Mike Saif, Author at WORLD CLASS COACHING Training Center

0 Into the Middle Third

By Eric Clermont - In an earlier article, I highlighted a number of ways where coaches could run a number of practices which could be used to teach players to effectively build out of the back. Many coaches though, do not get past this aspect and wonder why their teams cannot possess the ball higher up

0 3 v 1 to Counter Attack

By Alex Trukan This practice combines 3v1 possession game and 1v1 scenario (striker vs defender) into a counter attack situation. It involves a lot of passing, movements to receive and most importantly forward runs off the ball. From the conditioning point of view, it focuses on the ability to repeatedly produce high intensity sprints sustaining

0 Defending the Counter Attack

By Alex Trukan Transition phases have become increasingly important phases of the game with many teams trying to exploit the moment when the opposition is not organised. Especially transition to attack (including counter attack and quick attack) is being used by many teams around the world as a primary attacking strategy. In response to that,

0 Roberto Firmino

HOW THE MATCH WAS WON by Keith Scarlett Barclay's Premier League Player Focus - Roberto Firmino Arsenal 1 - 0 Leicester City It was a flash of brilliance from Roberto Firmino that saw the Reds take the lead. Playing in a position of support for the center-striker, the Brazilian could cross midfield while only under

1 Penalty Box Fitness - Part 2

By Jason Stockmann - In Part 1 of this two-part series on goalkeeper fitness, we looked at how by having only a penalty box and some cones, a keeper can work on improving their speed and dexterity all while becoming more spatially aware of their primary zone of influence on a field. In Part 2 we

0 Effective Flank Play in the Attacking Half

By Eric Clermont - The following session is a technically/ tactical progressive session based on teaching a team playing in a 4-3-3 formation how to effectively attack on the flanks. The session can effectively be adapted to teach a team playing in a 4-4-2 formation too. Warm Up Organization: The #2, #3, #7, #8, #9, #10

0 Forcing Play

By Alex Trukan It is often said that the team in possession dictates play and makes the opposition react. It is true if the defending team doesn’t take initiative to force play and guide the attacking team to make the defending easier. That requires great communication between players, understanding responsibilities of the units as well

0 Turning to Finish

By Alex Trukan This simple practice is easy to organise and can be suitable for a variety of age groups and ability levels. It contains a lot of technical work focused on turning as well as incorporates an element of finishing. Physically, it develops power to change direction, accelerate and exploit space in front of

5 Celta Vigo v Real Madrid

HOW THE MATCH WAS WON by Keith Scarlett La Liga Celta Vigo 1 - 3 Real Madrid After exposing Barca 4-1 just a few weeks prior, Celta Vigo hosted Real Madrid for another La Liga top of the table clash. Eduardo Berizzo pushed another Spanish League behemoth to its limits. Real escaped, however, through cold realism and

0 Quick Attack Game

By Alex Trukan This game involves a 1v2 situation with a recovering player from behind that creates a transition based scenario. It also challenges the attacker to make a decision to counter attack quickly before opposition gets organised. From the conditioning perspective, the practice is based around developing capacity to produce high intensity actions with

0 Playing Forwards from Centre Backs’ Possession

By Alex Trukan Combination of playing out from the back through central defenders with quick penetration through the thirds is not only attractive to watch but also effective. The ability to prioritise passing options and play forwards if possible is one of the attributes modern centre backs will definitely need. That requires not only great

0 Goal Keeper Match Day Warm Up

By Josh Jones-Keen - Warm up’s for all players is vitally important for match day preparation. As well as having the body prepped it is important to have the mind warmed up. Keepers are often sacrificed in the warm up for the sake of the outfield players having an opportunity to score resulting in an unwarm

0 Possession to Penetrate

By Eric Clermont - Over the last few years, with the continued success on tiki taka and the possession style game, many youth coaches have taken it upon themselves to develop a syndrome I like to call a possession-itis. While many coaches teach the possession style along with it’s many coaching points, they have given their

0 Teaching Technique Article 2

By Sean Pearson Area Size: 40 x 45 Yards Teams: 6 v 6 Time: 20 Minutes Objectives To understand when and where to run behind the defense When and where to time the through pass into space Use the correct weight of passThe area is split into three zones, two end zones of 5 yards in depth

0 Teaching Technique Article 1

0 Small-Sided Game Article 2

0 Small-Sided Game Article 1

0 Getting Behind the Defense

3 Penalty Box Fitness - Part 1

By Jason Stockmann - Everyone knows fitness is key for a soccer player – very few sports exact the levels of endurance, stamina, speed and dexterity that the beautiful game demands. Though a goalkeeper may not need to reach the same level of endurance or stamina his or her field player counterparts hit, they definitely have

0 Switching the Point of Attack

By Eric Clermont - When developing a possession based style at the youth level (as I have done over the last few years), I believe that the focus on always needing to play short becomes predominant for many teams. While there are clear pros to this, players are often given only the technical tools to play

0 1 v 1 with Four Supporting Players

By Alex Trukan This modification of 1 v 1 scenario involves an option to use a teammate or go individually. It therefore creates more decision making than in a typical 1v1 situation and is more realistic to the game. From the conditioning point of view, it trains anaerobic energy system which is responsible for high

0 Striker's Runs in Behind the Defense

By Alex Trukan The ability of the strikers to effectively use space in behind of the opposition defense can lead to creating a handful of goal scoring opportunities. That key skill can be especially appreciated when the opposition applies high pressing or when it’s disorganised. However, not only counter-attack is a key moment for the

0 Defending Wide Areas

By Alex Trukan Forcing opposition into wide areas is a strategy used by many modern teams when out of possession. First of all, once the ball is wide, the options for the player in possession are reduced as he has possibilities of playing only into three directions. Secondly, the ball is further away from the

1 A Little Off Center

By Jason Stockmann - One of the things that I have found to be challenging for younger keepers is how to position for corner kicks. To be fair, younger field players have a rough go at it as well…they tend to either be milling around aimlessly or almost on the goal line as if the ball

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All Posts by Mike Saif