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Coach's Corner
I received a question from a coach today that raises an issue that I would like to address: "Will there be a requirement that you must play two fullbacks who always stay back?"
The answer to that question is that there is no such rule at any age group. Beyond that, I would prefer to see all of the teams, regardless of the age group, teaching their full backs to play at least half the field. In other words, when the ball is in front of the other team's goal, your fullbacks should be taught to be at the midfield line. They should be moving with the midfield and forwards as they advance. By keeping all of your field players compressed like this, you permit all of them to be involved in the play. An advanced fullback is able to receive drop passes and reverse the field, can make overlapping runs if they become available, and is in a position to make shorter, controlled possession passes when they receive the ball. In short, they are learning the short, possession passing game that we are trying to teach to all of the players. In contrast, fullbacks who become "goalie helpers" are usually just being taught to clear the ball when it comes near the goal. They are not learning to possess the ball, to make simple passes or to make runs with the ball. Their skills are not being developed.
In addition to developing their technical skills, you are also gaining a tactical advantage. A team with pushed up fullbacks often controls the field and possesses the ball the great majority of the time when playing a team that does not. Because your fullbacks are pushed up, they are in a position to receive cleared balls and pass them back up to your midfielders without the ball leaving the other team's half of the field. There are some tactical drawbacks/considerations to this style: (1) all of your players, especially your fullbacks, will have to become skilled at controlling the ball on the first touch so as to limit run out opportunities; (2) you cannot play slower, less athletic players at fullback; and (3) your goalie will occassionally be challenged with a striker coming at full speed. However, you will be developing your kids with the skills they need as they move on with soccer.
Please see the enclosed drill from www.finesoccer.com. You can sign up for their newsletters at that site. They send out drills every week. This one looks particularly good and would be easy to adapt by each group. I would recommend putting fewer players in smaller grids to begin and then maybe combining the grids as they progress in the drill. Might end in a "5 Pass" drill to end the session as your match related activity (5 pass (or 3 pass) is when you break your team into 2 or more groups, place them in grids, and they score by making 5 consecutive passes among their group without the other team obtaining possession. It puts an emphasis on passing and movement instead of playing vertically towards the goal)
DRILL: USE OF FULLBACKS
Start with 6-8 players in a 30 x 30 grid (the numbers of players and size of the grid can vary depending upon what is available etc) with one ball per group.
The player with the ball passes to any of the other players in the grid and then sprints 5 yards. Once the 5 yard sprint is done, the player then jogs (all other players are jogging while looking for the next pass).
Once the players get accustomed to this, add a second ball.
Next we add a change of direction to the activity. Now the rule is, when a player receives a pass, they must take their first two touches to take the ball in a different direction before passing the ball.
By adding the restriction the player must turn before making their next turn, it adds more movement and touches of the ball. Again, once the players get accustomed to this activity, add a second ball.
Next you can add the requirement of a move after receiving the pass, or require a juggle and then a roof of the ball before the next pass.
Adding these requirements works on different skills and also keeps the activity fresh for the players.
DRILL: INTERESTING DRILLS FOR OLDER KIDS
U13 TO U14: SMALL SIDED FOUR ZONE TRANSITION GAME
1. We have essentially four - thirds to play in. The players can only play in three of the four thirds at any one time.
2. This ensures movement up and down the field of the teams in possession.
3. Players cannot enter zone 4 until the ball enters it.
TRANSITIONS BETWEEN THIRDS
1. Now we are transitioning between thirds and as a defender changes the balance in midfield from a 2 v 2 into a 3 v 2, a midfielder then moves into zone 4 to change the balance from a 2 v 3 into a 3 v 3.
2. (7) clears the space for (2) to bring the ball forward. (4) and (3) cover across behind the field to support and be in a good position to cover should the move break down. This is clearing the space in front of the ball and filling in behind the ball. If you are VERY ATTACK MINDED then you may have (3) breaking wide instead if inside to offer more attacking support.
3. (6) and (8) make runs into zone 4 to be another target for (2) to pass to. If the player can’t go forward and has to play it back ensure the players behind the ball get in positions where they are free to receive it and able to support the player on the ball.
OVERLAP PLAY
1. Here a full back makes an overlap run to provide an option for (7) to pass to.
2. This is a particular movement that can be practiced and developed in this set up as the run is difficult for the opposition to identify and counter.
3. The overlap can occur also from zone 2 to 3 and 3 to 4 and 2 to 4.
4. Wide defenders need to be constantly encouraged to get into good wide receiving positions to take the ball forward into attacking areas of the field.
5. Everyone moves up a zone to support the attack.
INTRODUCING OFFSIDE
1. Develop
Have offside from the end zone of the field. (4) Passes the ball forward and (2), (3) and (4) move up leaving strikers (F) and (G) offside.
