By Anthony Hazelwood
The following activity has players working on their soccer specific muscle tension with high intensity defending. Three 6 x 6 yd. zones make up a longitudinal grid and two attacking players are placed in each. At the bottom of the grid, two defenders must progressively enter each zone and must progressively take or kick the ball out of play. Once this is accomplished they move on to the next zone. The attacking players while waiting for defenders to enter their zone, will be performing strength movements such as squats, pushups, planks, etc. Metabolic training adaptations is within the anaerobic capacity.
When preparing the activity, if needed, concentration and difficulty levels may be increased by having players execute something extra unique by setting more restrictions. Every activity may be modified, and it is up to the coach to be creative. However, it is important to respect the parameters of the exercise time, the rest, the types of actions used and the weekly periodization of the activity.
Additionally, it is beneficial to train a soccer team and its players with all the elements of the game being present in the session. By doing so, it will promote soccer specific adaptations to the player’s body, mind, and emotional triad. Ultimately, these adjustments will enhance their real-time game performances on a physical, emotional, conscious, and subconscious mental level.
Area Size: 6 yd. length x 6 yd. width for each zone - total 18 yd. L x 6 yd. W.
Total Activity Time: 20 Minutes.
Sets: 1.
Activity Time: 2 minutes.
Recovery Interval Time: 1 seconds.
Activity Repetitions: 7.
Intensity: High.
Objectives:
• Tactical: Intensive defensive actions.
• Fitness: Maintain high intense corporal actions.
• Technique: Proper fitness and off/on the ball execution/techniques.
• Mental-Emotional: Players fully engaged and concentration is high.
• Concentration Level: High.
Setup:
• Two attacking players are put into each zone as shown in the diagram above.
• Two defenders are placed at the bottom of the grid.
• As the players set, the coach will yell or blow the whistle.
• Once the players here the signal, the two defenders will run into the first zone and try to win the ball.
• When they win the ball, or kick the ball out of bounds they will move up to the middle zone. Once they completed the same task as before, they will go to the top zone.
• As the other attacking players are waiting for someone to enter their zone, they will be performing different type of exercises (squats, pushups, planks, and other.)
• Once the defenders make it to the top zone and clear the ball, then they have completed their turn and will return to the first zone as attackers.
• The players in each zone will shift up and the attacking players located in the upper zone will go down to become the defenders.
• Actions will repeat until coach signals for the minute rest
Coaching Points:
• Attentiveness and aggressiveness to win the ball.
• Good defensive technique and intelligence.
• Proper exercise movements when attacking players are idle.
By Anthony Hazelwood
Current Seattle Sounders Academy Performance Coach with previous European academy coaching experience as an assistant fitness and strength/conditioning soccer coach with Levante U.D. (2013-2014) and Getafe SAD CF (2015-2016) in Valencia and Madrid, Spain respectively. A USSF “A” licensed coach with a BSc in Physical Education and an MSc in Sports Training and Nutrition.
