WELCOME…
W E E K LY
January 5 2011 Issue 193 Under 4s - Under 16s
...to Soccer Coach Weekly. What will 2011 hold in store for your team? Maybe a title shot, a brilliant battle against the drop, or just the ongoing development of a promising young side? Whatever lies ahead, Soccer Coach Weekly will be on hand to recommend the latest and most innovative youth coaching ideas, and we kick-off January with an attacking drill that is all about instinctive finishing. Have a great year...
GOING FOR GOAL
A simple drill that will promote instinctive goalscoring ambitions in the final third... coach
SHOOTING ON SIGHT
SHOOTING ON SIGHT
Shooting on sight is something young players find it hard to do. They usually require a touch to control the ball before dispatching it goalwards, and in many cases, this gives defenders time to get back and put in a tackle.
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The coach lays passes to be fired at goal with a first-time shot
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To prevent a goalscoring opportunity passing your attackers by, you need to instil instinctive play. Some proportion of instinct is natural, but a larger amount can be taught, so here’s a session that encourages a first-time shot. Practice makes perfect, so the more you model this technique around your team’s style of play, the greater the rewards. And while this drill helps attackers first and foremost, ensure that your whole team perform it, because instinctive play can be as much about defenders passing the ball out of defence or midfielders threading a quick pass through the opposition’s backline, as it is attackers going for goal.
Serving the ball from behind means the attacker has only a splitsecond to react
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How to set it up: • • •
Use a standard penalty area. Place a keeper in goal and an attacker outside the area.
Line-up players so that there is a constant rotation of players performing the drill.
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Getting started:
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You serve the ball to different places around the penalty area.
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An attacker must approach and shoot at goal. Ensure that he hits the ball first time.
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Advance the move by standing behind your attacker when you release the ball so that he only has a splitsecond to react and hit it.
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Rotate players after every ball.
Why this works: In this session, expectation of a pass is as important as the pass itself. The key here is preparing your players’ mindsets around the idea that a pass could come at any second. If they can translate that readiness into game situations – in any area of the pitch – they will not only be prepared for receiving the ball, but will find themselves thinking ahead in terms of what they’ll do when it reaches them. Such instinctive play can train players to deliver a firsttime shot or pass where others may hesitate and see the opportunity pass them by.
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Construct a 5v5 small-sided serve game in an area measuring 25x25 yards with goals on opposite sides, cutting off the corners to create an octagon shape – this will ensure that the ball is kept in and around the goal areas. Each of the three defenders and the attacker remain in their half at all times.
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Y THIS! NOW TR
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Defenders shoot from their own half and at every opportunity. The lone attacker is allowed to deflect shots at goal and must be alert to any rebounds from the goalkeeper. All actions should be positive and forward. Play for a minimum of five minutes.
pass
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COACHING COLLECTION SAID LIKE A PRO
This week we speak to former Wales centre-half Robert Page, a hugely experienced defender who has clocked up over 500 senior appearances for club and country. A dominating and fearless player, he offers us a fascinating insight into how to organise a team, both as a resilient defender and a club captain. “I’ve worked under some fantastic managers and coaches during my time, and the best of them knew that keeping things interesting was the biggest part of motivating players. Footballers aren’t renowned for great attention spans, and when coaching youngsters that engagement is an even greater challenge. “You can’t just focus on team shape, ball skills or the technical side of things. All of that practical stuff needs to be mixed in with enjoyable elements. As a defender, I always enjoy doing passing drills, and it’s essential to finish with a small-sided game to put everything that’s been learned into effect.
“I’ve been very lucky in my career to be around some great lads who train exactly how they play. I am one of those players who has always needed to train at a high tempo, as if it is a matchday. Training should be a dress rehearsal for the real thing, so I believe coaches should always expect 100% from their players every time they put their boots on.
