Training - Wednesday, May 30

With storm clouds gathering, we took the field at Mac for our sole training session this week.  We've had a lot of soccer in the last month and the next two weeks things die down a bit game-wise.  We meet Wayzata again tomorrow in league play, then get in 5 training sessions before meeting up with the Woodbury team on June 12.  After that we have another 3 or 4 sessions, a rematch against Coon Rapids, a game against our White team, then off to Des Moines for Regionals.

My idea tonight was to get in a lot of technical finishing.  We have two regulation-sized goals at Mac that are relatively easy to move around the field.  This allowed me to set up a series of repetitive shooting exercises then change the field around to finish with some fun, competitive games to two goals.

I started with some ball striking work, building on our inside of the foot bending balls from last session while also introducing the outside of the foot bending ball. 

Before sending the girls off to work, I sat them all down behind me and proceeded to strike four different balls at the same target.  I first hit a high lofted ball, then a low driven ball, then an inside of the foot bending ball, and finally an outside of the foot bending ball.  All four soccer balls started in the same spot, and I began my approach to each ball from the same spot.  The key here is for the players to be able to hit all four types of passes coming from one starting position, changing the flight of the ball by foot placement/alignment, where they make contact with the ball, and how their leg swings at the ball.

Using these ideas, I could hit about a half a dozen different passes - low/high inside bender, low/high outside bender, low driven, and high lofted.

I. Ball Masters Program - Individual Skills Development

Ball Striking Technique

• High Lofted Pass
• Instep Drive
• Inside of the Foot Bender
• Outside of the Foot Bender

The girls worked in pairs trying to strike passes that their teammate called for.  For example, if Getch and Becs were working together and Getch had the ball, Becs would yell out "High lofted pass!" and Getch would try to hit that type of pass to Becs.

* * * * *

The coaching point I really wanted to try and hammer into the girls today was how to finish low crosses played across the box when the attacker is in the middle of the goal or at the far post.  Most girls think that to score a goal, you have to swing your leg straight up the field at the goal.  This thought makes finishing crosses difficult as, especially when the ball is played across at pace, the timing of the leg swing has to be perfect in order to impart any type of power into the ball.  Instead, I want the girls to turn their hips to face the ball more, allowing the inside of the foot to also be turned more towards the ball.  This "new" foot angle allows an increased chance of better contact on the ball while also putting the ball "back where it came from" - back toward the post that the cross was coming from.  Not only will this though increase the girls chances of making good contact with the ball, but moreover the opposing GKs who are playing say a cross from their left will be moving to their right across the goal as the ball is played across.  Their momentum will help them get to any shots played to their right side while making it nearly impossible to stop even a weak shot hit back where it came from to the GKs left.

I thought long and hard about how to try and get this point across to the girls.  Eventually, I settled on using a prop.  I had Maddie bring a tennis racket and some tennis balls to training.  I got the girls together then asked for a volunteer who thought they had mad tennis skills to step up.  Hannah gladly took up the challenge.  I stood Hannah at the far post about 6 yards away from goal while I stood at the near post.  I asked Hannah to make sure her hips and the tennis racket head were both facing straight ahead of her towards the far post area of the goal, then asked her to try and hit the tennis balls I was going to throw in front of her into the far post area of the goal.

Now I'm no Johan Santana, but I proceeded to blow three tennis balls in a row past Hannah's face while she flailed hopelessly trying to make contact.  I then did the same thing to Bidi who had been heckling Hannah for her apparent tennis ineptitude. 

I then asked Bidi to turn her hips slightly, turn the racket head towards me roughly 45 degrees, and now try to hit the same type of thrown tennis ball into the near post area of the goal.  What do you think she did on the first pitch?  You guessed it... near post side netting with an attitude!  I asked the girls what did this all mean and how did this relate to our team and the soccer field.  It wasn't hard for all of them to see what I was getting at and they were all excited to put the new found knowledge to work.

* * * * *

Shooting is all about repetition, repetition of correct technique. 

My idea today was to split the group of 18 girls (I had the U14 Blue team's GK with us as well) into two teams of 8.  I set up two shooting fields side by side, and the 2 GKs took turns alternating in the net on field #2.  Half the group would work on a specific type of finishing skill on one field while the other half of the group would work on something else on the other field.  After 5 minutes the teams would switch fields.  After another 5 minutes, that particular "round" was complete and we'd move to round #2 with different finishing scenarios. 

