Tools, Tips & Techniques
05 August 2009 issue 119
Under 4s - Under 16s
Defenders can launch attacks on the wings When defenders win the ball off the attacking team they need to know what to do with it - you don’t want to see a wild kick into touch. If they move it to the wings they can launch their own attack, says David Clarke
Knowing where to play the ball Defenders can sometimes panic when they win the ball from their opponents, and, without a game plan, will kick the ball in the direction they are facing, giving possession back to the attacking team. However, if they know what to do with the ball, they are more likely to play a controlled pass or move the ball where their team mates can take advantage of it.
Dealing with turnovers
DEFENDERS
Launching counter attacks A good way to help them practice is to use this game to encourage direct attacking and moving the ball to the wings. ATTACKERS
How to set it up Set this up like the diagram with three attackers versus four defenders and a goalkeeper, playing in half a full-size pitch. You need two small, unguarded goals on the side of the pitch, about 25 yards from the goal line. If you are playing 7-a-side, use two attackers and three defenders and a goalkeeper in a small goal on a smaller pitch, with the two side goals set up in relation to the size of the pitch – the game is played exactly the same way. I like using this exercise because the players enjoy it and there is more than one coaching point. You can use it to coach both defence and attack. Primarily you are focusing on the defenders and the ways in which they organize counter attacks. The defenders are forced to take the ball wide from wherever they win it back because they have to score in one of the smaller goals to win the game. The attackers need to score in the usual way, combining to beat the defenders. In this situation the attackers are facing the defenders and will have to move the ball around to pull them out of position to create some space behind them.
direction of run
pass
The defenders need to win the ball back and exploit it, by moving it to the wings. They need to practice this because it helps them learn how to read situations as they happen during matches – they will get match-like situations unfolding in front of them, not contrived situations like a lot of drills.
How to play it l You need two or three attacking teams made up of two or three players. l The attackers start with the ball. l If the attackers score they stay on the pitch. l If the defenders score the attacking team goes off and new attacking team comes on. l The defenders stay on for the duration of the game. l The game restarts with the attacking team each time – no goalkicks, throw ins or corners.
“We have the qualities to play nice, attractive, offensive football and I hope that the public will see that in South Africa” Nemanja Vidic, Serbia defender, looking forward to attacking teams at the World Cup
Coach development
weekly
Under 4s - Under 16s
The art of coaching children Three ways to stop your players getting bored Young children have a short attention span and will get bored quickly if they are repeating the same thing. There are different training strategies you can use to ensure your players stay focused.
Balance Games and Training First, you need to get a balance between competitive and non-competitive exercises and games. To get the best out of your players this balance should be more towards competitive exercises.
Organisation Speed between exercises maintains momentum. So: l Set up early. l Have all the equipment ready in the areas. l Have clearly defined spaces to work in. l Keep all the areas close together. So, if you are warming up with a game where players have to pass balls to each other, rather than just keeping to one square change between two squares of different sizes: l Two groups of three players move around a 10 yard square passing a ball between them. l Same exercise in a 5 yard square, then alternate between the two squares – 30 seconds in each.
Training Strategies “Zigzag” training Alternate between two different exercises performing each for a short period of time before moving on. “Rotation” training Move around a circuit of three or four different exercises spending a short time at each one before moving on.
Three players, two squares
5 x 5 yards
“Station” training Split your squad into small groups who move around a series of stations where they perform a different exercise. You will need a coach at each station.
10 x 10 yards
In this warm up exercise you set up a square within a square so that you can switch between the two. Players will be in totally different sized areas and find it harder in the small area to find space to pass between each player.
David Clarke’s touchline tales Make sure your players are wearing the correct gear to see what was wrong. It turned out the player was wearing his sister’s hockey boots, because on the morning of the match he couldn’t find his own boots so his dad had told him to borrow his sister’s. They were three sizes too big, it was like wearing flippers - no wonder he couldn’t play the game.
Always check boots and clothing Being the coach of the team comes with responsibilities. One of them is to make sure the players are properly dressed for the weather and are wearing the correct boots. I have known players turn up for matches wearing boots that they can barely get their feet into, and then cannot play the second half because their feet get blistered or cut. I now make sure all the parents are aware of the need to wear correct boots so their children do not get injuries.
