Soccercoachw307

FOOTBALL FOCUS DO YOU AXE PLAYERS FOR DOING OTHER SPORTS?

WEEKLY

SOCCER COACH Learn • Train • Develop • Enjoy

CLOSE & DEADLY SCORING TURN YOUR STRIKERS INTO GOAL POACHERS

PLAY FORWARD OR KEEP POSSESSION?

4

LETHAL SCORING DRILLS

PARENT PROBLEMS

TURN A DEAF EAR TO THE TOUCHLINE CRITICS

CONFIDENCE BOOSTER

FIXING YOUR LEAKY DEFENCE

March 13, 2013 Issue 307 • £2.99

COACH OF THE MONTH CELEBRATING GRASSROOTS SOCCER

LUIS SUAREZ MODERN DAY POACHER <

WHISTLE BLOWER

WHAT IF THE REF SHOWS NO RESPECT?

THE BEST COACHING SESSIONS EVERY WEEK!

WHO’S THE BOSS? Remind YOUR PLAYERS Who’s In Charge

Contents

Dealing With The Critics FOOTBALL FOCUS DO YOU AXE PLAYERS FOR DOING OTHER SPORTS?

Learn • Train • Develop • Enjoy

March 13, 2013 • Issue 307

CLOSE & DEADLY SCORING

COACH OF THE MONTH CELEBRATING GRASSROOTS SOCCER

TURN YOUR STRIKERS INTO GOAL POACHERS

< LUIS SUAREZ MODERN DAY POACHER

PLAY FORWARD OR KEEP POSSESSION?

4

WHISTLE BLOWER

LETHAL SCORING DRILLS

PARENT PROBLEMS

TURN A DEAF EAR TO THE TOUCHLINE CRITICS

CONFIDENCE BOOSTER

FIXING YOUR LEAKY DEFENCE

Picture: Tom Childers

WEEKLY

SOCCER COACH

WHAT IF THE REF SHOWS NO RESPECT?

THE BEST COACHING SESSIONS EVERY WEEK!

WHO’S THE BOSS? REMIND YOUR PLAYERS WHO’S IN CHARGE

Soccer Coach Weekly Issue 307

Soccer Coach Weekly is published by Green Star Media Ltd, Meadow View, Tannery Lane, Bramley, Guildford GU5 0AB, UK.

Telephone

+44 (0)1483 892894

Editor Chris Hunt chris.hunt@greenstarmedia.net

Head Coach David Clarke david.clarke@coach-soccer.com

Contributors James Evans, Louis Massarella, Alistair Phillips Illustrations Mike Ronald Pictures Action Images, Tom Childers, Nick Webster Production ATG Media Production Designer Jamie Leeson Publisher Kevin Barrow kevin.barrow@ bettersoccercoaching.com

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I think all of us have a dark side that turns us into critics. Some people can be more critical than others, but if you’re on the receiving end you have to close your ears to the comments and just let the critics get on with it.

I was at a coaching session last week and all around me coaches were being critical. Rather than write the session down and create something new from it, they just wanted an excuse to say “I’m better than you”.

But it’s not just true of coaches.

Working with grassroots teams I tend to hear criticism constantly and a lot of it comes from the parents at the side of the pitch. If their son or daughter has not played well, they think the coach hasn’t been doing his job properly. If their son or daughter is substituted, the coach hasn’t a clue what he’s doing. And on it goes.

Remember, criticism is easy to make but your achievements are not.

And it’s easier to deal with criticism when you realise the reasons behind it. Criticism from parents is often a tool to defend their children and to defend themselves in the face of other parents with higher achieving kids – it’s not an attack on you as such but it can be hard to ignore.

You are doing a great job so don’t let them put you off. It is because you have given up your time and taken on the role of coach that you

In this issue...

3

DEADLY AT CLOSE RANGE

Lethal finishers like Luis Suarez can make an impact on games

4

STRIKE ZONE

5

POACHER

6

FINISHING SCHOOL

7

BEAT THE BLOCK

A drill to teach strikers to turn low crosses into the net An attacking exercise to encourage composure in the box An end-to-end game that will help your players become poachers Create scoring opportunities in a box crowded with defenders

Parents can be the toughest of critics

“Now I look at how the team played before I even think about the score” have been thrust into the limelight and unfortunately a lot of people will resent your position of importance.

