All Posts by Mike Saif

0 The Midfield Triangle in the 3-5-2 Formation

By Matt Carroll In the 3-5-2 the midfield triangle is the positional relationship that most determines how a team’s 3-5-2 will play. A front facing triangle allows for a more defensive or counter attacking style that focuses on the attacks in the midfield coming from one of the 6s releasing and hoping to exploit openings

0 Switches to Create Crossing Opportunities

In this week's Animated Drills Video, Matthew Carroll shares how to create crossing opportunities by switching the ball. The diagram is created with the Academy Soccer Coach software. See more at www.academysoccercoach.co.uk 

0 How to Delay Counter Attacks

By Danny Carvalho In modern soccer, a deadly counter attack can sometimes be what determines a good or a bad result. For this reason, we must be effective right after losing the ball when we are transitioning from attack to defense. In today’s session we are going to talk about and work on delaying counter-attacks.

0 Drills for Playing Out of the Back

By Danny Carvalho Question - “I want my team to play the ball out of the back third and build up play to attacking situations. Can you share some drills that start with small numbers and then build up to 11v11?” Personally, I’m a fan of building from the back with short passes like Guardiola’s

0 The Michigan Drill

By Matt Carroll - This is a common football conditioning drill that has been adapted to utilize soccer specific elements so that there is a level of technical work that is included on top of the conditioning work. To set up the drill coaches should start at a corner flag and put a new cone

0 Pass Receive Dribble

By Tug McTighe - Description: Since all coaches are strapped for time during training, here is an activity that is great for a practice or a game day warm up that incorporates passing and receiving as well as change of direction and 1v1 moves. All within a simple setup that doesn’t take up much space.

0 Diamond Color Game

By Matt Carroll - The purpose of the diamond color game is provide the player with a series of verbal and visual cues which will force them to utilize the correct technique and body position to play a series of passes or dribbles. Setup: Setup will be determined by the number of “passing players”, walls,

0 The 1-2-1-4-1 in the Offensive Organization Phase

By Philip Cauchi In this article, we take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the 1-2-1-4-1 system of play when the team is in possession of the ball.  The playing style we refer to is the associative style which consists of building up by playing through the thirds with the aim of getting

0 Goalkeeping Specific Agility and Reactivity

By Philip Cauchi - The follow three practices target the development or maintenance of agility and reactivity that are specific to the position and role of a goalkeeper. Through these practices we also develop quick footwork, quickly getting into position with reference to the position of the ball with the goal, establishing the correct body

0 The Role of the Fullbacks – Attacking eBook

0 Playing Through Midfield

By Danny Carvalho In my humble opinion the wisdom of knowing when to pass and when to dribble is key to differentiate a beginner to an advanced effective player. In this session we work on this specifically on the middle third where the is usually crowded, with less time and space and under a lot

0 The Wingbacks in a 3-5-2 Formation

By Matt Carroll In a 3-5-2 the wingbacks play the most important role in the formation as they are vital to maintaining the width in attack, stopping counter-attacks from opposition wingers and wingbacks, and eliminating attacks from the wide areas. This article discusses some different ways to utilize your wingbacks in the formation. The most

0 Finding the Attack Through the Midfield

In this week's Animated Drills Video, Matthew Carroll shares how to find the attack by building up through the midfield. The diagram is created with the Academy Soccer Coach software. See more at www.academysoccercoach.co.uk 

0 Training Passing and Possession

By Danny Carvalho Question - “I love training passing and possession.  Do you have any drills or SSGs that include all players being active in the drill?” We are on the same boat mate! I’m also a big lover of possession-based game and practicing on it is one of my greatest joys in coaching. So

0 1 Plus 2 v 1 Endurance

By Philip Cauchi Title of practice: 1+2 v 1 Endurance. Type of practice: High Intensity Interval. Age bracket: Under 12 upward.  Area of practice: 15 yards by 10 yards divided into two equal vertical zones. Aim of the practice: To develop muscular endurance in the duel. The players are required to perform a high number

0 1v1 Control and Compete

By Tug McTighe - Description: The purpose of this activity is to force both players to compete for the ball while playing 1v1. By forcing the attacking player to first control the ball, we are making it harder on him to be successful. At the same time, we are giving the defending players many opportunities

0 The 3-5-2 v 4-3-3

By Philip Cauchi The advantages and disadvantages of playing with a 1-3-5-2 system against a 1-4-3-3. The 1-3-5-2 system offers various advantages in the build-up phase which includes creating various lines in front of the ball, options presented to the player on the ball, covering the whole width of the pitch, and a solid central

0 Facing Penalty Kicks

By Philip Cauchi - Facing penalty kicks are very challenging situations for any goalkeeper. Goalkeepers haven’t got any defenders between them and the ball within a distance of twelve yards. The defenders must also be positioned at least ten yards away from the ball and outside the penalty area until the shot is taken. Furthermore,

0 Triangle Shoulder Check Drill

By Matt Carroll - Skill based drills are fantastic for developing technique but sometimes players find it tough to transfer their skills in isolation into the game, that is why it is important to strike the right balance between repetition and variability. The Triangle Shoulder Check Dril provides repetition of receiving on the half turn

0 Build From the Back the Guardiola Way

By Danny Carvalho Pep Guardiola made "Developing the Lavolpiana" an expression and style of build up play, very famous throughout the years. It consists in having three players (usually two center back on the sides and de defensive midfielder dropping in between them to set the play) starting the attack on the first third. The

1 The 3-2-4-1 Formation Session

In this week's Animated Drills Video, Matthew Carroll shares a session on the 3-4-2-1 formation. The diagram is created with the Academy Soccer Coach software. See more at www.academysoccercoach.co.uk 

0 Playing with Two Center Midfielders

By Matt Carroll One of the challenges of coaching the 9v9 game is getting players to recognize how what their teammates are doing affects what they should be doing, nowhere is this more difficult than in playing two players in the center midfielder role. Oftentimes the players will become redundant, chasing the same ball or

1 The Role of the Center Midfielder – Defending eBook

0 Active Shooting Sessions

By Danny Carvalho Question - “My players love it when we work on shooting, but they don't like it when they have to wait in line and take turns taking shots.  Can you share some shooting exercises that don't involve waiting in line?” Always a challenge when we think about shooting practices and waiting in