All Posts by Mike Saif

0 Overload Kickoff Play

By Matthew Carroll Overload Kickoff Play A few years ago my team was playing in the Sectional Championship for our region. The opposition won the coin toss and received the kickoff. I was still busy just giving some last minute tweaks to the positioning of our defenders when the whistle blew and they kicked off.

0 Training for Defending Crosses

By Philip Cauchi - Title: Defending crosses. Aim: To develop the communication between the goalkeeper and the two central defenders when dealing with crosses. Key points: 1. Ready stance in goal. 2. Distance between the goalkeeper and the two central defenders. 3. The goalkeeper needs to communicate continuously with the team and especially the central

0 Turning and Dribbling Drill

By Arthur Bell - Setup: Area – 20yd x 20yd box. Players – 8 to 12 Markers x 4 yellow, 4 red. Balls x 4 Execution: Players at all four outside markers start at the same time. One ball each, players dribble into the inner marker, turn away from cone and pass the ball out

0 The Role of the Center Forward – Attacking eBook

0 Avoiding Intercepted Passes

By Philip Cauchi Aim: For the players to meet the ball and prevent that it is intercepted by an opponent. Team function: In Possession. Key concepts: 1. Move to open a passing lane. 2. Receive the ball on the back foot. 3. Pace in the pass. 4. Oriented control. This training session is suitable for

0 Playing With A Target Man Out Wide

By Matt Carroll Playing With A Target Man Out Wide When people think of the prototypical winger in modern times it is the pacy, Ronaldo type, cutting in to score tremendous goals or play pinpoint crosses as near to the box as possible. Rarely do we think of a strong and sturdy carrier of the

0 3-3-2 for 9v9 Game

In this week's Animated Drills Video Matthew Carroll shares a small-sided game that teaches players their roles in the formation. The diagram is created with the Academy Soccer Coach software. See more at www.academysoccercoach.co.uk 

0 Finishing from Distance Drill

By Arthur Bell - Setup: Area – Double penalty box. Players – 5 black, 5 yellow. 12 (6v6, 4 players and a keeper in the defensive half, 1 player in the attacking half) GK x 2 Markers x 12 yellow, 6 red. Goals x 2 full size. Balls. Execution: Play 6v6 with each team attacking

0 Corner Kick Set Play - The Swords

By Matthew Carroll Corner Play: Swords For this set piece players line up diagonally across from each other at the top of the 18 while facing each other to start. A player lines up on the near post, as well as the back post, to stretch out the defense as much as possible and force

0 Training Quick Reaction and Shot Stopping

By Philip Cauchi - Title: Guess who’s going to shoot! Aim: To develop goalkeeping quick reactions and shot stopping techniques. Key points: 1. Ready stance with the weight on the balls of the feet. 2. When turning always have your hands in front of the body. 3. Body weight slightly forward with the knees bent.

0 Playing With Two Target Players Up Front

By Matt Carroll Playing With Two Target Men Up Top Conventional wisdom is to striker pairings is big and small, a target man and a dribbler or speedster. Balls played to the tall target man are knocked down to the smaller partner who then looks to find a quick finish. This is a tried and

2 Taking Goalkicks to a Zone

In this week's Animated Drills Video, Matthew Carroll shares his thoughts on taking goalkicks to a zone area rather than to individual players.The diagram is created with the Academy Soccer Coach software.  See more at www.academysoccercoach.co.uk 

0 Applying Pressure On Loss of Possession

By Philip Cauchi Aim: To press with intensity and determination to recover the ball upon losing it. Team function: Negative transition. Key concepts: 1. Closest defender to the ball to apply pressure. 2. Take a step forward upon losing the ball (reduce space). 3. Collective pressing. 4. Create overloads around the ball. 5. Cut off

0 The Role of the Wide Midfielder – Defending eBook

0 Including Conditioning Into Regular Training Sessions - Part 3

By Philip Cauchi Question - I only have my players for two training sessions a week, so I have to do the fitness work in the regular training sessions.  Do you have any good drills where I can teach technique and even tactics while getting some conditioning work in? The below practices can aid in

0 Five Part Speed and Agility Course

By Philip Cauchi Title: Technical and rapidity parcourse. Theme: Speed, agility and quickness. Development of the soccer domains: Technical-tactical: Dribbling, controlling the ball and kicking. Mental: Maintain focus. Socio-psychological: n/a. Physical: Perform rapid movements with and without the ball. Organisation: We have five setups (or parts) as shown in the below diagram. In part one

0 Box Breakout Game For Defending

By Matthew Carroll - Description: This drill can be used to train defenders to be able to play under pressure near their own goal with confidence and to utilize the keeper in the build up. It forces players to take on 1v1 duels with the added pressure that if they lose the ball or do

1 Two Goal Finishing Drill

By Arthur Bell - Setup: Area – 1/2 of pitch. Players – 8 to 10 black, 8 to 10 yellow. GK x 2 Markers x 7 yellow, 7 red. Goals x 2 full size. Balls. Execution: Player 1 starts with the ball, passes to Player 2, then follows pass. Player 2 takes the ball to

0 Corner Kick Set Play - The Wave

By Matthew Carroll This corner play is effective because it creates a line of players that collapses onto a defensive set up like a crashing wave, and is flexible enough to fill the gaps left by the adjustments that the defensive is forced to make as each player makes their respective run, one after the

0 How to Train Quick Reaction Saves

By Philip Cauchi - Title: Combined plyometric and reaction saves. Aim: To apply the proper mechanics of saving a shot after landing from a jump. Key points: 1. After landing, the foot to the side of the dive should be placed diagonally forward towards the side of the dive prior to making the save. 2.

0 Fake the Switch for Central Distribution

By Mike Smith “Switch it!” Standard game day lingo for parents, players and coaches alike. That open person on the far side, so tantalizing to hit a long ball to. The problem is, pressure around the ball can take the long switch away. Also, once the ball is in the air, an organized team can

0 Utilizing Attacking Backs in a Back Three System

By Matt Carroll Although facing a dramatic decline in the 20/21 EPL Season, Sheffield United became Premier League darlings when the pushed for Europe during the 2019/2020 season utilizing “attacking centerbacks”. While a number of other factors led to their decline, the concept of attacking centerbacks still holds merit and can be useful, and an

0 Training a Functional First Touch

In this week's Animated Drills Video, Matthew Carroll shares a drill to train the all-important functional first touch.The diagram is created with the Academy Soccer Coach software. See more at www.academysoccercoach.co.uk 

0 The Role of the Wide Midfielder – Attacking eBook