WELCOME…
October 27 2010 Issue 183 Under 4s - Under 16s
...to Soccer Coach Weekly. In this issue, we’re looking at how mastering the art of the perfect pass can transform your team’s fortunes. Check out our Gerrardesque lead move, combine it with a warm-up that will whip your players into shape, and finish with a slick slide-rule beauty of a small-sided game. Here’s hoping your side reap the benefits! Enjoy the issue.
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PASSING PERFECTION How to ensure that the simplest art has the most impact...
PLAY LIKE STEVEN GERRARD The two most important techniques in football are also the two most used - controlling the ball and passing the ball. And more than 80 per cent of the time, when a player receives the ball they will pass to a team-mate.
PLAY LIKE STEVEN GERRARD
Liverpool and England midfielder Steven Gerrard has built his whole game on the ability to thread a pass. His trademark long balls can split defences wide open and create space for an attacker to work in. But he is equally good at playing the short game, using the ball to take out defenders or to put an overlapping winger in behind the defence. If every team got their players to use passes with purpose they would be much more successful in creating goalscoring opportunities. And by the same token, nothing will destroy a team more than inaccurate passing.
Start with simple short and long passes
1
LONG
SHORT
LONG
SHORT
So here’s a move that will help players practise passing so that it comes to them naturally during a match. And this move benefits as well the movement that any passing game relies upon.
SHORT
How to set it up:
2
LONG
Progress so that moves develop in triangles, and so that balls are laid in front of players to run on to SHORT
• •
Mark out an area 30x10 yards using cones. Use four players around the area, two on the long sides, two on the short sides. • The move is played with one ball.
SHORT
LONG
Getting started: • •
The players on the short ends pass long and short. The players on the long sides must move to receive but can only pass short. • Get the players moving the ball around in triangles, anticipating where the next player will run to. • Mark out zones so the players on the longer sides are given some guidance of where to move to when they receive the ball. • If it is a short pass, they run into the end zone nearest the passing player. • For a long pass they are in the zone furthest from the passing player.
Why this works: The way to familiarise your players in passing with purpose is to get them passing long and short. Players need to learn not only how to pass well, but to move into space so it is easier for the player on the ball to find them. The passing must be very accurate or the exercise breaks down. In a match situation, coaches will often stand on the side of the pitch and see situations where a simple pass, long or short, could open up the opposition defence, but the opportunity is missed. Practising the basics in a quick-moving scenario such as this will perfect technique as well as decision-making ability, so get your players doing this exercise to make them into mini Steven Gerrards. You can set up a few areas like this so the whole team is passing and moving at the same time.
SHORT LONG
3
LONG
movement of player movement of player pass
pass
game movement player pass • Set up aofsmall-sided with goals but no keepers. • Place three players in a central zone with one attacker in an end zone. • Teams must get the ball to the attackers in the end zones. They are unopposed and have two touches to score. • Look for good passes long and short to get the ball to the attackers. After an attempt on goal, play restarts with the coach.
Y THIS! NOW TR
pass
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COACHING COLLECTION
a
WARM-UP
PASS AND ONE-TWO REACT
How to set it up: • •
Mark out two baselines, 20 yards apart. Arrange your players into a group of three, two players on the left and one on the right.
Getting started:
KEY ELEMENTS
A warm-up that requires quick reactions and quick feet... • Reactions • Passing
PASS AND ONE-TWO REACT
• Agility • Concentration
• • •
One of the players on the left progresses across the area with the ball. He dribbles to halfway then plays a pass to the man in front of him. This starting player and the outside player then make continuous one touch passes. • When ready, the outside player feeds a pass into the space behind the starting player. • The starting player must react and turn to run after the ball. • He crosses back over his baseline and his team-mate repeats the exercise.
