Coaching Tips

Planning an Effective Training Session
1. Select a topic that the team needs work on
2. Identify specific coaching points
3. Develop a pertinent warm-up
4. Choose some small group activities (1 v 1, 2 v 2)
5. Develop team activities

The Coaching Formula!

1. Organize specific activity
2. Observe
   1. That the organization is correct
   2. That the players understand
   3. Players’ success and failure
3. Correct
   1. Freeze the picture
   2. Reconstruct, demonstrate and rehearse
   3. Return to live action
4. Observe again ​

Techniques - Ball Control

​It is important for the players to learn and practice the proper techniques.

Practice all foot skills with both right and left feet.

​Inside of the foot pass

1.        Ankle locked
2.        Foot slightly up at the toe
3.        Thigh turned outward
4.        Look up to establish eye contact
5.        Connect with the middle of the ball just before the instep
6.        Follow through (contributes to direction and pace of the pass)

Outside of the foot pass

1.        Ankle locked
2.        Foot pointing slightly downward at the toe
3.        Leg swings across the ball
4.        Ball should spin when kicked

Receiving a pass

1.        Move toward the ball (don’t wait for it to come to you)
2.        Inside or outside of the foot used most often
3.        Foot surface first touching the ball should be withdrawn slightly on contact to take the momentum out of the ball (“cushioning”)
4.        Ball should not be stopped completely, but under close control
5.        Redirect ball in front or to the side in anticipation of moving in that direction to pass or dribble

Dribbling

1.        Small controlled steps ... ball should be kept approximately 2-3 feet in front of you
2.        Strike the ball with either the inside or outside of the foot (softly and not with the toe)
3.        Look up frequently to establish eye contact
4.        Change speed and direction
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Ball Juggling

Continuous bouncing of ball off head, shoulders, thigh, foot, etc. without the ball touching the ground ... This will develop ball control.

Shielding

1.        Legs bent
2.        Shoulders down
3.        Arms out at the sides. Used as a means of keeping an opponent away from the ball, or to stall for time waiting for a teammate to get open for a pass.

Heading

1.        Lean back at the waist
2.        Lunge into the ball
3.        Strike the ball with the middle of the forehead

Shooting

1.        Head down
2.        Let the ball come under the body (allows shot to stay low)
3.        Ankle locked with foot pointing downward at the toe
4.        Strike the ball with the laces of the shoe
5.        Accuracy before power (avoid shooting directly at the goalkeeper)

Throw-ins

1.        Ball MUST go directly over the head
2.        Both hands must remain on the ball (R and L thumbs meet behind the ball; thumbs and fingers of both hands form a W)
3.        Both feet must be on the ground (not necessarily flat; it is permissible to drag the toe of the trailing foot)
4.        As soon as ball is released, player should get back onto the field (often to receive a return pass)

“Trapping” (Settling or Controlling)

1.        Controlling the ball using any legal part of the body (NO HANDS unless you are the goalie)
2.        The controlling surface must “give” on contact to cushion the ball
3.        Ball should stay close to the player (not bounce away)
4.        If using a chest trap, bend the body backward slightly so the ball rolls down onto the ground at the feet
5.        Important when controlling the ball from the air to the ground, that it settle at your feet.

Tactics

Remember, tactics are not important for the U6-U8 player and should not be stressed. As the players mature, and the concept of team play begins to develop, the tactical elements can be introduced. Listed below are some basic guidelines for the coach, which fall into the realm of tactics.

General

•Play positions (the various roles can be understood even as players rotate positions).
•        Get open and call for the ball.
•        Look and listen for passing opportunities.
•        Pass and move to space and/or to support.
•        Work to build and maintain triangles - the basic structure for passing and support.
•        Always support the player with the ball (forward and rear support within passing distance).

Team Offense

•        Maintain possession of the ball.
•        Keep the offense wide in order to spread (and weaken) the opponents’ defense and to create space for scoring opportunities.
•        Penetrate as deeply as possible with every pass, without unduly risking loss of possession.
•        Finish attacks with shots on goal.
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Team Defense

•        Support and communication are critical.
•        Pressure opponents to decrease their “comfort zone”.
•        Delay opponents’ attack when your team first loses possession of the ball to permit defense to regroup.
•        Mark “goal-side” to defend against shots on goal.
•        Mark “ball-side” to defend against easy passes.
•        Maintain defensive balance on the field; guard against reversing the ball (crossing passes).
•        Mark tighter as you get closer to your goal.
•        Concentrate defense in front of the goal as the ball approaches your goal (limiting space available for goal shots) and direct ball away from goal.

Throw-in

•        Throw to an open teammate if possible (first look for the farthest unmarked player).
•        Throw toward the other team’s goal.
•        Throw down the touchline.
•        Throw to your goalkeeper (this is not considered an illegal pass back).
•        Take throw-ins quickly (before the defense can set up) but always under control.
•        Throw the ball so that it can be controlled in the air.
•        Thrower should re-enter the field quickly to be open for a return pass.

Kick off

•        Short pass and dribble.
•        Short pass and pass back (triangle).
•        (Note that the “long boot” is not encouraged!)

Goal kick

•        Big kick up the side of the field.
•        Avoid kicking the ball across the front of your goal.
•        Consider having a defender take goal kicks while the goalkeeper maintains position to guard goal.

Free kick

•        Close to goal, direct - shoot!
•        Close to goal, indirect - short pass and shoot.
•        Far from goal - big kick toward the front of the opponents’ goal.

Corner kick

•        Big kick into the opponents’ goal area.
•        Short pass and dribble or cross.