Training - Monday, June 18

Holy Angles, 16 players.

The plan for today was to warm-up with some technical work keying on movement of our outside defenders.  It would also involve work for our target forwards and mids.  I then planned to move to the 3v2 Continuous activity that we ran through last week, focusing more on the spacing and shape of the three attackers.  I was then going to finish with more set piece work in prep for the weekend.

The girls still tend to crowd around the ball at times, not fully comprehending yet that their teammates are usually good enough to pass the ball to them over distance now.  As our players get drawn close to their teammate in possession of the ball in games, though the number of options may increase, we are still not very effective as a pass to a close teammate does not break pressure (get us out of pressure) a lot of the time.  The idea of focusing a bit on spacing and shape when attacking would be helpful to them as in game situations there can sometimes be a world of difference between a 5 yard pass and a 10 yard one.

Spacing and team shape require that the girls possess some very important skills.  First, they need to have the awareness in their surroundings (where opposing players are as well as the location of their own teammates).  Second, they need to possess an understanding of the individual benefits of receiving a ball in space versus receiving a ball in pressure as well as the benefits of attacking up the field on opposing teams in less densely populated areas.  All this can’t be addressed in a single session and takes time to build the skills in the young players.  I planned on addressing some of these issues tonight.

As with all good plans, unforeseen circumstances arise and plans need to be changed.  The field was double booked beginning at 8PM as our U16 and U17 Blue teams had planned on scrimmaging in prep for Regionals this weekend.  With some accommodation, they agreed to begin at 8:15PM to give us 75 minutes on the field.  To throw another wrench into the mix, the U15s (training from 6:30PM – 8:00PM), having not played a game since State Cup, were interested in a full field scrimmage with us from 7:30PM – 8:00PM.  I decided it would be good for the girls to get a competitive run in for a bit, so I adjusted our training plan accordingly.

I. Technical Functional Training – Wide Backs

Set Up

• 4 groups of 3, formed around 1 wide back per group
• Two groups worked up the right side of the field, two up the left – the right side groups had our two wide right backs, the left side groups had our two lefties
• Midfield start disk, wide back start disks, and target start disks arranged as shown below
• All the soccer balls with the midfield players

Note this activity involves 12 players. The other four players (our central backs) were off on another part of the field working on long distance ball striking and clearances. Players were rotated in and out between the activities.

Procedure

• Green group starts with the ball at the green mids feet, working up the right side of the field
• Gold players play low pressure, dummy defense against the green team
• Green mid begins the sequence by dribbling forward with the gold mid applying pressure on one side or the other

• Green mid turns away from pressure and looks for support

• Green wide defender recognizes the need to maintain possession and moves back quickly, away from the gold defender to provide support
• Green mid plays to green wide back

• Green wide back receives the ball across their body with the inside of their right foot, playing the ball out wide to their right (clear your feet!) in order to set up a pass up field on their second touch
• Green wide back plays a driven ball to their target player who, with one or two touches, plays back to the green mid who has moved up for support, completing the sequence

• Orange then begins the same sequence up the left side of the field while green and gold switch roles so gold can attack while green defends
• Midfield defenders should apply contact pressure though not trying to win the ball
• Wide back defenders do not move
• Target player defenders apply contact pressure to the back of the target player and make then work to get good touches and pass backs to the supporting midfield player

Make It Competitive

• White group can execute the sequence the sharpest/quickest/with the most technique?

Coaching Points

• Midfields need to clear their feet with their turn so that they can play a pass quickly to the supporting wide defender
• Wide defenders must back away from their marking defenders quickly once they recognize that their midfielder is looking to play backwards
• Wide defenders need to recognize where the open space is (out wide) and touch the ball in that direction – this also helps create a passing channel wide of the marking defender in order for the wide back to play forward
• Target players make their body big, shielding off the marking defender
• Balls played into the targets should be low and driven over the distance
• Balls played back from the targets to the mids should be on the ground

Release Variation

Same set up and concept with the following modifications:

Procedure

• This time the midfielder dribbles up field, turns back to maintain possession from the marking defender, then turns back up field again when the marking defender over plays the back pass
• The wide back backs up to offer the same support, but once the mid turns back up field, the wide back releases out wide at a sprint to received a pass in space from the central mid

• Wide back still plays forward to their target and the target still tries to find the supporting mid

Coaching Points

• Recognition by the wide back after backing up to provide support that the mid can play forward, and a sprint out wide (into open space) and forward to receive a pass in that space
• Arm extended out in front of the wide back indicating that they want the ball played out in front of them
• “Release!” call from the wide back to provide verbal communication

II. 30 minute Scrimmage vs U15 Blue Team

We defended most of the time as the U15s were able to out play us in the midfield and thus keep good possession of the ball.  We didn’t really allow any solid chances at goal but did concede two or three corners.  We didn't threaten the U15 goal more than 2 or 3 times, and did have a couple corner kicks.  We did manage to score a great goal though.

