All Posts by Mike Saif

0 UEFA Champions League Final - Part 1

By Stevie Grieve

Juventus v Barcelona

In what proved to be a fantastic game of football both technically and tactically, the team with the most flair in attack proved to be the winners, but it was a game of defensive organisation in both teams, particularly in defensive transitions where both teams were incredibly quick to get back into position form an attacking phase, then become organised. Some clever tactical implementations where used, such as Ivan Rakitic and Dani Alves rotating positions defensively when the right back zone needed covered, and Gerard Pique playing as a single ‘defensive target’ when Barcelona defended.

We also saw Massimiliano Allegri block the influence of Lionel Messi in a penetrative way, not stopping his influence completely as he was able to open up the play with his range of passing and be a danger even 40m from goal, instead of the position we have become accustomed to seeing him in recent years as a false 9 and being the

3 Passing Sequence with Repeated Sprints

By Alex Trukan

The presented exercise is aimed at developing repetitive sprints ability with a passing content. From the conditioning perspective, the practice is focused on improving players’ ability to keep the amount of sprints high throughout the game, without a decrease in the quality. Therefore, it is especially relevant for improving players in 1v1’s and running duels. That is integrated in the passing practice ensuring players are motivated and improving in the technical corner.

Set Up and Directions

Organise a square of approximately 20x20 yards. Place two poles, 10 yards from each side of the square as shown on the diagram below. Divide players into groups of five and give each player a number from one to five. Every group of

0 'Find a Friend' Game to Develop Aerobic Power

By Alex Trukan

Passing and support exercise ‘Find a friend’ is an excellent method to develop aerobic power and capacity in a fun and engaging scenario. The main focus of the practice is to help players in developing an ability to sustain large volumes of physical effort due to faster recovery capacity. From the technical perspective, the presented game has various returns including: passing, receiving, support, creating space and movement. It is also highly adaptable to all abilities levels, numbers and age groups.

Set-Up and Directions
Organise a 25x25 yards box with four small boxes of 4x4 yards, one in each of the corners. Set one neutral player in each of the boxes, and divide the rest of the group into pairs. Two pairs are attackers and have one ball per two players. Minimum one pair is defending. Area size and

1 4-2-3-1 Defending Numbers Up Against 4-2-3

This article is an excerpt from our new best-selling book, Coaching the 4-2-3-1 by Stevie Grieve.

The Blacks play 4-2-3-1 v the Yellow 4-2-3 formation. The Yellows play 9 v 10 and when they win possession, look to counter attack quickly over the line with passes and dribbles. Players must not go chasing the ball and remember the distances between players are important, and moving forward to close down passing angles while closing off passing lanes into midfield are a crucial element of the defensive strategy. Above, the right back is in possession. The full back plays close to the winger, leaving a back 3 as the far side full back tucks in. The 2 holding players cover the spaces making an ‘M’ formation, playing close to the attacking midfielder and stopping passes into him. The 3 attacking midfielders press the ball and closest passing options, with the far side player playing almost in line with

0 Transition and Switching

By Sean Pearson Area Size: 24 x 26yrds Teams: 2 (6 v 6 + 1) Time: 20 Minutes Objectives To keep switching the field and move the ball away from pressure To transition from high press defense to offense Create angles of support and quick decision making This is a simple possession practice with multi

0 4 v 3 Defending Game

By Renato Lopez Moreira - 

In this exercise we work on a 4 v 3 defensive situation with a possibility to counter attack for the defense. This game could be used as a progression of last week's exercise.

The defenders have three small goals to defend while the attackers will have a large goal and goalkeeper to defend if they lose the ball.

The game area is played in a 27 x 38 -yard area. It's played for up to 2 minutes at a time.

When a goal is scored or the ball leaves the

0 Claiming Balls Out of the Air

By Patrick Kasperitis -

Claiming balls out of the air is such a difficult skill. It involves so many different variables that the goalkeeper has little control over. We have to work with our goalkeepers to make sure that they are able to block out as many of those variables and distractions as possible and focus on:

• tracking the ball
• using good footwork to keep body in good position
• going for and jumping for the ball with strength and confidence
• Catch and hold onto the ball while coming out of the air

There are many exercises that can try to improve these individual aspects. This exercise will work to improve the

0 Movement and Rotation in Possession

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 There are four teams of four players each divided into the following groups. In each end zone there will be two players from one team. Then,

0 Reaction Save Exercise

By Patrick Kasperitis -

Whenever a goalkeeper is making a save there are equal parts anticipation as reaction. Sometimes though the reaction side becomes the most pivotal of these two. Reaction saves are about concentration, body quickness, and at times creativity. Here we have two exercises. One that is a warm-up involving shuffling/jumping and working to improve the quickness of the hand movements. The second exercise deals with the possibility of deflections.

