PAGE  48
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.

Exercise of the Day - Pass and Split

        This is quick warm-up exercise that encourages movement after the pass. It can't be run for too long, but it will keep the blood pumping. It is a variation of the pass and change lines exercise with more game related movement involved.

Setup: 
Three players in a triangular shape. Player 1 passes to player 2 and runs between (splits) players 2 and 3. Player 3 runs to where 1 was when he made the pass. 2 returns the pass to player 3 as 2 splits players 1 and 3,
with 1 moving into 2's vacated position and receiving the next pass from 3. If done correctly, every pass goes down the same channel.

In the diagrams below, the bracketed numbers are meant to show the where the players are moving to just after the pass is made.

                    (3)   1
                          o
                          |
      3                   |
                          |
            (1)           V
                          2

                          3
                          ^
             (2)          |
                          |
      1                   |
                          |
                          o
                   (1)    2

        The same setup can be arranged with 4 players in a diamond shape. Which ever two players the passer decides to split, the player not receiving the ball will move into the passer's vacated position.

       The exercise can be varied by restricting the number of touches, the type of pass, or the type of reception. 

Exercise of the Day - 1v1 + Target Player

Basic setup: 
Player D who is near a goal post plays a long ball (40 yards?) out to the waiting attacker A. D closes down immediately trying to stop A from scoring on goal. Players exchange positions.

After a few rotations, a target player (T) is added 20 yards in front of goal. A is to first time (when possible) the reception to T. A is then to make a run forward as T lays the ball off to A who goes 1v1 with D.

There are a couple secondary options for D, depending on how the exercise goes. First, D could still close down, but cannot touch or tackle the ball until A receives the layoff pass. D could also move to be in line with T, closing down A on the lay off. Another option is to make T an active attacker after the layoff to A, generating a 2v1 situation.

The exercise can progress to a second defender on T that is passive until the layoff. Another deep attacker can be added that give T another layoff option. More defenders and attackers can be added.

Some coaching points for T would be when to show for the ball, where to show for the ball and when not to show for the ball (locking down the defender). The pass to A and the defensive pressure will be the main keys for T to make these decisions. Initially, keep the restrictions tight to allow for success on the first two passes.

Note, the same exercises can be used with a defensive focus as well. The restrictions may be a little different.

Exercise of the Day - Drop and Penetrate

Objective:
Train players after receiving a drop pass to make the next pass to a (target) player in a more advanced position.

Age: Above U14

Setup:
Half of field, large goal and GK; target player positioned on or near 18 with pressuring defender; two backs at or about the halfway with a central midfielder 15 yards upfield with pressuring defender.

Procedure:
One of the backs (B1) plays into the checking midfielder (M) who drops it to the other back (B2). The forward target player (F) checks back
(or pins down the defender) for B2 to play into him. On the initial pass, B1 has followed his pass with a run forward. One option would be for F to lay
the ball off to B1 running on; F spins away as B1 and F create a 2v1 situation on goal.

Situation:
On the first pass, the ball goes forward one level to midfielder. The ball is then dropped into negative space one level. The penetrating pass
forward is deep and penetrating set up by the up and back play of B1 and M. The general rule is when the ball is dropped, look to make the next pass long and penetrating into the defense.

Run Options:
F turns on his defender for a shot. M's defender picks up B1's run so M spins off his drop and provides F with a drop as M looks for a penetrating pass to B1 or a spinning F. Add a second forward with defender for checking, diagonal run or drop back support options. Add wings for layoff from F and cross to runs by F, B1 and M. Add multiple midfielders and backs for up and back passing until the target player is available.

Target Player Options:
Set up an "offside" line 25 yards off the goal. The defender(s) must be towards the halfway of this line (as if in a flat back or compressed defense). The target player(s) can play off the defender(s) (out of their vision) in an offside position, moving back onside prior to the ball being played forward. The target players should work both pinning down the defender to receive the ball and checking back on a freeing run.

Match Conditioned:
Play 5v5, 60x50 one large goal and GK, two small goals at the opposite end line. Team A attacks large goal play 3-2; Team B plays 3-1-1 with the forward player being the target player who plays near the end line. Team A man marks the target player and midfielder. When team B gains possession, they look to play to midfielder who drops it with a pass forward to target player who will look to lay off to an attacking run on one of the two goals. No offside on the two goal end.

Match Related:
Full team scrimmage; players are given a shape and positions; purpose is to look for penetrating passes after the drop.

The drop and penetration pass is a great way to attack centrally. Several drop and penetrate sequences may be gone through as the ball is walked up the field. As the ball gets closer to the goal, the passing distance of both the drop and the penetrating pass gets shorter.

Later!
Gary Rue
garyrue@bellsouth.net

Exercise of the Day - 2v1+1v1+2v1

This exercise is just one of many 5v3 variations. I would recommend it for
over U14. The primary focus is to train how to play the ball forward two
levels and back one.


Setup:

30x12, with three 10x12 grids using flat cones (may be adjusted as needed). Add a 10 yard end-zone area for the "attackers" to run down through balls. Play 2v1 in the back third, 1v1 in the middle third, and 2v1 in the attacking third. Defenders are asked to play goal-side (this turns out to be hard for them to do). You may want to ask the defenders in the midfield and attacking third to stay on their back grid line until a ball is played forward to one of their marks.


Procedure:

Ball starts in the back. The series we are looking for is for a back to play a ball to the midfielder who drops to the other back. Now if possible, the back looks to play a longer ball forward to one of the attackers. Now the attacker is to drop it to the midfield (or a back that has moved up) and the next pass should be a through ball into the end-zone area for the other attacker to run onto.


Coaching Points:

Backs - look for the checking midfielder; try to play ball forward at an
angle; keep square passes to a minimum; move to proper space to receive drop from midfielder; keep looking for opportunity to play long ball forward; move forward to take drop in middle zone.

Midfielders - create as much space forward as possible for ball from backs; lock down pressuring defender to maintain space from ball; checking too close to ball cuts down on drop options; finding the right angle and channel for the drop from the forwards is difficult because the defender is now between them.

Forwards - movement off the ball, criss-cross (scissor) runs, etc. is
necessary; stretch as far forward as possible (endline); check back to ball only as much as required; lock down defender; open up and turn shoulders and hips to run onto through ball.

Later!

Gary Rue
gary.rue@bellsouth.net