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In the bag

Objective: To improve weight and direction of passes.

Age group: U7s and upwards.

Set up: Divide your players into teams of four or five.

Create two sets of open-ended “bags” for each team using semi-circles of cones that are six yards wide and 10 yards apart.
One of each team’s bags is empty. The other contains six balls.
Teams stand behind their empty bag.

How to play: On your command, the first player in each team runs to his bag of six balls, collects one and tries to pass it into the empty bag.

If the ball misses the bag, it is out of the game.

Once the first player has tried to pass all six balls into the bag, the second player in the team repeats the exercise in the opposite direction, but only using the balls that the first player managed to get into the bag.

When every player has had a turn, the team with the most balls in its bag wins.

Progressions

1. If a player misses, they must collect the ball, bring it back and try again.

2. Pass with alternate feet: Left/right.

Tip: Make the game easier for younger players by making the bags bigger and deeper.

For more soccer coaching tips and products visit Soccer Coach Weekly.

In and out

Objectives: To improve passing, receiving and movement off the ball.

Age group: U8s to U14s.

Set-up: Create a 40×30 yards playing area with a five-yard box marked out in each corner.

Divide your players into two teams of five or six.

How to play: Teams score a point by passing to a team mate who is in one of the corner boxes.

To begin with, allow players to wait inside the boxes for a pass.
Once they have got the hang of the game tell them that waiting in the boxes is no longer allowed. They must retain possession in the area and only make a run to one of the boxes when a pass is on.
Passes only count if they are controlled inside the box by the receiving player.

Progression: Points are only scored if the receiving player can pass the ball out of the box to a team mate.

For more soccer coaching tips and products visit Soccer Coach Weekly.

Have mercy!

Parents, managers, coaches and players who end up on the wrong end of a thrashing can experience a variety of emotions such as anger, sadness, worthlessness and embarrassment.

“Losing 13-0 as a player makes you feel rubbish, and puts the pressure on you in many ways. You want to win the next game badly… so people don’t start to mock you.” (A 10-year-old player).

Losing by big margins can even result in players and their managers/coaches giving up the game and it’s pretty obvious that scoring goals virtually at will is not going to do anything for the development of the players on the winning team. And children on the receiving end of a 30-0 stuffing are only learning that they’re not as good as the other team.

So what can we do about it?

Some leagues have tried to introduce “mercy rules” or sanctions against teams that win by “too many” goals.

In Canada, one league actually brought in a rule under which any team that outscored its opponent by more than five goals was declared the loser!

Following an outcry from the clubs, this rule was rescinded and the league introduced a more traditional mercy rule instead. This stated that matches would be stopped once one team had a lead of eight goals. Whichever team was ahead at that time would be credited with the win and teams could then play on for “player development”.

Mercy rules like this do not meet with universal approval. Many take the view that making up rules that prevent big scores just sets children up for disappointment later on. “Life’s not fair, learn to deal with it!” is a fairly common reaction.

But regardless of whether the league your team plays in has a mercy rule or not, there is lot that you, as a winning coach, can do to turn a grossly one-sided contest into a learning experience for your players.

If your team is five or six goals up before half time, you’re going to win the match. To the best of my knowledge, no team (and I am prepared to be corrected here!) has ever come back from being 5-0 down in a league or cup match.

So the game is yours. There is really no need to score any more goals even if your league takes goal difference into account. Instead, you can put some meaning into the remainder of the playing time by taking one or more of these actions:
Tell your players to take no more than two or three touches of the ball before passing

Children who are playing in a team that is considerably superior to their opponents often try to show off. They usually become reluctant to pass, (‘I want to score another goal!’) and try to dribble the ball into the back of the net. This is not going to do them any good in the long term so why not impose a maximum touches rule?

But this has to done discreetly! Shouting the instruction “two touch only!” across the field would be very embarrassing for the losing team. It could even be interpreted as making fun of them.
Require a minimum number of passes before shooting

In other words, play keepaway. Ask your players (again, discreetly) to make four or five passes before they can take a shot at goal.

Move your players around

Your goalkeeper will be getting bored by now so get her out of goal and put her up front. Move your defenders into attacking positions and put your strikers into defence.

Use your subs

This type of match is an ideal opportunity to give your subs as much playing time as possible.

As soon as you see that the match is going to be one sided, take off your “star players” and give your weaker players a chance to enjoy themselves.

Allow the other team to have additional players or take some of your players off

If you’re in a winning position at half time you can have a quiet word with the opposition manager and see if he wants to put an extra player or two on the pitch in the second half.

