STAYING UP TOO LATE COMBATING TIREDNESS IN YOUNG PLAYERS
WEEKLY
SOCCER COACH Learn • Train • Develop • Enjoy
HOW TO
BEAT
BARÇA
TEACH YOUR PLAYERS TO COUNTERATTACK
9v9
FORMATIONS
ASSESS YOURSELF
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE COACHED BY YOU?
DRILLS TO IMPROVE YOUR TEAM EVERY WEEK!
March 27, 2013 Issue 309 • $4.99/£2.99
PLAYING WITH CONFIDENCE SIX TIPS TO GET YOUR TEAM FIRED UP < Lionel messi
BARCELONA'S SUPER STRIKER
4
FANTASTIC TRAINING SESSIONS
SOCCER SURGERY
SOLVING YOUR COACHING QUERIES
KILLER PASSING
MURDER OPPONENTS WITH ONE PASS
RADICAL COACHING WOULD YOU RUN TRAINING WITHOUT A BALL?
Contents
Coached By You STAYING UP TOO LATE COMBATING TIREDNESS IN YOUNG PLAYERS
WEEKLY
SOCCER COACH Learn • Train • Develop • Enjoy
HOW TO
BEAT
March 27, 2013 Issue 309 • $4.99/£2.99
PLAYING WITH CONFIDENCE
BARÇA
SIX TIPS TO GET YOUR TEAM FIRED UP < LioneL messi BARCELONA'S SUPER STRIKER
4
TEACH YOUR PLAYERS TO COUNTERATTACK
9V9
FORMATIONS
ASSESS YOURSELF
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE COACHED BY YOU?
DRILLS TO IMPROVE YOUR TEAM EVERY WEEK!
FANTASTIC TRAINING SESSIONS
SOCCER SURGERY
SOLVING YOUR COACHING QUERIES
KILLER PASSING
MURDER OPPONENTS WITH ONE PASS
RADICAL COACHING WOULD YOU RUN TRAINING WITHOUT A BALL?
Soccer Coach Weekly Issue 309
Soccer Coach Weekly is published by Green Star Media Ltd, Meadow View, Tannery Lane, Bramley, Guildford GU5 0AB, UK.
Telephone
+44 (0)1483 892894
Editor Chris Hunt chris.hunt@greenstarmedia.net
Head Coach David Clarke david.clarke@coach-soccer.com
Contributors Dan Abrahams, James Evans, Mike Pattenden Illustrations Mike Ronald Pictures Action Images, Nick Webster Production ATG Media Production Designer Jamie Leeson Publisher Kevin Barrow kevin.barrow@ bettersoccercoaching.com
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Managing Director Andrew Griffiths (c) Green Star Media Ltd. All rights reserved. Click here to read the full disclaimer.
To advertise contact Peter Coltart on +44 (0)1483 892894 Download media pack & contact here To subscribe to Soccer Coach Weekly call Duncan Heard on +44 (0)1483 892894 or subscribe online here
As a coach I know I have a lot of responsibilities, so how I coach and how I get my points across are vital to the progression of my players. It is not just about progression on the pitch either – my coaching should also help them learn how to achieve their life goals away from the pitch. I try to imagine what it must feel like to be coached by me. Do I take enough interest in every one of my players and make them feel special? When they arrive at training or for a match I try to recall a key fact or occasion that will make each one of them think: “he remembered”. What do you think it feels like to be coached by you? When your players arrive what goes through their minds when they see you? Do you inspire them? Are they afraid of you? An inspirational coach will find players respond better – they will listen more intently when you are explaining what you want them to do in a particular exercise. A coach that breathes fire should realise players are just doing what they have to because they are frightened. I want to inspire my players, not scare them. When I think about my coaching I want to base it on best practice rather than just controlling kids. Best practice comes from the activities I create, how I use them and the enjoyment the group gets.
In this issue...
