All Posts by Mike Saif

1 1v1 Circuit focused on Anaerobic Endurance

By Alex Trukan

This practice combines multiple 1v1 situations with the physical component of Anaerobic Endurance. The organisation of the exercise allows many repetitions of maximal intensity efforts, what is aimed to improve the ability of the body to sustain high quality (speed and strength) actions throughout the whole match. Competitive format of this practice aids motivation and doesn't require much concurrent involvement of the coach. Ideally, this 1v1 circuit is designed for 8 players and a goalkeeper, however it can be adapted to suit other numbers as well.

Set up and directions:
Organize an area of two penalty box sizes. Set up two full sized goals on the opposite sides, facing each other. There should be one goalkeeper in each goal. Divide the team into pairs. Starting positions as shown on diagram. Assistant coach or player from the group behind is required to pass the ball into the area.

The practice starts as the ball is played into the area, between two players. The ball should be passed at the

0 Continuous 2v1 to Develop Anaerobic Endurance

By Alex Trukan

This exercise is focused on developing dribbling and decision-making skills altogether with Anaerobic Endurance. Games containing 2v1 scenarios can be used as a progression to 1v1 situations. That places additional demand on players: decision making – dribble or pass? The organisation of this practice allows players to develop physical component of Anaerobic Endurance. That ability is responsible for producing high quality (speed and strength) actions throughout the whole match.

Set up and directions:
Set up a rectangle of 30x15 m., divide it into three areas as shown on the diagram. Organise the team into groups of two players. On one rectangle, there should be three pairs practicing. Two pairs start on the cones opposite to each other, while third pair stays in the middle: each player between two middle cones. There is one ball needed for a group, however, additional balls should be ready around the area.

The game starts on the first touch of the player with the ball - he can either

2 Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid-05-24-2014

HOW THE MATCH WAS WON by Keith Scarlett UEFA Champions League Final Saturday, 24 May, 2014 Estadio da Luz; Lisbon, Portugal Real Madrid 4v1 Atletico Madrid The Champions League is always a very exciting competition, but this most recent campaign provided a few more edge of the seat moments than most other campaigns have given us. After

3 Shooting From Different Angles

Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on finishing.

In trying to develop goal scorers we tend to recreate ideal situations too often. As an example, we might line up balls and have a player shoot one after the other.

Or, we put in a simple

0 Dealing With Unsighted Shots

By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.

Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on unsighted shots.

An unsighted shot is one where the keeper doesn’t have direct vision of the ball. In this activity we are going to recreate the situation with the use of dummy’s.

Start with a keeper in goal and a couple of shooters just outside the 18. There is a dummy (some people call them mannequins) in front of the shooter and ball between the shooter and the dummy. The purpose of the dummy is to prevent the keeper from being able to see the ball.

One of the players takes a quick touch to

2 5v4 - Defending in Defensive Third

By Keith Scarlett

This activity works on defending, timing of tackles, covering angles and decision-making.

In this crucial section of the pitch, defending needs to be precise and perfect! One of the biggest things that players need to learn is how crucial interceptions are to keeping the ball out of the net. There aren’t too many better ways to teach this aspect of the game than to simply throw them into the deep-end with an activity like this.

Set-up:
The playing area is 44 x 18 metres (basically the size of the penalty area; can use the penalty area if you choose). Place a regulation sized goal in the middle of one of the long (44 mtr) end-lines (similar to where it would be if using a penalty area).

The attacking team has 5 players which include 3 midfielders (M) and 2 strikers (S) while the defending team has 4 players made up of 3 defenders (D) and a goalkeeper (G). There are

2 Arsenal v Hull City-05-17-2014

HOW THE MATCH WAS WON by Keith Scarlett English FA Cup Final Saturday, 17 May, 2014 Wembley Arsenal 3v2 Hull City The 2005 FA Cup. Just a tad shy of nine years. Almost a full decade. Yet a complete generation in terms of football. A total of 3,283 days since Arsenal had last won any

0 How Real Madrid Pressed and Beat Atletico

By Stevie Grieve - Real Madrid Pressing v Atletico Madrid

As the ball is passed back, a common pressing trigger in modern football allows for pressure on the ball, and squeezing the defensive lines higher up the field. In this example, Real Madrid’s midfield and defense can

0 Aerobic Power in 5v5 Small Sided Game

By Alex Trukan

The exercise is focused on improving Aerobic Power. This physical component helps in recovering more efficiently and quickly after high intensity, anaerobic actions. Therefore, it helps to maintain quantity of explosive efforts of the players throughout the whole match. In more detail, it aids supplementation of high quality oxygen to lungs and muscles by improving circulation (more red blood cells and stronger heart) and ventilation (better lung capacity).

