SoccerCoachWeeklyIssue 261 Wednesday, April 25, 2012

The arrival activity

1SoccerCoachWeekly Essential tools for your team

A closing down practice for the whole squad – latecomers included!

A few coaches have enquired recently as to how they can make the most of training sessions with the disadvantage of players turning up late.

I’ve come up with a series of what I call ‘arrival activities’. They’re linked to the main session and take the place of warm-ups, and are set up so that as players arrive they can easily join in without you needing to stop or change the session.

The arrival activity shown here is geared towards closing down the opposition. Feel free to contact me if you wish to see others.

How to play it• Set up as shown - the size of the area can be adapted to the size of your squad, but in this example I’ve got a 20x20-yard space. The space is important though - it’s an inclusive activity, so must have an element of realism and your players will need to show the right attitude.• In this session I am using nine players and waiting for three others to arrive.• I start with a 6v3 – the team of six must try to keep possession for as long as possible. See how many times their opponents can win the ball. If they do win it or it goes out of play, it’s returned to the team of six. Play for 90 seconds then pause.• If in that time a new player has arrived, and the overload team are finding it hard to keep possession, the 6v3 can become a 7v3. Alternatively, if they’re achieving the task quite comfortably, change the parameters so this is a 6v4 instead.• If no new player has arrived, switch individual players so that each man can experience the different demands involved in being on each side of the overload.• Play until all your players have arrived. You can now move on to the main session.

Technique and tactics• Make sure players get close to the opposition in order to cut out passing lines. • Defensive intelligence is essential, and closing down should be done by the player nearest the ball. If that player has support he can show the passer inside towards his supporting player. • But if the closing down player is on his own, he must show the attacker outside and away from any team mate who offers a passing option.

In a 6v3, the team with the overload retain possession comfortably as new players arrive

To intensify the challenge, the practice becomes 6v4. The change in team numbers helps defenders

With more players arriving, the overload advantage increases to an 8v4

TOOLS, TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

David Clarke Head Coach, Soccer Coach Weekly

20yds

20yds

6 v 4

8 v 4

player movement ball movement

6 v 3

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SoccerCoachWeekly WARM UPWednesday, April 25, 2012

Technique circuitHow to play it• Create a warm-up circuit as shown in the diagram.

• This involves the whole squad, requiring at least two keepers and a plentiful supply of balls.

• The first player at each station must come out to the middle square.

• Each player must complete a technique exercise, before going out to become a server.

• The serving player he swaps with must jog into the middle square and then out to complete a technique, before becoming a server again.

• The stations:Station 1. Receive a pass and then pass first time into one of the mini goalsStation 2. Receive a thrown pass for a header at goalStation 3. Receive a pass and make a one-two with you then dribble outStation 4. Receive an aerial pass, control, then shoot at goal

• The players must move around the area, completing a different exercise each time they enter it.

• The practice is repeated for 10 minutes.

• Any of the techniques can be replaced with different exercises that you feel appropriate to the warm-up. The examples above are to encourage quick play and improved finishing skills, but you might want to rehearse other technical elements.

Technique and tactics• Players must work at maximum intensity throughout.

• You’ll need them to concentrate on their technique, particularly because the skill requirement changes for every point around the circuit.

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: 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: Michael Beale, Tanya Jones, Steve Phythian, Steve Watson, Wayne Wicks © Green Star Media Ltd. All rights reserved.

Michael Beale Premier League Academy soccer coach

The circuit offers a different station on each side

Station 1 requires the player to receive and pass into a mini goal, while station 2 is a heading task

Station 3 is a one-two and dribble out, while station 4 involves taking down an aerial pass, controlling and shooting

30yds

40yds

1 3

4

2

stations 1 & 2

stations 3 & 4

ball movementrun with ball shot

3

SoccerCoachWeekly FOOTY4KIDSWednesday, April 25, 2012

Quick - steal the ball!How to play it• The objective of this game is to improve ball control skills, tackling and passing.• It requires 10 players divided into two teams of five. If you have more than 10, create extra playing areas and play two games (with smaller teams if necessary).• Set up two 15x15-yard playing areas with a five yard gap in between. There is one team per playing area and one ball per team.• The game begins with both teams moving and passing to each other in their playing area. After a few seconds, the coach shouts a number and the corresponding player runs into the other team’s square, attempting to win the ball. • If he wins the ball and kicks it out of the playing area, he earns one point for his team. If he can win the ball and take it back into his playing area, he gets three points.• Allow 30 seconds for a steal to take place. If the defending team can keep the ball away from the attacking player for that length of time, it wins a point.• You can progress the game by calling more than one number at a time, and therefore having multiple players running between areas.• Play for 10 minutes.

Technique and tactics• Attacking and defending principles are combined with the need for players to be aware at all times in this game.• Defending players must work together to keep possession with quick passing and intelligent movement.• And competing against the clock will stimulate urgency and drive in players.

