Soccer Drills – Page 56

The role of the first and second defender

Equipment: four players and one ball.

Setup: Lay out a grid about twenty (20) yards wide by fifty (50) yards long.

Have two players with one ball be the attackers and two players be the defenders. The two attackers are about ten yards apart and are facing the two defenders. The defenders are defending man-to-man.

When one attacker has the ball the defender that is defending him (the “first defender”) must move up and mark him tightly shouting, “I Got Ball!”.

The other defender (the “second defender”) backs off of his man and provides defensive depth and a back-up to the first defender in case the first defender gets beat. If the attacker with the ball passes the ball to the other attacker the roles reverse. The “first defender” quickly backs off his man and becomes the “second defender”. The “second defender” comes up and marks his man (who now has the ball) tightly and becomes the “first defender”.

Note that neither defender actually tries to tackle the ball. This is passive defense only. The attackers dribble forward and pass the ball back and forth with “square” rather than penetrating passes. Each time the ball is passed the defenders shift.

When they reach the end of the 50 yard grid the attackers become defenders and vice versa and they come back down the grid. This can be a very aerobic drill. Care should be taken to instruct the defenders that they must change positions quickly and should never turn their backs to the attackers. Attackers should press the attack.

Once they have done this drill several times the instructor should request that the second defender be verbal and always let the first defender know which way to take his man.

In game situations this allows the defenders to move the attacker away from shots at goal and into position to be double-teamed and tackled.

This drill should be done at full or 3/4 speed. If the players are too tired after a few minutes swap out for four new players.

Variation: After the initial demonstration set up several grids so that all players on the team can run the drill simultaneously – eliminating lines.

Variation: Have attackers run overlaps so that defenders know which player is their responsibility when the attackers overlap.

Variation: After you have successfully run the drill several times you can now allow the attackers to use overlaps and penetrating passes. But still do not allow the defenders to tackle the ball. This drill is about positioning, communication and responsibility. It’s more important that the players understand when they can tackle than to actually tackle the ball. Once you’ve run this drill for several session, widen the grid to 20 yards x 50 yards and take all restrictions off attackers and defenders. Be sure to “freeze” the drill at any moment that you see a defender (not attacker) make a positioning or timing mistake.

Explode!

This game requires every player to have a football.

You should have as many cones as players

Set up: The cones are placed an equal distance away from the circle, say 10-20 yards, depending on age of players

To start with I have the players dribble inside a circle (usually just using the inside circle of the field). The circle is primarily used so the players will keep their head up while dribbling in a confined space.

My instructions inside the circle will include “pull backs”, “outside of foot dribble” and so forth. Anything to keep their head up while dribbling.

After about a minute of dribbling I will yell the word “explode”. At this time, the players will then explode from the circle to find a cone to dribble to, turn around, and then come back to the circle. The key here is that no two players can go around the same cone, so they have to find another cone if somebody is already ahead of them. I (the coach) stand in centre of the circle and first one back to slap my hand wins.

Other rules I have in place are when players come back to circle they must have control of the ball and stop it in front of me and then slap my hand (I learned this after doing this drill and having the balls fly all over the place because they did not have control of the ball coming back into the circle). It is competitive and can be treated as a fitness drill.

You can also do the drill by how many times each player has come back to the circle to slap hands for a two minute time period.

End Zone game

Objectives: to improve passing, receiving, communication and team work

This 4 v.4 game is free flowing and gives players a lot of problems to solve. It is a good game to use towards the end of the session as it is very close to the ‘real’ thing.

One particularly good thing about this game is that since teams end up attacking in two different directions it forces players to play in different positions. They are at the back of the team when their team attacks one end-zone, while they will find themselves at the top of the team when they attack in the other direction. This is great for their development.

THE GAME:

Set up the field as shown with a seven yard ‘End-Zone‘ at each end.
Score a goal by getting the ball from one ‘End-Zone‘ to the other by passing or dribbling.
Once a goal is scored, immediately attack going in the other direction. Do not give the ball to the other team. The ‘End-Zones‘ are free, only the attacking team can enter these areas.

This game also encourages players to “SPREAD OUT” and work together, which, players are starting to be able to do at this age. At first, players will be tempted to just kick the ball up the field instead of passing. With patience, and demonstration of what is possible, this game could have a dramatic impact on their ability to play attractive, skilful soccer.

Circle, pass, move

AIM

A tried and tested exercise that can be used in a warm up or as part of a passing drill session. It has the virtue of being very simple to explain and perform, is suitable for almost any size group (or groups) and and you can increase the intensity by adding more balls or asking for the players to cover specific distances.

ORGANISATION

Set up a circle of players, we have 8 in the illustration approximately 15 yards in diameter. You can adjust the distance according to how much work and effort you want the players to cover, this can become a conditioning drill too. As in the example, X1 starts with the ball and passes the ball to X2. Once X1 passes he must then move and take the position of X2 who will pass to X3 and then follow the ball and so on.