3 1
4 2
Why this works: No matter what the sport is, getting a feel for the weight of the ball is essential. Good control and passing are key, but this warm-up adds in a running element as well, plus encourages active players to use two feet and quick brains.
player movement dribble
SAID LIKE A PRO This week Drewe Broughton, a veteran of over 300 Football League appearances, tells us about his preferred training methods... “I’ve played for many sides over the past 14 years as a pro, but my time under Paul Ince at MK Dons stands out in terms of a dedicated way of training. Ince always focused on some of the most intense warm-up sessions I can remember, with fitness drills and speed work leading on to tight passing games and small-sided matches. For me, there is no substitute for doing training at the same tempo as you would play matches. If you do five days of high-tempo stuff during the week you feel sharper and ready as a player on a Saturday afternoon. “I know many professionals feel that doing hours and hours of tactical and shape work can drain the confidence levels a bit. Coaches need to find the right balance... some do, some don’t. “But I truly believe that the most important thing for a manager is the mood and attitude he instils around the training ground. It is like any job in the sense that if a group of players are given tasks that are too developed or complicated, it starts to put doubts into their minds. Football outside
the Premier League is quite simple at times and it’s all about hard work and using the ball well when in possession. “And I think managers often overcomplicate things when trying to develop youngsters. The coaching badges are all very nice but the danger is that they create clones - a number of managers adopting exactly the same techniques. Coaching is very much an individual thing, and we must be careful not to lose that edge. “Ince, and my current boss at Lincoln City, Steve Tilson, have always been themselves in management. And when you get praise from people like that it makes you want to give even more for the cause. After all, every player wants to be top dog!”
pass
EYE ON THE BALL Soccer Coach Weekly scored an unfortunate own goal last week! Our lead move described how Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan side triumphed over Barcelona in last year’s Champions League with a series of brilliant, devastating quick-paced attacking moves. But we wrongly stated that the teams met in the Final, when of course they met over two legs in the semi-finals. Internazionale came home 3-2 on aggregate, before beating Bayern 2-0 in the showdown. And you eagle-eyed Soccer Coach Weekly readers were quick to point out to us the error of our ways! Thanks to all of you who wrote in... we’ve picked one subscriber at random who tipped us off – Gary Lock from Luton. He has landed himself an Acme Thunderer engraved brass whistle. We’ve also docked ourselves a week’s wages!
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COACHING COLLECTION DAVID CLARKE’S TOUCHLINE TALES
This is a great game for angles of defence and changing roles in attack.
THE FRIENDLY SIDE OF THE GAME One of the experiments I’ve been trying at my club is to run extra teams who play friendly matches. This is so that players who have been substitutes the previous week get a full run-out the following weekend. It has worked really well. Parents have shown a lot of interest because it provides a great outlet for those players who find themselves sitting out the majority of matches for the main team. It’s also a good way to integrate any new players into the club. There’s a huge benefit for the coach as well, namely that it’s an ideal way to watch and monitor talent, keeping the kind of check on their development that you just wouldn’t be able to get normally if you only saw them in training. After all, game time is essential for any player looking to really ‘find’ their game it gives them something to aim for. On Sunday morning, I went down to watch a couple of new players in one of our friendly
teams. The match was against a strong local side. They lost, but you wouldn’t have thought so when you saw them after the game. The players were full of energy and self-confidence and were thrilled at having achieved a full game for our club.
“It showed all the other kids that putting in the effort really does pay off.” I’ve only had one negative comment so far. This was from a parent who didn’t want to pay the same amount of money as other parents whose children played in what he called ‘proper’ matches – “Why should I pay for friendly games?”
apart from the kids get more out of the experience. The player named Man of the Match in the friendly will play in one of next week’s league games as a result. It showed all the other kids that putting in the effort really does pay off – and we can use it the other way around with ‘first-teamers’ not giving it their all. But the best element it is that around 20 boys in each age group are all playing regularly, and that can only be a good thing.