3
COUNTERATTACKING
Barcelona were once unbeatable but you can learn how to defeat them
4
FASTER THAN YOU
5
BREAKOUT
Teach players to counterattack at speed with this exciting training drill A game to coach your players how to score a breakaway goal
6
PLAY WITH CONFIDENCE
7
THE PERFECT PASS
Six confidence-building tips from a sport psychologist Encourage your players to pass like Andrea Pirlo and Mikel Arteta
It’s important that children enjoy soccer
“A coach who smiles and praises his players will get more out of them” At a recent coaching event I watched a top class coach run a session – unfortunately the youth team he used didn’t understand what he wanted from them. He got exasperated and his coaching style became very commanding. Afterwards he moaned that his session didn’t work because the players were not up to his standard. A good coach should recognise when players are not up to the level of the session and quickly change the exercise to make it easier. A coach who smiles and praises his players will get much more out of players than one who snarls and shouts. So take five minutes to sit down
8 FORWARD PASS
A session to put your strikers through on goal with a midfield pass
and imagine what it’s like turning up to your sessions. Are players having fun? Have you coached them in the fundamental skills – touch, passing, receiving, communication and heading? Do they know the rules? Have you explained tactics and sportsmanship? There is a lot there, but think about how you coach, what you coach and try to get to know a little more about each player. You will build a solid foundation and a better understanding between you and your team.
David Clarke
TIP OF THE WEEK
9 KILLER PASS
A drill to help your players to perfect that killer pass
10 FORMATIONS
Examining the strengths of formations for the 9v9 game
11 SOCCER SURGERY
Your queries answered, including advice for a coach whose players are staying up too late
12 THE BIG DEBATE
Two coaches debate whether it would be right to run an entire training session without a ball
Question What You’re Taught When you are learning how to coach, never be afraid to question what you are being told. People tend to overcomplicate coaching with jargon – there is no need to pretend you understand if you don’t. Just ask for a simpler explanation and you’ll become a better coach.
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COUNTERATTACKING Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos scores against Barcelona
How To Beat Barcelona The major teams of Europe are finally working out how to win against Barcelona. Try our training sessions and your team can learn how to beat Barça too
W
ith three Champions League trophies in seven years, a hat-trick of La Liga titles and a cluster of players who illuminate a successful national side, Barcelona remain one of the greatest teams in the world. Their patented tiki-taka carousel of passing has won many admirers for its subtlety and execution. However, there are signs that opposition coaches have learnt how to play against them. José Mourinho has been a particular thorn in their side, concentrating his approach on a carefully marshalled defence that chokes Barça’s attempts to thread in balls behind, followed by rapid counterattacking moves. It’s an approach that has served him well, not only with his Real Madrid side who have not lost to them this season, but also in his 2010 Champions League semi-final victory with Inter Milan, a game the Italians were not given a chance to win. He has not been the only coach to work out the formula to beat Barça. In February’s Champions League away leg against AC Milan, Barcelona were again picked off by a disciplined team that managed to blunt the Catalans’ attacking edge. Barcelona may have achieved
65 per cent possession stats but they managed only one shot on goal and were hit repeatedly on the break. Before their Champions League semi-final exit last season, Cesc Fabregas revealed his team’s Achilles heel against Chelsea, noting that the Blues’ approach was “playing on the counter, trying to hit the target man, sitting back and using the number nine as a reference point. They are a very, very dangerous team. They are like motorbikes now. Faster, quicker to get the ball forward, get after it and cause problems”. It seems in modern football it is not now enough to simply dominate play and even at grassroots level you can teach your own team how to counter possession football. During the course of the season your players will inevitably come up against better sides, but if they can learn how to soak up pressure, they can hit opponents on the break. Counterattacking takes patience and discipline. It requires the trap to be sprung at the right time and supported swiftly by players flooding out wide and up the pitch. It requires intelligent movement from the (usually lone) striker, who will often be expected to move off his marker, receive the ball and lay it
off to breaking players. Rapid passing and speed are the key components of a successful counterattack. Barcelona have shown how their players will swarm like worker bees to regain possession, so the ball must move quickly to be successful against teams who play like Barça. Counterattacking is hardly new to the game – the Italians have long been masters of it – and there are many ways to play it. The game plan for beating Barcelona is merely an adaptation of well-honed tactics. Alex Ferguson pointed out recently how counterattacks have increased in the modern game, with five or six players breaking into attack at real pace. With the drills on the following pages, your players can learn to make the same devastating breaks too.
