Soccer Analysis

Source: Worldsoccer Coaching Description The set up of this drill is very easy. Create a grid that is ten yards by ten yards. It would be recommended that you make it bigger for kids that need more time, but don't go any smaller, as the previous drill suggested. Place a cone in the exact middle of the grid. Place one player per ball in the middle of the grid. I would suggest beginning with just one ball and one player in the middle. Place two players on each of the cones outside facing in towards the center of the grid. Place a soccer ball on one of the cones with one of the players to start. The drill begins with the player with the ball passing to the central player then advancing halfway between their cone and the next cone. The middle player makes a one-touch pass back out to the player halfway. The player receives the ball and passes to the player on the next cone. The drill continues the same around the entire grid. Encourage players to pass and play the ball quickly. The dri...

Courtesy: Dick Bate, English FA With changes evolving almost on a daily basis, the nature of the game and therefore the responsibilities and requirements of the modern-day player are different from yesteryear. Most of the large clubs who operate at the stellar levels of the game and some other smaller clubs, recognize the significance of preparing players to their optimum for forthcoming games and their future in the game. Positional coaches have long been employed in the game of American football but soccer has been both dilitary and negligent in doing so. Some clubs toy with the idea of enhancing the positional capabilities of players and on a regular basis delegate this task to the sports scientist/athletic trainer as opposed to a football teacher or coach. Whilst sports scientists will no doubt enhance many of the athletic capabilities of the player the finer arts of teaching the defender the positional technical and tactical requirements may well be secondary in their work. The pu...

Source: Arsenal Website Arsène Wenger’s first home game 19 October 1996 Not a classic match by any means, but a significant day in Arsenal's history. Arsène Wenger was officially in charge of the Gunners for the first time a week earlier when two clinical strikes from Ian Wright earned a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers. But this was the first time he had met the Highbury crowd. The Frenchman received a rapturous reception as he headed for the dugouts before the game gainst Coventry. However, Wenger could not inspire his players to a second successive victory despite a host of chances. By now, Patrick Vieira was already a favourite with the Arsenal crowd. The midfielder started the game while another early Wenger signing, Remi Garde, was on the bench. The new manager kept faith with the 3-5-2 formation favoured by his predecessor, Bruce Rioch. Wenger brought Dennis Bergkamp off the bench but even he was unable to engineer a breakthrough as the Sky Blues defended stoutly. In fact, the ...

ESPN reports "Pellegrini hopeful over Alonso deal" Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has not given up hope of signing Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso , although the Bernabeu boss knows it will not be easy. Reds manager Rafa Benitez is eager to keep the Spanish international at Anfield and has already called on the player he plucked from relative obscurity at Real Sociedad to stay "loyal" to Liverpool. Real are looking to strengthen the centre of midfield following their spending spree on the likes of Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazilian playmaker Kaka and may also sign another fullback, Pellegrini said at a news conference. "It's not a mystery that Real Madrid are interested in signing him (Alonso) but it won't be easy," he said. "We are looking at alternatives for some positions," he added. "The attack is complete and perhaps a central midfielder or fullback is still missing but the rest of the positions are covere...

There are many different ways to shoot the ball in soccer. Like passing, some of them are basic and some more advanced. You can shoot with the instep, with the inside of the foot, the outside, and yes, even the toe. You can drive the ball out flat, make it curve in or out, chip it, loft it etc. What we’ll be concerned with here initially are the fundamentals of basic shooting what you would teach to a 7 year old (and up) to build a foundation for more advanced techniques. The basic coaching points for basic instep drive shooting , From the Nose to the Toes are: 1. Head down – eye on the ball 2. Plant non-kicking foot along side the ball 3. Pick a spot near the center of the ball, strike ball at, or slightly above, this spot. 4. Knee of kicking leg is over the ball 5. Instep is “locked” Toe down and ankle flexed up in direction of calf 6. Approach is slightly from the side.. not dead on 7. Follow through Sounds simple right? Well lets break them down one by one and then suggest ways and...

