Helena Arsenal Soccer Games and Exercises from insidesoccer.com: 2009

INTRO

Hi Coaches,

For those who don't know me, my name is Simon Perkins and I am the Technical Director for the Helena Arsenal Soccer Club. I have reorganized this site in an attempt to provide you with an online library of useful training exercises and games from insidesoccer.com (in case you are unfamiliar with the website, insidesoccer.com is an incredible, vast online resource that presents 3-5 minute video clips of coaches from the top professional clubs around the world working with their youth teams on specific tactical and technical elements of the game). Many Arsenal coaches seemed to enjoy and utilize the videos and the commentary that I share via weekly emails. So I have taken all the insidesoccer videos from previous emails and categorized them by themes that are easy to navigate.

Please note, insidesoccer has become so popular recently that they now charge a subscription to use their website. To take advantage of all of their helpful coaching resources, you can buy the "Bootroom Subscription," or if you want to save some money, choose the "Coach Subscription" (only $7.95 a month and gives you access to all of the coaching videos). To browse subscription options, go to https://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/subscription.

The idea is for you to use this website as a place to borrow and explore ideas in order to create a productive and enjoyable practice plan for your players. Within the last year, insidesoccer has added many, many new videos, all comprised of great content. The best thing you can do as a coach is take the time to browse their website using their search engine that allows you to refine searches based on specific tactical and technical themes. You will find a ton of great stuff. But if you find the site a little overwhelming, please use this blog as a tool to help you become comfortable with the insidesoccer experience. Use the categories on the right to browse a brief list of examples demonstrating different exercises you can run with your team.

Once practices begin, I will continue to send out emails introducing new insidesoccer videos or possibly revisiting old clips that I think are highly beneficial (all new material will be added to this site in a "new videos" section before being appropriately categorized).

Please keep several things in mind while viewing the insidesoccer videos on this site. Remember that the kids you are watching are the top players in the world for their age, and therefore you need to adjust your expectations, and possibly certain formats of the exercises, accordingly. As coaches, your aim should be to focus on the technical and tactical ideas that are illustrated in the videos and observe how these professional coaches use specific exercises and games to teach these concepts. I have included my own notes with each video link that should help demonstrate how best to mimic or adapt these exercises with our Helena Arsenal teams. But keep in mind that each of these exercises and games can be progressed and stretched in many ways, allowing them to be beneficial and interesting to younger kids all the way up to very experienced players (college and professional teams often practice elementary concepts in advanced ways in order to reinforce proper technique and habits).

Also, watch and observe the coaches in the videos in terms of their coaching methods and behavior. The bottom line is that we as coaches are trying to create a positive learning environment for our players--one that is supportive in promoting proper technical and tactical concepts, as well as allowing players to explore the game and learn for themselves within the flow of play. It is easy to fall into the habit of "over-coaching" during a practice, but try to be tactful and timely with your interjections (don't stop play too often) and give the players an appropriate amount of feedback (don't overload them with things they need to correct, but rather pick the one or two ideas that are most important).

Thanks and please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, ideas or feedback. I really enjoy interacting and connecting with all the teams, coaches and players and I hope to be helpful in any way you see fit. I can be reached through email at simonrperkins@gmail.com or on my mobile (802 598 5256) or home (422 5750). I look forward to spending time with all of you on the pitch.

Simon

DRIBBLING/BALL CONTROL

Dribbling and Close Control -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=455&pro=1
This is a great exercise to focus on dribbling technique with U11s and U12s, but it is also something that can be done with older teams (think fitness relay races, or have players/coaches standing at the end of the cones serving them a volley that they have to pass back--there are many ways to make this more advanced and challenging). As you will see, the video clip shows examples of making the exercise more technically demanding. Have the players pay attention to what surface of the foot they are using--for instance, when they are returning to the line, they want to point their toe to the ground and use their laces for straight ahead dribbling at pace.

Dribbling and Ball Control Technique

Here are two different technical exercises that you can run using the same cone setup. The idea is to get the players as many touches on the ball while emphasizing proper technique. Similar to the other technical exercises, you won't necessary see results after one training session, but repeating these exercises will allow your players to get more comfortable on the ball over the course of the season.

http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=608 -- This dribbling exercise gives the players a number of differently opportunities to get comfortable on the ball. Remember, in general, great coaches try to limit touches and unnecessary dribbling in POSSESSION situations (the players want to anticipate, move the ball quickly, and let the ball do the work). But all players should be encouraged to improve and perfect their touch on the ball, and there are many situations (going to goal, one-on-one attacking, etc.) where great ball and dribbling control is crucial. In the above exercise, younger teams should be encouraged to start slow and make sure they have the technique correct (they can speed up the tempo once they feel comfortable). With older teams, push the players above their comfort level in order to challenge themselves and get better.

http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=626 -- Again, know your team and skill level--parts of the exercise might not be appropriate for younger players, although try and figure out where and how you can push/challenge them. Don't be afraid to add your own spin or adaptations to this exercise, whether it is exploring different parts of the foot to use or more difficult ball control techniques. In all of these videos, try to pay close attention to the proper technique used. All of these players use great form in the exercises and can serve as blueprints for our players.

