By Mike Smith This weekend I had the great pleasure of coaching a team of 5th graders, most of whom were playing their fifth and sixth soccer games ever. They are working hard and want to improve and are very disciplined in their efforts. So disciplined in fact I had several players open with the ball
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By Mike Smith Have you ever noticed how most collegiate and professional squads back off on each other when an attack stalls and the opposing team decides to play out from the back? Compare this to youth soccer and it seems there is constant pressure at every position. I know there is a focus in youth
Continue readingBy Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on making a long pass, receiving a long pass and then timing runs for balls served from the side.
With the big emphasis on small sided soccer (which usually means small fields) a lot of players have lost the ability to pass a ball 35-40 yards accurately and also to receive these type of balls. This is a progression which works on that, and a lot more.
Start with a player in the middle of the field 45 yards out or so. Another player is out wide and then there are two players on the other side. There is also a keeper in goal.
The player in the middle starts with a ball and drives a ball out
Continue readingWelcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on long passes, receiving long passes, combinations and finishing.
Start with two goals 50 yards apart with a keeper in each goal. There are two players in the middle and a line of players on the right side of each goal with balls.
The first player in one of the lines starts by driving a ball to
Continue readingBy Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Todays featured activity works on playing a long ball, receiving long balls, attacking from width and defensive shape
Start with a player with a ball near the center circle. There are 2 attacking players out wide on each side between 18-25 yards out. There are three defenders inside the 18 a keeper in goal.
The player with the ball starts by playing a long ball to either of the most
Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on playing a long ball, receiving a long ball, dribbling toward goal, shooting, goalkeeping and fitness
Start with two small line of players on one sideline (one line with balls), 30-40 yards from goal.
Opposite them is another line of players. A keeper is in goal.
The first player with a ball drives a ball cross field to the
Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on possession, attacking and longer passes.
This is a 4 v 4 game with a third team resting. The field is 40 x 30 and there is an extra 10 yards on each end line. Two small goals are set up 10 yard beyond each endline with a player from the resting team in each goal.
The two teams must stay inside the field but to score a goal they must