By Mike Smith Question - Is the 4-2-3-1 formation with attacking full backs too advanced for the high school soccer team/athlete to be successful? Short Answer: No, the 4-2-3-1 formation with attacking full backs is not too advanced for the high school soccer team / athlete to be successful. The more important question to ask
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By Anthony Hazelwood The following activity has two teams of four players with GK’s playing a transitional small sided game. Players will be working to adapt their anaerobic capacity through phases of intermittent endurance. A 44-yard length x 30-yard width split into a half will be built. To begin, two teams will have three on
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By Matthew Carroll - Description: The purpose of the press v. drop game is to recreate game situations where there is an opportunity to press high up in the opponent’s half. If the the press is broken it also recreates the need to regain shape in the team’s own defensive half. Setup: Field is divided
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By Mike Smith I am not trying to coin a new style of play, but early on in my coaching career, when I was encouraged to focus on my own coaching education and soccer IQ I remember watching the Brazilian National Team and thinking “ They just get in a big circle and pass it around.”
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By Mike Smith - One of the best training tools I have learned to use over my years of coaching is to simply re-create game like scenarios for my players. I have found this technique the most useful when working with keepers as so much of goal keeper play involves quick decision making during a
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By Arthur Bell - Setup: 14 players - 7 Black, 7 Yellow + 2 Goal Keepers 40 x 40 outside grid 10 x 10 inside central box 2 x Goals 14 Balls Execution: 1st player passes to player on the same side of central box. 2nd player receives, takes a touch and then shoots. 1st
Continue readingWORLD CLASS COACHING 4-2-3-1 Defending By Luca Bertolini Table of Contents PART ONE Introduction Basic Principles of Play and Responsibilities Without the Ball - Part 1 PART TWO Basic Principles of Play and Responsibilities Without the Ball - Part 2 PART THREE Juventus 2016-2017 case analysis: the art of the 1-4-2-3-1 defense phase - Part 1
Continue readingWORLD CLASS COACHING 4-2-3-1 Defending By Luca Bertolini Table of Contents PART TWO Basic Principles of Play and Responsibilities Without the Ball - Part 2 Basic Principles of Play and Responsibilities Without the Ball - Part 2 Delay – The defender(s) forces the attacking team to slow down the rhythm so that the defense phase
Continue readingWORLD CLASS COACHING 4-2-3-1 Defending By Luca Bertolini Table of Contents PART THREE Juventus 2016-2017 case analysis: the art of the 1-4-2-3-1 defense phase - Part 1 Juventus 2016-2017 case analysis: the art of the 1-4-2-3-1 defense phase - Part 1 The turning point of the 2016-2017 season for Juventus was the introduction of the
Continue readingWORLD CLASS COACHING 4-2-3-1 Defending By Luca Bertolini Table of Contents PART FOUR Juventus 2016-2017 case analysis: the art of the 1-4-2-3-1 defense phase - Part 2 Juventus 2016-2017 case analysis: the art of the 1-4-2-3-1 defense phase - Part 2 Juventus was really placed high and pressed aggressively only in the final third to win
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By Philip Cauchi Introduction: This session presents the players with various situations and problems where the opponent is in possession of the ball. There is no need to over complicate exercises. We want to create situations that stimulate our players to apply the principles of defending thus prevent the opponents from scoring. Players will also
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By Keith Scarlett This activity works on 1v1 attacking and defending in close quarters, 1st touch, intensity and to see who is willing to get stuck in on tackles. The exercise is done at top-speed, is a quick moving exercise and there is a good deal of contact. Set-up: The playing area is the size
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By Mike Smith Question - Is it appropriate to play older teams on a regular basis during a season?. Short Answer : Yes, especially after U13. There is more to the story, which I will address in a moment, but for all practical purposes after age 11 ( 6th grade) any soccer player who is
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By Anthony Hazelwood The following activity has three teams of four players playing a possession game. Players will be working to adapt their anaerobic capacity through intermittent endurance. A 30-length x 50-yard width split into a half will be built. To begin, two teams will be located on one side of the activity grid as
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By Matthew Carroll - Description: The purpose of the CYS Conveyor Belt is to create a passing pattern that maximises touches on the ball, asks players to check their shoulders, and creates an atmosphere of awareness between players. Setup: 9 players are set up 3 by 3 with a ball at top top of each
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By Gary Mardle - Manchester City 2 – 1 Chelsea and how the match was won – Player Analysis – Kevin De Bruyne Premier League Tours Director Bhavish, myself and three coaches from the Santa Cruz Youth Soccer League attended this match together. This was the first time the three coaches ever experienced watching a
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By Mike Smith If you are of the mind the best defense is a good offense, then practicing in a 2-4-4 deserves your consideration, as chances are your side is doing it anyway. When I run a 4-4-2, I love the standard ball out to the wing mid, service into two forwards , one on each
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By Arthur Bell - Setup: 40 x 40 grid. 6 stations each with a pole/mannequin as a marker. 2/3 players at each station. Execution: Players work on different patterns throughout the drill which will develop, passing, movement, variation, imagination, communication etc. Players repeat the same pattern on both sides. Players follow their pass to the
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By Mike Smith - One of the tell-tale signs of good team is how they warm up their goalies prior to a game. Good teams ( coaches ) understand practice activity and pre game activities are, or at least should be, similar but different animals. Especially in youth sports, practices are a mix of individual
Continue readingWORLD CLASS COACHING 4-2-3-1 Attacking By Luca Bertolini Table of Contents PART ONE Introduction PART TWO Basic Principles of Play With the Ball PART THREE Possession, Key Attacking Principles, Movements and Variations Without the Ball PART FOUR Players/Positions Roles and Responsibilities 4-2-3-1 History, Different Line Ups and Applications Introduction The 1-4-2-3-1 system of play offers a
Continue readingWORLD CLASS COACHING 4-2-3-1 Attacking By Luca Bertolini Table of Contents PART TWO Basic Principles of Play With the Ball Basic principles of play with the ball 1. MOBILITY: players run into different areas of the field while being on and off the ball in order to invite defenders out of their positions, creating space
Continue readingWORLD CLASS COACHING 4-2-3-1 Attacking By Luca Bertolini Table of Contents PART THREE Possession, Key Attacking Principles, Movements and Variations Without the Ball Possession, Key Attacking Principles, Movements and Variations Without the Ball The worst mistake we can make while setting the team up with the 1-4-2-3-1 is to consider as simple 1-4-2-1-3 while building
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