II. Repetition Shooting Round #1

Field 1 - Back Where It Came From

Field 2 - Give and Goes

III. Repetition Shooting Round #2

Field 1 - Back Where It Came From - Bounding Balls

Field 2 - Far Post Benders and Near Post Driven Shots

Lightning in the skies at around 6:45PM.  We called practice and huddled in our cars for 15 - 20 minutes, then took the field again.  A few minutes later, more lighting and training was called.  We didn't get to the last two activities.

IV. Repetition Shooting Round #3

Field 1 - First Time Lay Backs

Field 2 - Heading

V. 4v4 Lots O' Shots

Training - Wednesday, May 16

Our first training session at my alma mater,  Macalester College (St Paul).  What a great new facility!  Where was this field back in the glory days?

The idea for today was to continue to address breaking down possible packed in defenses, if teams should choose to do so against us this weekend during the semifinals or (hopefully) the championship game.  Our main attack against this defense will come from the flanks, with early crosses into the danger area or by beating players 1v1 out wide and getting in endline crosses or wining corner kicks, and also by long range efforts.

Long range efforts don’t necessarily mean always striking shots from 25+ yards.  But if we can get a couple long distance strikes on goal early and prove that we are a threat from these opportunities, we will spread the defense out a bit as they will be forced to step up and pressure us.  This will create holes for crafty forwards to find space in dangerous areas for passes to feet.

In actuality, we probably need a few months in order to get all this stuff down, but the ideas for this type to play have to start sometime.  No better time than the present!

I had 17 girls at training.

I. Penalty Kicks

As the girls arrived on site I encouraged them to work on their PKs. While they waited for their turn, they were asked to be active, moving around to help get warmed up.

II. Endline Crosses

Set Up

• 4 crossers, 2 on the right and 2 on the left set up as shown below, with one crosser and one dummy defender on each side
• 3 defending players and a GK defending a goal
• 3 teams of 3 attackers 25 yards out from goal with all the soccer balls

Procedure

• A player from the blue attacking group plays a ball out to the right crosser
• Once the crosser has the ball under control, the dummy defender comes to pressure
• The crosser is looking to beat the defender and serve in a cross from near the endline
• Once the ball is in the net, out of bounds, or been cleared by the defenders, green plays a ball out to the left crosser to begin their attack on goal

Make It Competitive

• +1 point for a goal
• +3 points for a first time goal (a goal scored directly from a cross on a one-touch, without the attacker controlling the ball first)
• +6 points for any header goals

Coaching Points

• Crossers should attack the defender towards the middle of the field. If they just dribble down the sidelines, they set themselves up for a longer cross into the box. If they instead attack inside, the freeze the defender inside the field and, once they take a touch to beat the defender to the outside (away from goal), they will find themselves closer to the center of the field for an easier cross.
• Attack the defender at speed, take a bigger touch to get by them. This will allow the crosser to ran faster (without worrying about taking multiple touches on the ball) while also allowing the crossers to take a look up to see where they are crossing to.
• Crossers need to wrap their foot around the ball and pull the ball back – the closer you get to the endline, the more you have to cross the ball backwards, away from goal
• Runners need to get organized early and time their runs as not to be standing and waiting (easy to mark) before the cross comes in

III. Early Crosses

Set Up

• Same as above for the teams, the defenders, and the GK
• Still two crossers out wide on each side of the field, except now the two crossers start at the same disk, roughly 40 yards from goal
• All 3 attacking teams start about 30 yards from goal

Procedure

• Blue takes up starting positions as shown below
• A player from gold, next up after blue, plays a ball to blue1, who controls and passes a ball back to red1
• Red1 attacks the ball (doesn't wait for it) and looks to serve in an early cross for blue attackers + gold passer to finish (4v3 to goal)
• After the ball is in the net, out of bounds, or has been cleared by the defenders, gold takes up blue's starting positions and gold3 receives a pass from a green player to begin their sequence to goal

Make It Competitive

• +1 point for the attacking team if they get the first touch on the ball after the cross - I want the players to attack the ball aggressively
• +3 points for a goal

Coaching Points

• Drop the ball in the danger area off the crosses, aim for the penalty spot
• Attackers need to begin to read the crossers - if the ball is approaching them too quickly, it will likely take two touches to serve the ball.  If the ball is approaching at a slower pace and you see the wide player adjusting her feet and winding up to kick the ball, the cross is coming in
• Be first to the ball and don't give the defenders any free (unchallenged) clearances

