TRAINING PRIORITIES INTRODUCTION PHASE U6 U8: PRIORITY: Having Fun Technical: Focus on one player, one ball Players need many touches of ball during training sessions Tactical: 1 v 1 4 v 4, games. Let them play. If teammate is open-pass; if not find a solution by dribbling General Mental Characteristics: Players are self-conscious and have a limited attention span-be careful of tone and verbiage when addressing the players. Keep trainings moving along. Easily bruised psychologically, give praise often-positive-encouraging environment Players are told to play (by parents/coach) General Physical Characteristics/Training: Players require constant movement Easy fatigue and rapid recovery Physical coordination is limited, eye-hand, eye/foot coordination not developed
TECHNICAL PHASE U9 U12 PRIORITY: Development of Individual Technique Technical: Focus on passing, receiving, dribbling and shooting consistent instruction on technical aspects Individual defending (footwork, tackling) introduce touch restrictions (3 touch play, 2 touch play) Tactical: 1 v 1 4 v 4 games to develop technical skills; add in plus-one or two to help with possession; make space bigger to help with possession Individual defending (pressure); if you lose it try and win it back mentality Combination play (wall pass, takeover, overlap) Movement off the ball (support) General Mental Characteristics: Players have a good sense of team loyalty and peer pressure becomes a factor Players become more competitive and want to play; make exercises competitive General Physical Characteristics/Training: Players balance and coordination are enhanced Begin to develop ability to perform complex skill Sequences Introduce coordination training, with and without ball ***All training should be challenging, motivating and involve TRANSITION and DIRECTION, match related
TACTICAL PHASE U13 U15 PRIORITY: Importance of ball possession DO NOT GIVE BALL AWAY!!! Technical: Technique must be reinforced due to physical change and added pressure Technical training by position (Functional training) Tactical: 1 v 1 8 v 8 games to develop group (back/midfield/forward) tactics; add plus one or two to keep possession Individual and small group defending (pressure, cover, balance); possibly introduce line of defending Continue combination play (wall pass, takeover, overlap, third man run) Possession games, with focus on 1 and 2 touch play General Mental Characteristics: Players are entering puberty Phase is characterized by mental unrest and tendency to form social groups. General Physical Characteristics/Training: Period of physical change due to puberty Continue coordination training with emphasis on agility and proper running technique One in three sessions devoted to 3 v 3 s, 4 v 4 s, 5 v 5 s. Training sessions should be challenging, motivating and involve TRANSITION and be as match related as possible.
COMPETITION PHASE U16 U19 PRIORITY: Development of team play DO NOT GIVE BALL AWAY!!! Technical: Technique must be perfected and performed under pressure of an opponent and with restrictions of time and space Tactical: 1 v 1 11 v 11 games to develop team functions (attacking and defending) per zone and positional play. Numbers up and numbers down (ex. 6 v 4, 11 v 7) Game coaching General Mental Characteristics: Players are in psychic phase of puberty, become more set in their ways Players starting to discover their own personalities. General Physical Characteristics/Training: Growth rate slows Muscle development (weight training) becomes important Continue coordination training with emphasis on strength and power Training sessions should be challenging, motivating and TRANSITION and match related. Coaches Role The role of the coach is to maximize development and increase the soccer performance of the individual players and team. Be clear, be a mentor, guide but do not over coach. Know the 3 main moments of the game: We have the ball They have the ball WE to THEY; THEY to WE; Changing possession (losing the ball, winning the ball) Knowledge of the basic techniques: Receiving Passing Dribbling Finishing Heading
Give correct instruction: Give the right examples; ask questions; have players involved in finding solutions Take into consideration age and level of play Weekly evolution of training and match(s): Read the game Analyze the problem(s)/breakdowns Formulate the objective(s), aim of the training Perform the training Evaluate after next match
TECHNIQUES TECHNIQUES WITH THE BALL Receiving the ball: Inside of the foot Sole of foot Instep Thigh Chest Outside of the foot Head Dribbling (running with the ball) Outside of the foot Instep inside of the foot Sole of the foot Striking the ball (passing, finishing) Inside of the foot Instep outside of the foot head Throw-in Fakes (dribbling moves) Change of pace Change of direction Fake strike TECHNIQUES WITHOUT THE BALL Tackling Poke Block Slide Hook Movement Walking Jogging Sprinting Starting Stopping Turning Jumping
3 main moments of soccer WE HAVE THE BALL Building up: Make as much space as possible (wide and forward)- make possession as BIG as possible Think forward and play forward as soon as possible- find the next line Otherwise use the wide player and then forward Keep organization (shape) intact; it constantly is changing but always maintains its overall shape and spacing Wait for the right moment to play the medium to long pass or to ask for the medium to long pass Spread out- make it BIG Take initiative, anticipate the situation, think ahead, communicate Adjust your position when you ve played the ball Adjust position as the ball moves or opponents move or teammates move Scoring goals: Ask for the ball at the right moment Take on defenders; take risks Try to score as quick as possible THEY HAVE THE BALL Preventing scoring chances and scoring Mark closely to the ball Give cover to your teammates Keep your opponent in front of you and block any shots at goal Do not foul needlessly Winning the ball Make space as small as possible depending on the opponents strength (pressing, dropping back) Give cover further away from the ball (balance) Attack the ball at the right moment (patience) Constantly choose the right position (adjust) Stopping the opponents from building up Holding the opponents build up
Prevent the long pass, pressure the ball, make them play short Force them to pass wide or dribble wide Pressure, close in, defend in groups TRANSITION (CHANGING POSSESSION) Losing the ball Prevent the long pass Pressure the ball Winning the ball Play forward as soon as possible Support Keep possession
THE TRAINING SESSION The challenge in designing a training session is to provide a positive, competitive, fun learning environment for the players. Warm-up: Must include ball, always technical intermittent dynamic stretching fundamental stage little or no pressure of opponent match related as possible small grid exercises, more movement and pressure of opponent restrictions (space, time, touch, manner of scoring) free play-important evaluate Keys to Creating a Successful Training Session Have soccer related objectives: To score goals keep possession switching of play To defend-win ball back within specific parameters (location; time limit) Many repetitions: Good planning Enough balls pumped up Enough equipment cones, bibs Correct coaching: Influence players Intervene, give specific instructions/demonstrate, ask questions, resume play; don t stop too much