Jilly (LM), from midway in our own defending half, played a 30 yard long ball over the top that Ripper (RF) raced onto up the right center part of the field.  Millie (LF) sprinted up the field in support of the attack with a loud “Early! Early!” call, wanting the ball played to her quickly.  With the ball still bouncing, Ripper played a fantastic first time, blind pass into the space behind the recovering defenders.  The U15’s GK came out to the top of the box to make a play on the ball, but was thrown off a bit by Millie barreling down at her.  The high lobbed pass bounced high on the turf and over the outstretched hands of the GK.  Millie changed direction and hit a left foot volley into the top right corner of the open goal as the GK tried to chase her down.

What we did learn from the U15s (who incidentally have gotten MUCH better since we saw them in January) was how their center back (in a 4-man defensive scheme) was able to get up into midfield when they had possession.  This girl was usually free and clear of defending players as our forwards were too high and our mids too far in retreat.  She got the ball often and the added numbers in midfield killed us.  It was great for the girls to see and I kept rotating out our central backs so that they could watch and try to pick up on it.

III. Corner Kick Attack/Defense

Set Up

• 6 defending players defending an open goal
• 2 girls striking corners on each side of the field (4 total)
• 6 girls attacking the corner kicks trying to score

IV. Game Observation

For the last 15 minutes of training, we sat in the stands to watch the U16s and U17s play.

Training - Monday, June 4

Holy Angels, 14 players.

My plan for the day was a technical session, attempting to address a few areas in which we need some serious improvement prior to Regionals; clearances from the back and judging air balls.  I also wanted to continue to work on our ball striking technique. 

From what I've experienced (and read), young girls develop the skill of tracking an object in a 3D environment slower than boys do.  I assume this is related somewhat to depth perception, but I haven't done extensive research to find out exactly what all the exact cause of this is.  All I know is that many girls on this team jump to head a ball that is 10 feet above their heads, or take an approach path to an air ball that sometimes leaves them and the ball in separate zip codes once the ball is once again Earth-bound. 

This ability to pick up on and judge a trajectory of the ball flight is a key component in the game.  With all the work we've done with heading the past few years, it doesn't do any good if the girl due to poor visual coordination can't get on the end of a cross, a goal kick, a punt, etc.  It's about moving the body into the correct line of flight  and getting the body into an area that the ball will land. 

So, on my way over to Holy Angels I stopped by Toys R Us to pick up an Air Hogs Stomp Rocket set. 

I had seen these things in action in my neighborhood and it looked like a very enjoyable way for the girls to work on this visual skill.  I didn't really know how it was going to work out with this age group, thinking that the Stomp Rocket toy would be better for younger players.  I was amazed at the results by the end of training.

I set up 3 stations and divided the group into 2 groups of 5 and one group of 4.  The groups would work at each station for 8 to 10 minutes or so, then rotate through the other ones.  Each station had points associated with it and each group would tally their points to keep things competitive. 

Station #1 - Stomp Rocket

The girls took turns jumping on the air pad to launch the foam-tipped rockets into sky-high parabolas for their partners to try to get their body in position (by judging the trajectory of the air rocket) to catch the falling projectile.

Station #2 - Aerial Ball Control/Dead Ball Service

Set Up

• 1 8v8 goal with a 6x12 yard box marked with disks in front of it
• A clearing line marked with disks 12 yards from goal
• 1 ball striking disk 30 yards from goal

Procedure

• One partner in goal, one partner up at the ball striking disk
• Girls took turns striking a dead (not moving) ball at goal from 30 yards
• The player in the goal tries to either 1) control the air ball within the controlling box, or 2) clear high balls with their head past the clearing line 12 yards away and to the outside of the field

Make It Competitive

• + 5 points for the ball striker if they can score a goal past their teammate
• + 1 point for the player in goal if they are able to control the flighted ball within the controlling box
• +1 point for the player in goal if she is able to clear a high ball with her head past the clearing line

Coaching Points

• Player in goal must move her body to get in the line of flight rather than stretch and reach (off balance) for a ball wide of them
• Concentrate on the clearing headers, looking to put the ball high and wide up field

Station #3 - Aerial Ball Contact/Moving Ball Service

Same as above, this time the ball striker pushes the ball forward with one touch and strikes a moving ball at goal.  Ball must be hit from outside the 25 yard mark.