9v9 Early Service

Set Up

• 60x75 yard field (half field) divided with a midline and channeled by extending the 44-yard box lines to midfield (see below)
• One goal on each endline
• 2 teams of 9 set up as shown below, with a GK, 3 defenders in the defending half, 2 wide players in the adjacent wide channels, and 3 attackers in the attacking half
• All the soccer balls divided and in/just behind the goals

Procedure

• Ball starts with blue's GK who plays to one of the 3 blue defenders
• One green attacker takes a knee and cannot defend
• After 5 consecutive passes by the 3 defenders and the GK, the ball can be played into either adjacent wide channel
• Crossers in these channels must deliver an early service into the danger area for their forwards
• The weak-side crosser (the crosser who does not receive a pass from the middle grid) may also join the attack
• If the the green defenders or GK gain possession of the ball, one blue attacker takes a knee and both blue crossers must return to their channel

Make It Competitive

• +1 point for each goal

Coaching Points

• 4v2 in the back, keep possession of the ball by making the grid big, moving to create good passing and support angles, knowing what you are going to do with the ball before you get it, and playing quickly
• Attackers must read the wide players - when are they going to serve the ball?
• Attackers should attack the ball aggressively and be active and buzzing around the box
• Crosses should be aimed toward the penalty spot
• No free clearances, challenge everything

Progression #1

Same as above, but now when the ball gets played wide to either crosser, all players are live to play until the ball is scored at either end

9v9 Free Play

Remove all restrictions and let the girls play.

Penalty Kicks

Again... just in case.  Two teams played through 3 PK rounds to see which team emerged victorious!

Training - Tuesday, April 24

6:00PM - 6:45PM Game Observation

I was in a bit of a dilemma regarding training tonight.  I had scheduled Tues, Thurs, Sat training this week in prep for our first State Cup game next Monday, but I also wanted to head down to Cottage Grove to catch some of the U14 Midwest Regional League game between our top U14 team and Eden Prairie.  After some consideration, I decided to try and book a field at the same site in Cottage Grove for training, and was able to do that with the help of Jonathan Schaefer (Bangu U14 Age Group Coordinator and Cottage Grove soccer's coaching director). 

I set training from 6PM - 8PM, having the girls watch the first half of the MWRL game then jump on the adjoining field at the complex to train.  The game started late as there was an issue with a missing ref but I was able to have the girls sit on the parent sideline (as not to distract the teams) to watch the first 30 minutes or so of the game.

Both our U14 Blue team and the EP team are solid teams.  We will face EP twice this summer in league play, and watching them today I think it will be very difficult to stop their big, strong, athletic forwards from scoring.  We'll have our hands full, that's for sure.

6:45PM - 8:00PM Field Training

I. Bombers (one of my favorite possession games)

Set Up

• 2 teams of 9 players (we had a guest player training with us today to give us 18 total in training)
• 50x70 playing area
• One team is designated as the attacking team and has a soccer ball
• The other team is designated as the defending team and has three soccer balls, preferably brightly colored ones but for sure different from the attacking team's soccer ball

Procedure

• Attacking team plays possession soccer and tries to complete consecutive passes within the playing area with their one soccer ball
• Defending team (with three soccer balls) plays handball and tries to hit or "bomb" the attacking team's soccer ball for points
• Defenders may not interfere with the attacking play in any other manner (ie, block or intercept the attackers' passes) aside from throwing bombs as the attacker's soccer ball
• Teams switch roles after 5 minutes

Make It Competitive

• +1 point for the attacking team for every 5 consecutive passes without their ball being bombed or going out of bounds
• +1 point for the defending team for every successful bomb attempt (if a bomb hits the attackers' ball)

Coaching Points

• Attacking players must be aware of their ball AND the three bomb balls at all times
• Attackers should draw the defenders (and their bombs) in with short, quick passes, then look to break pressure with longer passes or quick changes of field (by passing or by dribbling)
• Attacking players without the ball should support their teammate in possession of the ball in areas and at angles that keep them clear of defenders with bombs
• Defenders need to communicate well and move into dangerous positions in which to have a bomb passed (thrown) to them so that they can try and more easily hit the attackers' ball

Progression #1

• Same as above, but the attacking team players are limited to 3 touches or less

Progression #2

• Same as about, but the attacking team players are limited to 2 touches or less

Comments

I love this game, so do the girls!  Lots of good soccer, lots of hilarious moments.

