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by Gary Rue
garyrue@bellsouth.net
 

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.

Goalkeeping Coaching Session
The Difference between Goalkeeper Training and Coaching

Gary Walker, Manchester City F.C.
1999 NSCAA Convention

<From the Convention Program Notes>

        The practice/coaching session begins with a structured routine with and without the ball. The routine provides the Goalkeeper with a full warm up. The Goalkeeper has now had an array of shots, which he has had to deal with. This is an unopposed technique practice, which many Goalkeeper coaches use. This, in my opinion, must not be taken as Goalkeeper coaching. To actually coach Goalkeeping, we must now introduce outfield players, both defenders and attackers. As you are aware, Goalkeeping is about making decisions, when
to come for the ball, when not to etc. Throughout the session I now add outfield players and coach the Goalkeeper, not only technique, but also positional play, communication with defenders and decision making.

• Routine (basic technique). For ease of practice, the routine lasts 30 minutes.
  
  1.      Warm-up without the ball
  2.      Warm-up with the ball
  3.      Balls to feet
  4.      Balls to middle
  5.      Balls to head
  6.      Balls over head
  7.      Collapse save
  8.      Stretch save
  9.      Bouncing ball, to feet, to side, to stretch
  10.     Unopposed crosses
  
  Key Factors
  1.      Start position
  2.      Head steady, concentration, eye on the ball
  3.      Movement of feet
  4.      Technique of save
  
  Now the Keeper is ready to be coached!
  
• Coaching Session
  Dealing with crosses and shots opposed
  
  The crossers must vary the technique of the cross (e.g., drive ball in low; loft ball into goal area; vary speed and height of cross; play cross in early behind defenders and go to play cross in and turn back on oneself, delaying the cross). By doing this, defenders and attackers will, generally, now be stood in the Goalkeeping area, whereas, playing the cross in early, Goalkeepers will, generally be attacking the ball in space, knowing that
  attackers will be making their runs fast and late.
  
  Key Factors
  • Position in relation to defenders and the ball
  • Communication with defenders
  • Technique of catching/punching cross or shot
  • Attacking the ball late and fast
  • Positive attitude
  • Expect the unexpected (e.g., Expect your defenders to miss the ball)
  • Give confidence to your Goalkeeper. It is far better to make a positive mistake than a negative one; for example, to go after a cross and miss is far more positive than to stay on one's line frightened of making the mistake
  • Take the fear away
  • Encouragement, stimulation and enthusiasm are great assets in coaching Goalkeeping
  • Goalkeeping is very much about being confident/positive

Zonal Defending
Tony DiCicco, Head Women's Coach, U.S. National Team
NSCAA National Convention 1999

• Warm-up: Technical warm-up - groups of 4 or 5
  1. Passing and follow, one-touch as often as possible
  2. Stretch
  3. Wall passing receive and spin turn. Two-touch and pass to someone else.
  4. Two-touch juggling
  5. Stretch
  6. Double pass and spin turn--A to B, B passes back to A (double pass)  and spins for next pass from A.
  7. Head juggling
     
• Exercise #1: Training for back third defending
  Grid size: 60x35 - two-zone game 3v.3+1
  
• Coaching Points:
  1. Individual defending
  2. Slide, but keep spacing
  3. Communicate
  4. Close down as the ball is moving.
  5. Use of offside law
  
• Exercise #2: Training for middle third defending
  Grid size: 30x60 - 5v5 with players on the end line
  Coaching Points:
  1. Condense horizontally
  2. Force centrally, good individual defending
  3. Track the penetrative run
  4. Communicate, pass on players to next defender
  5. Close down while ball is moving
  
• Exercise #3: Coach the game
  Utilizing whatever large space is available
  
  Create game and coach players within the game.

Speed of Play
by Matt Driver
1999 NSCAA Convention - 1/21/99

• Number passing (assign number to each player and pass in sequential order)
  
• Setup:
  • 30x45 yard area, keep groups separated at first
  • 6 players, 1 ball
  • add second ball
  • add third ball
    
• Coaching Points - Technical
  • in step pass
  • weight of pass
  • position of the body (open to the field)
  • reception foot
  • nearest foot usually means facing one direction and going back to that direction
  • farthest foot allows player to open up and see all of field; back foot gives more options
    
• Coaching Points - tactical
  • play the way you are facing
  • communication with and without the ball
  • when to receive on the front foot or back foot
  • when to move to receive pass in open space
  • Variation
  • increase the number of balls to 2 , then to 3 to improve decision making
  • keep the ball in the air and allow only one bounce to improve control
    
• Merge groups into one area 30x45, but keep passing within their own group
  
• (variation) Number all players sequentially and use up to 4 balls
  
• Move the highest numbered players to the outside as wall passers
  • maintain separate groups
  • 1==> wall==>2==>wall==>3, etc.
  • short pass to wall as next player runs wide; spread (width), then stretch (depth)
    
• 3 groups of 4-6 in same area
  • pass to next in sequence, but in different group; i.e., blue 2 can pass to yellow 3 or red 3
  • 2 balls
    
• Double 4v2
  • Setup
  • 30x45 grid
  • 3 teams of 6
  • 4 players on each long side of the grid and two target players on the ends
  • 2 teams of 4v2
  • the two defenders must work in tandem against their group
  • both teams utilize the outside wall players
  • two-touch soccer
    
