These two activities that focus on attacking combination play are from a session contributed to the WORLD CLASS COACHING magazine by Renato Lopes Moreira. A new edition of the magazine is available each month as a part of the Member Drills Database. The rest of this article can be found in the March 2014 issue.
By Keith Scarlett
This activity works on 1v1 attacking and defending in close quarters, 1st touch, intensity and to see who is willing to get stuck in on tackles. The exercise is done at top-speed, is a quick moving exercise and there is a good deal of contact.
Set-up:
The playing area is 18 x 44 metres (roughly the size of the penalty area). There is a goal on one of the 44 metre end-lines (where the goal would be if you were using an actual penalty area) and two markers should be 18 metres out directly opposite the goalposts (or roughly the location where the half-circle intersects with the top of the penalty area if using an actual penalty area for this activity). Players break into four lines. Two lines are on each post with balls and two lines are at the ‘markers’…or the corners of the “D”…without balls.
How it Works:
The line besides the goal drives the ball to the first person in the opposite diagonal line and then
These 1 v 1 exercises are from our latest book by Tony Englund, 'The Art of the Duel'. Here's what Anson Dorrance has to say about Englunds book:
'I am thrilled to endorse Tony Englund’s new book on 1 v 1 play. The game in the United States continues to evolve at an astounding pace. American coaches now have easy access to coaching methodology and training curriculum that is world class in every sense, and our players are increasingly
Continue readingBy Keith Scarlett
This activity works on technical and tactical aspects of finishing, passing, attacking in a 1v1 situation and goalkeeping.
Set-up:
Field length is 44 yards (length of the penalty area). Width is from the edge/corner of the penalty area to the midfield line. Two flags should be placed in the middle of each end line to be used as goals. 4 additional cones should be placed equidistant from each corner-flag (goal-post) and each corner cone on the end lines; per the diagram.
Each goal should have a goalkeeper in it whom is playing full-out and the balls should be split into two groups and placed
Playing indoor soccer or Futsal during the winter provides a great opportunity to focus on teaching players how to break down defenses in 2 v 1 situations. This is an important tactical situation for players to understand and be familiar with because so much of the game can be broken down to 1 v 1
Continue readingThis is an excerpt from the chapter "Dueling: 1v1 Play" of our new book by Tony Englund, Competitive Small Group Training
1 vs. 1 to Goal Point of Service - 1/3 field
Here player 1 checks to get service from any of the perimeter players and tries to beat the defender 2 and finish. Encourage the defender to play aggressively and to try to intercept service where possible and if the attacker does receive the ball, to deny the turn and shot. The attacker should be deceptive, showing to one side and then sharply changing directions and demanding service from another point. The middle pairing should be changed after one minute so that players are playing at speed throughout.
Variations
This is a portion of an article that appears in the November edition of WORLD CLASS COACHING Magazine. It's available to all subscribers of the Member Drills Database. The article contains an analysis of the game between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. The author, Stevie Grieve, looks at the factors that lead to an effective
Continue readingBy Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on 3 v 2 attacking and 2 v 1 counterattacking.
On a 40 x 30 grid, with full sized goals and a keeper in each goal, have attacking groups of 3’s and defending groups of 2’s.
The keeper with the attacking team starts by playing the ball in for a
Continue readingOur latest book explores how some of the best teams in the world play with a withdrawn forward, also known as a False 9. The number 9 relate to the classic number given a the striker.
The most famous example of this method being used is Spain during the 2010 World Cup. When Fernando Torres was not playing Spain would play without a true forward and only have Cesc Fabregas playing a little higher up the field than
Continue readingBy Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on using the width of the field in attack.
This activity uses half a field with a full sized goal. The field is broken into thirds with two lines going from the end line to the the midfield line 10 yards in from each end line. There is a keeper in each goal and an attacking player in each wide zone. In the middle zone is a 3 v 4.
The rules in this game are quite simple. No defending player can enter either wide area until
Continue readingBy Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on one touch passing and attacking in a game situation.
This is a small sided game (although it can be 11 v 11 on a full sized field) with only two limitations.
A player can only play one touch
The only exception so rule 1 is if they attack a defender or the goal with their first touch.
As an example, in the picture below the black team has the ball.
The player can pass one touch or can
Continue readingThe June edition of the WORLD CLASS COACHING magazine that is part of the Member Drills Database will have a session from Elmar Bolowich, Head Men's Coach at Creighton University. He presented it during the 2013 Nebraska WORLD CLASS COACHING International Seminar. The focus is on
Continue readingBy Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on transition, 3 v 2 attacking, finishing and much more.
Start with a 40 x 30 grid with two full sized goals and a keeper in each goal. There is a player on each side of the goals on the end lines and a 3 v 2 to start on the field. Each team has extra players on a side.
