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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.

Exercise of the Day - Tire Dribbling

    While watching an interview of a (pointy) football coach on a sports channel, I saw an exercise in the background that I thought I could adapt to the rounder ball.

• Setup: several (4?) old automobile tires; two players per tire, one across from the other about 4 yards separated; each group with a tire is about 5 yards separated in a row. The other players are with a ball at the head of this tire gauntlet.
  
           D*
           D*
           D*
           D*
  
  
  XO             X
  
  
  X             OX
  
  
  XO             X
  
  
  X              OX
  
  
• Procedure: as the dribbler goes forward, the player with a tire rolls the tire across to his partner. The dribbler is to cut back against the direction of the tire. In some cases, I let the player try to beat the tire; causing the players to push the ball through and leap the tire. The exercise works best if the dribbler heads towards the player opposite the tire or towards the middle.
  
• Coaching Points: The chop dribble or the sole of the foot pull back are the most often used evasive moves. Watch for the ball being pushed to far out in front. Have the players move as quick as possible and ask them to think of the tire as a defender that is closing them down with too much momentum. The distance between the tires (vertical and horizontal) can be increased or decreased based upon the success rate of your players. It was a fun and different exercise for the players.

Exercise of the Day--Passing Pattern #1

         This is the first of a couple passing patterns. These patterns do two things. First, with a definitive pattern, the players can work on their passing technique in a moving, but structured environment. Secondly, there are several concepts that the coach can reinforce in a structured environment. These patterns make good warm-up exercises, as well. Though they are a little difficult to explain in print, they really are not that difficult to set up. The patterns should be age appropriate for U12s and above. U10's may have a little problem with the structure at first.

Pattern #1- Check/Drop/Through

• Setup: in a 15 x 25 yard area there is one player at each corner and one player in the middle. A sixth player is at a corner with the ball. If there are only 5 players, then one of the corner players has the ball. Conceptually, the players 15 yards apart are considered to be supporting backs and the players 25 yards away are the forward players. The middle player is checking midfielder. When the ball changes ends, then roles are reversed.
  
• Procedure: If there are 6 players, after a pass, each player follows his pass. Player 1 (see diagram below) passes to the middle player (2), who makes an angled drop to the passer's partner (3), who plays a long through ball (25 yards) to player 4; the next pass is to the middle (now player 1) who drops to player 5 and then plays a long ball to player 6(who moved into the position vacated by player 1, who plays to player that has moved into the middle, etc.

• If there are only 5 players, the least confusing way to exchange positions is just have the players exchange whenever there is a pass into the middle. For instance, 1 and 2 would switch after 2 receives from 1 and plays to 3; then 1 and 4 would switch after 1 received from 4and played to 5. Switch directions after a few rounds.
  
• Coaching Points: The coach can stress two-touch or one-touch, working the technique required for each. Reinforce the concept of playing the ball in the direction you are facing when you receive it. Reinforce the long penetrating through ball after a couple of short passes. The middle player can delay his "check run" towards the ball, timing it with the long pass. Each player can "demand" the ball before the prior player receives it. Players checking to the middle should pause at the moment of the pass. If they are running as the pass is made, they may not be able to react laterally to a pass not to their feet.

Exercise of the Day - Passing Pattern #2

• The second pattern is a one-touch exercise.
  
• Pattern #2--One Touch In and Out
  
• Setup: with 4 or above players (5-6 is optimal), circle one player in the middle. The circle size should be at least 15-20 yards in diameter.
  
• Procedure: Every player follows his pass. All passes from the outside go to the middle. One-touch is stressed.
  
• Coaching Points: The players on the outside may have to adjust their positions to be able to receive the next pass. The player in the middle will have to adjust his position to be able to one touch to another player. Variation: Instead of one-touching, the players can be asked to make quick turns and play to the opposite side. The middle player may be asked to dummy the ball (pretend to play it, but let it go by).

Exercise of the Day - Passing Pattern #3

 
       The third passing pattern has a wall pass variation. This pattern may be a little complex for below U12.

• Setup: There are 5 players in a 15x25 yard grid, one player at each corner and one in the middle.
  
• Procedure: Player 1 plays to the middle player (2) , who wall passes back to 1 as he runs towards the position 3. Player 3 has moved towards the center as soon as he sees 1 coming into his space. Player 2 goes to the corner that 1 started in. Player 1 plays a square pass to player 4 who starts dribbling and wall passes with player 3 (now in the middle). Player 5 moves into the middle as player 4 moves towards his position and Player 3 takes over Player 4's old spot. Player 5 lays off a square ball to Player 2, who start the sequence over again with a wall pass to Player 5.
  
  ~ dribbling
  - pass
  .. player run with out ball
  () player position after sequence
  
  

• Coaching Points: Watch the wall pass execution, the initial pass should be to the back foot of the wall man. The return pass should hit the man in stride. The coach may want the initial pass made with the front foot, foot closest to the wall man. The ball should be played by turning the foot inward, the area of the foot just above the little toes and just wide of the laces.
  
• Variation: Instead of moving the corner player to the middle as the wall pass is being made, have the player run towards the dribbler as a passive defender. The dribbler must time his pass and explode around the defender for the return wall pass. The "defender" moves into the center and "shows" for the next wall pass series. In the example above, 3 would move up the line as 1 is dribbling towards him. On the next wall pass series between 4 and 3, 5 would become the defender, before moving into the middle.