That is achieved in 5v5 Small Sided Game which is known as highly effective tool for improving tactical, technical as well as physical components. Small Sided Games ensure high motivation of players, enjoyment and competitiveness. In addition, this practice is strongly related to 11v11 soccer format as it includes all relevant components of it (opponent, direction, goals, attacking/defending/transition etc.).

Set up and directions:
Organise a pitch of approximately 30x40 yards (depending on base fitness level: bigger pitch-bigger volume/lower intensity) with one goal on each side. Divide players into two teams of 5. Normal soccer rules apply. Encourage competition, i.e. the team that loses the game takes the equipment out of the pitch.

As a basic progression to increase perceptual and physical demands, divide the pitch into two halves and set the condition that

0 Take-Over Drill

By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible. Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on passing, takeovers and turns. Start with 2 players 20 yards apart, one of whom has a ball. A third player is behind the player with the ball. The player with the ball starts by passing to

0 How Many Players Should You Have In the Wall?

By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.

Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s topic deals with too many players in the wall.

Some keepers seem to think “the more the merrier” when it comes to the number of players in the wall. Since the players are there trying to help the keeper protect the goal, the thought is, if 3 players brings some protection, 4 players will bring more.

The problem with this thought process is a wall can only protect so much and if too many players are in the wall, the wall will make it MORE difficult for a keeper to protect the goal.

Using the example below, the keeper has 4 players in the wall and he is lined up to cover the far side.

If the keeper adds 2 more players in the wall, he has less area to cover on the far post side BUT will have a lot of

1 Suarez’ Movement On the Counter-Attack

By Stevie Grieve

Liverpool in the 2013/2014 season were a joy to watch all season, and the brightest player in the team was Luis Suarez, who won the Players’ and Football Writers Player of the Year awards. Other than the goals he scored, his work rate to press, his desire to chase down loose balls and his unpredictability in attack, he brought an intelligence of movement which helped Liverpool on constructing attacks, building counter attacks and forcing the opposition to make decisions.

Leading the counter attack

As Sterling drives into space, Suarez has an opponent who wants to drop deep, as Norwich want to tuck in and defend from the centre. Sterling needs to

1 Speed in Shooting Practice

By Alex Trukan

This practice is focused on improving speed. This component can be divided into: maximal speed, acceleration speed, change of direction speed and deceleration speed. Some of these are required more than others. In soccer, sprints up to 5 meters and changes of direction are the most common and often define whether the goal is scored or not. Speed training requires big load on phosphate system over short period of time. That is why, it focuses on improving the ability of using more ATP from phosphate energy system (fuel) what means more power and speed in actions on the pitch.

Presented exercise includes the most important components of speed for soccer such as acceleration and change of direction speed both with and without the ball. That is combined with shooting practice which helps players to understand in which context speed can be required. In addition, it is highly motivating and engaging practice for most of the groups. This exercise can be used with different number of players and on various levels.

Set up and directions:
Organize two goals, four cones and two markers as on diagram. Dimensions of the middle square should be 3-5 m., while distance to the goal should be 10-15 m. Divide the team into two groups of 3-4 players. Every player should have the ball. Organize one goalkeeper in each goal. Two groups start the exercise at the same time. The ball is played horizontally alongside the goal. After that, players who passed the ball, run to the ball played by the other group and shoot on goal. Afterwards, players take the ball and join back of the opposite group. Exercise continues until signal from the coach. In this basic format of the exercise, acceleration to the ball before shot is crucial.

Players can also pass the ball vertically and run alongside the goal to the ball played by the opposite group. That will increase the

0 Shot Blocking and Diving Drill

By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.

Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on explosiveness, fitness shot blocking and diving.

Start with a keeper in goal, a hurdle (from 1-3 feet high depending upon the keeper) to his side and a server on the 12 with some balls.

The keeper starts by jumping off of two feet, sideways, over the hurdle, landing on two feet (the balls of the feet) and as soon as he lands, the

0 High Pressure in the Middle Third

By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.

Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on high pressure in the middle third of the field.

Start with a field 60 x 44 broken into thirds (you might want to make the middle third slightly bigger than the other two). There is a goal on each end line, a keeper in each goal and 4 v 4 in the middle. There is also a free defender in each defensive third of the field.

Each teams free player in the back must stay in

0 Real Madrid Counter Attacks v Bayern Munich

By Stevie Grieve

When Real Madrid played at home v Bayern Munich, many pundits (including myself) felt that Bayern would arise from their recent slump in form since winning the league and turn it around against Real Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti however, has experience of multiple Champions League semi-finals and knows how to navigate his team to win against a difficult opponent. He knew that Bayern would come to dominate possession, so he wanted to do two things – leave minimal space between all of the lines across the field to stop Bayern from penetrating and getting into dangerous positions, then win possession and use the blistering pace of Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema, Di Maria and Coentrao to hit Bayern Munich on the counter attack, with Modric and Alonso staying to screen in transition.