When I first started coaching I remember that one of my teams went through a sticky patch in the middle of the season, having started out with four straight wins. After one game a parent came up to me and told me that he had spoken to a few of the other dads and they had decided my tactics were wrong. I was taken aback and rushed home to go through my notes and think about what they had said.

My tactics hadn’t changed but the players were on a steep learning curve and some aspects of their play were just beginning to come through. At

8 COACH OF THE MONTH

Each month we celebrate grassroots coaches who give more to the game than they take out

that time I felt quite nervous about the score in games – not like now, when I look at how well the team played before I even think about the score.

In attacking me the dads had come up with reasons why their kids hadn’t won the game, but it was their problem, not mine. Now that I understand why people criticise, I no longer feel nervous about what parents think of me. Once you realise why people criticise you’ll deal with it much better too.

David Clarke

TIP OF THE WEEK

9 FORWARD MARCH

We asked our Coach Of The Month to share his favourite session

10 WHO’S THE BOSS?

Six ways to let your players know you’re the gaffer

11 SOCCER SURGERY

Your queries answered, including advice for a coach seeking to improve his team’s poor defence

12 THE BIG DEBATE

Two coaches debate whether to drop a player if other sports take up his time?

Managing Mistakes Most coaches are far too quick too correct. If you give your players a little time, you’ll often find that they correct the error on their own. Sometimes you just need to let it go and trust they’ll work it out for themselves.

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GOAL POACHING Luis Suarez proving he’s a constant threat in front of goal

Deadly At Close Range While goal poachers are not prized as much as they once were, lethal finishers like Luis Suarez and Jermain Defoe have shown the role can be adapted for the modern game

M

odern football has a tradition of lethal goal poachers, those players with an uncanny knack for sticking the ball in the back of the net when opportunities go begging in the box. Shearer, Fowler, Owen, van Nistelrooy and Inzaghi have all been poachers in the classic mould. Indeed, despite only retiring last year Filippo Inzaghi can lay claim to being one of the great poachers of all time, even though Johan Cruyff once famously said of him: “he can’t actually play football, he just always seems to be in the right place”.

Today poachers are less frequently found in leading sides because all-round play is now judged to offer more to teams than the selfish talents of the poacher. Yet there are still players who can snatch a goal from nothing and who are adaptable enough to survive the changing trends of football. Just look at the form of Luis Suarez.

With 21 goals and counting and far more touches in the opposition penalty area than any other player in the Premier League, Suarez has clearly been at his goal poaching best for Liverpool this season. Gary Neville calls him “one of

the most skilful players in the Premier League”, while Steven Gerrard says Suarez is the “best centre-forward” he’s ever played with. “He can score fantastic goals, tap-ins,” says Gerrard. “If he gets you in the box you’re in trouble.”

Quick feet, clever movement and unpredictability are the three attributes that make Suarez such a dangerous penalty area player, but two things in particular reveal why he has been so lethal in the box this season. Firstly, he’s shooting 25 per cent more than last season; secondly, he’s shooting twice as much from central areas. That offers a clear lesson for your strikers to learn – don’t stray wide too often and don’t be afraid to have a shot.

Another poacher in prime form is Jermain Defoe, averaging almost a goal every other game this season. While he may lack the all-round brilliance of Suarez, his approach is an exercise in brilliant simplicity, perhaps more typical of a natural goal scorer. “The most important things is to hit the target,” he explains. “What makes it much harder for the keeper, though, is if you aim for the bottom corners.”

Defoe’s other top tips are to get your shot in early, before the keeper can set himself, and to stay calm and confident in front of goal. Demba Ba, meanwhile, who has carried his goal scoring form from Newcastle over to new club Chelsea, encourages strikers not to look at the goal: “just look at the ball” and “focus on hitting the target” he says.

It all sounds obvious but how often do your strikers panic and sky their chances over the bar or wait a split second to pick their spot and find the chance has gone?