II. 4v4 Tournament

Set Up

• 4 teams of 4 players, each team in a different color vest (with 18 players we had 2 teams of 5)
• Two 35x40 yard fields with 2-yard flag goals on the endlines
• Spare soccer balls behind each goal

Procedure

• Teams play 4v4 to goal, goals must be scored below the top height of the flags
• Teams rotate fields every 5 minutes with every team playing every other team

Make It Competitive

• +3 points for a win, +2 points for a tie, +1 point for a loss
• +1 point for each goal that a team scores
• Whichever team has the most points at the end of the round robin event wins

Coaching Points

• General team shape
• Visual and verbal communication
• Creativity

III.  6v6 Wide Channels

Set Up

• 3 teams of 6 players, each team in a different color scrimmage vest
• 50x70 yard playing area with two goals on the endlines
• Extend the penalty box lines up to midfield, forming a 44x50 yard central area flanked by two 10 - 13 yard channels which are split with a midline forming 4 crossing boxes
• Determine which two teams play first and have these two teams take up sides in the central area
• The third team provides 4 crossing players, one in each crossing box, and two endline bumpers
• Spare soccer balls in each goal

Procedure

• Teams play 6v6 to goal with 5 field players and 1 GK on each team
• Blue can use crossers #1 and #2 as neutral players, along with the bumper behind the goal they are attacking (bumpers can run along the entire endline
• Gold can use crossers #3 and #4, along with the bumper behind the goal they are attacking
• The only restriction on green is that the ball cannot die (come to a stop) in their crossing box
• Play for 5 minutes then rotate team positions (blue goes to cross/be bumpers, gold changes sides to attack the flag goal, green takes up the side gold was just on)

Make It Competitive

• +2 points for each goal
• +4 points for the attacking team if a goal is scored using the wide players or the bumper
• +2 points (half the points) for the crossing/bumpers team for assists on 4 point goals

Coaching Points

• Goal to goal if you can, but if in trouble or if the opportunity presents itself, use the neutral players in the crossing channels
• Once the ball is out wide, get numbers in the box
• Get the defenders ball watching with penetrating passes into the bumper's feet, then make runs to find space to finish
• Wide players should stay behind the ball and wide in order to help ensure that they attack passes played out wide to them and face goal - if a wide player is too narrow, a ball played out wider than that player forces the wide player to run away from goal, if a wide player plays too far forward, a poor pass behind them forces them to run backwards away from goal

* * * * *

If you couldn't tell, I wanted the girls to play a lot today.  We had a very productive and focused session last Saturday and a tough fitness session on Sunday.  My goal is to focus on more tactical play again on Friday, and finish out the week of training on Saturday with another fun, lively session in order to minimize any stress and pressure on the girls prior to Monday's match up.

Training - Thursday, April 19

In prep for our first State Cup game on April 30th, I wanted out next 3 sessions to be fairly intensive.  We'd then taper down next week a bit heading into the game the following Monday.

We had the field tonight from 8:00PM - 9:00PM.  I had the girls arrive at 7:30PM to tally up their Individual Player Goals from last weekend, as well as do some fun technical warm-ups prior to a good, hard workout.

As I called each girl over to talk about their past weekend's goals, I had the girls work on their individual juggling.  About halfway through the player meetings I called out for the girls to switch to feet juggling only.  I heard a voice pipe up from the pack "Do we have to switch to feet only if we're on a record?!?!"  It was Lily who asked the questions, and I shouted back that if people were on records that they could continue to use any part of their body to juggle, and then didn't think more of it as I continued on with the player meetings. 

A few minutes later, I looked down and my list and saw that I was missing info from three girls.  Bidi was sick and Jilly got home too late from a track meet to attend, that left Lily.  I scanned the group of girls and saw her off at one end juggling.  She looked pretty intense, so I walked over to her and asked her about her Individual Player Goals.  She said she got all three in the first game (good for her!) and that she was still on a juggling record.  I let her continue and asked the other girls to give her space as to not interfere with her progress. 

With no more meetings to do, I began our 3-Man Juggling Challenges.

