All Posts by Mike Saif

1 Running with the Ball and Anaerobic Endurance

By Alex Trukan

This practice is based on developing an ability for repeated and regular high intensity efforts. That is achieved in a technical practice combining elements of running with the ball, passing and acceleration off the ball. It can also be used as a part of tactical programme focused on developing counter attack and transition play. Ideal number for this practice is between 8 to 10 as it then automatically manages work to rest periods.

Set Up and Directions

Organise two channels of 15-30 yards. Place two gates between them as shown on the diagram below. Divide the players into two groups and place each group at the

0 Dealing with Break-Aways Part 2

By Tony Englund -

When I give goalkeeper training sessions to coaches, many ask about teaching their goalkeepers to deal with break-aways. In the first of a two-part article on the subject, we looked at building the goalkeeper’s confidence in blocking and closing down. In this second portion, tips for dealing with the break-away situation in match-like situations will be shared.

Break-Aways – Straight On The attacker starts his run from 25 yards before goal. To begin with, all break-ways are straight on to

0 Building From the Back Against Medium Pressure

By Alex Trukan

Building up from the back has been a buzzword in soccer over the last years. Some teams have applied it effectively, others, however, struggled to understand the purpose of it which has led to many misunderstandings around the topic. Building-up from the back has many variations and types, some involving more direct play using long passes into striker’s foot, some are based more around sequence of shorter passes and patient progress through the thirds (depending on the philosophy of the club, opposition characteristics, pressure applied or result). However, regardless of its variation, the main aim remains the same: transfer the ball into opposition’s half and start creating chances. Therefore, as coaches, it is important to remember, that if the opportunity for a direct pass into strikers arises, it should be taken as soon as possible. At the same time, it shouldn’t be the only option. In this article, some aspects of the more common way of a building-up from the back against medium pressure will be presented.

Central defenders in possession

When the goalkeeper is in possession, central defenders usually become first players available to receive, starting the build-up play. Therefore, they shouldn’t possess lower technical abilities than midfielders or strikers. Unfortunately, that is often neglected and has negative effects on the

2 Breaking Lines of Pressure

By Renato Lopez Moreira - 

This is a progression of the game from last week. It is played with three teams of six players. It can be played with fewer players on each team or using a neutral player if number divisible by three are not available.

The game area is 45 x 42 yards and the game is played in two 15 minute halves.

Two teams work to keep possession and one team defends.

The field is divided in three small ones: two fields for the attacking teams and one central zone for the defense.
Each field has six attackers that must

0 Attacking and Defending Possession Game

By Renato Lopez Moreira - 

This game is played with three teams of six players. It can be played with fewer players on each team or using a neutral player if number divisible by three are not available.

The game area is 45 x 42 yards and the game is played in two 15 minute halves.

Two teams work to keep possession and one team defends.

The field is divided in three small ones: two fields for the attacking teams and one central zone for the defense.
Each field has six attackers that must

0 Dealing with Break-Aways

By Tony Englund -

When I give goalkeeper training sessions to coaches, many ask about teaching their goalkeepers to deal with break-aways. In the first of a two-part article on the subject, we’ll look at building the goalkeeper’s confidence in blocking and closing down. In the second portion, tips for dealing with the break-away situation in match-like situations will be shared.

It is useful to invert the break-way situation as a teaching model, looking at the final, blocking save as a start point. Young goalkeepers in particular often hesitant to get into the feet of the attacker, though this gives them the

0 Reverse Goals Game to Develop Aerobic Power

By Alex Trukan

This game uses creative design to increase the amount of runs over medium and longer distances. The main aim from the physical perspective is to improve Aerobic Power, which in simpler terms aids recovery between high intensity efforts. Therefore, players will be able to perform more and higher quality actions. Apart from that, the game adds variety to the training and challenges players in new ways.

Set Up and Directions

Organise a pitch of approximately 30x40 yards. Divide it into two halves. Place two goals back to back in the centre of the pitch. Organise a team into two groups of 5 with one goalkeeper in each

0 Striker’s Movements in the Final Third

By Alex Trukan

Most of the work done by the strikers shown on the TV and appreciated by fans is when they're in possession of the ball: goals, assists, one on ones. That’s what matters the most, but we, as coaches especially, should also focus and appreciate all the work behind the scenes: subtle movement to create space, dropping down into midfield, body position to play forwards. All of these things have influence on the performance of the team. Striker’s movement in the final third is one of fundamental team tactical component that not only creates chances for himself, but also helps in the build-up play of the whole team.

Starting position and playing between the lines

Basic position of the central striker (number 9) in a 1-4-3-3 system would be between two central defenders of the opponent. That provides him an opportunity to be able to

0 Running With the Ball

By Sean Pearson Area Size: 40 x 45 Yards Teams: 6 v 6 (+1) Time: 20 Minutes Objectives To understand when and where to run with the ball To use running with the ball as a form of attack and advance the ball forwards To understand how far to run with the ball The area is split

1 Creating Offensive Superiority

By Renato Lopez Moreira - 

This is a progression of last week's 8 v 8 game to work spacing and player movement. This week the game will again start as 8 v 8 but the team in possession works to create 6 v 4 offensive superiority situations.

The game area is 55 x 45 yards and the game is played in two 15 minute halves.

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

1 Shielding Game for Strength and Skill

By Alex Trukan

The following practice is designed to develop upper body (core) and lower body strength. That can be used in and around the penalty box by the strikers holding the ball away from the opposition as well as in the own half of the pitch by the defenders. From the technical point of view, the practice focuses on defending position with the player pressurising from the back. The great thing about this exercise is that it can be adapted to different numbers as well as it’s a great fun.

Set-Up and Directions

Organise six cones as shown on the diagram below. Designate one player with the

0 Combating Complacency

By Tony Englund -

Experienced, advanced goalkeepers sometimes fail to train on their edge if they are continually subjected to the same, rote technical training exercises. An engaging, challenging method of combating this complacency is to put the goalkeeper in an environment where they are forced to make multiple saves in tight, particularly where there is a recovery save involved. This article and the next in the series will offer a pair of scenarios where goalkeepers can be compelled to work on their edge and make multiple difficult, if confidence-building saves.

Meat Grinder: Multiple Save, Reaction Training

The base set up for this exercise requires a

6 Movements of the Midfield Three in a 1-4-3-3

By Alex Trukan

The system with a three midfielders operating in a triangle is widely known and implemented all around the world. Over the last years, numerous variations of this tactics have been developed and used what has led to the successes of the teams like FC Barcelona or Bayern Munich. One of the crucial components of this system are movements of the midfield three, which not only enable more effective build-up play but also support forwards in the final third of the pitch.

Starting positions – basic shape

When the defenders are in possession during building up play from the back, three midfielders form a triangle with a point down (defensive midfielder being positioned closer to own goal than the two offensive midfielders). That creates some defensive cover and great attacking potential with two

0 Speed and Combination 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 & Combination activities are designed to allow players to feel pressure (both with and without defenders) while focusing on technical repetition necessary to increase

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