coaching advanced players

F r e e E m a i l N e w s l e t t e r a t w o r l d c l a s s c o a c h i n g . c o m

Practices and Training Sessions For Elite Players

Coaching Advanced Players

Total Trainingfor Advanced Players

Improving the Individual Player ThroughAdvanced Technical and Functional Training

byRob Gale

Published byWORLD CLASS COACHING

First published January, 2011 by WORLD CLASS COACHING 3404 W. 122nd Terr Leawood, KS 66209 (913) 583-0030

ISBN# - 9780982688038Copyright © WORLD CLASS COACHING 2011

All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher.

By Rob Gale

Edited by Tom Mura

Cover Photo:

Published byWORLD CLASS COACHING

Total Training for Advanced Players

Chapter One

Touch Drills

Improving the Individual

When I was directing the Score UK Fulham Academies we had the luxury to just work on individuals - we set a curriculum with themes but we did not have to form teams – our role was to improve the individual with the hope one day they may make the level to send back to Fulham Football Club or one of the many other academies we have friends and colleagues working in.

If we set the correct environment then these players would develop, that may take them to auniversity level, to a semi professional or professional league. In Manitoba as the Technical Director I run our Regional Training Centre and the philosophy is very similar to the academies we ran in North America, we do not form teams but we need to elevate the level of our players to get as many into the National Training Centre for the Prairies, as this is the scouting vehicle for players to make the Canadian National Youth teams.

These drills are a selection of some of the ones we have used and I still do use as part of the wider curriculum aimed at challenging each and every individual to improve and be the best they can be.

6 © WORLD CLASS COACHINGTotal Training for Advanced Players

OUTSIDE RUNS, BALL PLAYED THROUGH THE MIDDLEPlayers work in pairs facing each other approximately 5 yards apart. One partner stands between two markers – 8 yards apart.

Black passes to marker on red players left as shown above – red player shuffles quickly and plays left footed pass back to black. Black then passes to marker on right side of red and they shuffle right across to play back with right foot. The drill continues working alternate feet on alternate sides. (Change after 1 minute)

Progressions• Black serves from hands and Red has to volley back with the inside of

the feet into hands• Red must use outside of the feet to volley back – so right marker they

twist sideways and use left foot – left marker they turn and use outside of the right laces. (Quite complex)

• Black now serves the ball centrally each time and red has to control ball with inside of the foot – across their body to markers – they then play back with opposite inside foot. i.e. control with inside of the right to left marker then play back with inside of left foot.

• As with the previous progression but now control with outside of the foot and play back with opposite inside foot.

• Control across the body with thigh- play back on volley with opposite foot (younger players may allow ball to bounce towards marker before playing back with inside of the foot)

• Control with chest across the body and play back on volley (or after bounce for younger players) with inside of the foot

• Alternate sides as with all previous drills.

Coaching Points• Quality of first touch• Quick lateral movement and adjustment of body shape to play• Quality of pass back – be it a volley or standard pass- firm and accurate• Players must be able to perform consistently and at pace for the entire

minute – quality should not dip when fatigued. The best players maintain concentration and consistency even when mentally or physically tired.

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The idea behind these drills is for players to work on basic techniques - increasing in difficulty - under pressure (i.e. working for 1 minute solidly without rest). Look for players who can still perform basic skills when fatigued. These can be used as warm ups for position specific or functional training or for fitness if you increase work; rest ratio or just for improvement of basic technique.

Touch Drills

© WORLD CLASS COACHING 7 Total Training for Advanced Players

OrganizationPlayer pair up and face each other five yards apart as with previous touch drills- coach can have multiple groups lined up just outside penalty area as shown in diagram. Each group is given a number.

Players perform technical individual touch drills as with any of previous drills and then as coach calls the number serving player either passes or throws ball behind working player and they quickly turn and strike at goal. Other groups continue to work until their number is called. Players then swap positions from striker to server.

Progression• For increased pressure on shot have server defend ball after they play worldclasscoaching.com

OrganizationPlayers pair up and are approximately 3-5 yards apart. Yellow is server and starts by kneeling opposite red player. Yellow player roles ball to Red’s left foot and they strike back on laces with left foot- yellow immediately serves back to red’s right foot and they continue. Red player has to try and get 5 little steps in between each laces strike and should be moving back and then forward to the ball each time. Players go for one minute then swap positions.

Progressions• Server stands and serves ball out of hands for partner to volley back

into hands with laces.• Laces volleys as with 1/ but player has to spin after each volley (players

should volley and spin off of that shoulder so as not to get dizzy i.e. right volley spin to their right)

• Laces volleys but in between each volley working player must sit down and stand up.


Touch Drills

Coaching Points• Be up on toes and get quick feet in between touches• Use laces - get knee over ball and follow through to target• Keep quality of technique even when fatigued or

disorientated

striker in.• Technical Coaching Points remain consistent with previous drills• Emphasis now comes to the striking at goal. Players must turn and react quickly.• Take a peek at Goal and see GK positioning.• Release shot quickly• Selection and Quality of Finish• Composure

As with previous drills players need to be able to perform the simple techniques of passing, volleying, control and passing even after working solidly for up to a minute. Weaker player and weaker teams make more errors when tired. These drills are designed to help the player consistently perform simple techniques, at speed under pressure and on demand in line with the prerequisites to take their game to the next level.


Touch Drills

OrganizationGroups of three in triangle with distance between players no bigger than three yards.

Two players have a ball and kneel down – one working player stands.The first kneeling player rolls ball across working players body to furthest foot (1) and they have to playback one touch to server (2) as soon as that ball has left working players back foot the next pass should be rolled by other server across the body to furthest foot which will be opposite foot that working player just passed the ball with (3) so they have very little time to react adjust their feet and hips and make the pass. Rotate central player after one minutes work. Servers both stand and serve ball in the air for volleyed passes back.

