Tag Archives for " Passing "

0 Breaking Lines of Pressure- Part 3

By 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

3 Passing on the Move

We often train passing in static lines where the passes go all go in the same direction. Teaching players to pass while moving is important to transfer the techniques of passing to game situations. These exercises are ones that I've used to make the transition from static to dynamic passing.

Passing on the Move

Players pass the ball back and forth up the field receiving with

0 Breaking Lines of Pressure- Part 2

By 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

0 #027 Building an Unbreakable Defense

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0 Through Balls

By Sean Pearson Area Size: 40 x 45 Yards Teams: 6 v 6 Time: 20 Minutes Objectives To understand when and where to run behind the defense When and where to time the through pass into space Use the correct weight of passThe area is split into three zones, two end zones of 5 yards in depth

0 Building From the Back Against Medium Pressure

By Alex Trukan

Building up from the back has been a buzzword in soccer over the last years. Some teams have applied it effectively, others, however, struggled to understand the purpose of it which has led to many misunderstandings around the topic. Building-up from the back has many variations and types, some involving more direct play using long passes into striker’s foot, some are based more around sequence of shorter passes and patient progress through the thirds (depending on the philosophy of the club, opposition characteristics, pressure applied or result). However, regardless of its variation, the main aim remains the same: transfer the ball into opposition’s half and start creating chances. Therefore, as coaches, it is important to remember, that if the opportunity for a direct pass into strikers arises, it should be taken as soon as possible. At the same time, it shouldn’t be the only option. In this article, some aspects of the more common way of a building-up from the back against medium pressure will be presented.

Central defenders in possession

When the goalkeeper is in possession, central defenders usually become first players available to receive, starting the build-up play. Therefore, they shouldn’t possess lower technical abilities than midfielders or strikers. Unfortunately, that is often neglected and has negative effects on the

2 Breaking Lines of Pressure

By 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.

Two teams work to keep possession and one team defends.

The field is divided in three small ones: two fields for the attacking teams and one central zone for the defense.
Each field has six attackers that must

0 Attacking and Defending Possession Game

By Renato Lopez Moreira - 

This game 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.

Two teams work to keep possession and one team defends.

The field is divided in three small ones: two fields for the attacking teams and one central zone for the defense.
Each field has six attackers that must

1 Creating Offensive Superiority

By Renato Lopez Moreira - 

This is a progression of last week's 8 v 8 game to work spacing and player movement. This week the game will again start as 8 v 8 but the team in possession works to create 6 v 4 offensive superiority situations.

The game area is 55 x 45 yards and the game is played in two 15 minute halves.

The field is once again divided into four zones. This time each zone contains

1 Moving to Create Options

If players don't move without the ball they won't create options for the player with the ball. I've found this training session to be an excellent one to teach players how to make runs for their teammate with the ball.

The three runs that this session focuses on are checking, drifting and

1 Four Zone Game - Progression

By Renato Lopez Moreira - 

This is a progression of last week's 5 v 5 game to work spacing and player movement. We now play 8 v 8 The game area is 50 x 45 yards and it is played as two 15 minute halves. 

The field is once again divided into four zones. This time each zone contains

0 Four Zone Game

By Renato Lopez Moreira -  This is a 5 v 5 game to work spacing and player movement. The game area is 44 x 39 yards and it is played as two 10 minute halves.  The field is divided into four zones. Each zone contains an attacker and a defender. An additional attacker and defender begin

0 The Most Efficient Form of Conditioning

We all have such limited time to impact the technical, tactical and physical abilities of our players that finding ways to integrate each of these into our training sessions is very important. If we were training four or five times a week we could afford to practice them in isolation but most of the coaches reading this won't have that luxury.

