Soccer coachw276

SoccerCoachWeeklyIssue 276 Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Possession squares

1SoccerCoachWeekly Essential tools for your team

How to perfect the art of keeping the ballSoccer isn’t always difficult to work out – when

your team has the ball the opposition can’t hurt you. So retaining possession means protecting your team.

Of course, ensuring players keep hold of the ball is never easy, so here’s a session that I guarantee will help. It’s based on a game Barcelona play called ‘Rondo’ – try it out.

How to play it• Create a 40x40-yard square with a 30x30-yard square inside it.• Split your squad into three teams – four players in each team.• Two teams, both with a ball, go in the inner square, with the other team in the outer square.• Each team must make a minimum of three passes before playing to the team in the outer square. There, two passes must be made before the ball is returned back inside. If a pass is successfully made back to the starting team, a point is scored.• Players must concentrate on passing and moving into space, always attempting to make the task easier for team mates, particularly given that two teams are trying to achieve the same task.• After 10 minutes, remove one of the balls so that inner square teams now run this as an opposed task.• And after a further 10 minutes, introduce the condition that outer circle players must attempt to pass to an opposition player when the ball is sent back into the central area. Now, the team that passed out must intercept the ball coming back in if they are to score a point.

Technique and tactics• This is a match-realistic session that requires a good first touch, excellent positional awareness and good passing. • Look for players to adjust the way they play as the challenge gets more difficult with each progression.

Inner square teams must each build a passing sequence before releasing the ball to outer square players

The task is made more difficult with only one ball, which is contested by the middle teams

And moving on again in difficulty, reds must pass the ball to the opposite team who fed it out

TOOLS, TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

player movement ball movement

30yds5yds

5yds

5yds

30yds

5yds

David Clarke Head Coach, Soccer Coach Weekly

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SoccerCoachWeekly WARM UPWednesday, August 8, 2012

1v1 continuous warm-up

SoccerCoachWeekly Essential tools for your team

Soccer Coach Weekly is published by Green Star Media Ltd, Meadow View, Tannery Lane, Bramley, Guildford, GU5 0AB, UK. Email: [email protected] 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: William Banforth, Michael Beale, David Lewis, William McEldery, Jay Motion, Steve Watson © Green Star Media Ltd. All rights reserved.

How to play it:• Set up a 20x20-yard playing area, as shown, with target goals. The box in the middle is four yards square.• An attacker starts in the middle zone; the four defenders each protect a goal. • The attacker has a choice of which defender to attack.• He must dribble towards goal and attempt to score.• If successful, he returns to the middle zone, collects a ball, and attacks another goal.• If the defender manages to stop the player, he runs into the middle zone, collects a ball and attacks the goal of his choice. The player who previously attacked replaces him in the goal.• The practice is continuous and can be played with additional players starting in the middle for increased intensity.• Play for 10 minutes.

Technique and tactics:• Always remind the attacker that he has the freedom to choose which goal he attacks, but must be decisive and clever to maximise his opportunity.• Players will soon learn that defending well gives them the chance to attack and score.• Similarly, the attacker won’t want to take on risky shots at goal for fear of becoming a defender, so this warm-up encourages players to do the simple things well.

After scoring, the attacker returns to the centre and begins a new attack

But this time his shot is saved

Now the players swap, with the defender becoming the attacker, and vice versa

player movementrun with ball shot

20yds

20yds

GREAT FOR

STAMINA!

Michael Beale Premier League Academy soccer coach

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SoccerCoachWeekly FOOTY4KIDS

Beep beepThis simple little game is excellent

for improving the co-ordination and balance of very young players. It also helps them get used to finding space and changing direction. I find it best for players aged between four and eight years old.

How to play it• This game uses the whole team. Each player will need a flat cone and, eventually, a ball.• Create a playing area big enough for all your players to move around in freely. • Give each player a flat cone to hold. They are told to pretend that they are cars and the cone is their steering wheel.• Begin the game by telling your players to move in different ways around the playing area - forwards, with little steps, big steps, hop, move sideways, go backwards, etc. • Encourage your players to keep their heads up so that each avoids crashing his car. Tell him to use his horn and go “beep, beep” if another ‘car’ comes too close.

Advancing the session• Progress the game by giving players a ball each. Now, they dribble the ball around in the grid, again trying to avoid ‘crashing’ into another player.

Technique and tactics• Encourage players to move around the grid with their heads up and look for spaces to move into. • Tell them they can avoid crashing their car by always being aware of their own positions and those of their team mates.

Using only a cone, players ‘steer’ their way around the area

They must alert team mates who ‘drive’ too close to them


Now with footballs at their feet, the principles of the task move into a dribbling game

Steve Watson Editor, Footy4kids.co.uk

GET YOUR

YOUNGSTERS

SMILING!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Beep, beep!

