All Coach Clinic, Wednesday 5/9, 6:30P, Hayes CC
and Thursday 8/9 6:30P, HayesCC
Thanks! - we can't do it without you!
Feedback - Do we give you what you need?
Most Important - positive attitude
keep it fun
keep it simple
Things to do now: 1. divide your list
2. work w/ Parent Volunteers/Team Managers if available.
3. call your parents - dates, times and location of the first 3 meetings
4. remind them: shinguards, water, cleats, ball, dress for the weather
(hydration is important!)
Over the next week: talk with your other coach(es)
plan practices (web site)
send a welcome email
First Prac: 1. Bring: soccer balls, cones, ice, band-aids, clean cloth
2. Hand out sched, snack sched
3. talk about appropriate, positive behavior
4. (3rd and above) remind everyone: Do NOT hassle the refs!
General: 1. Keep it moving, keep it fun (lines are fine when used appropriately)
2. 1 ball per 1-2 kids whenever possible (1-2-3-4 progression)
3. Have a plan (you don't have to use it).
We are not running a true "practice" today but how to organize a practice plus looking at elements of the game and how teach these through a series of increasing age-appropriate drills. Normally we want practice to flow - using similar or easily modifiable grids, for example.
Younger divisions are different than the older ones!
K drills should be "extra" fun (like party games). (K division is cute!)
Special K Drills: basically take any party game and add a soccer ball!
Basic Skills:
1. ball handling/dribbling
2. passing and receiving
3. shooting
4. Team Defense
5. Team Attack
6. goalkeeping
1. Element - ball handling/dribbling (plus basic D principles)
Issue - most basic skill. Dribbling to maintain possession.
Technique - a. use all parts of the foot, b. push/pull the ball to open space - away from pressure
Drills:
K: Dribble Around the Square - all players with ball. Dribble around the outside of a large square. Coach calls out:
a) Head! - players stop and place their head on the ball., b) Elbow! - players stop and place their elbow on the ball. c) Foot! - players stop and place their foot on the ball., d) Sit! - players stop and sit on the ball. e) Reverse! - dribble in the opposite direction.
After the command, wait a few seconds (until everyone has it) then say Go! and they should resume dribbling. You can think of more fun moves for this one.
Square Dance - 2 squares, all players have a ball. Go - players dribble from 1 square to the other. Variations: 1) half the players in each square, dribbling in their square, Go - leave your ball and go to the other square and get a ball and start dribbling in the new square, 2) half the players in each square, dribbling in their square,
Go - all dribble to the other square, 3) half the players in each square, dribbling in their square, Go - leave your ball and go to the other square and get a ball and dribble it back to your original square!
1st and up: WU/Dribble: Square Dance - large square, 1 ball per player. Dribble around the square. Use all parts of the foot. Use pull- backs and change of direction. Advanced - ankle locked, knee bent, basic moves: step-overs, pull backs. More advanced: cuts, magic hops, scissors, etc. Attack! - Square Dance - coach calls "attack", players try to kick other player's balls out of the square while protecting their own. If your ball is kicked out, you leave the square. Variation - if your ball is kicked out, you are an attacker.
Cat & Mouse (Sharks & Minnows) - mice line up on one side of a square, cat in the middle of square. Go - mice try to dribble past cat while cat tries to kick balls out of the square. If ball is kicked out, mouse becomes a cat.
Other drills - 180s/Meatgrinder/turns, obstacle course, dribbling around cones, relay race, tour the field, follow the leader, red light green light, duck duck goose.
Modifying for age - any of these drills can be made more difficult for older age groups by: a) shrinking the area, b) adding D, c) using specified dribbling surfaces.
2. Element - passing and receiving
Issues - accuracy, touch, reach (power)
Technique - ankle and knee locked, toe up, heel down. motion comes from hip.
Drills:
K: Magic Bases - 2 players per ball, cones scattered randomly around a grid (need more cones than players), each player on a cone close to their partner. Go - pass to your partner then run to a close square and partner passes back. Continue. Count how many magic bases in 1 minute.
Base Race - groups of 4 players, 1 ball, and 4 cones set up as bases (diamond - ability appropriate distance), 1 player at each base. Pass the ball around the bases (players stay in place), 1st team to finish wins. Add: vary number of bases, vary number of times around, add a task (pass then run and touch center cone, etc.), vary pattern (go to left). Older: diamond passing.
