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by Gary Rue
garyrue@bellsouth.net
 

NOTE:  Gary did not write these exercises and tips with the idea that someone would publish them.  I subscribe to the Soccer-Coach-L e-mail list and Gary is one of the coaches that posts extremely well thought out replies.  These are some of Gary's posts that I collected for use in coaching my own teams.   I approached Gary and he was gracious enough to allow me to publish them here.  If you like what you see or have a question about one of the exercises you can reach Gary at garyrue@bellsouth.net There are 50+ more pages of Gary's posts categorized at the Home Page of Exercises of the Day by Gary Rue. Click here and enjoy.

Pattern Play

     I have had great success with using pattern play to reinforce certain desired concepts at the U14 level and up. I believe that pattern play when used as a VERY SMALL percentage of training can help player insight on how the technical and tactical training relates to the game. We have played some of our best passing and tactical games right after a pattern play session. We use pattern play when players are in a recovery mode the day after a game or intense practice or as a cool down exercise.

       Pattern play provides a different type of pressured environment to the players. Players are giving certain pattern runs to make when the ball and their teammates are in certain positions. Because there is no defensive pressure, the coach can stress the quality of the passes, the quality and timeliness of the runs and the recognition of the situation. Players can be asked to adapt to the situation if there is a breakdown such as a bad pass or bad run. The coach provides the main pressure in this type of practice.

       Once the pattern is learned, the play can be very quick. Substituting players in key roles where long runs are made, can allow for the exercise to restart very quickly.

       Here are two examples. They are not presented as absolute sequences for
your team, but as samples. In both sequences, the end result is a cross and (hopefully) a shot on goal; however, a more centralized attack can be developed.

Legend: 
L-left, R-right, C-center, B-(full)back, W-wing (halfback),
H-halfback, F-Forward/Striker

3-5-2 shape - work on ball out of the back

• LW drops to LB; LW initially follows pass, then makes a delayed run down the left side.
• LB forward pass to checking CH
• CH drop to RB
• RB plays long cross field ball to LW
• LW takes ball to goal-line with cross or back-angle
• 2-4 Forwards and Halfbacks make crossing runs on goal against 1-2 defenders

4-3-3 shape using centrally withdrawn wing forwards - work on runs of forwards using the wing channels

ball on wing basic sequence: 

• RW receives ball, CF checks to ball
• RF diagonals out to right touch
• LF diagonals into space vacated by CF
  
  if ball played to RF down right touch, then:
• RF carries ball to goal-line and crosses
• CH overlaps LF and the two combine on crossing runs
• LW makes delayed far post run
• CF provides drop support for RF or circles back into a crossing pattern
  
  if ball played to checking CF instead, then:
• CF has several options
  - play wide to RF and use the above sequence
  - drop to CH and use the sequence below
• CH receives drop and hits LW making wide
• LW carries to goal-line looking for cross or back-angle to LF who has
  diagonaled back
• RF and CF make crossing runs on goal with a delayed run by the RW
  

      Coaching points generally deal with passing and receiving technique, quick ball movement, timing of check run, delayed run of wing and situation recognition.

The options are up to each coach to develop. Have fun!

Exercise of the Day - Weave Your Own Way

       Though an often maligned and sometimes abused exercise, dribbling through and around objects can be a nice way to warm-up players and help develop their dribbling touch.

• Setup:
  In its simplest form, objects such as cones or flags are placed 2-3 yards apart in a straight line. The number of objects can vary with 6-10 an average number. The distance between objects can vary as well. The players are to weave through the objects, dribbling a ball.
  
• One of the biggest negatives to this exercise can be the objects. If short
  objects are used, the theory is that this will promote heads-down dribbling.
  Many coaches will use flags. This allows a player to pick his head up to see
  the object while dribbling. Another reason flags are useful is that the stick in the ground. Cones tend to get knocked over very easily. Other players can be used as objects, which may be the ultimate in dribbling obstacles and does not require an equipment purchase. In any case, do NOT use any object that is short that sticks in the ground, unless the object will bend easily, in case a player falls upon it. If flags, etc. are not available, then by all means use short cones, as the key teaching element of the exercise is the dribble touch, be it heads up or not.
  
