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VIDEO

BALL CONTROL: CHEST

Real Game Application: The chest is a useful part of the body to control high aerial balls that are coming towards the player. There are 3 common situations that a player will use their chest to control the ball and these are covered in this video. 1) The player controls a vertically dropping ball normally from a goal kick or from loose play. 2) Controlling a bouncing ball coming directly at the player and 3) controlling an aerial ball coming horizontally at the player.

Step by step coaching:

Horizontally approaching ball

1. Move the body behind the ball so the ball is coming directly at chest height. This may require you to move forward or back a little to ensure its coming at the correct chest height and not towards the head or stomach.

2. Allow the ball to connect with the upper chest and on impact, lean the upper body backwards to cushion the ball and take away the impact causing it to drop in front of the body

Vertically dropping ball

1. Position the body directly underneath the path of the ball and keep eyes firmly on the ball

2. Allow the ball to hit the upper chest and as soon as it does, lean the upper body back to cushion the ball taking away the impact. To help you lean back while standing, bend the legs low and forward. After cushioning, the ball will drop in front of the body.

Bouncing ball

1. Move the body behind the ball so that the ball is coming straight at you

2. If the ball bounces at stomach height, lean the chest forward and over the ball directing it downwards. If the ball bounces more chest/head height, stand tall and straight, connecting the ball with the upper chest. Coach’s Tip: This is always scary for new players to chest a ball coming at chest/head height. It is best to practice chesting the ball from a close distance then gradually move further back once the player is more confident. Alternatively, players can throw the ball to themselves to gain confidence.

Common mistakes to look for

1. The player leans too far back and the ball goes over and behind them. A solution to this is to stand tall and straight, positioning the body directly behind the ball. This way there is no possibility for the ball to go behind and will instead drop in front of the body ready for the next play.

2. The player uses their stomach to control the ball which is both uncomfortable and can possibly injure the player. A solution to this is if the ball is coming too low, get the player to either back up and use the thigh or move forward and chest the ball downwards.

3. The ball comes towards the player’s head and they get scared and put their arms up or turn away from the ball. If the ball comes too high, at the face for example, then back up until it is at a comfortable height to either chest the ball or use the thigh.

#chest #ballcontrol

VIDEO

DRIBBLING: OUTSIDE OF THE FOOT

Where to use in a real game: Using the outside of the foot is the most common and efficient method of dribbling the ball and is used when running forward and especially when running at speed into an open space.

Step by Step Coaching

1. Keep ball in front of the body

2. Bring dribbling foot forward and turn it inwards so that the little side of the foot is facing the middle of the ball.

3. Push the little toe side of the foot through the middle of the ball with a light touch. Only use a heavier touch when you have lots of open space in front of you.

4. Keep head up with eyes looking about two yards in front of you so you can see both the ball and the surrounding play.

Common Mistakes to Look For & Solutions

1. Player’s touch is too heavy on the ball and it goes too far ahead allowing it to be stolen by opposition. Encourage lighter touch so ball stays close

2. Ball gets tangled in player’s feet because they are standing over the ball as they dribble. Ensure the ball is in front of player to make pushing the ball easier.

3. The ball goes to the side because the player hits the side of the ball or their foot is facing out to the side on contact with the ball. Ensure the player squares the outside of their foot in the direction they want to go as well as contacting the middle of the ball, not the side.

4. Player has head down looking at the ball and can’t see oncoming opposition. Have players keep their heads up and only put it down between each touch on the ball.

5. The player always dribbles in a straight line with no change of pace or direction. Tell players to be aware of what’s around them to make the right decisions with the ball. I.e. running with speed, dribbling left or right to avoid an opponent.

6. Players use the front of their toes to dribble the ball. Emphasize the use of the little toe side of the foot as this controls the ball and keeps it closer. New soccer players will have trouble at the start using this technique having got used to using the inside of their foot so reinforce the use of the outside as much as possible.

#dribbling #outsideoffoot

VIDEO

TACKLING: POKE TACKLE

Real Game Application

Tackling is an important skill every player needs to learn because it allows a player to win possession for their team and create an attacking play or take the pressure off their own team. The poke tackle is one such technique and is used to dispossess an opponent when you are running side by side or coming in from behind.