“Hard work and practice are crucial, yet pure determination is often an underrated quality in footballers.” “At the start of my career, I was told that hard work can help achieve anything. That was something really drilled into me as soon as I signed my first contract at Watford. If I hadn’t taken that advice I probably wouldn’t still be playing at the age of 36. Hard work goes a long way to helping you achieve things in life. “The game may have changed over the years, but I think I’m pretty much the same player that I was 15 years ago, albeit a little slower! When I was working under Graham Taylor at Watford in the 1990s people said then a lot of the same things they do about the game today. And as for the statistical side of things, Graham was very much into that, and he’d manually produce all the same stuff that the likes of Prozone can tell you now. That goes to show that you don’t need a lot of money or the latest technology providing you have an eye for the game.
“I’ve started getting involved in a number of coaching courses over the last couple of years and there are a lot of ex-professionals looking to that side of the game. Obviously, for many, it’s an advantage to have played the sport professionally, because they understand things from the other side of the fence, but knowledge in someone’s head is only useful if they can transfer it across to players. Being able to tell the youngsters how you see and read certain things on the pitch is a difficult skill and qualifications can only take you so far - they can’t teach you how to become a great coach or manager, that has to come from within.”
PLAYER STATS •
Robert Page started his career at Watford in 1990.
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He made 251 appearances for the Hornets, and captained the side during their time in the Premier League.
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He went on to play for Sheffield United, Coventry City and Chesterfield, amongst others.
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He made 41 caps for Wales before retiring from international football to concentrate on his final playing years and the coaching side of the game.
ROBERT’S TOP FOUR DEFENSIVE ATTRIBUTES 1. PASSION
2. HARD WORK
As a defender you need to have a passion for the art of defending first and foremost, because if you don’t want to do it then there is no point. I love defending just as much as strikers always want to get the ball and score goals.
Hard work and practice are crucial. You can never fully master the art of defending, no matter who you are. There is always more you can learn. Never believe that you are at your best because that is when you will go downhill.
And furthermore, defending is rarely about an individual. It’s all about teamwork and, specifically, defensive units.
There is always something to improve on and if that means that you need to stay behind after training to work on things then do it because you will benefit from it in the long run.
Striking up a bond with your fellow defenders is a great way to keep the opposition out because if you know each others’ games inside out you’ll feel as if you’re working as one force, not three or four defenders.
For me, the equivalent to scoring a goal would be to make a crucial block tackle to prevent an opposing player from finding the net. That is my equivalent of a striker slotting one into the top corner, so the will to do it is vital.
3. DETERMINATION Determination is often an underrated quality in footballers. Always remain determined to get to every ball and cover every run. Mistakes will happen in a game, they’re inevitable. But if you’ve got the desire to influence situations positively, you may well find yourself clearing up a fellow defender’s slip-up.
4. TEAMWORK
One weak link in the chain is all you need to cause problems, so it’s a great feeling when you are all in sync with one another. Arsenal’s back four of the 1990s had this and they went on to achieve great things.
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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.
MY FIVE PLEDGES FOR 2011 I’d like to wish you all a happy and successful year ahead. This is a great time to sit down and see how things might improve, and that improvement is as much centred around ourselves as coaches as it is the players we look after. So here are five new things I will be looking to achieve in the remainder of the season. 1. My first pledge is a simple one... to buy another indoor ball! Ours keeps getting stuck in the rafters and we could do with another so we don’t have to waste time retrieving it! But on a serious note, now is a great time to check kit and equipment, replacing anything that is old or worn out – stuff such as bibs or goal nets. And, like me, ensure you have enough balls, and that they are the proper size and weight. 2. While we are on the subject of training, my second pledge is to get to training earlier and set up my exercises before anyone else arrives. I’ve been getting lazy and turning up without enough time to get everything
prepared. As a result, I don’t concentrate as well as I should on coaching because I’m still setting up. 3. One of my more time-consuming pledges is to give each player individual targets for the remainder of the season. I try to do this every year and the players really do respond well to having their own schedule that will enable them to see how they have developed. It is always well worth the effort!
“Players really do respond well to having their own schedule... it is always well worth the effort.” 4. My fourth pledge is to check all safety equipment is up-to-date, along with the contact numbers for my players and their parents. If ever there is an emergency, you have to ensure that you can react. Also, go through all the ground check procedures and inspect matchday facilities so that
players feel they are safe and can enjoy the experience. 5. My final pledge is to take a step back and look at my own coaching style. I find it very useful to go and watch other coaches, studying the techniques they use to get their points across. I am lucky in that I have a number of these I can pick up tips from, and going to watch any coach will give you pointers as to what you’re doing right and, more importantly, what you’re doing wrong. This is a great time to take a good look at yourself, your club and the way you go about your duties. So here’s to a great 12 months ahead!
