Training - Saturday, Feb 24

8:15AM - 8:45AM FIT Training

Igor Figure 8s

Setup
- Players work in pairs with one ball between the two of them
- Each pair has two cones/disks spaced 2 yards apart
- One partner works while the other one serves, server has the ball

Procedure
(1) Server serves to worker who uses one of the specified techniques to get the ball back to the server's hands.

(2) Immediately after sending the ball back to the server, the worker (who always faces forward) backpedals in between the two disks, goes around the back disk, comes back through the middle of the two disks to work on the opposite side of the front disk

(3) Server serves to the worker on the opposite side of the front disk

- Workers work for 45 seconds then partners switch roles

Skills Variations

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  •  
    • Inside of the Foot Volleys
    • Instep Volleys
    • Headers
    • Jumping Headers

Make It Competitive
How many successful touches can you get in 45 seconds?  Successful means the server can catch the ball.

Coaching Points
- Small, quick steps around the back disk.  Meaning, probably four or five quick little steps to get around the back disk as opposed to one or two large steps

- Focus on the technique towards the end of the 45 seconds when you're tired

Monkey In The Tree

10 x 30 Yard Sprints

6 x 10 yard Sprints

8:45AM - 9:15AM Video Analysis

We finally got through the Euro 2004 DVD (analyzing all the goals of the Euro 2004 Championships).  I've got to go find another DVD.

9:15AM - 10:45AM Field Training

I. Ball Masters Program

• Fake Pass Slap
• Fake Shot Stutter
• Fake Shot Scissors
• Fake Shot Cut

II. Diagonal Runs - 40 Yards Out

I want to start focusing on being dynamic in our attacking play with the introduction of diagonal runs.  This is a simple drill that I ran the girls through that featured a ton of repetition and fun (as the girls were finishing with shots on goal).

Setup
- Two teams of 8 players each
- 2 wide starting disks 40 yards out from goal.  Each team's soccer balls with the players at these wide starting disks
- 2 other starting disks 15 yards past the wide disks (55 yards out from goal)
- I used two of the dome trash cans as dummy defenders and also marked an 18-yard box with disks

Procedure
(1) Blue 1 passes the ball to Green1 to start Green's sequence

(2) Green 1 controls the ball and looks up to find Green 2

(3) Green 2 makes a diagonal run towards the center of the field to receive a through pass from Green 1

(4) As soon as Green 2 touches the ball, Green 3 passes to Blue 2 to begin Blue's sequence (Blue 1 makes a diagonal run to receive a pass from Blue 2)

Players switch lines with their teammates after each turn

Make It Competitive
+1 point for each goal
+2 points for each goal the the GK does not get a hand to (touch)

Coaching Points
- Firm pass by set up players to passing player, can players recognize where to play the initial pass so that the passer can play quickly?
- Good first touch by passing player and the subsequent through pass should lead the runner (be played into the space in front of the runner)
- Diagonal runner must time their diagonal run in order to sprint for the pass (to lose marking defenders) while not overrunning the play

III. Diagonal Runs - 25 Yards Out

Setup
- Same as above, except wide disks are 25 yards out from goal

Procedure
(1) Blue 1 passes the ball to the space in front of Green1 to start Green's sequence

(2) Green 2, realizing a one touch is "on" (possible) starts their run early and demands the ball from Green 1

(3) Green 1 plays a 1-touch through pass to the space immediately in front of Green 2 

(4) As soon as Green 2 gets their shot off, Green 3 passes to Blue 2 to begin Blue's sequence (Blue 1 makes a diagonal run to receive a 1-touch pass from Blue 2)

Players switch lines with their teammates after each turn

Make It Competitive
+1 point for each goal
+2 points for each goal the the GK does not get a hand to (touch)

Coaching Points
- Recognition from the runner that a 1-touch pass is possible
- A flatter diagonal run, more lateral than forward
- Demanding of the pass both verbally ("Through!") and visually (the run makes the pass)
- Firm through pass more to the runner's feet as space in the box is tight (this is opposed to the pass into space in the first exercise above)
- Possible one time finishes by the runners

IV. 3v2+1 to Goal

Same exercise we did a few days ago (see Journal Training - Tuesday, Feb 20), now with the additional knowledge of diagonal runs.

