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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 of the Day - Overheard at Practice


       Coach, ask yourself after each practice if a (quasi soccer knowledgeable) person that passes by or is watching your practice, will be able to figure out the purpose of your session? If not, perhaps the players won't be able to understand or relate either.
       When possible, I like to watch another coach's practice. I listen to what a coach says and how he says it and then watch what the players are being asked to do. If most of a coach's comments that session are not pointed and related, how can the players keep their focus? After one of my practices, I may ask a parent that hung around if they knew what the focus was.
      For you practice session, you should pick a theme and put all thoughts and energy into that theme. Don't deviate unless it is an issue that directly affects the effectiveness of the session. In those cases, deal with the issue quickly, then get back on the primary theme as soon as possible.

"All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none 
can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved." 
Sun Tzu, The Art of War


TRANSITIONAL PLAY
 MIKE PARSONS
 NSCAA DIRECTOR OF COACHING EDUCATION
  NSCAA Convention
 Jan. 13, 2000
(Notes by Gary Rue)


 <clinic notes; see outline handout>

  • Warm-up #1
  • Setup--5 players; players 1 and 2 are inter-passing with player 3 playing defense; player 4 is being marked by player 5 at the opposite end.
  • Procedure-player 3 intercepts a "bad" pass between 1 and 2; player 4  checks/shows for immediate upfield pass from 3; 4 drops back to 3 coming forward and spins AWAY from the drop; 3 dribbles at player 5 and plays a through ball to 4. Play is restarted with player 5 intercepting a "bad" pass between 3 and 4, as player 1 shows for the ball.

       1
       o                                5
                                      4
             3



         2

  •  After the first series is over the setup will look like:

                                      4
                                      o

       1                            5
     2

                                      3


  • Transition is dependent upon player's speed of thought and ability to
     change shape.
  • Once ball is won, play forward with as few touches as possible.


    Warm-up #2
  • Setup and Procedure-same as above except, player 3 wins the ball on a tackle; after player 4 shows, receives, drops and spins, 4 returns into a wall pass position, as 4 and 3 work a 1-2 combo around defender 5.


    3 v 3 + 1 v 1
  • Setup and Procedure--half field, one goal with GK; three attackers (A) against three defenders (D) with target player on the D team and a marker from the A team; when one of the defenders win the ball, they play it as quickly as possible to the target player who tries to beat his marker. 
  • Reset when marker wins ball or target is able to beat marker to end line.
  • After establishing the pass to the target player, one of the D players
    sprints forward for support. Change pressure on target player to force support player to decide whether to provide drop or forward support .


    Coaching points:
  • After ball is played to target, the defensive pressure on the ball is read; if high pressure, drop support is needed by the support player; if the pressure is low, so the target player can turn, the support player needs to look for a forward support position.
  • Target player needs to check at angle to ball, else play is too compact; target player should take marker away from ball prior to the check.
  • Runs need to be wide and spread out to create better space and angles.
  • Add another goal and a player to each team. Play 3v3 at midfield with target players in each attacking third.

    Coaching points:
  • encourage one and two touch
  • receive facing the field
  • after winning the ball, find target immediately, else move ball quickly to another area
  • Defensive Transition - at loss of possession, determine pressure on ball; if none, then space behind the defense is critical-recover back; if there is pressure on the ball, then squeeze in behind the ball. That is, the defense should get behind the ball and shift over to the ball, compressing the playing area.
 
 

NSCAA 2000 - Transitional Play (Outline)
 NSCAA Convention
  Jan. 13, 2000
(Notes by Gary Rue)