Words by:
Mike Pattenden Activities by:
David Clarke
“Teams are playing differently against Barcelona because as time goes on they are learning their style of play” – Goalscorer Sergio Ramos talking after Real Madrid’s second defeat of Barcelona in just four days
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COUNTERATTACKING
Faster Than You If you want to teach your players how to counterattack with speed and precision, set them to work on this exciting training drill
WHY USE IT
It can be frustrating when your players fail to capitalise on their counterattacking opportunities. This session is to get players used to taking on outnumbered defenders with swift movements that end in a goal.
Play starts with one attacker in each half collecting a ball from the halfway line
Set up a playing area of 40x20 yards split in half. We’re using three teams of four and each scenario is 2v1. You will need five balls on the halfway line for each pair of attackers, plus balls, bibs, cones and goals.
s yd 20
SET UP
s 20yd
s 20yd
As soon as the attacker takes possession one defender in each half comes in to the challenge Attackers must combine to take advantage of the defender in a 2v1
HOW TO PLAY
One team are the attackers and two players from that team go in each half and must attack with the five balls. Two teams of defenders are allocated a half each and stand on the sidelines. On your whistle the pairs of attackers must try to score with each ball. A different defender enters once the ball has been collected. If players are going slowly, add a 90-second time limit and then rotate the teams.
Keep a count of the number of goals scored on each side
Allow two defenders on for the final ball but attackers get double points if they score
TECHNIQUE
Playing against an overload means a defender must position smartly and communicate well with his keeper. Attackers must construct fast forward breaks – the quicker they return to the halfway line, the more chance they’ll find a passage to goal before the new defender is in position.
Player movement
Ball movement
Shot
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COUNTERATTACKING
Breakout This session pits the patience and possession skills of Barcelona against the danger of the killer counterattack. See if your players can score a breakaway goal
WHY USE IT
To make a success of counterattacking, players must be able to recognise the moment of transition between defence and attack quicker that the opposition. They should then move quickly to take advantage of it.
Serve a ball to one team who must make five passes before they can launch an attack into the outer zone
s 10yd
s yd 30
SET UP
Set up a playing area of 50x30 yards split into three zones, with an outer zone of 10 yards and a middle zone of 30 yards. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve used 18 players in two teams. You will need balls, bibs, cones and goals.
s 30yd
If the passing team make five passes or if their opponents win the ball the zones are lifted and any player can go anywhere
s 10yd
Here the opposition win the ball and launch an attack
HOW TO PLAY
Play an 8v8 in the centre zone, with breakaways into the outer zone. The server plays a ball to one of the teams who must make five passes before they can break into the outer zones. The other team can attack the outer zone if they win the ball. Play three balls to the passing team then swap.
TECHNIQUE
This is an advanced session and there are a number of coaching points to look for. The passing team must be patient and try to keep possession before launching an attack but the onus is on their opponents who only need to win the ball to attack. Count how many times the opposition win the ball and the success rate of their attacks.
Player movement
With quick movement the players catch their opponents off guard and make a success of the attack by scoring a goal
Serve three balls to each team so both get a chance to counterattack
Ball movement
Shot
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THE ART OF COACHING Have players recall their best soccer moments
Picture: WoodleyWonderWorks
6
Ways To
Get Your Team Playing With Confidence
Playing with confidence is key to winning games. Sport psychologist Dan Abrahams offers six tips that will help you to get your players performing at their best 01 MAKE PLAYING FUN
02 MISTAKES ARE OKAY
03 TRAIN CONFIDENTLY
Why are players more likely to choke and play with fear in a big match? There are many reasons but one is that they become uptight. Relaxation and intensity influence a player’s confidence. It is important you help players slot into the perfect levels of intensity before big games. Stressing the importance of playing with fun and that they enjoy themselves can lessen their tension levels prior to an important fixture.
