Training with mannequins and the Soccer Wall by Roby Stahl, Boys Director of Coaching, Ohio Elite Soccer Academy

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Lambert Davis
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1 Try something new! Training with mannequins and the Soccer Wall by Roby Stahl, Boys Director of Coaching, Ohio Elite Soccer Academy Cones, poles, tires, various goals and all sorts of balls are familiar to practically every coach by now as a way to add some variety to practice. Newer equipment like mannequins or the Soccer Wall are less well-known and not always properly used. In this article, we present practical suggestions for incorporating these devices into motivational and effective exercises. The Soccer Wall and mannequins are products that really make a difference in the style, organization and effectiveness of your training sessions. The Soccer Wall I use the Soccer Wall religiously in practice sessions with fun, age-appropriate activities incorporating technique, tactics and fitness. We ask our players to arrive minutes before each session and play various juggling games on the tennis nets provided with the Soccer Wall. It s not unusual to see 40 players having fun and trying new tricks without realizing that they re learning at an advanced rate. The Soccer Wall gives players an aerial target to get the ball over when learning to cross balls from the flank. It has also been designed to allow for goalkeeper training and soccer volleyball on a higher net. And when movable goals are not available, I use the low walls as targets for passing and shooting activities. Mannequins Obviously, the main function of free kick mannequins is probably for working on set pieces (rather than asking your players to stand in the wall and invariably get hit). However, with a little innovation they can be used in teaching tactical aspects like zonal defending as well. When working on crossing the ball from the flanks, mannequins give players a visual target to hit. Mannequins are invaluable for technique training and for allowing young players to develop proper body fakes and swerves. When coaches use cones to teach dribbling, especially in speed relay racing (with or without the ball), the ball seems to avoid the cones while the player stays rigid and runs directly over them. Training with mannequins makes players use proper technique, so they learn how to manipulate their bodies using the correct muscle groups. 1 Dribbling Players dribble through the slalom course, then jog back to the start with the ball, using any style and part of the foot they prefer. Assign a particular dribbling technique focusing on the six foot areas (instep, inside, outside, sole, toe and heel). Players practice: 1) at a comfortable speed, 2) somewhat faster and 3) as fast as possible. Players must circle each mannequin. Vary the distance between mannequins. Coaching point Pay strict attention to body movements and correct faking/dribbling points. Set up two to four columns of mannequins. Set up a starting cone in front of each column. Divide players into groups; each player has a ball. C All photos: Stahl 10

2 Dribbling and finishing Set up as above, adding a goal with goalkeepers. Players work on dribbling and faking, finishing with a clean strike on goal.

2 2 Dribbling and finishing Set up as above, adding a goal with goalkeepers. Players work on dribbling and faking, finishing with a clean strike on goal. Alternate sides and have two rotating goalkeepers. Players vary their speed as above while executing technical tasks, e.g. right foot only. Hold a relay race: Players score one point for finishing first and one point for scoring a goal. Playing time is five minutes on each side. Put targets (cones) in the goals rather than goalkeepers. Goals scored with the weaker foot count double. Vary the distance between mannequins and angle with relation to the goal. 3 Speed dribbling Place mannequins in a star pattern (five yards apart). Using two cones, mark out a starting goal outside the star. Starting at the starting goal, players dribble around each mannequin, always returning to the center mannequin. They turn with the outside of the foot, alternating feet and finally returning to the starting goal. The second player starts when the first player passes the first mannequin. Players must use specific techniques on turns, e.g. inside/outside of foot, Cruyff, sole, etc. Players progress from their comfort zone to top speed. Change directions from counterclockwise to clockwise. Time players and add two seconds each time they miss a mannequin. Hold a team relay. Add a goal and goalkeeper so players can finish after dribbling. SIS BINDERS SIS custom magazine binding system. This binder allows you to keep all of your issues of SUCCESS IN SOCCER organized for easy access. Each binder holds up to 12 magazines. US $9.95 To order please contact: NORTH+SOUTH AMERICA: , fax or visit our website 11