I explained that the coaches involved still have to turn up and organise the friendly games. Then there’s a referee, and someone to book pitches. Everything else is the same
SCW SURGERY THIS WEEK’S COACH: PHIL GREGORY GROUP: 9-12 YEAR-OLDS Phil Gregory is an experienced youth coach from Grimsby
Q
Should I be teaching my 12-year-olds how to curl the ball? Hugh Thomas, Haverfordwest
Q
A
A
The simple answer to this question is ‘no’. Some believe that the intricacies of swerving the ball may damage a young player’s posture, but the greater reality is that they should be concentrating on striking a ball cleanly in the first place rather than perfectly the kind of techniques they see on the television. Essentially, get the basic elements sorted first and the rest will come naturally, and all in good time. I generally get my players of this age to do passing exercises of no more than 10 yards, and I’ll make sure the pitches are small and tight, something that encourages many touches of the ball. It is still all about the enjoyment of the game at this stage and they are always learning. By all means, let them curl the ball for fun, but I wouldn’t incorporate it as a set task. It’s a skill that comes naturally and a player of, say, 12 years old, shouldn’t become despondent because he can’t swerve the ball around a wall!
How do I get my players comfortable with trapping the ball? Gary Hanks, Dorset Firstly, you need to get them to stand in the correct way when receiving the ball; this will make it much easier to trap it when it arrives. They should be ready and alert, on their toes, and not back on their heels. I tell my players to stand up tall when the ball is coming their way – it will ensure they are in a strong position, are well balanced, and in terms of vision they are already surveying options of to where they can lay the next pass off. Players need to be acting as if their body is ‘sucking’ the ball inwards and taking the impact of the pass. So, you want their feet to be soft when receiving the ball and acting like a cushion, so that it doesn’t bounce away. I’ve known coaches who practise with a tennis ball first. The football is easy in comparison!
Q
I find that a number of parents on the touchline swear during matches. How can I stop my players from picking up such habits? Tim Howell, Cork
A
To be honest, at any level, this is totally unacceptable, and can have a negative effect on the whole team. Dealing with the parents causing the disruption can be a delicate procedure as you don’t want to lose players whose parents are unruly, but you must lay down a marker and let the individuals concerned know that you won’t tolerate bad language. Get all the parents together (so as not to single out any individuals or create a fuss) and lay down the law, plus the rules and regulations of the club, and the competitive associations. Explain that you don’t make up the rules, but you need everyone to adhere to them, or it’s their own children who will suffer.
Got a question for SCW Surgery? Email it in to us at james.evans@coach-soccer.com
Soccer Coach Weekly is published by Green Star Media Ltd, Meadow View, Tannery Lane, Bramley, Guildford, GU5 0AB, UK. Email: james.evans@coach-soccer.com Tel: +44 (0)1483 892894 Fax: +44 (0)1483 894148 Editor: James Evans Publisher: Kevin Barrow Managing Director: Andrew Griffiths Customer Service: Duncan Heard Contributors: David Clarke, Paul Dargan, Chris Galea, Steve Southern © Green Star Media Ltd. All rights reserved.
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COACHING COLLECTION
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THE ART OF COACHING CHILDREN
THE POWER OF THE MESSAGE You’ll be amazed how much information your players can absorb, particularly if you make your points clear and concise. Here are a few techniques:
1. REINFORCEMENT
Reinforcing your key coaching points helps players to understand and remember your message.
more than this and your players won’t take the information in.
whole group and give individual assistance to any players who are struggling.
4. START WITH THE KEY POINTS
6. A PROPER CONCLUSION
Introduce the coaching points at the start so players know what they are going to be doing. The most effective way to do this is through a practical demonstration either by yourself or using some of the players.
2. SET OUT GOALS
“Make sure you are clear what your coaching goals are for the session. If necessary write them down.”
Make sure you are clear what your coaching goals are for the session. If necessary write them down. Many top level coaches carry notes in their pockets to refer to during sessions.
3. A FEW COACHING POINTS
Limit yourself to three or four main coaching points in a session, and less if you are introducing a new skill or technique. Any
5. REPEAT THE KEY POINTS
Keep repeating the points during the activity. Be positive, highlight good examples to the
Sum up at the end. Go over the key points again, answer any questions and check the players have understood them.
