June 22, 2016 Issue 478Price £2.99 / $4.50 Available by subscription

Proven, Easy to Use Soccer Drills

PLAYING OUT> SWIFT AND DEADLY> FROM THE BACK

GOT A COACHING PROBLEM? LET DAVID CLARKE SOLVE IT FOR YOU

FOCUS & RELAX • FOCUS ON IMPROVING • STICK TO YOUR PRINCIPLES

< KEVIN DE BRUYNE BELGIUM

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC SWEDEN

WIN BIG GAMESDEALING WITH PROMOTION & RELEGATION

FIVE MINUTE WORKSHOP> SPEED AND POWER> STRENGTH AND AGILITY

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I’m not going to say that coaching successful teams is magic – it takes a lot of hard work and

time to coach a team and to train a group to play matches every week throughout the season. What I hope to do is make things a bit easier by providing coaching sessions to help you develop your players.

I’m often asked what age groups Soccer Coach Weekly covers and working from the bottom it starts at Under 7s but what is the top end? Where does the coaching point become too easy for the players?

I was contacted last summer by an adult team, Burpham FC who had just finished bottom of of the GWAFL Division 1 with just 1 win and 11 goals in 18 league games! HELP! They cried…

New first team managers Scott Kemp and Suj Khera, both Uefa B licensed coaches wrote: “David, we love coaching and developing players and believe with your help and using Soccer Coach Weekly coaching methods and drills that we can turn the fortunes of our local club around!

Adding: “Would you support us and

June 22, 2016 Issue 478Price £2.99 / $4.50 Available by subscription

Proven, Easy to Use Soccer Drills

PLAYING OUT> SWIFT AND DEADLY> FROM THE BACK

GOT A COACHING PROBLEM? LET DAVID CLARKE SOLVE IT FOR YOU

FOCUS & RELAX • FOCUS ON IMPROVING • STICK TO YOUR PRINCIPLES

< KEVIN DE BRUYNE BELGIUM

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC SWEDEN

WIN BIG GAMESDEALING WITH PROMOTION & RELEGATION

FIVE MINUTE WORKSHOP> SPEED AND POWER> STRENGTH AND AGILITY

Printer Friendly Pages

Issue 47822 June 2016

SoccerCoachWeekly.net� Issue�478 2

To subscribe to Soccer Coach Weekly call Duncan Heard on +44 (0)1483 892894 or subscribe online here

Head CoachDavid Clarke david.clarke@coach-soccer.com

ContributorsMichael BealeKeith BoanasSteve WatsonIan BarkerJason Sisneros

Illustrations Mike Ronald

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ProductionGreen Star Media Ltd.

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Managing DirectorAndrew Griffiths

Soccer Coach Weekly is published by Green Star Media Ltd, Meadow View, Tannery Lane, Bramley, Guildford GU5 0AB, UK.(c) Green Star Media Ltd. All rights reserved.

Click here to read the full disclaimer.

put the faith you have in your product to the test?”

The rest is history. Burpham were re-elected to Division One and on April 2 promotion was sealed when they scored 3 goals in the final 6 minutes to win 3-1 away at Swinley Forest FC. which confirmed Burpham as GWAFL Division 1 runners up.

Incredible results indeed, in just one season. Burpham amassed 33 points, 10 wins scoring 42 goals with a +8 goal difference. Compared to 4pts, 1 win, 11 goals and a -41 goal difference the season before. 

Scott said: “special thanks must go to David Clarke and Soccer Coach Weekly for providing us with endless advice and coaching sessions from some of the best coaches around the world. It’s such an easy format to follow and the variety of drills and sessions made available to us, along with other great football information have made training easy and importantly enjoyable for the players.

“if you can create that positive environment of learning, which Soccer Coach Weekly has given Burpham then the results can be staggering!” 

Joint Manager Suj Khera said “Credit to the team for all their hard work! They bought into the philosophy and approach – it’s worked and the results show you that!”