Playing with fear is the opposite of playing with confidence. The onset of fear is often a result of players not wanting to make mistakes – they play tight, tense and rigid. They second-guess themselves. To help your players enter a confident mindset, give them permission to make mistakes. Insist on them being decisive – mistakes will be made but you’ll have players who play free and confident. You’ll have match winners.
It sounds pretty simple and it is pretty simple but insisting on confidence from your players as they train is one of the most straightforward ways to build their selfbelief. No matter whether you’re getting your players to do a passing drill or some work on team shape, make sure that your communication demands they keep a positive body language and they use loud vocals and positively executed actions.
04 USE MEMORIES
05 REHEARSE CONFIDENCE
06 MAKE THEM ALERT
Memory is a prime mediator of confidence. Helping players remember what they do, think and feel when they are playing at their very best is a useful way to help them maintain confidence. Take just five minutes before or after a training session to gather your team together and ask them to recall – through mental pictures – their best games. Help them create big, bold and bright positive mental pictures.
Ask your players to mentally rehearse confident performances for 15 minutes a day away from training. What we now know in science is that the brain can’t tell the difference between what is real and what is imagined. When players imagine they’ve had a confident performance or have played a really good game, the brain actually thinks that it is happening. This process doesn’t replace physical training but reinforces it.
If asked about their pre-match warm-up, players often talk about a physical process. But having a set of mental procedures before a game helps players switch on and increase confidence. Take two minutes in the changing rooms and ask players to picture executing their role and responsibilities with confidence. When physically warming up insist on players being on their toes, sharp, alert and lively. Look and feel confident.
> Sport psychologist Dan Abrahams has worked with many leading footballers, including Carlton Cole and Scott Parker. He is the author of Soccer Tough: Simple Football Psychology Techniques To Improve Your Game
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THE PERFECT PASS Pirlo hits a perfect pass at Euro 2012
Hit That Killer Pass If you want your players to spray long passes around with accuracy and vision, they should look to the skills of pass masters like Andrea Pirlo and Mikel Arteta
S
occer is about space: identifying and exploiting it when you can. A well-marshalled defence can instantly be unpicked by a single ball, but it takes a player with vision and skill to execute this kind of killer pass. The most likely source of the through ball is the intelligent midfielder, usually the playmaker. Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo is the pass master, a pivotal player who despite his lack of pace utilises his brain, experience and skill to exploit holes that open up during the game. His deep lying role, called a ‘regista’ in Italy, provides players to protect him, allows him time to assess options, and gives him a position he can create difficult angles from. Given time and space he will destroy teams and he gave a master class in this for the Italians at Euro 2012. In the group stage, a wonderful run and slide rule pass was enough to put in Di Natale and secure a 1-1 draw against the eventual winners, Spain. When Italy put out England he was again the fulcrum of the team, playing an astonishing 131 passes with an 87 per cent success rate. He constantly picked away at England’s defence with teasing ball after teasing ball – inside, over the top, diagonal and vertical. Given that
much opportunity, it was little surprise Italy dominated the game. Pirlo plies his trade in Serie A but the Premier League has its own pass masters and few are more accurate than Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta. His transfer was a perfect fit for Arsene Wenger’s style and it’s no surprise to find he regularly achieves a 90 per cent success rate with his passes. “With head up you can play the ball into space,” he says “The most important thing is that you get the players around you who can make runs and they can read situations and run behind.”
Rather than an aimless ball hit into the channels, the killer pass is a perfectly weighted through ball aimed into space for an attacker or attacking midfielder to run on to. For the person executing the pass it needs vision, the ability to see gaps and at the same time players who are prepared to exploit them. There’s no point playing a ball into space if no one can gather it. If you want your players to replicate these skills you need to use drills like those on the following pages. Dedication and practice will teach them how to learn to weigh up the situation and hit the killer ball.
Words by:
Mike Pattenden Activities by:
David Clarke
4 GREAT PREMIER LEAGUE PASSERS
Michael Carrick A quarterback who sprays passes around the pitch, in the age of the non-tackle Carrick is typical of the new breed of defensive midfielder.
Paul Scholes Ask Iniesta who he rates as the best passer in the world. Scholes could have slotted into Barcelona’s tiki-taka system seamlessly.