Each team of five players passes the ball around in its area

“Player 2” is called, and the relevant man from each team sprints into the other half

SoccerCoachWeekly Essential tools for your team

White successfully wins the ball and returns to his area with it – to earn three points - while grey is unable to gain possession

Steve Watson Editor, Footy4kids.co.uk

PACE,

PASSING AND

POSSESSION IN ONE!

15yds

15yds 15yds5yds

15yds

player movement ball movementrun with ball

2!

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35

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Many youth football coaches spend a lot of time teaching their players quite advanced skills - how to move quickly from defence to attack, how to defend in zones, how to score from set pieces – without ensuring that players’ basic skills are up to scratch first.

The result is a lot of needless frustration and wasted time for coaches and their players.

Spending time going back over the basics is always a good investment, especially if you focus on your players’ first touch of the ball. Without a good, safe, first touch, your players will struggle to keep the ball. They’ll also find it hard to pass accurately, receive passes or shoot, and they certainly won’t be able to defend in zones or score from set pieces!

First touch: common mistakes and how to put them right

Good anticipation and alertness are pre-conditions of having a good first touch, so watch your players to check that they are alert at all times and reacting to what’s going on around them.

If they look more like spectators, try reducing the size of your training groups.

Playing games in teams of two, three or four requires much more involvement.

It’s also important players have their heads up so they know where the passing options are before they receive the ball. You can help them to do this by warming up with games that require them to look before they pass the ball. (Check out David Clarke’s ‘Look and learn’ game in SCW 259, for instance)

Do your players choose the wrong surface to control the ball?

A good first touch is impossible if the wrong part of the body is used to receive a pass, so give your players plenty of practice using different parts of their body.

The result otherwise is that the ball will often bounce off the player as if they are made of concrete! If this happens, take a player out of a training exercise and show him how to withdraw the receiving surface of his body at the moment of impact with the ball. Serve a ball at him at varying heights and speeds and see if he can absorb the impact.

At the end of the day...... we all know there are no shortcuts

in youth soccer coaching. Skills and techniques need to be learned in a logical and progressive way and the basics - like a good first touch - have to be thoroughly embedded before you move on.

4

SoccerCoachWeekly TOUCHLINE TALESWednesday, April 25, 2012

Your number one

SoccerCoachWeekly Essential tools for your team

Watching one of the Under-12s goalkeepers at my local club this week picking the ball out of the net seven times I was reminded me of an article I had read by David James, the former England stopper who is now at English npower Championship club Bristol City.

When the 41-year-old was playing in the Premier League with Portsmouth, he once suffered the humiliation of conceding 10 goals in two games. Recalling that and other similar events, he said: “I try to get on with it; I take the dogs out for a walk. I try to move on and prepare for the next game. I have a debrief with my psychologist…”

Psychologist? Now that is where the similarities end…!

Coaches of youth teams don’t have psychologists at hand when they lose a game, and neither does the poor lad

whose goal has been under constant bombardment. More likely is that said keeper will be in the car home getting a pasting from his dad, your words of comfort a distant and fading memory!

But that’s the problem for keepers… their errors are highlighted every time the ball goes in the net; they have nowhere to hide.

That’s why you must not let your keeper take the blame because, trust me, if you do, he won’t be your keeper for much longer! Protect him and nurture him so he wants to play in goal no matter what the score is.

At training nights make sure he joins in with all the fun bits – the match, skills, fitness – before you move him between the sticks for some designated keeper practice. It is important for you and the team that he feels part of it all.

You can also get him to be vocal at training - to shout at his defenders and order them around, if necessary. Not only will this give him a unique status, but it will cement his value to the rest of the team as a leader and organiser on match day – someone who can survey all that’s in front of him with ease.

And encouraging him when he makes a mistake rather than criticising means that most of his team mates will do likewise.

At the end of the day keepers are vital to your team and their influence is stronger than you may realise. Let’s make sure they don’t go home crying.

“The keeper will be in the car home getting a pasting from his

dad, your words of comfort a distant and fading memory!”

Back to basics

David Clarke Head Coach, Soccer Coach Weekly

Steve Watson Editor, Footy4kids.co.uk

Getting the basics right

gives players the best

chance of progressing

quickly

5

SoccerCoachWeekly SMALL-SIDED GAMEWednesday, April 25, 2012

Directional gameHow to play it• Set up as shown in the diagram, with four mini-goals and two teams of four players.

• One player from each team enters the pitch.

• Start the game by feeding a ball in for a 1v1 contest.

• One team attacks the goals across the width of the pitch.

• The other team attacks the goals down the length of the pitch.

• After each attack – whether it ends in a goal or not – add one player to each team, then pass a new ball in.

• The game is played for 10 minutes.

Technique and tactics• This small-sided game is all about transitions. Attackers should go forward positively – after all, they have a large target to attack – whilst always staying aware of their defensive roles, because possession can switch very quickly.

• Awareness of attacking and defending angles is imperative, and will be learnt quickly.

