Football Coaching

[Carine]

Firstly, I couldn't find any particular forum that suited this so I put it here. Sorry, if it's wrong place.

Ok, so I'm a coach for an Under-11s team in Dublin. I thought it might be a good idea to post some exercises that I will be using during pre-season and beyond for other coaches to cast their eyes over. I'm not claiming any of the drills are my own invention (though I do add my own twists to other peoples work sometimes.)

It would be good if other coaches (I know there are a few on here) would follow suit and post some of their training exercises too -- sharing drills and bouncing ideas of one another.

After all, you can ALWAYS learn something new

In my last two sessions I had my players compete in the following small sided games...

PLEASE DO NOT SPAM THIS THREAD.​

GAME ONE -- GETTING USED TO THE BALL AND BASIC TEAMPLAY.
Length -- 10 minutes.
Teams -- 4 v 4. Goalkeepers can be used, but not essential.
Pitch -- 30 by 30 yards with a 4 yard goal at each end.
Rules --
Any amount of touches on the ball.
No passes above head height (clearances and corners are fine.)
Three players on each team must touch the ball before a goal can be scored.
All throw-ins from half-way line.

GAME ONE -- PROGRESSION.
Rules --
No passes above head height(clearances and corners are fine.)
Players are only allowed 3 touches on the ball -- if they run out without shooting or passing they must shield the ball without fouling.
All throw-ins from half-way line.

GAME ONE -- PROGRESSION.
Rules --
Any amount of touches on the ball.
No passes above head height (clearances and corners are fine.)
All attacking players must be in oppositions half before a goal can be scored.
All goals must be scored with only 1 touch.
All throw-ins from half-way line.

GAME TWO -- CORNERS AND COUNTER-ATTACK.
This game is quite fun and highlights the benefits of counter-attacking football/good decisions/quick passing/taking advantage of being a man up (as opposition corner taker is away from main play.)
Length -- 10 minutes.
Teams -- 4 v 4. Goalkeepers can be used, but not essential.
Pitch -- 30 by 30 yards with a 4 yard goal at each end.
Rules --
Any amount of touches on the ball. No slide tackles.
No passes above head height (clearances and corners are fine.)
All corners, free-kicks and goalkicks = award a corner to the attacking team.
3 consecutive corners (e.g. sequence hasn't been broken by a throw-in or defending team reaching the half-way line) equals a penalty (instead of fourth corner.)
After a goal, all restarts are a corner for the team that conceded.

GAME TWO - PROGRESSION.
3 players must touch ball and cross over into attacking half before a shot on goal (unless it's a corner.)

GAME TWO -- PROGRESSION.
Add in 3 touch rule.


NOTES -- All of these games have gone down a storm at my training sessions so far. The players are learning basic (adult) concepts used in football and are always on the move. The games are quick and the discussion period between each progression kept to the minimum.

Also, you might notice that the pitch size mentioned above is quite big -- this is because I am allowing the players to get used to the games, and the aims and decisions involved in each one. As they become more accustomed to these types of games I will make the pitch size smaller so they are hurried into making decisions and concentrate on improving their control etc...

 

[Jake]

Im a GK coach so cant comment too much really, give me a holler if you fancy any discussion regarding the MOST important position on the pitch

 

[Carine]

Im a GK coach so cant comment too much really, give me a holler if you fancy any discussing regard the MOST important position on the pitch

Coaching suggestions for all positions on the pitch is welcome

 

[Burkie7]

What team you manage in Dublin?

 

[Carine]

What team you manage in Dublin?

I coach (I'm not the actual manager) of an (amateur) Under-11s team for a club called Jobstown Celtic in the DDSL. It's the first time they've entered the league at this level so it should be fun. Hopefully some of our players might get picked up by Shamrock Rovers (they're a matter of minutes away from our us) in the future and possibly further afield. That would be a great achievement for all involved.

 

[Burkie7]

I coach (I'm not the actual manager) of an (amateur) Under-11s team for a club called Jobstown Celtic in the DDSL. It's the first time they've entered the league at this level so it should be fun. Hopefully some of our players might get picked up by Shamrock Rovers (they're a matter of minutes away from our us) in the future and possibly further afield. That would be a great achievement for all involved.

Oh right, I want to get into it some day my Dad used to manage and was a great manager he was one of the main people when Belevedere were producing top talent he worked with Brian Kerr at Belvo

 

[Carine]

Oh right, I want to get into it some day my Dad used to manage and was a great manager he was one of the main people when Belevedere were producing top talent he worked with Brian Kerr at Belvo

That's cool Your dad should have some good contacts then when you decide to take the plunge. A good thing to know is that most clubs (even amateur ones) will usually pay for you to go for at least the first coaching badge. After that, a good club will help you get to the others (though they often ask you to commit to their club for X amount of years in return.) I would recommend coaching to anyone -- I've coached senior teams and youths and they're both fun in different ways. Youth football is good because you really can have an affect on the talent of the furture.

 

[Burkie7]

He said if I ever decide to get into it he would help me out and he has plenty of contacts with Shelbourne an all so I have a good platform just very nervous about it at the moment but I would be more into youth football I say it be easier then having players that cant play because of work and hangovers! ha

 

[Irish Scouse]

I help manage the Yeap 9 side in my school, I myself am a 6th former. I basically take the midfielders for 45 minutes every session.

Basic drills really.

Drill one

General passing; [Well known drill]
Form a square of cones between 10 and 20yards apart.
Post up players at each and do short range diagonal passing.
Also helps with 1st touch ect.

Drill two

Form a square with cones, size depending on no. of players.
1 ball for every two players.
Then simply jog around giving and receiving passes using a maximum of 2 touches.
Aim is to improve short passing and 1st touch.

