By Renato Lopez Moreira - This is a 5 v 5 game to work spacing and player movement. The game area is 44 x 39 yards and it is played as two 10 minute halves. The field is divided into four zones. Each zone contains an attacker and a defender. An additional attacker and defender begin
Continue readingBy Alex Trukan
This practice is suitable for almost every age group and can be implemented with both U7’s as well as senior players. From the physical perspective, it is focused on improving endurance and ability to recover after high intensity bursts. That is integrated into highly technical practice focused on dribbling, awareness and ball manipulation. The practice has also benefits in the social side of the game, improving communication and teamwork.
Set up and directions
Organise a square of approximately 15x15 yards. Divide the team into three teams of three (number of players per team can be adapted). Two members of the team start with one
Continue readingBy Tony Englund -
Among the more challenging tactical teaching topics for goalkeepers is helping them to control their area. There are numerous moments in the game when the goalkeeper’s ability or inability to eat up loose balls in the area can swing control of the game to one team or another. Crosses, through-balls and balls that fall loose to the ground in the area when the opponent is attacking all present challenges, as do back-passes when the ‘keeper’s own team is in possession. This article will take a look at the crossing and covering topics, and the next article (#2) will examine back-passes.
Dealing with Crosses
Because of the number of variables in any crossing situation (location of crosser; type and location of cross; number, angles and distance of potential defenders and finishers; weather (i.e. wind, rain) and the
Continue readingBy Stevie Grieve
This is the second of two posts looking at Barcelona's methods and tactics from the Champions League Final versus Juventus. This week we look at Barcelona's attacking process.
In the Juventus analysis, I looked at how they would try to stop Messi, which forced Barcelona to adjust and look for alternative routes to goal – they would often switch play and attack from Neymar and Jordi Alba.
If Alves was high, Alba stayed deep and vice versa, or if both were high, Busquets stayed deep to form a 3v2 situation at the back and cover the defence in the pre-transition phase.
They looked to play less of a positional game behind the
Continue readingHOW THE MATCH WAS WON by Keith Scarlett Champions League Final June 06, 2015 Olympiastadion; Berlin, Germany Juventus 1 - 3 Barcelona For the 4th time (2006, 2009, 2011), Barça won the Champions League final. Put on track by an opening goal from Rakitic, the Catalans were disrupted by a Juventus side that did not fall-off despite the difficult
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By Chris Kouns USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Coach Georgia Gwinnett College Women's Soccer These Speed of Play activities are designed to allow players to feel pressure (both with and without defenders) while focusing on technical repetition necessary to increase Speed of
Continue readingBy Renato Lopez Moreira - This game is a progression of the previous 5 v 5 games I've presented over that last few weeks. The game is played in a 30 x 30 yard area divided into two 15 x 30 yard areas There is no limitations on the number of touches each player can
Continue readingBy Alex Trukan
Reaction time and speed over short distances are often deciding elements between losing and winning in soccer. This practice is focused on developing these physical components integrating dribbling and running with the ball skills what links both conditioning and technical side of the game. The following exercise requires players to be in constant alertness and awareness in order to be able to react to a trigger before other teammates. That increases competitiveness and motivation.
Set-Up and Directions
Organise a middle square of approximately 15x15 yards. Set up four poles, one 5 yards from each of the four corners of the square. Designate players inside the middle square. Every player needs a ball. Take up appropriate coaching position to see the whole picture.
The players start dribbling inside the square. The games starts on
Continue readingBy Stevie Grieve
This post is the first of two looking at Barcelona's methods and tactics from the Champions League Final versus Juventus. This week we look at Barcelona's defending process.
Set Pieces; Pique the spare man in mixed marking system
Barcelona have only conceded one goal from set pieces all season while Juventus are a dangerous team from them, so this may have been a game where Barcelona may have been legitimately worried about conceding from a set play. With Barcelona’s lack of height in comparison to Juventus, Gerard Pique’s role in defending set pieces would be key – the only player other than Sergio Busquets and GK Marc-Andre Ter Stegen above 6ft2 and capable of competing in the air.
As the ball is delivered, we see Pique is the spare man with
Continue readingBy Patrick Kasperitis -
The ability for goalkeepers to judge their angles correctly is paramount to the success of any goalkeeper. Athleticism can only make up for so much where as good positioning can make any save look comfortable. Below is a session that I use to help goalkeepers improve their understanding of the angles they need to take within the goal.
The key to this skill is making sure that the goalkeeper keeps their body weight forward so that they can get to a good set position and make a good dive. We want our goalkeepers to have that forward body weight and if that is not present in their movement, they might be flat-footed when trying to make a
Continue readingBy Renato Lopez Moreira - This game is a progress of the one from 'Possession From Target to Target' last week. The game is played in a 30 x 30 yard area divided into two 15 x 30 yard areas There is no limitations on the number of touches each player can take Ten consecutive
Continue readingBy Patrick Kasperitis -
A common soccer tactic is for the attacking teams to have a player drive towards the end line and play a ball at a backwards angle toward the top of the 6-yard box. This type of play allows for the ball to already be behind the defenders and allows the attacking players to be able to attack the ball at an angle that is moving away from defenders and the goalkeeper. Plus because of the fact that this ball is often driven from a close distance it can be difficult for the goalkeeper to hold on to it. This exercise will
Continue readingBy Alex Trukan
The following practice is focused on developing endurance through extensive interval training method. That is especially relevant for improving recovery time between high intensity actions. For example, after quick bursts of acceleration or recovery runs. That is achieved in a modification of 1v1 practice, which involves three separate players defending their own gate and at the same time attacking oppositions’ goals. The practice is highly engaging and competitive and can be adapted to suit different numbers of players.