Juan Mata The swashbuckling Spaniard is Chelsea’s standout player, a midfielder able to win time on the ball and set up a chance with a killer pass.
Issue 309
Steven Gerrard Playing head up, Gerrard’s fiercely clipped passes require a deft touch from his team-mates. A master of the long, diagonal ball.
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THE PERFECT PASS
Forward Pass If you want to put your strikers through on goal with a killer pass from midfield, try running this session and see your match day passing improve
WHY USE IT
s yd 10
s 10yd s yd 20
This is a great session to encourage players to pass into the space behind the defence, unleashing an attacker to go 1v1 with the keeper. It replicates the throw of an American football quarterback trying to get past the opposition with a good long pass that a receiver can get on the end of.
Play starts as soon as the ball is played into one of the teams
s 40yd
SET UP
Set up a playing area of 40x20 yards and place a 10x10-yard square 10 yards from the playing area. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve used eight players for this session. You need balls, bibs and cones.
s 10yd
At least three passes must be made before teams can attempt a pass into the square. A runner must reach the square to receive the ball
The players move after making their passes so they are ready to time their runs into the passing zone
HOW TO PLAY
Create two equal teams (here it is 4v4). Teams must make three passes before trying the killer pass. To score a point the ball must be passed into the small square and a runner must receive it in the area. You can use floating players who only play for the attacking team if your players are finding it hard to create space for the pass.
The pass must be a good weight to allow the attacker to time his run Add a neutral player who only plays for the team in attack to make it easier to create the pass
TECHNIQUE
The quality of the pass and timing of runs to receive the pass are vital to the success of this session. It helps young players use space behind the defence to make a good pass that attackers can exploit.
Player movement
Ball movement
Shot
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THE PERFECT PASS
Killer Pass If you want your players to spray the ball around like Andrea Pirlo, try this drill and soon they will have perfected that killer pass
WHY USE IT
s yd 30
A sweeping long pass to a team-mate in an advanced position can be the winning ingredient for a team failing to create chances, particularly if your players are struggling to break down the opposition’s defence and are losing the ball.
Play starts (and restarts) with a serve to one of the teams
s 40yd
SET UP
You need balls, bibs, cones and six pop-up goals in a playing area of 40x30 yards split into two halves. We’ve used eight players for this session.
Immediately the serve is made, an opponent races into the area to pressure the player in possession
All four players must touch the ball before a pass at the target goals
HOW TO PLAY
Create two equal teams – here it is 4v4. The team in possession must stay in their own half but the opposition are allowed to send one player to pressure in the opponents’ half. The team in possession must attempt to pass into one of the target goals. All four players must touch the ball before the through pass is made. Players have two touches.
TECHNIQUE
Here the team in possession has created an opening to pass through the opposition and into the target net
The player that attempted the pass must then react to the quick restart and go to pressure in the opponents’ half
Teamwork is important as players must keep their heads up at all times to make sure they know the position of teammates, the threat of the pressuring opponents, and any potential angle where a long pass can be played into one of the goals.
Player movement
Ball movement
Shot
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FORMATIONS The work rate of the midfield duo is key to this formation. They are the focal point of the triangular movement, with most passes going through them to build an attack
ATTACKING 3-2-3
The central defender has a lot of passing options to set up an attack – if he can see a clear route to his centre forward he should take the opportunity for a long pass
The fullbacks have to fill a lot of space in front of them in order to support the midfield and the attackers
If the team follows the first principle of attack by spreading wide and long, the keeper will have many places to make the first pass. Get the keeper to practice throwing the ball out to the defenders
With three in attack the options are many – the team play with two or three going central or with a target man and two wingers
Player movement
Ball movement
9v9 Formations With the English FA making 9v9 compulsory at U11 and U12 level this year, we take a look at the formations you could play for this new team size. This week we look at 3-2-3… n FORMATION: 3-2-3
PROS: Creating a lot of natural triangles, this formation enables fast forward play and plenty of options to pass around opponents. With three forwards supported by two midfielders, it is very attacking. CONS: Light in midfield if attackers are not getting back to help, this formation can be weak against a counterattack if the midfield duo have pushed up.