V. 7v7 Small Sided Scrimmage

Training - Tuesday, Feb 20

With the last 5 or 6 weeks mainly devoted to defending sessions, my idea for the next month or so leading up to our first real test in Richmond (VA) at the end of March is to focus on attacking play.  We've had shooting and finishing sessions intermixed with our defending sessions, and I've used these finishing sessions to hammer home technique.  What I'd like to try and focus on now is attacking build up play, specifically numbers up situations and creativity in the attacking third and around the box. 

6:00PM - 6:30PM Ball Masters - Individual Skills Development

I. Shuttle Skills

Setup

• Two players to a ball
• Two disks, 5 yards apart
• The Worker works in between the disks, the Server has the ball about 5 yards away (see diagram below)

Ex #1 - Inside of the foot pass

Ex #2 - Outside of the foot stab pass

Ex #3 - Inside of the foot volley

Ex #4 - Outside of the foot volley

Workers work for 45 seconds, then partners switch roles. 

6:30PM - 7:45PM Field Training

II. 3v2 to Goal

Setup

• Two teams of 7 or 8 players per team
• 55x30 yard grid with a goal at one end and 4 Starting Disks (orange) and 2 Target/Recovery Disks (pink) at the opposite end (see diagram)
• One team is designated as the defending team first (Blue) and has all the soccer balls by the goal, with two of their players acting as targets at the Target/Recovery Disks
• The other team (Green) is the attacking team first, stands at the opposite end of the gird from the goal, and has three players take up starting positions at any three of the four Starting Disks

Procedure

• (1) A defender plays a long ball out to one of the three attacking players and runs out to defend with another defending teammate
• (2) Play 3v2 to goal with the emphasis on players getting across the dribbler
• After the ball is dead, the two defenders become target players, the two target players return to the goal to wait their turn to defend
• Teams switch roles after 5 minutes

Make It Competitive

• +1 point for the attacking team for a goal
• +1 point for the defending team for winning the ball and playing to a target player

Coaching Points

• Attackers should be creative with movement off the ball (overlaps, diagonal runs, etc)
• 2 attackers without the ball need to 1) see the ball, 2) see each other and what the other runner is doing, and 3)"read" the player on the ball to see what she is able to do

III. 3v2 + Recovery Run to Goal

Same as above with the addition of a (3) recovery defender.  After the 3 attackers begin their attack, the coach can yell the name of one of the two defending team target players waiting at the Target/Recovery Disks, and that player can sprint to help her two defenders.  If the attackers do not play quickly, their numbers up 3v2 opportunity becomes 3v3 (more difficult).

IV. 7v7 Small Sided Scrimmage

This was one of the best training sessions we've had this year.  The girls were focused during the technical warm-up, and then did some great stuff in the 3v2.  Though I wasn't focused on the defending, it was good to see some of the girls using some of the techniques we've covered in the last month or so; "I go ball!" communication, closing attackers at speed and at correct angles, forcing attackers one way, covering for the 1st defenders, etc. 

I stopped the exercise frequently early on to paint picture on the field about diagonal and blind side runs (relatively new subject for them), fake give and go's, overlap runs, and more.  The girls picked up on the diagonal runs quickly and this opened up a whole new world of attacking creativity. 

Moreover, I really began to notice that our new players to the team this year are getting more comfortable in our training environment, and this is leading to better performance.  Of all our new players, Getch and Scratch have probably fit in socially the best.  Both are outgoing and both are clowns.  Their ability to make the other girls laugh allows them to both feel more at home.  Brownie and Sting come from the same club (Lakeville) and have known each other for years.  They are both relatively shy and quiet (as far as I can tell thus far), but their friendship has helped them both feel somewhat comfortable with the new group.  Becs and Jill are the two other new field players.  I saw some real potential in Jill 3 years ago.  She has always done fairly well for us, but she is now just starting to play the way I know she can play.  I saw something in Becs at tryouts and I know she can be a force on this team.  This fall though, she was in the pool group until October, then hockey has kept her away from at least half our training sessions this winter, working against her ability to break into the social group on this team.  I've seen this changing in the last few weeks, and tonight she played better than I've ever seen her play before. 