Step by step coaching

1. As you near the opponent, keep your eyes on the ball and wait till the opponent has pushed the ball ahead of them as this timing allows you to go in and make a tackle.

2. Once the ball is pushed ahead by the opponent, lean your body across and in front of theirs, extend the leg closest to the opponent and poke the ball away with the toes

Common mistakes to look for

1. The player leans their body into the opponent too much and is called for a foul. Proper technique is to lean in with the shoulder but not too far that you knock the opponent over completely. Getting in front of the opponent when making the tackle will ensure as little contact as possible.

2. The player times the tackle too late with the opponent pushing the ball ahead as the player makes the tackle. A solution to this is wait till the opponent has knocked the ball too far forward and then make the tackle as the player will have a higher chance of connecting with the ball.

3. The player doesn’t go in 100% and therefore doesn’t win the ball in the tackle. You will notice with many younger and newer players that they won’t commit to the tackle but instead run side by side with the opponent as a passive defender. Encourage these players to go in 100% as this will reduce the risk of injury and their confidence will grow as a result.

#tackling #poketackle #defense

VIDEO

PASSING: INSIDE OF THE FOOT

Real Game Application

The inside foot pass is the most common passing technique seen in soccer. It is used for passing the ball to a team mate over a short distance or for shooting accurately when you are close to goal.

Step by step coaching

1. Place non-kicking foot beside the ball while keeping shoulders and hips square towards target.

2. Position kicking foot sideways with ankle facing outwards as leg swings towards the ball and keep foot firm and locked. Contact the center of the ball with the inside surface of the cleat.

3. Perform a short and smooth follow through towards the target.

Common mistakes to look for

1. Player leans back or connects the bottom of the ball and the ball goes up in the air when kicked. Ensure player has their body over the ball and is not leaning back, also ensure they connect the middle of the ball and not underneath so the ball stays low.

2. Player slices ball off to the side because they don’t bring their foot out square enough, resulting in the side of the ball being hit and not the middle. Make sure player always locks their foot out square facing the middle of the ball.

#passing #insideofthefoot #ayso #soccerskills

Are your players making these 5 mistakes?

1. Failing to 'attack' the ball

It is common for young players to be hesitant instead of going towards the ball. Don't shout and scream at them; incorporate some drills into your practice that work on players directly going to attack a bouncing ball or ball coming towards them at speed.

If given the necessary encouragement, players will quickly realise that there is nothing to be scared of and if they attack the ball, 90% of the time they will end up winning it as the opposing player (particularly at younger age groups) will be hesitant if they see your player committed to attacking the ball.

2. Panicking when the ball comes towards them

Again, this is a common problem, more so with the younger age groups but I still see it happening in U14 also. Players are not always taught to relax and take a touch to control the ball when it comes to them (not every single time but the majority of the time they will have enough space to control the ball without being pressured). Often, your players will simply kick the ball away as soon as it comes to them, usually resulting in a loss of possession.

Encourage your players to take their time, relax and control the ball before making a pass or clearing it up field if they are under pressure. If they make mistakes and lose the ball, don't get frustrated, encourage them to keep taking their time on the ball and not panicking. They will eventually grasp this concept and it will benefit your team and the players as individuals over time.

3. Not giving their all every time they play

This is an issue you need to be careful with; don't go accusing your players of not trying as that will very likely upset them and result in them giving even less effort. Speak to them during the next interval, saying something like, "Hey Zac, I know you're trying hard but I need to to give it everything you've got in this quarter. If you give everything you've got and you're tired, we can switch you out and bring on a fresh player for the next quarter. Do it for your teammates buddy, show everyone how much effort you've got." When the game restarts, make sure you encourage and praise them whenever they make a run or show effort.

You can manage the situation by making substitutions at intervals in the game. If one of your players is really not giving much in terms of effort, sub them out, encourage the sub to go in and work hard and tell the player coming off that you are giving them a rest, ready to go back into the game refreshed.

David Beckham is the ultimate example of giving 100% effort every time he played. He was never the fastest player, or the most skilful in terms of beating opponents; however, he was one of the hardest working players in the game and much of his success was down to sheer effort and hard work.