7. USE FEEDBACK
Use questions throughout to check that players have understood you clearly. It often helps players to have the coaching points put into different terms by their peers and using slightly different language.
8. BUILD INTO THE NEXT SESSION Revise previous points at the start of the next session. Check the players have remembered what you coached and start with an exercise where they are putting them into practice.
FORMATION FORUM THIS WEEK: IS 4-6-0 THE FUTURE OF FOOTBALL?
We delve once more under the surface of the tactical formations that famously make teams tick... As portrayed by: Roma coach Luciano Spalletti for a season in Serie A, and more recently by Scotland national team manager Craig Levein. The legacy: Although the formation may seem revolutionary, its origins date back over eight decades to the Austrian ‘Wunderteam’ of the 1930s. From a 4-2-31 formation, lone striker Mathias Sindelar would drop deep to create space for the team’s onrushing midfielders.
BACKGROUND: •
As with most modern-day formations, a flat-back four is evident. • The two centre-backs are required to defend and deliver possession accurately to the ball-playing midfielders. • The full-backs are asked to push on when possible and assist the attacks. • There are two holding midfielders whose job it is to win the ball and distribute it to the attackers. • Four attacking midfielders can float around the front six positions in attack to overpower and confuse the opposition defence, albeit from deep.
KEY ELEMENTS: •
The absolute key to this formation is the fluidity of the attacking midfielders.
•
It is essential for them to drift around the attacking areas to generate space, pulling defenders out of their natural positions and creating overload situations. • Pressing the ball is vital, so any team attempting this formation requires high stamina levels. • The four attacking midfielders do not have fixed positions and are free to work any forward zones in order to fashion chances. • Complete organisation, almost to a military standard, is essential for this formation to work.
A standard 4-6-0 formation with the premise on a resilient midfield
MAIN STRENGTH: Defensively, as many as six players can drop to defend at any one time. Going forward, such a central bank of midfielders means the opposition can become disorientated as to who they have to mark.
KEY WEAKNESS: While the formation is cautious and measured, its attacking options are largely limited because any forward threat has to progress from such a long way back. Most 4-6-0 sides are looking to stifle the game. If they then concede a goal – as Scotland did in their Euro 2012 Qualifying match against Czech Republic – it can be very difficult to alter that mindset and attack.
Merging to 4-2-3-1 simply requires the striker to push forward and attacking midfielders to realign
player movement when attacking
player playermovement movementwhen when attacking attacking
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GAME ON
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SMALL-SIDEDplayer GAME movement
shot/header on goal
pass/serve
THROW TO PASS, HEAD TO SCORE •
30x20 yards (min) up to 40x25 yards (max)
• •
Two teams of four players
SKILLS
How to set it up:
No keepers
• • • •
Heading Awareness Positioning
player movement shot/header on goal
pass/serve
player movement shot/header on goal
pass/serve
THROW TO PASS, HEAD TO SCORE 1
The team in possession in this netball-style game throw the ball to each other...
2
... looking for an opportunity to head into the goal
3
Progress by giving your players the option of volleying into the goal
Defending
The rules: • • • • •
The aim of the game is to score a goal by heading in a pass.
•
This encourages quick passing and decision making.
Passes are made by throwing the ball forward. Passes can be caught or headed. The player in possession cannot move with the ball.
In addition, the player in possession must not have the ball in their hands for longer than three seconds.
Why this game works: Heading is at the crux of this small-sided game. It is a skill that can often be overlooked in training because it is something that very few players relish, but a simple yet focused activity such as this can make youngsters appreciate what an art it can be. The fact that passes are thrown offers greater supply accuracy and ensures that more heading opportunities will come about, while the inability of the passing player to move also means his team-mates are constantly on the go and looking for potential openings. The three-second time limit also encourages quick passes and rapid speed of thought.
Let us know how you get on. Soccer Coach Weekly is always keen to hear your feedback, so email in to us at
james.evans@coach-soccer.com
player movement shot/header on goal
pass/serve
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