Teaching your players the key elements involved in effective combination play will give them a framework to combine with their teammates in a free flowing game environment. Today I share three progressive training sessions that I've used to teach my players these key elements. These sessions represent a three-week MicroCycle that I used with a couple of my teams to teach them how to combine effectively. There are a wide variety of combination plays that can … [Read more...]
#031 Training Session for Position Specific Possession
This week I will share a training session that will help your players make the connection between the work you do on possession in practice to the way they function within a team shape in the match. But first.... Congratulations to Sporting Kansas City for winning the 2015 Lamar Hunt Open Cup! As a coach with a Sporting KC Affiliate Club I've been fortunate to work with the first team staff on ways that we can help develop more homegrown players like … [Read more...]
#022 Developing Vision and Awareness
Training sessions have started in our area and it’s great to get back on the field with the players again. The summer provides a welcome break but I enjoy working with kids and watching them develop so I’m always excited to start a new year. I have a range of age groups that I’m working with again this year. The youngest are our U8 Pre Academy boys and the oldest is a U16 girls team. In between I have U10 and U12 girls teams. I enjoy coaching teams that play … [Read more...]
CSW Extra 2 – Explosive 1 v 1 Exercise
I won't have a full podcast for this week because I'm spending some down time with my family during the July 4th holiday weekend. I don't want to go a week without putting anything out there so here is a 1 v 1 exercise that we use toward the end of our 12-week Technical Training curriculum. I like this exercise because it incorporates passing, receiving, change of direction moves, 1 v 1 moves and shooting in a competitive environment that the players really … [Read more...]
CSW Extra 1 – Game to Improve Switching Play
I'm traveling with a team over Memorial Day weekend so there won't be a podcast this week but didn't want to leave you with nothing for this week so here's a game I used this week that my team really enjoyed. Bryan left a comment on the last episode asking if I could include dimensions on the diagrams. The dimensions of any exercise will vary depending on the age and ability level of your players but I'm going to include them from now on so that at least … [Read more...]
#013 Training Session for Creative Combination Play
Learning to be Creative I believe that we need to teach our players a variety of individual fakes and moves in order to spark their imagination and encourage their creativity. By learning a few moves they will see what is possible and this will give them a framework for their own creativity. The same can be done with creative combination play. If we teach the players a few basic movement patterns, and the keys to making them successful, then this will … [Read more...]
#010 Training Session to Break Lines of Pressure
Thanks for joining me for episode 10 of the podcast. Last week I asked for feedback and suggestions. I received a number of good responses. One of them is focused on how to use ‘Free Play’ Tim asks, "How do you set up free play? Whenever you allow your players free play, how involved are you? I image you handle substitutions and try to ensure equal playing time, but is that where you stop? Do you do anything in regards to formations, positions, or any … [Read more...]
#009 1 v 1 Training for Every Situation
In this episode I show you six practice environments that I use for 1v1 training. They focus on each of the key 1v1 situations that players will face in the game. Each of them gives you an opportunity to train both the attacker and defenders. They all allow the players to be very creative and free to try new skills. 1v1 situations are such an important part of the game that coaches at every level should be spending at least some of their valuable training … [Read more...]
#003 Exercises to Develop Creative Finishers
In this episode I want to share a set of exercises to improve your player’s shooting and finishing ability. They are progressive so they begin with basic movements that focus on the technical aspects of shooting and then begin to add pressure and complexity. The exercises are functional so they present problems that are similar to those that the players will face in the game. They are also scalable so you can use them with large groups of players and still … [Read more...]
#002 Training Session to Teach Turning
In this episode I share a session on turning. This is obviously an important skill for players at every position. Turning away from pressure and into space is one of the foundational skills required to possess the ball. Turning the ball with control also works on the first touch since you have to have a plan for where the ball will go and how you will get it there. It’s very important that the players know where the pressure is so awareness is a key element of … [Read more...]