NCSA PLAYER DEVELOPMENT HANDBOOK Foreword & Introduction Players and Parents, As NCSA Coaching Director, a big part of my role is helping individual players improve. Both the NCSA and NOGA take great pride in providing the very best professional soccer coaches to the New Canaan community. Our coaches make every effort to develop both a love for the game and a genuine desire for players to be their best but much of the responsibility rests with the player. Therefore, in conjunction with NOGA, I am pleased to introduce the NCSA Player Development Handbook. This new initiative is designed to encourage all players to improve their skills outside of their NCSA team practices and games. It will come to replace individual player evaluations by allowing a genuine dialogue between parent, player and coach to develop. Parents and players will be surprised to see how, when players are given focus in what they practice the number of quality touches with a soccer ball, just 20 to 30 minutes of individual practice each day can measurably advance skills. After coaching youth soccer in America for the last ten years, I have identified one of the most overlooked and undervalued factors in player development the amount of time players spend practicing on their own. This Handbook will be our working document that we ll add to as we move forward. Our initial focus will be on the fundamental technical skills and opportunities to improve your understanding of the game by providing you with direction and specific goals to maximize your time and productivity when practicing independently. Summertime is the perfect opportunity for a player to pick up a soccer ball on their own and to form good individual practice habits that will hopefully continue into the fall and beyond. All players must maintain their skills through practice. The recommended skills included in this Handbook, along with the age group goals, will provide players the ability to measure their progress and see improvement in their technical game. The skills highlighted in the Handbook should be familiar to players from the coaching curriculum delivered by NOGA. Not only are our NOGA coaches in tune with this handbook, much of it is derived from their curriculum. The technical skills and goals highlighted within will be a major part of your practice sessions when you return this fall. Integrating its recommendations will enable players to show their coaches the good work they have been doing in preparation for the start of the NCSA season. Another learning opportunity available to players over the summer is watching professional games on TV. Watching players in specific positions and studying how they function in those roles, along with observing their decisionmaking in action, can speed the learning curve for all players. Another observation to make while watching the professionals is the team s shape on the field during play rather that just watching the ball and the movement of the players off the ball. There are plenty of quality games taking place with the Women s World Cup, Copa America, MLS and the EPL all getting coverage on TV. Enjoy!! I wish you all a great summer exploring your potential through individual practice. I look forward to seeing you all on the field at the end of August. Yours in Soccer, Kirk Bamford, 1
New Canaan Soccer Association Director of Coaching Developing Your Game and Technical Skills If you are going to get the most out of the time and effort you invest in individual practice time, it is essential that you follow a well thought out program. This handbook provides exactly that. Whatever the discipline you are looking to improve, it will help if you set difficult yet attainable goals for yourself. All goals should be measurable. Very few players become truly great at any sport without having a true understanding of that sport that only develops over time and with great personal investment. Whatever your age level, whatever your current level of skill, you will find it easier to play the game and master new skills if you are the master of the ball. Spending as many hours as possible with a ball at your feet will develop this degree of skill and artistry. The following exercises and activities will help you in your ambition to become the master of the ball. Make this a labor of love. Put your favorite music on in the background. Practice everyday no matter what the conditions. You ll discover something wonderful about being the only kid in the neighborhood with enough ambition to be out passing and striking against a wall as the snowflakes fall. 1 Juggling Work on all parts of the body, right laces, left laces, right thigh, left thigh, head. Build on the number of times that you can perform combinations of certain sequences. Two good ones are left and right laces only, and right laces, left laces, right thigh, left thigh or, as your NOGA Trainer refers to it, an Around the World. Do not get disheartened if you cannot complete many combinations right from the start. The best players in the world, like Messi and Martha, did not become exceptional without messing up and starting over many times. Keep at it!!!! 2 Key Moves All top players have their own signature moves that they use to beat opponents. From a Drag Back through a Stepover to a Maradonna, all good moves typically involve a change of pace and direction with quick feet. When practicing independently, it is essential that you perform them at a speed that is challenging. Practice at the speed you would employ to beat a defender in a game. If you do them too slowly, your time and efforts will be wasted. Moves that involve as many surfaces of both feet as possible and can be carried out with quick feet in a small space are a great way to improve your ball mastery. Practice the two foundation moves (InsideOutside and U Shape) on a daily basis. After you have mastered these two moves, challenge yourself to see how many sequences you can perform in a set period of time, for example in 20 second bursts. After you feel solid with the foundation moves, you can carry on with the additional 10 key moves included in this Handbook. A description of all the moves can be found at the end of this Handbook. 2
