All Posts by Mike Saif

2 Possession Game to Develop Strength

By Alex Trukan

This exercise is focused on developing functional strength to improve individual ball possession skills under pressure. That will help the players to stay on the ball for longer periods of time if needed and be confident in manipulating the ball when pressurised and doubled up. From the conditioning perspective, the practice develops both upper and lower body strength as well as strengthens the core. It also contains an element of acceleration over short distances.

Set-Up and Directions

Set up a square of approximately 15x15 yards. In the middle of each side of the square, place a bigger cone. Divide the players into pairs. Each pair should take a position on each of the

1 Counter-pressing of Red Bull Salzburg

By Alex Trukan

Red Bull Salzburg was a revelation in the 2013/2014 season, winning the domestic league, cup as well as knocking out renowned Ajax Amsterdam in the Europa League. In the current season, the club is also leading the league with 10 points above second Rapid Wien and four matches to go. However, it is not the results that drew the main attention to the club from Salzburg. The club has become widely known for its ultra-high pressing, attacking style of play. Pep Guardiola, a coach of Bayern Munich, after playing a friendly match against Red Bull Salzburg managed by Roger Schmidt at that time, stated: I’ve never played in my career against a team that has played with such a high intensity’. The philosophy which has been brought to the

1 Dealing with Back Passes

By 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. In article #1, key teaching cues for teaching the goalkeeper to deal with crosses were discussed. This article will take a look at the importance of through-balls and back-passes for the goalkeeper and the back line.

Technical Training for Dealing with Back-Passes

When we teach goalkeepers to deal with

1 Four Zone Game - Progression

By Renato Lopez Moreira - 

This is a progression of last week's 5 v 5 game to work spacing and player movement. We now play 8 v 8 The game area is 50 x 45 yards and it is played as two 15 minute halves. 

The field is once again divided into four zones. This time each zone contains

0 Overlapping and Underlapping Runs

By Sean Pearson Area Size: 2/3 of field with wide zones in line with the 18 Teams: 7 v 7 Time: 20 Minutes • To understand when to use overlapping runs to advance the ball in wide areas • To understand when to use underlapping runs to attack centrally • Decide which run, if any, are

0 Four Zone Game

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

0 Team Dribbling that Develops Endurance

By 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

0 Teaching Goalkeepers to Control Their Area

By 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

0 Barcelona's Attacking Process

By 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

4 Juventus v Barcelona - 06-06-2015

HOW 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

1 Increasing Speed of Play

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

0 Six Goal Game

By 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

0 Team Reaction Game

By 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

1 Barcelona in Defense

By 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

0 Reading the Angles

By 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

0 Transitional Possession

By 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

0 Dealing with Balls Cut Back from the End Line

By 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

0 Three Goal 1 v 1 Game

By 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

0 Crossing and Finishing

By 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

0 Attacking Barcelona

By 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

0 Individual Defending Activities

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 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

0 Possession From Target to Target

By Renato Lopez Moreira - 

This game is a progress of the one from 'Possession Under Pressure' last week.

• There is no limitations on the number of touches each player can take
• The 'Jokers' play with the team who have possession of the ball
• Ten consecutive passes are worth one point
• The game is 10 minutes long

Exercise

The Attackers have to exchange passes between them and the

0 Getting Back to Your Line

By 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

2 UEFA Champions League Final - Part 3

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