EQUIPMENT

One football per group, as many players as you wish

COACHING POINTS

Players should move to get their body in line with the ball
Arms out to the side for balance and for shielding the ball
Keep the body over the ball
Knees bent slightly
Standing foot should be planted 6 inches to the side of the ball
Standing foot should be pointing towards the intended target
The striking foot is raised and taken backwards
The ankle is locked, toes pointed out at right angle to ball to allow the inside of the foot to strike the ball
The player should be focused on the ball at all times
Strike through the centre of the ball
Ensure that there is a follow through
Resume the run and look for the return pass
Although concentrating on the pass on the move you may wish to use the coaching points for ground control on the move also. Encourage the players to talk to each other, to assist the player in the player in the middle. Also get the passers shouting the name of the intended receiver.

PROGRESSION

Encourage the use of both feet, right and left to pass

Increase the speed as if it was game related

Introduce more balls to really work the players

Increase the distances to covered

Circle passing

Start with 5 players in a circle with a 20 yard diameter. Then have another player behind each of these players.

X1 starts with the ball and passes to X2. X1 then sprints behind X2 (so it’s a pass and follow the pass). X2 then passes to X3 and sprints and follows the pass. X 3 then passes to X 4 and does the same. X 4 passes to X5 and then X5 passes to X1. After each pass the player follows the pass and goes to the back of that line.

Do this for 2-3 minutes and then add a second ball. Now the balls start with X1 and X4. While X1 is passing to X2, X4 is passing to X5. This will require a lot of movement, hard sprints, communication and vision.

Next add one defender in the middle. The difference now is the players can pass in any direction they want. However, they still must follow their pass.

Next add a second defender so it’s sort of a 5 v 2 game but with much more movement and confusion than normal (must like a real game of soccer).

There are other variation you can do with this type of activity with the biggest limitation being your imagination.

Circle game

Organisation

Mark a circle having a centre mark (line intersection; a coin; a scratched “X”).
A centre circle works well, but regulation size will be too big for young players.
5-yard radius for 6-year olds; 6-yard for 7-year olds, etc.
Use marker disks to make a circle.
From centre spot pace out radius by going N, S, E and W. Fill in the rest of the circle.
Each player on one side of the circle has a partner directly opposite.
One player passes the ball towards his or her partner, while trying to knock over a cone.
The partner retrieves the ball and returns the pass, again trying to kick over a cone.
The ball must be passed from outside the circle.
The game is stopped when all cones are knocked down.

Teaching points

Encourage the players to use pace as well as accuracy of pass.
Suggest they continue to kick towards the cone even after they have actually kicked (follow through).
Encourage them to approach the cone at a slight angle to the direction they are kicking (45 degrees).
The coach uses a stopwatch to set the “team” record of knocking all cones down.
Later, winners are the pair to first knock over the most cones.
Condition them for some part of the practice to use their non-dominant foot only.

Progression

Reduce the number of cones and/or make the circle bigger.

Or use one cone and pairs then compete against other pairs, e.g., “First Pair to score 5 hits between them”

Target

The coach uses a stopwatch to set the “team” record of knocking all cones down.

Circle, dribble, tag!

PURPOSE
To develop dribbling skills with subtle defensive pressure.

LEVEL
Advanced beginner, intermediate

EQUIPMENT
Two soccer balls and four game markers for every six players

TIME
8 to 10 minutes

PROCEDURE

Level 1

Place six players in a 10-yard-by-10-yard grid.

Four players form a circle.

Two players, each with a football, stand outside the circle on opposite sides.

Designate one of these players as the tagger.

On the coach’s signal, the tagger has 30 seconds to catch the other player with a ball while both players are dribbling.

The tagger may cut through the circle, but the player being chased may not.

Level 2

Repeat level 1 procedures 1 through 6.

While the tagger is chasing the other player, teammates who have formed the circle move as a unit to shield the player being chased from the tagger.

KEY POINTS

Players need to use good visual habits to know when the tagger has changed directions. Changing directions and speeds frequently will help the player being chased.

Change soccer

Organisation

Group is split into two; if odd number, coach joins in or plays the strongest squad a player short.

In the example shown, three players from each team play a normal game.

Three players on each team are collective goalkeepers; positioned no more than 2-yards off each goal line.

They are not allowed to handle ball.

Goals count only below knee height.

Coach shouts “Change!” and on-field teams run back to goal line, without touching the ball again, to become the goalkeepers.

Goalkeeping teams become the on-field teams and move quickly to win possession.

Coach shouts “Change!” at any time.

Make goals wide enough so that it’s not too difficult to score.

Any major infraction means a free shot from the half-way line, with no goalkeepers.

Teaching Points

Encourage players to pass frequently in order to create scoring chances.

Encourage goalkeeping team to move sideways together, as a wall.

Defenders should help each other and stay on their feet as much as possible.

Target

To outscore the opposition.