3 YOUTH TRAINING 4 Turning and finishing One player from each line faces away from the mannequin and acts as a target player. Target player B checks back into or past the mannequin (defender), then returns for a pass from A. B turns past the mannequin with the first touch and shoots on the second touch (first touch is not square but a penetrating ball). B retrieves the ball and moves to the other line. B uses various turning techniques, e.g. inside/outside of foot. Player A passes in the air to chest, thigh, head, etc. B can play a return ball to A, then spin off to collect a through ball. Player A can overlap B. Player A can pressure B after the pass. Place two mannequins at the top of a circle in front of a goal with goalkeeper. Set up a starting cone 10 yards in front of each mannequin. Players line up in two groups at the starting cones; each player has a ball. 5 Finishing Who can score the most goals in five minutes? Set up two mannequins 22 yards from the goal line (no goalkeepers). Set up two starting cones 10 yards away from the mannequins. Players line up in two groups at the starting cones; each player has a ball. Player A dribbles toward the mannequin, does a body fake and finishes on the next touch. After striking, A moves to the other line. 12 Add goalkeepers. Player A juggles to the mannequin, eliminates it and finishes on the next touch. Players start from the side. Two players start at the same time: Who can score first? Team relay: Which team can score more goals in five minutes?

6 Crossing and playing long balls Partners practice floating (chipping) or flighting (driven above head height) balls to each other; touches are unlimited.

4 6 Crossing and playing long balls Partners practice floating (chipping) or flighting (driven above head height) balls to each other; touches are unlimited. The passer (A) scores one point for hitting the ball over the mannequin and landing it either on B s foot or in the square. Playing time is five minutes. If the ball lands in the square but is not received before it bounces, B loses a point. If the ball does not go over the mannequin s head or does not land in the square, A loses a point. Touch restriction: B has two touches, one to receive the ball and the other to serve it. Mark out several 30 x 10 yard fields with a mannequin in the middle of each. Position two players and one ball in each field. 7 Crossing and finishing driven balls Playing area is the 18-yard box in front of a goal with goalkeeper Place three mannequins near the six-yard box. Line up right-footed players at the right edge of the 18-yard box and left-footers on the left. Position three attackers in the box. The flank player dribbles down the line and tries to hit the spaces between the mannequins and the goalkeeper. The attacking players try to arrive in those spaces between the mannequins, focusing in particular on the near, far and mid-goal areas. All balls are driven at head height or lower. Players can bend the ball away from the goalkeeper. The second player in line plays a long ball down the 18-yard line for the first player to sprint to and serve directly. Give the three attackers different options, e.g. laying the ball back for a player at the top of the box. The server can penetrate toward the six-yard box before driving to the near post or laying back for the mid-goal runner. 13

YOUTH TRAINING TRAINING WITH THE SOCCER WALL 1 Crossing and finishing floated balls Set up as above, but instead of the mannequins, place two Soccer Walls near the flank sides of the 18-yard box Now

5 YOUTH TRAINING TRAINING WITH THE SOCCER WALL 1 Crossing and finishing floated balls Set up as above, but instead of the mannequins, place two Soccer Walls near the flank sides of the 18-yard box Now the wing player must get the ball up and over the Soccer Wall, with an emphasis on hitting the space at the back post. Attacking players work on the timing and speed of their runs to appropriate spaces Start the sequence on one side, then switch through the midfield to the other winger, who gets down the line on the first touch and at speed. The second touch must be served. Introduce the option of playing an early ball from the flank midfield area. Alternate high and low Soccer Walls, placing them in different areas. Players must finish a certain way (head, volley, etc.). 2 Soccer tennis Set up Soccer Walls in a straight line. One, two or three players stand on each side of each wall. Divide players into teams. Bounces are not allowed. Players must use the weaker foot. Set a score or time limit. Set up a ladder tournament in which losers move down and winners move up. Technical restrictions: head only, all players must touch the ball before it s passed over, etc. Alternate high and low walls. Teams play soccer tennis. Younger players may let the ball bounce once between juggles. Older players may be allowed one bounce per team as the ball comes over the net. Players can only score on the service (volley or half-volley). 14

Weekly Practice Schedule:

Weekly Practice Schedule: Coaching Ages 13 to 14 Years This section provides you with a twelve-week training program for children ages 13 through 14 years. Each practice features four fun and progressive drills and culminates with