SoccerCoachWeekly. 1v1s in the final third. David Clarke Head Coach, Soccer Coach Weekly TOOLS, TIPS AND TECHNIQUES. The ultimate player battle

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1 Issue 7 Wednesday, July, 0 vs in the final third TOOLS, TIPS AND TECHNIQUES David Clarke Head Coach, Soccer Coach Weekly The ultimate player battle They may have fallen short in the final, but Italy s attacking intent surprised many at Euro 0. A big part of this was the Azzuri s speed and agility in the final third, notably in the semi-final when striker Mario Balotelli embarrassed Germany s Philipp Lahm in a couple of classic v duels. After all, winning vs in the final third can be one of the most rewarding attacking instances in a game. In this practice, we replicate vs the task is for the defender to try to recover quickly against an onrushing attacker. After the initial drill, move on to a v game at the end it s great fun, and a fantastic way to develop skills further. Set up as shown on a half-pitch - I have used a keeper, a server, three defenders and four attackers. The attacker starts on the halfway line. He dribbles through the cones then plays a one-two with the server. When the server touches the ball, the defender becomes active and is allowed to turn and approach. The attacker must hold him off and shoot at goal. This is a fast drill that requires energy, so both defender and attacker must swap with team mates after each v attempt. Developing the session I can develop the drill by adding another defender in the penalty area, or by putting a time restriction on the attacker. The idea is to create vs at pace so that everything is game realistic. Having negotiated the chicane, the forward is under pressure to make an accurate wall pass. Then, the placement of the ball past the defender must be well planned - he should push the ball on no more than a couple of yards, then unleash a controlled shot. The game situation Set up a small 5x8-yard pitch, with a target goal at each end, and a collection of balls beside each goal. Split your squad into two teams and place players around the area on each side. One player from each team goes v. He uses team mates either to play wall passes or as a way of keeping the ball in play. Players can only shoot in the opposition half, and when a player scores he must sprint back to his goal and touch the crossbar before defending the v, as opposition players switch. Members of the new attacking team must move quickly to get a ball, and attack before the retreating player has touched the bar. Each v lasts for one minute, then change players. defenders attackers server 5yds run with ball 8yds The attacker moves through the chicane and lays a pass to the server He receives the ball back and must push it past the defender in finding a way to goal In the game situation, players can go alone or use supporting team mates around the edge of the practice area

2 Wednesday, July, 0 WARM UP Soccer golf Michael Beale Premier League Academy soccer coach With the golfing calendar moving into full swing, why not combine football with the fairway? Soccer golf can be made as simple or a difficult as you like arrange a set of three holes, with distance to the holes and obstacles relevant to the ages and abilities of your players. Set up so that pairs of players have to kick the ball towards a target cone (the hole). When both players have taken their shot, they must jog to their respective balls. Touching the ball with their foot, they return to the start, then back to the ball, before taking a second shot. For every additional shot, the player must approach the ball, touch it, then return to it having run back to the start of the hole. At the end of each hole, the winning player is the one to have hit the cone with the fewest number of shots. Now move on to the next hole. Pairs of players prepare to tackle each hole Once both players have played their first shot they must jog to their respective balls... This is a great warm-up that mixes running with technique. Players must take care with their passes and shots. Misplaced kicks mean extra running! Avoiding any obstacles you choose to lay out means bringing in elements of accuracy. Ensure too that there is no walking between shots - players must jog, always on the move.... but must return to the start and back to the ball before taking a second shot Soccer Coach Weekly is published by Green Star Media Ltd, Meadow View, Tannery Lane, Bramley, Guildford, GU5 0AB, UK. david.clarke@coach-soccer.com Tel: +44 (0) Head Coach: David Clarke Editor: James Evans Publisher: Kevin Barrow Managing Director: Andrew Griffiths Customer Service: Duncan Heard Designer: Steve Southern Contributors: Michael Beale, Tony Henchoz, David Lewis, Morgan Stanlock, Steve Watson, Tim West Green Star Media Ltd. All rights reserved.

