SoccerCoachWeeklyIssue 289 Wednesday, November 7, 2012

1v1s in the final third

1SoccerCoachWeekly Essential tools for your team

Winning 1v1s in attacking situations is key to success on the pitch, so here’s a session that gets players comfortable when they’re faced with these high-pressure events.

The session creates 1v1s where the striker is running at pace, so it’s very game realistic.

How to play it• Set up as shown - I’m using 10 players in a 5v5; no keepers.• Teams operate with three players in the central zone and one player in each of the other two boxes defending the two goals. • Players must win the ball, then combine to set one man free for a 1v1. He must approach the defender and stay within the box boundaries in looking to get past him and score. Look for the attacker to use pace and trickery in the move.• If the defender wins the ball, he passes it back to one of his team mates in the central zone.• Play for five minutes then rotate players.

Technique and tactics• Each attacker must move forward with pace and positivity.• He must have a clear plan of how he aims to get past the player before he arrives in the square.• Each defender must stand his ground, staying on his feet at all times.

Advancing the game• If attackers are finding the practice difficult, place an extra player on the edge of the box. This man provides the option of a wall pass.• If the defenders are finding it too difficult, make their zones smaller.

Whites now restart, and a quick switch allows the attacker to move into a 1v1 at the other end

The defender starts the game by laying a pass into his team mates in the central 3v3

A pass frees the attacker, who jinks past his opponent in a 1v1 and scores in the goal

TOOLS, TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

20yds

10yds

10yds

10yds10yds

ball movementshot run with ball

David Clarke Head Coach, Soccer Coach Weekly

2

SoccerCoachWeekly WARM UPWednesday, November 7, 2012

See, hear, feel

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: David Clarke, David Lewis, Adam Manson, Taylor Mase, Stuart Cole, Steve Watson © Green Star Media Ltd. All rights reserved.

How to play it• Set up using a line of players, as shown.• The players work through a series of sprints over a distance of 10 yards.• You are trying to see how different players react to different sensory impulses.Sprint 1 – visualThe players wait for you to drop a ball and then they sprint.Sprint 2 – audioThe players wait for your call or whistle and then they sprint.Sprint 3 – touchYou stand behind the players. They wait for you to touch them on the shoulder and then they sprint.• Record the difference in the players’ reaction times to the three sprints. You will be surprised to see the variations in individuals’ reactions.• Then start again and run the same practice. See if your players can improve their reaction times on each rerun.

Technique and tactics• Any reaction practice will build awareness in players.• And by judging reaction times, you can build knowledge about your players, making it easier to decide who should do what in certain match situations. For instance, maybe use a player with very quick reactions to pick up a fast opposition runner.

Michael Beale Premier League Academy soccer coach

The first player reacts when you drop the ball

The next cue is when you shout for the player to move

The final cue is a tap on the shoulder

A GREATPRE-MATCHWARM-UP

FOR GETTING

PLAYERS FOCUSED

10yds

player movement

GO!

3

SoccerCoachWeekly FOOTY4KIDS

Slow soccerSome kids may struggle with this game

at first, while others pick it up easily, but it makes every player really think about what he is doing!

How to play it• Using a 30x20-yard pitch, I set up a 5v5 game including keepers, although you can adjust pitch size and player numbers to suit.• Players tackle, shoot, score and pass as in normal soccer. There is only one condition - running is not allowed.• When the ball goes out of play the game can be restarted in a number of ways:

1. a normal throw-in2. a kick-in3. with a goal kick

• Speed walking is allowed in Slow soccer but if anyone breaks into a run, even for a second, a free-kick is awarded to the other team.

Advancing the game• After 10 minutes, lift the ‘no running’ restriction and allow your players to play normally.

Techniques and tactics• The objective of the game is to play soccer thoughtfully, and to plan ahead.• Because the game is slowed down so much, players can really look around and see what is developing.• As well as looking for passes, players will also stick more rigidly to designated positions, since it takes longer to get back into a set position, so this is a useful practice for players being introduced to formations.

Players construct a normal passing move though only walking is allowed

If a player moves too far out of position, it may be difficult for him to get back, as happens here with the red defender

SoccerCoachWeekly Essential tools for your team

The slow nature of the game means players can take time in making themselves available for passes

Steve Watson Editor, Footy4kids.co.uk

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

A GREATGAME THAT

REALLY GET PLAYERS

THINKING!