I had the girls go through the entire circuit (each station) once, then brought them together to talk about the tracking/trajectory piece.

I then had the groups go through the 3 stations again, varying Stations #2 and #3 to work on clearances.

Station #2b - First Time Clearances/Dead Ball Weak Foot Low Service

Station #3b - First Time Clearances/Moving Ball Low Service

This time the girls would accumulate points by clearing the ball up field.  Points were determined by accuracy and distance as shown by the numbers in red in the above illustration.

7v7 2 Goal, 1 Goal

We finished with a 7v7 half field game with one team going to a regulation sized goal and the other attacking the two 8v8 goals we used during the station work.  The GK of the team defending the two 8v8 goals had to defend both goals.

If readers remember, last Wednesday the skies opened up on us at Macalester College.  I failed to wash the scrimmage vests since then.  Suffice it to say that the odor emanating from the vests was less than pleasant.  Neither team wanted to wear them so I was forced to do trivia to determine a losing team that would wear the rotten-egg-smelling Nike vests. 

This whole situation garnered a bunch of smiles and laughs which I love to see.  It also helped to have an affect on the ensuing scrimmage as I told the girls in the orange vests that if they scored, the smelly apparel could be shed and had to be worn by the other team until that team scored.  It was a VERY competitive finish to training :)

Training - Monday, May 7

7:00PM - 8:30PM Field Training

With the focus primarily on defending ideas the last few weeks, I wanted to look at more attacking concepts today.  We found success against Wayzata often by changing the point of attack, by switching fields through the center of our midfield, but I know we could have done it more often and sharper/quicker.  The idea for today was to give the girls lots of repetition on receiving the ball across their body, allowing for quicker side to side play across the field as well as increased vision of the entire field in front of them.  Then, cover the concept of short passing to draw in opposing defenders and then look to change fields through crisp and accurate distance passing.  Finally, look to put all this to use in small sided competitive games.

I had 16 girls at training.

I. Ball Masters Program - Receiving Across Your Body

Set Up

• 2 groups of 8 players in different color scrimmage vests
• Each group further subdivided into 2 teams of 4 with 2 soccer balls per team
• 2 "passers" with soccer balls 30 yards apart, 2 "workers" in the middle (15 yards away from each passer) facing each other about 10 yards apart

 

Procedure

• At the same time, P1 passes to W1, P2 to W2
• W1 receives the ball across their body and passes to P2, W2 does the same and plays to P1
• W1 then gets a pass from P2, W2 from P1, and repeats the procedure
• Work for a few minutes then switch positions

Make It Competitive

• Which group is the sharpest?
• Which girl can release the ball the quickest?

Coaching Points

• Move to the ball, don't wait for it
• Always keep your hips facing the other worker (visualize facing up the field)
• First touch on the ball should be with the inside of the far foot (on the far side of your body relative to the passer), in the direction that you want to go
• Control with one touch, pass with the next
• After the pass from the worker, workers should look to move (check) away from the passer to create space in which to check back and receive the ball
• Peek over your shoulder just as the pass leaves the passer's foot or as the ball is traveling to you for awareness
• Move your feet to adjust your body to best receive the ball facing up the field, even on poor passes from the passers

II. Short to Long

Set Up

• Groups of 4 with one soccer ball
• 4 starting disks in a line, 10 yards apart from one another

Procedure

• A starts with the ball
• A passes to B who lays a ball back to A
• A plays 1-touch to D and then A and B swap starting positions
• D controls the ball and passes to C
• C lays the ball back to D and takes up D's starting positions
• D passes first time to B and the sequence is repeated

Make It Competitive

• Which group is the sharpest?

Coaching Points

• Crisp short interplay between A and B and between C and D, followed by crisp side of the foot passes over distance
• We want to keep the ball on the ground, so concentrate on passing technique and strike the middle of the ball (toe up, ankle locked, knee bent)
• The player receiving the ball over distance should move to show for the passer, not stand and be blocked by the other player near them

Progression - Same set up, but now the receiving player can move to the opposite side of the passer, forcing the passer to hit a weighted lofted ball over a "defender" to their teammate

III. 3v1 Change Fields

Set Up

• 2 teams of 8 players in different color scrimmage vests
• Two field set ups side by side (5 yard space in between the fields) - each area has two 12x15 yard grids separated by a 10 yard gap
• Players distributed as shown below