Or (and this isn’t something I would do) you can make the contest more even by taking off one or two of your players. Personally, I think it isn’t really fair on your players to restrict their playing time in this way but it is an option.

Stop the match (the mercy rule)

If the match turns into a shooting gallery during the second half you can stop the game, balance the teams by mixing them up and play any remaining time as a friendly.

Whatever you decide to do, it is imperative that you respect the opposition and always keep the English FA’s Code of Conduct for grassroots coaches in mind: “Place the well-being, safety and enjoyment of each player above everything, including winning”.

Soccer ‘vision’

This practice is designed to improve each player’s field vision through a variety of techniques.

Consider the following points:

Vision With The Ball

Many coaches instruct players to “trap the ball” before passing it. The word “trap” suggests stopping the ball. Young players get into a bad habit of trapping the ball using the sole of the foot every time the ball comes to them. Trapping or stopping the ball with the sole of the foot can cause many bad habits for the player and limit the techniques he can use immediately after his first touch on the ball.

The following are bad habits as a result of “trapping the ball” with the sole of the foot:

– As the ball travels towards the foot the head will drop and eyes will be fixed on the ball. The player at this point cannot see his passing options.

– In the attacking third, the player will not be able to see the position of the goalkeeper if his head is down, thus limiting his shooting options.

– If the ball is controlled with the sole of the foot on the first touch, the position of the ball will be too close to the players body for the player to pass over a long distance. There needs to be a distance between the player and the ball for the player to strike the ball over a long distance.

– In the attacking third, the player cannot afford to stop the ball with the sole of the foot. The player needs to set up shooting opportunities as soon as possible. If the ball is controlled with the sole of the foot, it will limit the players’ ability to shoot over a long distance.

– Trapping the ball with the sole of the foot will also affect the time in which a player makes decisions. The player will take one second to trap the ball, another second to push the ball out from the body and yet a third second before the player considers the option of whether to pass, dribble, shoot or run with the ball. During this period the nearest opponent will be closing down the ball and looking to dispossess the player.

Coaches should encourage players to use their first touch on the ball economically and effectively. As opposed to trapping the ball with the sole of the foot, players should look to play their first touch out of their body and into a position that will allow them to perform a variety of techniques on their second touch.

In general, right-footed players should look to play their first touch approximately one and a half yards in front and to the right side at a 45-degree angle (left footed players to the left side). By playing the ball out and in front of the body on the first touch, the player will improve in the following:

– Better all round vision as eyes follow ball out and up and not focused down at the feet.

– Can immediately see and evaluate passing and shooting options.

– Can pass the ball over a long range.

– Can shoot the ball over a long range.

– Less chance of being caught in possession of the ball due to improved vision.

During the course of a game it is not always possible to play the ball in the perfect position. However, it is surprising to note that on numerous occasions when players control the ball, they neglect to consider what they are controlling for, to pass, to shoot, to dribble or to run with the ball.

Vision Without The Ball

Consideration must also be given to the player’s body position when supporting the man on the ball. Whenever possible players should adopt a “side-on” position to see as much of the playing field as possible.

Remember, “You can only pass as quick as you can see.”

Warm Up

– Divide players into 2 groups; identify each team with different colored bibs.

– Have players jog around area 30 x 40 yards. Players alternate stretching and jogging every 60 seconds.

– While the players jog, heads must be up scanning the whole field, glancing behind them, looking far and near. On coaches command players must shout out the colour of “John’s socks”, make of Tom’s cleats etc. (forces players to scan all players quickly) Players heads should be like that of a “bird on a fence” always glancing and checking behind.
Fundamental Phase

– Introduce a ball into the area. Players move around grid passing the ball “2 touch”. The passes must always be in the sequence of “Red Player – Yellow Player” red can only pass to blue and blue to red). This forces players to scan the area before receiving the pass

– Progress to “1 touch” play.

– Encourage players on the ball to pass over a variety of distances, not always a short pass.

– Encourage players off the ball to get into a position in line of the players vision (don’t hide).

– Condition the players “Not to talk or Clap” for the ball. All communication is visual. Then take off this condition.

Fundamental Progression #1

Continue sequence from previous practice and develop to:

– Still ” 1 touch”. On the coaches command the player in possession must pass to the player named by the coach. When the coach shout’s “Johnny” the player in possession must quickly scan the field, locate the player, and pass quickly to the player’s feet.

