took the award. The returning Ferguson led Posh to four wins during the month, with his side scoring an impressive 21 goals in all.
And in npower League Two, the plaudits went to Graham Turner of Shrewsbury Town. Turner’s men notched up 13 points as the Shrews went through February unbeaten, with four wins and a draw.
What’s the worst decision you have ever made as a manager? It is tough to say because the worst decisions as a manager often centre around signing a player who fails miserably. I don’t really want to name any names on that front, but I’ve had a fair few which I’ve SWANSEA: W5 D0 L1 PETERBOROUGH: W4 D2 L1 SHREWSBURY TOWN: W4 D1 L0 brought in and given contracts to that have really not done ARSENAL: W3 D1 L0 well for me. w SOCCER But that’s part of the game, B ELITE SOCCER COMPETITION and you accept you are never a HARRY Congratulations to Doug Macrae who won a hard copy of Elite Soccer signed by REDKNAPP going to strike lucky every g Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish. All subscribers are entered into the draw ENCOURAGING time. ti CR EATIVITY to win this one-off prize, and this month we’re giving away the April issue, signed by www.elitesoccercoachin
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APRIL 2011
NEW!
COACHING PRACTIC FOOTBALL LEAGUE ES FROM ENGLISH MANAGERS AND COACHES
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
cover star Harry Redknapp. One winner will be drawn at random for the prize, with his/her name printed in the May issue. Good luck.
INTRAININGANDON MATCHDAY Exclusive Training practices from top professional managers
MILLWALL
18 APRIL 2011
KENNY JACKETT Perfect wing play
MK DONS
KARL ROBINSON Counterattacking plays
IN PARTNERSHIP
CREWE ALEXANDRA
DARIO GRADI Defensive progressions
LUTON TOWN
DAN WALDER Pole to pole vision
WITH
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JIMMY GILLIGAN Switching forward focus
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