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COLORADO UNITED LITTLETON SOCCER

Coach’s Guide

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Who We Are 3 2. How We Coach 4 3. How We Play 5 4. The Player 11 5. How We Support 15

THE FOUNDATIONS OF

“DEVELOPING PLAYERS FOR LIFE”

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WHO WE ARE

PHILOSOPHY

We seek to “develop players for life.” We strive to continually be stewards of the game while preparing players for challenges outside of soccer as well.

CORE VALUES

Community - To serve the soccer needs of the Littleton area while encouraging players to have a positive impact on their community.

Respect - To show the highest regard for the game, opponents, parents, coaches,

and officials. Passion - To create a lifelong love for the game.

Development - To prepare our players for challenges on and off the field.

Excellence - To strive to be the best and compete at the highest level in every

challenge we face.

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HOW WE COACH

Coaches Inspiring players, teaching skills of the game, and sharing our soccer experience.

Our club philosophy is based around a desire to create complete players. This is an extensive program that includes age specific training, preparation for soccer at the next level, developing individual and team soccer skills, teaching our club’s style of play, and igniting a passion for the game to last a lifetime.

Our training program and philosophy are of the highest caliber, and we aim to ensure every coach is providing excellent age-specific

development. Coaches create the environment for the entire team. We strive to find the best coaches that will inspire, provide leadership, exemplify excellence, and share their knowledge and passion for the game. We expect all Colorado United and Littleton Soccer Club coaches to possess:

• A passion for the game • Knowledge of the game • Patience in the development of players • Commitment to the players and the club’s style of play • Motivation to improve • A desire to teach all the aspects of the game and important life skills • The ability to communicate and connect with players and parents

Content

Training is organized to achieve the club style of play. Our training program includes: • Technical and tactical sessions • Attacking and defending sessions • Position specific training sessions

Methodology

Colorado United and Littleton Soccer Club encourage our coaches to use a balance of coaching tactics to develop our players.

Different styles of coaching help each player learn in various ways. We employ both the ‘guided discovery’ and ‘direct’ coaching methods. Guided discovery encourages players to develop their creativity and decision-making skills, while direct coaching allows players and teams to gain further knowledge of the game quickly.

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HOW WE PLAY

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Technical Qualities • Ball control & quality first touch • Confidence on the ball • Ability to strike the ball • Excellence in 1v1 situations • Passing & receiving skills

Tactical Understanding • Speed of play • Ability to read the game • Intelligent decision making • Discipline on both sides of the ball

Psychological Qualities • Positive attitude • Mental strength & perseverance • Commitment & leadership • Desire compete • Confidence & composure • Accountability for your actions • Sportsmanship

Physical Qualities • Speed & agility • Balance & coordination • Strength & power • Health & wellness

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HOW WE PLAY

At CU/LSC players learn our style of play through the natural and creative principles already present within the game of soccer. There are three basic stages of the game: attacking, transition, and defending. We have a distinct style in each stage of the game.

Attacking When we are attacking, we want to maintain possession while moving the ball forward to create goalscoring opportunities.

Attacking Tactics • Build the attack - advance the ball by passing, dribbling, or shooting • Provide width and depth - create space to attack • Create numbers up - provide support near the ball to keep possession

and break lines of defense • Encourage movement - create a dynamic game with constant motion • Utilize critical thinking - be creative and make good decisions

Transition to Attack When we win the ball, evaluate the situation to see if we can counterattack quickly to create a goal-scoring opportunity. If it is not possible, maintain possession and build the attack to score.

Transition to Defense

If we lose the ball, it is important that we pressure quickly to win the ball back.

Defending When we are defending, we limit our opponent’s options by denying them time and space. By applying the principles of pressure, cover, balance we take away the opponent’s attacking opportunities.

Defensive Tactics • Apply pressure – force your opponent into negative situations • Provide cover - support the pressuring defender • Provide balance – ensure space away from the ball is protected • Remain compact – limit the space the opponent can play through

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HOW WE PLAY (2)

Age group objectives and team shape

Developing the complete LSC/CU soccer player is a long-term process. In the same way that the game has stages that build on each other, there are also phases of player development. These five phases begin with our youngest players at U5 and continue through our oldest players at U19.