3 Wednesday, July, 0 FOOTY4KIDS Rob the bank Steve Watson Editor, Footy4kids.co.uk Here s a game that s great for practising dribbling and passing skills. It s perfect for fiveto eight-year-olds, and you can involve the whole squad from the off. You ll require some cones and a good number of balls. Create an area that s big enough for all your players to dribble in comfortably. For 0 fiveyear-olds, for instance, I would use a 0-yard square. Outside the area, set up two three-yard squares as jails. Place all the spare balls on one side of the playing area. This is the bank. Pair up your players four pairs (the robbers) start at the opposite end to the bank, while the remaining pair (the policemen) begin in the middle. Begin with a story It s midnight - we are going to rob a bank..., and tell your players that the balls in the bank are worth,000 each! On your command, one player from each pair tries to run to the bank, capture a ball and take it back to their partner. If touched by a policeman before making it to the bank, he has to run back to his partner to tag him and let him try to get to the bank. If a player makes it to the bank, he has a decision to make: does he dribble or pass it back to his partner? A misplaced pass means play restarts, though if he is caught in possession of a ball at any time, it goes back to the bank, and he moves to one of the jails. Here, he performs two or three star jumps before going back to his partner. If the ball does make it back to the partner without the player being caught red-handed, the pair has won,000. Whatever the outcome, the other player goes next, and teams continue until all the balls are captured. The pair with the most money is the winner. Now change policemen and play again. Players must look for distractions and diversions. Speed and timing is crucial, with players capitalising on policemen engaged with other players. And close control is important too! Ensure you ask your players how they come to their decision of whether to dribble the ball back to their partner or whether to pass it back. xyds 0yds run with ball 0yds xyds Robbers, working in pairs begin on the left, and must find a way past the two policemen, who are protecting the bank Two of the robbers are tagged by policemen, but another two find a way past The tagged players have to go jail, while each player who has stolen the money must find a way to get it back to his partner either via a long pass, or a dribble

teams must do to catch up with them. Never has such conversation been so prevalent in the wake of Spain s mesmerising performance in the final against Italy.

4 Wednesday, July, 0 TOUCHLINE TALES Nature or nurture? David Clarke Head Coach, Soccer Coach Weekly As usual following a major football tournament - Euro 0, in this case there s lots of talk about the playing style of the winning team and what other teams must do to catch up with them. Never has such conversation been so prevalent in the wake of Spain s mesmerising performance in the final against Italy. While I know my players cannot emulate the skills of Xavi and Iniesta, I d still like my youth teams to follow the path set up by the academies in Spain where players are taught skills using both feet. I m often asked whether an ability to use both feet can be taught or whether it is just natural. Of course it can be taught. If you follow exercises and drills that encourage a young player to pass and think with both feet, he ll build this subconsciously into his armoury. Sure, a player will probably always prefer to use one foot over the other, but when the situation demands it, he can use either. I use sessions like the one on the front page of this issue where individual skills in vs will make my players more accomplished. Here s what Jose Mourinho s right-hand man Jose Morais - the Technical Director at Real Madrid - has to say on the subject: Young players today need to be able to make killer passes, to turn at speed and to dribble past defenders. Repeatable drills can stimulate players to improve in every one of these areas. So we work on vs for three weeks, then switch to dribbling, then the next skill, and the results are really visible. I run skills sessions with my players in three-week blocks. So we work on vs for three weeks, then switch to dribbling, then the next skill, and the results are really visible. Another thing I have tried to do at my club is increase the amount of coaching the teams are given. It s not easy because there are such great demands on everyone s time, but the reality is the more they practise under your coaching the better they will become. After all, quality plus quantity equals skilful players. Even Osvaldo Ardiles, the Argentina World Cup winner, has seen how players respond to the right kind of coaching: For many years I thought that players with special skills were not taught, they simply happened. But I have changed my mind regarding the role of expert coaching in developing outstanding skilled players. So I ve created lots of sessions to get the best out of my players. And what do I do with them? Well, I write them up for you and put them into Soccer Coach Weekly! That way, between us, we can skill up all our youth teams and create the players of the future. But nothing ever comes easily in youth soccer. With the new season approaching, why not really invest that bit extra in your players, because you ll no doubt get the same back from them. Top technique in six simple steps Steve Watson Editor, Footy4kids.co.uk A combination of six drills and games that will help you provide the building blocks for great technique, for players of any age. Include them regularly in your coaching sessions to help your children develop a natural feel for the ball that every player needs.. Tap dance Tell him to tap the top of the ball with the sole of his right foot, then his left foot. Do 0 taps in front of the ball, then 0 taps while travelling in a circle around the ball. Encourage your players to look at the ball while doing this exercise. Progress by moving the ball forwards slightly with each touch. Take the ball the width of the field, then turn and return.. Pull and push The player starts with the ball in front of his body. Get him to roll the ball with the sole of his right foot across his body and back to the centre. Then use his left foot. Repeat 0 times.. Instep rolls With the ball in front, have your player touch it with the instep (laces) of his right foot so it rolls forward a few inches. Then drag it back with the sole of the same foot. Repeat 0 times with each foot. 4. Toe taps The ball starts between your player s feet. He taps the ball back and forth rapidly between the feet, repeating 0 times with each foot. 5. On the move Move on to dribbling in a 0x0-yard square. Tell your players to keep their heads up so they don t bump into each other. Give verbal commands such as stop, turn Mastering close control of the ball is really important left/right, speed up/slow down and leave your ball and find another. Progress by holding up coloured cones that represent these commands. For example, a red cone for stop, or a green cone for speed up. Move around the square while you are doing this and it will encourage your players keep their heads up to look at you. 6. Body parts In the same square, play body part dribbling. As your players move around, call out body parts (arm, leg or head) - they have to stop the ball with that part of their body. Progress by letting your players take it in turns to call out a body part. KNEE! Familiarity with the ball doesn t just have to be with the feet! 4

