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PAGE 23
by Gary Rue
garyrue@bellsouth.net
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NOTE: Gary did not write these exercises and tips with the
idea that someone would publish them. I subscribe to the
Soccer-Coach-L e-mail list and Gary is one of the coaches that
posts extremely well thought out replies. These are some of
Gary's posts that I collected for use in coaching my own teams.
I approached Gary and he was gracious enough to allow me to
publish them here. If you like what you see or have a
question about one of the exercises you can reach Gary at
garyrue@bellsouth.net
There are
50+ more pages of Gary's posts
categorized at the Home Page of Exercises
of the Day by Gary Rue. Click here and enjoy.
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Practice Tip - Channel
the Creative Competitor |
The coach sets up an exercise,
gives the instructions and the restrictions and starts play. Soon
the exercise starts to digress when a one or two creative minds
figure out how to "beat the system." The coach must now add new
restrictions or change old ones. Every coach has been in this
situation.
First of all, recognize when creativity
is at work and praise it. Exercises should not be so restrictive
that they also restrict creativity. Adapt the exercise and play up
the creative nature of the game.
Sometimes, however, the player is
"cheating" the system more than being creative. The coach may need
to channel these types players or apply other restrictions, using
tactical or technical reasons.
For instance, if a player falls back
inside a small goal to defend it, the coach should address the
fact that the player is not closing down the ball or supporting
his teammate. By reinforcing good defensive techniques, the coach
has solved this problem of over guarding the goal.
In another example a player that is
supposed to be delayed pressure, often jumps the gun to get a head
start. The coach may have that player do a 360 spin or a
somersault (as if tripped). A quick footwork exercise with or
without ball would also create the same delay and provide some
benefit to the "quick starter."
Often, the players that cause a coach
the most problem in exercises are mentally the quickest or the
most competitive. Keep their creativity and competitive nature
flowing by channeling it in the right direction.
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Functional Training of the Front
Runners |
The following exercises focused on the
functional training of the two front
runners (or forwards/strikers); however, halfbacks and backs can also benefit from these
exercises. The exercises help to develop the interactive and reactive combined play
between the two forward players working as a pair.
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Warm-up:
Three man combinations--two players (A & B) interpass as a third player (C)
away from the ball checks to one of the passing players.
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Wall Pass--A and the checking C perform a wall pass combination; C spins away and starts interpassing with A as B becomes the next checking player
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Flick and Spin--A passes to checking C as B runs forward; C flicks the all on to B and spins away and starts interpassing with B as A becomes the next checking player
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Overlap--(after a couple of interpasses) A dribbles towards B and B overlaps into the space vacated by A; A passes to checking C, who
flicks onto the overlapping B; C spins away and starts interpassing with B as
A becomes the new checking player
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Takeover--(after a couple of interpasses) A dribbles towards B and B takes over the ball and passes to the checking C; A continues his run
as C flicks on and spins away, etc.
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Drop--A passes to checking C and makes a long run forward; C drops to B, who plays a long ball over the top to A; C spins away, etc.
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Coaching focus: the check run should be from distance (even with an initial
run away from the passers) and timed with player A to see the run before his pass arrives
and be able to play the ball to the checking player before he
gets too close.
Note - this combination play is developed over several practices (not in one
warm-up session)
Tactical Development:
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Drop (fundamental step on which to build the future exercises) - In a
15x35 grid with a 5 yard central zone (i.e., 15+5+15x15), have two players
in each of the 10 yard zones. One group of two (A and B) interpasses with
the ball. One of the two "forwards" (C and D) in the other group checks into
the middle zone. Player A (for example) passes to C who immediately drops to B; C spins
away as D looks for an opportunity to perform a well timed check.
Coaching focus: Timed check run; importance of angled drop pass when
receiving a ball with your back to the goal; the stretching out of one
forward (as far forward as possible) and the checking back of the other
forward (provides depth in the attack). The checker should check at an angle to the
receiving player.
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Diagonal Run - Same as the drop, but now D makes a lateral or diagonal run behind the
checking C and receives a long vertical pass from B; C spins away and starts interpassing
with D as A and B become the new forward pair. After a couple of series, ask the
"forward pair" to cross each time before one of them checks to the ball. This
crossing pattern should continue for all following variations.
Coaching focus - The diagonal run should be timed so that the player runs
onto the pass and not be there too soon. D (in this example) run should
start his run with a slow movement so B knows he is intending to make this
run.
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Leave It - A plays to checking C; D calls for C to "leave it"; C
"dummies"
the pass and allows it to continue on to D; C spins away and interpasses
with D; A and B now become the new forward pair.