Objectives

Phase I (U5 – U7) - 3 v 3 / 4 v 4 (add keeper at U7) • Fun • Introduction to soccer • Develop basic balance, coordination, and gross motor skills • Foster an excitement for the game

Phase II (U8 – U10) – 5 v 5 / 7 v 7

• Fun • Encourage healthy competition • Technical development • Build confidence and creativity on the ball • Introduce basic attacking and defending concepts (1 v 1, 2 v 2, 3 v 3)

Phase V (U15 – U19) – 11 v 11 • Fun • Focus primarily on style of play and team tactics • Emphasize high-level training habits • Learn to manage games for results • Reiterate team shape and player roles within the team

Phase III (U11 – U12) – 9 v 9 • Fun • Provide an increasingly competitive environment • Continued technical development under increased pressure • Implementation of technique • Allow opportunity for decision making • Continued attacking and defending concepts (increased numbers) • Introduction to team shape, player roles, and basic style of play • Emphasize the importance of quality training habits

Phase IV (U13 – U14) – 11 v 11

• Fun • Technical mastery under pressure • Improving team building, development, and player relationships • Continue to refine team style of play • Emphasize high-level training habits • Understand and develop team tactics • Continued focus on the importance of quality training habits

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Age group team shape

Team shape at each level is important to complement the age group objectives. Each system of play is meant to reinforce the objectives being taught while also allowing each successive objective and shape to build on the previous one.

Phase I (U5 – U7) - 3 v 3 / 4 v 4 (add keeper at U7)

Basic diamond shape promotes width and depth. It also encourages 1v1 play.

Phase II (U8 – U10) – 5 v 5 / 7 v 7

HOW WE PLAY (3)

3v3 (2-1) 4v4 (1-2-1)

5v5 (GK-1-2-1)

5v5 (GK-2-2)

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Phase II (U8 – U10) – 5 v 5 / 7 v 7 Continued

Phase III (U11 – U12) – 9 v 9

Encourages playing out of the back and involving the goalkeeper Repetition of transition with wide players offensively and defensively Emphasizes the importance of possession through all thirds of the field

7v7 (2-3-1)

HOW WE PLAY (4)

7v7 (3-2-1)

9v9 (2-5-1)

9v9 (3-4-1)

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Phase IV (U13 – U14) – 11 v 11 and Phase V (U15 – U19) – 11 v 11

Possession-oriented shape Defensive high pressure Attacking with numbers Encourages outside backs to get up

Midfield-oriented shape More numbers behind the ball Encourages wings to play in the midfield and to get up into the attack

HOW WE PLAY (5)

11v11 (4-3-3)

11v11 (4-5-1)

HOW WE PLAY (5)

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THE PLAYER

Goalkeeper #1

Defending • Stop shots • Provide good angles and distances to protect goal • Effective communicator and organizes from the back • Comfortable playing the ball with hands and feet • Aggressive and courageous

Attacking • Value possession and distribute well with hands and

feet • Provide good angles for defenders to support

possession • Continue communication with the team in attack

Qualities • Shot stopping techniques • Technically efficient with feet • Beneficial distribution with both hands and feet • Communication and organization

Central Defenders #4, #5

Defending • Mark and contain forwards • Organize, communicate, and direct the team’s

defensive structure • Support and cover other defenders as necessary • Use the correct defensive body position • See both the ball and the opponent at all times • Anticipate and block opponent passes and shots

Attacking • Provide a distribution outlet for the goalkeeper • Offer depth and support to help maintain possession • Break the opponent’s first line of pressure with a pass

or a dribble Qualities • Contain or win possession in 1v1 situations • Read the game, mark opponents, and track players • Ability to win the ball in the air • Technically proficient at passing and receiving • Possess leadership and communication skills • Be physically strong and aggressive

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THE PLAYER (2)

