Tools, Tips & Techniques
06 January 2010 issue 141
Under 4s - Under 16s
Prepare players for match fitness In this speed and agility drill players are using quick feet, quick turns, changing pace between short and longer sprints and good body position – knees bent low in stance for good balance – to make players quicker and more agile on the pitch, says David Clarke
Test your players’ agility
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Work to compete In this exercise players run between three sets of cones – a middle set and two sets five yards either side. This is a test of your players agility, balance and turning technique as they compete against each other in a short sprint exercise. I often start by getting the players to run through the exercise individually then compete against each other. It’s one thing doing it on their own but watch how their intensity rises when they are competing.
5 yds
Players face each other and wait for your shout to go.
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Work out a sequence The sequence I use is 5 yards - 10 yards - 5 yards which is a good representation of the changes of sprinting distances they will face in matches. You can, however, work out your own sequence or run it up to a 40 yard dash if you want to give older players a tougher test.
5 yds
5 yds
5 yds
You can race your players the same way on the 5-10-5 yard circuit ...
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How to play it l Opponents face each other. l They must react on your call. l Push off hard on the back foot – the foot furthest from the direction the player is sprinting in. l Players with similar speed levels should compete against each other. l Players should run 2-3 times before resting.
5 yds ...or get them to run opposite ways.
direction of sprint
“You need players who are 100 per cent match fit” Sir Alex Ferguson, manager, Manchester United
5 yds
Coach development
weekly
Under 4s - Under 16s
The art of coaching children Introducing new players to a young team 3. Get them to watch first
Four weeks into the season and a new player arrives wanting to take up the game for the first time – and they’ve never kicked a ball...
Let the new player observe exercises and games before joining in. Stand next to them and talk them through what is happening. Ask them to join in when they feel ready.
Here are five quick tips for settling them in.
4. Make sure they get a lot of touches of the ball
1. Pair the new player up with a regular player in your squad
Use small-sided games with 3v3s or 4v4s so your new Introduce them and make sure they stick together during the player can get a lot of touches of the ball – make sure session. The regular player’s role is to help the new player they have some strong players as their team mates. understand what is going on in each section of the session.
5. Invite them to matches straight away
2. Break them in gently
Let them change and warm-up with the players but explain they are not yet ready to play in a game. When you do bring them on, make sure the referee knows they are new to the team and the game.
Start with a simple non-threatening warm-up activity that requires no soccer knowledge. A game of tag or a relay race is a good start.
David Clarke’s touchline tales Dealing with the attacker who sulks when the team celebrates a win I went to a school that didn’t play soccer. So instead I represented the school at lacrosse and rugby, but played soccer in my spare time.
As I turned to celebrate everyone ran past me to him, even though I had done all the hard work and created the goal – I wanted to shout, ‘Hey, what about me!’.
When I eventually joined a team we were at the very bottom of the bottom division. But by the time I was 18 we had moved to the top of our league and played a game which we needed to win to get into the next league which was a much higher standard – it was a semi-professional league.
Even though it won us promotion I sulked. It’s a typical reaction and doesn’t last long but I know how young attackers feel when they are not the ones to score. It is not selfishness, it is about disappointment, a feeling of ‘if only it had been me’.
As the game progressed we found it harder than we thought it would be. The score was 0-0 but with just minutes to go, I won the ball in midfield and played it wide to the winger. He ran down the wing, I ran in to the penalty area and as the ball was crossed to me I jumped up and headed it past the keeper. But it struck the crossbar and bounced out to hit another of our players and went into the net.
It’s a very powerful emotion and one you won’t cure with strong handed tactics. You need to take the player to one side and explain that you know how they feel and that you and the other coaches and parents had noticed how hard they had worked and the importance of their part in the goal. 2
06 January 2010
Player development
weekly
Under 4s - Under 16s
Player positions
Create a complete striker
Sniff out your strikers goal instincts 1 Penalty helper
coach
Look for good technique and for players to be alert and ready for the next pass...
It’s a big responsibility to be in charge of scoring goals, which is essentially what your striker has to do. Sometimes they can do it by instinct but you also need to get them scoring from different situations including penalties, says David Clarke
2 Turn and shoot helper
coach
Play the three strikes and out game This is a great game to play with your team. They can all play because everyone on your team should be able to score from penalties or with a turn in the box or a header into the corner.
... players must then run to the ball, turn with it and shoot ...
It’s also great fun and gives a good competitive edge to your training session. Getting your attackers to score from different situations is a recipe for success.
3 Header
Three ways to score
helper
l Tell your players they have to score from two of the three chances to go through to the next round. l Miss two of the chances to score and they’re out. l Set the exercise up so that you have a goal with a goalkeeper. l You stand on one side of the goal with a helper on the other side. l Start with a penalty. l As soon as the player has take the penalty you play a ball to the edge of the area behind the player for them to run, control, turn and shoot. l Finally, your helper then throws the ball in the air and the player has to try to score with their head.
coach ...then run in to head the ball at the corner of the goal.
ground covered
shot / header
pass
l Play until all the members of your team have taken part and you have a winner. 3
06 January 2010
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Games workshop
weekly
Under 4s - Under 16s
Small-sided game Warm-up circuit
The dribbling square
Dribbling square
This is a great warm-up to get your players ready for using running with ball skills in a match.
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Running and dribbling with the ball Arrange your players around the four corners of a square. 4
2
Four different dribbling actions are to be completed:
3
Dribble into the small square, complete two turns and then dribble to the opposite side. 2 Dribble and slalom in and out of the cones to the opposite side. 3 Dribble and then perform a skill to beat the mannequin. 4 Dribble the ball quickly using various parts of both feet (inside, outside, sole).
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dribble
Players do four different actions with the ball.
Five minute fitness
Running in 44s
Run in 44s
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 Players run to the top of the arrowhead then to their left then right. l They must touch each cone. l They must face forward at all times. l Do four sets of four runs then rest.
Players run through the cones in a figure of four.
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: david.clarke@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 Š Green Star Media Ltd. All rights reserved.
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06 January 2010