SCW SURGERY THIS WEEK’S COACH: ADAM BARTON GROUP: ACADEMY Adam is a professional FA-approved coaching consultant from Newcastle...
Q
My players are taking their positions too literally and often find themselves separated from the action. Have you any advice, please? James Martin, Darlington.
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You need to give them at least a basic recognition of attack and defence plays. When attacking, swarm forward as a unit. And when defending, close down all the space and retreat to prevent the opposition picking out gaps to move into. The players always need to be taught to work together – the full-back and wide midfielder on each flank working in pairs are the most important. When they can work in pairs, then they will work in threes, and so on. This will make them more aware of where they need to be at any given time. Young players can be unambitious in terms of position because they learn about formation and tactics too rigidly. Let them know that they are allowed to roam and be fluid, as long as they get back to their designated positions when the opposition have the ball in that area.
I have a team that is constantly underachieving but doesn’t seem to want to listen, particularly when it comes to passing. What can I do to change this? Thomas Rudge, Earlestown. I think the problem may be that everyone on the team is trying to prove something – whether it’s to themselves or to you. It also seems as if they are more preoccupied with walking the ball into the net, rather than constructing clever passing moves that cut through the opposition. Start up a training session and take away the goals. Set up two teams of equal numbers and tell them they have to make five consecutive passes between them, then increase it to 10, and so on. This will teach them possession football, it will build link-up play, and it will help them begin to understand the merits of listening to their team-mates. And if they listen to their team-mates, they’ll listen to you.
My players are not committed enough in the tackle and I’m worried that one of them will actually injure himself by going into a challenge halfhearted? Should I be concerned? Rob Surrey, Weymouth. I don’t think they’ll get injured as a result of going into challenges half-hearted, so I wouldn’t be too concerned on that score. You do however need to address why they don’t have the confidence to make the tackle, because without that ability your team is probably operating at 70% efficiency. In real terms, you’re drawing games you should be winning because players can’t or won’t apply themselves. The best solution would be to get them to play 1v1 or 2v2 in training to get them used to physical challenges. Gradually, they’ll carry this through into games, having realised that tackling, for the most part, can actually be good fun, and extremely rewarding.
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 THE ART OF COACHING CHILDREN
R IS FOR RESPECT The new year provides a great opportunity for you to wipe the slate clean with your players, whilst reinforcing one of the key elements in football and, indeed, any sport: respect. Respect is something hard won but long lasting, and it can have tremendous benefits for your team - benefits that are often ignored. As a coach, you have a unique chance to instil a sense of respect into your players which will last them a lifetime. This sense of justice and behaviour will keep your team together for longer and make the players value good play. A victory earned through honest endeavour is extremely rewarding. There are three key areas where respect will improve your players’ persona:
ACCEPT DECISIONS It might be old-fashioned but there are some coaches who insist that the referee is still
called ‘Sir’ or ‘Mr Referee’. It shows the respect players at all levels should have for the officials. Make sure players understand that, whether right or wrong, the referee’s decision is final and he is not going to change it. They need to accept decisions and get on with the game. Set a rule that only the captain speaks to the referee about a decision and then only to clarify why the decision was made, never to complain about it.
SELF CONTROL Nothing causes more animosity between teams than an overzealous celebration at the final whistle. Make sure your players congratulate the opposition and thank the officials straight after the game whether they have won, drawn or lost. In rugby, shaking your opponents’ hands and clapping them off through a tunnel are two of the oldest and most important traditions at every level. There is no reason why something
like this cannot be adapted to youth football. Instead of waiting for others to implement it, why not put it forward as an idea yourself? Overall, make sure your players appreciate the importance of being gracious in victory, and accepting in defeat.
