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by Gary Rue
garyrue@bellsouth.net
 

NOTE:  Gary did not write these exercises and tips with the idea that someone would publish them.  I subscribe to the Soccer-Coach-L e-mail list and Gary is one of the coaches that posts extremely well thought out replies.  These are some of Gary's posts that I collected for use in coaching my own teams.   I approached Gary and he was gracious enough to allow me to publish them here.  If you like what you see or have a question about one of the exercises you can reach Gary at garyrue@bellsouth.net There are 50+ more pages of Gary's posts categorized at the Home Page of Exercises of the Day by Gary Rue. Click here and enjoy.

Practice Tip - Channel the Creative Competitor

        The coach sets up an exercise, gives the instructions and the restrictions and starts play. Soon the exercise starts to digress when a one or two creative minds figure out how to "beat the system." The coach must now add new restrictions or change old ones. Every coach has been in this situation.

       First of all, recognize when creativity is at work and praise it. Exercises should not be so restrictive that they also restrict creativity. Adapt the exercise and play up the creative nature of the game.

       Sometimes, however, the player is "cheating" the system more than being creative. The coach may need to channel these types players or apply other restrictions, using tactical or technical reasons.

       For instance, if a player falls back inside a small goal to defend it, the coach should address the fact that the player is not closing down the ball or supporting his teammate. By reinforcing good defensive techniques, the coach has solved this problem of over guarding the goal.

       In another example a player that is supposed to be delayed pressure, often jumps the gun to get a head start. The coach may have that player do a 360 spin or a somersault (as if tripped). A quick footwork exercise with or without ball would also create the same delay and provide some benefit to the "quick starter."

       Often, the players that cause a coach the most problem in exercises are mentally the quickest or the most competitive. Keep their creativity and competitive nature flowing by channeling it in the right direction.

Functional Training of the Front Runners

        The following exercises focused on the functional training of the two front runners (or forwards/strikers); however, halfbacks and backs can also benefit from these exercises. The exercises help to develop the interactive and reactive combined play between the two forward players working as a pair.

• Warm-up:
  
  Three man combinations--two players (A & B) interpass as a third player (C)
  away from the ball checks to one of the passing players.
   
  1. Wall Pass--A and the checking C perform a wall pass combination; C spins away and starts interpassing with A as B becomes the next checking player
  2. Flick and Spin--A passes to checking C as B runs forward; C flicks the all on to B and spins away and starts interpassing with B as A becomes the next checking player
  3. Overlap--(after a couple of interpasses) A dribbles towards B and B overlaps into the space vacated by A; A passes to checking C, who flicks onto the overlapping B; C spins away and starts interpassing with B as A becomes the new checking player
  4. Takeover--(after a couple of interpasses) A dribbles towards B and B takes over the ball and passes to the checking C; A continues his run as C flicks on and spins away, etc.
  5. Drop--A passes to checking C and makes a long run forward; C drops to B, who plays a long ball over the top to A; C spins away, etc.
      
• Coaching focus: the check run should be from distance (even with an initial
  run away from the passers) and timed with player A to see the run before his pass arrives and be able to play the ball to the checking player before he
  gets too close.
  
  Note - this combination play is developed over several practices (not in one warm-up session)
  
  Tactical Development:
   
  1. Drop (fundamental step on which to build the future exercises) - In a 15x35 grid with a 5 yard central zone (i.e., 15+5+15x15), have two players
     in each of the 10 yard zones. One group of two (A and B) interpasses with the ball. One of the two "forwards" (C and D) in the other group checks into
     the middle zone. Player A (for example) passes to C who immediately drops to B; C spins away as D looks for an opportunity to perform a well timed check.
     
     Coaching focus: Timed check run; importance of angled drop pass when receiving a ball with your back to the goal; the stretching out of one
     forward (as far forward as possible) and the checking back of the other forward (provides depth in the attack). The checker should check at an angle to the receiving player.
      
  2. Diagonal Run - Same as the drop, but now D makes a lateral or diagonal run behind the checking C and receives a long vertical pass from B; C spins away and starts interpassing with D as A and B become the new forward pair. After a couple of series, ask the "forward pair" to cross each time before one of them checks to the ball. This crossing pattern should continue for all following variations.
     
     Coaching focus - The diagonal run should be timed so that the player runs onto the pass and not be there too soon. D (in this example) run should start his run with a slow movement so B knows he is intending to make this run.
      
  3. Leave It - A plays to checking C; D calls for C to "leave it"; C "dummies" the pass and allows it to continue on to D; C spins away and interpasses with D; A and B now become the new forward pair.
     