I. 3-Man Juggling Challenges

Set Up

• Players work in groups of three with one ball, lined up as shown below

Procedure

• Coach calls out a specific Juggling Challenge for the groups to work on
• Groups practice the challenge for a few minutes, then have a race to see which team can get to 10 successful attempts first
• Teams count out loud to 10 as they go so that other groups know where they are at
• First team to 10 yells out "Whoo hoo!" and sits down
• Other teams take 10 minus their score (times 2 if you want) and do that many fun/fitness punishments (Flying Austrians, Donkey Kicks, Push Ups, Sit Ups, etc)
• Coach give the groups a new challenge to work on and then race, with the team that won the previous race to 10 having to wait until they hear another group get to 1 (or 2) before starting

Make It Competitive

• It is

Coaching Points

• Technical coaching

Challenge #1

• A tosses the ball to B
• B heads to A
• A heads over B to C
• Rotation: A to B, B to C, C to A

Challenge #2

• A volleys to B
• B heads back to A
• A heads over B to C
• Rotation: A to B, B to C, C to A

Challenge #3

• A volleys to B
• B skip heads it backwards to C
• C heads over B to A
• Rotation: A to B, B to C, C to A (note ball must be passed from A to C during this switch)

Challenge #4

• A volleys to C
• C heads to B
• B skip heads it backwards to A
• Rotation: A to B, B to C, C to A (note ball must be passed from A to C during this switch)

With two girls missing, we had perfect numbers for this exercise... except for the fact that Lily was still juggling.  The other girls got going on this exercise with the leftover group of two (that Lily would eventually join) practicing what they could. 

Lily finally came over, out of breath but with a HUGE smile on her face.  1,154!  Wow.

II. 3-Team Challenge

Set Up

• 3 teams of 5, each team in different color vests
• One 50x40 grid with two goals on the endlines and two Pugg goals on each sideline (as shown below)
• Another area set up with a goal for shooting
• Two teams (blue and gold) start in the 50x40 grid, the third team (green) starts in the shooting area

Procedure

• There are three stages to this activity, and each stage consists of 3 x 4 minute rounds - round #1 blue v gold in the 50x40 area with green in the shooting area, round #2 green v gold in the 50x40 area with blue in the shooting area, round #3 green v blue in the 50x40 area with gold in the shooting area

Stage 1

50x40 grid - 5v5 Possession

Set Up

• Grid is already be set up
• One ball in the middle to start play with, with an extra soccer ball on each touchline to use in the event the ball in play gets kicked far off

Procedure

• Teams play possession soccer, trying to keep the ball away from their opponents
• If the ball goes out of play, play kick ins (passes in to teammates) or dribble ins

Make It Competitive

• +5 points for a team if they complete 5 consecutive passes without the defending team touching the ball

Shooting area - Summersault Volleys

Set Up

• Players line up 25 yards from goal with all the soccer balls
• Disk line 15 yards from goal

Procedure

• First player in line does a summersault, second player in line serves a ball underhand in front of the summersaulter
• summersaulter has to get to the ball before the third bounce and shoot on goal
• Ball cannot cross the 15 yard line marked with disks, so serves must be good (not too far forward)
• summersaulter retrieves their soccer ball after the shot, server becomes the next summersaulter

Make It Competitive

• +1 point for all goals
• +3 points if the ball hits the back of the net in the air

Coaching Points

• Toe pointed down, ankle tight and locked through impact
• Wait for the ball to drop low, contact should be made below knee height
• Upper body over the ball
• Looking for top spin on all shots

Comments

• The point of the summersault is not only to make it fun and physically demanding, but also to disorient the players and force them to find the bouncing ball quickly (remember, only 2 bounces allowed), then compose themselves for a finish

Stage 2

50x40 grid - Two Goal Game

Set Up

• Grid is already set up
• One ball in the middle to start play with, with an extra soccer ball on each touchline to use in the event the ball in play gets kicked far off

Procedure

• Teams try to score goals in either of two Pugg goals

Make It Competitive

• +5 points for each goal

Coaching Points

• Don't force the attack on one goal
• Look to draw defenders in to one side of the field with short possession passes, then change the point of the attack and look to go to the other goal

Shooting area - Lay Backs

Set Up

• 2 players line up 25 yards from goal in the shooting line
• 3 players are about 10 yards closer to the goal off to the side in the passing line with all the soccer balls

Procedure

• First player in the passing line plays a back pass to the first player in the shooting line and then follows their pass to wait their turn in the shooting line
• Shooter must shoot first time
• Shooter then retrieves their soccer ball and gets in the passing line

