Tools, Tips & Techniques
17 February 2010 issue 147
Under 4s - Under 16s
Win the 1v1s and you win the game This drill is easy to set up and coach, but asks some difficult questions of your players, says David Clarke
Practice using skills to beat opponents
2
What you are aiming to achieve Teams at 11-a-side, 8-a-side, 7-a-side or mini soccer games have one thing in common – all over the pitch players are faced with 1v1s which, if they win them, help win the game. Whether your player has the ball or is trying to win it, to a 1v1 means analysing the situation and the opponent, and making swift decisions about how to use movement, skills and change of pace to win the 1v1. Players must think about the best way to come out on top, so they are focused on their next move.
1
The drill is organised with 2 players facing each other between 2 cones 5 yards apart.
2
How to play it l Split your players into pairs. l Players cannot tackle each other. l Use two markers five yards apart – gradually make the distance wider to make it harder. l Player 1 must beat player 2 by stopping the ball at the cone before player 2 can touch the cone. The defender must analyse: l Which way will the player move? l Should I take a chance and gamble on which way the player will move? l How is the attacker’s body shaping up to move? The attacker must analyse: l Should I turn? l Which turning technique should I use? l Should I sprint, slow down or run at the same pace?
“Our manager demands quick football and quick decisions and you have to replicate that in training” Steve Bould, Arsenal Academy Coach
1 Player 1’s objective is to stop the ball with the sole of the foot beside either cone.
2 1 Player 2 must try and prevent this by touching the cone before player 1 stops the ball.
Coach development
weekly
Under 4s - Under 16s
The art of coaching children Your players can learn lessons from losing Learning to lose graciously is one of the hardest lessons any young sportsperson has to learn. Young players learn a lot from losing provided they can accept it and, in a basic way, analyse why they lost and what they can do to improve next time.
and shook hands with the referee. It was only after that the coach gathered them in a huddle and spoke to them. A routine like this led by the captain can have a really positive impact on players coping with losing and accepting it.
Win as a team, lose as a team
Win as a team, lose as a team
Soccer is the ultimate team sport and no one individual is ever responsible for a win or loss. If you have any “blamers” identify them quickly and speak to them on their own about their attitude and the effect it is having on the team.
Create a team sprit where players encourage their team mates rather than point blame at individuals. I have seen teams ripped apart over the course of a season by one or two “blamers”.
Try giving them responsibility within the team as motivators instead. It is then their job to go straight over to a player who has made a mistake and get them back in the game with their head up.
Remember you’re the role model You cannot expect your players to accept losing if you don’t. You need to keep your emotions under wraps especially in front of the players.
It’s okay to show some emotion According to child psychologist Jeffrey Derevensky (MacGill University) you shouldn’t deny children the opportunity to show their emotions when they lose. It’s okay to feel upset but they need to know where the boundaries are in terms of displaying emotion. Set standards of behaviour for your players and have sanctions if they don’t follow them.
It is often easy after a game to look for excuses – “Jamie wasn’t fit this week”, “The weather didn’t suit us”, “The referee had a bad game”. It is a lot harder to look at you and your players and ask “What could we have done better?”.
For example, showing dissent towards a team mate or the referee means they start on the bench for the next game. They then soon learn to control their emotions. Always acknowledge your players’ disappointment and show sympathy but emphasise the positive elements of the performance.
Despite what many armchair critics think, referees are very rarely responsible for the results of matches. Develop a “never blame the referee” culture in your squad and lead by example. Encourage players to shake the referee’s hand after games and thank him for doing his job.
It is important that players go home after a game with a positive mindset. They should know, despite the result, that they have achieved and learnt something.
Focus on performance If you are going through a bad patch of results, one way of keeping players motivated and focused is to de-emphasise winning and focus on improving skills. Set realistic goals within the game – for example, “This week I want us to make 8 out of 10 first time tackles”. This means if the team achieves its goal they win, regardless of the result.
Introduce a post-match routine whether you win or lose One team I watched recently walked up to their opposite man and shook hands as soon as the final whistle went. Then they clapped the winning team through a tunnel 2
17 February 2010
Player development
weekly
Under 4s - Under 16s
Technique
Flick it to beat the defender
Beat defenders with a flick turn
5 yds
flick turn right 1
Clever flicks from attacking players can leave defenders standing, letting your player past them en route to goal. It’s one of the more simple skills to learn, yet it looks really advanced and is very effective, says David Clarke
2
flick turn left 1
2
One of the best turns and finishes I have seen was in 2007 when Arsenal were playing Newcastle United in the English Premier League. Arsenal’s Dennis Bergkamp gets the ball played to him with a defender between him and the goal. With his back to the defender he flicks the ball with his left foot one way around the defender and runs the other breaking free to score a goal. Watch a video of it on my blog www.soccer-coachingblog.com and get your players using the technique with this session that shows them how to do it.
Flick the ball to the right of the defender and follow it.
How to set it up l Split your players in to threes. l Position like the diagram with the server 5 yards from the attacker. l The defender should be directly behind the attacker. l Both players have backs to goal.
Flick the ball to the left of the defender and go the other side.
direction of player turn serve/direction of flick
How to play it l Server passes the ball to the attacker. It needs pace on the ball for the flick to work. l The player flicks the ball with the outside of their foot and follows the ball to the outside of the defender. l Flick with the inside of the foot to turn inside the defender.
How to advance it l Flick the ball with the inside of the foot then go to the outside of the defender. 3
17 February 2010
1
Games workshop
weekly
Under 4s - Under 16s
Small-sided game Warm-up circuit
Dribbling gates
Dribbling gates
Ball control and balance This is a great warm-up to get your players ready for using running with the ball skills and turning with the ball in matches.
How to play it l Give each player a ball. l The players must attempt to dribble through as many gates as possible in a set time period. l They aren’t allowed to repeatedly go in and out of the same gate.
How to advance it
dribble
l Now the players must dribble through the gate and then make a turn back through the same gate.
Players run through as many gates as possible.
Five minute fitness
Kangaroo jumps
Kangaroo jumps
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 Set 2 cones 15 yards apart. l Take a big jump forward, then a small jump back, players must have bent knees and use arms for balance. l Players should jump as soon as both feet hit the ground.
How to advance it l Jump sideways – big jump to the side, small jump back – using the same technique.
direction of jump
l Jump backwards – big jump back, small jump forwards – using the same technique. Repeat each 2 to 4 times.
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 © Green Star Media Ltd. All rights reserved.
4
17 February 2010