US Men s National Team Training. March 24, 2011.

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Anne Wilcox
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US Men s National Team Training. March 24, 2011. Jeff Schellenberger Mikey, Josey, Timmy & Gooch were names being called out last week while my sons and I watched the US Men s National Team train.

1 US Men s National Team Training. March 24, Jeff Schellenberger Mikey, Josey, Timmy & Gooch were names being called out last week while my sons and I watched the US Men s National Team train. We made the almost 3 hour drive from Hickory to Wake Med Park, Cary NC last Thursday March 24. The decision to go was made Wednesday night after we came home from practice. My friend at the park would hold a spot for us if we were able to come. What a great day we had! We arrived at the park just before 10 AM. After the security guard checked us in, we parked and quickly made ourselves to the bleachers. To our pleasant surprise the team came right to the area in front of where we sat and began their warm up. Their warm up consisted of the team getting into two lines and performing various dynamic movements for about 10 yards and then a light jog back to the start. Each movement was done a few times through. After 10 minutes the team was allowed to stretch as individuals for a few minutes. The dynamic movement activity was completed off the soccer field. Next, the team broke into three groups of six players. They organized themselves so two players were about yards away from a group of three players. There was one player located between the two small groups, he was the worker. XX X XXX The passing / receiving activity, was an activity I ve seen many of our club coaches do. Although a very simple activity, the level of concentration and execution by the players was very high. Each working player was constantly adjusting his feet to get into the path of the ball. His positioning and first touch then put the player into a good position to pass the ball to the next player. The other recognizable movement that each working player did was to have their head on a swivel. He was always looking for the ball and looking to see where the ball needed to be passed. The passing /receiving lasted about 8 10 minutes. A short break followed. The next activity was again another practice I ve seen used multiple times by many coaches; a 4 v to targets. The targets were the assistant coaches. The playing space was about 20 x 30 yards. There were lots of short sharp passes and plenty of support movement throughout the game. The coaches /targets were giving feedback regularly. Coach Bradley (Head Coach) would spend time with one group and then turn his attention to the other group. Each group was constantly encouraged to find a rhythm, deal with the ball and opponents pressure in tight space. The coach s continuously recognized the players success. The possession / target game lasted about minutes.

A short break followed, during which the coaches got the players organized for a ¾ field 9 vs. 7 game. This was the first activity where the keepers joined the team.

The keepers worked on footwork and catching of various types of shots and crosses, all very basic, the focus was on collecting the ball cleanly. When the half field scrimmage began (9 vs.

2 A short break followed, during which the coaches got the players organized for a ¾ field 9 vs. 7 game. This was the first activity where the keepers joined the team. Prior to this portion of practice the three keepers worked with the keeper coach. They worked off to the side, away from the goal mouth. The keepers worked on footwork and catching of various types of shots and crosses, all very basic, the focus was on collecting the ball cleanly. When the half field scrimmage began (9 vs. 7), one keeper stayed in the opposite goal and then took shots and crosses from the keeper coach and the players who were not involved in the scrimmage. In the 9 vs. 7 the coach walked the center of the field, speaking to individuals and encouraging the players to find a rhythm. The game was set up to encourage attacking play, to create numbers up opportunities in the attacking half of the field and for goal scoring chances. The attacking team had 3 backs, 5 midfielders, 1 forward. The defending team had 4 backs and 3 central midfielders. If the defending team won the ball they worked to get it to an assistant coach who stood beyond the midfield line. In the game, one goal was scored and several good chances were created. The back four defenders were lead by center defender Jay Demerit. He was very vocal throughout the session. He was constantly providing defensive direction to the players around him. He was the man in charge in the back. On the attacking team Donovan and Dempsey played on the outsides, Jermaine Jones played centrally in the MF, later switching with Mike

Bradley. Josey Altidore played up top. The outside backs on the attacking team constantly pushed high to get into the attack. They played about 15 minutes. A short break followed.

Coach Bradley walked the field a little, but spent most of his time on the side line with the rest of his staff. He continuously urged the team to find a rhythm.

3 Bradley. Josey Altidore played up top. The outside backs on the attacking team constantly pushed high to get into the attack. They played about 15 minutes. A short break followed. The last team activity was a full sided game. The goals were moved up to the 6 yard box. It appeared to be the Saturday night starters vs. the reserves. Coach Bradley walked the field a little, but spent most of his time on the side line with the rest of his staff. He continuously urged the team to find a rhythm. The second team created more chances though and got a goal. The team scrimmaged about 20 minutes. The Coach spoke to team briefly and then the players organized themselves into a crossing and finishing activity. In the first finishing activity, an outside defender and outside midfielder placed themselves wide on each side of the field about 30 yards from the end line. There were 4 forwards placed at the top of the arch, 2 forwards alternated every time. There were several central players. One at a time the central player (CP) passed a ball to a coach who played the ball back to the right or left side of the central player. The CP then played the ball wide; the wide player took a long touch, looked up

& then served the ball to the 2 forwards. One forward made a near post run, the other a far post run. This portion lasted 6-7 minutes. Keepers took turns in goal.

The wide player took the ball to the end line and then played a diagonal ball back to the two forwards. The last activity lasted 6-7 minutes.

4 & then served the ball to the 2 forwards. One forward made a near post run, the other a far post run. This portion lasted 6-7 minutes. Keepers took turns in goal. The last finishing activity was a similar set up, the wide players just squeezed into the width of the 18. They received a through ball from the CP. The wide player took the ball to the end line and then played a diagonal ball back to the two forwards. The last activity lasted 6-7 minutes. The players cooled down on their own and then Coach Bradley spoke to the team briefly. After the Coaches talk Michael Bradley went back out on the field and worked on his passing and receiving of square passes for a few minutes. The amazing thing that we saw next was that almost every player helped to take the training equipment or water bottles back to the bus. They all just picked up items until the training area was clear. The training session and its activities could be performed by almost any team. The level on focus, intensity and execution was very high and that made the practice challenging and demanding for all. My boys waited by the team gate and were then lucky enough to receive almost every ones autograph! The players made small talk with the boys as my sons thanked them & wished them good luck. My sons were extremely excited! The whole training session lasted approximately 90 minutes. From the time the team arrived and till they cooled down and packed up they were at the field approximately 2 hours. It was a very cool experience, one that I am sure my boys and I will remember a long time.

5 Thank you goes out to my friend at Wake Med, the USMNT Players and Coaching Staff. GO USA!

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