4. Switching off and not concentrating during games

You probably find that your players can be easily distracted and sometimes during games are not even concentrating on your field, let alone the ball! Again, don't shout and scream at them, wait until the next interval and speak to them calmly about it.

Explain that soccer is a team game and requires every player to concentrate all of the time; even if the ball is at the other end of the field and they are a defender. Explain that the ball can come to them at any time so they need to be always ready and concentrating on the play. The next time they make an interception, tackle or win the ball, make a point of verbally praising them for their concentration and being alert.

5. Playing as an individual rather than part of the team

Some players on your team will be better than others and there may be one or two individuals who want to try and win the game on their own. You need to use your coaching skills to encourage the players to express themselves whilst bearing in mind that it is a team game and realising that they cannot possibly win it on their own.

Praise them for their individual skill but explain that they need to ultimately work as part of the team, passing to teammates when they are open and helping out in defense when necessary.

Also make this point to the other players on the team. "Girls, you know Olivia is fast and likes to dribble with the ball so make sure when she is in possession, you go and support her and get into space so she can make a pass."

Make sure you incorporate passing (particularly one-two or wall pass) drills into your practice, getting players used to working together rather than just dribbling on their own.

Paul Spacey is the co-founder of www.parentsoccercoach.info, a free online resource giving AYSO Parent Coaches everything they need to coach their team for the season.

#ayso #encourage #commonmistakes #davidbeckham

3 simple tips to instantly improve as a coach

1. Do not shout at your players from the sidelines

Instead, speak to them during intervals at the end of each quarter or half, giving them instructions when they are able to listen and concentrate on what you are saying.

I played semi-professionally for 15 years and know I speak for other players as well when I say that you generally ignore coaches instructions if you are involved in a game and he/she is screaming from the sideline. You are focused (or should be) on the game and doing your job on the field so any instructions go in one ear and out of the other (or sometimes not even in one ear, just over your head!)

Instead of helping players, it can actually have the opposite effect and be detrimental to some players, particularly those who do not like being shouted at. Hearing screaming from the sideline directed at them will often send the player further into their shell and stop them from freely expressing themselves on the field, negatively impacting their game and that of your team.

2. Watch the other team (almost) as much as yours

What lineup are they playing? Who are their best players? Where are they causing you the most problems?

First and foremost, you need to concentrate on your own team and your own individual players. However, you should also be watching your opponents and reacting to how they are lined up and where most of their best play is coming from. If the other team have a star midfield players who is running the show, spot this early in the game and assign the role of man-marking to one of your strongest, fittest players. This can immediately cancel out the qualities of the talented opponent, giving your players more chance to assert their own authority on the game.

Watch how the other team pass, move and work together. Even against teams of lesser ability, there are always small things you can pick up which you can potentially use to improve your own team.

3. Don't abuse the referee or match officials

It is a pointless exercise as it won't get you any more decisions. In fact, it will likely have the opposite effect. I am a qualified USSF and English FA Referee and can say from experience that abusing the referee can only ever do you and your team harm, no good will come of it.

It distracts you from concentrating on your team and it also angers the officials who will likely give close calls to your opponents, especially if their coach is being polite and cordial with the referee and not screaming abuse at him/her.

You might not realise it but shouting at the officials also negatively distracts your own players. Some might find it funny, some might find it frightening; ultimately though, they won't be concentrating on the game if they see and hear you arguing with the referee like a kid in the playground.

See the link below for our full post on how to deal with referees:

http://parentsoccercoachingtips.tumblr.com/post/62258712135/3-tips-to-keep-referees-on-your-side

Paul Spacey is the co-founder of www.parentsoccercoach.info, a free online resource giving AYSO Parent Coaches everything they need to coach their team for the season.

#ayso #parentcoach #aysocoach #coachbetter

VIDEO

SHOOTING: LACES (INSTEP)

Real game application

The driven shot is used to hit either a moving or stationary ball (from a free kick).

It is used to generate lots of power from both long distance and shorter distances and is difficult for keepers to save as the ball moves very fast when driven correctly. It is a skill that strikers and midfielders should look to develop.