3 Playing Against a Wall Find a concrete wall with no windows close to where you intend to practice. (Trust me NO WINDOWS. I spent too much time as a kid trying to earn money to replace smashed windows due to a faulty ball and if never a bad strike ) When you have identified that wall, the following are all great activities: Push Pass From about six feet away from the wall practice playing one touch passes with the inside of the strong foot and then the inside of the weak. Track how many passes you make in a row. You can do this exercise with one foot or both feet. Variations: a. Try constantly moving in and out for the wall so that you have to put different weight into your passes. b. Try doing it with the outside of your foot. Instep Strike for touch development From about six feet away from the wall practice playing one touch passes with the instep of the strong foot and then the instep of the weak. Track how many passes you make in a row. You can do this exercise with one foot or both feet. Instep Strike for power and accuracy Using chalk, draw four boxes on the wall. Each box should be just big enough to fit a size five ball in and should be drawn as though they are in the top and bottom corners of a full size goal. Take turns to strike for each box. Try to allow yourself only three preparation touches as the ball comes off the wall before you take your next shot. Off the ground wall work Using different body parts such as head only, inside of your foot or combinations of body parts like thigh and instep, record how many times you can play against a wall without letting the ball bounce. These pictures show using the side of the foot off the wall. 3
4 Learning the Game by Watching the Game Try to watch as many different high level teams as you can. While TV is the easiest way to do this, take any chance you have to see a local high school, college game, or any professional games played in the MLS or WUSA Leagues. All games will provide you with a good learning experience. Rather than just watching the games for fun, try and view games from one of these different aspects: 1. Pretend that you are the coach of one of the teams. Evaluate your system of play and how your players are doing within it. Look at the shape of the team and determine whether or not players providing good width, depth, and support. Consider your half time team talk and based upon facts e.g. their leftwinger keeps shredding your right back, any changes you might make. Explain your reasoning to the adult who took you to the game or who is matching with you. 2. Imagine that you are one of the players playing in your favorite position. Carefully analyze how this player plays the game. Consider how often they touch the ball, the runs they make off of the ball, the amount of verbal instruction they give, times they give the ball away, tackles they make etc. Analyze their decision making. A good little game you can play is to put yourself in their shoes. Try when possible to make the decision in your mind that the player is faced with before the ball arrives at that player and they actually execute. See if you made the same decision as the player does with the ball. Then at the end of the game to compare how they played the position to the way in which you do. If you do not get soccer on your TV, try using the Internet with your parents permission of course. Many of the top professional teams from around the world have subscription TV available for all their home games. If you have a suitable computer and highspeed Internet access, research one of the following teams: Barcelona, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Ajax or AC Milan. 5 NCSA Player Development Summer Goals Below are the goals, by age group, which I would like to see you try and achieve this summer. All of these are explained in the Handbook above and they focus on the technical side of the game. When you practice your moves and turns, don t limit yourself to the ones listed under your age group but practice all those you have learned. Hopefully you will achieve many of these goals. If you do, feel free to move onto the next age group. By just spending time trying these you will become a better player and if all you players can commit to helping yourself your NCSA team will hit the floor running for the start of the season. HAVE FUN! And remember Juggling will help you become a master of the ball and allow you to make the ball do what you want it to do, Knowing your moves will allow you to maneuver round or away from opposition players, Passing and Striking the ball will allow you to help keep possession of the ball or take a shot at goal, Receiving the ball out of the air will allow you to get the ball under control quickly to keep the game moving, Learning the Game by Watching the Game will further your understanding of the game and allow you to witness real experts in decisionmaking situations. U9 Players Juggles 5 juggles with one bounce in between if needed with the feet. Moves Drag back, Step Over and Inside Outside (concentrate on proper technique) Passing push pass over 5 yards Striking laces over 10 yards 4
Receiving ball out of the air any part of the body getting the ball on the ground and under control as quickly as possible U 10 players Juggles 5 juggles with no bounce any part of the body except all thighs; 10 juggles one bounce in between with the feet. Moves Cryuff turn, Ushape, and inside cut Passing push pass over 10 yards, outside of the foot pass over 5 yards Striking laces over 15 yards Receiving ball out of the air control ball with the thigh and try and get the ball to drop in front of you. U 11 players Juggles 10 juggles no bounce and part of the body except all thighs, juggle in the sequence of foot, thigh, head. Moves all of the above to at least 10 moves in 1 minute take 3 touches in between each move Passing or Striking strike or drive the ball with the laces over 20 yards (ball should not go above knee height) Chip/Cross the ball in the air 10 15 yards. Receiving ball out of the air control the ball with the chest and get in to drop in a playable space; control the ball with the laces out of the air; control the ball with the side of the foot trap out of the air. U 12 players Juggles 10 juggles laces only, juggle in the sequence of foot, thigh, head, thigh, foot (round the world). Right foot, Left foot, Right thigh, Left thigh, head, Right thigh, Left thigh, Right foot, Left foot Moves reverse Cryuff, Romario and Sukar Passing or Striking Using either foot strike or drive the ball with the laces over 20 yards (ball should not go above knee height) Receiving ball out of the air control the ball in the air as you turn and dribble in a different direction U 13 players Juggles 20 juggle in the sequence of right foot left foot Moves start putting 2 of the above moves together for example a drag bag into a step over Passing or Striking 25 yards lofted pass where the ball rises slowly and drop slowly (in a game this would be played over the top of other players Receiving ball out of the air receive the ball out of the air with laces and as the ball hits the ground use outside of the same foot to change direction, same as above but first touch with thigh U 14 players Juggles 25 juggles with different using all parts of the body not all thighs. Moves all of the above moves done at game speed Passing or Striking Chip pass where the ball rises quick and drop quick over a short distance Receiving ball out of the air all of above and receive the ball out of the air using the Cryuff turn 5