Make It Competitive

• +1 point for all goals
• +3 points for all goals below the midpoint of the goal (encouraging low strikes on goal)

Coaching Points

• Toe pointed down, ankle tight and locked through impact
• Upper body over the ball
• Think about striking the top half of the ball

Stage 3

50x40 grid - 5v5 to Goal

Set Up

• Grid is already set up
• 1 GK, 4 field players
• One ball in the middle to start play with, with extra soccer balls in each goal

 

Procedure

• Teams try to score goals

Make It Competitive

• +5 points for each goal

Coaching Points

• Not many, let them play

Shooting area - Near Post Finishing

Set Up

• 2 players line up at the top of the 18 yard box in the shooting line
• 3 players are on the end line about 15 yards from the goal post in the passing line with all the soccer balls

Procedure

• Shooter starts a run towards the far post, then sprints to the near post area
• Passer drives a low, hard ball in for the shooter to try and finish first time
• Passer then moves to the shooting line
• Shooter then retrieves their soccer ball and gets in the passing line

Make It Competitive

• +3 point for all goals

Coaching Points

• No big, long leg swings here as the ball is coming in fast
• Looking for simply redirects while running at speed

III. 5v5 Winner Stays

Set Up

• 3 teams of 5
• 50x40 yard field

Procedure

• Blue vs green with orange sitting out
• First team to score stays on the field, losing team exists and the team waiting jumps in
• The team that scores can immediately grab the ball and attack the opposite goal
• Waiting team must enter and organize quickly

Make It Competitive

• It is

Coaching Points

• Not many, let them play

This was a tough session for the girls.  I had to shorten the last stage to 3 minute games as the girls were tiring.  It was a very competitive and lively session though and the girls loved it!

Training - Tuesday, April 10

7:15PM - 7:45PM Ball Masters - Individual Skills Development

I. Active Touches Warm Up

This is an activity that I first saw the Eclipse Select team at our age go through at an event a few years back.  I use it sometimes as part of a pre game warm-up at tournaments when we might not have lots of space/time on the field prior to kickoff.  It gets the girls touches in a more active setting than simply working with a partner in a static setting. 

Set Up

• Ball per two players, with the players in lines as indicated below

Procedure

• On the coach's go signal, players with the ball serve to the player across from them
• Players receiving the ball work on a specific skill to get the ball back to the server, then shift one player to the left (or right if the coach so chooses to move in that direction)
• Player at the end runs back down the line to work with the first server
• Work for a set period of time then switch roles

Make It Competitive

• My girls yell out "Hoot hoot!" if they make it through a complete cycle (working with every server) without having had any errant touches - meaning that every server they worked with was able to catch the return ball back to them without the ball touching the ground

Coaching Points

• Technical coaching depending on the skill being worked on

Variations

• Inside of the foot volleys
• Instep (laces) volleys
• Headers
• Jumping headers
• Thigh control + volley
• Chest control + volley

II. Technical Relay Races

More skills work in the small space we had to warm up in prior to taking the field

Set Up

• 4 teams of 4 players, one ball per team
• Teams lined up as shown below

Procedure

• A serves to B who executes a specific skill to get the ball back to A's hands
• A then tosses the ball to B, B takes A's place and serves to C
• A goes to the back of the line

Make It Competitive

• Each successful execution of the specified skill followed by a catch by the server is a point
• First team to 15 yells "Whoo hoo!" and sits down
• All other teams take 15 minus their score and do that many push ups, sit ups, or another fun/fitness penalty

Coaching Points

• Technical coaching depending on the skill being worked on

Variations

• You can get as creative as you would like hear depending on the skill level of your players.

Comments

This is a very enjoyable and competitive activity for the girls.  No one wants to be on the losing team and you'll see the players tense up when they know their close to their end goal or they hear other teams nearing the 15 point mark.  Have fun with it... your players will!

7:45PM - 9:00PM Field Training

I wanted to build off of our last session and once again focus on wide play.  My thoughts here are that we may likely face teams in State Cup who choose to bunker in and defend.  One of the best ways for us to break down this type of defense is by stretching the defense out across the field by playing wide.  Some of the stuff I did today was fairly complex.  I demanded a lot from the girls in terms of focus to pick things up, and by the end of practice we were humming right along.

III. Battle in the Box - Early Cross

Same basic set up and procedure as we worked on last Saturday, except that I had to make adjustments for 17 players instead of for 12.  I also varied the angle of the incoming pass today as well to give the wide players a different look.

