SoccerCoachWeekly Issue 296 Wednesday, December 26, 2012
TOOLS, TIPS AND TECHNIQUES
The release midfielder This session re-enacts the part of the game where midfielders create openings by playing up to the forwards and making runs into the opposition penalty area. The defending team must press and block the route through to target players.
David Clarke
Head Coach, Soccer Coach Weekly Reds release the midfield player with a good passing move. The ball is set back for a shot on goal
4v4
How to play it • Set up as shown in a 50x40-yard area,
with a 10-yard zone at each end. • You need three teams of four players. You can also use two keepers, although these are optional. • The two teams in the middle zone play 4v4. • The other team has two players in each of the end zones, acting as target players. • The defending team cannot enter either end zone. • Attacking players can only move into the end zone by passing to a target player who, one- or two-touch, lays the ball back. If the pass is received, the attacker can dribble into the zone and have a free shot at goal, though only in three touches or less. • Play ‘first to three goals’ then switch the teams around.
40yds
10yds
30yds
10yds
The tight space in the middle is a perfect environment where interceptions can create quick goalscoring chances
Technique and tactics • This is a game of skill in the middle zone, with movement and quality of pass being vital to the success of the teams. • Players must be aware of attacking runs and must thread penetrating passes, with good timing essential. • For older age groups, tell defenders to close down routes into target players using their physical power as well as rather than just blocks, tackles and interceptions.
Mixing between long and short passing is important – here, blues play a long pass to release a midfielder
Advancing the session • For an additional challenge, ask players
to play one-touch in the scoring zone. Alternatively, insist that any ball into the forward is below waist height. • Also experiment with ‘give and gos’, and see if players can judge when and when not to play forwards.
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SoccerCoachWeekly WARM UP
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Arrowheads
Michael Beale
Premier League Academy soccer coach
How to play it
Left!
• Create a playing area as shown
in the diagram – cones are five yards apart. • Upon your call of either “left” or “right”, players must complete four movements: 1. Sprint to the top of the arrowhead first 2. Then jockey diagonally to the side that you have called 3. Now sidestep to the opposite cone 4. Finally, turn and sprint back to the group • Now instruct the next group to make their move, or call a new instruction to the working players.
Players sprint forward one after the other and begin the arrowhead motion
They move around the arrowhead
Technique and tactics • The players must always face
forward when completing the arrowhead movement. • Players must move and adjust their feet quickly. • Players can perfect the art by watching other players, which is why it can be a good idea to stagger runs.
The coach, in this instance, instructs the other team to go
FAST FEET MEANS ACTIVE MINDS!
player movement 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 Head Coach: David Clarke Editor: James Evans Publisher: Kevin Barrow Managing Director: Andrew Griffiths Customer Service: Duncan Heard Designer: Steve Southern Contributors: Troy Berry, David Clarke, Brad Coultas, David Lewis, Don Moat, Steve Watson © Green Star Media Ltd. All rights reserved.
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SoccerCoachWeekly FOOTY4KIDS
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
2v2 war
Steve Watson
Editor, Footy4kids.co.uk
The coach calls for the game to start and one player from each group comes onto the pitch, so a 2v2 game begins
This game improves dribbling, passing, receiving, decision-making and shooting. It’s perfect for players between the ages of seven and 12.
How to play it • Set up as shown on a 30x20-yard
playing area, dividing your players into two teams. • You stand on one side of the playing area with a supply of balls. • Serve a ball in. • The first player from each of the four lines comes out to play 2v2. • Play continues until a goal is scored or the ball goes out of bounds. • When this happens, all players leave the field, you serve another ball in and four new players enter the field for a 2v2 match. • The game continues until you run out of balls. • The team that scores the most goals is the winner.
30yds
20yds
The white pair combines to score in the other team’s goal
Techniques and tactics • Encourage players to move to a
supporting position immediately after passing the ball. • They must take all available opportunities to dribble and shoot. • Ensure as well that they use the entire width of the playing area.
Advancing the game • To advance the game, create an
Players run off the pitch and the coach calls four new players on (one from each line)
overload situation - when the ball is put into play by the coach, three players from one team play against two players from the other. The team with two players is awarded two points for every goal they score. • Alternatively play with four goals one at each corner of the playing area.
TAG TEAM SOCCER! player movement shot
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012
SoccerCoachWeekly TOUCHLINE TALES
David Clarke
14 things to think about in the New Year The Christmas break provides an ideal opportunity to organise and structure for the coming year. And as they say, ‘new year, new start’, so here’s your chance. I’ve got 14 things to think about in the new year – consider these points and see if you can work some of the principles into your everyday coaching. If you can, you’ll be a better coach because of it, I promise you.