Khera added “As a coach, you can never stop learning. Having used SCW this year and seen the results I would recommend to any coach or manager wanting to improve their own abilities and ultimately the performance of your team to subscribe now!”CLICK HERE to go to our Soccer Coach Weekly website to read the full story and see the league results

3 FOCUS AND RELAXWhen it comes to games that mean more than normal players must relax 4 PLAY THROUGH MIDFIELDPlaying out from the back in a 4v2 and a 2v2 using through balls and wingers 5 PLAY INTO ATTACKGet behind the defence to shoot quickly and accurately in the final third 6 PLAY FROM THE BACKDefenders play good balls into midfield 7 FIVE MINUTE WORKSHOPSpeed ladders and ball shielding work 8 PROMOTION OR RELEGATION?10 top tips to help your team prepare for a new league next season

9 EARTHQUAKEGet young players to be aware of the ball and other players in this fun game

10 SMALL SIDED GAMEAttacking from the wings in an overload

Soccer Coach Weekly offers Proven, easy to use soccer drills, coaching sessions, practice plans, small-sided games, warm-ups, training tips and advice. The resources are created for the grassroots youth coach following best practice from around the world and insights from the professional game.

How Our Sessions Help You Coach

In this issue...

AskDave

AskDaveGOT AN URGENT COACHING PROBLEM? LET ME SOLVE IT FOR YOU!Just email me today: askdave@ soccercoachweekly.net

3

Everyone wants to win the big game and be the player that makes the difference.

However working on a winning mindset throughout the season makes it easier for young players to approach ‘big’ games without worrying about the outcome. Getting too high after wins or too low after losses are both signs that a team needs a reminder that they should be prepared and focused on improving and getting better – not winning and losing.

Explain to your players that if they’re doing their jobs, the type of game won’t matter – whether it’s a tournament final or a game against a big rival, it shouldn’t matter. You’re still just playing soccer. If you have the right mindset going into every game, you’re in a good position to win it.

Throughout the season, players should understand that every game is as important as the next. A big win during the regular season doesn’t mean much if the same drive and focus isn’t present in the next one.

Learning how to play the game properly

and developing skills means preparing mentally and physically the same way for each coming test. It’s like school or any other activity. The work you do before the game influences the way you play.

It’s difficult to teach players this type of attitude. No one wants to lose the big game, so the psyche of a young player often shifts from playing a smart, effective game to winning and losing. Helping kids relax approaching these matches and engraining the idea that sticking to what got them to that point hammers this idea home.

Teams reach finals and other important games because they’ve played well already. They can only win that game if they understand that the qualities that got them to the final will win them the trophy.

Make sure you give players a target to reach in each half – so you want your attacking midfielder to create three chances before half time or your defender to make three tackles. This is energy for young minds and stops players losing focus.

At the end of the season or during tournaments or if you’re playing your local rivals teams often have stand-out games that mean more to the players than normal – so how should your approach them? By David Clarke

Focus and Relax Uruguay play soccer tennis in preparation for the game

THE BIG GAME

SoccerCoachWeekly.net Issue 478

MAKE OR BREAKAS YOU GO INTO ‘MAKE OR BREAK’ GAMES, GET YOUR PLAYERS TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING…

> Keep it simple: big game pressures can bring out a tendency for teams to either freeze or ‘over play’.

> Get your team to play their regular game, irrespective of the occasion, and focus on succeeding at the basics of passing, team shape and organisation.

> Show opponents respect: even when playing a team with less points, always be aware that upsets can happen, especially when a big prize is at stake. Never take your opponent lightly.

> Prepare mentally: concentration, determination, confidence and a positive mental attitude are all crucial qualities you should instil in your players prior to any vital match.

> Talk calmly in the big match build up, ensuring they are not overawed about the game coming up.

Gianluigi Buffon celebrates victory for Italy against Belgium in France

30yds

40yds

4

Player movement Ball movement Run with ball Shot

Each move is started by one of the goalkeepers

who must play it out to the defenders – here he plays into the back 4 being pressed by 2 attackers

WHY USE IT Playing out from the back has lots of problems for players to solve to keep possession – this session helps players to solve them.

SET-UPYou need balls, bibs, cones and goals. Set up an area 40 x 30 yards split into two halves. We used 16 players in the session.