I continually talk to the girls, specifically the core group of girls who have been with me on this team for a number of years, about making the new girls to the team this year feel comfortable.  Yet still to this day, I can see the girls breaking up into their little groups to juggle before practice, during breaks, etc.  Its getting better for sure, but they all still need reminding of this issue.  So, I closed training by commenting on how well I thought the "new" girls were playing and how we all needed to continue to find ways to bring the team closer together.  Some girls talked about bowling, snowboarding, and movei night.  We'll see if anything comes up.

Training - Saturday, Feb 17

8:15AM - 8:45AM FIT Training

8:45AM - 9:15AM Video Analysis

9:15AM - 10:45AM Field Training

I. Ball Masters - Individual Technical Development

Aerial Ball Control into an Explosive Turn

• Bounce Killer
• Inside/Outside Sweep Traps
• Body Run Through

Turns

• Fake Pass Slap

Beating Players

• Fake Shot Stutter
• Fake Shot Stutter Scissors

II. 5v5 + 2 Possession

Two teams of 5 (Orange and Gray) with two neutral players (Yellow)

Coaching Points

• Spacing and team shape in order to have outlet players available to change (switch) fields
• Moving quickly (or not moving) to find open space
• Support needed in the direction the player with the ball is facing
• Communication

III. 3 Team Winner Stays (with U13 White)

We mixed with the U13 White team, broke the girls into 3 teams of 8, and played 8v8 for the last 25 minutes.  Whichever team scored, stayed on the field.  The team that got scored upon would go out and rest and the resting team would step on the field to play.

The Blue team girls get an attitude whenever we look to mix together with the White team to play.  I have to find a way to address this as I don't want to be fostering a bunch of prima donnas.  I continually tell the girls that great players make players around them better.  This has sunk in with a number of the girls, but not with all of them.

If the girls tried to use a Fake Pass Slap Turn, or one of the Fake Shot Stutter moves, they did not have to do any extra fitness at the end of training.

Training - Tuesday, Feb 13

6:00PM - 6:30PM Ball Masters - Individual Technical Development

• Scissors
• Step Overs
• Fake Shot Cut
• Fake Shot Push
• Fake Shot Stutter

6:30PM - 7:45PM Field Training

I. Ball Masters - Individual Technical Development

• Bounce Killers
• Thigh Control
• Laces Control

II. Receiving/First Touch 1v1s

Setup

• 4 teams of 3 in different color scrimmage vests, each player with a ball
• Two 15x20 yard grids with Pugg goals at each end in the center of a 5 yard coned goal (blue disks in the illustration below)

Procedure

• Green starts out as defenders in one grid, gold as defenders in the other
• Defenders have a ball at their feet and try to play a hard pass past the awaiting attack on the far side of the gird
• If the attacker stops the ball from going past them, they can attack the opposite goal and try to score 1v1
• Play make it, take it, meaning that if the attacking player scores on the 1v1, their team gets to be the attacking team again

Make It Competitive

• +10 points for the defending team if they can strike a ball into the attackers Pugg goal at the start
• +5 points if the defender can strike a ball below the attacker's waist height and between the attacker's 5 yard goal (marked by blue cones)
• +3 points if the attacker scores a goal after controlling the initial pass from the defender

Coaching Points

• Attackers need to be on their toes and ready for the hard initial pass
• Move quickly to get your body in line with the path of the ball
• Cushion the hard pass by "giving" a bit with the part of the body that first contacts the ball
• Get the ball on the ground as soon as possible and attack the defender at speed

Progression

• Defenders throw or volley the ball (to ensure that the ball is bouncing at the attacker
• Attackers summersault first to start the play, disorientating themselves and forcing quick reaction to the incoming ball

III. 7v7 Small Sided Scrimmage

Training - Tuesday, Feb 6

With a full half field to ourselves tonight, I wanted to try and make the most out of the space provided. 

The girls began arriving around 7PM for a 7:15PM start.  For the first 30 minutes we worked on different Ball Masters Program skills; Set Up Touches, Diagonal Touches, Sole Roles, Scissors, Step Overs, Double Moves, and Cuts.

At 7:15PM we took the field and played 6v6+2 possession, focusing on speed of play and breaking pressure with long outlet passes. 

We then spent a good deal of time on crossing and finishing, moving from no pressure to limited pressure both on the wide players and the runners in the box.

We finished the session with a 7v7 scrimmage.