welcome from steve watson quick...
TRANSCRIPT
In this IssuePage 1 Top Tip: Go for Goal!
Page 2 The Main Feature: ‘Hey coach! What should I do if Idon’t have the ball?’
Page 3 The Game: Back to the Castle
Page 4 Steve’s Coaching Clinic: I can’t stop shouting!
Dear Coach,
Your players will spend 95% or more of every match without the ball at their feet so it’s vital they understand what to do when one of their team-mates has the ball.
The practice plan on page 2 includes three games that will definitely get your players passing and - most importantly - supporting each other ‘off the ball.’
The game on page 3 is a fun and simple little game that is designed to improve the dribbling and running with the ball skills of players aged from 5 or 6.
The Clinic is a cry for help from a coach whose team don’t seem to concentrate and he can’t stop shouting! Is there a connection? Find out on page 4.
Yours in soccer,
Welcome from Steve Watson
Go for Goal!Quick gameTry this quick game at your next coaching session. It’s great fun and really sharpens up shooting skills!
Players form two lines on either side of the coach who is standing 18 to 20 yards from a goal. Give players in each team a number, 1 - X.Serve a ball towards the goal and call out a number.The two players with that number race to get to the ball and score. As skills improve, add a goalkeeper. Encourage correct shooting technique and a good first touch on the ball.
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Issue 68 23rd October 2014
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When a young player player gets the ball, he or she instinctively knows that they must either pass or shoot. But if your players don't know what to do when they don't have the ball, they will probably just stand and watch. And that’s not how to play soccer! If your players are aged from about 9 upwards, this session plan will help them work out where to go and how best to support the player who does have the ball. Before the session starts you should discuss the key factors of support play with your players.Q: Why support the player on the ball?A: So she can pass the ball if she needs to.Q: How do we provide support?A: Move to where you can receive a pass.Warm upThis game is called Moving Triangles. Divide your players into groups of three with one ball per group. Player A passes to player B and immediately runs through the gap between player B and player C. Player C now passes to player A
and runs through the gap between player A and player B. And so on.Don’t worry, it’s easier to play than describe! Progression: limit to one, two or three touches.Have all the groups line up at one end of the field and see who can get to the other end first, maintaining the correct pass and move pattern.The clever ones will work out that long passes are best.
Game 1Play 4v0 in a 20x20 grid. As soon as the ball is passed every player except the receiver must move to a different space. The constant movement combined with short stoppages as the receiver controls the ball takes some getting used to, so be patient. It helps if you tell the receiver to take two or three touches before passing to the next player.
Progression: add a defender. This always seems to stop the players who don't have the ball from moving. Encourage them to make runs behind the defender.Game 2Play handball in a 30x40 yard playing area. Players score by throwing the ball to a teammate who is waiting on the end line.Ensure the ball carrier does not run with the ball and that the ball is released within four seconds. No waiting, no physical contact.Progression: put the ball on the ground. Now the players have to pass to the player on the end line. If the receiver controls the pass, the player who passed the ball joins the player on the end line. This results in a series of numbers up situations and forces good movement off the ball. The team who gets all their players on the end line first is the winner. FinallyEnd the session by playing 4v4. No coaching, just watch the way your players move when they don't have the ball.
‘Hey coach! What should I do if I don’t have the ball?’
The Main Feature
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Knowing what to do and where to go when you don’t have the ball is, perhaps, the most important soccer skill of all.
Objective: improve dribbling skills.
Age range: U6 - U10
Set up: Divide your players into four teams and give them different colored training vests to wear.
Create a 30x30 playing area. Use flat cones to mark out a 3x3 safe zone in each corner.
Each team is allocated one corner. Call it their 'castle'.
The coach stands just outside the playing area with at least twelve soccer balls. The more balls, the better.
How to play: start the game by throwing two or three balls into the playing area.
All the players are free to get possession of a ball and dribble it back to their castle.
Keep throwing balls in. Soon you will have lots of 1v1 and 1v2 mini games going on.
The game is over when all the balls are in the castles.
Note: If a ball leaves the playing area it is dead. Players should leave it where it is and return to the game.
Back to the CastleThe F4K Game
Notes: players should be encouraged to steal any ball that is not stationary inside a castle but balls in a castle are safe and can't be stolen.Throw the balls in different ways - high, rolling, bouncing, fast, slow.
3
Player movement Ball movement Run with ball ShotKEY:
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30 x 30 yards
Steve’s Coaching Clinic
QUESTION:
Hello Steve,
The team that I’m coaching have not always got the rewards for their efforts this season – I think their concentration levels are poor...
Also…I didn’t want to be one of the ‘shouty coaches’ on the sidelines, but I’m having a bit of a problem ‘controlling the passion’.
The saving grace is the players and parents think it’s hilarious – this only happens a couple of times during the game – mostly when they ‘switch off’ and concede soft goals – any ideas?
Counting to ten hasn’t worked and a ‘shouting box’ is costing me money!
Once again thanks for all your tips, they are always helpful.
ANSWER:
I wonder if your team's lack of concentration could be linked to your 'passion' on the touchline?
You don't say how old your players are but young kids often switch off (or simply get totally distracted) if there's a lot of noise coming from their coach or parents.
That could be misinterpreted as a lack of concentration, leading to more shouting which makes more players lose interest ....it's a vicious circle!
I'm not criticising you - I know that it's not easy keeping control of your emotions during matches. I sometimes find myself getting a bit hot under the collar, especially if I see players not working hard or ducking out of tackles.
But shouting at players is always counter-productive and I'm sure the players being shouted at don't really think it's funny.
May I suggest you have a go at only offering a few quiet words of encouragement and praise at your next match and see if your players concentration level improves?
If nothing else, it will save you some cash!
I can’t stop shouting!
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