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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.

Exercise of the Day - Target Player Game

        To help players understand the importance of playing the ball forward and then receiving a drop or back angle return, the target player game is a useful tool. Initially, conduct a warm-up that involves a forward that comes back to the ball (checking) and/or three man combination play. The targets in the game will emulate a checking forward.

• Game Setup:
  Divide the team into 3 groups of 4 (5 or 6). The goals are set at 40-60 yards apart depending upon age, skill level and number of players per group.
  Position a player (from the group not playing) outside each post on each goal line (4 players total). Before a team can score, they must work some combination with one of the target players on the attacking goal line. After a few minutes play, switch one of the playing teams with the target players.
  
• The target players move along their part of the goal line to be as available as possible should minimize their touches (one is preferred) and get the ball back into play immediately. They should not only look for back angles, but crosses to far post runners as well. It is recommended that the target players find opportunities to move off the goal line and up field in order to check to ball. They are to return to the goal line immediately after being played a pass or bypassed.
  
• This game also helps the teams that use a more direct style of getting the ball forward out of the back. A coach may want to encourage the long cross field ball out of the back for quick counter attacks.

"Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; 
attacking, a superabundance of strength." 
Sun Tzu, The Art of War

The Right Ways to Motivate #11

The following are notes and comments on the article, "The Right Ways to Motivate," by Andy Roxburgh, in Soccer Journal, May/June 1996 publication:

11. Adversity - anticipate difficulties and have answers ready, else display self-assurance, composure, intelligence, energy, and resilience.

             
There are three times to address adversity with a team or player: before, during and afterwards.

      Certain adverse situations can be addressed in training by using situational exercises. For instance, what does a team do when they are down a goal (or two) or even. What do they do if they are playing a player (or two) short? How do they handle physical play by an opponent, such as holding or slide tackles?

      Certain situations need to be discussed prior to the first game (and reemphasized during the season). What should the players do if a fight breaks out? How are the players to handle trash or abusive talking by the opponent? How should they respond to a teammate that loses it?

       When adversity strikes during play, the coach needs to remind the players what was discussed before. If it's a new situation, then trying to get the player(s) to get past the situation to the next "moment of truth" is crucial. If the players dwell on the adversity, they will be useless and ineffective. If a player needs to be removed from the game, then do so, even if it will weaken the team. For instance, I've removed players immediately from play and played down a man (or  two) for some caution-able or ejection-able act that the referee did not see.

       Afterwards, the adversity needs to be discussed in a rational manner. If further player discipline is needed, then it should be done in a non-emotional state. The way players responded to an adverse situation should be objectively addressed as well in preparation for the next time. 

       The game is full of adversity. Be prepared to meet it head on, deal with it and move on to the next "moment of truth."

This is the last of Roxburgh's 11 points of motivation.

Exercise of the Day - Check and Spin

        Some teams have a problem getting their forward players to come back for the ball (check). The teams that are able to get their forwards to check to the ball often have the opposite problem--getting the forwards back into a forward position. The check and spin is a good technique to get your forward players to use to put themselves into a forward position. 

        Initially, warm-up the players in pairs. One player (A) passes a 20-25 yard ball to his teammate (B) and following his pass, checks to the ball. Player B plays to A and moves off to the side for an angled return pass. A "drops" the ball back to B and spins AWAY from his pass--that is, if A passes to his left, then he spins to his right. B plays a through ball into B's forward run.

       Coaching points have to be established in the warm-up. The check run has to be quick and timed. Just before the player receives the ball, the checker needs to establish his presence by showing with a burst of speed. The checker needs to delay his run if the receiver is going to have problems getting to or controlling the ball. The ball touches between players need to be one touch or a quick two touch. The spin needs to be away from the pass and it should be wide enough to present a good passing angle. The drop man needs to help create this angle by moving off to the side. 

       Advanced coaching points would be for the checker to receive the ball sideways on, use of the front foot to receive and pass and to adjust the width and speed of the spin based on the return drop pass--that is, at what angle is the drop man receiving the ball and how long will it take him to get the pass off.

       Now we are ready for the main exercise. With 2-3 players at each end of a 20-25 yard area, place three objects (e.g., large highway cones) about 5 yards apart at the halfway mark. 

                                []


         A2  A1o           []           B1  B2


                                []


        In the example above, B1 will check between the cones to A1 and receive a pass and drop it back to A1. After the drop, B1 will spin away as A1 passes between and behind the cones to B1 running on. It is important that B1 checks past the cones before A1 passes and that B1 is not behind the cones before A1 plays his through ball pass. 

        It should be obvious that the established scenario is that of a player moving back to get on-side (the reason A1 needs to hold up his pass until B1 is past the cones), receiving a forward pass, dropping the ball and then timing his forward run to stay on-side before receiving a through ball behind the defense. This is also makes great visual example in which to demonstrate and explain the offside law (don't assume your players understand it).

       The exercise can be progressed (or initially setup) with a goal behind the B players, where the through ball ends with a shot on goal. 

        The exercise can be varied by adding an extra cone, increasing the distance between the cones or between players, etc. 

Check it out and put your own spin on it.

Exercise of The Day - Numbers Up/Down

       In every game players are constantly having to adapt to playing numbers up or numbers down. The following game can help put teams into situations where they must adapt to fewer or more numbers. In this game is best that the coach not stop the game, but allow it to reach some conclusion before addressing any coaching points.

• Purpose: to put players in a numbers up or down situation by removing two players from a team.
  
• Setup: 6v6 or 8v8 on a marked field with small 2 yard goals (two per goalline) or large goals with GKs. Every player on each team is numbered.
  
• Procedure: after play has been established, players 1 and 2 of team A are to told by the coach to leave the field and jog/run around the boundary of the field. These players are to re-enter at the exact point they leave. After they have returned, the coach tells players 1 and 2 of team B to exit and run around the field. The next players to leave are 3 and 4 of team A, etc.
  
• Coaching Points: the coach may want the team with numbers up to speed up play to take advantage of their numbers. However, a more conservative buildup to find the "holes" may be coaching preference. Defensively, the numbers up team may want to play high pressure, looking for double teams and certainly providing adequate support to the ball.
  
  When numbers down, the coach may want the team to play a little more direct trying to break free a front runner. Defensively, low pressure may be the request. Compressing the field (using off-side law) is easier to do with fewer players and may keep the attack from spreading the defense too much.
  
• Variations: The coach can send different combinations of players from each team to keep the players adapting. The number of times the players must jog around the field can be upped. If GKs are used, they can be sent as well,
  either separately or at the same time or in combination with the other players. For example, GK from team A and players 1 and 2 from team B.