U11-U13 Technique and Fitness for Older Teams -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=322

As simplistic as this exercise looks, it is a great blueprint to build upon as far as technique and other concepts, including fitness. Regarding technique, the drill can be used as a warm-up or a device to focus on form. Obviously, you want to switch back and forth so that the players have to pass with both their right and left feet. Make sure their first touch is a positive one out of their feet, they are dribbling with their head up, and they deliver a pass with the proper weight. You can mix it up to progress the exercise, for instance have them deliver a short pass through the gates with the outside of their foot, have older teams deliver longer balls in the air through the gates to each other, reduce or increase the number of touches each player takes after receiving and before passing (remember, when dribbling with speed with fewer touches, the player should have their toe pointed down and dribble with their laces), etc. You can set up cone obstacles in each channel for the players to dribble around/through before each pass. Don't be afraid to get creative, especially if you are using this as a fitness exercise. For example, you can make the players push themselves and go at a high speed and you can have each player receive the pass with a long touch out in front, drop quickly into two push-ups/sit-ups/burpies/somersault and then sprint to make the next pass.

Passing & Ball Control -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=504&pro=1

This is a great warm-up or can be a high tempo exercise that allows players to focus on their technique. You can adapt the exercise so that it fits the skill level of your team (make it practical, but also don't be afraid to challenge them a little towards the end). The girls in the video practice a number of different passes that are technically difficult, but this exercise can also be highly successful with a variety of simple passes. Allow your players to get a lot of repetitions as this is the best way to fine tune technique.

PASSING

Passing Technique and Ball Control

The following are two warm-up exercises that I like to do with my players. They are pretty straight forward and involve movement and passing. The objective is to keep everyone on their toes and get the blood flowing (you will want to stop and stretch every few minutes) and to focus on technique and proper weight of the pass. Ideally, the objective is one-touch passing, but you want the exercise to work so if a player needs to take a second touch, that is ok. Push the players to make the passing and the movement as perfect as possible.

1. http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=464

2. http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=463

After the warm-up, you can take the concept to the next level with the following technique exercise: http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=177&pro=1. This, or similar adaptations, are practiced by the top professional clubs around the world (in this case Boca Juniors, the dominant club in Argentina). The emphasis is on touch and ball control. Make the exercise appropriate for your team's skill level (for instance, the younger teams might struggle with the outside of the foot volley or other aerial passes). However, don't be afraid to challenge your players--these are the types of exercises you want to repeat and, if practiced regularly, you will see a great improvement in ball control over the course of the season. Make sure you explain and practice the difference between a defensive and an offensive header--defensive headers should be met at the highest point and headed "up and away" to their teammates, and offensive headers should be headed down, or in this case straight into a teammates hands at their chest or mid-section. With the dribbling, encourage the players to use all parts of the foot (remember, with a fast straight-ahead dribble, the toe should be pointed down and the touch should be with the laces). Obviously, with older teams, coaches have the option of turning this entire exercise into a fitness session, making the players perform everything at high speeds.

Passing & Off-Ball Movement -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=530&pro=1

I love using this exercise as a warmup or high tempo activity to focus on the technique of passing and receiving and the tactical element of moving off the ball to support a player in possession. Note the setup and rotation (the ball always starts at the cones with two players). Younger teams may want to try, or at least start with one ball. Make sure the players are productive with their first touch. They don't want to be simply stopping and collecting the ball at their feet, but rather using their first touch to set up their next action (remember "anticipation" rather than "reaction"). Note the progression to combination plays and pay particular attention to the movement and passes so that you can demo them correctly. Throughout all of these progressions, you want your players finding some sort of rhythm to the exercise so that they can execute it correctly with good flow and tempo. They also need to really concentrate on their passes (both accuracy and the weight of the pass) and touches, as well as their off-ball movement and where they need to be to offer support. With older teams, make your players play one-touch (younger teams might need a few more touches to make it work). This increases the tempo and demands that the off-ball movement be early, forcing the players supporting the ball to be mentally sharp and focused. Be patient with your players--some teams take a couple more minutes to get the rotation and flow of each progression, but encourage those players who are quick to understand to communicate and help each other out. This promotes leadership in the flow of play as well as the idea that players should be looking to make each other better. After all, with soccer, much more can be achieved in a game-type situation if players can sort things out collectively for themselves rather than having EVERYTHING communicated from the bench.