SMALL-SIDED GAME Wednesday, July, 0 Possession or goals?

shown, using four target goals, one on each side of the pitch. This game uses two teams of four players. One team attempts to keep possession.

There are a few ways to play this game: - The team passing has to make six passes to score a point, while the defending team gets a point each time they find the net -

minutes defending) 0yds 0yds The black team makes it difficult by pressing and tackling Teams must be solid in their aims, but versatile enough to switch roles quickly.

5 SMALL-SIDED GAME Wednesday, July, 0 Possession or goals? Michael Beale Premier League Academy soccer coach The white team is trying to put six consecutive passes together Create a playing area measuring 0x0 yards and set up as shown, using four target goals, one on each side of the pitch. This game uses two teams of four players. One team attempts to keep possession. One team attempts to win the ball and score a goal. There are a few ways to play this game: - The team passing has to make six passes to score a point, while the defending team gets a point each time they find the net - Alternatively, the roles are reversed each time the defending team wins the ball - Or, the teams work for a set time period at each role (three minutes possession, three minutes defending) 0yds 0yds The black team makes it difficult by pressing and tackling Teams must be solid in their aims, but versatile enough to switch roles quickly. Spatial awareness is essential, as is the use of team mates. In any attacking position, a player must be looking for his exit where should he retreat to should he or his team mates lose possession of the ball? Similarly, in defence - should play be turned over, which attacking areas should the player target? IDEAL FOR G IMPROVIN PLAYERS S! REACTION When they win possession, the black team must attempt to score shot run with ball shot 0yds 5

Wednesday, July, 0 YOUR SAY SCW Surgery This week Tom West Basildon Blues, Under-8s My eight-year-old keeper Q has asked me for any tips that will enable him to save penalties. Can you help?

Certainly the same rules about watching the penalty taker s eyes and body shape apply. Very often, young players look at the corner they are going to hit the ball towards just before they shoot.

A wide (diagonal) approach often indicates the shooter is going towards the opposite corner, while research has also found that the ball often goes where the plant foot points.

Often the goalkeeper can easily make the save if he waits and simply reacts to the shot. It takes nerve, but if he delays diving and reads the penalty, he could find himself a hero!