1. Listen to your players Your players will always tell you if a training session is ‘right’ – they will tell you if it’s fun. Listen to them. I have two big ears and one little mouth when players are giving me feedback. It’s invaluable – ignore it at your peril. Make time to listen to your players
Head Coach, Soccer Coach Weekly
4. Karma will out Like most people I’ve had tough times with coaching – parents, players, training and matches all have their bad moments. The right things will happen eventually, but sometimes you just have to keep going until they do.
5. Know your limitations Don’t take on too much with your club or your coaching responsibilities. I have to make sure whatever I do fits in with my work/life balance. Taking on too much will make coaching a chore rather than a fun part of your life.
7. Structure is key
3. Success doesn’t come quickly or easily There’s no such thing as an overnight sensation. There is no shortcut for developing players – the learning curve comes from working with your players and using the right structure to help them love playing the game. The journey for you is the fun part – it has been for me.
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Plan your sessions, plan your warm-ups before a game, think about what you will say at half-time and full time, and be sure of the message you want to get across at training.
8. Don’t let people mystify coaching I’ve learnt not to be afraid to ask stupid questions. People tend to overcomplicate coaching with jargon speak. Never be afraid to ask “what are you talking about?” The fool is the person who sits and nods pretending to
Don’t try to be something you’re not. If you need to use a whistle to get attention, use it. Don’t think you have to behave like Jose Mourinho or Alex Ferguson. I’ve given up worrying what the players’ parents are thinking on the touchline if I keep quiet when the team is losing or not playing well. It takes years of confidence to feel like that – but it’s very liberating!
Some coaches go on courses and do nothing over and above what they learn, while others use what they have learnt to expand their coaching influence. I love going on courses and soaking up all the coaching knowledge from teachers and peers alike.
I like to think I’m a good communicator with young players but you can never assume children will pick up your direction or feeling by osmosis. Young players need to understand what is happening and what it is you want them to do.
Does the coaching session feel like it is working or are your players getting nothing out of it? Instincts are rarely wrong. I always look back and wonder why I ever doubted my gut reaction. I’ve learnt to trust it more.
9. Know your coaching style but let it evolve
10. Embrace every bit of coaching education you get
“I’ve given up worrying what the players’ parents are thinking on the touchline if I keep quiet when the team is losing or not playing well. It takes years of confidence to feel like that – but it’s very liberating!”
6. You can never overcommunicate
2. Go with your gut reaction
understand. Many grass roots coaches think there is some whole other world where the best coaches exist - there isn’t!
11. Be humble Don’t be ‘the big I am’ with your players and their parents. Honesty coupled with humility is a winning ingredient.
12. Consider every opportunity There isn’t enough time to do everything but I often ask myself ‘how would I feel if I didn’t do it?’
13. Take inspiration from the past Modern coaching techniques borrow from the past – you can’t reinvent the wheel. Keep all the sessions that I send you and use them as often as you want. I’ve learnt to look at every session I can to give me inspiration for new ideas.
14. Standards are key
Plan your sessions before each game
Finally, I won’t compromise my standards for anyone – parents, governing bodies, coaches from professional clubs - because I have learnt that not everyone gives good advice. My standards create a great experience for young players and that’s how I like it.
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SoccerCoachWeekly SMALL-SIDED GAME
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Rush goalkeepers
Michael Beale
Premier League Academy soccer coach Play a normal 4v4 game without keepers
A simple game that rehearses complex team responsibilities
How to play it • Set up as shown on a 35x20-yard area. • There are two teams of four players. All play
35yds
outfield as there is no fixed goalkeeper. There are no offsides. • Kick-off as you would a normal game, with one team attacking one goal and their opponents the other. • When a team is defending, the nearest player to the goal must assume the role of the keeper. • If play is overturned, he comes out and works as an outfield player. • Continue, ensuring that all players take on the keeper role during the game. • If the ball leaves the area, there are a number of restart options: 1. The coach passes a new ball onto the pitch 2. The players take a roll in 3. The players take a throw in 4. The players make a pass in 5. The players dribble in Play for 20 minutes. •
20yds
The white player nearest the goal can save the red player’s shot
The white team can then quickly launch an attack on the red goal
Technique and tactics • No player can relax in his position. Each
must be aware as to whether he is the defender closest to their goal, meaning strong positional awareness is necessary. If he is that player, the requirement then is to make a make a concerted recovery run to help prevent the opposition from scoring. • And once an attack breaks down, the emphasis is on supporting and getting back, meaning players are always flexible and ambitious in both attacking and defending aims.
