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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.

Exercise of the Day - GK Playbacks

        Here is a nice warm-up exercise that involves the GKs with the team.

• Purpose: to help the GK make decisions on when to handle pass backs; to help the GK make a play the ball in traffic; to improve trapping and ground pickup techniques; to provide a good warm-up with the field players.
  
• Setup: two teams of 2-5 players each plus two GKs in a large area; each GK is assigned a team; play is keep-away with an emphasis on quick passing and player movement.
  
• Procedure: the GKs act as neutral players for both teams; the GK must play with the feet if passed back by a teammate; the GK MUST handle the ball on any pass from the other team or a "non-foot" pass by a teammate; the GK distributes to which ever team passed him the ball.
  
• Variations: add a second ball; increase number of players; station GKs at opposite ends of the area or have them move amongst the other players; request air balls (from both teams) to the GKs; enforce touch restrictions or frequency of passes to a GK; restrict tackling.
  
• Coaching points: address GK decision making on which ball can be handled; request communication from teammates; emphasis quick passing and field player movement.

Practice Tip - Shape Up

        Whether you use a strict formation or subscribe to the "positionless" concept during games, play on the field still comes down to what shape your team is in at certain key times. The shape of a team should be constantly adjusting and changing. A formation can help players see the basic shape of the team. Without a starting formation the players must be well schooled in the shape needed for the situation and how to adjust. A coach can't talk about team shape in the game unless s/he includes it in training.

        Even in small sided games, the coach should put each team in a shape. Get
them used to the term and the concepts. Support, width and depth can all be discussed in terms of the shape. The players should look to adapt their play to that shape. It is much easier to understand and see a team shape with a team of 4 or 5 than it is 11. Movement of players within the shape can be demonstrated. For instance as a player in the back goes forward, a forward player can rotate back.

         At a more advanced level, the coach can use different shapes to address different things. For example, in a 1-2-1 shape, the coach may want to work on the play of the back player as a sweeper or the wing play of the two halfbacks. In the 2-2 shape, the work of the forward two players may be stressed or the coordination of the back two players on defense.

       The coach may also ask the team to assume different shapes depending upon their status. For instance, on defense, a team may be in a 3-1, but on the attack assume a 1-2-1 shape.

       Get your team in shape at practice--you'll be glad you did.

Practice Tip - Walkie Talkie

        To help increase the need for communication by key information providers such as the goalkeeper or center back or center halfback, train them external to the ball. That is, during a inter-squad scrimmage, pull the player out of play (different color pinny), but position them around their normal position. Their only job is to direct play of the players around them. This is another good way to make use of the players who are not playing at the time. I've even done this with players who are not practicing due to minor injury.

        The coach can help direct the kind of talk the player needs to be making. For instance, some situations demand a command, such as "Go to ball," or "Mark up 10!" Some situations require information, such as "Watch 10 moving in behind you." Other times, positive reinforcement is needed, "Keep your feet moving. Keep him wide." 

       By taking away the responsibility of being part of play, the player can be trained to recognize and communicate what is going on in the game. Hopefully, this will carry over into play where he can do both. 

Practice Tip - (Goalkeeper) Grip Check 

    After a coach or trainer has properly instructed the goalkeeper (GK) on the fine art of catching a ball, it may be time to check out the hand position on the catch by kicking the ball while the is still holding it.

     One easy way to do this is for the GK to do a sit-up while holding the ball. As the ball is brought forward, the coach kicks the ball. The weight of kick should increase on each kick. The GK should start to get a good comfort level if the ball is still held after a hard kick. Instead of doing a setup, the coach could toss a sitting GK the ball, stepping in and kicking the ball immediately after the catch.

     A ball is probably more likely to be kicked while in a GK's possession in a game after a diving or breakaway save. After the GK makes a diving save off a coach's serve, the coach should kick at the ball as it is planted on the ground.

     This simple process of kicking the ball while being held by the GK gives immediate feedback to the GK and coach as to hand position and strength when holding the ball after a save. More importantly, it gives the GK a high confidence level that a ball can still be held after a hard kick. This is especially on the breakaway saves.

Exercise of the Day
Wing Back Overlap Shooting Pattern

Here is a pattern of play that can be used in a shooting practice. By playing the initial pass before the prior group has finished with a shot will keep play going.

Player C (center halfback) checks to the Player A (wing back); A plays to C and makes a run down the touch; C drops to player B (center back) and spins out; B plays a long ball over the top to the corner for A to run onto. A
carries the ball towards the near post along the goal line; C makes run on goal 12-18 yards out, as A plays back angle; C shoots.

  . A                B
 .   \             / /
 .    \  1        / /
 .     \         / /
 .      \     2 / /
 .       \     / /
 .        \   / /
 .         \ / /
 .          C./. .
 .           /     .
 .          /        .
 .         /         .
 .        /          .
 .       / 3         .
 .      /            c
 .     /           / |
 .    /          /   |
 .   /         /  4  |
 .  /        /       | shot
 a +++++++++         V

... run
 
+++ dribble

/ pass