     Coaching focus - communication and deception
      
  4. Turn - A plays to checking C who turns and plays a quick wall pass combo; C should look back before receiving the ball.
     
     Coaching focus - vision and quick turning; players should turn to both sides
      
  5. Turn or Leave - C determines choice (turn or leave) by looking back before receiving the ball from A; if D has made a run behind, then leave, else turn and pass to D.
     
     Coaching focus - vision
      
  6. Flick and Spin - As C receives, D moves up square with C, C flicks (one-touches) to D and spins away for a return ball.
      
  7. Second Attacker Choice--C determines what play "is on" by what D does.
     
     Coaching focus - vision and decision making
      
  8. Overlap - A goes forward after passing to C; C drops to B who plays long to D who one-touches square to A.
     
     Coaching focus - switching of positions, as A goes forward C moves back.
      

  Game Conditioned Development
  
  Add a defender in each zone; allow only the defender in the forward area to be active, but he must mark the checking player. The other defender can be semi-active, where he must pressure (but not tackle) the player with the ball. This will force the checking player to time his check run.
  
  The area can be widen and lengthen to 40 x 35 with a midline. Through a normal progression of adding players, the exercise can be developed into a 3v2+2v3 in each zone with full goals on each end. Restrictions on players crossing the midline can be removed, until the play is full 5v5.
  
  The above is not meant to imply a one practice session, though it is possible with upper teenage team. For younger teenage players, it would take a combination of several practices to develop the three man combo play. The game related part would take a couple of sessions to work into slowly before the forwards would be able to go 2v3.

Zonal Defending - NSCAA 1999 Convention
By Jeff Tipping
January 21, 1999

       (Coach) Tipping discussed pros and cons of zone (most of which were in the convention program, which replicated a recent article in Soccer Journal). He added that other team can force your team's match-ups.

• Warm-up:
  Half of the players are in a circle with a ball; players inside check to a ball and says to which part of the body the player should toss and it is returned with a one-touch; this progresses to the player receiving and playing back with the foot volley.
  
  Now in pairs, one player receives and plays to his teammate who one-touch returns. Teammate must communicate his location. Improving communication is an important reason for this warm-up.
   
• Center back training
   
• 2v1 + 1v2
   
• Setup: 60x40, halfway line, 2 small goals at each end; 1v2 in each half as
  3v3 overall; when ball is played to the attacker in one half the first
  defender closes down and the second defender must decide support depth. If the attacker is under heavy pressure, the second defender can play flatter.
  
  The defenders must learn two comments:
  1)      "I've got ball!"
  2)      "Switch!"
  
  Remove small goals and use three small goals positioned behind the two small goals (longer area). Add defensive player for each team, now 3v1 + 1v3. The zone now starts to take shape. Use both backs and halfbacks as defenders, as the halfbacks need the same zone training as the backs.
  
  Add second attackers for a 2v3 look in each half. The defenders constantly
  need to adjust their position vertically and horizontally, trying to maintain the same constant spacing (10-15 yards).
  
  The defenders must slide to the ball side when the ball moves wide; and then compact wall in the center when the ball is central.
  
  The Italians move their off-ball wing back (4 man back) forward to help set their off-side trap--fewer players to coordinate the "step up." As the ball
  moves away from the defended goal-line, the defenders (and GK) go forward; and they must move backward as the ball moves toward goal. Key defensive communication could be "Up!" or "Back!"
  
  Add neutral 2 wing halfbacks to work on angled cross-field balls. The coach must decide how to play the crossed ball. If the off ball back plays on the
  ball side of the wide forward player, then he will be in better position to defend the angled run into the middle by this attacker.
  
  However, if the attacking team is able to cause the defense problems with the crossed ball, by playing the wing back on the outside shoulder of the
  wing attacker, the defender should be able to track down this cross corner ball. In this position, the defender can easily put the wide attacker
  offside as he is in position to see both attacker and ball.
  <ed. this was an interesting concept, but perhaps one that is for the very high level
  player.>
  
  In a 5 v 6 set up (no goals), three attacking midfielders attempt to play the ball through a 3 man defensive midfield "screen" to two attacking
  forwards playing against three flat defensive backs. When the ball gets past a midfielder, the midfielder spins and doubles teams the forward with one of
  the backs.
  
  Play a game with 3-3-1 shape vs a 3-3-1 shape; change one team to a 2-3-2 to teach backs how to play as center backs in 4-x-x.
  
  Center forwards are very important to a defense, as they are to make the other team's play predictable, by taking away the center or the drop ball
  and forcing play wide and into the zone's strength.
  
  Set a vertical line on the field and have the defense keep the attack in front of that line or in the opponents half of the field.