Soccer training, soccer drills, articles, soccer training videos and more from Wayne Harrison/Soccer Awareness.
Soccer Awareness training develops SELF THINKING players who are not coach driven; but coach guided, and within this they are allowed to make mistakes without criticism; but rather; encouraged to learn from them.
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Using two wide positioned goals for each team to attack. This is designed to encourage players to spread out when they attack and switch play; changing direction if one route is blocked. Looking for quick transition and movement off the ball to create space but attacking the space when it is on to do so. The first thought of the player on the ball should still be “Can I run or pass the ball forward.”
Read MoreGAME OBJECTIVE: Developing movement off the ball offensively, pressing the ball and tracking movement “off the ball” defensively.
This game and its many progressions is designed to get the most out of the thinking processes of the players. Many mental challenges to overcome and learn from.
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Read MoreSoccer is a sideways on sport -- players will have much more success when they are able to receive the ball at an angle. Being sideways on allows players, in advance of the ball, to be able to see peripherally advancing defenders. This warm up gets the players moving, working on their decision making, spacing, angles and more.
Read MoreThe goal is to teach Playing in tight areas, Developing fast feet, Positioning off the ball, Defending condensing attacking spreading out, Teaching spacing and moving into passing lanes to get free and more.
Read MoreThis is a recommended set-up to relate the field positions of the 8 v 8 players in the 3-3-1 to the 4-2-3-1 formation for the 11 v 11.
Read MoreObjective: Awareness of Teammates and Opponents Positioning on the Field in Advance of Receiving the Ball
We are working on: When and where to pass, Looking before receiving, Awareness of player positions before receiving the ball, Awareness of options on the ball before receiving it, Awareness of Opponents positions before receiving the pass and Maintaining possession of the ball
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Read MorePreview: Score a goal by passing into the free zone to a player moving into it . Player can only stay in the free zone for 3 seconds then they need to move out if they don’t receive the pass because in a real game they would be marked. To establish the theme of spreading out and playing quickly develop the idea of playing quickly by saying every one touch pass results in a goal. This FORCES the players to think much more quickly to try to make a successful ONE TOUCH pass to score a goal; this CONDITION forces / encourages players to play ONE TOUCH, but at the same time they need to make sure they do it at the right time and not for the sake of.
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Read More(3) Watches the ball and allows the wide player (B) to get beyond him. A ball in behind always beats him. Centrally the centre back (4) does the same, he watches the ball and the striker comes off his shoulder and he gets caught with the ball in behind him. This will cost us in unless we work on it with the team.
This often goes wrong. Here’s how you can fix it.
Read MoreThis 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. 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.
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Read MoreTo help you understand how important it is to structure your plan to ensure it is as effective as possible, the following guidelines may help.
Read MoreTeams are at their most vulnerable in terms of losing the ball, in the first few seconds after gaining possession. It is this transition period that we are looking at, both in terms of winning the ball back quickly and then keeping it. The key is the first six seconds after losing the ball. In this game when a team loses possession they have 6 seconds to win the ball back (the coach counts this out).
Read MoreHere we show how team shape changes from defending to attacking to then how we start to interchange and rotate players. Distances between defending and attacking are bigger than most think. Players learn how to add fluidity and freedom to team play in terms of their offensive movements and how to compact themselves when defending.
Using the 1-3-3-1-1 is a progressive move to playing the 1-3-3-1-3 in the 11 v 11 hence I am starting with this formation at 9 v 9.
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Read MoreIn this warm-up game, we are working on awareness of where the player you receive from is and where the player you pass to is. Because of this players begin to anticipate the pass to them and where it is coming from.
Read MoreWarm Up and Cool Down are both important parts of any coaching session or indeed any game situation and should be included at all times particularly at a young age where doing so reinforces good habits in players. Due to the great need for players to have as much contact on the ball as possible to aid technical development, I recommend coaches get away from warming up and cooling down without the ball and introduce its use at every session they do, be it at a game or at practice.
Read MoreA simple exercise when you have large numbers to work with. Practice lots of different receiving and passing drills here. Players pass and switch with their teammate behind them developing a constant rhythm. Passing with pace to challenge the first touch of the person you pass to. Also develop running with the ball and performing various tricks and dribbles as you move forward.
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Read MoreSoccer Awareness developmental training focuses on the concept of the THIRD EYE of Awareness, Imagination and Anticipation in Performance. Soccer Awareness is a highly innovative concept which aims to develop the thinking coach and player. Soccer Awareness focuses on the creation of a player centered environment which encourages autonomy and an ability to make correct decisions within a game specific context.
Soccer Awareness Training Center provides unlimited access to Wayne Harrison's Soccer Awareness systems, training sessions, drills and more. Wayne's system helps the development of all levels of soccer players and teams in a systematic and imaginative manner that guarantees performance at the highest level of competition.
This video is an example of a “One Touch Mentality” game situation U14 boys.