• And communication between team mates is absolutely vital.

• From your point of view, be patient with your players, as there is a lot for them to take in at first.

20yds

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player movement ball movementrun with ball shot

The white team is trying to score top to bottom; greys left to right

It’s now 4v4 and the grey team makes it difficult by pressing and tackling

SoccerCoachWeekly Essential tools for your team

When they win possession, grey players must attempt to score

Michael Beale Premier League Academy soccer coach

A MENTAL/PHYSICAL

MATCH-UP!

20yds

30yds

player movement ball movementrun with ball shot

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SoccerCoachWeekly YOUR SAYWednesday, April 25, 2012

TACKLED: In with a shout?

SoccerCoachWeekly Essential tools for your team

Wayne WicksMerton Rangers Under-9s

Every soccer team requires a rallying of the troops from time to time. Raising your voice is the best way of doing this, and more often than not it can have a strong and galvanising effect on players. It drives focus and stirs emotion. Why would we want to lose this from the youth game?

In comparison, maintaining a flat, spoken tone will rarely grab players’ attention – that’s a fact. If every instruction (whether critical or not) is done at the same volume, players don’t differentiate between the importance – a specific and very urgent match day instruction could carry the same weight as telling players to grab their half-time oranges. We can’t assume young children have the same ability to interpret instructions and orders in the way that we do.

Let’s be clear - ranting without a purpose won’t help, but a structured comment will. Shouting doesn’t have to be uncontrolled – raising a voice can deliver something as simple as a “come on, let’s get at them”.

And children respond to raised voices from parents, teachers and other guardians – why do we insist on things having to be different on a soccer pitch?

Sometimes urgent, loud orders have to be given. It’s unnatural and rather ridiculous to expect a coach to pause before every instruction to remind himself to deliver it at an acceptable volume.

Shouting is the longest-standing way of conveying messages on a soccer pitch – sometimes it’s absolutely necessary because of the distances involved across a pitch or down a touchline.

Kids being kids, sometimes the only way to get their attention is to shout!

Should you raise your voice to players?

“Kids being kids, sometimes the only way to get their attention is to shout!”

Tanya JonesAll Saints (Manchester)

Young players are involved in the game for enjoyment, not to be hollered at and harassed by coaches.

On a few occasions I’ve seen parents take exception to their kids being shouted at by a coach. Simply, it’s not that person’s place to chastise the child, and it can often lead to conflict on the touchline.

There is no message that absolutely requires shouting, that cannot easily and succinctly be conveyed simply by keeping instructions polite and well managed.

Children have been shown to respond better in a set-up where they feel as if everyone is on an equal footing. If that set-up becomes dictatorial because a coach likes the sound of his own voice, then what’s being taken away is the unique team ‘all for one’ nature that youth soccer provides.

There are plenty of other ways for players to be reminded that, if they fail to deliver, there are repercussions upon the team.

While some coaches may raise their voices sparingly and with good effect, others don’t possess that kind of control. They go over the top, which eventually leads to kids tuning out and beginning to resent someone who frequently embarks on rants.

Shouting at children makes it appear acceptable for them to shout at each other. By doing this coaches are in danger of fostering a harsh and rather offensive environment.

Shouting at kids can often mean singling out one or two. Some kids find it bad enough to be singled out, but to have that criticism shouted is plain unfair.

If teams are well set up, drilled and motivated, shouting shouldn’t ever be necessary!

“There are a number of very good spoken motivational methods that

don’t need to be shouted!”

YES NO

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

This week Steve PhythianPatcham United Under-12s

Q At what age should I be teaching my kids formations?

Andy Swift, Mangotsfield

A Formations don’t win games, players do” – Anon.

I believe the emphasis should always be on teaching the Principles of Play rather than formations.

In soccer, the ‘shape’ of the team is probably more important than the actual formation which, in general, is only observed specifically at kick-off. From then on, the arrangement of players ebbs and flows with the state of the game so, arguably, the formation rarely looks like it did at the start anyway.

Similarly, I think it is important to allow players to play in different positions in order to build game understanding and empathy for their team mates. I would also recommend against enforcing position restrictions, as I think this restricts freedom of movement and encourages a policy of fear. By doing this, players learn to recognise when to stay or when to cover for a team mate who has vacated the area.

In my opinion, the English game has been too restrictive and played in straight lines for far too long. What I suggest here is ‘freedom with responsibility’, where the movement of players creates space to exploit, and makes defending against more difficult.

After all, children are far more able to reason answers to problems, with help, than we often give them credit for. I started to introduce these concepts with an Under-10s team, but each coach needs to make an assessment of when to introduce such concepts based on the needs of the players they coach.

TACKLED: Results

Here’s the result of the poll we ran in Soccer Coach Weekly 258 (April 4) asking if you thought it was a good idea to allow your kids to dictate what happens in training sessions.

SCW Surgery

YES

NO

38%

62%