 Inside Tactics - Soccer Hints & Tips |  |
This weekend saw the start of our soccer season for 2006 - 2007. As you know if you've been following our tips for a while, the team I coach, managed to go the whole of last season unbeaten, 30 games played, 27 wins 3 draws and zero defeats! Quite some record.
So what happened this weekend... well there is a story behind it. You see some weekend's I have to speak at public events and this weekend just happened to be one that I couldn't re-organise.
My assistant coach was in the US on business so we had to rely on one of the dads to take charge this weekend in our first game of the season.
My nerves were jangling all the way through the conference, not because of the presentation in front of 250 people, but the fact that I know every team in our league wants to beat us this season because of our record last season.
So, as you can imagine, I wanted to be kept informed of the score by text message so that I could see how were going on.
I'm happy to report that we opened this season with a 0 - 3 victory!
How great is that... the dad who volunteered to take the lads was ecstatic, but it was something that he said that really got my juices going.
When I asked what team he put out and how he organised them, he replied..."The team pretty much picked itself. We had 11 players available for a 10 a side game, they organised themselves into positions, 3 at the back , 4 across the middle and two up front."
He continued..."they were just brilliant, they picked up and played in the patterns just like you've been training them in the pre season sessions."
Now, we spent the last few weeks of the previous season practicing various drills and small sided games based on this type formation and have continued that into this pre season.
We practiced combination attacking moves and defensive shape across the field when we lost possession. Our practice time on the training ground has certainly paid dividends.
So to say that I was 'chuffed' was a bit of an understatement. But let me ask you this question...
"In your sessions, what patterns of play and combination link up drills do you practice with your players?"
We added an article this week about getting the most out of your training sessions and giving the players the coaching they deserve. So, to help you out a little this week, we've provided you with one of the drills that we have been using in our pre-season training.
Why not use the attacking link up combination drill below in this weeks training session?
Print this page off and you'll have a ready made session for your players. No need to spend time thinking a good pattern of play to work with your players this week, we've done it for you.
So here it is...
This soccer drill was developed for a 10 side team, but could easily be adapted by adding in another central defender and thus playing a 4 4 2 formation.
We have been working on 3 4 2 soccer formation for the beginning of this season, so this is exactly how we have been coaching our attacking wingers.
Remember, its the movement, link up and combination play in switching the point of attack that's important in this drill.
ORGANISATION
Set up a half pitch practice, with 9 players in the half to begin with. Set the scene with the players that your team has won the ball and your opponents are playing a retreating defense.
Your back three have pushed up on the half way line and then the rest of the players should take their positions off the high line.
The aim of the drill is to try and create space down the wings, use the ball efficiently to recylce it back into the midfield area if the channel is blocked for a cross and then switch the play to the opposite wing to start the move again.
Quite often teams will panic when they get close to the byline and attempt a cross at any cost, sometimes giving away possesion or occassionally winning a corner. This drill provides another option and requires the winger to look to play the ball backwards, maintaining possession of the ball and then setting up another attack on the opposite side of the field.
Organise players as per the drill illustration below.
To begin with on this drill I would just use the back three players, numbers 3,4,5 and the two wingers, practicing getting them down the wings, turning when they get the byline, and playing the ball back to the half way line, just as if they wanted to keep possession.
Then build the attack by introducing two attacking midfield players in 7,8 so the attack now has some options down the wing where, a one two combination could unlock some space to get the cross in.
Once this type of pattern is practiced by using the interplay of a give and go, the winger can then practice crossing the ball into the danger area, looking to put the ball in between the 6 yard box and the 18 yard box. This is a very difficult area for any team to defend.
Then add the two strikers and work on their starting positions, and where they make their final run to. If they are being closely marked by two centre halfs then they should be looking to make a cross over run with one striker going to the front post and the other to the back post.
Start the drill with no defenders just working on this pattern of play, then start to add in defenders; firstly two full backs to put pressure on the ball when its out on the wings, then a defensive midfield player to pressure the ball when its being switched across the pitch on the half way line, introduce two centre halfs to mark the strikers and a goal keeper.
This progressive approach, ensures that confidence is gained initially, without the need to think too much. When success is gained, then the skill development is developed as technique and deicision making is practiced. If you have enough players you can then take this to a full 11 v 11 game in one half.
The video diagram below will demonstrate what movement each of the soccer players needs to make.
EQUIPMENT
One ball, five players initially building to nine in attack. Add opposition as the the drill takes shape.
COACHING POINTS
- Changing the point of attack
- Clever movement off the ball to create space
- Timing of runs
- Communication between players, visually and verbally
- Good first touch to control the take ball into passing zone
- Accurate, well weighted passes
- Head up looking for the next element of the play
- Determination to get into the box and score
PROGRESSION
In order to progress this drill you could...
- Start with no defenders and work on movement and passing patterns
- Introduce left and right full backs to test wingers
- Introduce defensive midfield player to chase ball on half way line
- Introduce two central defenders to mark the attackers
- Bring in a goal keeper
- Keep increasing the tempo
Attacking Combination Soccer Drill
If you liked this drill, would you like more resources similar to this available to you any time of day or night, 365 days per year?
If you want to be the best team in your league, then we can save you time and give you all the soccer coaching points that you should be working on with your players, whatever their age and ability.
Thats it for this week, enjoy training and if you haven't joined our main site yet, then shame on you! Just think, other coaches in your league are using our material to really steal a march on the league this season, do you want to be playing catch up all season...? I don't think so!
See you soon
Neil T
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