Beep, beep!

player movementrun with ball

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SoccerCoachWeekly TOUCHLINE TALES

Red carding a parent?


Have you ever had to deal with a parent who was so aggressive you had to take him to one side and threaten to expel him and his child from your team?

This week I had to do exactly that. Two players in my team had been winding each other up in school, and although I knew they had history, there were never any problems that spilt over into the team... until one of the dads got involved, that is.

A relatively innocuous incident in training was enough to make the whole thing explode. John and Peter (not their real names) were on opposing teams in the small-sided game we were playing. The former had already scored two great goals – much to his watching dad’s delight. When he tried nutmegging Peter there was an untidy coming together, from which Peter emerged with the ball.

“No, no, no,” shouted his dad, “I’m not having that! Free kick! You should be

keeping your eye on this ‘problem’”.I reacted only by explaining it was a fair

tackle. But then a similar incident followed soon afterwards, and this time it was a foul. Before I could stop play John’s dad was on the pitch pacing towards Peter. I had to intervene, calm him down and get him off the pitch. I’m not sure what would have happened had I not managed to keep his dad at arm’s length.

We got to the end of training with no further incidents, but when Peter’s dad came to pick him up, I told him there was friction and it would need to be sorted at some point.

As for John’s dad, under no circumstances can I accept this sort of behaviour at my coaching sessions. I told him I would ban him if it happened again. He accepted he had crossed the line and has promised to remain calm in future.

John is a great player and an asset to the club but if I did ban his dad he is likely to leave. Yet it is in the best interests of the club to reprimand a parent if something like this happens. Under no circumstances can repeated aggressive parental behaviour be overlooked; it sets a ridiculous example. In the end, the team is more important than the individual, even when – such as in this case – you’re talking about one of your best players.

Football is often about making tough decisions, but the best way to avoid them is to be open and upfront, and to nip stuff in the bud before it escalates. Now I’ve just got to get Peter and John getting on – wish me luck!

“No, no, no,” shouted his dad, “I’m not having that! Free

kick! You should be keeping your eye on this ‘problem’”.

7 secrets in soccer languageThe way you give instructions and

feedback is crucial. Choosing the wrong moment to speak or using inappropriate language can be worse than saying nothing at all.

1. Avoid jargonPhrases such as “find space”, “man on”,

“hold” and “relax” may make sense to you, but do they compute in the mind of a seven-year-old?

Instead of using football jargon, think about what you’re trying to say and what the concept actually looks like.

So, for instance, rather than “closing down”, why not simply say “get close”?

2. Avoid long wordsDo your players actually understand

it when you say: “I want you to be more consistent” or “we have to take every opportunity to attack”?

Remember the established coaching principle of K.I.S.S (‘Keep it simple, stupid’), and don’t use long words when talking to your players.

3. Check understanding and listen actively

When you’ve given an instruction or explained a skill or technique, check your players have understood you. The easiest way to do this is to get them to repeat the instruction back to you, in their own words.

4. Apply new rules for very young players

If you coach two- to four-year-olds, your choice of words needs to take into account the fact that they might not be able to understand even very basic spatial concepts such as “behind” or “next to”. And they may have difficulty following instructions that have more than two parts.

5. Talking is not the only toolAccording to research published by the

Forensic Examiner, 90% of communication is

non-verbal. Children are very good at reading non-verbal messages so it’s important to make sure your body language matches what you are saying. Asking players what they think about something is great, but if you’ve got your arms crossed it implies you’re not that bothered about the answer.

You can also learn a lot from the body language of your players. For instance, a player with an open posture who makes eye contact with you probably understands what you are saying.

6. Ask open questions Don’t give players the answer and always

phrase a question so it cannot be answered with a straight “yes” or “no”.

7. Set an exampleFinally, never forget that you are a role

model and your players will assume the way you speak is the right way. So always be polite and respectful when talking to your players and when referring to their parents and match officials.

Never swear, don’t make derogatory remarks based on gender, and never joke about personal characteristics in any way.

Taking these factors into account will speed your players’ learning and make you a more effective youth soccer coach.

David Clarke Head Coach, Soccer Coach Weekly

Steve Watson Editor, Footy4kids.co.uk


Poor delivery of instructions can be a real turn-off for players

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SoccerCoachWeekly SMALL-SIDED GAME

Three-goal 3v3This game improves man-to-man marking,

helps in tracking runners, dealing with players dribbling in a 1v1, sliding across to assist team mates and much more.

How to play it• Create an area measuring 30x25 yards, as shown. There are six target goals and one ball.• Split your players into four teams, with the ‘resting’ teams working as goalkeepers for the two teams that are playing.• The ball is served to one of the outfield teams. They can attack any of the three goals.• If a goal is scored, the scoring team takes a rest in goal, otherwise let the game flow.• Continue to rotate teams so that each has a chance to play against the other three.• Play for 10 minutes. Which team can score the most goals in that time?