  Some of the dribbling exercises that can be used, depending upon age and skill of the player:
  
• Free dribbling (no restriction)--the coach should use this time to see how
  players tend to touch the ball and identify certain problems
• Inside of foot chop--when on the right side of the object, chop the ball with the right foot, etc.
• Inside of foot cut--unlike the chop (which is a sharp blow to the ball), this move drags the ball between the object pair as the other foot drags the
  ball between the next pair; the ball should constantly be "caressed" with a
  foot
• Outside of foot cut--the player must move well outside the ball and then drag it through the object pair, then slide past the ball and drag it through the next pair with the other foot
• Outside of foot chop--the coach should make sure the player chop down on
  the ball and not just push or drag it, as this outside chop into space is an
  important dribbling technique
• Right/left foot only--the player can only use one foot, alternating the inside and the outside through all of the objects
• Pull the V--as the ball moves to the right of the object, pull the ball back with the sole of the left foot and play the ball through the object pair with the inside of the left foot
• Scissors--as the ball moves to the right of the object, step over the front of the ball with the right foot and chopping the ball through the object pair with the outside of the left foot, alternating scissors and chop feet on the next pair
• Step over--as the ball moves to the right of the object, step over with the left foot (in front of the ball), turning the hips to face to the right, then quickly pivoting on the left foot, swinging the right foot around in front of the left and turning the hips to the left and chopping the ball through the object pair with the inside of the right foot. (This is a fairly high level technique)
• Roll with sole--with the ball moving to the right of the object, roll the ball with the sole of the right foot in front of the left foot between the object pair
• Step past--as the ball moves to the right of the object, the right steps well past the ball, as the outside of the left chops the ball through the object pair
• Step on--as the ball moves to the right of the object, the player jumps with the right foot stepping lightly on the top of the ball to stop it and immediately landing to the ground past the ball (as above); the outside of
  the left touches the top of the ball and then plays the ball through the object pair
• Behind the support leg--as the ball moves to the right of the object, the
  left steps over and ahead of the ball as the right plays the ball behind the
  left support leg between the object pair
• Back heel (or sole)--as the ball moves to the right of the object, the right steps to the lower side of the ball and plays a back heel between the object pair or rolls it back with the sole of the foot
• Cross-over back heel--as the ball moves to the right of the object, the
  left steps to the lower side of the ball as the right crosses over the front
  of the left leg and plays a back heel through the object pair
  
  Coaching tips:
• Go as fast as you CAN, not as fast as you CAN'T; dribbling speed comes after developed touch, not visa-versa
• Dance with the ball, the feet should brush the ground
• Look up as much as possible
• Drop the butt by bending the knees (lower the center of gravity)
• Encourage loose and flexible hips on turns
   

NOTE:
          The coach can make the exercise as simple or complex as the players can handle. The techniques above should be first tried in a wide open setting. Because of wide variations of skills on a team, the coach must try to put each player into a situation where they feel challenged, but not inadequate. By moving the objects further apart, the coach could make it easier or harder, depending upon the skill. Also the objects can moved out of a straight line into a zig-zap layout or randomly spaced to add more detail of complexity.
       Cone dribbling is probably one of the world's oldest dribbling exercises, but when used properly can give players that little extra touch in the game when they need it the most.

• We've used bicycle flags as an inexpensive form of flag.  These are the plastic limber thin plastic sticks about 5' tall that have orange triangle flags at the tops.
    
  Paul Cialone added this note by way of Soccer-Coach-L mailing list:
• If you want to do this type of exercise without any extra expenditure, and add a little forced creativity to it, try going to your local park.  Set out a course among an area of trees, preferably on a slightly hilly area with bumps and roots that aren't too high, but are enough to disrupt smooth progress. For older players, this is a fun way to challenge yourself, have obstacles mimic opponents unexpected challenges, and keep heads up to watch for the next bump.   I've used it with a high level (college, semipro, old pro mixed league) men's team in preseason training, with great success.  Might be too much for the U12 crowd, but after that could be helpful.
   
• Click here to see videos of all the Coerver Soccer Moves.

Practice Tip - In The Beginning

"Those who direct, follow the advantages and adjust their formula."
Sun Tzu, The Art of War

       Perhaps the most critical time of any exercise is how it starts and is developed. It is most important that the exercise not get lost in complexity and confusion from the start, else the players will have to devote too much effort to learning the exercise instead of training for the game.

       A coach should start an exercise in the most simplistic form and quickly (or gradually) progress by adding restrictions, players or other more complex features. At elevated player levels, the start can slightly more complex, but it needs to be a situation the players can easily get into without much explanation. If the exercise start needs more than 10 seconds to explain, then maybe it is too complex.