Drill three

The circle drill which is used in lots of sports.
Have a circle formed of players. Each player with a ball, and the centre player has to move around taking a pass from one of the players.
Aim: To improve 1st touch.

Drill four

Relay race, line up two sets of players. A line of cones infront of each set of players. Dribble in and around the cones and pass to the next player when completed up and down.
Aim : Dribbling.

 

[Jake]

A good thing to know is that most clubs (even amateur ones) will usually pay for you to go for at least the first coaching badge.

In England the first badge is almost totally health and safety and child protection, next to no football involved....

 

[Carine]

In England the first badge is almost totally health and safety and child protection, next to no football involved....

I did the English badge -- there is an introduction level (which is what you've mentioned), but the first proper badge concentrates on the planning, set-up and execution of training sessions. Should have made myself clearer

Btw, for those who are interested there is a brilliant book by Rinus Michels that discusses Ajax's 'Total Football' of the 60s. It can be quite hard to get hold of, but a good bookstore will be able to get a copy for you if you're prepared to wait a few weeks. I got mine through Easons.

 

[Jake]

I did the English badge -- there is an introduction level (which is what you've mentioned), but the first proper badge concentrates on the planning, set-up and execution of training sessions. Should have made myself clearer

Yeah even that one is quite basic though, i have since split away onto the specialised GK ones.

Due to a lack of GK coaches they are trying to accelerate us through the UEFA badges quicker by skipping some of the FA badges and the first UEFA badge, cant be arsed to get round to it though.

 

[Carine]

Yeah even that one is quite basic though, i have since split away onto the specialised GK ones.

Oh yeah, I totally agree that it's basic -- I was just pointing out that most clubs will pay you through it if you sign up as a coach. Save your own hard earned cash

You should do the badges mate (especially the higher level ones), they could open all sorts of doors for you

Btw, feel free to post any goalkeeping drills you might have. I'd be really interested in a good drill that works on goalkeeping angles if you have any.

 

[sammyb]

Target Zone

Main focus - Developing possession

Target zone at each end of the pitch, one person in each of the target zones.
you can either play 2v2,3v3,4v4 (however many depending on how big the pitch is.
2 teams,
each team has to pass it into there target zone player to score

Progression
area smaller
limit the touches
have to make so many passes before able to score
target area smaller
floaters on each side



ive got more just takes a while to explain them, the picture helps to explain it a lot though

 

[sammyb]

traffic lights (simple, quite a popular one i think)

Main Focus - Dribbling

in a safe area, everyone has a ball. (depending on the size of the group to make your pitch)
when the coach (i.e you) shows a red cone all players must stop with their foot on the ball.
when yellow cone is shown, players must change direction.
green cone = increase speed.

progression
introduce other skills - could use change direction or increase speed as a progression

can use any colour of cones

 

[Carine]

traffic lights (simple, quite a popular one i think)

Main Focus - Dribbling

in a safe area, everyone has a ball. (depending on the size of the group to make your pitch)
when the coach (i.e you) shows a red cone all players must stop with their foot on the ball.
when yellow cone is shown, players must change direction.
green cone = increase speed.

progression
introduce other skills - could use change direction or increase speed as a progression

can use any colour of cones

Other good progressions for this drill are --

1. Stop your ball and rush to get another. Last man to do so is given a forfeit such as complete 5 keep-me-ups before continuing.

2. Introduce the Cruyff turn, outisde of foot turn, inside of foot turn.

Good stuff Sammyb -- Keep 'em coming

 

[Burkie7]

Target Zone

Main focus - Developing possession

Target zone at each end of the pitch, one person in each of the target zones.
you can either play 2v2,3v3,4v4 (however many depending on how big the pitch is.
2 teams,
each team has to pass it into there target zone player to score

Progression
area smaller
limit the touches
have to make so many passes before able to score
target area smaller
floaters on each side



ive got more just takes a while to explain them, the picture helps to explain it a lot though

Love this one it can be quite hard sometimes but it works really well and it focus's on many different aspects of your game like first touch, passing, of the ball running, tackling

 

[Jake]

Hmmm never used this site before but i do something similar with new goalies, usually when im looking to identify the most common fault; footwork and angles.

http://www.soccerxpert.com/soccerdrills/goalkeeper-shooting-angle.aspx

Have a helper in or to the side of the goal. After each shot ask the helper to place a cone on the 2 spots where the goalie planted their feet before making the save. Now ask them to stand in that position and ask them if they think its the correct angle considering where the shot came from?

Often after a couple of shots followed up by the angle assesment using the cones and then the angle advice from you, they rectify their angle issues. The trick then is to get them to maintain good angles even under high pressure, achieve this by doing the same exercise but without the pause between shots, just get the players to fire off their shot as soon as the goalie has got back on his feet. Maybe try recording his rough position on a bit of paper. The first few times his angles will be all over the place by the final few shots, but will improve with practice.

 

[sammyb]

Other good progressions for this drill are --

1. Stop your ball and rush to get another. Last man to do so is given a forfeit such as complete 5 keep-me-ups before continuing.

2. Introduce the Cruyff turn, outisde of foot turn, inside of foot turn.

Good stuff Sammyb -- Keep 'em coming

haha cheers, proberly put more up 2moro.

yeh i remember your first progression there from when i did it when i was younger

just thinking you could also take one of the balls out of the game so the person without a ball has to run around the pitch or something

 

[CJACKO11]

its annoying i have always wanted to do my coaching badges but have never had the funds. I love the coaching side ov the game and i know i wouldnt be short ov finding a team to help out in Portsmouth.