England striker Wayne Rooney is very skilled at driving the ball with control and power and scores a lot of his goals in this manner.

Step by step coaching

1. Place non-kicking foot next to the ball, leg slightly bent and arms out for balance. When making contact, keep knee over the ball and keep foot pointing downwards and locked.

2. Strike the center of the ball and follow through with the leg towards the target, follow through is important to generate power.

Common mistakes to look for

1. The player leans back and the ball goes too high, over the goal. Ensure player leans over the ball and keeps knee over the top of the ball to keep it low.

2. Player kicks the ground in front of the ball because the knee of their kicking leg is not raised high enough and they strike the ground as they go to kick the ball. Make sure the player raises their knee high enough so their kicking foot strikes through the middle of the ball and not the ground on the way through.

3. The player points their toes upwards and the ball comes off the toes instead of the laces resulting in a weak shot. Ensure player locks foot and points it downwards toward the ground and makes contact with the middle of the laces.

Improve your AYSO team in less than 2 hours

How is that possible? Simple, run a full practice based on 3v3 games and a scrimmage.

After a 10 minute warm up, split the players into groups of 3 (try to split them evenly so that all groups have a similar mix of stronger and weaker players). Put the teams in different coloured pennies.

Goalkeeper

If you have a dedicated goalkeeper, your assistant coach can work with them or you can include them in the 3v3 to improve their outfield skills.

3v3 setup

Setup areas of approx. 20x25 yards with marker cones and have 2 teams in each area playing against each other for 10 minutes.

Every 10 minutes, rotate teams so that they play against different opponents.

There are no 'goals' but teams receive a point when they make 5 passes in a row without the ball being intercepted by their opponents.

Touch limitations

Periodically rotate between unlimited touches and 3-touch limitation. The touch limitation is difficult, especially for younger kids, but the benefit is that it forces them to think quickly and prevents them from keeping the ball for more than a few seconds. Some coaches don't like touch limitations; I played 3-touch and even 2-touch in practice from age 8 onwards and it played a big part in my development as a player, I have no doubt about that so I advocate it as part of almost every practice.

Coaching points to focus on:

Movement - Continually press home the importance of moving into space when players don't have the ball to give options to team mates.

Relaxing - Players do tend to panic in situations where they are in small areas with lots of players or have touch limitations. Tell players not to worry about messing up or losing the ball; they need to get used to being relaxed and comfortable when they receive a pass and not rushing to kick the ball away. It should be a simple process that you coach; take a touch (or two) to control, look up to see a team mate, make a pass.

Communication - Getting kids to talk to each other can be difficult. However, you need to press home the point and encourage them to talk as much as possible, letting team mates know when they are "open". Encourage them to use indications like "behind you", "pass left" and "time" if they have space with no opponents around them.

1 hour of 3v3

Allow the kids to play 3v3 for around 1 hour (include water breaks of course) and stop after each 10 minute game to offer advice and points to focus on for the next game.

Scrimmage

After around 1 hour of 3v3, split the group into two teams, evenly matched again with stronger and weaker players. Setup a full scrimmage on a larger area of approx 40x50 yards, depending how many players you have. It is likely that you will end up with a 6v6, 7v7 or 8v8.

If you have two goalkeepers, use goals & keepers for the scrimmage. If not, use marker cones for goals at each end.

Scrimmage for 10 minutes at a time, stopping to offer advice and specific coaching points after each 10 minute spell. Change players around on different teams if necessary to keep the game close and the teams evenly matched.

Scrimmage for 30-40 minutes in total then sit down and point out POSITIVE things the players did well and also a couple of specific things they can all work on improving (communication for example).

Improvements

At the end of the session, your players WILL have improved, I guarantee that. Sure, they won't have turned into David Beckham in under 2 hours but they will be a tiny bit closer to his standard than they were before practice started!

Continue using this method for 3-4 practices in a row and you will really start to see noticeable improvements on game day.

Paul Spacey is the co-founder of www.parentsoccercoach.info, a free online resource giving AYSO Parent Coaches everything they need to coach their team for the season.