Just have your players work through the following four drills until poaching like a pro becomes second nature.

Words by:

Louis Massarella Activities by:

Michael Beale & David Clarke

POACHING TIPS FOR YOUR PLAYER When goal poachers are on the prowl, they must focus their attention on receiving the ball to shoot. Tell your players to take notice of the following tips… > Try to know what’s around you before getting the ball > Try to face forward before receiving the ball > Try to recognise the time to shoot > Try to shoot to the most vulnerable part of the goal > Try to time runs to avoid being offside

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GOAL POACHING

Strike Zone If you want your attackers to have that killer instinct in front of goal, this drill will teach them to turn incoming low crosses into the back of the net

WHY USE IT

s yd 30

This unopposed session gets attackers scoring with balls coming in from the wings.

All players get balls played hard and low onto both feet as they attack at either end of the pitch. It includes build up play for a thorough attacking work out.

Play starts in the crossing alley with a server passing to the central crossing player

SET UP

Set up an area of 40x30 yards. You need balls, cones and two goals.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve used ten outfield players and two goalkeepers for this session.

HOW TO PLAY

s 40yd

The crossing player sets up the ball for the server to play down the line

The attackers must react to the ball down the line and move quickly to get to the strike zone

Players combine in the crossing alley and play low hard balls into the areas just in front of goal. It is unopposed but two players will be vying to finish in the goal. Players rotate in the alley with the passers taking the central crossing role after their pass. Play six balls then switch attackers and crossers.

The crossing player follows and hits a low cross into the area in front of goal

TECHNIQUE

This exercise is all about finishing from low crosses into the box. It requires concentration and a good first touch. Get players to try two-touch shooting before going for the one-touch shot as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quite hard to get the timing right for one-touch shooting.

Now play goes up the other end with build up play resulting in a cross for the opposite attackers to try and score

Activity by: Michael Beale

Player movement

Ball movement

Shot

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GOAL POACHING

Poacher Work your players through this effective attacking drill to encourage their composure in the box when presented with a gold-plated goal scoring opportunity

WHY USE IT

A drill that gives quickreacting strikers plenty of chances to score from defensive rebounds or miskicks in the box.

Create three positions so servers can vary the angle and speed that the ball comes to the attacker 2

3

1

SET UP

Use the penalty area of the pitch you normally play on or set up an area that is the same size. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re using four players for this session but you can set up at each end of the pitch and have players taking turns. You need balls, bibs, cones and a goal.

The attacker takes a touch and then fires in a shot

HOW TO PLAY

The working player is on the penalty spot, with two servers next to the goal. The player receives a pass from one of the servers and has to take a touch and fire off a shot. As soon as the shot is struck a second ball comes in, so the attacker must react quickly. Servers move between three positions to vary the angles and speed.

TECHNIQUE

Composure is the most important thing, as the best finishers are very relaxed when they get a scoring opportunity.

Players learn that striking through the ball and keeping their head over it keeps shots low and accurate. Power is not as important as accuracy.

Immediately the first shot has been taken, a second ball is hit at the attacker from the opposite side of the goal

Progress the session by adding pressure â&#x20AC;&#x201C; once the server has passed the ball he can follow the pass and pressure the attacker

The quicker the attacker gets the ball out of his feet, the more time he will have to pick a shot

Activity by: David Clarke

Player movement

Ball movement

Shot

Run with ball Issue 307

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GOAL POACHING

Finishing School An end-to-end game that will help your players to develop a goal poacher’s instincts by limiting strikers to just one touch in the final scoring third of the pitch

WHY USE IT

To score, players need to have the correct techniques and the ability to use all parts of either foot. This session will have your players practising a variety of shooting techniques.

In the midfield area players have two touches – to control and to play the ball into the attackers

Set up an area of 30x35 yards split into three 10-yard zones: attack, midfield and defence. We’re playing 5v5 including keepers. You need balls, bibs, cones and goals.

HOW TO PLAY

Play a small-sided game.