n DEFENCE
Defenders can be quickly outnumbered with only two in midfield to protect them, especially on the counterattack. The fullbacks must push into midfield when attacking and tuck in when the ball is lost. This is vital if the midfielders are caught upfield.
fullbacks. The three forwards can play as two wingers and a centre forward or tuck in with three central attackers fed by the two midfielders. There is also the option for overlapping fullbacks.
n PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
This is very close to being the 4-3-3 of 9v9. This means when the players are ready to move up to 11-a-side they will already be used to a similar system and will handle
the transition more easily. All that is needed is another centre back and an extra midfielder. Rather like a student building up to taking end of year exams, they will slowly build up their knowledge of this system. It is vital players switch through all the different positions so they have a clear idea of what players have to do in those positions, making it more likely they will be supportive in attack and defence.
DEFENSIVE 3-2-3
Words by:
David Clarke
Fullbacks drop and tuck in to keep the wingers out wide and to tighten the backline
n MIDFIELD
The two midfielders are key to this formation. Supportive in attack, they must work hard to get back and cover any opposition breaks. At the moment of transition, they must flood back into midfield and try to get behind the ball.
n ATTACK
The strongest feature of this formation, it plays forward with three attackers and the support of the midfield and
The three attackers are the first line of defence, winning the ball back and pressing opponents high up the pitch
The central defender must stay further forward to create a defensive The midfield duo must tuck in and triangle with the communicate with the central midfield duo defender so they are in the best position to protect the defence
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Soccer Surgery
Your Questions Answered THIS WEEK: Advice for a coach whose players are staying up too late and an expert opinion on the dangers of ‘flappy’ nets in youth soccer
Q “ Are there rules
Make sure your players arrive awake and alert for training
about how netting should be put up? A rival coach complained the goal net was too ‘flappy’ and could be hazardous
A
”
Goal nets gained some rare time in the spotlight this season when Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers stated that his side were reintroducing the colour red, copying the club’s red nets synonymous with their titlewinning era of the 1980s. To most coaches though, they’re just something that catches the ball, but there are a couple of points worth considering. Nets themselves aren’t dangerous, but the pegs used to pin them into the ground may cause a hazard if they’re not properly pushed into the earth. Of course, they should be secured in close proximity to ensure the ball doesn’t escape when a goal is scored, and the netting itself should be in a good condition, with any breaks or frays mended before the game. It’s also a good idea to allow some ‘give’ in the net so that the ball nestles in the goal and doesn’t bounce out. In terms of the coach who suggested that a ‘flappy’ net could cause a potential hazard, did he state how? I’ve never known any player to get stuck in a net, and while it’s not impossible for boot studs to get tangled in netting, it’s not beyond most children to be able to work their foot out. I certainly wouldn’t suggest this was a health and safety issue! Answered by Mike Glass, a development officer at the Cumbrian FA
Q “ My U13s stay up late playing on computer games and come to training and matches much too tired. How can I get them on their toes?
A
In my opinion you’re going about this in completely the wrong way. Sure, the logical answer would be to set up a series of warm-ups and drills that get their minds switched on and their bodies moving, but how about trying a little prevention rather than cure? If I were you I’d be phoning up the parents to offer them an ultimatum – tell them to ensure that their kids are in the right frame of mind for training and, particularly, matches, or their kids don’t come at all. Okay, so all players need something to get their minds stimulated, but you’re not dealing with a simple ‘pick me up’ here, you’re trying to solve good old-fashioned tiredness! It’s to the detriment of the rest of your team that these players are dozing their
”
way around the soccer pitch when they should be alert and on top of their game. The only true solution is that they get to bed earlier – and that’s considerably earlier if they’re really getting so tired that it shows. With a proper night’s sleep they can do themselves and their team-mates justice on the pitch at the weekend. You’re not asking for anything unreasonable here. You wouldn’t let kids play if they were physically unprepared (a missing boot or shin pad, perhaps), so why should it be any different if their minds aren’t in the right place? Answered by Michael Jones, a community sports fundraiser from Brigg, who is now in his 30th year of youth soccer coaching
GET YOUR SOCCER PROBLEMS SOLVED If you have a coaching problem or a training dilemma that you want the experts at Soccer Surgery to cure, send your queries to Soccer Coach Weekly… A secure net
editor@soccercoachweekly.net
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THE BIG DEBATE
Would You Run Training Without A Ball? THIS WEEK’S DEBATE: Not everything in soccer relies on the use of a ball and professional clubs have been known to run entire sessions without using one. But can you really use such methods in youth soccer?