       For example, consider a crossing exercise where four players are making runs on goal against 3 defenders and a GK. One way of progressing the exercise is to set up a line of cones down the touch and angled towards the near post. The dribbler uses the cones as a channel guide to deliver a cross to a near post runner. The exercise can start with or without a GK.

       Next add the far post run and have the crosser deliver the ball to this player. At this time the two runners can be instructed on how to determine which one makes what run. A defender can be added to pick up and mark either one of the runners, as the crossers must determine to which player to deliver the cross.

       A third attacker can be added to make the penalty spot (or D area) run with a second defender added a little later. A fourth attacker that makes the delayed far post run and a third defender can be added to complete the exercise.

       At each changing point in the exercise, certain coaching points can be made. The exercise may not be able to progress as far as the coach desires, however, it is best not to progress if the players cannot adapt to the added complexity.

       In summary, start the exercise where the players do not need much instruction. Progress appropriately where the players are challenged to   the demands of the exercise and not by the complexities of the exercise. Remember to reinforce fundamentals and previously trained techniques as well as to introduce new concepts.

Exercise of the Day - Only 7 Show

      It's time for practice and the coach has figured out his theme and laid out his practice environment for his/her U13 team. Unfortunately, due to illness, injury, rescheduled track meets and early spring break vacation, only 7 show. What is the coach to do?

       Here is a possible practice that I recently ran. My initial theme was playing the ball through the middle.  In a recent game, the center halfbacks were all over the place, except where they needed to be, often too close to the ball to be much of a passing option and they consequently, they weren't used.

• Warm-up: the players dribbled in an area for a couple of minutes and then move to 2-man passing (with 3 balls) emphasizing the check run to the dribbler and the quick turn after receiving the pass. Players were asked to look behind them before receiving the pass. Technical instruction on the passing and receptions was reinforced when quality was not high.
  
• 5v2 in a 14x18 grid--the main emphasis is the off ball player checking into the middle and a quick distribution to another player. The area is quite large, so the defenders have to be spelled often. The attackers were asked to split the defenders as often as possible, playing it to the player that moved into the center. Taking the ball to space (not stopping the ball) on the reception was stressed by the attacking players.
  
• 4+1v2 in a 14x18 grid--as ball is worked around, the player in the middle is asked to check to ball and distribute to another player. The defenders are asked to stop the pass to the middle, but this is not stressed to allow some natural success by the middle player. The timing of the check to the ball, the finding of space to check into and the maintaining of proper distance from the ball are key coaching points for the middle player. Vision was also addressed low key
  
• 4(5)+1v3 in a 14x18 grid--same as above, except the coaches are added to the
  attack group to allow for an increase in the defensive numbers.
  
• 3v3+1 on small goals--the neutral player is full time attack; a team can only score by receiving a ball from the neutral player. Movement and vision of the neutral player was emphasized. Also, the off ball attacking player was asked to stretch out the defense or find space to take advantage of the numbers up situation.
  
• Post practice closure--the players were asked to described the areas of middle play that they worked on. The answers should include timing of the check run, distance from the player with the ball, vision and in our case, playing in the center to be available as support and not running all over the place.

Tactical Approach to Numbers Down
by Bob Gansler
a 1999 NSCAA Convention Report by Gary Rue

• Warm-up in groups of 4, working combos; e.g.:
  • Take over and find the third run quickly
  • Wall pass, find the third run quickly
  • Distance from ball determines type of combo
  • Have third run stretch out, make it big
    
• 1+1v2
  • Dribbler holds ball on double team
  • Once steal is made, the other attacker works with the original dribbler to double team the ball as the second opponent sprints away from teammate after the steal
    
• 8v8 in 40x60
  • Constant double team
  • Other attackers need to stretch out
  • Emphasize the long pass
    
• 3(+1)v4 (midfielders) in the half field
  • Defense can dribble through wide gates at the halfway after a steal
  • Attackers can dribble over line or hit a GK target at a center point along the end line
  • Defense is to play with a double team
  • On ball out of play or a score, the 4th attacker immediately starts a new ball as one of the previous 3 attackers drops out
    
• 1+1v2 Double Pass
  • Bisect half field vertically, with 1v2 setup in each section with GK in goal
  • Server on the halfway plays into attacker who double passes with the server
  • Server becomes second attacker after return pass
    
• 2+1v3
  
• 2v3+3v4