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SIX POINTS OF EMPHASIS FOR COACHES: 2. Look to make certain adjustments that allow the exercise/game to work and be enjoyable for the players. If the activity doesn’t have much flow to it, look for a way to make it work. For example, if a playing area needs to be adjusted, the coach should quickly decide to make the area bigger or smaller, depending on what will help aid the purpose of the activity. 3. On the same note, look to keep the players engaged. Exercise your right as a coach to improvise within a practice. Kids love competition, so don’t hesitate to add a competitive element to an exercise or game if the kids need some motivation. Also, don’t be afraid to add a goal or a shooting/scoring element to an activity. All of these exercises/games can be adjusted or modified in many different ways that allow the kids to re-engage while still focusing on a specific technique or topic. 4. Push proper technique and player development. Some things will be uncomfortable for players at first, but they should not be afraid to fail while trying 5. Address the group when talking about specific areas that need improvement. Ask the kids—make them a part of the education. Don’t interject too much—try to put them in a position where they can learn for themselves (maybe watch for 3-5 minutes, try to remember 1-3 of the most important points and then ask them to focus on those for the next five minutes). 6. Place an emphasis on players making each other better with play and with attitude. This is a core element of soccer at any level and something the kids need to learn how to do in order to be successful in this sport.
Week 1. 1st Evening--Dribbling, 2nd Evening--Passing and Receiving 1.1 – warm-up (25 min)– dribbling with all surfaces—Inside, outside (toe pointed), inside/outside, bottom, stopping with body parts, can make into a competitive game--http://insidesoccer.com/page/a5e5212f-d3d6-4028-a0a9-681d2e64c168/ball-familiarity.html (first part) -- dribbling and ball familiarity (20) minutes —inside soccer. Divide groups into two teams. One group stands as gates first, then switch. Graduate to a timed relay (when player gets to third “gate,” next person in line can go). http://insidesoccer.com/page/eefbe7de-686f-45a6-9711-074b25b8aae4/dribbl... -- stuck in the mud game (20) - http://insidesoccer.com/page/c513b855-5c7b-4944-a259-cab48da2e7be/stuck-... make sure players understand how they can use the different surfaces on their foot when dribbling to create and advantage in this game. -- “scrimmage” – On a small field with two goals, players are divided up into two teams and stand on the end-line of their own goal. Start by sending the first player from each team toward a ball in the middle of the field. Whoever gets there first has to decide if they are going to try score on their opponents goal for two points, or try to dribble it back to their own end line for one point. If defender wins the ball, they can counterattack, making the same decision as far as scoring. Can become 2v2 (encourage teammates to talk to figure out how they want to score). Make sure you have balls ready for fast restarts—keep the pace and flow of the game high and exciting. 1.2 – warm-up (20 min) passing and receiving inside soccer -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/2814baa2-6693-43c2-8a9f-a1e24781a2a7/pa... focus on proper technique. Stick with inside of foot for both passing and receiving—top half of ball, proper weight on the pass, use both feet. When receiving, encourage them to use their receiving touch to setup up their next move (instead of just simply stopping the ball). Add different variation (running around and overlapping person on the end). -- groups of three (20 min) —passing and receiving with triangle grid (receive through one gate, pass through another. Make them reverse on command. COMPETITION: Have them see how many passes they can complete in a certain amount of time (for example 30 seconds), then have them do it several more times, seeing if they beat their previous score (feel free to provide “incentive” in the form of rewards/pay-ups). -- Passing through cone goals game (15 minutes) -- pick up some of the cones so you have a number of cone goals spread out within a grid. Pairs try to score as many goals as possible in 30-45 seconds by trying passing to their partner through a goal (can’t score on the same goal twice in a row). Focus on weight of pass, communication. Have them repeat the process—make it a competition against each other or themselves (trying to beat their previous score). -- “scrimmage” – small sided game with goals. When one team has the ball, the two (can be three) closest players to the ball from the other team have to kneel down. When their team wins the ball back, they can get up and the 2/3 players from the other team who are closest to the ball have to sit down. Coaches will need to quickly call out which team is sitting during play so as to avoid confusion and not disrupt the flow of the game. With the numerical advantage on offense, teams should discover that passing the ball quickly produces the best scoring opportunities. 