Technique and tactics• For defenders, the player nearest the ball must pressure, while team mates must get into supporting positions.• As well as stopping shots, defending teams must be aware of forcing play backwards or sideways.• You should look for attackers to switch the ball from side to side to make the most of available space.

20yds

20yds

player movement ball movementrun with ball shot

Four teams are on the pitch. The white team attacks the bottom goals

Play is turned over and the black team counter-attacks and scores


Here, two teams switch. Greys and whites become keepers while reds battle blues in the centre

Michael Beale Premier League Academy soccer coach

MULTIPLE

OPPONENTS MEAN

MULTIPLE

CHALLENGES


25yds

30yds

player movement ball movementrun with ball shot

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SoccerCoachWeekly YOUR SAY



This week Daniel McElderyDublin Boys

Q A number of teams in our league cheat – shirt-pulling,

diving, constant appealing... the lot. Last season I saw some of my lads adopting the ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ approach. How can I ensure they don’t start the new season off with this same mindset? Lok Jonz, London

A There are, sadly, many youth football teams who are

encouraged to cheat by coaches whose only objective is to win matches. And they don’t care how they do it.

Unfortunately, regarding the foul play, there is no point in complaining to the match official even if you were allowed to. He can only give what he sees.

You could always have a ‘chat’ with the opposition coach about his team’s cheating after the game. This is a bit of a high-risk strategy (depending on how big he is) but it’s worth doing. Look him in the eye and ask him if he noticed what his players were doing. Keep your cool and have the conversation away from everyone else.

You won’t change his attitude but at least you will have made him aware that you are not impressed.

But the best way to counter cheats is to always play fair, no matter what the provocation.

Make sure your players know that you are not concerned with the final result, just the way they play.

TACKLED: Results

Here’s the result of the poll we ran in Soccer Coach Weekly 274 asking if you thought summer soccer tournaments were worth the effort.

SCW Surgery

YES

73%

NO

TACKLED: Long ball gameShould we teach and encourage young players to play the long

ball game in matches?

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 [email protected]

William BanforthYale Youth

Is there a law against playing long balls? No, so my recommendation is that a coach gives it as much attention as any other attacking approach given that at some point every team has the need for it – in the dying seconds of a game they are trailing in, for instance. At the end of the day the purists will tell you we should be constructing intricate passing moves from one end of the pitch to the other, but that’s neither realistic nor fair on the players.

You have to use whatever principle works to the advantage of your side. If you have two beanpole strikers, why on Earth would you insist that everything has to arrive at them on the deck?

I hear coaches complaining about other teams playing the long ball game against them in league matches, yet in my mind they should be thanking them! It’s no less a test for their defenders and goalkeeper than any other type of opposition attack. Dealing with the long ball requires bravery, timing of headers, organisation and more. It also provides a good opportunity for players to practise the offside trap.

I’ve been told for years that ‘footballing sides’ would overtake all others, yet it hasn’t happened. It proves that pretty football doesn’t have to be the only style that makes kids feel they are competitive and they can achieve something. I can stomach the accusation of playing “anti-football” when I see my lads beaming as they walk off the pitch, having used the long ball game to great effect and come away with all three points.

Jay MotionHampton Juniors

Going direct is channelling time and energy into a way of playing that stifles the creative talents of players. Any team in the world can play a long ball game – it’s simply a case of instructing a defender to punt the ball forward. Creativity and ingenuity is what is going to create the next golden generation of player, and for as long as they’re putting their laces through balls to get play forward quickly, they’re not experiencing what it is to play the game with invention and craft.

Kids are the first to comment on how “boring” the game is when it’s long ball. Midfielders, in particular, are bypassed in much of what they do, yet those in other positions also quickly grow tired of the monotony that such a style brings.

Many players don’t like heading the ball until a certain age when they feel confident and comfortable, particularly when it’s coming at them from long distance. Coaches should be giving kids the choice of whether they want to contest headers, yet there’s little choice if a long ball game is the only forward method.

Teams who play long ball are generally those who ‘play to win’ rather than ‘play to learn’. It’s a clear statement that the approach doesn’t matter as long as the end result is right. To me, that’s not what youth football should be about.

Anyway, most young kids can’t actually play ‘the long ball game’, so why are we persisting with it? For it to be deemed a success, a pass needs to land on target, and expecting a 12-year-old to achieve that with a flighted ball from 40 yards is slightly ridiculous.

YES NO

“I can stomach the accusation of playing “anti-football” when I see

my lads beaming as they walk off the pitch, having used the long ball game to great effect and come away with

all three points.”

“Teams who play long ball are generally those who ‘play to win’ rather than ‘play to learn’. It’s a

clear statement that the approach doesn’t matter as long as the end

result is right.”

27%

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Soccer-Coach-Weekly/111136435679022

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