HOW TO DO ITSplit your players into a team of 8 and a team of 6 plus goalkeepers. The team of 8 has 4 players in the defending zone – playing as a back four – and 2 attackers. You also need two ‘wingers’ who play outside the area on the side of the attacking half for each team, with a 4v2 in one half and a 2v2 in the other half. Players must stay in their own half and the wingers are fixed positions off the pitch playing one-touch. Play is directional and each restart with the

goalkeeper. Players must look for timing of runs and reacting to the different situations that arise during the session. The keepers are playing out into two different scenarios with one much easier than the other.

TECHNIQUEPassing and movement are key to the session. Players must be looking for opportunities to pass the ball through to their attackers.

� It should be easy for the back four to create space

and get a pass away into their attackers in the other half of the pitch

� In the other half the attacking team

has two wingers who can be used to make a 4v2 overload

�When playing from the other end, the goalkeeper

is playing into a 2v2 so play must be fast and clever to get out of the situation and create space for the pass

In the attacking zone players must be clever in

the 4v2 and use the wingers to give them a chance to get behind the defence

SoccerCoachWeekly.net� Issue�478

In�this�session�teams�are�given�different�ways�to�play�out�from�the�back�–�in�a�4v2�and�a�2v2�with�balls�to�the�wing�and�through�balls�vital�to�success�of�the�session.�By David Clarke�

Play Through Midfield

PLAYING OUT AGES 11 TO 16+

30yds

40yds30yds

40yds30yds

40yds

5

Player movement Ball movement Run with ball Shot

Play starts with the goalkeeper passing to

one of the teams. The keepers are neutral as the game is not directional

WHY USE IT The final pass is a vital one for any team playing competitive matches. If Portugal can get a good ball through to Ronaldo, chances are he will breakaway and score a goal – and that is the point of this session.

SET-UPSet up an area of 40x30 yards with four cone goals placed around the area and normal goals at each end. We used 14 players in this session. You need bibs, balls, cones and two goals.

HOW TO DO ITSplit the players into two teams of six plus keepers. To score each team must pass through one of the cone goals to a team-mate who can then shoot at goal. Teams must try to go through all four gates and are awarded one point for getting the ball through the gate plus another if they then get it in the net. Teams can only go through each gate once. The game is not directional, so players can shoot in either goal..

TECHNIQUEThis is all about the pass to release an attacker, and gets players to move into positions where they can receive the ball. Both teams must try to move the ball quickly when they win it, with switching play and accurate passing very prominent as tactics.

� Here a pass through the gates is received

by a team-mate for one point. Then he can attack the goal and gets another point for scoring

Quick thinking allows the reds to score

through the gate and then score in the goal

Here the whites have failed to cover all the

small cone goals so the red are able to attack the one nearest

Each team must keep note of which cone goals the opposition have yet

to score through and cover them to make it harder

Playing out from the back into attack can be swift and deadly – this session helps players get behind the defence and to shoot quickly and accurately. By David Clarke

Play Into Attack

PLAYING OUT

SoccerCoachWeekly.net Issue 478

AGES 9 TO 16+

6

Player movement Ball movement Run with ball Shot

An attacking player makes a pass/shot at

the goal so the goalkeeper can catch the ball

WHY USE IT This activity is ideal to help defenders and midfield players to become comfortable with their roles and their abilities to read pressure from the attacking team.

SET-UPUse a half of a field. But this exercise can be implemented with different numbers based on the age group you are coaching and in a grid/field space. Just make sure there is a big goal (of some sort) for the beginning and a purpose/direction/target for the players to work toward for a counter.

HOW TO DO ITThis is a functional activity that includes a keeper, 2 wingbacks, 2 centre-backs and a midfielder versus 4 opponents that can pressure as necessary. Start the ball with the attacking team passing to the keeper and play from there. The objective is to make a pass to the mannequin – or cone – (representing a flank midfielder) at or near the midfield line. If the opposition wins the ball, they attack the large goal.

TECHNIQUEStart with opponents pressuring the play because this pressure will dictate the decisions on how best to break the opponent down to advance the ball. If your team needs more work on some of the technical aspects (body shape, first touch, passing accuracy, etc), have the opponents play at half pace to give them more time on the ball.