2.1 – Goalie Training and Familiarity 2.2 – 20 - Warm-up – divide players into pairs. Pairs face each other (about 20-30 ft away) and strike the ball back and forth. Focus on technique, locking ankle, solid contact, landing on shooting foot. --20 -http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/b2fa93f2-8141-4382-8138-2057a090a1e6/1v1-with-wall-pass-to-shoot.html The “1v1” move in this exercise should be very basic. Keep the pace up—players should get many shooting reps. Switch out goalies regularly (or whatever is appropriate) and players can keep track of their goals if need be. --shooting with speed –20 -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/db3e9121-42e2-4a8a-be2f-3f711eb1542e/sh... The cone for the shooting line should be placed more in front of goal, so the shooting player is attacking directly at the goal or at an angle instead of coming from the side. If goalies are not getting to the goal in time, set up a cone that the offensive player needs to reach before shooting. Have teams keep track of their goals and switch offensive/defensive roles several times. Eventually make it a competition. -- “scrimmage” -- Bring goals close to each other to increase the number of scoring and shooting opportunities. Encourage players at all positions to shoot when they have the opportunity. Make certain adjustments within the game if players are not shooting enough. 3.1 – 25 - Dribbling warm-up, but focus on 1v1 moves: inside/outside move; scissors; hook turn; and pull back. (link to visual examples of moves can be found at http://helenayouthsoccer.blogspot.com/2009/04/1v1.html) Make sure the player sell the move. Good horizontal movement. Timing and burst of speed after completion of move to practice getting separation from “defender.” JUST FOCUSING ON ATTACKING 1v1 PRINCIPLES. -- “scrimmage” -- Numbers Game. http://insidesoccer.com/page/49179cf6-55ee-4f3f-8477-9bfa1f5ffe6e/part-1... Call out multiple numbers at a time, creating 2v2, 3v3, 5v5…up to any amount. Mix it up. Have the teams keep score. Can use small goals. 3.2 -- 20 – Warm-up – passing and following http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/93e2b0da-2fa6-45d8-a5e5-8239387c7cbb/un... square doesn’t need to be so big. Start out letting them do it on their own terms (switching direction every now and then) and then help them progress. Remind them to focus on the weight of their pass. Have them focus on their first touch so that it sets up their next pass perfectly. Eventually call out switch in the middle of the exercise so they have to adjust the direction the ball is traveling around the square. They should try to perform this transition as quickly and as smoothly as possible. -- 15 -- Relay Passing and Follow game (15 minutes) – setup a course with multiple triangle gates for receiving through one window and passing through another. Two players need to start on first gate (follow your pass). A player passes to the next player, through the appropriate “window” of the triangle gate, and follows his or her pass. The second player receives the ball by directing it through different window of the triangle gate towards the next player and passes the ball and follows, and so on. Time how long it takes for the ball to go around three times. Then see if they can keep beating their time (make a bet with them, if they beat it, you have to “pay up,” if they don’t then they have to. -- 20 – Possession in each half – http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/cfcdb91d-1566-4ba4-8e2d-3f395b10b30f/4v... Take a while to introduce this game to them. Make sure the offense has the advantage to succeed (maybe 5 or 6 vs. 1). Take it slow. Get them to start thinking about where they want to pass the ball before they receive it. Good first touches. Have a lot of balls ready for quick restarts and keep the flow of play constant. Progress to competition: within the same exercise, allow a team to score a point by connecting a certain number of passes consecutively (anywhere from 3-5 depending on the skill) and then successfully passing the ball to the coach. Still maintain and encourage quick restarts. -- scrimmage -- small sided game with two goals, where players can also score goals by connecting three consecutive passes. Keep the flow and tempo high. Encourage a lot of scoring and remind them about the two different ways they can score goals (shooting on goal and passing three times). 4.1 -- 20 - Warm-up – Dribbling in Channels—can use 4 channels so that less players are standing around http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/f7f0d39e-b710-4fc4-8613-2d59caeca6f6/dr... Go through all dribbling surfaces (inside, outside, laces). Laces are used for speed (toe down). Then go back through each dribbling surface holding up cone and switching channels so that players must dribble with their head up. --25 – -- dribbling line game (15-20 min) http://insidesoccer.com/page/beb2242e-b6e9-4892-8448-96f91c8c17a0/dribbl.... Play it several times, each time using a different surface of the foot for dribbling (don’t forget about dribbling by rolling the ball across their body with the bottom of their foot). Alternate with follow the leader game: http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/f1bbdf28-db16-4ba3-8c99-f70cd7134823/zi... -- 15 – King of the Ring http://insidesoccer.com/page/a98a58ee-1b2e-4b16-9e8d-8b82a827431d/king-o... Focus on ball familiarity. At a certain juncture, remind the players how they can use the different dribbling techniques to their advantage. – “scrimmage” – small sided game with two goals where in addition to scoring on goal, a team can also score by dribbling through a teammates legs. (similar to Stuck in the Mud game --http://insidesoccer.com/page/c513b855-5c7b-4944-a259-cab48da2e7be/stuck-in-the-mud.html, but it counts as a goal in the scrimmage). Encourage players to communicate. 