TEAM PLAY Football is the ultimate team sport. You might have one or two star players but they would not be able to function effectively without the rest of the team doing its job. Players have to appreciate the importance of winning and losing as a team. Praise and blame should be collective and never aimed at individuals. Nominate a couple of ‘boosters’ whose job it is on the pitch to pick up anyone who has made a mistake and get them back in the game. It is quite often a good job for players who are liable to have a go at their team-mates.
FORMATION FORUM
THIS WEEK: CITY RIVALS –
HOW NEIGHBOURING CLUBS CAN PLAY THE SAME FORMATION IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY... We delve once more under the surface of the tactical formations that famously make teams tick... As portrayed by: Merseyside giants Everton and Liverpool over the course of the past decade. The legacy: The arrival of foreign influences plus a yearning desire to return the clubs to their title-winning days of the 1980s has led Everton and Liverpool managers to explore formations traditionally alien to the northwest.
BACKGROUND: •
A lot of sides in England and on the continent are now employing just one man up front, but with the use of supporting players to bolster attacking options. • The 4-4-1-1 formation is a modern continental ploy that attacks only when defence and midfield are settled and secure.
KEY ELEMENTS: •
The defence is a basic back four, but both full-backs are asked to push on. • The midfield contains two central midfield players and two wider players. • There is one attacking midfielder, who can become a support striker depending on ingame tactics, and one lone striker. • The attacking midfielder takes up arguably the most important position in this line-up. • Everton use this player as a deep-lying
holding midfielder – namely Tim Cahill. The Australian scores the majority of his goals from headers thanks to Everton’s ability to utilise wing attacks before sending in accurate passes to a specialist finisher. His role is about great timing, short passes to fellow midfielders, and exerting influence off the ball. • At Liverpool, they utilise Steven Gerrard in this same position, though he is employed as an attack-minded forceful midfielder. In some quarters he is even labelled as a striker. He finds the net frequently, and pairs with Fernando Torres in a two-pronged attack.
The 4-4-1-1 formation
MAIN STRENGTH: When Cahill and Gerrard are firing and on top form, their respective clubs find this formation tremendously effective. The left-hand side of the Everton set-up is particularly strong with Leighton Baines and Steven Pienaar working in tandem, while at Liverpool, Gerrard and Torres have their partnership down to a fine art.
KEY WEAKNESS: The role of this lone player is so influential that when players are out of form – or worse, unavailable through injury or suspension – creative forward play is significantly stifled. Goalscoring opportunities become scarce because of the frontman’s relative isolation.
In attack, wingers advance while midfielders are progressive or covering players player movement when attacking
player movement movement when when attacking attacking player
player movement when attacking
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GAME ON
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SMALL-SIDED GAME
ATTACK FROM THE BACK •
Create a playing area that is 30x20 yards (min) up to 40x25 yards (max).
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Set-up two full-sized goals (with keepers) placed on the same touchline, as in the diagram.
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SKILLS
How to set it up:
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Teamwork
player movement pass/serve player movement run with ball shotpass/serve run with ball shot player movement pass/serve run with ball shot
ATTACK FROM THE BACK
Passing Attacking
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The game starts with a 4v3 with two goals to be attacked and defended
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Can the attacking team exploit their numerical advantage?
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When the attack is over, the attackers race back to their starting positions and start again.
Defending
There are two teams of four players. The defending team number themselves 1 to 4. One defender rests on each attack. The four attackers position themselves next to one of the cones.
The rules: •
The coach passes to the attacking team who attempts to build play and score in one of the goals.
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After a goal is scored, intercepted, or the ball leaves play, the attacking team start a new phase, receiving another ball from the coach.
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After eight balls have been played, the two teams reverse roles. The winning team is the one that scores the most times.
Why this game works: This is a simple attack versus defence game that works in phases. With two goals to defend, the backline must be organised, aware and quick to receive instructions from the keepers. For attackers, the limited number of attacks means that moves must be undertaken with accuracy and precision. The role of the rested defender is significant in that, as a spectator, he can see where dangerous play builds from, and can attempt to solve that problem when he slots into play himself during the next attacking phase. Overall, you should be looking for both sides to gradually improve with each new phase, and the intensity should remain high at all times.
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 run with ball
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pass/serve
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