20yds

30yds

player movement ball movementshot

4

SoccerCoachWeekly TOUCHLINE TALES

The team song

SoccerCoachWeekly Essential tools for your team

A friend of mine took up coaching a year ago. The reason he started coaching was because his son was sitting on the subs’ bench every week, only ever getting 10 minutes on the pitch because the manager ran things ‘his way’. My friend got hold of a couple of the other parents who also felt the methods were old and tired, and they did something about it. They set up their own team. I helped them conform with the regulations and guidelines and offered some advice on sessions and a coaching syllabus. And in their first season they did well, finishing mid-table.

But this season the team has been a revelation, winning four games out of five as well as progressing through to the third round of the cup.

I was interested to see how the team was playing so went to see them. The warm-ups were great – individual and team movement, 2v2s, 2v1s and more.

The players were smiling and ready to go. So I expected them to trot onto the pitch and start playing, but then something unusual happened. With the referee calling the players over, they quickly got into a huddle and sang a team song. It was one my friend had made up for them, and as I quickly discovered, it was something they sang before every game.

He told me it really helped their team spirit – and who am I to argue with that? I do not encourage group huddles before matches with my own teams but this lot really enjoyed doing it. And they were roaring at the opposition from the off.

They played a neat passing game – created through using sessions from Soccer Coach Weekly – and pressed and harried opponents when they lost the ball. I was very impressed with the all round play and behaviour of players and parents. And a 2-1 win was just reward.

After the game, I asked my fellow coach about the team song. He seemed slightly embarrassed about it but I must say it certainly did the trick with his players.

Here was a dad who had found the local team no good for his son so he set up one himself, and I know he’s not alone in reaching out and making a difference. What’s more, I’m really pleased it was me that gave him the courage to do that.

So if you can make a difference – whether that’s giving another coach the belief to do something, or offering your players a pre-match song that will inspire and unite them, don’t hesitate! Go ahead and make a difference!

Four styles of youth soccer coaching

Which one do you subscribe to?

1. TellThis style of coaching could best be

described as ‘old school’. The ‘tell’ coach makes all the decisions

and doesn’t allow his players any involvement in decision making. His players are told what to do and how to do it. It’s a dictator role more commonly associated with professional teams. Some pros respond well to this set-up, but older kids struggle with it.

2. Sell A ‘sell’ coach decides what his players

need to do in much the same way as a ‘tell’ coach. However, unlike a ‘tell’ coach, he will explain his decisions, attempt to persuade his players that it is in their best interests to do what he says and he’ll also encourage questions.

This type of coach is clever. Players believe they have made the decisions themselves, when in actual fact they’ve often been carefully guided into a way of thinking.

3. ShareThis coaching style follows the pattern

of ‘this is the problem, what shall we do about it?’ Players have a large amount of input and are encouraged to be vocal and outspoken, although the coach will still make the final decision based on the feedback from his players along with his own suppositions.

4. Allow This is the most open style of coaching.

An ‘allow’ coach talks about how the team plays and asks his players what they think they could do better.

He is open to suggestions and usually allows his players to make their own decisions regarding what to do at training sessions.

Which is the right style?There is no one best way to coach –

each style of coaching has advantages and disadvantages – and we all fit into one persona, sometimes overlapping into another.

How do I decide which style is best for me?

Your choice of style will depend to a certain extent on your experience and ability to coach. It will also be influenced by the age of your players and their maturity. You’ll know which one is right for you.

David Clarke Head Coach, Soccer Coach Weekly

Steve Watson Editor, Footy4kids.co.uk

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

“With the referee calling the players over, they quickly

got into a huddle and sang a team song.”

An ‘allow’ coach is open

to suggestions from his players

5

SoccerCoachWeekly SMALL-SIDED GAME

Two goal game – score in the end zone

In the UK, the rugby Autumn internationals are about to start, so here’s a game that combines the running elements of that sport with the end zone passing precision of American Football.

How to play it• Create a playing area measuring 30x20 yards. This game is 4v4, with an unguarded goal at each end. • Play as you would do a normal game, although there are no offsides. And you call different approaches at different points in the game. So, by calling for a “dribble game”, a single player can combine and dribble the ball into the other team’s end zone to score a point.• By calling for a “passing game” a player must receive a pass in the end zone to score.• Once the point has been awarded, the scoring player can straight away score an additional point by, one touch, passing the ball into the unguarded goal – he may find himself having to do this from a tight angle. One defender is allowed to drop back to try to block the route to goal.• If the ball leaves play, you have a few restart options:

1. Pass a new ball onto the pitch2. The players take a roll-in3. The players take a throw-in4. The players make a pass-in5. The players dribble-in

• Play for 20 minutes. Which team can score the most points?