� Defenders should start in a realistic

defensive position – i.e. centrally compact

Centre-backs open up by moving toward and

even beyond the corners of the 18 yard box.

Wingbacks can open up, wide and high to

create an arching shape. The midfielder can come back to present another short option as the keeper distributes

The attacking team must find a way through the pressing players to get to

the mannequin (or cone)

Keeping hold of the ball by playing out from the back helps players control passes into midfield. By Lang Wedemeyer, Head Women’s Coach, Sth Dakota State University

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

www.nscaa.comPlay From The Back

SoccerCoachWeekly.net Issue 478

PLAYING OUT AGES 11 TO 16+

1

32

This five minute fitness drill can be used during your training sessions for a quick break to help coaching points sink in, or as an incentive for a drinks break.

Speed ladders are excellent for player speed and fitness but if you haven’t got one you can mark out the rungs of the ladder with cones

HOW TO DO IT> Forward hops - 3 in 1 out> Hop forward on one leg> One hop in each square> Every 3 hops step once out of the ladder onto the other leg > Continue this sequence until ladder is complete> Ground contact on balls of feetRepeat 5 times.> Rest 60 seconds between repetitions.

> Core Body Strength

5 Minute Fitness: Speed & agility ladder

7

Players are hopping on their left leg through the rungs of the ladder

After they have come through

the ladder players sprint

back to the front

Here players hop to their right foot then go back to their left in the next rung

WORKSHOP

This is an excellent warm-up that practises good ball skills whilst getting players ‘switched on’ in terms of movement, speed and ball control. Players should get a good feel of the pace of the ball when they take the shot at goal – the ‘race’ adds pressure.

SET UPArrange the players in pairs and tell them to react to your whistle. You need balls in each part of the warm-up.

HOW TO PLAY IT> Whistle 1 – the players sprint into the first area where the first one to the ball must keep it and hold the other player off. After 15 seconds the coach whistles again...> Whistle 2 – the players leave the ball and sprint into the second area, again trying to be first to the ball and hold the other player off. After  15 seconds the coach whistles again.

5 Minute Warm-up: Strength & Power> Key elements: Speed, strength, balance, shooting

On the coach’s whistle a player from red and one from white groups sprint into the first area where the player with the ball must keep it and hold the other player off for 15 seconds

> Whistle 3 – the players react and sprint to get a first time shot at goal. The players then become servers.

The servers now jog back to the starting position. The whistles work on a conveyor-belt effect.

On each whistle a new pair is entering an area that the previous pair has just left.

On the third whistle player react and try

to get to the ball and score before their

partner – they return to their groups and the

next players go

On the second whistle players leave the ball and sprint into the second

area again to be the first to get to the ball and hold the player off

AGES 7 TO 16+WORKSHOP

This is a simple way to use the speed ladder for five minutes

SoccerCoachWeekly.net� Issue�478

When a team gets either promoted or relegated, it’s not the end of the story. Here David Clarke points out what you’ll need to do to prepare for next season’s fresh challenges

How to Prepare for Promotion or Relegation

SoccerCoachWeekly.net Issue 477 SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 8

THE ART OF COACHING

PREPARE FOR PROMOTION

RUN TRIALS If your team wins promotion,

you need to start preparing for life in a more competitive league. The team will be in a good position to appeal to players from other teams, so now is the time to publicise the promotion and see if there’s any interest.

TALK MONEY Now is a great time to tackle

parents over any money needed for new kit and equipment. They are much more likely to invest in a team that has just won promotion because they see the success as beneficial to their child. Write a list of things you need.

ASSESS AWAY TRAVEL You will need to take a look at

the teams in the league you have been promoted to – the travel costs may be different and you don’t want to start the next season with players saying they cannot get to away games. Check this out and get parents onside.

SEEK ADVICE Contact a manager who was

relegated from the division you have been promoted to and find out why they struggled. It may need a “we’re

probably going to struggle, too” kind of discussion to get them onside, but you should be able to build a picture of what you will be facing.

CHECK EXPECTATIONS Parents need an impression of

what to expect, even though you may not know yourself. Talk down the first few matches as the team will need to find their feet. Expectations shouldn’t be sky high, as it isn’t fair on your players.