Set Up

• 4 teams of 4 players in different color vests
• 35x60 yard field set up as in the illustration below (with a penalty box, goal, GK, and starting disks for attackers/defenders and wide players)

Procedure

• Blue team attacks, green defends, gray team on deck, gold team serving
• Gold 1 passes to gold 2 who takes a short prep touch and serves in a cross from the right for blue to finish
• Green tries to clear the ball from the box
• When the ball is dead (in the goal, out of bounds, or out of the penalty box), defending team exits the area and is on deck waiting, attacking team (blue) becomes the defending team, and the team on deck (gray) attacks a cross that will be played in from the other (left) side
• Gold pairs alternate positions after each cross

Make It Competitive

• +2 points for the first team that makes contact with the ball in the box (looking for aggressive movement towards the ball by both the attacking and defending teams)
• +4 points if the defenders clear the box in the air directly from a cross (so +6 total if they get to the ball first and clear the box in the air)
• +2 point if the attackers get a shot off
• +4 points for a goal

Coaching Points for the Crossers

• Good first prep touch, under control but away from your feet to set up the early cross
• Find a target for your cross instead of just kicking the ball (far post, near post, or a player's feet)
• Look up as the ball is being passes to you to see what you are going to do when you get it

Coaching Points for the Attackers

• Initial movement should be away from the ball to force your defender to work hard to see both the attacker and the ball
• Be creative and careful on your runs (careful about offsides) - lose your defender with quick changes of direction, starts and stops, or bursts of acceleration
• Don't get all 4 runners flat in the box, someone has to stay at the top of the box in the event of a poorly cleared ball from the defenders or to offer a lay back pass option
• Work hard to keep the ball in the box if the defending team gets to it first
• Wanting the ball is about attitude

Coaching Points for the Defenders

• Transition quickly from attack to defense and organize
• Communicate with each other and sort out who is marking who
• Don't lose your mark!
• Attack the ball, don't let it drop in our box
• Clearances should be high and wide
• Kamikaze to block shots in our box

IV. Battle in the Box - Varied Service

Same set up as above with the variation that the crosser can now take a short touch for an early service or a longer first touch down the line to play in a more endline cross.  Also, initial passer can now play a pass directly into the space in front of the crosser for the wide player to run onto.

Now attackers see three different types of crosses and must react accordingly.

V. 3v3+2 to Battle in the Box

Progressing from a more structured exercise, I now wanted to add a bit more free play to the mix while still looking to finish from crosses.

Set Up

• Two teams of 5 players (blue and gold), 2 neutral players (gray), four defenders (green), and a GK in goal
• 60x36 yard field with a 44x18 yard 3v3+2 area marked with cones, extending from the top of the penalty box outward
• Blue and gold wide players outside the main grid at the wide starting disks, with the three remaining players from each team and the two neutral players in the middle grid
• Defenders waiting at the top of the box
• Soccer balls with the coach outside the area

Procedure

• Coach plays in a ball to the middle grid
• Teams play 3v3+2 with the neutral players playing with the team in possessions (making it 5v3)
• As soon as a team completes 5 consecutive passes, the players in the middle grid can play the ball wide to either side of the field
• Once the ball leaves the middle grid, the game is live to goal
• The only people not involved from that point on are 1) the three players in the middle grid on the team that did not complete the 5 passes and spring their wide play, and 2) the wide players from that team.  All 5 of those players take a knee and wait until the ball in play is dead
• Thus, the players attacking the four green defenders are 1) the 3 players who completed the 5 passes and sprung their wide player, 2) the wide player with the ball, 3) the weak side wide player, and 4) the 2 neutral players - this means 7v4 to goal.

Make It Competitive

• +1 point per team for each shot on goal
• +3 points for a goal

Coaching Points

• Good possession in the middle of the field
• After springing the wide players, get organized numbers into the box - meaning see what your teammates are doing instead of blindly running into the box watching the ball the whole time
• Read the crosser to anticipate when the cross is coming

Comments

This would be one of the more complex activities I've run with the girls.  But they worked hard and picked it up, and some real good soccer came from it.

I also talked to the girls today about position specific training for State Cup.  So in the exercises, girls who would likely see time on the wings were the ones who took most of the crosses and girls who would likely see defense practiced in that position more than others.  We still rotated around in training, but not as much as I normally would have.