Tools, Tips & Techniques
17 March 2010 issue 151
Under 4s - Under 16s
Squeezing play to win the ball back Lost the ball? Then win it straight back.... As soon as the top teams lose the ball they set up a defensive block and squeeze the opposition, says David Clarke When I have watched Liverpool in the English Premier League this season I can’t help but notice how hard the team are working when they lose the ball. Apart from Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, they have less gifted players than previous seasons. They make up for this by getting quickly behind the ball when they have lost it, into a defensive block of players and then closing down the opposition. In this way they force their opponents to play the ball quickly, often resulting in mistakes which give the ball back to Liverpool.
Closing down player on the ball
6 yds
Players must quickly follow their pass to close down their partner using jockeying techniques.
This is a great tactic for young teams, they can work hard and win the ball back when they have lost it – but remember it is hard work and needs committed players!
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To practise this I use a warm up and a small-sided game:
Warm up l Put two rows of cones 6 yards apart. l Split your squad into pairs. l Players pass to their partner, then follow behind the pass and try to slow the advancing player using a jockeying technique – blocking the player’s movement without contact.
The player on the ball has to take three touches before they can pass giving opponents time to close down. player movement
pass
Small-sided game l Play a small-sided game on a pitch around 30x20 yards. I’ve shown a 4v4 in the diagram but depending on the size of your squad you can use 3v3 or 5v5. l Normal rules except the player with the ball must take 3 touches on the move before they can pass. Players cannot
quickly kick the ball 3 times when they are stationary. l No tackling at first, only jockeying. Allow tackling once the game has been played a few times. Opponents must close down quickly before the 3 touches are taken. l Play first to 5 goals or time it for 10-15 minutes.
“The trend is to bring the opponents into a defensive block and then aggressively press the ball” Gerard Houllier, former Liverpool and France manager
Coach development
weekly
Under 4s - Under 16s
The art of coaching children Always make sure you are giving clear explanations Check for players’ understanding
Giving clear explanations to younger players is essential. They need to be able to understand exactly what you mean, and to execute instructions correctly and safely.
When you have finished always check that the players have understood what you have just said. Ask them for the key points of what you said and the instructions you gave them. Pick on players who often don’t listen properly and check that they have heard you.
Always plan what you are going to say To explain something to someone else you need to have a clear idea in your own mind of exactly what you are going to say and the key points you want to highlight.
Repeat and recheck If there is a general misunderstanding of what you have said, then you need to explain it again in a different way. This might involve a demonstration or breakdown of the information in simpler terms. When you have done so, check again for understanding before starting.
l Make a note of the key points to emphasise and if necessary take your notes to training with you. l Practise in your head what you are going to say and in what order.
David Clarke’s touchline tales If you’re not good with words at least be enthusiastic! At the weekend, in between coaching my teams, I agreed to referee an U9s game for a fellow coach. I knew all the players well, so I took the half hour warm up before the match. The coach was pleasantly surprised as he usually “just let them run around and get warmed up”.
When they all gathered for the half-time team talk the coach said: “Let’s not get too carried away with the score, I don’t think they’re a very good team so it doesn’t mean much. But well done to the goal scorers.” To say I was surprised is an understatement. The second half was totally different. The team lost its shape and stopped closing down. No one kept their position and they all seemed to want to get the accolade of scoring a goal. The opposition scored 5 times in the second half without reply. As referee I had to bite my tongue to stop myself coaching them as they played.
They had been on a bad run of form and were a bit down about playing the game. However, I thought they should be good enough to give the other team a hard game and I told them so. While we were warming up I got hold of the player who usually took corners and one of the attackers and practised an option of a corner to take. I also did 5 minutes of closing down players using the warm up on page one of this issue. They were quick to close each other down and I hoped they would do so in the game. If they could win the ball back quickly it would do their confidence a lot of good. The boys played really well, closing down when they lost the ball and supporting each other in attack. They even used the corner idea which didn’t end in a goal but did end in a shot at goal. By half time they were winning 3-0 and were rightly very proud of themselves. 2
The team came off the pitch very dejected with the cheers of the opposition players ringing in their ears. I felt for them, they had put such a lot of effort into the game but had lost it all with their second half performance. Afterwards I spoke to the coach about his half-time team talk and jokingly suggested it had affected the team. “That’s what I do most weeks,” he laughed, “I’m not very good with words!” The important thing to remember is that if you’re not good with words at least be enthusiastic and recognise the effort your players have put into the game. 17 March 2010
Player development
weekly
Under 4s - Under 16s
Tactics
Mancini’s plan Manchester City’s Roberto Mancini likes to get his players behind the ball when they lose it, then hit the opposition with quick counter attacks. You can get your team playing this way using this counter attack exercise, says David Clarke
Make counter attacks count
ATTACK!
30 yds
Playing this tactic is very physically demanding. It requires players to constantly run and to concentrate for the whole of the match. You can use this in your youth games, but you need to practice the quick ball to the front player. It is key to the success of counter attacking – it also means you need your striker to always be ready for a quick pass.
8 yds
When you play it with your team they can play long balls or fast one touch football and combination play to get the ball up the pitch. Just make sure your attacker is ready.
8 yds 20 yds
The attackers and defenders must be ready to follow the pass on your call. The striker must hold the ball long enough for support to arrive.
The player left up the pitch needs to be strong and fast to get to the ball first and hold it up. Using the exercise in the diagram (right), you can replicate a counter attack by holding the forwards and defenders in two boxes before releasing them. The attackers are racing away with the ball while the defenders are forced to make recovery runs.
How to play it l Set up an area 30x20 yards, with two 8 yard boxes marked with cones at one end and a goal at the other. l Have two teams of three players in the two boxes. One is the attacking support and one the defending support. l You need a striker and a defender near the goal, and a goalkeeper in the goal. l On your call the attacking team passes long to the striker. They can move once the ball has been passed. l On your next call the defenders run to help defend. l Depending on how long you leave it between calls will make it harder or easier for the attacking team. l You can also change the numbers in the two boxes to favour attack or defence. l Swap the lone players regularly and swap attackers with defenders after five attacks.
The attacker wins the ball from the long pass then gets a pass to the arriving attacker who shoots. The defending team must get back as quickly as possible to help the lone defender. shot
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pass
run
17 March 2010
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Games workshop
weekly
Under 4s - Under 16s
Small-sided game Warm-up circuit
Pass down the sides, dribble across the middle
Pass down the sides, dribble across the middle
This is a great warm-up to get your players thinking about what they have to do with the ball and where they have to run. It warms up limbs and brains.
How to play it
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l Get your players to work around the circuit. l There will always be two balls in play simultaneously. l To start, the player in possession passes down the side of the square and follows. l The receiving player then dribbles through the cones and diagonally across the square. l The practice is repeated for a set period of time.
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dribble
direction of pass
direction of run direction of run
Players must work their way around the circuit.
Five minute fitness
Passing sprints
Passing sprints
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
B
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l Set up this drill using a couple of cones. l Split your players in to threes. l Player A passes to B (1), sprints for 10 yards (2) to receive the ball back from B (3) and then passes to C (4). A then sprints to position C (5) and B to position A (6). l C hits a long pass to position A (7) then moves to position B for the return pass (8). l Players sprint, pumping their arms for speed, eyes on the ball. You want to see accurate passing and receiving.
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5 yards
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C 4
2
5 7 10 yards
10 yards
direction of sprint
pass
l Players should complete the sequence, then repeat. l Play for five minutes.
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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17 March 2010