By Eric Clermont - Introduction: After many years of working with different coaches at the youth level at various levels of the game, (including Academy, club and even with school teams) it is still disappointing to me that when asked how they did on the weekend, most ‘youth educators’ will start by giving me the score
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By Sean Pearson Area Size: 2/3 of Field Teams: 8 v 8 Time: 20-25 Minutes • To draw opposition players out of position with our body shape • To be aware of our surroundings of when to accomplish a reverse pass What is a ‘reverse’ pass? A reverse pass is when a player is going/facing one direction and
Continue readingBy Alex Trukan Since the successes of the teams like FC Barcelona and Spanish national team in the recent years, many teams were trying to adapt ‘possession’ football approach. It has been widely used, however at the same time, widely misunderstood. The ‘tiki-taka’ style started to be played for the sake of it, and not
Continue readingBy Alex Trukan Defenders have been valued not only in defence but also in attack for the last couple of years. Full backs were a major revelation at the World Cup in 2002 and since it became common and obvious when a full backs is utilised on the opposition half. Centre backs’ role in attack
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By Sean Pearson Area Size: 40 x 35 Yards Teams: 7 v 6 Time: 20-25 Minutes Objectives To be more direct when the scenario presents itself To pass to players with open shoulders Be positive in your play When we hear the term ‘direct play’ a lot of players/coaches automatically think of the long ball or as some
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By Sean Pearson Area Size: 40 x 35 Yards Teams: 5 v 5 Time: 15-20 Minutes Objectives To understand when and where to move before the pass To think 2 passes ahead This session focuses on player’s movement off the ball. Personally I feel this is one of the most important aspect of a soccer team. To
Continue readingBy Renato Lopez Moreira -
This 2 v 2 + 6 game is an excellent way to work on team shape and ball circulation for teams playing a 2-4-2 formation in a 9 v 9 game.
The game is played in a 15 x 12-yards area. Each player is limited to playing two touch. Five consecutive passes are worth one point. The game is played for 10 minutes or to a certain number of points.
Exercise
The two central players in possession work with the
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Continue readingBy Alex Trukan
In the times, when the teams are organised in defence so well, narrowing up spaces and patiently pressurising and covering, it is difficult for the teams to break through and create chances using conventional possession play. Therefore, it is becoming more and more popular not to try to possess the ball, but rather invite the opposition to attack and exploit their weaknesses in transition phases. One of those methods is a quick attack, a golden mean between patient positional attack and counter attack. It can be classified as a part of attacking phase, however it has still many transitional characteristics such as quick penetration, exploiting spaces in behind of the opposition defence, through passes, early crosses or forward runs.
Initiating the attack – Priorities
When defensive unit is in possession, the
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By Renato Lopez Moreira -
This 10 v 10 game to work on changing the point of attack.
The game is played in a 50 x 35 yard area for 25 minutes.
Exercise
The field will be divided into three areas. The team who is
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By Renato Lopez Moreira -
This small-sided game is played with two teams of seven and three neutral players who always assist the team in possession. The game is played in a 30 x 30-yard area with two small goals at each end. Each team defends one end and attacks the other.
The attacking team works to keep possession and move the
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By Sean Pearson Area Size: 35 x30 Yards Teams: 4 v 4 + 1 Time: 15 Minutes Objectives To understand when and where to attack 1v1 To be positive in decision making A lot of emphasis in today’s soccer is put on possession and passing but what if a team is ‘parking the bus’ passing in front of
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By Renato Lopez Moreira - This is a progression of last week's possession game. You can also think of it as a 4 + 2 v 2 since two of the attackers are playing in a central role in the middle of other four attackers. The game works on a number of important aspects of the game: Minimum of
Continue readingBy Alex Trukan
Attacking through the wings requires many unique characteristics of players, including not only technical and tactical side, but also physical and mental aspects. Qualities, such as speed, flair, combination play, patience or simply crossing technique are essential. From the tactical perspective, utilising wide areas can be useful due to the change in the attacking angle, more spaces to exploit or an opportunity to cross the ball into penalty box. Having all of that in mind, it is also crucial to avoid utilising wings just for the sake of doing it. Wing play should be used as a tool when attacking centrally is not available or difficult to execute, remembering that breaking through the centre is a priority.
Preparation Phase
Even before the ball is played out wide, it is important to open up spaces and get into starting positions enabling to attacking through the wings effectively. One way of doing it is to overload central areas of the pitch by the inside movements of wingers, strikers and central midfielders. That will enable the team to exchange a number of passes in the middle to drag the opposition towards the
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By Renato Lopez Moreira -
This is a progression of last week's 4 v 2 into a 5 v 2. You can also think of it as a 4 + 1 v 2 since the fifth attacker is playing in a central role in the middle of four attackers.
The game works on a number of important aspects of the game:
In this exercise, the
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By Sean Pearson Area Size: 50 x 40 Yards Teams: 7 v 7 Time: 20 Minutes Objectives To understand when and where to use the front foot to turn To understand when and where to use the back foot to turn The area is split into three zones, two end zones of 15x40 yards and a larger
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By Renato Lopez Moreira -
Today's small-sided game is called by different names depending on where you're from. It's been called, 'Rounds', 'Rondo' or 'Sily'.
The game works on a number of important aspects of the game:
In this exercise, the
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By Sean Pearson Area Size: 40 x 45 Yards Teams: 6 v 6 Time: 20 Minutes Objectives To understand when and where to play the long pass Use the correct weight of pass The area is split into three zones, two wide zones of 5 yards in depth and a larger middle zone of 30x45 yards. There
Continue readingBy Renato Lopez Moreira -
This is a progression of the game from last week. It is played with three teams of six players. It can be played with fewer players on each team or using a neutral player if number divisible by three are not available.
The difference with this game is that there is one player from each team positioned in the middle zone.
The game area is 45 x 42 yards and the game is played in two 15 minute halves.
This exercise is played by three teams. Two teams work to possess the ball and one team defends.
The field is divided into three small ones: two areas for the
Continue readingBy Renato Lopez Moreira -
This is a progression of the game from last week. It is played with three teams of six players. It can be played with fewer players on each team or using a neutral player if number divisible by three are not available.
The game area is 45 x 42 yards and the game is played in two 15 minute halves.
This exercise is played by three teams. Two teams work to possess the ball and one team defends.
The field is divided into three small ones: two areas for the
Continue reading
