All Posts by Tom Mura

0 Attack vs Defense with Transition

This week's Animated Drill Video is one of my team's favorite 1 v 1 and 2 v 2 games to work on attacking and defensive skills. The quick changes from attack to defense also makes this an excellent environment to train transition. The diagram is being created with the session planner on Planet Training that is available through

0 Defending and Getting Pressure on the Ball

By Sean Reed -  Objective This session focuses on defending exercises, working with players in 1v1, 2v2 and 4v4 situations. Session 1 Diagram 1 Set Up Working with 12 players Players are working within 3’s Each areas is approx 30 yds x 10yds 2 players will start at either end and 1 player who is defending

0 Possession with Penetration

By Chris Kouns USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Women’s Soccer Coach – Georgia Gwinnett College This session will train your team to keep possession while looking to penetrate the defense. Set-Up Divide a square into four 8 x 8 grids. Inside

0 Changing the Picture

By Alex Trukan Pace in the modern football has become much quicker than ever before. Teams prefer to use fast passing styles and players who are excellent in attacking 1v1 duels. There are times, however, when the best solution is to slow down and stay on the ball as an individual. This might mean, protecting,

0 Timing Movements to Receive the Ball

By Alex Trukan The following practice is focused on improving capacity of the aerobic energy system. This will help players to sustain the quantity of their actions throughout the whole game. In other words, players will be more likely to make a sprint or win 1v1 duel even towards the end of the match. The

0 #080 Why are We Doing this Coach?

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0 Striker’s Attacking Movements

By Alex Trukan Playing the ball forward is the key requirement to creating chances and scoring. This can happen only if the players in front of the ball are available to receive or the space is created for other players to exploit. One of the key players to make it happen are strikers. They can

0 Switch the Point of Attack

By Sean Reed -  Objective This session focuses on switching the point of attack with a 10v10 game. Session 1 Diagram 1 Set Up 10v10 4 Mini Goals The game is set up in one half of the pitch, full width and half a pitch in length The goals are positioned 5-7yds inside the touch line

0 Attacking Transitions

By Chris Kouns USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Women’s Soccer Coach – Georgia Gwinnett College This session focuses on attacking and transitions. Set-Up In an area approximately 40 yards x 40 yards you will have two teams playing 5 v 5

0 Playing Through the Striker

By Sean Pearson Area Size: 18 yard area + 15 yards Teams: 15-20mins Players: 4 v 3 Time: 15-20 Minutes Objectives To combine with the striker through different combinations To use the position of the defenders to make decisions on which combination should be used Set-Up This is for teams that play in a 4-2-3-1

0 2 v 2 + 2 Directional Possession

By Alex Trukan This practice is based on developing players’ endurance capacities to produce as many as possible high intensity actions. This happens through improving recovery time between high energy anaerobic efforts (i.e. player will recover after a sprint quicker). From the technical and tactical points of view, it focuses on developing possession and short

0 Fluid System of Play

Most teams and coaches play with a set formation.  What I meant by that is, if a team plays with a 4-3-3, they usually stick to that formation whether they are attacking or defending.  Sometimes they will alter that formation in the latter part of a game if they are losing and need to attack

0 #079 Training Players to Communicate on the Field

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0 How to Use Width in the 2-3-2-1

By Sean Pearson With the new USSF mandated birth year and small sided games changes there is a lot of trial and error regarding formations and systems of play. Instead of 8v8 formations, as coaches, we are now trying to figure out how to position our players in the new 7v7 and 9v9 formations. Some

2 3 v 1 in Four Grids

This week's Animated Drill Video describes a great training environment to not only work on the principles of passing and possession but also of spacial awareness and decision making. [wpsharely id="6889"][wpsharely][/wpsharely] The diagram is being created with the session planner on Planet Training that is available through the Training Center. Please feel free to share this with your team

0 Transition with Speed Work

By Sean Reed -  Objective This is a game that can be used in the early parts of the session and can be linked within some of the speed work. Session 1 Diagram 1 Set Up 5 v 5 2x Areas (20x20yds) width of Penalty box apart. See diagram 1 One team starts with possession; objective is to

0 Finishing with Fitness

By Chris Kouns USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Women’s Soccer Coach – Georgia Gwinnett College This session combines finishing and fitness into one activity. Set-Up You will have players group on each flank as well as paired up on cones in the

0 Dealing with Crosses

By Wayne Henderson - The art of being a good goalkeeper at taking crosses seems to an increasingly difficult aspect to master. In theory, it should be easier for the modern day goalkeeper because they are bigger and more athletic than ever before. And as the outfield players and opposition managers seem very quick to point out,

0 Getting Forward and Negative Passes

By Sean Pearson Area Size: Half a Field Teams: 2 teams (7 v 7) Time: 15 Minutes Objectives Aim to get as far forward as possible by either runs or passes from deep To understand when and where to pass backwards Set-Up Half a field with one main goal and 3 small goals at the half way

0 How to Keep the Opposition in Their Own Half

By Alex Trukan With a lot of the teams becoming very effective in building up from the back, defending teams have to learn how to prevent opposition playing through the thirds. Also from the attacking point of view, it makes more sense to win the ball closer to the opposition goal. Keeping the ball on

1 Running with the Ball Relay Race

By Alex Trukan This practice is designed to develop players’ ability to accelerate over short distances as well as generate power when sprinting and competing for the ball. It also has change of direction element which challenges players’ agility. From the technical point of view, players mainly developing running with the ball skills. This practice

0 #078 Parents are Part of Your Team

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0 Defensive Shape Dealing with Direct Balls

By Chris Kouns USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Women’s Soccer Coach – Georgia Gwinnett College This session is designed to improve your player's ability to deal with direct balls played into your defensive line. Set-Up Set up team in a large

0 3 v 1 Progression Activity