Procedure

• On field #1, blue plays 3v1 against green
• As soon as blue completes 5 consecutive passes, blue tries to find one of their teammates in the 2v1 grid
• If a successful pass is made to the 2v1 grid, one of the two players who did not pass the ball from the 3v1 grid sprints to make it 3v1 in the 2v1 grid
• Continue on as before
• If a ball goes out, the resting player out of the grid plays a ball back into the 3v1 grid
• If defenders win the ball, they simply pass back to the attacking players and the attacking players start their count over
• Play for 90 seconds, then rotate positions

Make It Competitive

• +1 point for 5 consecutive passes
• +3 points for a completed pass from the 3v1 grid to the 2v1 grid

Coaching Points

• Composure in the 3v1 setting
• Anticipation and movement to get open by the attacking players in the 2v1 grid when applicable
• Crisp passing over distance to the 2v1 grid and quick support by an non-passing player

IV. 4v4 to Endlines

Set Up

• 4 teams of 4 in different color scrimmage vests
• 2 40x30 yard fields

Procedure

• Teams play 4v4, scoring goals by dribbling the ball under control over the 40-yard endline
• Make it take it, so if a team scores over an endline, they immediately turn around and attack the other endline

Make It Competitive

• +1 point for each goal

Coaching Points

• Look to play across the field to shift and unbalance the defending team, creating better opportunities to play forward
• Sometimes to get open and link across the field, players need to move backwards (away from the endline they are attacking) out of trouble (out of the area covered by the defending team)
• Draw defenders in with quick, short passing, then look to change the point of attack and move forward up the field in areas less crowded by defending players

V. 4v4 Tournament

Set Up

• 4 teams of 4 in different color scrimmage vests
• 2 40x30 yard fields with 6' Pugg goals as shown below
• Extra soccer balls in or near each goal

Procedure

• Teams play 4v4 to goal

Make It Competitive

• +1 point for all goals

Coaching Points

• Let them play

Training - Saturday, April 21

I had a great session planned for today dealing with looking to use width to attack from the back and through midfield.  However, I forgot that Lily and Maddog were guest playing with a TC Fire team in the Midwest Challenge event up in Blaine so it skewed my numbers.  Also, Scratch and Bidi were both recovering from illness, so were at training but didn't participate much.  I had to wing it a bit, but was still able to do a lot of what I had planned.

I. Juggling Warm Up

• Individual Juggling
• Individual Juggling - Feet Only
• Partner Juggling (keeping the ball up between two players)
• Partner Juggling - No Heading

Though i arrived about 45 minutes early to set up the field for training, there was a men's game going on and I had to wait until just before 11AM to set up.  I had the girls go through this warm up as I set up all the disks and flags for the different exercises we were going to go through today.

With 14 girls active (Bidi would start training but then drop out to watch halfway through), I set up two different working areas.  8 girls would play the 4v4 Get It Wide game while the other 6 would work in the Receiving Across Your Body drill.

II. Receiving Across Your Body

Set Up

• 3 players to a grid, one ball for the group
• 10x24 yard grid set up as shown below, with a worker (B) in the middle and two wide players (A and C) on the sides
• Ball starts with one of the wide players

Procedure

• Wide players A and C start directly across from each other, B starts at the middle disk on the opposite side of the grid
• A dribbles to the opposite short side disk, B runs the opposite direction and adjusts their body for a support pass
• A turns back, plays a ball to B, who then passes to C - that completes the first sequence
• Now C dribbles toward the disk they started from, B makes a similar run to offer angled support, receives a pass from C and plays the ball to A - that completes sequence #2
• Repeat

Make It Competitive

• Challenge the players to do everything at pace and with quality
• Which group can do it better?

Coaching Points

• A and C need to grasp the direction that they are attacking each sequence and play the ball to B's lead foot (in front of B in the direction that B wants to go, rather than behind B)
• B should play two touch for speed, receive the ball across their body with the inside of their far foot (relative to the passer) and play with their other foot
• A and C should be creative with their turns
• Crisp passes on the ground
• Verbal communication - "Support!" call from B, "Swing It!" call from far side wide player
• Visual communication from B, hand out pointing to where they want the ball played

III. 4v4 Get It Wide

Set Up

• 2 teams of 4 (blue and gold)
• 40x35 yard grid with two 4-yard goals
• A 5-yard wide channel down each touchline

Procedure

• Teams play 4v4 (3+GK) to goal
• The only restriction is that the ball must enter one of the wide channels prior to the team in possession being able to score a goal

Make It Competitive

• +1 point for each goal

Coaching Points

• In general, there is more open space on the flanks
• Players can get the ball in the channel in one of three ways - 1) dribble, 2) pass to a teammate waiting in a channel, or 3) pass to space in a channel for a teammate to run onto
• Don't force the play to one channel, if things are crowded, switch fields (change the point of attack) and look to get wide in the opposite channel