4.2 - 20 – warm-up – Put kids in a grid, divide into two colors and have in addition 2 or 3 goalies. Throw in an appropriate number of balls (probably 3, maybe 4). Balls must be passes from one team to the other while everyone is moving around inside grid. When the opportunity presents itself, goalie and player with the ball communicate and player “shoots” at an appropriate pace at the goalie who catches it and distributes it to someone in another color bib. Focus on technique of striking the ball. And focus on COMMUNICATION. Rotate goalies. -- 20 – Shooting exercise -- http://insidesoccer.com/page/b0ec50b4-2e3b-47fb-953c-5c4975695b48/headin... If you don’t have a second coach, have the players shoot immediately after dribbling through cones. Emphasize proper heading technique (use forehead, not top of head). Rotate goalies accordingly. -- 15 – Shooting game. http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/1fafd9da-fd2b-4b37-871e-1b4eb640f71e/sh... Two teams. But, have player who sends the ball out then turn into the goalie for next turn. Receiving team can take two touches before shooting (pass out to them must be a good one). You can restrict how close the players can shoot if you think it is necessary. Go through the shooters once or twice and see which team can score more goals on the other. -- “scrimmage” – On a square field (apprx. 40 x 40), put a goal in the middle of each side of the square. One team defends two adjacent goals and the other team defends the other two. Each team has two goals to score on, so there should be a lot of scoring opportunities and players should be encouraged to shoot quickly and often if they have the chance. 5.1 -- 20 -- Attacking and Defending warm-up. http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/d0b65e9a-bc97-4d6c-bffd-87aad192b94b/1v... In pairs going back and forth across the field. One player with ball using 1v1 moves and dribbling at other player who is containing with an angled approach (just working on footwork and position, not trying to steal the ball). Progress to http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/ce34c060-b29f-441f-b9a2-5cd1971249c8/1v... (this is obviously performed at a much slower, less advanced level) Explain the proper distance to contain so that defenders are not over-committing or stabbing (this distance changes depending on how fast the attacking player is compared to the defender—defender wants to be close enough to take the ball on a bad touch, but leave enough distance so that they can keep the attacking player in front of them). Explain low stance and angled approach. When closing a player with the ball, defenders should move quickly until they get within about 10 feet, at which point they should take short, quick steps in closing down the player to the appropriate distance. Switch players, then up the tempo and eventually finish at full speed and allow the defender to contain until they see a good opportunity to try to steal the ball. -- 20 – 1v1 to 2 goals http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/fbf2eac5-51e8-4951-ab9b-ed320dd0062e/1v... This exercise obviously focuses on the attacking player. Encourage them to use both options effectively (in other words, they should quickly pick up the fact that it helps to fake towards one goal and quickly attack the other). You can advance it by pairing players together of appropriate skill levels and have them alternate offense and defense each time, keeping track of their score. -- 20 – 1v1 to 2v1 exercise -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/19198d5b-d6f6-4913-a785-c7a6ae6a2bf7/1v... Can use small goals w/out goalies if need be. Don’t let each “turn” last too long—keep the flow up and change players frequently. Note the progression to a 2v1. Players should use the numerical advantage to get a shot on goal (but if a defender wins it, he or she should try to counterattack and score). Alternate which team gets the 2v1 advantage. -- 10 – “scrimmage” – Reverse Numbers Game. Players are divided into two teams and each team has players numbered 1-how ever many). All the players are on the field to begin, with each team defending a goal. When the coach calls out a number, the players on each team with that number (wherever they may be on the field) must kneel down until they are told they can stand up again. This will create random gaps and holes in the field of play where attacking players can hopefully be quick to take advantage. Encourage players to be aggressive in attacking the goal if the situation presents itself, especially if a 2v1 situation is created when the coach calls out a specific number. The coach can call out several numbers at once to mix things up and hopefully create attacking situations. 