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SoccerCoachWeekly YOUR SAY
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
SCW Surgery
TACKLED: Showing ‘a bit of fight’?
This week
Two of your best players have a scuffle on the pitch during an important game. After team mates break them up, should you keep them on the pitch or withdraw them both?
Brad Coultas Bashley
Q
We don’t have any indoor training facility nearby and the prospect of training on freezing cold pitches is off-putting for my players at this time of year. What’s the solution? Ravi Sheth, Colgate
A
As with many things in youth soccer, you need to make the best of what you’ve got. Have you explored absolutely every angle when it comes to indoor facilities, even if that means players need to travel a few extra miles for training? Sometimes it’s a case of keeping on at owners, or changing the day and time of training if it means grabbing a slot. If you still have no luck, remember to plan earlier next year! You have two alternatives – switch training to an outdoor all-weather surface. This may imply an added hire cost, but your players will at least have firm and consistent ground to play on. Alternatively, stick to your usual training area but, for the especially tough sessions, practise exercises such as volleys, headers and chesting, where the ball doesn’t necessarily have to be on the floor. Players will quickly warm up in cold conditions, but remember, if a pitch is ever unsafe, don’t take the risk - call off training.
TACKLED: Results Here’s the result of the poll we ran in Soccer Coach Weekly 294. We asked if you felt the true focus of youth soccer should be on individuals or the team.
THE INDIVIDUAL THE TEAM
11%
89% SoccerCoachWeekly
KEEP THEM ON
WITHDRAW THEM
Don Moat
Troy Berry
Newton Athletic, Chester Under-8s
Dublin (Ohio) Soccer
“If you keep the players on you’re going to give them the best chance of making amends the right way – through soccer.”
“What’s to say another spat won’t occur a few minutes further down the line? You need to nip it in the bud now by removing both players from the situation.”
If you withdraw them you’ve made a big deal out of the event. Yes, the players in question have made a mistake, but if you take them off the pitch you’re going to highlight their error and bring it up for repeated discussion. And for how long? Well, certainly the next few weeks, given the severity of the punishment in substituting the players. Will you ban them from the following week’s game as well? Sometimes the best solution is not to make a fuss of things like this. If you keep the players on you’re going to give them the best chance of making amends the right way – through soccer. What’s to say that in the minutes following the brawl the pair won’t link up and produce a goal? We all know what kids are like – one minute rowing, the next hugging and patting each other on the back. And if this happens, the event is forgotten by the time the final whistle sounds rather than having the spotlight shone on it. Even the very best players lose their cool during matches. With a telling off after the match and a reminder to players of their code of conduct at the next training session, you can, collectively, put this one down to a bad experience. Tackled the right way, there’s a good chance you can use the event positively to educate players and that itself might ensure it never happens again. And, in the process, you might also be helping to curb players’ tempers in non-soccer situations. And by withdrawing the players, you may well be costing your team a great chance of winning the game. Sure, that might be a deserving punishment for the two who are now stood on the touchline, but how is that fair on the others?
You simply cannot have this happen on a soccer field. It wouldn’t be permitted in the professional game (and we’ve seen a few examples of it) so it certainly shouldn’t happen in youth soccer! It’s one of those instances where strong action is needed. You need to set an example to the rest of the team that this sort of behaviour just won’t be tolerated. What’s to say another spat won’t occur a few minutes further down the line? You need to nip it in the bud now by removing both players from the situation. In terms of inadvertently penalising the other players, the damage has probably already been done! Their minds won’t be on the job, certainly less so if those warring factions are left on the pitch! You also have your own coaching reputation to look after. The referee would certainly expect you to make a statement that shows you disapprove of your players acting in this way. If you leave them on you’re condoning the behaviour. Or look on it another way, you may need to act quickly and substitute them before the referee sends them off! And as for worrying about going on to lose the game, the players in question will certainly be more worried about each other than engaging in battle with anyone on the opposing team! The two involved will have totally lost their focus and enthusiasm for the game – do their fellow players deserve that?
PUT IT TO THE VOTE: Which of our guest coaches do you agree with? Visit our Facebook page or email your thoughts to David Clarke at david.clarke@coach-soccer.com
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