Players have limited touches in different thirds: they are allowed three touches in the defensive third, two touches in the middle third and just one touch in the attacking third. Players can only score from the attacking third. The first team to score five goals wins.

s yd 35

SET UP

s 10yd s 10yd s 10yd

The attacker has one touch so it must be a first time shot

Tell players you want to see them using as many different parts of the foot as possible when they get the chance to shoot

Here the defender uses up two touches getting past the attacker and uses his third touch to set up an attack

TECHNIQUE

Look for players to use a variety of techniques to strike the ball. For power, tell then to use the instep (the laces) with the toes down and the ankle locked; to sidefoot the ball, they should strike the horizontal mid-line of the ball; to chip they should ‘stab’ underneath the ball with the toes; or they can swerve it with either the outside or the inside of their boot.

Because it is one-touch, attackers must be alert for rebounds and ready to put the loose ball in the net

Activity by: David Clarke

Player movement

Ball movement

Shot

Run with ball Issue 307

SOCCER COACH WEEKLY

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GOAL POACHING

Beat The Block A fast and exciting game to teach your attacking players to create realistic goal scoring opportunities, even in a box crowded with defenders

WHY USE IT

Crowded penalty areas can allow attackers to disguise their shooting by shielding themselves from the keeper behind defenders. Can your attackers beat the blocking defenders and not hit their own players?

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve coned off so the session is the width of the six-yard box but you can use the full width of the penalty area to give your players more space

Server

SET UP

Use the penalty area of your pitch. You need bibs, plenty of balls and a goal with a goalkeeper. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re using six attackers and four defenders but you can use up to eight attackers. The coach acts as a server.

HOW TO PLAY

The coach passes to the attacking team who attempt to find space to receive the ball. The attackers must try to combine to create space to score in the area.

Rebounds, deflections and on the ball skills will happen quickly so players must be alert. The defenders must try block any shot.

TECHNIQUE

This game will create realistic match situations like corners and free-kicks, especially if the attacking team are a goal down and they need to score.

They will throw players forward in an attempt to create a goal scoring opportunity that they can exploit. It is a fast, fun and skilful game.

Serve a ball in to one of the attackers and as soon as the ball goes dead play another one in so the play is quick and constant

The six attackers must move to create a half a yard of space that they can make use of to receive the ball and shoot

?

?

The attackers must make quick decisions. Here one must decide whether to shoot and risk the defender blocking, or pass to the player who has moved into space

There should be lots of different types of shots, depending on where and how the ball is passed. You should encourage volleys, toe pokes and side foot shots

Activity by: David Clarke

Player movement

Ball movement

Shot

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SOCCER COACH WEEKLY

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COACH OF THE MONTH

Coach Of The Month Chris Smith rallies his team

Coach Of The Month

Each month Soccer Coach Weekly recognises a grassroots coach who has given more to the game than he has taken out. This month we celebrate Chris Smith from Suffolk Name: Chris Smith Age: 40 Coaches: Hadleigh United U9s Qualifications: FA Level 1 & 2; Youth Module Level 1, 2, 3 A former Hadleigh United player, Chris Smith has been coaching with the club for five years. He was nominated for Coach Of The Month because of the good work he has been doing with his Under 9s team.

> WHY I COACH: “I have played local football to a reasonably high standard from the age of 16. Football has always been my passion and I wanted to give something back to the local footballing community. Without people volunteering, grassroots football could not survive.” > THE BEST THING ABOUT COACHING: “Every week it throws up a different challenge, certainly when you are coaching Under 9s! I find dealing with these challenges extremely satisfying.

I also take satisfaction from seeing young players progress and develop their football skills and grow as young people.”

> MY COACHING PHILOSOPHY: “You always have to remember that what you are doing is for them and not for you. I want to create the right environment to encourage the players to develop their technique, skill, creativity and game understanding.” > SOLVING PROBLEMS: “Football is an emotional game and becomes more emotional when children are involved. We have had some issues regarding behaviour and we have responded by using the three strikes approach, giving children a warning before using ‘time out’ from the sessions or the game if necessary. These situations have happened infrequently but are

going to arise with such young children. You have to consider each individual child and their general behaviour in order to choose when to use the appropriate method and set boundaries.”

winning the game we realised that for the last ten minutes we had been playing with eight players rather than seven. Fortunately the other team didn’t notice.” > A WORD OF ADVICE: “However difficult it becomes, always remain positive. Always take into account the outside influences that might affect the children’s ability to play and give them creative practices in order to help them develop. And remember to treat them all as individuals.”