There and Back - 2-4 teams, 2-4 lines of cones 3-5 yds apart, 1 player at each cone. Pass the ball down the line and then back, first team to complete wins. Add: less players per team - after first player passes they run to the open cone at the end, Caterpillar - with or without cones - back player runs to front.
2-person w/ touch away from pressure - Pretend there is a defender. Receiver touches or taps received pass away from D. Can add an actual defender (or 2). Move around. Add: 2 cone pass-tap-pass, etc.
Triangle - 3 players per 1 ball. pass among 3 players, pretending that there is a defender. Always pass and move (split or overlap the other players). Emphasize good passes and traps with older players. Can add restrictions.
Triangle + D - 4 players per ball. 3v1. Can start with "shadow" D. O must spread and be open or D will always win (passers at right angles or wider and moving). Switch if D gets ball. Make even groups. Accurate passes and traps/touches are the key. Add restrictions like 2 or 1 touches, part of foot to use, etc.
Gate passing - players in pairs. Place a bunch of cone, 1-2 yd gates around the grid. Players move around the grid passing through the gates to their partner. Cannot pass through the same gate twice in a row. Coaching points: foot surface, pace, receive surface, receive direction, communication, avoiding traffic, choice of gate (move to space). Add: 3 players per ball, 4 players per ball, game: 2 teams/1 ball - score by completing a pass through a gate to a teammate.
Others: name game, pass through square, pass to triangles. Can do some of these games with throw-ins instead of passing.
3. Element - shooting
Issue - players are open with the ball, but are not scoring. Getting "good" (not necessarily hard) shots. Control and accuracy.
Technique - knee bent, ankle locked. Toe pointed down for laces or outside of foot, toe up for instep. Non-shooting foot placed next to ball. Eyes on the ball. Clean striking of ball. Follow-through.
Drills:
K: All shoot - put a coach or older sibling in goal. Go! - all players run and shoot at the goal at the same time! Chaos is fun!
Kill the coach - (not for older players!) Players spread out each with a ball. Go! - players must dribble toward, shoot at, and hit the coach with the ball. Coaching points: heads up, see target, look at ball when shooting, watch out for other players. Add: moving coach, players start differently - laying on stomach eyes closed, or sitting, or away from ball.
Coach tap and shoot - players line up at center circle w/ ball. 1 at a time, pass to coach, coach makes 1-touch side pass, player takes 2-touch shot. Coaching points: eyes on ball, plant foot next to ball pointing at target, body forward over ball, head down, shooting foot toes down, ankle locked, knee comes over ball, follow through. Add: use each foot, 1-touch, coach can reposition for different kinds of passes: outside post, outside penalty area, etc.
Cross and shoot - 2 lines near midfield, wing player with ball, Go - 2 at a time, wing dribbles to corner (around cone) and crosses to other player running to goal. Coaching points: wing must move fast, turn hips to cross, striker stays onside, curved run to near post, far post or pk spot. Add: D, additional attacker, start w/ throw-in, start w/ free kick, D and wing chase ball to corner.
Pass, cross and shoot - like above w/ 3 attackers.
PK - when players are tired, can line up for pk's (usually at the end of practice). Coaching points: take your time, aim for outside corners low, same advice as listed for shooting above.
4. Element - Team D
Issue - prevent the other team from possessing/passing/scoring.
Techniques - "athletic" stance, side on, watch the ball or hips - not feet or eyes. Get in the way! Be a pest! Slow and channel! The "goal" is not to dispossess. Someone is always pressuring the ball. Defending teams like compactness.
Drills:
K - we would not cover this topic for K
1v1 warm-up - players in 2 lines facing each other, 1 w/ ball. Pass to partner, close fast then brake w/ defensive stance. Move backward and shift as O dribbles slowly forward. Change roles. CP: fast approach then brake, proper distance, side on, watch ball, prepare to channel attacker. 1st defender is called Pressure.
1v1 w/ gates - 2 players per ball, 1-2 yd gates. Dribbler lightly moves through gates while D maintains good defensive position. Next, D prevents O from dribbling through gates. Count successes in 1 min.
1v1 in rectangle - 10x15 rectangle. D passes to O then O attempts to dribble across end line, D tries to stop. CP: normal D points, use the sideline as another defender, attack strong foot (try to get ball into weaker foot, try to get O to look down). Alternate players and roles.