Variations

1. Players may only get the ball into a channel by passing
2. Players may only get the ball into a channel by dribbling
3. 3-touch or less

IV. Cross Field Link Races

Set Up

• 3 teams of 4
• Field set up as shown below, with 2 starting gates, a turning line, 3 starting disks, and a finishing gate

Procedure

• Two teams take the field as shown below, with one player with a ball at a starting gate and the other three players at the starting disks
• At the go signal, both players with soccer balls dribble across the turning line, turn, and make a pass to their next teammate down the line
• That teammate receives the pass and passes to the third player
• The third player receives the pass and plays to the fourth player
• The fourth player dribbles through the finishing gate
• Team that sitting judges what is happening on the field
• After the sequence is over, gold takes up green's positions, green takes blue's, and blue sits out and judges (so teams get to work from the right to the left, then from the left to the right, then sit and watch one)

Here's what the movement looked like at the start:

Make It Competitive

• +1 point for each team that successfully makes it through the entire sequence correctly and gets their fourth player through the finishing gate
• +2 points for the first team (racing the other team) that successfully makes it through the entire sequence correctly and gets their fourth player through the finishing gate

I like to send the girls out to try stuff and figure things out on their own prior to doing a lot of coaching and instructing.  Initially in this drill, the girls all just stood in their places and tried to pass the ball from one to another down the line.  Typical girls soccer.  Do exactly what the coach asks and play the ball down the line in sequence and have the final girls run through the finishing gate. 

I let them go a while, then stopped to ask them to figure out why we were doing this drill.  To change the point of attack and to switch fields and play our wide backs in were the answers, after some prompting.  Good.  Next question from me was do you know which direction you are simulating going in when you take up your starting positions.  A couple light bulbs went on as girls began to grasp the concept here. 

Note the location I set up this drill on the field of play.  For the green team in the illustration, they are simulating a right defender dribbling forward, getting into trouble, turning back and looking for support, finding that support with a central defender, then swinging the ball around the ball to play in our left defender.

For the blue team, they are simulating a left midfielder dribbling forward, getting into trouble, turning back and looking for support, finding that support with a central midfielder, then swinging the ball through midfield to play in our wide right midfielder/defender.

Armed with this knowledge, the next question was how are players 2 - 4 going to offer support to each other while also looking to get to the other side of the field?  By dropping back and away from each other.  Good.  Here is what the movement should look like.

I also added a GK player behind the team that was simulating swinging the ball around the back in order to help Mudd work on her communication and direction. 

I then added the following restrictions:

Two touch by the middle two players (players 2 and 3).
Why?  To help encourage quick play.

Players 2 - 4 must receive the ball across their body facing forward using the inside of the foot furthest from the passer (if a player is receiving a ball from their left side facing forward, the receiving player should use this inside of their right foot to control the ball.
Why?  So that they see more of the field of play in front of them when receiving the ball as well as are able to position their body to not only play more quickly, but also easily peek over their shoulder to see where they are going to pass next.

All passes must be made backwards except for the final pass.
Why?  So that supporting players drop back to offer support that will likely be further away from opponents.

Player 4 must at least be even with player 3 when player 3 passes to them.
Why?  So that player 4 is in a better position to cover in the event three is in trouble, as well as increase their chances that they (3) will be able to receive the ball away from pressure and facing up field.

V. Cross Field Link Races With Pressure

Set Up

• Same as above, except that instead of having the third team sitting out, that team now provides two defenders for each active team as shown below

Procedure

• Same as above with the addition of two pressuring defenders for each active team
• D1 and D2 defend against the green team, D3 and D4 defend against the blue team
• D1 and D3 cannot leave their starting disk until the initial dribbler passes to player 2
• D2 and D4 cannot leave their starting disks until player 2 touches the ball
• All defenders can only defend against the attacker they are initially matched up against (D1 and D3 can only defend against player 2, D2 and D4 can only defender against player 3)

Make It Competitive

• Same as above with the defenders trying to disrupt the opposing team to stop them from scoring points

Coaching Points

• Drop back early and adjust your body position
• Play to your teammate's lead foot so that they can play quickly before the defender is on them
• Passes must be crisp and sharp, too slow and the defenders are able to get involved, too fast/hard and your teammate will not be able to control it

Comments

The addition of the defenders was a made up on the spot progression that worked well.  The girls were rejuvenated with the added challenge of defending players and this allowed me to continue drilling the players in this worthwhile activity.  The defenders were too quick to pounce on the attackers in the beginning, so I had all the defenders start sitting on their butts to slow them down a bit.

VI.  6v6 Free Play

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