> FAVOURITE DRILL: “I would always try as much as possible to coach children within a session that involves playing a game, as opposed to constant skillsbased practice. This always creates far more interest from them – children never get bored of the game situation.” > FUNNIEST COACHING MOMENT: “When we first started the team and we played some friendly matches for Under 7s, both myself and the other coach got in a complete muddle with the rotation of subs. We were trying to give everyone an equal amount of time on the pitch, but after

> COACHING HERO: “You can take something from every coach you observe, whether positive or negative. I do not have one coaching hero but I would say Mickey Banthorpe, who is a Youth Academy Coach at Ipswich Town.

He has a wealth of knowledge and is always happy to take the time to share this with you.”

If you know someone who deserves to be SCW’s Coach Of The Month, or if you want to nominate yourself, let us know why.

Send your nominations to editor@soccercoachweekly.net

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COACH OF THE MONTH

Forward March We asked Coach Of The Month Chris Smith to share his favourite session with us. This activity is aimed at helping players decide whether to play forward or keep possession

WHY USE IT

s yd 20

This drill helps players move to create passing angles to receive the ball. Players in possession try to make good decisions about whether to pass forward to the target player or keep possession by passing backwards/sideways to build the play again.

Each team has two target players who can travel from side to side but cannot enter the playing area

s 20yd

SET UP

For this session we’re using 12 players working in a 20x20-yard area, with one ball for each team. Each team has two target players, positioned on opposite sides of the square as shown. You need balls, bibs and cones.

The ball must be passed through each player of the same colour to the target player and back again

You can have a race between the two teams to see who can pass the fastest – try one touch and you’ll have fun watching players trying to make their passes

HOW TO PLAY

Teams must pass the ball from one target man to the other, avoiding each other.

Target players can move side to side. Progress the session by using one ball and teams must win the ball and get it from one target player to the other.

Once each player has passed in the race they must get out of the square. The first team out wins

TECHNIQUE

This is a good session to coach awareness on the pitch. It does this initially in the unopposed game with lots of players passing different ways, and then in the opposed tactical game, when players must move to support and create space in order to keep possession, just as they would in a match.

Player movement

Advance the session so there is only one ball and players try to get from one side to the other under pressure

Ball movement

Shot

Run with ball Issue 307

SOCCER COACH WEEKLY

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THE ART OF COACHING Let players know what you expect of them

6

Ways To

Remind Them You’re The Boss

If you want to establish an effective working relationship with your players, you need to ensure they know who’s in charge. Here are six ways to let them know you’re the gaffer 02 TAKE CONTROL EARLY

03 HAVE A PLAN

Let them know you won’t stand any nonsense by pulling them up at the first transgression. Stop everyone immediately and remind them what you have asked of them and what they have agreed to. Speaking with a clear and authoritative voice helps but there’s no need to name names just yet – the culprits will know who they are and that you have noticed them.

Come to training with a set and structured plan and do your best to stick to it if you can. If you decide to change a drill or deviate from your initial plan because it’s not working for some reason, make sure it’s on your own terms, not because your players have asked you to. Make it clear to all of the players that you have made this decision and why.

04 USE YOUR WHISTLE

05 LOOK AND LEARN

06 MARK THEIR CARDS

It’s not ideal to yell at players – it’s not effective and it gives the impression you have lost control. But however well you project yourself, sometimes it becomes clear that some of your players are not listening or doing what you ask. That’s when your whistle comes in handy. A short, loud blast gets their attention quickly, allowing you to regain control.

It’s vital you get to know all of your players as individuals pretty quickly.

Watch them as closely as you can in your first few training sessions and try to identify the different personalities within the group. Some players do need a bit of a rocket now and again, while others respond much better to gentle coaxing. Being able to differentiate is the key.

