All Posts by Mike Saif

0 Covering for Attacking Fullbacks

By Matthew Carroll While commonly associated with a more defensive mindset, the 5-4-1 does allow for some creative forms of attacking football. Most notable of these is the use of attacking fullbacks making deep lying runs or counter attacking dribbles to exploit over aggressive opponents throwing numbers at the back five. The best way to

0 Quick Footwork With Reactions

By Philip Cauchi - Aim: Getting quickly into position to make the save. Key points: 1. Quick short side-steps. 2. Weight on the balls of the feet. 3. The weight of the body inclined slightly forward. 4. Leg cross-over technique to quickly get into position. 5. Arms to the side and in front of the

0 Building a Session Around Finding Space

In this week's Animated Drills Video, Matthew Carroll shares how to build a session around finding space. The diagram is created with the Academy Soccer Coach software. See more at www.academysoccercoach.co.uk 

0 Build-Up Play 1-3-4-3 v 1-4-3-3

By Philip Cauchi Level of ability: This training session is targeted for high level amateurs up to professional players who have a good tactical understanding and how one system can uses its strengths while exploiting on the weaknesses of the opponents. Adaptations: The session is targeted to end in an 11v11 match. Therefore the ideal

0 Shape of the 3-5-2 Formation

By Matt Carroll The 3-5-2 formation has been gaining popularity among many teams in the Premier League who want to exploit the versatility of the wingback positions and keep a strong presence in the midfield while maintaining two full time strikers.  This article will review the basic shape  of the 3-5-2 in its setup as

0 How to Teach Your Players to Delay When Defending

By Danny Carvalho Question - “When defending, my players "dive in" too often and don't win the challenge. What drills can I use to teach my players to delay and be more patient?” One of my favorite works is the individual defensive skills and tactics. Most people think it’s too hard and challenging but it

0 Transition 1v1s

By Philip Cauchi Title:  Transition 1v1s. Area of practice: 15 yards by 12 yards. Number of players: Six to eight players maximum. Workload:  Work continuously for five minutes with the players rotating all the time.  Therefore the players rest between repetitions as part of these five minutes.  Perform twice (2 x 5 minutes with a

0 Active Shooting Drill

By Keith Scarlett - Place cones and balls as in diagram below. One player starts off with the first cone opposite the pile of balls. This player then runs around the first cone, receives a pass and takes a shot on goal. They then repeat this step around each cone. By Keith Scarlett

0 Triangle Corner Play

By Matthew Carroll This corner play combines the physicality of placing numbers into the box with the agility and speed that comes from corner plays that start outside of, or at the top of, the box. The first row of players should line up on the near post, far post, and someone should look to

0 Goalkeeper Communication On Crosses

By Philip Cauchi - Introduction: Dealing with crosses is often a major headache for goalkeepers. This holds true when playing against opponents whose strengths lie in this aspect of the game. Dealing with crosses is a cohesive team effort. First we aim to eliminate or reduce as much as we can the opponents’ strength of

0 Dribbling Passing and Receiving Drill

By Arthur Bell - Setup: Area – Half pitch. Players x 12 - 20 Markers x 12 red. Balls x 4 Outside players have a ball each. Execution: Player 1, dribbles towards cone in front, turns and dribble back to initial marker and turns again. Player then plays a pass to player 2 in the

0 Possession to Switch Point of Attack

In this week's Animated Drills Video Matthew Carroll shares a possession drill to train your players to switch the point of attack. The diagram is created with the Academy Soccer Coach software. See more at www.academysoccercoach.co.uk 

0 Opening Up After Recovering Possession

By Philip Cauchi Level of ability: The players should be well familiar with the concept of making the pitch as big as possible when in possession of the ball. Being able to play both short and long passes is a must as is receiving and controlling the ball with an oriented touch. Adaptations: Reducing the

0 Playing Without a True Number 9

By Matt Carroll The #9 is easily the most identifiable role in the whole sport. The idea of the strong, powerful talisman baggin 30+ goals is an image every player shooting on the net in their backyard conjures, but is the 9 a necessary role that every team has to field? What if your best

0 The Role of the Withdrawn Forward – Attacking eBook

0 Make Possession Drills and Games Fun

By Danny Carvalho Question - “Sometimes when I work on possession at training sessions, the players get bored. They want to play games or shoot on goal. Do you have any possession drills or games that might do a better job of keeping the interest of my players?” Here goes a great idea that will

0 Crazy 1v1s

By Philip Cauchi Title:  1v1s all over the place. Area of practice: 20 yards by 20 yards. Number of players: Eight players grouped into four pairs. Workload:  2 sets of 6 repetitions x 30 seconds each repetition with a 90 seconds rest between repetitions and three minutes rest between sets. Description of the practice: The

0 Short and Simple Fitness Drill

By Keith Scarlett - This drill can be done with or without a ball. Two rows of cones 10 yards apart, staggered. Player starts at the front left cone and sprints to the first cone in front of them. The player then backpedals to the cone back and to their right. They then sprint to

0 Goal Kick Routine for Teams that Struggle Aerially

By Matthew Carroll With an ever increasing focus on playing out the back goal kicks have moved from a mundane element of the game to a useful attacking set piece that helps attack minded teams set up the opposition how they want. They can play short and draw opponents forward to beat a press, or

0 Dealing With Pressure From Back Passes

By Philip Cauchi - Introduction: The modern game requires the goalkeeper to be more active in the offensive organization and offensive transition phases of the game. It is therefore of no coincidence that goalkeepers need to be good and very confident with the ball at their feet while under pressure from the opponents who try

0 1v1 Small-Sided Game

By Arthur Bell - Setup: Area – 20yd x 20yd box. Players x 4 black, 4 yellow & 2 red Markers x 9 red. Balls Execution: All players stay in their zone. Each team tries to work the ball from one end red player to the other. Players have unlimited touches. The same end red

0 Counter-Attacking From Deep

By Philip Cauchi Level of ability: Ideally the players should have a sound technical foundation in passing and receiving the ball under opposition pressure. Therefore the players should be able to understand basic visual communication, perceive key stimuli to make decisions, and pass the ball (execute the decision) with accuracy. Adaptations: To increase the time

0 Attacking When Down to 10 Players

By Matt Carroll In a game dominated by the concept of seeking numerical overloads, it makes sense that going down to 10 men can often be seen as a sign to pack things in and pray for the best. Teams down to 10 men, usually later in the game, tend to “park the bus” and

0 How to See the Switches

In this week's Animated Drills Video Matthew Carroll shares a drill to train your players how to see opportunities to switch the play. The diagram is created with the Academy Soccer Coach software. See more at www.academysoccercoach.co.uk