PREPARE FOR RELEGATION

RECRUIT PLAYERS The main problems faced

by relegated teams is parents withdrawing their children, or other teams coming in for them. Friends may joke about your side being poor, so you may find you only have half the players you had last season. Get looking now as there will be hundreds of players out there waiting for the chance to join a new team.

WHAT WENT WRONG If you get relegated, talk to

other coaches and read as much as you can about coaching teams and developing players. It may be that your team has been put at the wrong

level or it could be that you haven’t coached the right things. Look back at your failures and successes this season and try to find a pattern.

OUTLINE FUTURE PLANS Inform parents of your plans

and ambitions for the next season and let them know of any coaching courses, new players or coaching advice that you are going to use to make the team competitive. Let them see you have acknowledged your weaknesses and show them you are determined to do better.

BE PREPARED Find out about the league you

are dropping into by asking other coaches and establish the teams you will be facing. You may have to travel further so work out the cost so you can start with a well-prepared team.

PLAN EXTRA TRAINING Get players to return to training

early so you have a couple of weeks to work with them and with any new signings. Make sure your players are using the pre-season period to get their skills and fitness to a level that will impress in the new division. This could make the difference between a good season or a bad season.

10TOP TIPS

Burnley manager Sean Dyche promoted to the Premier League

Getting young players to become aware of what is going on around them can be difficult – concentration is key as well as dribbling and ball control. By Steve Watson

9

Earthquake

HOW TO PLAY IT• Create a playing area big enough for all your players to move around in freely. For 10 Under-6s, for instance, 20x20 yards is a good size.

• All the players dribble around in the playing area.

• Ask them to dribble with different parts of both feet - i.e. “dribble with your left sole”, “dribble with the inside of your right foot”.

• When the players hear you shout “earthquake!”, they have to leave their own ball and run around the area for five seconds (that’s how long earthquakes generally last for!). At the end of the five seconds shout “end of earthquake!” Players must now find another ball, and stand over it with their foot on top.

• Within that five seconds, remove a ball, so one player will be unable to take possession of one, and is out.

• Play until only one player remains – the winner!

DEVELOPMENT• You can progress this game further by creating two or three 4x4-yard safe zones in the playing area. Instead of finding another ball, players now have to dribble their ball to a safe zone within the five-second ‘earthquake’.

TECHNIQUE & TACTICS• As well as close control and dribbling, this game is great for coaching awareness of what’s around players – where are the other players, and where are the other balls?

• Players must be alert and quick to react when “earthquake!” is called.

�When “earthquake!”

is called, players run around the area as a ball is removed

�When “end of earthquake!”

is called, the player without a ball has to leave the area

Players each dribble a ball

around the area

SoccerCoachWeekly.net Issue 478

FUN GAME

20yds

20yds

player movement ball movementrun with ball

AGES 5 TO 8

This game brings out the importance of wide players for teams that have progressed to attacking from the wings and switching play. By Michael Beale

10

Two In and Two Wide

SET-UP• Pitch size: 30x20 yards (minimum) up to 40x25 yards (maximum).

• Two teams of four players, two players from each team starting on the pitch.

• Two keepers.

RULES• The central players are involved in a 2v2 game but can use their wide players to their advantage when in possession of the ball.

• The wide players might make a return pass or maybe cross for an attempt on goal.

• The wide players can only use two touches on the ball.

• The game is played for a set time period before the wide and central players switch positions.

• This game can be progressed to a continuous game in which the central player that passes out to a wide player must go out and change positions with them. The wide player now dribbles onto the main pitch.

� Here, the wide white player

is used to cross for a scoring opportunity.

� Turn it into a continuous

2v2 by getting the players on and off the pitch to swap roles.

� Start with 2v2. The team

in possession can look to use their wide players to their advantage.

SoccerCoachWeekly.net Issue 478

PLAYER MOVEMENT

BALL MOVEMENT

SHOT ON GOAL

From 64 SMALL-SIDED SOCCER GAMESTo buy the manual click here or go to:

www.soccercoachweekly.net

AGES 12 TO 16+SMALL-SIDED GAME