It’s important to end training on a positive note by highlighting something your players have done well. But before you do this, it’s worth also mentioning a few things they need to work harder on or think about for next week. Make this a ‘what we need to try and do more of’ comment rather than a ‘what we mustn’t do under any circumstances’ issue.

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Words by: Alistair Phillips Picture by: WoodleyWonderWorks

01 SET YOUR STALL OUT Let your players know what you expect from them right from the off by laying down a few ground rules. Don’t scare or confuse them with a long list of dos and don’ts, tell them you expect two things from them at all times: firstly that they listen when you are speaking and secondly that they always try their hardest. Most misdemeanours fall under one of the two categories.

Soccer Surgery

Answering Your Queries THIS WEEK: Advice for a coach seeking to improve his team’s poor defence and an expert opinion on what to do if a referee shows players no respect

Q “ How can I offer

Let the ref know respect is a two way street

an instant confidence boost to my team’s leaky defence?

A

”

The secret here is to take the pressure away from the defenders themselves.

More than any other position on the pitch, defenders rely on confidence and belief.

If you don’t believe me, ask a defender who stops an attacker in a 1v1 whether he believes he will repeat the feat next time around. He’ll almost certainly say ‘yes’.

However, confidence can work the other way too, and after a run of leaking goals, your backline may well be running on low reserves of belief. The trick is to take the pressure off those players specifically, and place it onto the shoulders of the rest of the team. So instead of defending as a three or four, now defend with all 11 players.

Thus, pressing is the name of the game, with strikers tracking back, midfielders squeezing space in the middle and wingers coming back to help in deep defensive flank positions.

Maybe, for a game or two, suspend some of your usual attacking ploys and concentrate purely on the whole team defending deep. I guarantee doing this will see an improvement in defensive performances. Subsequently, confidence will increase.

When you have that bedrock to build upon, you can gradually allow strikers to move back to their natural attacking game, but ensure for as long as you need that players are pressing high up the pitch and tracking back to help team-mates.

Answered by Michael Thompson, a former semi-professional soccer player from Swansea

Q “ How can I expect my players to respect

the referee when his mannerisms towards them clearly show that he does not respect them?

A

Respect is definitely a two-way street and I’d be interested to know exactly what it is the referee is doing to make the players feel this way. It’s a fair guess, given that I’ve seen it many times before, that the referee is authoritative, rude, and maybe even doesn’t communicate with players when he is spoken to.

I have to agree, it’s very difficult to train young minds into accepting a situation when they clearly feel they are being unfairly treated, particularly when a large attraction of youth soccer is its tremendous community values and companionship.

In this instance I would stop trying to defend the referee and actually side with the players. Have a word with the man in the middle and politely ask if he can treat and

”

address your players in a way that “will get the best out of them”. Remind him these are children, and they’re coming to soccer to enjoy themselves. Deflect some of the criticism by saying that your players need help and advice, and that you are encouraging them to liaise with officials to help them better understand and appreciate what the job is all about.

I’m sure after a quiet word the referee will park his arrogance. If not, and his behaviour really is upsetting for some of the players, you can report him to the league committee, although this should probably be something of a last resort.

Answered by Mike Jones, an FA League Committee member with the Amateur Football Combination

GET YOUR SOCCER PROBLEMS SOLVED If you have a coaching problem or a training dilemma that you want the experts at Soccer Surgery to cure, send your queries to Soccer Coach Weekly…

Defend as a team

editor@soccercoachweekly.net

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THE BIG DEBATE

Do You Drop Him If Other Sports Take Up His Time?

THIS WEEK’S DEBATE: You encourage players to try other sports but one of your lads is now playing county rugby and his commitments interfere with soccer training.

But is it fair he should miss matches because he hasn’t trained?

NO, DON’T DROP HIM

YES, YOU SHOULD DROP HIM

Tony Chang Shanghai International Youth Soccer League

“Why not use this as a test of the player’s dedication to soccer? Let him decide if he can work soccer into his rugby schedule and vice versa”

“

I’m afraid the rules have to be the rules in this instance, and from what you’ve said here, the rules seem to indicate that any player not training subsequently forfeits the right to play in – or at least start – a competitive match.