According to Catalan sports daily “Sport”, Brazilian international and Manchester City forward, Robinho won`t be joining FC Barcelona. Reportedly, FC Barcelona officials were informed by... http://www.fcbarcelonanews.com/no-barca-deal-for-robinho/

This is an exercise for reinforcing moving to space, good passing and receiving skills, and communication. It was suggested by Pam Konrad of the soccercoach-l e mail list. Split your group into 2 teams, give each a different color pinnie and play in one half of the field with a keeper. The goal is for EVERY player to first make a good reception from a teammate (not just win a 50/50 ball), then make a good pass to a teammate. Once the player has done this s/he can flip the front of the pinnie behind their neck. Players who have already "flipped" their pinnies and the GK can be used for passing to relieve pressure, but EVERY player must have his or her pinnie flipped before their team can shoot on goal. This game has a very good work rate, especially when each team gets down to one or two players left who need to receive/pass.

Source: Fifa Training Material • concerning your willingness to listen to others − You must not display a general lack of interest in other people and show little willingness to listen to the personal and psychological problems of others. − You must not feel ill at ease in your position as an “agony aunt/mentor”. • concerning your attitude of open-mindedness − You must not be afraid of change or wary of innovations. − You must not harbour doubts about yourself after a series of defeats or in confl ict situations. − You must remain open to all constructive proposals. • concerning your time management − You must not be too preoccupied by football. − You must not have too little time available to improve yourself and widen your knowledge. − You must not have too little time available for yourself. • concerning the reinforcement of your ideas and opinions (external feedback) − You must not give too little or no encouragement, or praise too little or not at all (in particular with young pla...

(A)2v1 ONE ACTS, ONE SUPPORTS, IN ATTACK OR WHEN DEFENDING.IN ATTACK, PLAYER WITH THE BALL COMMITS THE LONE DEFENDER THEN EITHER GOES PAST THEM OR PASSES TO THE SECOND ATTACKER.IN DEFENSE, NEAREST CHALLENGES, THE OTHER COVERS (B) 3v1 IN DEFENSE, ONE CHALLENGES, ONE COVERS, THE THIRD BALANCESIN ATTACK, ONE COMMITS AN OPPONENT, ONE POSITIONS TO RECIEVE A POSSIBLE PASS, THE THIRD MAKES AN ATTACK RUN. (C) 4v2 DEFENDING - IS ABOUT THE 2 WORKING AS A PAIR TO CUT DOWN QUICKLY ANY POSSIBLE EASY SPACE FOR THE OPPONENT WITH THE BALL TO PASS TO ONE OF THE OTHER THREE ATTACKERSATTACKING - IS ABOUT THE PLAYER WITH THE BALL HAVING THREE OPTIONS TO PASS IF THEY WISH TO (SUPPORT, PASS OPTIONS). (D) 5v2 AS c. ONLY DEFENDING BECOMES MORE OF A POSITIONING TO FORCE THE BALL TO WHERE YOU CAN ATTACK ITFOT ATTACKING ITS ABOUT PLAYERS TAKING CONSTANT GOOD POSITIONS TO RECEIVE A POSSIBLE PASS. (E)6v6 IS ABOUT WHERE PLAYERS ARE TO EITHER ATTACK OR DEFEND2-1-2 FORMATION CAN SHOW DEFENDERS COACHING POINTS, THE LO...

This practice is designed to improve each player’s field vision through a variety of techniques. Consider the following points: Vision With The Ball Many coaches instruct players to "trap the ball" before passing it. The word "trap" suggests stopping the ball. Young players get into a bad habit of trapping the ball using the sole of the foot every time the ball comes to them. Trapping or stopping the ball with the sole of the foot can cause many bad habits for the player and limit the techniques he can use immediately after his first touch on the ball. The following are bad habits as a result of "trapping the ball" with the sole of the foot: · As the ball travels towards the foot the head will drop and eye's will be fixed on the ball. The player at this point cannot see his passing options. · In the attacking third, the player will not be able to see the position of the goalkeeper if his head is down, thus limiting his shooting options. · If the ball i...