0 Six Goal Game

By Renato Lopez Moreira -  This game is a progression of the previous 5 v 5 games I've presented over that last few weeks. The game is played in a 30 x 30 yard area divided into two 15 x 30 yard areas There is no limitations on the number of touches each player can

0 Transitional Possession

By Renato Lopez Moreira -  This game is a progress of the one from 'Possession From Target to Target' last week. The game is played in a 30 x 30 yard area divided into two 15 x 30 yard areas There is no limitations on the number of touches each player can take Ten consecutive

0 Crossing and Finishing

By Sean Pearson Area Size: 2 x 18 yard area with 5 yard neutral zones Teams: 6 v 6 (+ 4) Time: 20 Minutes Objectives To get the ball out wide as quickly and as often as possible Decide which cross is best for the situation For the attacking team to make positive attacking runs to disorientate

0 Individual Defending Activities

By Chris Kouns USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Coach Georgia Gwinnett College Women's Soccer Activity 1 Around the center circle there will be players on the outside without balls. Inside the center circle there will be a few less players who have

0 Possession From Target to Target

By Renato Lopez Moreira - 

This game is a progress of the one from 'Possession Under Pressure' last week.

• There is no limitations on the number of touches each player can take
• The 'Jokers' play with the team who have possession of the ball
• Ten consecutive passes are worth one point
• The game is 10 minutes long

Exercise

The Attackers have to exchange passes between them and the

1 Possession - Breaking the Lines

By Sean Pearson Area Size: 40 x 45 yrds Teams: 5 v 5 (+ 5) Time: 20 Minutes Objectives To maintain possession To penetrate the lines of the defensive team Decision making to use the wings or the middle of the field This possession exercise focuses on maintaining it while looking to move the ball forward beyond the

0 Possession Under Pressure

By Renato Lopez Moreira - 

Today's featured activity is a small-sided.

It is a 5 v 5 game that is played on a 27 x 27 yard area for 10 minutes.

The players are not limited to a certain number of touches. The passes can be short or medium in length, with players moving without the ball to create options..

10 consecutive passes worth 1 point.

When the the ball leaves the team that touched it last is on defense.

Exercise

The Attackers exchange passes between them trying to

0 Finishing and Combination Play in the Box

By Chris Kouns USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Coach Georgia Gwinnett College Women's Soccer Activity 1 There are three sets of cones set up in a cross pattern (as shown below). The distances for the crosses are eight (8) yards – five

4 Barcelona Passing Pattern

I've seen this setup credited to Barcelona but I can't verify it. Whether it comes from them or not I like that movements and the fact that the players have to read each other's movements before deciding where they should move.

A ten-yard box has a player on each end. A line of

3 Passing Sequence with Repeated Sprints

By Alex Trukan

The presented exercise is aimed at developing repetitive sprints ability with a passing content. From the conditioning perspective, the practice is focused on improving players’ ability to keep the amount of sprints high throughout the game, without a decrease in the quality. Therefore, it is especially relevant for improving players in 1v1’s and running duels. That is integrated in the passing practice ensuring players are motivated and improving in the technical corner.

Set Up and Directions

Organise a square of approximately 20x20 yards. Place two poles, 10 yards from each side of the square as shown on the diagram below. Divide players into groups of five and give each player a number from one to five. Every group of

0 3 v 2 Defending

This week's post is from Don Herlan, author of Smedley's Drills Volumes 1-4 and Smedley's Defending 20.

This is a drill that I stole from the men’s basketball coach at St. Francis University back when I coached there. He was working with his players on defending the fast break, and I thought that I could use this same drill to work on tandem defense. And it worked great. To me, this is a classic example of what makes for a good drill—there is enthusiasm, there is learning, and there is a total involvement on the part of the players. And like all effective drills, the longer it runs, the better it gets.

‘Numbers down’ drills like this one will get the defenders a ton of repetitions with 3 v 2, 2 v 1, and 1 v 1 situations. And it is essential that they learn how to deal with the dilemma of being a man down until help arrives. Also, they will get to see all kinds of looks and combinations from the attackers—overlaps, takeovers, switches, thru runs—while having to go 1 v 1 with the dribbler at the same time. When this drill is run at top speed, it becomes incredibly game-like and valuable for the defenders.

*Note for the coaches: It takes a little while to get this drill set up and organized, and a few of the players may be a little confused at first about switching in and out of the