You have to treat everyone the same, no matter how the circumstances came about regarding this lad’s rugby commitments, because the first rule of soccer coaching is that everyone feels an equal part of the team.

In a sense, you’ve succeeded in broadening the spectrum of sport for a player, and that’s really important. Take this as the real positive from the situation and ensure the player understands that too. Sure, we’d all like to keep footballers

HAVE YOUR SAY

playing soccer indefinitely, but this lad clearly has a significant talent in rugby and you should be applauded for helping him to unearth that.

Why not use this experience as a test of the player’s dedication to soccer? It may not be a bad thing to let him decide if he can work soccer into his rugby schedule and vice versa. You may well find that it’s possible for him to play for you some weeks and not others, so don’t completely give up on the idea of him managing to combine sports.

Remember too, you have a responsibility to ensure that players aren’t over-engaged in sport. It may be a good thing that he has to choose one sport or the other in a certain week, so that his body gets the sort of rest that all youngsters need.

”

Do You Drop A Player If Other Sports Take Up His Time?

Visit our Facebook page and log your vote at www.facebook.com/SoccerCoachWeekly or email your thoughts to editor@soccercoachweekly.net

“

Peter Wist Salisbury

“The reason for keeping this player onside is the same as why you encouraged him to pursue another sport in the first place – new skills and ideas”

“

I think in this instance making an exception to the rule is probably a smart idea.

At the end of the day it is you who has guided the player into another sport, and I’m sure at the time you didn’t mention that taking up rugby would lead to his soccer time being curtailed.

If you’re not flexible and insist the player can’t play, then none of the other players will take your advice in pursuing other sports, for fear of the same thing happening to them.

Sometimes a player not attending training doesn’t have to be the be all and end all. Maybe he can contribute to the team in another way. For instance, can he turn up to match day early to help with preparations, or look after the club’s website?

Involvement doesn’t always

have to be face-to-face.

The reason for keeping this player onside is the exact same reason why you encouraged him to pursue another sport in the first place – namely new skills, new ideas, new practices. All of these things can be taught and passed on into soccer, to the huge benefit of the team as a whole.

And finally, so that the other players don’t feel there is significant preferential treatment, remember to be lenient if they too happen to miss a training session. Some coaches like to run their teams with rigidity and structure, but personally I think you get more out of players if you treat them as human beings, and here’s a great chance to see just how tangible the benefits of that can be.

HOW YOU VOTED

”

Here are the results of a poll we ran in a previous issue of Soccer Coach Weekly, when we asked the question: Do you let your young players head the ball?

87% said yes 13% said no Issue 307

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67 EASY TO COACH DRILLS FOR MARKING, TACKLING & BLOCKING Perfect Defending

Kids are brought up to think scoring is everything.

That’s why the drills in Perfect Defending are written to make learning to defend fun!

– 67 easy to coa

ch drills for markin

g, tackling and blo

cking

Individual defendin

g

Front and back This drill forces the players to react to the two most frequent defending and attacking situatio ns.

The se

t up 67 Easy to Coach Drills for Marking, Tackling & Blocking Area: 30x30 yards Equipment: 3 cones, 2 balls, 1 goal

The steps

1. The goalkeeper passes to player 1 wh o attacks 1v1 against player 3.

2. Immediately afte r this attack, the coa ch passes to player 3.

Player 3 races out to

defend against player

1.

3. Player 2 must now run out and stop pla yer 3 from turning to sho ot.

For the next attack, player 1 becomes pla yer 2 and player 2 becomes pla yer 3.

What to call out

• “Pressure” • “Force away from goa l” • “Stop the turn”

Premier League Academy Coach Michael Beale’s manual will help your team keep more clean sheets.

Player 3 now turns to

KEY

Player Movement

“It’s just as simple as the stuff in the FA Level 1 handbook but more interesting and easier to understand too.”

Player 2 is out quickly and makes a tackle to the attack. stop

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What they say:

No risk

2.

Ball Movement

SOCCER COACHSOCCER COACH

Des Clark, Reserve Team Manager, Surrey Athletic, UK

attack against player

10

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