Tools, Tips & Techniques
12 May, 2010 issue 159
Point break Under 4s - Under 16s
In this game players break out of the centre zone to take a pass and go 1v1 against the defender. It’s a good game to use when you first coach a team because it involves some of the main disciplines of soccer, receiving, passing, dribbling and beating a player, says David Clarke In England it’s the time of the season when we take stock and think about what we are going to do with the team over the summer break. There’s going to be an influx of new players at a lot of teams and I’m often asked how I run training sessions with players I have never coached before. I like to run 1v1s because players can show their attacking and defending skills, and unlike playing a game there is no hiding for any of the players. This means players are put in the spotlight and are much more likely to show you how good they are at passing, dribbling, defending and anticipation. You can get a good picture of how players will fit into your team.
Get your players running onto the ball Score line A
GO!
10yds
10yds
I have perfected this exercise that I feel gives new players the best chance to show what they can do in the short space of time they have to impress me.
A
How to set it up l You need three teams of four players – attackers, passers and defenders (teams can be made up of less players) – a 10 yard square box, two end score lines 15 yards from the box and an area 5 yards from the box for the passers. l The attackers start inside the 10 yard square box, two defenders at each end protect the score lines and two passers at each end in the small circles (at point A) serve the balls.
How it works l On your call the attackers race out of the box, receive a pass and try to beat the defender and cross the score line. l If the attacker succeeds in getting the ball under control and goes past the defender they score a point. l If the attackers get tackled in possession of the ball, or fail to get the ball under control they must return to the square
Score line Attackers run for a pass then must beat the defender. ground covered
pass
without scoring a point on that go. l Bad passes must be retaken – no cheating!. l Each person on the team has six goes to try and score points – the team with the most points wins. l After the first team has had six goes mark down their points then rotate teams so the defenders become the attackers, the passers become the defenders and the attackers become the passers.
“When he has the ball he just somehow creates something from nowhere” Barcelona’s Maxwell on Messi
Coach development
weekly
Under 4s - Under 16s
The art of coaching children Nourish your players with Sandwich Feedback to focus on improving. Before he can start progressing, he needs to be able to accept that he needs to improve. Make sure you have examples to give him of where he didn’t perform well, to help him understand the need for improvement.
Sandwich Feedback is a method of giving negative feedback to a player in a positive way, to which they will be more receptive. It is based on putting the negative comments between two positive comments. If you take the areas that the player is strong or improving in any negative comments should be given only with ways for the player to improve – negatives surrounded by positives.
Never finish without suggesting a way forward for the player, either something they can improve on their own or something you can help them with.
1. Bread
3. Bread
Give the player a positive comment first. Focus on one of their strengths and point out the things they do well.
Finish with another positive. This time focus on an area the player has been working on to improve. Make sure they can see the link between the hard work they’ve put in and the improvement in their technique.
2. Filling This is where you discuss the area where the player needs
David Clarke’s touchline tales There’s more to running a team than finding the best players “JACK! GET OVER ‘ERE, YOU IDIOT! STOP MESSING ABOUT AND STAND BY ME OR YOU’RE NOT GETTING A GAME!”
All of which wasn’t going to help my team. Distracting and offputting, it’s disrespectful to behave in such an obnoxious way. I remember when I started coaching one of the first things I was told was to respect the coach and parents of the other team. This manager evidently didn’t receive the same advice.
It’s Saturday morning and the manager of the U10s from down the road. They have some really gifted players, and our boys are standing watching them running around. It’s tricky getting our players to concentrate on the warmups as they’re busy looking over at the other team, where some of them have friends, and whispering to each other excitedly that the other team only has six players.
I was also refereeing the game, so I could see how their players were reacting to the shouting and constant direction by the coach. They obviously didn’t want to do what they were being told and this was spoiling their enjoyment. It also made them irritated so they were arguing over who took free-kicks, corners and throw-ins.
They’ve had some disappointing results recently and I was looking forward to seeing how they played. Two of their players had already signed for a local English Football League team, and the club has a reputation for creaming off the big strong players and quickly shedding any who were not up to their standards.
The player who lost out sulked, or moaned to the manager who just told them to get on with it. Their roles in the team were defined by the manager in a do this, do that way. Teams need to show discipline and respect to themselves and others. But then I guess the direction comes from the coach, and if the coach doesn’t have any discipline himself how can you expect the players to have any?
Their manager was already barking out instructions to his players, as they practiced corners and free-kicks. Anyone out of place was getting a fair old telling off. 2
12 May 2010
Player development
weekly
Under 4s - Under 16s
Tactics
Goalside It’s no good you and the parents of your players calling out GOALSIDE if your players aren’t sure what it means. They may think they know but give them this test to make sure, says David Clarke
What does goalside mean?
Defenders must get goalside
When coaches talk about goalside they simply mean making sure that the defender is closer to the goal than the player being marked – yes it’s simple, yet a lot of young players haven’t a clue what it means so make sure yours do.
D A
If an opponent is attacking from a corner the defender must stay goalside even when the attacker is moving around. At all times the defender has to consider where the ball may go, where there could be space and from where a threat may come from.
D A
A
D
A D
Line attackers and defenders up on the edge of the penalty area ready to move to defend a corner. goalside
You should use this drill to remind your players exactly what it means when you call out “goalside” in a match.
How to play it
On your call the defenders must get goalside of the attackers.
l You need to use your penalty area and have a goal with a goalkeeper and a corner taker. l Split your players into defenders and attackers. l Line them up on the edge of the penalty area facing away from goal. l When you call out GOALSIDE your players have to run and defend the corner by getting goalside of the attackers. l The corner taker kicks when you shout CORNER. The space between you shouting the two commands makes it harder or easier for the defenders. A long space gives them more time to get goalside. l When the corner is taken make sure the defenders are all goalside of the attackers.
corner
On your second call the corner taker plays the ball in and the defenders must stay goalside of the attackers. direction of run
cross
is not an absolute. By staying goal side, it means the defender is constantly keeping the opponent onside.
However, always remember it’s a simple concept, but it 3
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Games workshop
weekly
Under 4s - Under 16s
Small-sided game Warm-up
React and pressure This is a great warm-up to get your players moving in all directions so they are ready to play in matches.
How to play it l This practice is controlled by the players. l The working player reacts to the waiting player’s call. l The waiting player calls out a colour. l The working player must sprint to pressure the coloured mannequin called. l The player must hold this pressure for 2–3 seconds or until another colour is called.
direction of run
Five minute fitness
Russian twist
Ball body twists
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 Start by sitting down, only your bottom will be touching the ground during the exercise. l Lean back slightly. l Feet off the ground with ankles crossed. l Bend knees slightly. l Touch ball to ground on each side. l Keep arms straight. l Ten touches each side then rest for 30 seconds. l Do three sets.
How to advance it l Keep legs straight. l Try the same exercise using a medicine ball (if you have one, or try different sized balls).
Work on core strength with these twists.
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.
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12 May 2010