We're now just about done with the fall season
and are looking forward to off-season training.
Good luck to Jim Friedel's BU11 team as
they head to Fall States in
Barry
1. 10/31 clinic
2. Nov-Dec training
3. D License/E Certificate classes
4. Volunteer Appreciation dinner
5. Winter Symposium
6. Video of the Month - Finishing with strength and speed
7. Exercise of the Month - Pass and move
in tight spaces
1. 10/31 clinic
On Sat 10/31 (yes, Halloween!) we will
have a coaches clinic led by Coerver Coaching. They will talk about the
Coerver teaching method and give and overview of the Nov/Dec training.
Attending this clinic will help coaches get the most out of watching the
Nov/Dec sessions. Sign-in and coffee/donuts begins at 9:30A at the VAA
field house. The classroom portion of the clinic is from 10-11A and then
we will have a field session with VUSC players on the AVCC sport court.
Please make every effort to attend!
2. Nov-Dec training
A reminder that fall/winter indoor
training begins Tuesday Nov. 3. All registered VUSC players, including
players registered for a tryout but not yet placed on a team, are welcome to
attend. Coaches are encouraged to attend, watch and learn. You'll
get great ideas for your spring and summer training sessions. U9-U12
trains from 5:30P-6:50P, U13-U15 classic 6:50-8:10P, and U15PR-U18
8:10-9:30P. More information is at http://www.vusc.org/page/show/
3. D License/E Certificate classes
There are still openings in fall E
certificate and D license classes. Some of them have plenty of
openings! Remember that Valley United will reimburse you for coach
training! See http://www.mnyouthsoccer.org/
4. Volunteer Appreciation dinner
As you hopefully already know, our 2009
Volunteer Appreciation dinner is scheduled for Sun. Nov. 15, 5-8P at Old
Chicago in AV. If you didn't receive an e-vite,
please contact Sharon O'Toole. It should be fun... and there will be
fabulous prizes!
5. Winter Symposium
The annual MYSA Winter Symposium is
coming up on Sat. Feb. 6 at the
. If you are planning on attending, please let me know
before signing up. There is a discounted club pass that is available if
enough coaches are going. We will briefly discuss this after the 10/31
coaches clinic.
6. Video of the Month - Finishing with strength and speed
Watch this great clip of Ronaldo busting
through the Valencia D to score for
7. Exercise of the Month - Pass and move in
tight spaces by David Clarke
When you are playing a passing game it is crucial for any player to be able
to pass and move quickly in tight areas, like when they are tight up against
the touchline or in a crowded midfield.
I use these exercises to practice moving and passing with speed - they may
look simple but they are not - particularly when the players are trying to be
accurate playing at a fast pace.
Passing between 2 groups
of 3 players
The two sets of players should be around 6 metres apart. X passes to Y then runs to the back of the
queue. When the Y players receive the ball, they play it first time to the next
X player and then run to the back of their queue.
Players in these practices must play the ball
first time whenever possible and they should be encouraged to use both feet.
Younger players can be allowed to control the ball first, if necessary, then pass with the second touch of the ball.
How to advance the
exercise
Advance the first exercise by adding a team and start passing with three
teams in the same way, but this time the players run behind the opposing column
after they have delivered the pass.
W, X and Y stand in a triangle 6 metres apart,
with 2 players in each column behind them. Using one ball, W passes to X who
passes to Y then back to W. All passes should be first time. Once again, allow
younger players two touches if necessary.
[This drill and many other great ones are available from the Better Soccer
Coaching newsletter. I highly recommend this newsletter. Sign up
here http://www.