– The receiving player “Johnny” is encouraged to receive the ball “side-on” if possible, turn quickly and pass to the most distant player on the opposite colour

– The play is continued with the “Red-Blue” sequence until the coach calls another players name.
Match Related

Finish with small side game with goalkeepers

– Reinforce all the main points in your small-sided game.

Everyone’s a striker!

All small-sided games (football “matches” usually with four to six players on a team) help improve teamwork but Everyone’s a Striker! is particularly useful for coaches who are trying to mould their players into a team.

Age group: U8s to U14s.

Set-up: 4v4 plus goalkeepers on a 30×20 yards pitch with a goal at each end.

How to play: Normal rules apply and the first team to score four goals wins the game. But no player can score more than once.

This condition encourages the “star” players to focus on helping their team mates and helps every player, no matter how new or inexperienced, to enjoy success.

For more soccer coaching tips and products visit Soccer Coach Weekly.

Shoot, save, shoot

This game may look a bit dull and it even has players standing in lines.

But young football players just love playing it!

I’ve used it with U6s to U14s and they’ve all enjoyed it. My U12 girls ask to play just about every week.

So give Shoot, Save, Shoot a try. I’m sure it will become one of your players’ favourite games too.

Objective: To improve shooting technique.

Age range: U6s and upwards.

Difficulty: Easy.

Set-up: Use a playing area with a standard-size goal at one end. Place a cone about 10 yards out from the left-hand post for very young players and about 20 yards away for older players.

Divide your players into two teams.

Team 1 stands about six yards from the left-hand post. Team 2 stands about six yards from the right-hand post.

You stand near the goal with five or six balls.

How to play:

On your command, the first player in team 1 runs round the cone.
At the same time, the first player in team 2 runs round the back of the goal to become the goalkeeper.
As the player from team 1 rounds the cone, roll a ball in front of the goal.
The team 1 player shoots with her first touch.
If the shot is saved, the goalkeeper returns the ball to you. If the shot goes in or misses, the shooter retrieves the ball and returns it to you.
As soon as the first player shoots, the second player in each team sets off to become the next shooter and goalkeeper.
Play until you run out of balls to serve. This encourages the shooters to be accurate because if they miss, they have to run after the ball and get it back to you quickly, especially if you’re down to the last ball.
The team that scores most goals wins.

Progression: Switch sides so that players have to run to the left and right of the goal.

Ask your players to shoot with their weaker foot only.

For more soccer coaching tips and products visit Soccer Coaching Club.

Throw in races

Age range: U7s to U10s.

Equipment required: Flat cones, a ball for each player.

Set-up: Use the sideline of an existing pitch or make a line with flat cones.

Place a number of cones three yards away and parallel to the line.

Make a second line of cones three yards further back and a third line three yards way from the second line.

Divide your players into teams of three or four.

How to play: The first player in each team takes a throw-in from the sideline and tries to hit the first cone.

If they miss, the next player in line has a go.

If a player hits the cone they aimed for, they retrieve their ball and place the cone they hit on top of the next one. The next player in the team now tries to hit the new target.

The first team to hit all three cones wins.

Progression: Add more cones or space the cones further apart.

Coaching note: Throw-ins must be taken correctly. See: how to take a throw-in

For more soccer coaching tips and products visit Soccer Coach Weekly.

2v2 War

Objective: To improve dribbling, passing, receiving, decision making and shooting.

Age range: U7s to U12s.

Number of players: Whole squad.

Set-up: Make a 30×20 yards playing area with a goal at both ends.

Divide your players into two teams. For example, team X and team Y.

In the younger age groups, goalkeepers are optional.

Team X is placed at one end of the playing area and each team is split into two groups. Each group stands at one corner of the pitch.

How to play:

You stand on one side of the playing area with a supply of balls.
Serve a ball into the playing area.
The first player from each of the four lines comes out and play a 2v2.
Play continues until a goal is scored or the ball goes out of bounds.
When this happens, all players leave the field and you serve another ball.
Four new players enter the field for a 2v2 match.
The game continues until you run out of balls.
The team that score the most goals is the winner.

Variations

1. Create an overload situation – when the ball is put into play by the coach, three players from one team play against two players from the other team. The team with two players is awarded two “goals” for every goal it scores.

2. Play with four goals – one at each corner of the playing area.

Coaching notes

Encourage players to:

Move to a supporting position immediately after passing the ball.
Take opportunities to dribble and shoot.
Use the whole width of the playing area (especially in the four-goal variation).

For more soccer coaching tips and products visit Soccer Coach Weekly.