#aysopractice #ayso #soccerpractice #3v3 #small-sided #soccer

HOW TO COACH:

CHIPPING

Real game application

The chip shot is most often used from close distance, either to beat the keeper with a chip over his head or to lift the ball over the body of an advancing keeping in a one-on-one situation.

Step by step coaching

1. Place non kicking foot next to the ball, leg slightly bent and arms out for balance

2. Drive front part of cleat (toes and bottom of laces) underneath the bottom center of the ball. Ensure foot is angled downwards so it goes underneath the ball using a short, quick kicking motion.

Common mistakes to look for

1. The player does not get enough height on the chip so it becomes an easy save for the keeper. Ensure player uses a quick, short drive underneath the ball with a particular focus on angling the foot downwards which gives the chip height.

2. The player points kicking foot straight or upwards and the chip comes off the toes which results in the ball staying low and not getting sufficient height to go over the keeper. Make sure player angles the kicking foot downwards so that it goes straight underneath the ball in a ‘stabbing’ motion.

3 tips to keep referees on your side

Ok, referees are impartial (or at least they should be) so you can't exactly get them on 'your side', however there are a few things you can do to make it more likely that your team get more of the 50/50 decisions.

I am an AYSO Coach but also happen to be a qualified US Soccer and English FA Referee so have a good perspective from both a player, coach and referees' point of view. Read the tips below and implement them during your next match:

1. Never directly abuse the referee, no matter how bad their decisions are.

It is completely pointless. Not only is there zero chance of the referee changing their mind but they are very likely to hold this against you when the next 50/50 decision is made. Yes, referees should remain completely impartial and base their decisions on the action on the field, however the reality is that they are only human and if you have screamed in their face 5 minutes earlier and are now calling for a 50/50 decision, chances are it will go to the other team as the referee makes a split second decision with your abuse still fresh in their mind.

If the referee makes a call which you know is clearly incorrect, tell your players to get on with the game and forget it. At half time or an interval, you can mention it to the referee. Something simple along the lines of, "Sir, that was a clear handball when they scored the goal, I know you couldn't see it though from your angle so I understand why you didn't make the call, no hard feelings. Give us the next handball decision please!"

The referee will likely realise he made the mistake and your credibility will be increased the next time you call for a decision.

2. Thank the referee when they make a good call

Very simple but very effective. Don't be sarcastic or shout "thanks sir" after every single decision but when the referee makes a close call on a 50/50 or what you might consider a big decision, a sincere "good call sir" or "thank you sir" goes a long way.

Everyone has a desire to receive praise, even referees, so massage their ego (yes, referees also have ego's) without being over the top or condescending. Even if it doesn't directly benefit you during the game (although it is likely that it will), chances are when the referee officiates one of your games later in the season, they will remember your praise and you will benefit then.

3. Do not assume you know the rules (laws) better than the referee; chances are you really don't so just let the referee get on with their job.

All AYSO Referees have to go through training and reach a required level of competency to qualify as a ref. You may have played or coached the game for many years and believe you know better than the referee, however this is invariably not the case in my experience.

Unless you have studied the laws of the game then it is extremely likely that you don't fully understand many of the common fouls and infringements that you regularly scream at the referee for! I played semi-professionally for 15 years and thought I knew the rules perfectly; how wrong I was when I took my referee exam (I ended up getting 99/100 on the test paper but only after hours of study made me realise I didn't fully understand around half of the rules!)

Do your job as a coach; look after your players, encourage them and ensure they also respect the referee. Then let the referee do his job and apply the laws of the game. If you would like to learn the rules/laws more thoroughly, see below.

Here is a link to a simplified version of the rules (known as laws of the game) - http://www.aysoarea3t.org/laws.html

For a more comprehensive list of the full lotg, see the following link to FIFA's website - http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/footballdevelopment/technicalsupport/refereeing/laws-of-the-game/index.html

Graham Poll was one of the best referees in the English Premier League and you can learn a lot by following his column in the Daily Mail - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/columnist-482/Graham-Poll.html

Paul Spacey is the co-founder of www.parentsoccercoach.info, a free online resource giving AYSO Parent Coaches everything they need to coach their team for the season.