Outside Defenders #2, #3

Defending • Support the central defenders when the ball is on the

other side of the field • Pressure the ball to prevent crosses • Organize and direct defenders, especially when ball is

on the opposite side • Direct and assist the wing players (#7, #11) in their

defensive roles • Adjust body position to see ball and opponent Attacking • Provide a wide passing outlet for the team • Support teammates to create numbers-up situations • Deliver crosses from wide positions Qualities • Be an expert at 1v1 defending • Be athletically strong and aggressive • Recognize when to support attack or hold defensively • Technically efficient at dribbling, passing, and receiving • Ability to win the ball in the air • Great at combination play

Holding Midfielder #6

Defending

• Own the space in front of the central defenders • Anticipate and block passes • Prevent opponent’s shots from the midfield • Mark the opposing team’s attacking midfielder Attacking • Connect with other midfielders to break through

opponent’s lines • Help to change the point of attack by switching the

ball to the other side • Provide support to the other midfielders • Help build out of the back • Hold position when our defenders attack Qualities • Technically proficient at receiving and passing • Vision of the entire field • Intelligent decision making and understanding of the game • Ball control

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THE PLAYER (3)

Attacking Midfielders #8, #10

Defending • Support forward players when defending • Direct opponent attacks through midfield areas by

marking, pressing, intercepting and challenging the ball • Prevent forward passes by the opponent

Attacking • Keep possession and provide penetrating passes for

players moving into goal scoring positions • Break down opponent’s midfield by showing for and

receiving through passes • Move into goal scoring positions as frequently as

possible • Provide options for the defensive players to pass out

of the back • Support forward players and take smart shots from

the midfield Qualities • Great vision of the entire field • High level of soccer intelligence and game awareness • Quality ball control • Protects the ball when receiving passes • Technically proficient in receiving and passing skills • Outstanding long-range shooting technique • Ability to finish shots and crosses

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THE PLAYER (4)

Wing Players #7, #11

Defending • Recover as a first line of defense in wide areas • Assist other defenders in wide positions as needed • Move to a cover position when the ball is on the

opposite flank • Mark, track, press, and cover when appropriate

Attacking • Provide passing outlets in wide positions and options

to switch the play • Deliver accurate crosses from wide positions • Move into goal scoring positions when not in

possession of the ball • Ability to dribble and beat defenders 1v1

Qualities • Efficient and varied receiving skills (ground/aerial

control) • Effective passing skills including one touch • Deceptive body movement skills with and without the ball • Excellent dribbling and 1v1 attacking skills • Superior crosses with both feet using one touch when necessary • Understand the need for and how to create width • Scoring and finishing skills from shots and out of the air

Striker #9

Defending • Make play predictable by pressing and pushing

opponents to one side • Prevent the opponent from switching the point of

attack through their defense and goalie • Delay and contain the opponent’s build-up play

Attacking • Excellent ability to score goals • Creative movement into goal scoring positions • Provide goal scoring opportunities for teammates

through support and accurate distribution skills • Exploit the spaces behind the defenders • Receive the ball to feet as the primary target player

Qualities • Ability to dribble and beat defenders 1v1 • Find and receive the ball and hold the ball under pressure • Ability to play both with back to the goal and facing the goal • Shooting and finishing abilities with both feet and out of the air • Creativity on and off the ball to break down opposing defenders

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*Special thanks to Erik Sabato for providing some of the photographs used in this document.

Supporting Our Players • Age-specific curriculum • Formal player evaluations • Preseason team camps • Offseason speed and agility training • Access to Player Pathway • Video analysis of technique • On-site physical therapy services • College fit finder support (URCAP)

Supporting Our Parents

• Access to Teamsnap (communication platform) • Social media platform communication • Informative website and resources • Full-time administrative staff • College fit finder support (URCAP) • Formal player evaluations • Team and parent meeting each season

Supporting Our Coaches

• Year-round coaching education program • Annual coach education symposium • Club-provided curriculum • Coaching clinics with club staff • Support from Directors of Coaching • Club help to advance on the license pathway • Access to Teamsnap (communication platform)

Supporting Our Community

• Special needs soccer program (Fall and Spring 6-week programs) • Financial support available • School outreach program for Title 1 schools • Volunteer opportunities • Partnership with Children’s Hospital • Equipment donations to local communities

HOW WE SUPPORT