WELCOME…
December 8 2010 Issue 189 Under 4s - Under 16s
... to Soccer Coach Weekly. This week we’ve covered all angles, with a midfield/attack-minded main move, a dazzlingly defensive smallsided game, plus a Goalkeeper Special for SCW Surgery. And given the number of positions we’re tackling, it’s probably apt that our Formation Forum features the famously fluid Total Football principle too! Enjoy the issue...
W E E K LY
MIND THE GAP
Let creative midfield interplay and attacking runs bolster your goalscoring options...
MOTORING MIDFIELDERS
MOTORING MIDFIELDERS
Modern-day football formations make it essential that midfielders and attackers become accustomed to playing in congested areas. If they can display the skills needed to produce short, sharp interchanges of play, the rewards in the final third can be impressive. Naturally, our lead session this week will not enable your players to perform free-flowing passing football to the same high standard as the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona. It will though provide a platform to help your side find a way through teams with flooded backlines, as well as those who attempt to break up play by deploying one or two holding midfield players. Starting with an attacking triangle, you can adapt the attacking elements of this move to show the freedom of space that players can move into.
D
1
The ball is laid across the base of the attacking triangle as player A makes a A forward run.
BD
C
D
B
C
B
C
How to set it up:
A
A
•
Four attackers and four defenders are required for the session to work – in the diagram, the attackers are labelled A, B, C and D. • The drill is carried out in the final third of the field using the goal and a goalkeeper in position. • Players A-D form a triangular shape. • The four defenders are positioned in the shape of an upside-down letter ‘Y’, spread apart from each other but close to attacking players. They must hold shape and allow the attackers to work angles.
2 D
D A
Getting started:
c
•
A
c B
Player A starts with the ball - he must make an angle so as to D B evade the first defender and pass to player B, before making a run Player B lays a similar ball to Aplayer C towards goal. who, after placing a pass into the feet Player B lays a similar ball to player C, who after laying a pass to • c of player D, make his own forward run. player D makes his own forward run. B • Player D controls the ball and look for runs from A and C, whereby he lays a pass off to his chosen man. • In this instance, Player A receives the pass. Making sure to stay movement without ball pass onside, he fires at goal with a first-time shot. shot Player C must continue his run in order to take advantage of any • loose balls or rebounds. pass • Vary passing shapes but always ensure a centralised midfield movemovement without ball breaks out into a double-headed attack.
Why this works:
shot
The session requires speedy and decisive passing over short distances. Opposition defenders are used as solid obstacles meaning attackers are encouraged to sidestep their man so as to find an angle for a pass. The move should prove that the fewer touches each player takes, the quicker and more accurate the pass is likely to be, and with two attacking outlets, the last two defenders will need to make quick decisions as to which player to track. Try to repeat this move until the attacking players can produce the quick interchanges using only one touch each.
2010/11: THE PREMIER LEAGUE’S PROLIFIC PASSERS
movement without ball shotBy player:
pass
1. John Obi Mikel - Chelsea, 963 (89% pass completion) 2. Barry Ferguson - Birmingham, 864 (84%) 3. Danny Murphy - Fulham, 798 (83%) 4. Michael Essien - Chelsea, 796 (88%) 5. Darren Fletcher - Man United, 763 (86%)
By team: 1. Chelsea, 5,740 2. Arsenal, 5,673
3. Man United, 5,365 4. Man City, 5,103 Source: Opta
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