Technique and tactics• Players must adapt their games, changing between dribbling and passing depending on your call.• Look for players to alter their goalscoring approach. Should they aim centrally so as to provide an easy shot into the goal, or is switching between flanks to earn a safe single point a better tactic?

Calling for a “dribble game”, the white player dribbles the ball over the line and scores a point

He must now shoot immediately into the goal, with a defender coming back to try to block the chance

SoccerCoachWeekly Essential tools for your team

At the call of “passing game”, the attacking team now has to pass the ball into a waiting player in the end zone to score

Michael Beale Premier League Academy soccer coach

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

20yds

30yds

player movement ball movementshot/block run with ball

dribble game

passing game

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SoccerCoachWeekly YOUR SAY

SoccerCoachWeekly Essential tools for your team

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

This week Taylor MaseCincinnati, US

Q I know it’s common for a player to be afraid of

tackling, but I have two very young lads who are even afraid of being tackled. What can I do? Tony Jones, London

A This sort of behaviour is quite common among players when

they are just starting out.My advice would be not to

confront players about their nervousness at being tackled. As long as they are showing good skills in other areas, that should be enough and all they need right now.

The confidence to get ‘stuck in’ to a tackle will come in time. If you make an issue out of it now they will feel pressured and think they are not good footballers. And if that happens they may lose their enthusiasm to play completely.

Focus on what they do well and if you do see them being tackled without looking scared make a big deal out of it. And if they come out of the tackle without being hurt (as I’m sure they will) that will be all they need to try it again.

Remember to give lots of praise and encouragement when you see the behaviour you want to see and ignore unwanted behaviour.

TACKLED: Results

Here’s the result of the poll we ran in Soccer Coach Weekly 287 asking if you felt that we should be moving our soccer coaching indoors as soon as the cold and rainy weather arrives.

SCW Surgery TACKLED: Driving force

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

What really drives you forward as a youth soccer coach – the lure of success or the fear of failure?

Adam MansonAbertawe Jacks Under-13s

When you first come into youth soccer you’re just happy to be involved, but that soon changes. You want to win! You learn more about the league set-up, the cup matches, the summer tournaments, and even the soccer tours. There is this new world that offers endless opportunities to impress and to make your mark. That’s a real lure for any soccer coach – to explore what’s out there and see what can be tackled.

People make a big deal out of youth soccer and the increasing drive to take away those strong competitive elements, but that’s directed at the way our kids are encouraged to view the game. There is absolutely nothing to say that, as adults, we have to feel the same way. I spend my life being competitive – it’s the only way I’ve been able to survive. I can’t just turn that off when I think of what I want to achieve through soccer coaching, and nor should I.

At the end of the day we’re all competitive to some extent.

I have found soccer coaching as addictive as when I used to play the game, but I need the next goal to aim for, the next success story. If I don’t feel that lure, and if I don’t have something drawing me forward, then my coaching will go stale, as will my players. I need that lure of success to keep the new ideas turning over.

And when you witness your attacker smashing in a late winner, try to convince yourself that it’s not the lure of success that keeps drawing you back! I bet you can’t!

“When you first come into youth soccer you’re just happy to be

involved, but that soon changes. You want to win!”

Stuart ColePriory Under-9s, Eastbourne

Youth soccer coaching can be an intimidating business when you come face-to-face with an experienced coach who has spent many years in the game. As for getting one over on those other coaches, I’m not so fussed about that. But I certainly don’t want to be seen to be slipping behind. I don’t want the failure of being looked down upon. I don’t care so much about the winning, I just want to be a worthwhile candidate.

Being given the backing of players, their parents and your own loved ones means a great deal. For me it’s all about not wanting to let people down. It’s about giving players something that will really make a difference to them. And that could be letting them achieve small goals such as working for a team or staying fit, even if the scoreline on the pitch doesn’t go their way. I think failure at a young age can have quite a damaging effect on young players’ personalities. Some kids can be resilient, but others can find it difficult to overcome setbacks, and it’s that fear that spurs me on.

Given the amount of time I dedicate to soccer, I probably wouldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t think there was a real and genuine ‘take out’ for me. I would certainly feel I have failed if one day I couldn’t see a reason for continuing to put the hard work in, otherwise what am I doing it for?

“I don’t want to be seen to be slipping behind. I don’t want the failure of being looked down upon. I don’t care so much

about the winning, I just want to be a worthwhile candidate.”

THE LURE OF SUCCESS

THE FEAR OF FAILURE

YES

NO 20%

80%