Coaching focus - communication and deception
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Turn - A plays to checking C who turns and plays a quick wall pass combo; C should look
back before receiving the ball.
Coaching focus - vision and quick turning; players should turn to both sides
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Turn or Leave - C determines choice (turn or leave) by looking back before receiving
the ball from A; if D has made a run behind, then leave, else turn and pass to D.
Coaching focus - vision
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Flick and Spin - As C receives, D moves up square with C, C flicks
(one-touches) to D and spins away for a return ball.
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Second Attacker Choice--C determines what play "is on" by what D does.
Coaching focus - vision and decision making
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Overlap - A goes forward after passing to C; C drops to B who plays long
to D who one-touches square to A.
Coaching focus - switching of positions, as A goes forward C moves back.
Game Conditioned Development
Add a defender in each zone; allow only the defender in the forward area to
be active, but he must mark the checking player. The other defender can be
semi-active, where he must pressure (but not tackle) the player with the ball. This will
force the checking player to time his check run.
The area can be widen and lengthen to 40 x 35 with a midline. Through a
normal progression of adding players, the exercise can be developed into a
3v2+2v3 in each zone with full goals on each end. Restrictions on players
crossing the midline can be removed, until the play is full 5v5.
The above is not meant to imply a one practice session, though it is
possible with upper teenage team. For younger teenage players, it would take a combination
of several practices to develop the three man combo play. The game related part would take
a couple of sessions to work into slowly before the forwards would be able to go 2v3.
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Zonal
Defending -
NSCAA 1999 Convention
By Jeff Tipping
January 21, 1999 |
(Coach) Tipping discussed pros and cons of zone (most
of which were in the
convention program, which replicated a recent article in Soccer Journal). He
added that other team can force your team's match-ups.
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Warm-up:
Half of the players are in a circle with a ball; players inside check to a ball and says
to which part of the body the player should toss and it is returned with a one-touch; this
progresses to the player receiving and playing back with the foot volley.
Now in pairs, one player receives and plays to his teammate who one-touch
returns. Teammate must communicate his location. Improving communication is an important
reason for this warm-up.
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Center back training
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2v1 + 1v2
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Setup: 60x40, halfway line, 2 small goals at each end; 1v2 in each half as
3v3 overall; when ball is played to the attacker in one half the first
defender closes down and the second defender must decide support depth. If the attacker is
under heavy pressure, the second defender can play flatter.
The defenders must learn two comments:
1) "I've got ball!"
2) "Switch!"
Remove small goals and use three small goals positioned behind the two small goals (longer
area). Add defensive player for each team, now 3v1 + 1v3. The zone now starts to take
shape. Use both backs and halfbacks as defenders, as the halfbacks need the same zone
training as the backs.
Add second attackers for a 2v3 look in each half. The defenders constantly
need to adjust their position vertically and horizontally, trying to maintain the same
constant spacing (10-15 yards).
The defenders must slide to the ball side when the ball moves wide; and then compact wall
in the center when the ball is central.
The Italians move their off-ball wing back (4 man back) forward to help set
their off-side trap--fewer players to coordinate the "step up." As the ball
moves away from the defended goal-line, the defenders (and GK) go forward;
and they must move backward as the ball moves toward goal. Key defensive
communication could be "Up!" or "Back!"
Add neutral 2 wing halfbacks to work on angled cross-field balls. The coach
must decide how to play the crossed ball. If the off ball back plays on the
ball side of the wide forward player, then he will be in better position to
defend the angled run into the middle by this attacker.
However, if the attacking team is able to cause the defense problems with
the crossed ball, by playing the wing back on the outside shoulder of the
wing attacker, the defender should be able to track down this cross corner
ball. In this position, the defender can easily put the wide attacker
offside as he is in position to see both attacker and ball.
<ed. this was an
interesting concept, but perhaps one that is for the very high level
player.>
In a 5 v 6 set up (no goals), three attacking midfielders attempt to play
the ball through a 3 man defensive midfield "screen" to two attacking
forwards playing against three flat defensive backs. When the ball gets past
a midfielder, the midfielder spins and doubles teams the forward with one of
the backs.
Play a game with 3-3-1 shape vs a 3-3-1 shape; change one team to a 2-3-2 to teach backs
how to play as center backs in 4-x-x.
Center forwards are very important to a defense, as they are to make the
other team's play predictable, by taking away the center or the drop ball
and forcing play wide and into the zone's strength.
Set a vertical line on the field and have the defense keep the attack in
front of that line or in the opponents half of the field.
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