#grahampoll #aysoreferee #aysosoccer #respecttheref #parentsoccercoach

One simple tip to make AYSO practices easy…

Base the entire practice around small-sided games.

Soccer practice, especially for new/inexperienced AYSO coaches, can be difficult. However, it doesn’t need to be.

I find myself saying on a daily basis to parents and other coaches, “soccer is a simple game”, yet it is over complicated by many who feel the need to get too technical and come up with complex, pointless drills that kids don’t understand.

2v2, 3v3 through to 6v6

Keep things simple; not only is it easier for kids to understand, it is also much more enjoyable. Small-sided games (3v3, 4v4 etc) are all about fun, getting plenty of touches on the ball and encouraging kids to pass and move.

Scientific studies showing the differences in 2v2 through to 6v6 concluded that 3v3 is the optimal small-sided configuration in terms of making players work harder and get more benefit from the session, however that does not mean you shouldn’t also use other configurations to help with player development and spatial awareness.

Touch limitations (2-touch, 3-touch)

Introducing touch limitations (1 touch, 2 touch etc) also increases workload and forces players to think quicker, preparing in their mind to make a pass before they actually receive the ball from a teammate. Sure, kids generally younger than 10 are not cognitively advanced enough to understand complicated soccer plays but, with encouragement, they can be coached how to pick out team mates before the ball comes to them so that they know where to pass to next.

Language immersion and small-sided soccer immersion

Language skills are often best learned by complete immersion in the target language and removal of your normally spoken language; this forces the brain to adapt and learn quickly. I believe that by allowing kids to focus solely on small-sided games instead of stop-start drills, whilst they won’t pass and move like Barcelona or Arsenal, continued experience in small-sided situations will result in actual game-day improvements, particularly their passing, movement and awareness. Whilst it makes things extremely difficult for them, introducing some touch limitations will also help to speed their progress. 1 touch is too much to ask but 2 or 3 touch is feasible, even for very young kids.

Small-sided based practice

I grew up playing for teams coached by my father. His training was based almost entirely around small-sided games and our teams were always very successful. Personally, I loved small-sided games and also played with adults from the age of 10 onwards which really improved me me as a player. I have no doubt the small-sided games helped me immensely as I signed for Stoke City a couple of years after I began playing with adults and I was always considered very ‘developed’ technically (my coaches words, not mine).

Work out your practice beforehand and base it solely around small-sided games. The kids will enjoy it and they will get much more benefit from it than any kind of technical drills you will find online.

Landon Donovan - great quote

Here is a great quote from Landon Donovan about the benefits of lots of touches on the ball which is exactly what you get in small-sided soccer:

“As a kid you need to touch the ball as much as you can. You should always be with the ball. You should have a feeling that wherever the ball is, you can do anything with it. No matter where it is, where it is on your body, how it’s spinning, how it’s coming at you, the speed it’s coming at you, anything. You can learn the tactical side of the game later. It’s amazing to me that people put so much emphasis on trying to be tactical and worry about winning when it doesn’t matter when you’re 12 years old. We’re going to have big, strong, fast players. We’re Americans, we’re athletes. But if we never learn at an early age to be good on the ball, then it’s just useless.”

Join AYSO

If you are interested in joining AYSO as a volunteer, referee or getting your kid involved, visit www.ayso.org or follow the organisation on twitter @AYSO_Soccer.

Anyone looking for more help and advice with their team, feel free to email me via [email protected].

#ayso #landon donovan #small sided #passandmove #soccer practice

"Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." Coach Wooden.

3 simple tips to keep practices FUN (but effective)

1. Use the ball, even for sprint/fitness/conditioning work

No kid wants to be doing suicides or sprints without a goal in mind. If you want to do some sprint work, use the ball to either dribble with whilst sprinting or use it as a 'fetch' tool to collect at the end of the sprint then return or give it to another player. Sprinting fast is an advantage in soccer...springing fast whilst having control of the ball at your feet is even better.

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2. Make sure you have AT LEAST one ball per player

Growing up, most teams had a few balls per practice between up to 20 players. My team (my dad was the coach) were one of very few clubs to have at least one ball per player. This meant we got far more touches during practice as we literally always had a ball at our feet. Drills were fun and based around touches on the ball. Practice balls are so cheap nowadays, there really is no excuse to have any less than at least one ball per player.

