In association with SMALL SIDED GAMES Special Edition
INTRODUCTION The games within this special edition journal have been developed by ASC s Technical team of professional elite youth coaches, all are designed to be both functional and easy to use and are suitable for players of all age groups and abilities. Created exclusively for TeamSnap members and Newsletter readers, it contains 8 games that will accelerate the learning and technical/tactical development of your players. The games work with a range of players from 2v2 through to 6v6. Every single one has been tried and tested with both grassroots juniors and elite players from top professional academies and each game is attack focused with the aim of developing creative and free flowing soccer. 2
PULL AWAY FROM YOUR DEFENDER 3v3 CONTINUOUS GAMES Two teams of five players and two keepers. Divide the pitch so that there are two attacking zones and a central free zone. The attacking team has a 3v2 situation when in the attacking zones. When the team is defending, two of the attackers must drop into the free zone and off their markers in order to receive. Players go into groups of three. The game is played with 6 goals. Each team defend and attack three goals. The teams not playing are used as keepers. After each goal, the two teams playing go off to become keepers and the previous goalkeepers come onto the pitch to play the next game. 3
3v3 COUNTER ATTACK 3v3 COUNTER ATTACK NEUTRALS Three teams - Continuous 3v3 game. The team in the middle zone must start the game by attacking one the opponents goals. If successful in scoring the team turn, receive a new ball from the coach and attack the opposite goal However if the defenders win the ball or manage to stop the attacking team scoring then they must break out and receive the ball rom the coach for the next attack. This time there is a fourth team that act as neutral players. One neutral goes into the centre zone and plays as a midfielder for both teams (limited to two touches). The other neutral players go into the end zones and work as forwards for the attacking team. The rotation of the teams remains the same as in the previous game but this time they have a 5v3 when attacking as they can use their extra attacker or pass backwards to their supporting midfielder in the free zone. 4
3v2 CHOICE 2v2 AROUND THE WORLD Three groups of players. One team at each end and one team central. The coach passes the ball across to the middle player, the middle player makes a first time pass towards the team that he wishes to join immediately a 3v2 game commences. Three teams of players. The teams always attack the goal they are facing and then defend the goal their keeper is defending. Therefore blues v purple, then yellow v blue and finally purple v yellow. This game works continuously for a set time period. Each attack is completed when the ball leaves play, a goal is scored or the defenders win possession. 5
BREAKOUT GAME - 1 BREAKOUT GAME - 2 Three goalkeepers and two teams. One team is numbered in evens and one in odds, normal game is played on the bottom pitch. On the coaches call of a number, the player called must break out of the pitch. The player now receives a pass from the coach in order to shoot at goal. On the coaches call of a number, the player called must break out of the pitch. The player receives a cross from the coach in order to shoot at goal. The player must now race back to the pitch as quickly as possible. The game continues, therefore when breaking out to shoot, your team is a player down. 6
CONCLUSION We hope this journal will help you in your journey as a soccer coach. It's important that players are developed technically in unopposed / opposed drills which offer time for repetition of the technique. However, it goes without saying that players need to experience playing small games just as much. We are living in times where children no longer learn to play with their friends on the streets or school playground. Soccer today is so organised and structured, that time just playing the game is becoming extremely rare. Academy Soccer Coach believe that the best coaches have an understanding of when to coach and when to stand back and let the kids play. Therefore, we recommend that all coaches give their players at least 30 minutes of game play within each training session regardless of age and ability. Academy Soccer Coach @AcademySCoach Please click here to see the full range of ASC e-coaching Journal titles 7
Soccer Coaching Resources for The Grassroots and Professional game asc mobile the #1 coaching app access offline compatible with ipad,tablet pc s & mobile devices plan prepare on the move session template coaching software interactive session plans save to your device free downloads coaching journals register now at www.academysoccercoach.com
SMALL SIDED GAMES Produced by: Academy Soccer Coach Ltd Written by Michael Beale Edited and designed by Lee Johnson Session Images Created by academysoccercoach.com Front Cover by Shutterstock Images Andrey Yurlov Published in 2014 by Academy Soccer Coach Ltd 29 Gildredge Road Eastbourne East Sussex BN21 4RU @AcademySCoach All contents of this book are www.academysoccercoach.com 9
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