NO, KEEP THE BALL
YES, DITCH THE BALL
Tristan Summer Brierfield Under-12s, Lancashire
“Removing the ball offers a great opportunity for players to practise devising their own activities. As soccer coaches we should encourage this”
“
Soccer is about so much more than ball skills. After all, for what percentage of the game will each player actually have the ball? In 11-a-side, a rough calculation would suggest less than five per cent of the game. What they are doing for the other 95 per cent of the game relies on movement, anticipation, awareness and more. Shouldn’t we be dedicating much more coaching time to these crucial elements? I think so. I find that using a ball for the sake of it often distracts players from the real matter in hand. For instance, we’ve all seen players juggling the ball or throwing it to one another during team talks. Are they really focused on the game plan that will help us defeat the opposition? Remove the distraction – remove the ball!
HAVE YOUR SAY
I know it’s extreme, but I think as a one-off session it could be a really innovative way to galvanise players and help them concentrate. Firstly, they wouldn’t have those distractions; secondly, this would be a special attention-grabbing session and players love to feel they’re doing something out of the ordinary; and thirdly, I think the lack of a ball will make players feel like caged lions for when they next get together on match day! Removing a ball also offers a great opportunity for players to practise devising their own activities. As soccer coaches we should always encourage this. Constructing a game with a ball is easy but how will they do without a ball? I like this approach because it’s asking them to extend their imaginations that extra yard further.
”
Would You Run Training Without A Ball? Visit our Facebook page and log your vote at www.facebook.com/SoccerCoachWeekly or email your thoughts to editor@soccercoachweekly.net
“
Pete Conroy
Telford Irons Under-9s, Shropshire
“If I attempted an entire session without the ball the voices of dissent would begin after a few minutes and would continue to the end of the session”
“
There are much better and much more innovative training ideas than this one, which denies players even a kick of the ball. This sounds to me like the sort of ploy taken on by coaches who want to shock their peers with radical training methods. The long and the short of it is kids come to soccer practice to play soccer. Why deny them the most satisfying part of the sport – kicking the ball. What’s more, why would you not want them to carry on mastering the technical elements of the ball at every available opportunity? If I attempted an entire training session without a ball, there would be no drills or games innovative enough to maintain the attention of my lads. More likely, the voices of dissent would begin after a few minutes
and would continue through to the end of the session. Even if I conducted a couple of training practices without a ball, it’s always absolutely vital to finish any session with a ball-based small-sided game. This offers players a platform on which they can construct everything they’ve learnt. It boosts competitive philosophy and an activity like ‘next goal wins’ gives the session a definite ‘close’, which I feel is important. My recommendation would be not to remove the use of a ball altogether, but insist that players can only use their hands. That way they can still gain all of that insight into positional play and movement without feeling as if they’re missing out. Alternatively, run the session with a different size of ball.
HOW YOU VOTED
”
Here are the results of a poll we ran in a previous issue of Soccer Coach Weekly, when we asked the question: Do you drop him if other sports take up his time?
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SOCCER COACH WEEKLY
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You can make all your players 20% FASTER and that will win you more matches! I have helped Chelsea, West Ham and the US national team make their players faster â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and I can do the same for you. My Feel The Speed DVD will give you Mike Antoniades 25 years of fitness training experience in just one hour.
RE E H K C I L C TO MAKE YOUR PLAYERS FASTER
NOW!
Mike has the ability to pinpoint weaknesses and develop training programmes to make better players Kit Symons Academy manager, Fulham FC