6 Wednesday, July, 0 YOUR SAY SCW Surgery This week Tom West Basildon Blues, Under-8s My eight-year-old keeper Q has asked me for any tips that will enable him to save penalties. Can you help? Yussuf Hassan, Telford Saving penalties can be a A lottery for keepers in youth soccer just as it is in the pro game, but there are still certain advantages you can offer. Certainly the same rules about watching the penalty taker s eyes and body shape apply. Very often, young players look at the corner they are going to hit the ball towards just before they shoot. If you can tell your keeper to hold his nerve and wait until he s seen that look, he ll have a much better chance of guessing the right way to dive. The same goes for the penalty taker s approach. A wide (diagonal) approach often indicates the shooter is going towards the opposite corner, while research has also found that the ball often goes where the plant foot points. But maybe the best tip is in remembering that junior penalties are often poorly hit. In many cases, they re under-hit, or go straight down the middle. Often the goalkeeper can easily make the save if he waits and simply reacts to the shot. It takes nerve, but if he delays diving and reads the penalty, he could find himself a hero! TACKLED: Results Here s the result of the poll we ran in Soccer Coach Weekly 70. We asked how you really coach your players as a team, or as a close-knit group of individuals. 6% AS A TEAM AS INDIVIDUALS 94% TACKLED: Presentation is everything? Socks not rolled up, shirts untucked, boots scuffed... Should we really insist that our players are immaculately presented? YES Morgan Stanlock Alabama Colts, Under-s If tatty opponents come up against a side who look the business, they will feel inferior. That kind of mind play offers a great advantage before a ball has even been kicked. Image is important in any sport. Players should be well presented because in the way they dress they are conveying the message of the way they re taught and the way they re expected to behave. It s a complete package that expresses the soccer education they have and the methods by which they feel the game should be played i.e. the right way. Presentation is a constant that enables all players to fall in line. It s a shared unity that s really simple to instruct and follow through on. That then creates a common unity that can be extended easily into other areas of the team set-up. It can provide be a strong psychological edge in front of another less well presented team. If tatty opponents come up against a side who look the business, they will feel as if they are inferior, and that kind of mind play offers a great advantage before a ball has even been kicked. Dressing smartly and being well presented is a great life lesson for kids, and one they will need to revisit constantly in their adult lives if they are to get on. So why not start here? If kids don t fall into a shared code of presentation, you re offering a platform across which they feel they can bend the rules. It might be dirty boots one week, then something more serious the next. Kids have a simplistic approach towards rules, and if you re not firm in one direction then you might encounter trouble in another, with certain players trying to gain an advantage wherever they can. NO Tony Henchoz Boldklubben, Denmark Kids should feel relaxed when they re playing the game. If you ve got a player who likes having his shirt untucked maybe emulating one of his idols then let him keep it untucked. Let s be clear from the start this is about youth soccer. We re not talking black tie dinners or event presentations, it s soccer! It s about playing in the rain, the mud; it s about sweat and hard graft. In my mind, having players immaculately turned out is against the very idea of sport with honest and working-class roots at is heart. Kids should feel relaxed when they re playing the game. If you ve got a player who likes having his shirt untucked maybe emulating one of his idols then let him keep it untucked. Any way you can let players put that extra bit of swagger into their game, you should! You want kids to be in the best possible mode to express themselves on the pitch. Give them the freedom to wear their kit as they desire, and see if that provokes in them individuality in how they play the game too. And does insisting shirts are tucked in actually improve their game in any way? Does ensuring every pair of boots has been cleaned mean a player will strike the ball any better? No. As coaches, we ve got enough going on, so why make things additionally difficult for ourselves?! In the right situation, of course, get players to dress up a bit. If it s a cup final or an end-of-season presentation night, then recommend they arrive in shirt and trousers, but that should be the extent of it. And kids are kids, after all. Let s not suppress them and make them into adults before their time. We re talking youth soccer here, so give the kids a break. PUT IT TO THE VOTE: Which of our guest coaches do you agree with? Visit our Facebook page or your thoughts to David Clarke at david.clarke@coach-soccer.com 6

SoccerCoachWeekly. Perfecting pressing. David Clarke Head Coach, Soccer Coach Weekly. How to play it. Technique and tactics TOOLS, TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

SoccerCoachWeekly. Perfecting pressing. David Clarke Head Coach, Soccer Coach Weekly. How to play it. Technique and tactics TOOLS, TIPS AND TECHNIQUES Issue 295 Wednesday, December 19, 2012 TOOLS, TIPS AND TECHNIQUES Perfecting pressing David Clarke Head Coach, Soccer Coach Weekly Closing down and harassing opponents on the ball is vital if players are