5.2 -- 30 – Revisit dribbling/attacking warm-up: Dribbling warm-up, but with inside/outside move, scissors, hook turn, and pull back. Sell move. Good horizontal movement. Timing and burst of speed. JUST FOCUSING ON ATTACKING 1v1 PRINCIPLES. Up the tempo. Interject with juggling warm-up. They hold the ball in their hands and drop it their feet, trying to hit it with their laces w/a locked ankle and little spin back up to the hands (alternating feet). If they can, allow them to progress to trying to juggle twice before catching it. -- 15 – Chasing game in pairs http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/84dac2f9-0abe-4d42-82ee-6cc5a744ecb8/ba.... Switch “chasing” player each time. When a player is tagged, they get a couple seconds to get some space from the chasing player before they restart. Eventually, let the exercise become a competition where a player gets 30-45 seconds to see how many times they can tag their partner. Then switch. -- 20 – tag game -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/bdd9fad7-9d5e-4378-b9db-644a020a4eca/ta... - Defending players can hold pinnies or cones. Encourage the dribbling players to use different dribbling techniques to avoid the tagging defenders. -- “scrimmage” -- Let them end with whatever dribbling/ball control game or conditioned scrimmage that they want. 6.1 -- 20 - One touch and first touch warm-up http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/60604bad-299e-4c41-9fc8-335261cd6514/im... Players need to stay on their toes and really focus on making contact with the middle to top-half of the ball so they don’t pop it up. -- 15 – Revisit passing through cones game: setup a number of cone goals in a grid. Pairs try to score as many goals as possible by trying passing to their partner through a goal (can’t score on the same goal twice in a row). Focus on weight of pass, communication, first touch and push them to try to limit their touches to speed up play. -- 20 – Revisit possession in each half: Possession in each half – http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/cfcdb91d-1566-4ba4-8e2d-3f395b10b30f/4v... Still using the 5v1 or 6v1 scenario, try to get them to play/pass faster through anticipation (encourage them to try to play one-touch if the situation presents itself). Encourage communication. Set up two cone goals on the side of each half, and when a team gets a certain number of passes (3-4), they can score on either goal in their half to get a point. -- “scrimmage” -- small sided game with two goals, where players can also score goals by connecting three consecutive passes. Keep the flow and tempo high. Encourage a lot of scoring and remind them about the two different ways they can score goals (shooting on goal and passing three times). 6.2 -- 20 -- Passing, dribbling and shooting to use as warm-up -- passing, dribbling and shooting - http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/cedb5eee-50e0-4a42-8ab5-3951d7157ed7/pa... huge focus on contact with the ball on shot, locking ankle and balance. Has to incorporate constant movement to work as a warm-up. Instead of a second coach providing a wall-pass, place a cone that the attacker needs to perform a move around before taking a quick shot. Rotate goalies. -- 20 -- Two distributers from each side of the goal on the baseline-- Player gets far shot and then speeds in to finish a cross close to goal. Focus on contact with the ball. Crosses should be at a pace so that player needs to focus on redirecting the ball into the back of the net, instead of “shooting” it. Rotate goalies. --20 – Crossing exercise—ball movement into player crossing, focus on framing box, timing of run, and finishing (show diagram). --End with a game of their choosing, can be from any theme (doesn’t have to be shooting). 7.1 -- 20 - Repeat attacking and defending warm-up: Attacking and Defending warm-up. http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/d0b65e9a-bc97-4d6c-bffd-87aad192b94b/1v... In pairs going back and forth across the field. One player with ball using 1v1 moves and dribbling at other player who is containing with an angled approach (just working on footwork and position, not trying to steal the ball). http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/ce34c060-b29f-441f-b9a2-5cd1971249c8/1v... (but obviously performed at a much slower, less advanced level) Explain the proper distance to contain. Explain low stance and angled approach. Switch players, then up tempo and eventually finish at full speed and allow the defender to contain until they see a good opportunity to try to steal the ball. HAVE ATTACKING PLAYERS WORK ON 1v1 MOVES AT ¾ PACE. -- 20 – 1v1 to goal -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/e429e45e-7675-4a9f-a094-4a9c4023de4c/1v... . Let Defender go to goal if he wins the ball, but emphasize contain and channeling/taking the attacking player away from goal. -- 20 – Transition game -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/f5f2391d-50a4-4ac3-b43a-b14dea63a117/2v... Start with 1v1 scenarios. Advance to 2v2 scenarios. Get the players to switch from offense to defense QUICKLY and if they need to recover, their recovering run should be straight back to goal (not straight back at the defender—straight back to goal will hopefully be a slightly shorter line where they can intercept the attack). -- 20 – New World Cup – 4 goals, 4 teams of 2 players-- http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/14c9d448-532c-4a84-b4e5-a43c3088f5f4/mi... 7.2 – 20 – juggling warm-up, in the same fashion as 5.2, but larger focus on juggling. Have them really focus on trying to kick the ball back up to their hands with no spin—locked ankle, flat foot. This can be frustrating for kids, but it is great practice. Mix in foot skills and dribbling techniques. --20 –Dribbling and close control through different courses-- http://www.insidesoccer.com/page/96bdd94f-d597-43da-95ce-6a2a7e753fae/dr... You can have them try different surfaces of the foot if you would like. Remember, dribbling at speed must be with laces and toe pointed down. --For the last practice, allow them to finish with one or several of their favorite technical games that they have played in previous academy training sessions.
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