By Mike Smith
If there is one point where the beautiful game can get ugly, it is in front of the goal when a team is “crashing” in to score. This is a moment where sheer numbers, size, strength and determination win the day. Often times in the waning seconds of a game, a team will pull their keeper up into the fray to try and get an equalizer. While these moments often seem chaotic, a bit of practice in these situations can offer a bit of organization and give a team the edge when crashing the net.
Lesson 1
Practice 3 Basic Services
Set-Up
Have your players get in groups of two. Space 3 of the groups facing each other about 15 yds apart. Space an additional 3 groups facing each other about 25 yds apart ( as shown ). These groups will practice 3 different services with each other and after a set amount of time ( 2-3 minutes ) the groups will shift lines. This set up can be repeated multiple times across the pitch to accommodate all players. Players should hit a driven ball, a lofted ball, and an out swinging bent ball, in that order.
Coaching Points
The driven, lofted and bent services will be important as the lesson progresses so the coach should make sure the players are practicing the designated skills not simply killing time. The coach should also use this exercise to identify those players who are best at each service and use them as servers in the following progressions.
Lesson 2
3 Different Services
Set-Up
Set a cone box in one half of the mouth of the goal for the keeper ( as shown ). Leave the area on the near post open. Two attackers will combine for a service and finish attempt. Set two cone markers, one outside the top of the box and one just inside the touch line in the corner where the service will come from. The starting players start ahead of the cones. The serving player receives a rolling ball from the players behind them and then hits a driven ball straight across the mouth of the goal. The attacker at the top of the box times their run to hopefully meet the ball on the near post for the finish. The keeper tries to make the save IF the attacker misses the finish on the near post. The keeper must stay in the box.
After 10 to 15 minutes of this, switch the keepers cone box to the near post and have the server send in a lofted ball to be finished on the back post.
Finally, remove the cone box and allow the keeper to use the entire goalie box. The service should swing out toward the finishing attacker who will hopefully make the shot from just outside the goalie box.
Coaching Points
For all 3 rotations the coach should focus on precision execution. The fact is if the team can not score 2 v 1 on a limited keeper it will be hard to score on a packed in box.
Lesson 3
Crash the Goal
Set Up
Have the keeper send a ball out to a serving attacker from the far corner of the goalie box ( as shown ). 3 attackers start just outside the penalty area and crash the goal on 4 defenders who are lined up right with the attackers. The three attackers should communicate and organize their runs to make sure the near post, far post and penalty spots are covered. The server can choose whether to drive it, loft it or bend it into the box.
Coaching Points
The coach should focus their attacking players on communication and timing. A time limit, 3-5 seconds, should be placed on the server initially and as the activity progresses an additional defender can be sent from different areas to pressure the service.
By Mike Smith
Currently the Head Coach for University Heights Academy Boys Soccer in Hopkinsville, KY , Mike is in his 14th year as a high school head coach with 23 years coaching experience overall and 34 year as a student and fan of the game. He holds a USSF D License.
