By Chris Kouns
USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Women’s Soccer Coach – Georgia Gwinnett College
This session will offer potential combinations for the #9 and #10 players to use in order to create scoring opportunities.
Initial Introduction of Movements and Warm-Up
Set-Up
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 (5) yards – two (2) yards. You will divide your team up into four groups with one group behind each of the four corners of the cross.
Execution
There will be two patterns to follow, but, they are basically the same just different directions. The first pattern will be repeat A - B - D - C - A.
When switching to the other direction the pattern will repeat A - D - B - C – A. After players passes the ball then will rotate in a clockwise manner (even when the pattern direction switches)
Coaching Points
As the ball travels to each player the next player set to receive the ball should begin to check away and make physical contact with the player behind them in line. For instance as the ball travels from A to B player C will begin checking away and not come for the ball until B is prepared to play it. This coordination of movement between a #9 and #10 is vital to set up combination and finishing opportunities.
To help your teammates with the speed of play in combination (which is vital in the Box) players should receive the ball with the foot that is across their body and take their first touch in the direction of the person they are playing the ball to.
For this to be successful your #9 and #10 must be paying attention to the body, and eyes, of the player on the ball. They must focus on not arriving for the ball until their body tells them they are prepared to pass it. Otherwise the twin striker will kill the space and not be able to recover from a bad ball.
Progression
After going in both directions focusing on receiving the ball across your body then assign pairs of lines specific feet they must receive the ball with. For instance D & B must only receive it with the left foot while A & C must only receive it with the right foot. Make sure both pairs have to do both feet.
Move inward towards the next smaller cross and follow the same directions. After successfully managing that cross go to the smallest cross. This one requires either two very fast touches or a one touch pass to be successful.
Another option is to increase the difficulty in terms of thought process by having the players pass based off the number of touches that the person in front of them took. So, if the person who gave them the ball took two touches then they must play the next ball in one touch. If it was in three touches they must take two touches, etc. This will encourage them to be very cognizant of the player giving them the ball and their actions.
Part 2
Setup
Set up four coaching figures (or even trash cans if you do not actually have the coaching equipment) in the area between the six yard box and the penalty mark. Outside the six yard box (at the top) and then outside the 18 yard box positions five midfield or flank players with at least three or four balls each. Then, place your #9 and #10 players inside the area between the figures and the top of the 18.
Execution
In succession the midfielders and wingers will serve balls to the twin strikers who must use what they worked on in the previous activity in order to combine and finish it one time if possible but two touch at most. Any ball that the player checking for the first pass cannot control and play in one touch (or two quick touch max) does not earn them the right to finish. There is a premium put on playing balls quickly and with a purpose in the area so you can take advantage of the opportunities that arise. The next ball should not be played till the players in the middle are prepared to check away and receive the ball.
Variations
You can increase the five to a bank of seven which will give them more vertical pressure. That would mean adding a #9 and #4 to the double pivot and attacking trio.
Coaching Points
Each pair of strikers in the finishing area must work in tandem so that the player checking for the ball has their body open to an area where they can lay off, or slip a ball in, to be struck right away while their partner must read their body and adjust to be able to strike the lay off quickly.
Encourage all types of creativity by the #9 and #10 in the box. If the player checking for the ball does not see their partner in front of them challenge them to find a way to make it work. Dummy the ball, flick it with a back heel, etc. This will require your twin strikers to develop a level of communication (both verbal and non-verbal) that will be required to maximize goal scoring opportunities.
The player who is finishing the ball should take a peek at the space the “defenders” are giving them as finishing lanes and then make sure they put the ball on frame very quickly to take advantage of the fact they are so close to the goal and the GK will have limited reaction time.
Variations
You can increase the fitness component of this activity by giving each tandem a time limit to finish as many balls as possible in, however, I would not start that way so they can get a good grasp of what it takes in the box to finish first before worrying about speed. Also, you can make it a contest with the tandems each keeping track of their goals. You can give 1 point for a successful goal off a two touch lay off or finish and three points for a successful one touch lay off and finish.
Part 3
Setup
This activity will require two full size goals facing each other at a distance of 46 yards (creating two finishing zones of 23 yards each). There will be two wide areas marked off with a 3 v 1 in each area (distances vary according to the technical and tactical level of your players). Within each finishing area there will be a 2 v 1 (#9 & #10 vs #4/#5) plus a GK.
Execution
Both 3 v 1 grids are keeping possession at the same time. When they are prepared to play an entry pass into one of the finishing areas they can play the entry ball. Make sure your grid for the 3 v 1 is big enough to allow them to successfully keep possession and still offer visual cues for the attacking tandem to read and check off of. 3 v 1 is allowed to play to either attacking tandem so their body position should be open to either option. When the tandem gets the ball the striker pair focus should be to finish in less than two touches per person.
Coaching Points
As the players are keeping possession in the 3 v 1 grids the attacking pair should be moving off of each other in order to create a “scoring” pocket where they can check into and receive the ball with enough room to find their partner and finish.
One visual cue you can work with your partners on is the attacking player who is closest to the defender should drive them away by putting their shoulder in their chest. Then, that movement offers a visual cue to their partner to begin preparation of their body for a shot. They should also begin to read the space where the shot will most likely take place so they can choose their finishing area in the goal.
Players in the 3 v 1 grid should work to put themselves in positions where they can play a positive entry ball into the attacking pair. For this activity a “positive entry ball” is one that the striking partnership can finish from in minimal touches. This requires them to keep their heads up, receive the ball in a positive manner going forward when facing the attacking tandem and focus on playing a ball that can be handled in one or two touches max.
Variations
If your players are having a hard time focusing on where to go and who to check to because there is too much activity you can just have one 3 v 1 grid active at a time. Then, when a ball is played in to one attacking tandem the other 3 v 1 grid can become active and will play in the direction of the other tandem.
By Chris Kouns: USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Coach Georgia Gwinnet College Women’s Soccer (GA)
