Example Soccer Awareness Training Session

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Example Soccer Awareness Training Session

All training is match specific. Our work is based upon developing a balance between ball handling and functional running and sprinting in combination with jumping, stopping and turning.

Quick feet, changing stride length exercises will be particularly important.

Repetition of the exercises is important throughout the season on a weekly basis to develop good and correct habits regarding co-ordination, comfort in running, awareness of the efficient use of arms and legs in running and the synchronization of limbs. 

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A Short and Simple Explanation on How to Defend

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A Short and Simple Explanation on How to Defend

Attacking: Based on the 5 corridors width-wise we want all 5 corridors to have players in them. 

Based length–wise we want a maximum of 2 of 3 zones filled; with the exception of the keeper.

Defending: Based on the 5 corridors width-wise we want a maximum of 3 corridors filled with players preferably 2.5 if possible.

Based length-wise we want a maximum of 2 of 3 zones filled preferably the whole team is condensed into 1.5 zones or at most half a field.

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5 Phases of Play for 4-2-3-1

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5 Phases of Play for 4-2-3-1
  • This is a very simple way to show how the team movement works. The system changes as we advance.
  • Players can interchange positions as we develop the play.
  • We offer great dynamics and fluidity to the players to allow them to express themselves on the field moving to a very attacking 3-1-3-3.
  • With this we can show the discipline also involved when we lose the ball and recover back.
  • Teams will develop their style of play within these frameworks, it will never be as picture perfect as this due to the nature of the game. It is more a guide. We teach this from U11 to U18.
  • How we do it per team will be determined by the level of play.
  • We strive to enable all teams at all levels to be able to master the attacking and defending defining team shapes of 1 and 2.
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Developing Play from the Back

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Developing Play from the Back

We develop play from the back. Work on that 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.

So certain plays are recognized consciously first of all with particular CUES offering identification of these.

If one or two ways to develop play are done very frequently then it becomes a subconscious decision to move in to position so no decision making required as such.

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Divided Up Field for Team Shape Direction

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Divided Up Field for Team Shape Direction

Playing in 5 zones widthwise to help define the positioning of players. Also playing in 3 thirds from goal to goal lengthwise. Here we have a good balance with players positioning at angles to each other. Must get the team into 2 thirds only, except for the keeper, both offensively and defensively.

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Our Training, What We Work on and How It's Gone So Far

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Our Training, What We Work on and How It's Gone So Far

Deliberate practice states that 80% of training should focus on 20% of the most important skills. So repetition of similar practices is of paramount importance. 

The ability to possess the ball in tight spaces against high intensity opponents is vital to acquire for players to play at the higher levels. 

This Applies to both on the ball and off the ball and hence our focuses with SAEA. Every individual practice we do involves a thinking process in terms of decision making, and of course some more than others. 

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Soccer Awareness Model of Team Development

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Soccer Awareness Model of Team Development

My model is implemented at professional Academy level. I believe in developing teams to reflect the most up to date and successful Professional European models of Soccer development. 

The FIVE Phases of Play at the 8 v 8

We employ the 3-3-1 system of play. Using it from U6 to U10 with all our teams; we endeavor to teach a particular style of play that is popular, fun to play and successful and which teaches the players all the best aspects of soccer development.

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Patterns of Play: 3-3-1 at 8 v 8

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Patterns of Play: 3-3-1 at 8 v 8

Taking simple tactical ideas created on the training field to the game situation. Coaches teach certain movements in training; players take ownership of them in the game situation.

How to Break Down Player Movements:

  • The following presentation is designed to simplify all the potential Patterns of Play of young players at 8 v 8.
  • This is done by showing a two player rotation per slide.
  • Eventually we will show several movements but coaches need to build up to these slowly and with patience.
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Why Do We Teach What We Teach?

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Why Do We Teach What We Teach?

The Younger Ones: Developing TECHNIQUE; dribbles, turns, running with the ball; beating players in 1 v 1 confrontations; Individual Development is the Key.

9 Years and Older: Then next to develop their MIND AND THINKING and turn this into DECISION MAKING:

THIS IS THE SKILL FACTOR:

Soccer-awareness “One Touch” training developing its relationship with “movement off the ball” 

My personal views on the game are that there are two themes that are THE most important themes for players to learn to be good at and they actually COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER, One touch play developing the MIND; and Movement OFF the ball.

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Intrinsic Motivation

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Intrinsic Motivation

Developing players is a passion and helping youth soccer players be successful is close to my heart as a coach. I believe intrinsic motivation along with great coaching to help awareness training and decision-making are needed to be a successful player. What else is critical for success? It is a player’s raw material and their inner need to be triumphant that is critical. When these are all combined and a player plays to their strengths – that is when success happens on the soccer field.

The most important tip I can share is simple. Success is not earned by practice alone, it is generated through intelligent hard work and an inner desire to be successful.

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Improving Basic Dribbling & Awareness with Lots of Touches in Possession of the Ball

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Improving Basic Dribbling & Awareness with Lots of Touches in Possession of the Ball

Four areas of Awareness:

  1. “On the Ball” Awareness before receiving the ball,
  2. “On the Ball” awareness as the player receives it and moves it on quickly using one or two touches only;
  3. "On the Ball” awareness if the player maintains possession of the ball using several touches; and:
  4. “Off the Ball” awareness in terms of their positioning of players supporting the player On the Ball.

This works if all players are in synch and thinking ahead of the ball and it is not just the player on the ball thinking ahead.

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Three Types of Soccer Players: It's All About Awareness

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Three Types of Soccer Players: It's All About Awareness

For the most part, players can be separated into three categories.

  1. Those who don’t know what’s happening in a game;
  2. Those who know what’s happening as it’s happening.
  3. Those who know what is going to happen next

The players who fit in the first category, really don’t know what is happening during the game and instead, when the ball comes to them they just kick it away because they don’t know what else to do.

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