100 Ways To Do The Same Thing Part 2: Feedback
In part one of this article, I discussed a session that I designed to work on scanning as a general topic during around the third day of my pre-season training here in New Jersey. This would be the day after cuts, and it would be delivered to the full team, albeit two three separate “teams” of Varsity, Junior Varsity, and the Freshman team. Once I finished my session I sent it out to some of the coaches I know through coaching against them or via the podcast and got their reactions to what they liked and what they would change about the session:
Coach Shap- Union City HS/Union City Futbol/United Soccer Coaches
1- I prefer neutral (jokers) as opposed to bumpers…by using neutrals inside playing space that constantly causes overloads/underloads
2- Apart from just the general skill of “scanning”……can you create an activity that allows players to demonstrate “scanning” as it relates to their positional play? (For example, your CDM will scan differently when receiving off the back 4 as opposed to your CF when looking to go score. Teaching the general skill is great, but can you use some type of game-related activity that allows player to practice the skill in relation to a specific game moment/ phase of play, and how does it relate to their responsibilities on the field? I always try to put players into relevant positions and activity. Obviously, it doesn’t have to be set in stone. This might have a kid who plays in multiple positions. But if you’re doing an activity, that’s a 4v4, I try to make sure the players are playing in the positions we need them in the games. Totally fine to rotate the roles, not saying that just cause you’re a defender you can’t play as a forward, but there should be assigned roles or even just formation-wise when I’m setting up my activity, I placed the pinnies down specifically on the field where I want the players to be. So if I want to practice using a back three, I will put the pinnies down in the formation. I want them to be and have the players in positions where I want to see them as much as possible.
Shamus Matthews- Albright Women’s Soccer
I would adjust the session by removing the final drill and spending that time allowing the players to open up and play in a true game-like environment. The best teacher in soccer is always the game itself. When we let them play 11v11, we can see real match moments as they naturally happen, and then we can tie those moments back to the first three activities. That becomes our check for understanding.
When we freeze the play and walk them through what they should have done, we can directly connect those corrections to the concepts we built earlier in the session. This helps the players actually apply the teaching rather than just perform a drill.
I’d also change the first activity to a 4v1 rondo to sharpen the technical and decision-making pieces before moving into the larger positional games. Then, after the first three activities, I would go straight into playing 11v11 for a full 30 minutes, or two 20-minute halves, giving the main coaching points and adjustments at halftime.
The reason for this structure is simple: players must learn in an environment that looks and feels like the actual match. In games, there are no special cones, no extra restrictions, and no artificial rules. We have to be careful not to over-design activities to the point that players learn to succeed in the drill rather than succeed in the game. By building the session toward a realistic game and maximizing 11v11 time, we ensure the learning transfers where it matters most — match day.
Justin Faust- Northern Burlington Boys Soccer
I like the session and love the flow. I would only add some mods or progression to enhance scanning.
4v4 +4 (rotate a neutral associated with team 2 and 2) makes the scanning a little more directional instead of just at random. Could have neutrals interchange. Also switch dimensions of field- what’s scanning on narrow vs wide surfaces.
I love the last drill in particular- thinking man’s game. If the flow isn’t going well, maybe reduce numbers on the inside and add neutrals that have to play to separate the box they received.
Jason Zablow- Bordentown Boys Soccer/AD
Depending on the number of players, adjust the 4v4+1 numbers. With the high school kids when I would do similar possession games I’d occasionally put a “sub from each team on the outside and first team to connect with all of their outside players (switching fields), or would make a rule that when a central player played it to an outside they have to switch (obviously doesn’t work if the focus is center mids in the middle)
End zone one, I like and do. I also mix in there that when you connect with the end zone guy you switch so different people work on being the target or the wing, finding space.
I also mix up if they have to play it out or if they can dribble into play, working on their own first touch, whether it’s tight or a big one to space
The last one I’ve done something similar, but I do, for example, 6v6 or 7v7, and every grid MUST have one player, so teams have to talk about whose going to help where and when you win it, and switch grids, you have guys working on 1v1 hold up or 1v1 in space, depending on the entry ball. In this one, when guys stand right on the grid line and don’t leave themselves space to check, we talk about that being like a wing not staying wide or a target not staying high.
Dan Riverso- Middletown South Boys Soccer
For the 4v4 plus 4 I would add 2 goalkeepers.
Instead of it being a game that flows from one team on defense to offense, give them a set time on offense and a set time on defense. The attacking team, for 3 minutes, tries to go end zone to end zone. Emphasis on keeping the ball and playing passes that won’t get turned into a counterattack. Both goalkeepers are on this team and can play the ball with their hands and feet. The defending team for 3 minutes. If they win the ball, they go straight to one of the 2 goals. Their job is to high-pressure and force mistakes. I would play this inside the 18-yard box. I play that a lot. It’s high energy, and you can do it for 45 minutes, and they will love it. Also, less is more. It’s game realistic on many levels. If you are the team in possession, it shows you what happens if you play a bad pass. The direct result is that the opposition is in on goal.
If you are the team that is trying to defend, it teaches defending as a unit. If you press together, you will cause so many mistakes bc it’s a tight area.
