Passing
Transition from Defensive third to Midfield - control and settle
quickly; strong pass to space near teammate.
Game play
Passing
Transition from Defensive third to Midfield - control and settle
quickly; strong pass to space near teammate.
Game play
Warm Up - move the ball race. Players line up on one touchline
and race (to other side or to other side and back, or around a cone and back).
All players go at the same time. Can move the ball any (legal)
way they want (long kick and sprint should be fastest... see if they can
figure this out).
kicking technique - briefly review kicking technique
Clearing the Ball - Divide the team in two and place the groups on
either
side of a 5 to 10yd-wide (or wider) "neutral zone" which neither
group
may enter, with at least one ball for every 2 players. Players must
clear
the balls out of their side by kicking them through the neutral zone
to
the opposite side.
Time a 1 or 2 minute game. The team with
the least number of balls on their side at the end of the game wins.
Settle and control quickly; strong, aimed kick. (aim to space)
Pass and Defend - Groups of three, one ball per group. Player A rolls
the ball (receiving ground balls) or tosses the ball (receiving air balls)
to either player B or player C. In this example, player C must control the
ball and get a completed pass to player B. While this is occuring, player
A immediately challenges player C and tries to win the ball back. After successful
pass, player B would then pick up the ball and repeat the activity as the
defender. The defender who wins the ball back gets to throw again.
Encourage defender to pressure quickly after the toss. Defender needs to
work hard at closing down the space while the ball is in flight. Receiving
player's
first touch should be away from the pressuring defender. Do not allow
the receiving player to one touch the incoming toss. This is a receiving
drill,
as well as a drill that serves as a good warm-up for practices dealing with
defenders. Settle and control the ball quickly! Strong
pass to the space near your teammate.
Corner Kicks (defending) - on D: GK at near post; D past near 6
yd corner, top of 6 yd box, and far post; Mids on kicker and at PK spot;
F past 18. on O: F: 1 kick, 1 near 6 yd, 1 mid 6 yd; Mids: 1 plays
short pass, 1 at PK; D: at least one past midfield.
and Goal Kicks - 2 D in the box, 1 person in goal, mids in
receiving position, forwards upfield
4 Goals - End Line (wide, by corners). 4 v. 4. Each
team defends two goals and attacks
two goals. Having the goals on the
end lines makes this game more
realistic as it forces the attacking
team to have more of a direction
to their attack. Coaching Points:
Defending become particularly
challenging since the defending team
has two goals to defend. It is a
good idea to allow each team
to decide by themselves, at first, where
they are going to try to win
the ball. In other words, are they going to
challenge the ball all
over the field, or will they hang back and try to only
defend the space
close to their own goals? Can they "channel" the ball
into certain
areas of the field to gain possession. Can they apply
enough
pressure on the ball to limit the first attacker's options,
and make
the play predictable. Fast passing and fast movement without the
ball!
(optional) Scrimmage
1-touch shots - each player outside the penalty area with a ball,
coach at one side even with PK mark. When called, player passes to
coach and moves toward the goal. Coach 1-touches to center and player
1-touches into goal. Player retrieves ball and moves back outside of
penalty area.
Penalty Kicks
Strategy for next game - be first to the ball, strong passes, move
without the ball (don't be close enough to get pushed), spread the field,
run fast!