By Sean Reed - Objective For this session we are focusing on a finishing session; receiving the ball from 4 different areas in order to finish on goal. Set Up – Part 1 The session takes place in around the in around the penalty area. Players include: 1x GK / 4 x servers / 1
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By Steven Smith This session will move from a warm-up that requires precision passing to tactical decision making during possession. The defenders and attackers are trained separately and will require more than on coach to run correctly and supervise the activity. A fitness activity is introduced prior to the tactics in order to train them while
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By Philip Joe Cauchi Watching México play against Germany was like watching a manual on defending in every sense. It reminded me of the classic Italian national teams which were in the past the masters in the art of defending. México gave us more than a lecture in offensive defending. That is, defending with the
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By Anthony Hazelwood The following activity has two groups of players initially playing a 3 vs. 2 possession game. The two defenders play in numerical inferiority for the first 20 seconds and then are joined by two teammates turning the activity into a 3 vs. 4 exercise. The idea is to have two types of
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By Steven Smith Area Size: Ten yards between each cone Teams: One person per cone with six cones Time: With alternating stretching intervals, approximately 15 minutes Setup: A hexagon is set up with 6 cones to create six sides. Make distance between cones about ten yards. Pre-assign wingers (7 and 11 players) to fill two of
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By Mike Smith Question - Where should I position my goalkeeper on corner kicks? I was recently asked to address the issue of keeper positioning at the youth levels, specifically during a corner kick. There are few situations more dangerous for the keeper than the corner kick, and anyone who has been around soccer long
Continue readingWORLD CLASS COACHING 40 Small-Sided Games By Luca Bertolini Table of Contents PART ONE Introduction How, When, Where To Use SSGs in Your Training Sessions PART TWO 2v2, 3v3 and 4v4 Small-Sided Games PART THREE 5v5, 6v6 and 7v7 Small-Sided Games PART FOUR 8v8 and 9v9 Small-Sided Games Introduction: Small-Sided Game definition A small-sided game is
Continue readingWORLD CLASS COACHING 40 Small-Sided Games By Luca Bertolini Table of Contents PART TWO 2v2, 3v3 and 4v4 Small-Sided Games 2 v 2 Exercises (1) Set-up and Sequence: a 2 v 2 duel is played inside a rectangular space that is positioned in the middle of a bigger rectangular area. The couple with the ball
Continue readingWORLD CLASS COACHING 40 Small-Sided Games By Luca Bertolini Table of Contents PART THREE 5v5, 6v6 and 7v7 Small-Sided Games 5 v 5 Exercises (1) Set-up and Sequence: a 5 v 5 duel is played inside a rectangular space. The goal for the possession team is to play a minimum number of passes to gain
Continue readingWORLD CLASS COACHING 40 Small-Sided Games By Luca Bertolini Table of Contents PART FOUR 8v8 and 9v9 Small-Sided Games 8 v 8 Exercises (1) Set-up and Sequence: an 8 v 8 duel is played inside a rectangular space that is organized as in the picture. A 4 v 4 is played in the middle and 1
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By Mike Smith “The only team that can score is the team with the ball.” If I had a dollar for every time I have heard a coach say that……well, you know. The fact is, there is no simpler wisdom in soccer. However, most of us have been in those situations where a better side has
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By Wayne Henderson - Sometimes as a coach you may not get everything in your session exactly as you would like it, for example you may be working in a smaller area on the training pitch, or you may not have as many goalkeepers as you thought you might have, or, a popular situation that
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By Sean Reed - Objective For this session we are focusing on attacking play 1v1, 2v2 and 3v2, but due to multiple outcomes other aspects such as defending can also be addressed Set Up – Part 1 • Working in one half of the pitch • Depending on the number of players available you can
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By Steven Smith This session is designed to be a progression from possession, to penetration and finally including crossing skills at the end. The session will require concentration on the part of players as there is clear functional tactical elements to the session. The pace must be kept high moving from activity to activity in order
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By Philip Joe Cauchi When a striker drops between the lines, questions arise for the defender concerned. Should the defender follow the striker? Or, should the defender remain inside his/her zone of responsibility? If the defender follows the striker, a gap is created in the defence unit which the attacking team might be able to
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By Luca Bertolini Question - The explosion of set piece goals is extraordinary! On corner kicks I am completely baffled. Why have so many groups gone to zonal marking which only works marginally at best? Although the theory of it works, the reality of it, is that zonal marking fails and I have no idea
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By Anthony Hazelwood The following activity has two teams of players playing a 7 vs. 7 + N. The idea is to have players understand proper shape and support throughout functional lines to maintain possession and to penetrate. The fitness portion of this activity is training the anaerobic capacity with muscle tension action in a
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By Steven Smith Area Size: Largest grid is 20 X 25. Inside grid is 12 X 15. Goal is full size and 15 yards from outside largest grid. Teams: Groups of 2 for possession and individual target strikers (can be midfield target players as well but functionally can be placed further from goal). Setup: · Field
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By Sean Reed - Objective For this session we are focusing on working with the back four, working as a unit and dealing with balls being played into the area. Set Up • Working in the defending half • Team in red bibs set up with a GK, a back four and a holding midfield
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By Mike Smith This is one of those hypocritical moments all coaches have, or at least one which will appear hypocritical to players. On top of “wide”, the next instruction I find myself shouting to players most often is “ early”. However, sometimes the early option isn’t always the best. The diagram below shows a great
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By Wayne Henderson - This drill is very easy to set up, is relevant to all ages and has a great amount of variations. When working on footwork for your goalkeepers, especially when working on a new drill, it is important to emphasise the quality of footwork and not to put too much emphasis on
Continue readingWORLD CLASS COACHING Build Up From the Back - Exercises 2 By Luca Bertolini Table of Contents PART ONE Introduction Build Up From GK and Center Backs PART TWO Build Up With Center Backs and Midfielders PART THREE Small-Sided Games and Exercises PART FOUR Build Up with the 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 Introduction "A lot of people
Continue readingWORLD CLASS COACHING Build Up From the Back - Exercises 2 By Luca Bertolini Table of Contents PART TWO Build Up With Center Backs and Midfielders Specific small-sided games All the following practices are carried out inside the areas of the pitch that are commonly accepted as those of the positional play games. Goalkeeper and
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