• Coaching Points - Technical
  • good first touch
  • weight of pass
  • position of body receiving the pass
  • head up
    
• Coaching Points - tactical
  • timing of pass
  • weight of pass
  • decision making by player in possession
  • team communication
  • team support
  • use of space by team
    
• Double 6v3; no wall players; 30x45
  
• 6v6; 6 consecutive passes scores a point
  

Exercise of the Day - Beat the Trap Games

• As a follow-up to the exercises of training players to stay on-side, there are a couple of games that can help reinforce this training:
  
• Behind the Defense
  • Setup: in a field wider than it is long (i.e., 40x60) play 6v6 (or 7v7 or 8v8).
  • Setup: 10 yard zones past the goallines and put large goals (optional) 20-25 yards past the endlines. In effect, use a full field and play in a 40 area in the middle of the field. Players score by sending balls behind the defense into the 10 yard zone with an attacker running on--the player must acquire some control of the ball within the area. After the attacker receives the pass, he is to continue his dribble (one or two touches) and shoot on goal (GKs are optional). The attacker may not go into the 10 yard zone until after the ball is played. Initially, the defense cannot follow into the zone.   
    
• Points: forward players need to stretch out to maximum distance to be able to run onto through passes. The coach may want to reinforce movement out of the forwards where one checks and the other stretches. Work on playing balls over the top to overlapping wings as well.
  
• Progression: add a second attacker and one defender that can follow into the zone and on to goal.
  
• Behind the Defense with 4 goals
  • Setup: using the same area and number of players, put down two 3 yard cone goals on each goalline. Players score by passing a ball through the cones to a teammate running on to the pass. The teammate should be in the playing area before the pass is made.
    
• Behind the Defense with 4 Corner Zones
  • Setup: using the same area and number of players as above, set up 5 yard grids 5 yards past the goallines at each corner. Also setup a 3 yard goal in the middle of each goalline. Players score by playing long diagonal balls to the corner areas with players running on or by scoring through the middle goal to a teammate running onto the other side.

World Cup 1999 Observations
by Jeff Tipping
1999 NSCAA Convention - 1/23/99

• What kinds of activities can you do to help build team spirit off the field?
  
  Systems used:
   
• 3-5-2
  
         K
  B     B     B
  H     H    H
      H    H
      F     F
  
  • Can keep width
  • Good interchange between players
  • All passes by wing are inside pass
  • Wings get very isolated
  • Outside back to center mid pass is very dangerous pass
  • Player in front of the backs is a vital position, as this position protects the center backs against counter attacks and allows wings to go forward
    
• 4-3-3 (France)
  
        K
  B  B  B  B
    H  H  H
       F
    F    F
   
  • Strength was in defending counter attack
  • 3 center midfielders that never get wider than the penalty area
  • All wing runs made by outside backs
  • Wing space in front of off-ball wing back is open
  • The three midfielders often get unbalanced and can't shift towards ball side together
    
    
• 4-4-2
  
        K
  B  B  B  B
  H  H H  H
     F     F
   
  • If opponents are playing 3-5-2, then consider bringing forward back to midfield
  • 4-4-2 is strong on the wing due to the wing pairs (wing back and wing half)
  • Running across the field is a great way of pulling players out of positions.
    
• Counter attack is the main attacking strategy in international play:
  1. invite the predictable pass
  2. interception-pass or tackle
  3. decision to pass forward, run forward or pass back or to the side
  4. quality of forward pass, into space (hooked drive) or to checking player; with proper pace
  5. movement of forward players
     • show (check) to relieve pressure
     • bend away runs
  6. keep counter attack going
     • change point of attack
     • relay passes forward

  To help encourage counter attacking play, 2v2 with goalkeepers as targets; when ball is won, play it forward to the GK.
  
  At least 3 defenders must be back, as you cannot defend with 2.
  
  Work a 7v3 with 1 recovering defender counter attack exercise.
  
  Dribbling laterally will open up seams as defense shifts.
  
  Center forwards (CF) that receive with back to goal should make more use of the chest pass.
  
  Control pressure before controlling the ball. Players need to know how to use upper body when being pressured.
  
  Teach turning with ball under pressure, keeping body between ball and opponent.
  
  Center forwards must play with back to goal; the best CFs back into the defender to find out where the defender is.

Creating Attacking Space in the Box
Shelly Howieson
1999 NSCAA Convention - 1/23/99

• 2 goals 40 yards apart, servers from mid line, 3 runners per goal; runs are made to near post (NP), far post (FP) and 12 (penalty mark). The servers dribble down the touch and cross. After the cross, the two groups switch goals they are attacking. The servers can switch as well or continue to serve on the same goal.
  
• Runs should not be vertical, but include diagonal runs across the goal mouth and crossing patterns.
  
• Add one defender per group that chooses an attacker to mark.
  
• When a ball is served to the 12, one front runner needs to go cover the GK.
  
• GK punts to one of 2 halfbacks, who plays to wing who dribbles to goalline as 3 make runs against one defender.
  
• NP run go to 12 then to NP; if ball not delivered, then circle back to 12.
  • Add defender on runs (3v2).
  • Add defender for pressure on halfbacks; then add defender to release to wing.
  • Add entry pass from halfback to front runner who can turn or kick it out wide.
    
• 5v5 + 2Wings.