By Chris Kouns
USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Women’s Soccer Coach – Georgia Gwinnett College
Set-Up
These technical stations were set up at GGC when the Dutch Women's National Team came to Atlanta to play the US. These circuit activities took place the afternoon following the game and included the Dutch National Team players who had not played a significant amount of minutes vs the US.
Execution
2 minute time blocks. Coaches at each station letting the player know how to complete the station.
Stations
First station: 1 v 1 to small goals. Area for the game was 8 yards wide x 15 yards deep.
FOCUS: Taking chances and attacking at speed
Second Station: Slalom Dribble with a cross into the goal at the mid line. Goalkeeper was in goal and would receive the ball.
FOCUS: Dribbler go through at speed and serve a driven ball in the air to the 6 yard box. Goalkeeper was to attack the ball at high point and extend range.
Third Station: Dribble Fitness with two players moving between the cones. After dribbling across the area and leaving the ball at the opposite cone they would then jog back to get the ball left at their starting cone.
FOCUS: Dribblers would use different surfaces of their feet and work to get across the area on the dribble at full pace.
Fourth Station: There were four cones set up in a 10 x 10 box. Each cone was a different color. In the goal, which was about 20 yards away, there were four targets in the net with corresponding colors to the cones. The player with the ball would dribble to the color cones as they are called out by the coach. When the coach called shot the player would take a big touch from the box and finish to the target with the same color as their last cone.
FOCUS: Increasing cognitive speed and technical speed through the use of color recognition coupled with technical tasks
Fifth Station: There were four cones set up in a rectangle approximately 15 x 5. The player would go through the cones in a combination of sprinting and jogging. Then they would jog to the ball pile, take a big touch across the top of the box and finish against the Goalkeeper.
FOCUS: In the rectangle the player was looking for acceleration and deceleration coupled with sharp changes in direction. After the rectangle the finishing aspect was both technical and mental as they were expected to perform with stressed legs.
By Chris Kouns: USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Coach Georgia Gwinnet College Women’s Soccer (GA)