The Warm-up is set up as illustrated below.
- Server 5 meters away
- one hurdle in front of goalkeeper

Goalkeeper will perform footwork and then will receive ball. Goalkeeper does not know when the ball will be served. The Server has complete control over when the ball is played. They can do it after on repetition of the footwork or after 10! (Should probably vary it up but go no more than 3-5 repetitions without

0 Too Much Focus on One Player

By Stevie Grieve

Since January, the return to form of Lionel Messi has seen him reach new heights in performance, unseen ever when he was World Player of The Year for 4 seasons running (2009 2010 2011 2012) and now he has changed his role in the team to play as a deep inverted winger, who has almost a free role as Dani Alves and Ivan Rakitic adapt the RB and RCM positioning to change and cover for Messi as he goes looking for solutions from deep.

We often see Messi in a position where he can play a now trademark diagonal through ball from the inside right channel to the inside left channel, where Thierry Henry, David Villa, Pedro, and now Neymar are the main beneficiaries of his fantastic through balls and lofted passes from this deep position.

In the game v Bilbao, they tried to overload Messi 2v1 and 3v1 on the touchline and block his access to the dribble diagonally towards the centre backs with the ball protected on his left side, but often left his supporting team mates unmarked or left the space inside open to be attacked by the supporting team mates. Often, this would mean that Messi would simply make a pass and allow his team mates to attack the defence with players on the

0 3 v 2 Attacking Game

By Renato Lopez Moreira - 

In this exercise we will work in a 3 v 2 offensive situation with a possibility to counter attack for the defense. This game could be used as a progression of last week's exercise.

The attackers try to score in a goal defended by a goalkeeper. The defenders can counter attack three small goals if they win the ball.

The game area is played in a 22 x 32-yard area. It's played for up to 2 minutes at a time.

When a goal is scored or the ball leaves the

2 Break Through Attack 3 v 3 + 3 Game

By Alex Trukan

This modification of a small sided game is aimed at improving endurance capacity and power. However it also challenges players to make short duration high intensity busts in a counter attack scenario. From a tactical perspective, it focuses on transition to attack. Relatively big space and the middle zone challenge players to run with the ball. This practice ideally works with three players on each team but also can be adapted to suit the numbers!

Set-Up and Directions

Organise a pitch of approximately 35x45 yards. Divide the area into three thirds with the middle one being the smallest one (up to 10 yards width). Divide the team into three groups, set goalkeepers into goals. The game starts with two teams playing on one goal using one third of the

3 Atletico Madrid v Barcelona - 17-05-2015

HOW THE MATCH WAS WON by Keith Scarlett La Liga May 17, 2015 Vincente Calderon Atletico Madrid 0 - 1 Barcelona After Messi’s goal shortly after the hour mark, the movement of Barça on Atletico Madrid’s lawn became a small rehearsal for the upcoming Champions League final. Even if the Colchoneros have less to offer in

1 Sevilla Blocking Diagonal Passes

By Stevie Grieve

Europa League holders and this seasons finalists, Sevilla, are a team with a strong defensive unit and a strong attacking process, particularly on the counter attack.

Against a possession orientated team like Fiorentina, they allowed the Italians to have the ball and then defend from areas where they felt comfortable to make Fiorentina predictable; on the sides where Fiorentia played with ‘inverted wingers’ in a 4-3-3.

From the wide zone, they looked to block the cut inside with close positioning to play 2v1 or if the play was with a midfielder or full back in a wide zone, they would ensure they had solid defensive triangles to cover the pass through the movement to engage 1v1 on the side which would often be in 2v2,3v3 or 4v4 scenarios.

To do this, the central midfielder on the far side would look to cover any angle between the 2 closest pressing players to the ball and block anything diagonally between the

0 Defending: Stopping the Cross

By Sean Pearson Objectives To pressure the crosser Force the crosser back up the field Defensive positioning The main priority of this practice is to pressure the wide player quickly enough to stop the cross. If the ball cannot travel towards the goal the opposition will not score, simple. You want to force the ball

1 Improving Making Low Saves

By Patrick Kasperitis -

This exercise works the functional movement of diving to save low shots that are a little bit closer to the body. When looking at this type of shot we want to make sure that we address the issues of:

• the first step of the dive
• diving with our hands going towards the ground first (to minimize the chances of the ball going under the hands)
• Keeping our chest facing the field in the dive and propelling through as we make contact with the ball in order to parry.

Exercise is set up as such:

• One goalkeeper will work at a time
• Take two tall hurdles (should sit about hip high) and place them 4 meters apart
• One server will start about 8-10 meters away.

