Welcome to the Soccer Awareness Coaches Corner. Browse through soccer drills, small sided games, tactical thoughts, full sessions and a variety of resources. Posts marked “Training Center Exclusive” are for members only.
Distribution from the Keeper and Playing Out from the Back Using the 3-1-3-3 - Training Center Exclusive
Here are 9 ways to distribute from the keeper and play out from the back. We owe it to the players to teach them this as Young as is possible.
I work on this initially practicing all ways to get out. Have opponents only intercepting passes to begin. Then let it go free. When opponents win it back we work on the defending team condensing and defending correctly.
If three or four ways to develop play are done very frequently then it becomes a subconscious decision to move into position so no decision making required as such.
The Three Team Awareness One Touch Game
Working with three teams (numbers depends on how many players you have, e.g. it can be 4 v 4 + 4 or 5 v 5 + 5 etc). Teams (1) and (2) work together to keep the ball from team (3). If team (3) regains possession the team who gave it away becomes the defenders. The defenders reward is they keep the ball and link with the other team.
Breakaway Game
In this game we are working on finishing, dribbling and breakaways. This is a great activity to work on both attacker and goalkeeper skills.
Defensive Pressing to Push Up Without Touching the Ball with a Back Three
This is a great session to teach the players and shows how they can push opponents back even when THE OPPONENTS have the ball.
We will try to push them back without even touching the ball ourselves. We start on the edge of our box we try to get our back three up to the half way line. Set Conditions will help us do this to start the process off.
Awareness Numbers Game Working in Three Zones
Here players pass and move into other zones to receive the next ball that is coming. This ensures players get the idea of passing and MOVING off the ball, not passing and then standing.
Triangle Rondo and Angled Support for 6 Players
Two balls going at once. 1 touch if possible otherwise two touches maximum to keep the timing going. Players don’t rotate positions. Repeats every 5th pass. Coordinated movements and rhythm between groups.
Positional Possession Areas to Create Superiority - Training Center Exclusive
This game and its many progressions are designed to get the most out of the thinking processes of the players. Many mental challenges to overcome and learn from. In the game players must develop the ability to be calm under pressure, to be confident to receive the ball in tight spaces and to have the confidence of teammates to give the ball to you under pressure. Players need to develop their ability to look ahead of the ball even more, to assess options and make decisions even faster because the time on the ball is even more restricted than usual.
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Overloading Players in the Zone 14 eBook - Training Center Exclusive
Teams may work out that we are good at playing penetrating passes and making great runs in behind them so the way to try to stop this is to defend deep. If they defend deep we need a tactical solution to counter this. This presentation gives you ideas on how to do this and play initially IN-FRONT of the opponents back four.
Passing Game for Spatial Awareness Development
Players have the ball at their feet for approximately 5 minutes out of 90. What do they do the rest of the 85 minutes? They must learn to move off the ball and to move into open passing lanes to be open at all times to help the player on the ball or the next player on the ball. Here is a great session to teach this.
We can use many upright cones to represent opponents rather than mannequins. We set the cones up in triangles and diamonds. We ask players to position between the cones in the best space available. Try to balance their position to find the best space in the middle of the triangle or diamond of cones (opponents). Players beyond the ball try to position in triangles and diamonds of support also.
A Rondo Overloading Players In The Zone 14 - Training Center Exclusive
This Rondo is perfect for a starting point on rotation and movement in front of opponents defense. Teams may work out that we are good at playing penetrating passes and making great runs in behind them so the way to try to stop this is to defend deep.
If they defend deep we need a tactical solution to counter this. This presentation gives you ideas on how to do this and play initially IN-FRONT of the opponents back four.
Bayern Munich and Barcelona are very good at this, both motivated and taught by Pep Guardiola.
Quick Pressing Game
This game is an excellent example of how a small change to the structure of a standard game changes the game to allow a specific skill or topic you want to work on. You don’t need to say anything; the explanation is in the game.
Training Vialli Opposite Runs
Here is one way to train striker movements “off the ball” to find space and receive.
How to Play and Teach the 1-4-2-3-1
Here we have a 6 part video series showcasing Wayne Harrison presenting the 1-4-2-3-1 at the NSCAA Annual Convention in front of over 1200 coaches from around the world.. The series begins with developing play out the back to ultimately fashioning attacking and finishing movements off the ball in the attacking third and the 5 phases of play as he creates it. Wayne goes through the thirds of attacking development for you from back to front.
Ball Control and Dribbling Skills Ideas
Dribbling is a ball skill that's crucial in soccer. The best soccer players in the world can control the ball when sprinting at full speed and avoiding defenders. Better dribbling skills allows players to create space and time and therefore better control the ball and make plays. Here are two drills you can add to your practices to improve your teams dribbling skills.
Diagonal Runs Without the Ball in a 6 v 6 Game
The theme is making diagonal runs with or without the ball to receive or create space for a teammate. When it is a forward diagonal run the player making it must avoid running offside in a game situation.