The team with 3 starts with the ball and they try to get to goal. They can score directly or use
Continue readingTake a virtual pitch side seat and watch how Chelsea Academy Coach, Chris Woodward trains players to move, think and react so they can be more creative in attack This special six-part video series runs you through a complete creative attacking session with Chelsea Academy Coach Chris Woodward. Watch how Woodward trains a group of
Continue readingI would say that most coaches believe that it's very important for all soccer players to be very comfortable with the ball at their feet. How they go about developing this confidence varies widely from one coach to another. Some will focus on fast footwork exercises, others will use cones or other obstacles to encourage players to keep the ball under control.
I've had the most success using fakes and moves to train ball control, creativity and 1 v 1 ability at the same time. The moves engage the player's imaginations and make it fun to practice. I discussed which
Continue readingAs the year progresses I like to add more functional activities to replace purely technical exercises. Not only do the players enjoy activities that are game related more I've also seen a greater transfer of training when I use them.
I prefer drills, exercises and games that are progressive; moving from low pressure to full pressure. They allow the player to have initial success but then be challenged by the ever increase pressure of
Continue readingBy Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity is a 2 v 1 game toward goal.
In designing training sessions we frequently create numbers up situations for the attacking team. This is done to create positive goal scoring opportunities. The problem with this is that most defenses are designed to always have one additional defender than the other team is attacking with. Since that is the case, shouldn’t we spend more time in those situations so both the attacking and defending players can be prepared?
Start with an attacking player 25 yards from goal with a ball. One defender is 5 yards closer to goal and the other one is 5 yards back. There is a keeper in goal.
The attacking player starts with their first touch and as soon as that touch
By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on overlapping runs, decision making, defending and getting to goal.
Start with a keeper in goal, a line of players near the center of the field with balls, a line of attacking players on one sideline and a defender in the middle of the field (with other defenders off to the side ready to take the defenders place.
The activity starts with a pass from the center player to the
By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on midfielders and forwards combining to get to goal.
Start with a midfielder in possession of the ball around midfield. Two other central midfielders out a bit wider and 10 yards in front and a forward just outside the top of the D. A keeper is in the goal they are attacking.
Player 1 finds the forward with a pass. He then starts
Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s game works on possession while looking to find a player in the attacking fourth of the field.
Start with a 40 x 30 grid with two 10 yard end zones. The attacking team has all of their players in the grid and the defending team has 4 players in the grid and the other 3 in the end zone.
The attacking team must make 3 passes in the grid and then
Continue readingLike many coaches I focus on one particular aspect of the game during each training session. Sure, I try to train the technical, tactical, physical and psychological components around the specific skill so that the practice is as economical as possible. But in the past if my focus was on passing and receiving I wouldn't have thought about ending the session with any type of shooting.
When WORLD CLASS COACHING conducted a tour of Dutch club a few years ago I was fortunate enough to attend. While visiting the Ajax Academy I watched a session presented by
Continue readingFor me, the beginning of the season revolves around getting a group of players to work together within a framework of a system. Lately that system has been the 4-3-3. This involves teaching each player the role and responsibility of their position: How the defenders work together to stop attacks and win the ball. How the midfielders connect the team together. How the attackers create goalscoring opportunities. All of this gives the players a starting point but the most important learning comes next.
Helping the players to think and act creatively within the framework of the system is what will
Continue readingIs it time to start 'Fall' practices again already! If you're like me you found yourself asking this question this week. I don't know where the summer break went but it's gone.
Like the first few series of the football game, I like to plan out my first few weeks of training way ahead of time. I know I want to cover a number of topics including some technique to knock the rust off. I also want to start talking about how were going to
Continue readingBy Stevie Grieve
This article is an excerpt from the books, Modern Soccer Tactics Volume 1&2.
Many of the most expensive players have been attackers. Most of the attackers have either been goal scoring machines, or players who play with flair and surprise the opponent with unpredictable dribbles, passes and shots from nowhere, that often result in goals, or goal scoring chances.
Carlos Tevez is one of these players. He is renown for his work ethic, and his ability to harass defenders when he doesn’t have the ball, but what separates him from hard working attackers is his ability on the ball. We have seen him score from long range, score tap in’s, dribble between multiple defenders in tight spaces, and take shots so early that the goal keeper cannot react to it. This week, against Norwich, he scored 3 goals, including one from long range that was taken so early that Ruddy the Norwich goalkeeper couldn’t get close to at his near post from 30 yards. What we also saw was his ability to play with flair and unpredictability with team mates of the same mindset, namely Sergio Aguero.
Tevez and Aguero play a 1-2
Man City have an attack with David Silva who passes left to Tevez. Tevez spots
Continue reading