Wearing sister’s hockey boots On one occasion a player in my U10s team was having a very poor first half. I spoke to one of my helpers and he went over 2
Goalkeeper nearly passes out The right clothing for the weather conditions is also vital. I had a team playing in a tournament where after about 10 minutes the goalkeeper was looking all hot and bothered. He was moaning about being too hot. When we investigated, his mum had made him put on a thermal shirt, then his normal top and on top of that his goalkeeper jersey - in the hot sun he nearly passed out. 05 August 2009
Player development
weekly
Under 4s - Under 16s
Soccer formations
Traditional line up with players in a 2-2-2 formation
Set up to play 2-2-2 There is a lot of information written about formations at 11-a-side, but very little about 7-a-side. I think it is very important that you think about the strengths and weaknesses of your team and pick a formation accordingly. This is the most common set up for 7-a-side matches, says David Clarke The 2-2-2 formation seems to be the obvious choice for a 7-a-side team with six outfield players, as it covers every option. It would seem to cover every option. When you start playing matches as a coach you will come up against this formation more than most others.
Line-up for the 2-2-2 formation – 7-a-side
If you can get your tactics right against the 2-2-2 you can exploit the uniformity of it both in defence and attack. To me this formation on the one hand lacks imagination, but on the other is an easy way to get young players to understand their positions. You are partnered in defence, midfield and attack, so it is relatively simple to explain a player’s responsibilities.
Defenders Midfielders
The defence x2 The defenders are relying on a good relationship covering at the back for each other. And, to me, this is where the formation falls down. Getting two young players aged 8 or 9 to concentrate on covering each other is a hard task, and often leaves one defender alone facing an attacker.
Attackers This is what I call the Noah’s Ark formation, the team goes out 2 by 2. It is one of the easiest formation to coach to young players who have no experience of playing postions in matches.
means the team is well represented in the three key areas of the pitch.
The midfield x2 This is an ideal midfield, but they have to work hard. They need to help out defensively and in attack. It creates a strong attack because the midfielders can play wide putting the ball into the two attackers from different angles. However, commitment to attack does leave the counter attack danger covered only by the two defenders.
Weaknesses In defence the covering midfielders will have to help out, if one defender goes missing the formation breaks down. You need to coach covering defensive duties so players can look and see where cover is missing. In my experience the width of the pitch draws one or other of the defenders out of position and leaves a big hole at the back. This can be especially true when the team have had attacking corners and are caught out on the break. Coaches must get the two defenders to practice together to form an understanding about covering each other.
The attack x2 With two attackers for the midfield to aim at this is one of the strengths of the formation. However, the hard working midfielders will be sending a lot of balls down the middle so the attacking pair must decide who goes for the ball, a good understanding between the pair is essential.
In last week’s SCW (issue 117) I included an exercise on helping lone defenders make difficult decisions. Defenders need to experience being on the wrong end of 2v1s in training.
Strengths Very simple structure with a strong backbone, the formation 3
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Games workshop
weekly
Under 4s - Under 16s
Small-sided game Warm-up circuit
Colour react
Colour react
Get brains and muscles into gear Key elements Movement, agility, vision l Two groups of players on each side of a row of four different coloured cones fives yards away. l The players must react to your call and move to the appropriate cones. l The players must touch the cones in the order you call out, and then sprint out of the nearest end. l Players then join the opposite queue. l An example would be “White and Black” as shown in the diagram. Make sure you keep advancing the warm-up with combinations of colours so your players are thinking about what they are doing. l Mix the colours around so they do not become familiar with the position of the colours.
direction of run direction of run
In this example the coach has called white, black so the players from each side must run to those cones.
Five minute fitness
Lateral jumps - two squares then switch
Switch
This five minute fitness drill can be used during your training sessions for a quick break to help coaching points sink in, or as an incentive for a drinks break.
How to do it l Stand side on to the ladder, feet inside the first rung. l Jumping action, moving sideways through the ladder. l Jump into each rung of the ladder once. l After 2 jumps spin 180 degrees. l Repeat the sequence until the ladder is complete. l Ground contact on the balls of the feet.
Players must jump, then switch the way they face. Repeat 5 times. Rest 60 seconds between repetitions.
DOWNLOAD THE MATCH DAY PLANNER AT: www.bettersoccercoaching.com/MDP.pdf Soccer Coach Weekly is published by Green Star Media Ltd, Meadow View, Tannery Lane, Bramley, Guildford, GU5 0AB, UK. Email: info@coach-soccer.com Tel: +44 (0)1483 892894 Fax: +44 (0)1483 894148 Editor David Clarke Publisher Kevin Barrow Managing Director Andrew Griffiths Customer Service Representative Duncan Heard © Green Star Media Ltd. All rights reserved.
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05 August 2009