Exercise begins with a volley into hands, toss ball back, then a volley into a basket catch, toss ball back. After ball is tossed back a second time, the

2 2 v 1 Attacking Game

By Renato Lopez Moreira - 

Today's featured activity is a 2 v 1 game.

This game creates a 2 v 1 offensive situation with a possibility of a counter attack for the defending player.

The attackers  defend two small soccer goals while the defender works to defend a goal with a goalkeeper.

The game is played in a 10 x 16-yard area. It's played for up to two minutes at a time.

When a goal is scored or the ball leaves the area the exercise is restarted.

Exercise

The defender starts positioned next to the

0 Running with The Ball Practice to Improve Endurance

By Alex Trukan

From a conditioning perspective, this practice is focused on improving players’ capacity to sustain the quantity of actions throughout the match. Therefore, as an outcome, players will be less fatigued and able to cover bigger distances. In terms of the technical area, this exercise focuses on running with the ball technique and decision making whether to run with the ball or dribble.

Set-Up and Directions

Organise two cones on each side of the square as shown on the diagram below. Set a 4x4 yards square in the middle of the area. Divide the

4 The Exchange Game

By Alex Trukan

This practice is focused on helping the players to improve the ability to produce high quality sprints throughout the whole match. That is achieved in a high intensity and engaging game which also develops ball manipulation, dribbling and running with the ball skills from a technical point of view. As an outcome of this exercise, players will be able to produce more sprints and also sustain the number of sprints despite fatigue accumulation.

Set-Up and Directions

Organise two squares of 10x10 yards as shown on the diagram (squares can be also organised next to each other). Divide the team into two groups. Each group should consist of 3-5 attacking players with one ball each and 1 defending player. There should be one group in each of the two squares. Attacking players try to retain possession, while defending players try to win the ball. Player without the

0 Bayern's Failure to Stop Messi

By Stevie Grieve

In the Champions League Semi Final between Barcelona and Bayern Munich, the score was decided by one player's ability to find space when there is little available, despite Bayern Munich’s best attempts to control the space around Lionel Messi, particularly in the 1st half.

For the 1st half, Bayern played wide and looked to enter the attacking phases from the CF drifting wide then playing 1v1 on the side and attacking from there, while Barcelona played more direct from central zones in transition, looking to use Suarez’ tenacity behind the Bayern defence, or with lots of circulation which kept the ball and looked for a breakthrough from quick combinations around the goal or in 1v1 play.

The 2nd half changed for Barcelona when Iniesta, Neymar, Messi and Rakitic all played directly through the channels, looking to cut inside and combine with centrally based players; Suarez or Neymar on the last line of the defence, with Alba and Alves staying deeper and making late runs outside the play.

The main danger was always through an ‘inverted’ player, cutting inside, particularly Messi from the

0 Footwork and the Drop Step

By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.

Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on footwork and the drop step.

Start with a keeper in goal, a speed ladder in front of him and a server 15 yards out.

The keeper starts by taking quick steps through the

0 Defensive Shape and Passing

By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.

Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on defensive shape and passing.

Start with a 60 x 40 field broken into vertical quarters. There are 4 players in each quarter, with one team in 2 quarters and the other team in the other 2 quarters.

One team starts with the ball on one end. The opposing players in the

0 ‘The Great Escape’ Game to Develop Starting Speed

By Alex Trukan

This exercise is a great way to develop ability to accelerate and sprint over short and medium distances. Its organisation ensures the players are engaged and not only develop physical aspects but also dribbling and running with the ball skills. The practice helps players in possession to get away from a defender, while defender works on sprinting in recovery runs. ‘The Great Escape’ game works with almost every age group and ability level!

Set-Up and Directions

Organise one bigger and one smaller area (smaller being inside the bigger one) as shown on the diagram. Set up four goals, one in each corner of the pitch, 5-10 yards from the bigger square. Every player will need one ball each. One player (defender) dribbles around the

0 Flexibility of the 4-2-3-1 System

This is a short excerpt from Coaching the 4-2-3-1 Advanced Tactics by Stevie Grieve. The book takes a detailed look at how to get the best out of this very popular formation.

When changing formation, there are many variables that can come from this, mainly from an attacking and defensive positioning starting position basis.

Some players’ roles and responsibilities change, although not drastically. In a 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 some players responsibilities stay the same, mainly the back 4 and central striker. The back 4 as always must protect the goal and defend as a priority, then support the attacking phase secondary.
Full backs in very attacking teams can allow wingers to play slightly more infield if they wish, or if the winger stays on the touchline, provide deep support or an under lapping run to offer an extra option if places under pressure. The runs from the full back can open up new solutions when the ball is with the winger.

Some wingers can commonly play 1v2, so the