Set-Up and Directions
Organise three gates, each 4-5 yards wide, in a triangle shape as shown on the diagram below. Designate one player with one ball each to every single gate. The area size can be increased to develop running with the ball rather than dribbling. The number of gates can be adapted to the players available (i.e. 4 Gates).
The game starts on the coach’s signal. The players are then
Continue readingBy Sean Pearson Area Size: 2 x 18 yard area with 5 yard neutral zones Teams: 6 v 6 (+ 4) Time: 20 Minutes Objectives To get the ball out wide as quickly and as often as possible Decide which cross is best for the situation For the attacking team to make positive attacking runs to disorientate
Continue readingBy Stevie Grieve
This post continues our look at the Champions League Final between Juventus and FC Barcelona. This week we look at Juventus' attacking process.
Isolate the centre backs 1v1 in wide areas
When playing with 2 centre forwards in a defensive based system, the natural idea is to isolate the centre backs 1v1 in transition, and to try and take them on and go direct to goal. For Juventus, both strikers are quick and good in 1v1 play, so isolating the centre backs in wide areas would be a natural way to play with 2v2 at the back.
Mascherano is dragged wide by Morata who takes 1 touch and
Continue readingBy Chris Kouns USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Coach Georgia Gwinnett College Women's Soccer Activity 1 Around the center circle there will be players on the outside without balls. Inside the center circle there will be a few less players who have
Continue readingBy Renato Lopez Moreira -
This game is a progress of the one from 'Possession Under Pressure' last week.
Exercise
The Attackers have to exchange passes between them and the
Continue readingBy Patrick Kasperitis -
This exercise set looks at the goalkeeper’s ability to not only deal with a cross, but to get back onto their line in order to deal with any save that might come from having to punch or tip the shot.
Set-Up
Place cones off to the side of the penalty area in line with the penalty spot. Using the Line for the end of the penalty area (or setting a cone 6 yards away from the gates) the server will toss the ball up in the air for the
By Stevie Grieve
Overcompactness
Vulnerable to the switch of play especially Messi-Neymar or Alba on the left
Barcelona exploit this via switching play to Neymar / Jordi Alba
The biggest problem with Juventus playing closer to the left side (Messi’s side) and compacting the space is that the defensive and midfield chains get dragged across to cover for each player moving across, resulting in a lack of protection on the far side.
Often Neymar would drag Liechtsteiner inside, while Jordi Alba made late runs from deep and exploit the space 2v1. The 1st goal comes from this, resulting in Bonucci being drawn across to deal with Neymar while Vidal failed to track Iniesta who passes to Rakitic for the opening goal.
Here, we can see the
Continue readingBy Alex Trukan
The ‘Hit the Ball’ 1v1 Game is aimed at improving explosiveness and speed with the ball in a 1v1 competitive scenario. That will help the players to dominate duels against the defenders, improving the quality of ball control on the speed and under pressure. The organisation of the exercise, however, is not only focused on the dribbling content but also contains a passing element what makes it more competitive and match realistic.
Set-Up and Directions
Organise a 15x25 yards area with four cones, 5 yards apart, on each side. Place a ball on each of the end line cones. In 5 yards into the middle of the area, place another 4 cones in the same line as the end line cones. Divide the players into pairs. One player starts with the ball on one side of the middle area, while his partner positions himself on the opposite side of the central area.
The game starts with a player in possession of the
Continue readingBy Sean Pearson Area Size: 40 x 45 yrds Teams: 5 v 5 (+ 5) Time: 20 Minutes Objectives To maintain possession To penetrate the lines of the defensive team Decision making to use the wings or the middle of the field This possession exercise focuses on maintaining it while looking to move the ball forward beyond the
Continue readingBy Patrick Kasperitis -
The modern goalkeeper is required to use their feet almost more often than their hands. Players like Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich FC and German National Team) and Hope Solo (Seattle Reign and US Women’s National Team), whose stories involve relatively late changes in position to playing as a goalkeeper made their ability to play with their feet seem almost natural. On the opposite side we see fantastic shot stoppers like Simon Mignolet, who plays for Liverpool FC in England, come under immense criticism for his relative short comings playing with his feet.
The skills they use to help their team to play out of the back are things that we can train. We want to try to replicate situations they might see in the game. One of these examples is when the goalkeeper is asked to swing the ball from side to side. Our defenders in front of us are under pressure, we want our team mates to be able to be comfortable playing the ball back to us so that we can get to the
Continue readingBy Stevie Grieve
Evra pressing out of the defensive line to close down Messi, Rakitic or Alves at RW
As Messi plays the deepest of the Barcelona front 3, Patrice Evra was tasked to push out of the defensive line and play close to Messi, usually with Paul Pogba but often with Vidal close to Messi (Pogba moved to RM on 30 minutes for 6 minutes then back to LM).
When Evra pressed ahead of the defensive line, it often would leave a large space for Suarez, Alves or Rakitic to move into, which would draw the Juve defensive line over and leave them ‘over compact’ and vulnerable to a switch of play, particularly from Messi to Neymar or Jordi Alba.
Messi has been closed down but not enough to impact where he will dribble into and release the ball as the exit diagonally hasn’t been sufficiently closed enough as the
By Alex Trukan
Sprinting and sliding game is designed to improve acceleration and speed over short distances. That will help players to win more running and 1v1 duels as well as forward runs with and without the ball. In the presented exercise, that is connected with sliding and intercepting skills to make the physical side more context specific and engaging.
Set-Up and Directions
Organise two gates 3 yards wide and one cone in between as shown on the diagram below. Set the players in a line behind the cone with one ball each. The coach should be positioned opposite the
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