<Convention Outline Handout>

      The thought processes and training methods involved with transitional play all revolve around a central theme - "TEAM SHAPE" We refer to team shape when we are talking about positioning of players in relation to the ball - either in attack or on defense. It is easier to conceptualize team shape if  we begin with the very young in their attempt to play the game. One can easily recognize the shape of a 5-6 year olds - It's merely a congested "blob" of players. As players mature, ages 8-1O, the shape of players around the ball become more spread out - away from the ball - and the game begins to flow better. Finally, we begin to see the real shape of the game with players fourteen and up - where team concepts of attack and defense become the one of the major focuses in training sessions.
       Transition in the game requires a thorough understanding of the "roles" that must be filled on the field. The theory is very simple - as is the game - it is the practical implementation of that theory that separates the best teams, players, and coaches.
  1.  POINTS TO ADDRESS
    1. Transition to Attack
      • Look to penetrate
      • Run to Space
      • Run to Support
    2. Transition to Defense (Players off ball)
      • - Immediate pressure on the ball
      • - Space behind
      • - Space between
      • - Be in position to help if pressure is beat
  2. DEFENDING TO ATTACKING
    1. COACHING POINTS
      1. Find target player as quickly as possible
      2. Quality balls to target
      3. Angle of entry pass
      4. Preparation of target area
      5. How does target receive balls
      6. Reading where to support after initial ball to target
      7. Attaining attacking shape
      8. Teach players from simple to complex
      9. Speed of thought
      10. Imprinting patterns of thought
    2. THOUGHT PROCESS
      1. Look to go straight to goal at instant ball is won
      2. Play the deepest pass available
      3. Find players breaking wide
      4. Recognize space to carry ball forward
      5. Look for support from behind
    3. OPTIONS
      1. Look to play balls to feet of forwards centrally
      2. Play to space wide behind or between backs
      3. Run ball at defense
      4. Play quickly to midfield breaking out
      5. Maintain possession by playing back to depth
  3. ATTACKING TO DEFENDING
    1. COACHING POINTS
      1. Speed of transition
      2. Pressure on the ball
      3. Recovery runs should be to compact defense (Back and to the center of field)
      4. Channel options of attack by angle of approach
      5. Be aware of the space behind the defense
      6. Close pressure as soon as possible
      7. As pressure becomes tighter close space between defenders
      8. Squeeze space centrally
      9. Be aware of free players and runs through and behind defense
    2. THOUGHT PROCESS
      1.  I. Can I get the ball back - NOW!
      2. Look to delay/deny penetration
      3. Keep play in front of you
      4. Be aware of attacking support players
      5. Limit space for attack to play through
    3. OPTIONS
      1. Win ball back immediately via tackle
      2. Move to create angle to pressure
      3. Give ground
      4. Close space between pressuring teammate and your self
         

 ** PLAYERS MUST CONSTANTLY THINK AHEAD **
 TEACH THEM TO RUN THEIR MINDS BEFORE THEY RUN THEIR LEGS!

 

Exercise of the Day - Zigzag Speedwork 

  • Purpose: to improve player mobility, quickness and speed
  • Equipment: 5-7 marking objects to mark the zigzag course, such as rings, cones, flex-sticks, flags, balls, or even 60-90 feet of cord. Also, 4 cones to mark the starting and ending lines.
  • Setup: the course is a 5 yard sprint from the starting line (or gate) to the first ring (marking object); the next 4 to 6 rings are symmetrically zigzagged at 5 yard intervals; at the last ring, the ending line/gate is 5 yards away.


             x  P1  P2 x  (start)




                   O


           O


                   O


           O


                   O


           O




      x        x          (finish)

  • Procedure: the players sprint to each marking object and place their near foot into or beside the object and continue their sprint to the next object. Players should rerun course, on the other side. In the above example, P1's near foot will always be his left as P2's right foot will be the near foot.
  • Options:
    • players race
    • time players for statistical review
    • flatten out (widen) marks where cuts are more acute or make marks more narrower
    • change shape and distance of marks--remove competition as course is different for each player
    • lengthen/shorten distance between gates and markers; this allows player to get into a longer stride, before he has to shorten it
    • dribble ball--player must still must place near foot in or near marker
    • change starting foot positions for another coaching consideration
  • Coaching Points and Considerations: 

          The ability to sprint for short distances then cut into a different direction quickly is a very important attribute of a soccer player. Players need to be able to adjust the strides to compensate for the specific foot placement. Areas a coach should watch for is a stride length that is too long, especially at each point of direction change. Plants and cuts should be as quick as possible. Players need to learn to shorted strides, without lessening their speed. "One-footedness" shows up when a player is not as fast on one side as he is on the other. By changes the starting footwork position, this offers the player a chance to train on minimizes steps to get up to full speed. Players need to be encouraged to get to each mark as if it is a 50-50 ball.

    Later!
    Gary Rue
    Western Hills High School Boys
    http://www.eteamz.com/whhs
    Frankfort Youth Soccer Association
    Frankfort, Kentucky US
    gary.rue@mail.state.ky.us

 

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