Benzema Goal – Ronaldo finds Coentrao behind the defensive line

Fabio Coentrao is an exceptionally fast full back, and outside of being a good 1v1 defender, he is also

0 1v1 situations and Anaerobic Power

By Alex Trukan

This exercise is focused on developing Anaerobic Power in one of the variations of 1v1 situation. Organisation of the practice encourages players to dribble, shoot and change direction on the maximum intensity.

Set up and directions
Set up a 30x40 yards area with one goal, 4 cones and 3 markers as shown on the diagram below. Width of each goal to dribble through should be 4 yards, while the distance between each marker should be between 8 to 12 yards. One player (defender) starts on the marker between two goals, one player on the middle marker and the rest of the players on the marker furthest away from the full-sized goal. Each player from that group should have one ball. The game starts as the player from that group passes the ball into the middle player. The defender becomes active on the first touch of the receiver. After one pair (attacker and defender) has finished they join back of the queue and another two players start. Players should switch their roles after each repetition.

As we can see below, on the first touch of the attacking player, defender becomes

0 Heading to Score or Back Across the Goal

By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.

Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on “head backs”.

In an ideal world, a team would get the ball out wide, cross the ball into a position for a player to finish first time (with the head, foot or other part of the body).

Unfortunately our teams play in the real world and not the ideal world so it doesn't always work that way. Too often the cross isn't

2 Effective Counter Attacking

By Stevie Grieve

When Real Madrid played at home v Bayern Munich, many pundits (including myself) felt that Bayern would arise from their recent slump in form since winning the league and turn it around against Real Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti however, has experience of multiple Champions League semi-finals and knows how to navigate his team to win against a difficult opponent. He knew that Bayern would come to dominate possession, so he wanted to do two things – leave minimal space between all of the lines across the field to stop Bayern from penetrating and getting into dangerous positions, then win possession and use the blistering pace of Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema, Di Maria and Coentrao to hit Bayern Munich on the counter attack, with Modric and Alonso staying to screen in transition.

Benzema Goal – Ronaldo finds Coentrao behind the defensive line

Fabio Coentrao is an exceptionally fast full back, and outside of being a good 1v1 defender, he is also

3 Bayern v Real Madrid - 04-30-2014

HOW THE MATCH WAS WON by Keith Scarlett Champions League 2nd Leg (0-1 aggregate) Wednesday, 30 April, 2014 Allianz Arena Bayern 0v4 Real Madrid This is the time of the year when the going gets tough and the clubs that eventually go on to claim the honours in May, are really forced to elevate their game

0 Individual Defending

By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible. Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on defensive footwork In a 20 x 10 area, start with two players and two balls. The balls are on one end and the players are on the other end line. The players start by sprinting to

0 Break-Aways and Reading the Touch

By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.

Welcome to the Goalkeeping Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on breakaways, quick shots and reading the touch

Start with a keeper in goal, a player between the 12 and 18 and a server with balls out wide.

The server plays a ball to the player and the keeper goes

1 How Atletico Successfully Attacked Barcelona

By Stevie Grieve

In last weeks article, I looked at the recent Champions League match between Atletico de Madrid and Barcelona, which Atletico won 1-0. I look at their defensive set up and how they made it difficult for Barcelona to score, and in this weeks article I will look at one specific area where they targeted to create chances based on Atletico’s direct style of play, a weakness in the Barcelona back 4, and how they put one of the strengths of Atletico’s play against one of the weaknesses of the back four.

Raul Garcia v Jordi Alba in an ariel battle

Quite often we see a big target man playing against a big center back (Andy Carroll v Martin Skrtel or Per Mertesacker) and its 50-50 of who will win. A better idea is to put

2 Anaerobic Endurance in 5v5+4 Conditioned Game

By Alex Trukan

This Conditioned Game is designed to improve Anaerobic Endurance needed to sustain high intensity actions. The type of the practice ensures high engagement and effort from players. In opposite to technique and skill type activities, this practice has more football context, what makes players understand the relevance of it.

Set up and directions
Set up a pitch with two goals and dimensions of 30x40 yards. Organise two teams of 9 players (8+goalkeeper). Four players from each team should be positioned inside the playing area, while another four should stay outside the area on the attacking half (2 next to the goal from each side, 2 on the opposite touchlines). Inside players can use their teammates positioned outside but they in turn can only use 1 touch to play back and they can’t score. There are no corners (goalkeeper starts from a goal kick). After the goal is scored, the game starts from the goalkeeper as well. Players should be encouraged to reset the game very quickly. Number of players used can be varied but that should reflect dimensions used.

As we can see on the diagram below, outside players can only