6 Recording your Work Use the table included on the next page to record how much ball work you complete over the summer. Copy the sheet and keep all the sheets you complete showing your total training period. Also make note in your record when you improve your juggling score. Your coaches will be very interested to see the work you have done over the summer so please bring him a copy of your practice record of the summer and he can then help guide you with your player development practice moving forward. 6
NCSA Player Development Practice Record Technique/Skill Juggling work Right laces Left laces Thighs Head Combinations Right & Left laces Rt foot, Rt thigh Lt foot, Lt thigh Around the World Date: Date: Date: Date: Date: Passing and Striking Right foot Left foot Instep strike Right Instep strike Left Moves Games Watched NB if possible record how many successful technical attempts you make in a row. Alternatively record how long you spent working on the area given. 7
KEY MOVES Foundation move 1 InsideOutside Place the nonkicking foot behind the ball with the toe pointing towards the middle of the ball. Using the inside of the strongest foot pass the ball across the front of the body. Move your body so that you can play the ball in the same direction as it is traveling with the outside of the weak foot. Quickly move your body so that the third touch which reverses the direction the ball is rolling in is played with the inside of the weakest foot. Move your body so that you can play the ball in the same direction as it is now traveling with the outside of the strong foot. Quickly move your body so that he sequence may begin again. Foundation move 2 UShape Place the ball just in front of the toes of your strongest foot. Lift your strong foot and using the sole of this foot drag the ball back behind the standing leg. As the ball clears the heel of the standing leg use the inside of the strong foot to play the ball across and behind the standing leg. Before the ball stops rolling transfer your body weight so that the ball can be played with the laces of the weak foot in a forwards direction. Extend the weak leg and drag the ball with the soul of the weak foot back behind the standing leg thus beginning the original sequence. Move 1: The Cryuff Turn Place the nonkicking foot at the side of the ball, a comfortable distance away from the ball. Bring the kicking foot around to the front of the ball, thus creating an angle of 90 with the nonkicking foot. Using the inside of the kicking foot push the ball back in the opposite direction. It is important that the player then rotates around the nonkicking foot. Move 2: The Drag Back Place the non kicking foot at the side of the ball, a comfortable distance away from the ball. The non kicking leg should be slightly bent. The body should be slightly bent forward, over the ball. The ball should be rolled backwards, with the player opening his body keeping the ball in view at all times. The ball should be passed away using the kicking foot. 8
Move 3: The Step Over Feet are placed at one side of the ball, the player always starts with happy feet, and the feet should always be moving. The dominant foot should be placed nearest the ball, and should be taken over the ball The body weight should be taken over to the same side as the dominant foot, thus throwing the defender in the opposite direction. The nonkicking foot at this point should be moved to the inside of the ball and using the outside of the foot should flick or push the ball in the opposite direction. It is important that the attacking player moves his body weight from side to side. As this movement sends the defending player off balance, enabling the attacking player to exploit the weak side of the defender. Move 4: Inside cut Place the non kicking foot directly by the side of the ball. The non kicking foot should be slightly bent. The player should pivot in the non kicking foot making contact with the ball using the inside of the foot, taking the ball in the opposite direction. The player should lower their center of gravity for balance. Upon completing the move, the player should accelerate away into space. Move 5: Outside Cut Place the non kicking foot a comfortable distance away from the ball and level with the ball. Using the outside of the foot flick the ball in the opposite direction. The player should then turn and spin in the opposite direction. The turn takes the player through 180 degrees. Move 6: Reverse Cryuff The player starts the move from directly behind the ball; the player takes the non kicking foot across his body and places it slightly in front of the ball. The ball is going to be played with the laces of the right foot, on the side of the ball furthest away from the player s original position. The ball is then pushed / flicked away in the opposite direction, the player has turned 180 degrees. 9
Move 7: Cruyff s Big Brother As the ball is in front of the player, he hops next to the ball placing the non kicking foot at the side of the ball and the sole of the kicking foot on top of the ball. The ball is then pulled back to behind the player and passed behind the non kicking foot using the inside of the kicking foot, at a angle of 90 degrees to the original movement. Move 8: Romario (Stop and Push) The player dribbling/driving with the ball in a forward direction. The player stops the ball using the sole of the foot. Within the same movement as the player s foot moves off the ball, and using the laces, the player should move the ball in a forward direction. The move becomes a Stop and Push. Move 9: Sukar The player makes contact with the ball using the inside of the sole of the foot, rolling the ball from inside to outside. The players upper body should also sway from inside to outside. On completing the roll of the foot, the player continues the forward movement of the ball using the same foot that started that move. Move 10: Maradonna Place the non kicking foot at the side of the ball. With the kicking foot place lightly on top of the ball. Rotated hips to a sideways position and drag the ball back and away from pressure. As the player drags the ball back, he uses his body to shield the ball from the on coming defender. 10