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3. Make the majority of practice about small-sided games/scrimmage

How do kids learn to apply what they learn in practice during actual matches? Simple, by doing drills which directly mimic match-day scenarios. Small-sided games (keep away, 3v3 to small goals etc) are the best way to not only get kids plenty of touches on the ball but more importantly they create match day situations and force players to start thinking quickly, passing and moving. While I'm thinking about it...pass and move, such a simple philosophy often ignored by coaches.

For all the coaching techniques and thousands of drills, soccer really is a simple game.

Enjoy your next practice!

#practice #soccer practice #scrimmage #soccer balls

U12 BALANCED OFFENSIVE LINEUP (from www.parentsoccercoach.info)

One of 6+ lineups available per age group.

Pros

1. Strong forward line with three players working together.

2. Narrow setup will allow players to control the central areas of the field from defense to attack.

3. Forwards can pressurise opposition defense high up the field and overrun them if they have only three defenders.

Cons

1. Your wide defensive areas may be exposed.

2. Critical midfield area will almost certainly be overrun by your opponents.

3. Opposition may overrun your defense if they have three forwards and this will likely lead to your team conceding goals.

When to use in a game

This lineup can be used if you are up against a team of similar ability to yours but you want to pressurise them high up the field and prevent them from getting out of their own half.

This is a good lineup to switch to if you are struggling to create chances as the three-player forward line will give you plenty of offensive power.

Remember that this lineup can potentially leave your defense exposed, especially in wide areas. In addition, your midfield will almost certainly be overrun by the opposition unless you have two very strong players in there.

HOW TO COACH

GOALKEEPING: PUNCHING

Where to use in a real game:

Punching the ball is a technique used for oncoming balls that are too hgih or if the goalkeeper is pressured from an opponent. In these situations, it is often best not to try and catch the ball but instead punch it away from the goal area and out of danger. You can use one or two hands to punch the ball away, depending on the situation.

Step by step coaching:

1. Keep eyes on the ball and jump up to meet it high in the air

2. If there are not many players around you and you are confident of making good connection, make two big fists and use both hands to punch the ball away.

3. If there are lots of players around you and it is difficult to get to the ball, use only one hand and make a fist as you jump or lean over players. Start with fist(s) at the chest and drive upwards to connect with the bottom of middle of the ball.

Coach's Tip: Encourage your goalkeeper to shout "keeper" loudly when coming to punch the ball. Not only does this alert your defenders that the goalkeeper is coming but it can also put off the opposing strikers.

Common mistakes to look for:

1. The ball doesn't go very high and stays within or near to the goal area which maintains pressure on your own goal. A solution is to remind your keeper that it is important to hit the bottom of the ball with force and drive the fists in a direction preferably up and to the side line so that the ball doesn't fall into possession of an oncoming opponent near to goal.

#goalkeeping #punching #goalkeeper

3 tips to help your team score more goals in the next game

1. Attack as a team, not as individuals

Instruct your players to move up the field together, as a unit, supporting each other rather than just letting the offensive players get on with it and hope they score. If the whole team attacks together, there are more options for players to pass to and it is more likely that scoring chances will be created.

2. Encourage strikers to simply hit the target, not worry about scoring

Young players often try to hit the ball too hard or get it perfectly in the corner and in doing so, find themselves actually missing the target completely. Encourage your strikers to focus entirely on getting their shot on target. They still have a decent chance of scoring if the ball is on target (keepers are not usually too competent, particularly at younger age groups) and the added bonus of a potential rebound chance for a teammate if the goalkeeper spills their shot.

3. Change your formation and play the same number of attackers as there are defenders on the field

If the other team have 4 defenders and your team are struggling to create chances, change your formation and play with 4 attackers so that they are matched up 1-on-1 with each defender. Instruct your players to get the ball forward as quickly as possible so that your strikers are immediately 1-on-1 with the defender they are up against. This offers a much better opportunity for creating chances than having 2 attackers trying to score against 4 defenders for example. This tactic is not advisable for the whole game but will work in the short term if you find your team struggling to create chances.

#goals #score

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