Progressions• One server stands one kneels – so working player has to make one pass

on one side of their body and one volley on• Other side- after 30 seconds server who was knelling stand sand server

standing kneels so as to work opposite sides.• One server stands and one kneels – server standing throws ball high for

player to jump off ground and head back- serving• Kneeling releases ball as working player lands so they have split second

to adjust feet and make pass back – swap• Serving roles at thirty seconds• Last progression volley one side- header the other – again swap serving

roles after 30 seconds• Servers dictate the tempo and challenge working player with speed of

service not giving central player a long time to adjust and react

Coaching Points• Working Players must be up on toes and light on their feet• Working players need to adjust at the hips and square off to target-

push through the ball on passes and volleys with back foot• When heading both feet must be up as if challenging for the ball and

looking for bullet headers not just letting it hit you –• The server can roll ball immediately so it arrives just as they land to

increase demand on working player having to adjust feet quickly.




OrganizationThree players stand ten yards away from another player who will do the work for one minute.

Coach gives each of the three players (in red in diagram) a number 1, 2 or 3 without letting the yellow player know which one is which.

The coach will shout 1 2 or 3 and that player will quickly play ball directly to yellow player who must adjust feet and play ball directly back to the player who passed to them in one touch.

Rotate working player each minute and re-label each player with a new number serving.

Progressions• In round two the coach also labels the players A B or C – now they have

two titles 1 2 or 3 and A B or C• Coach will call out either of their titles and they play ball in as before.• In round three Coach also adds North East West – so players have three

different titles• In round four Coach also adds Knife fork and Spoon to serving players

titles.

The above drills can also be done with thrown ball in for players to volley back to where ball came from, high tossed balls where players have to control ball before playing back or thrown balls for headed pass backs.

It is also possible to add the number of servers and also the number of players working whereby the players working have to compete to get first to the served ball in and then be first to play back to the player who served it- this can also be done as a competition with each returned pass scoring that player a point Servers must be alert and ready and play quickly when their title or tiles are called out by the coach so as to keeppressure on working player

Coaching Points• Working player must be on toes and as open as possible in their body

shape to receive form the different areas, adjust feet quickly to flight of ball- square off at the hips to accurately pass back in one touch

• Players should try and remember quickly the titles of player so as to prepare themselves quicker and adjust to perform basic tasks quickly and accurately

• Importance is always on the quality of technique when under pressure

Mental Challenges Touch Drills


OrganizationIn a 12 yard by 12 yard square four players are positioned in each corner with a supply of balls and a two yard gate in front of them. One player is positioned in centre of square as shown in diagram.

Each corner player is numbered 1 2 3 or 4.

Coach will call out a number and that corner player must play the ball into the central player, as ball arrives at centralplayer coach will call out another number and player must pass the ball back to the appropriate player as quickly aspossible- ensuring the ball goes through each gate.

ProgressionsCorner players will serve ball in the air and player must either play back one time out of the air or control and pass.Coach can change numbers in corners to letters –or as with previous drill have more than one title per corner

Coaching PointsQuickly evaluate where ball is coming from and where it has to go to – adjust body shape and feet accordingly If first touch is required open up and maneuver ball into position to be able to pass accurately with second touch. Quality and intention of first touch is paramount.


Mental TrainingTouch Drills

These drills are designed to challenge player’s abilities to think quickly, decipher information about their surroundings quickly and execute technique accordingly. Remember speed of play is key to making a high level player so drills that can challenge them to think quicker adjust quicker and play quicker will help challenge their game immensely.

The idea behind these drills is for players to work on adjustment of upper body and also feet to manipulate ball in one direction whilst body can swerve in opposite direction and deceive opponent. Masters of this are attacking players such as Thierry Henry Robert Pires and nowadays Lionel Messi also.

OrganizationPlayers line up in front of a line of 18 inch hurdles (balls must be able to go under them). Players play ball with inside of foot through first hurdle and make arced run to other side- i.e use right foot move to left, they turn and adjust hips as they move around marker to then use opposite foot and move again in opposite way around next hurdle. As player in front reaches third hurdle next player should go.

ProgressionsChallenge players according to ability- can they use one touch only between hurdles- maybe use outside fo feet to play through hurdle etc.


Coaching PointsWeight touch and explode quickly after with fast feet – adjust at hips and try to get body position correct to play next touch.


ProgressionsMake players use front foot so less exaggeration of upper body movement.Play one touch only between benches

Coaching Points• WEIGHT OF PASS - Players must be able to weight pass correctly to receive in stride for next bench• ANGLES – players must read angles of bench and where return will go – like playing wall pass in a game• As before with quick explosion of pace and fast feet after pass to be able to adjust body positioning to make next pass in one touch.

These drills along with hurdle drills can be done as tests to make players compete- timing each player to complete the drill and adding time if hurdles or bench’s are missed or if players do not complete with one touch only etc.

Players are in a line in front of six benches positioned facing inwards as shown above every ten yards on the left and right of the player. Players play rebound pass off of first bench and must immediately adjust whilst running forward to play off opposite foot to next bench on opposite side –using furthest foot so ball travels across body.

Progression after challenging players is to angle the hurdles with half facing out left and half out right as above.

Drill is exactly the same but the difficulty is way greater with the angled hurdles – players must exaggerate body movement and adjust quicker after the fast feet to use back foot to play through and then adjust again to use next foot at next hurdle.

Players should imagine the hurdle is a defender and after playing past them one side they must explode away on the other side of the defender to receive the ball on the back side of them.

These drills are then taking into a passing sequence using benches or advertising style play back boards.



Touch Drills

coaching advanced players

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