Exercise of the Day - Three Team Scramble

        This warm-up helps to stimulate vision, ball control in traffic, double-teaming, communication and decision making. It may be used for players U12 and older, though it may need some modification (fewer balls?) for ages below U16.  Divide the team into equal numbered groups or as close as you can get them. For instance, if a team is 17 players, then set up as 5v6v6. Play in an 40 x 60 area (e.g., 18 to halfway and touch to touch) or adjust to group sizes. We used 3 balls. Two balls may suffice with a smaller group containing 4 or less players. Consider four balls if the groups are 8v8v8. The object is to maintain possession of as many balls as possible within your group. The players must decide which teammate they will support on the pass or which ball they will try to tackle or intercept. When they are going to receive or gain control of a ball, they may need to call to a player that is not looking to support them.

        As another option, allow the GK(s) to play with their hands (put them on separate teams), either in ground pick-ups or in taking the ball off a dribbler's foot (be sure they have done some warm-up diving beforehand).  Have the GK's teammates try to send some chips to the GK for taking out of the air or to a teammate to head to their GK. During some period of play the GKs should be restricted to playing with their feet.  Balls out of play can be restarted by dribbling in, pass ins, throw-ins or chips to other side of the area. Be sure that the players communicate when an air ball is coming, else there may be a few unintentional headers.

"Apparent disorder is a product of control."
Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Exercise of the Day - Drop & Shoot

Here's a base exercise that can be built upon. This also could be a nice pre-game shooting exercise.

• Setup:
  Divide the team into 4 groups, 2 groups with ball near each post, the other two groups out 40 yards and about even with the posts.
  
    C        D
            /
           /
          /
         /
        /
       /
        ____
    A |xxxx| B
  
  
• Procedure:
  Player A at the right post, plays a long angled ball out to player D; A follows his pass (effectively checking to the ball) and receives a return pass from D. A drops the ball to D who shoots (one-touch or two-touch). D should be moving into a shooting position after his pass to A. A and D switch and the same procedure is performed between B and C. After A drops, A should spin away from the pass and turn towards goal.
  
• Variations:
• After B plays to the checking A, he overlaps towards the middle to receive and shoot.
• On the return pass from B, A drops to C who shoots (A and C switch).
• On the return pass from B, A drops to C who has overlapped A towards the middle.
• A drops to B who plays a through ball to A, who has spun towards goal.
• A drops to C who plays a through ball to A, who has spun towards goal.
  
  <competition>
• A defends after the drop to either C or D
• A defends C and D after the drop (only the player that receives the drop can shoot); A and the shooter switch
• A and B defend C and D after the drop.
• A and B defend C and D after the initial play out from A.
  
• Coaching Points: Shooting technique from long rang and off a drop; the check runs of A; the off ball runs of B (and C); the redirected drop of a forward pass to a player with his back to goal; the spin away from the ball of the forward player; the defensive reaction after the drop pass (pretend it is a loss of possession off a bad reception).
  

When Gary originally posted the Drop and Shoot exercise several
good responses were added by other coaches.  John Crouch of
"KickSmart" kicksmart@webzone.net posted this excellent reply.
John was nice enough to allow us to post it here.

      Hope you don't mind me hopping in on some already Good sequences.

     One I really like and use a lot for shooting repetition is from a similar setup. You'll see this passing sequence on AJAX tapes and other European training tapes:

• All one-touch if possible -
  A pass to B and follow (position a).
  B drop pass back in following path of A.
  A diagonals to C from position (a).
  C drop pass in following path of B (position b).
  B diagonals out in front of C for shot on goal.
  
• Teach shooters (C) to leave the ball for B and drift sideways (toward position x) to provide a better angle on the through ball and better technique on the shot. It's a good way to demo "staying onside until the ball is played" as well.
  
• Each player simply takes up the position they were following towards. Shooter (C) gets back in line.  E steps up to start the next sequence.
  
• With KWIK GOAL have exercise happening on BOTH sides at same time for greater repetitions.
  
• Can have B chip final ball in to make final shot tougher as variation.

Practice Tip To Reduce Lines

        If you have to run one of the dreaded line exercises, like a shooting drill, have the player do something on the way back after he gathers his shot. For instance, have him play a long ball back to the group, then do side hops over a line; or shuffle between some cones; or dribble the ball back through a shalom course.
        Another thought would be to have the shooter retrieve his shot, pass out to a previous shooter who has sprinted out wide, who receives and dribbles or passes back to the group. The first passer then runs out wide (a C run of course) for the next player/shooter to pass to.  If several players are waiting to shoot, then have them do one touch passing (or heading), until it's their turn to shoot.
        Keep their feet busy and you'll be a happy coach.

Goalkeeper - How to Deal with Attackers That Hold

      One of the ways an attacker can curtail a GK while in traffic is to over-hook the GK's arm. Sometimes this is intentional, sometimes not. Regardless, the GK should be trained to get the elbows up above the attacker's elbows. If an attacker over-hooks the GK now, it should be obvious to the referee.
      One of the physical things I ask my GKs to do is to try to get their armpit above the attackers shoulder. This helps gets the elbows and hands up.   I teach my players how to accept "unsporting" behavior as a fact of life and how to overcome it. I don't accept unsporting behavior by my players, but quite possibly, my definition may be totally different from everyone else.  Some "bad" things are just accepted by all players and others are defined during the course of a game with the referee.  It's all part of finding the limits of the game.