2. The keeper moves up also to act as a sweeper – keeper.
3. This is now bringing more realism into the game.
4. The opposition strikers have their work cut out now and have to get back onside into zone 2.
SWITCHING THE POINT OF ATTACK
1. Player (2) passes the ball into the zone 3 to (5), (3) moves up from the defensive zone 1 to the middle two zones to support. This type of transition movement is important because it allows players to move freely between the zones knowing they will have a team mate covering for them.
2. In terms of the opposition this rapid movement and transition makes it difficult for them to pick players up, to read what your team is doing.
3. Usually (D) would be marking (6) (who can cover) but now has to think about marking (3). This means defenders aren’t just defenders, midfielders aren’t just midfielders and attackers aren’t just attackers they work to help each other through the three units of the team and are free to mix the game up. This is total soccer played to encourage the free movement of players throughout the teams.
U13 TO U14: 1 v 1 ATTACKING CONFRONTATIONS
1. This set up creates lots of opportunities of 1 v 1 confrontations with different players against each other. Begin with players passing and defending passively so the player on the ball dribbles past the defender successfully.
2. Each numbered player has a ball and they can pass to any lettered player. They call their name, pass the ball and close them down quickly and the lettered player has to beat them and score a goal by stopping the ball anywhere along the line where the numbered players begin. If the numbered player wins back the ball they score by stopping the ball on the lettered player’s line. This is a big area to be able to score on which improves the chances of success. Have at least three 1 v 1 ‘s going at any one time, players dictate when and where they do this depending on how many others are live in their 1 v 1’s. Players need to be aware of the positions of the other 1 v 1 confrontations so they do not clash with them. Ensure all players have the opportunity to be the attacking player in the 1 v 1.
3. Competitive: Each player counts the number of goals they score, use this on an individual and team basis so there is a winning team and ultimately a winning player.
Now go across the field with a shorter scoring line to attack so it is a more difficult task to score and the area is more congested to play in.
A GAME SITUATION FOR 1 v 1’S
Divide the teams up into two 3 v 3 games with teams attacking the long side lines to score a goal. Play with one ball then two balls so there is some 1 v 1’s and also some support play. Then they attack the short sides as targets making it a little harder to succeed.
DRIBBLING 1 v 1’s / 2 v 1’s and 2 v 2’s
1. Two goals for each team to attack, players have to attack 1 v 1 to score. As soon as the attack is over, the attacker becomes the defender and the other team attacks.
2. If a defender wins the ball they can attack and score but they must defend again. To score the player must be over the shooting line (5 yards out).
3. Develop – 2 v 1 situation, the attacker who doesn’t finish the move becomes the new defender. The new defender must position outside the shooting zone .
4. New attackers must begin with a pass and overlap.
5. Develop – 2 v 2 situation, The team who take a shot become the defenders. Same rules as above. If the ball goes out of bounds a new team starts.
U13 TO U14: 1 v 1 DEFENDING CONFRONTATIONS
1. This set up creates lots of opportunities of 1 v 1 confrontations with different players against each other.
2. Each numbered player has a ball and they can pass to any lettered player. They call their name, pass the ball and close them down quickly and the numbered player then has to win back the ball and try to score a goal by stopping the ball anywhere along the line where the lettered players begin.
3. Have at least three 1 v 1 ‘s going at any one time, players dictate when and where they do this depending on how many others are live in their 1 v 1’s. Players need to be aware of the positions of the other 1 v 1 confrontations so they do not clash with them. Ensure all players have the opportunity to be the DEFENDING player in the 1 v 1. Defenders need to close down the space for the attacking player and force them into tight areas.
4. Competitive: Each player counts the number of times they win the ball through good defending, use this on an individual and team basis so there is a winning team and ultimately a winning player.
A GAME SITUATION FOR 1 v 1 DEFENDING
Divide the teams up into two 3 v 3 games with teams attacking the short side lines to score a goal. Play with one ball then two balls so there is some 1 v 1’s and also some support play. Then they attack the long sides as targets making it a little harder to defend successfully.
DEFENDING IN 1 v 1’s, 2 v 1’s AND 2 v 2’s
1. Two goals for each team to attack, players have to attack 1 v 1 to score. Defenders have to stop them and try to score themselves As soon as the attack is over; the attacker becomes the defender and the other team attacks.
2. If a defender wins the ball they can attack and score but they must defend again. To score the player must be over the shooting line (5 yards out).
3. Develop – 2 v 1 situation, the attacker who doesn’t finish the move becomes the new defender. The new defender must position outside the shooting zone. New attackers must begin with a pass and overlap to make it more difficult for the defenders.
4. Develop – 2 v 2 situation, The team who take a shot become the defenders. The same rules as above. If the ball goes out of bounds a new team starts.
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