1v1 in open field - grid in front of goal. Coach plays ball into grid, 2 players go. First to get ball is O. Play to goal.
basic 2v2 - 1 D plays ball (pressure), 2nd D plays back at an angle to cover the ball carrier and the pass (cover). 2nd D does not play tight on his/her mark. 1st O passes to 2nd O, D's adjust. Add: 2v2 in grid (O plays light)
basic 5+v3 - Pressure, cover, balance. 3 players play D, 1 gk, 5 attackers in semi-circle outside penalty area. O makes 1 pass at a time, D adjusts. Balance player must watch "back door". D must communicate. Add: medium attack - can't enter penalty area, full attack "game on!". CP: D must communicate and shift, but not too far. "I got ball!"
others - increase: 2v1, 3v2, 4v3, 5v3, 6v3.
5. Element - Team Attack
Issue - attempt to possess ball and score in an organized manner.
Techniques - good first touch and communication are the key elements. Good passing - choice of surface, pace, location. Movement without the ball. Attacking teams like space (width and depth).
K - we would not cover this topic for K
1v1 moves - pull backs, cuts, feints, pushes, stopovers, magic hop, scissors, etc. without and with pressure. Players should invent their own moves. Explode! after the move.
1-2 pass/wall pass - 2 players per ball. Practice quick, accurate 1-2 and wall passes. Players must communicate (usually initial passer). Add a defender, but start slow. O player without the ball must move to an area at which they can receive a pass. Do not let D player get in between O players.
2v1, 3v1 to goal - 2 or 3 lines, 1 ball. 2 or 3 players move the ball forward and try to score. Add GK and 1 defender. O player must try to get D to commit, then pass before D players gets too close. Can add 2nd or more D. Can add side channels only for attacker (promote width)
Others: triangles, keep away, practice adding increasing pressure, shooting drills as above.
6. Element - basic goalkeeping
Issue - prevent opponents from scoring. Control and organize the D.
Techniques - Eyes, Feet, Hands. Out of the goal, knees bent, hands relaxed, fingers curved, cut the angle, save with fingertips, cushion ball, use body as a 2nd layer, pull ball into body.
Drills:
roll ball back and forth between partners (keep body in front of ball).
ball to sides (on ground).
ball at chest height.
ball higher.
Basic diving - kneeling. Push off far leg, roll sideways on to bent near leg, arms out, hands in front, top hand on top of ball, bottom hand behind ball (not under). Do not land or roll on arms. Keep head up. Bring top leg in to protect body, elbows protect face.
Cut the Angle - use rope to show how to cut the angle
Punting, Throwing, Drop Kick
Any drill above can be used with keepers.
Other Team Drills:
4v2 or 3v3 keep away - Can either run groups simultaneously or have some rest while some play. Add restrictions depending on what you want to emphasize as we discussed.
The "Core" Drill - can be used in every practice and at any age group other than K. Play a half field with 1 ball, 8v4, 7v5, 7v4+1 GK, or whatever works. Use the numbers to fit the need. Extra players help emphasize the skills of the day (i.e. approx 7v5 to give the offense the advantage). One normal goal for O to shoot on. Two narrow, widely spaced goals for D to dribble or pass through to emphasize clearing to the sides. Play normal or restricted rules. Use throw-in's, goal kicks and corner kicks. (described further in the manual).
Other good games for All Players/1 ball:
Pass by Numbers - give each player a number 1 through n. 1 starts with ball, passes to 2 (2 must call for it), who passes to 3, etc. Each next player must anticipate a pass coming and moves to get open. Players must call for the ball!
Corner Pass Game - large square, one player at each corner, with ball. Other players paired in side large square, 1 O and 1 D. O players must get open, receive a pass from a corner, and play the ball back. Variation 1: play back to same corner. Variation 2: play back to different corner. Variation 3: player must 1, 2, or 3 touch before returning pass.
Volleyball - (great for teams making weak passes) - set up like volleyball. Kick back and forth. Variation: side can 2 or 3 touch.
3-Zone MITM - divide a large rectangle into 3 zones, and divide players among the zones. Players pass between the 2 outside zones while middle zone tries to intercept. Variation 1: switch mid to outside from which the intercepted. Variation 2: outer zones can 1, 2 or 3 touch. Variation 3: 1 player from mid zone can attack into the outer zone.
Keep Away - just like it sounds. Variation 1: add goals.
Variation 2: goal and require 3 touches before score.
Variation 3: corner goals. Variation 4: 2 balls.
Other stuff: Throw-Ins
CKs, GKs and PKs.
Formations
Adult League
Indoor/classroom clinic, 5/29 7:30-9:30P
Indoor/classroom clinic, 8/29 6:30-8:30P
Questions.
Feedback - Do we give you what you need?
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