Passing With Movement -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=482

This is a great passing exercise for your players to focus on the technique of short and long passes, as well as their runs off the ball. It can also be used as a warmup or even a fitness exercise. It looks fairly simple, but note the runs and passes made by each color so that you can clearly explain them to your players. Emphasize the importance of the weight of the pass--with older teams, the longer pass can be a driven ball in the air. Also note how the coach instructs the players to check away before receiving the pass--this is a habit that we want to instill in our players, especially the younger ones (it is something that can be included in all of your passing drills/exercises). With my team, I had enough players that I put a player in yellow in the middle and he was replaced by the yellow who passed him the ball. One they got comfortable with this, I added a second yellow in the middle, kept the same type of rotation, but had them play with two balls at the same time (the balls started at opposite ends of the rectangle). Make sure you swap the players so that both colors get a chance to make the different runs and supports off the ball.

Passing, Turning & Combination Play -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=247&pro=1 -- This is a great exercise that can be used as a warmup or a drill to emphasize proper passing technique and different forms of passing combination in a game-like scenario. In a game, we prefer for our players to attack in numbers (rather than string out a lone striker by hitting him or her long balls repeatedly). This exercise allows the players to become comfortable with typical ball movement and support in regard to working the ball up through the midfield to the strikers and creating a collective attack. Note the player rotation within the exercise. The turns can be done with either the inside or the outside of the foot, but encourage the player to do it quickly and decisively in order to separate from the "defender." Keep the tempo high. In the second part of the exercise, encourage your team to play one-touch.

Passing Technique, Movement, and Mental Awareness

Soccer is a great sport because as coaches we can't call time outs to draw up plays and regroup our team. Players have to learn how to think for themselves so that they can collectively deal with the ups and downs that come with the flow of play over an entire half of soccer. This demands constant mental sharpness and concentration. Try to push your players in this regard. In other sports, coaches usually push players in practice by demanding a really high work rate, for instance in running plays or straightforward fitness exercises. And although a high work rate is important in soccer practices, you also want to make sure that you are pushing your players mentally as well. This is just as important (if not more so!) and sometimes more difficult than the physical demand as it forces players to think for themselves, become "schemers," think creatively, and embrace the conceptual side of the game.

http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=353 -- This is a very simple passing exercise that can be used as a warmup (with intermittent stretching). Have the players focus on the weight of the pass and their first touch (their first touch should be productive and setting up their pass, or in other words in the direction of the recipient). Before anything else, demand that your players be mentally sharp with their runs and give them the incentive to not make a single mistake. You can advance the exercise by increasing the speed of the exercise, or with one-touch passing (the runs need to be made faster). As Ose says in the video, encourage them to use all surfaces of the foot with their touches and passes.

http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=354 -- Again, another fairly simple passing exercise where you can demand a high level of concentration from your players. You can incorporate a sit-up consequence if any mental mistakes are made. Again, focus on first touch and weight of the pass. Increase the tempo so that the decisions need to be made quickly. I would advance this exercise to one-touch passing, demanding more focus and faster decisions from the players.

Passing & Combination Play-- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=481

This unopposed passing game can be a great warm-up or an exercise leading up to a possession game. It promotes the essential concepts of combination play, for example movement off the ball, early support, and quick ball movement. Technically, players should be focusing on good touches and proper weight on their passes. Older teams should play one-touch. Note the passing combination and rotation/movement of the players off the ball so that you can spell it out clearly for the players in a demo. Once the players get the hang of it, you can ask them to speed up the tempo. Also note the coach's emphasis on "not killing the space" with the angled supporting run. Remind the players passing and receiving the ball that each pass should be setting up the next one in the progression. In this regard, older players should be focusing on passing to a specific foot in order to set up their teammate's next action. If younger players must take more than one touch to make it work, ask them to be productive with their first touch and take it in the direction of their next pass instead of killing the ball at their feet with a "trap."

Technical Coordination With Passing

http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=480

This exercise is great because of the repetitions it provides the players. It can be used as a warmup, a mid-practice technical session, or even a fitness session, depending on the pace and work rate you want to ask of your players. Remember, especially if you are coaching younger teams, you probably want to use this exercise to develop proper technique and therefore you should make sure that the exercise is going slow enough for the players to become comfortable performing each function correctly. Encourage your players to adopt proper footwork by finding an "inner rhythm" during the exercise as well as staying on their toes. Also, you can adjust and substitute certain techniques if you want it to be more or less demanding for your players (this will probably depend on their age and skill level). But try to plan for enough techniques that are appropriate for your players, or in other words some that allow them to be successful and build confidence but also others that push and challenge them to a certain extent. You can use the examples in the video or you can incorporate ones you have learned in the past. I hope you enjoy:

SHOOTING/FINISHING

Shooting Technique

As far as technique, emphasize proper balance while shooting. Encourage your players to lock their shooting ankle and to use their touch to set up the proper approach on the ball (this should be close to a 45 degrees, not straight on). For a video on proper technique, you can check out h ttp://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=304 (when David Alred says "get your kicking foot down," he is talking about landing on your shooting foot--this is critical to getting power behind the shot and a big difference from striking a long ball or pass). Also, you often hear coaches tell players to get their head over the ball when shooting to keep the shot from flying over the crossbar. The flight of the ball actually has nothing to do with your head, but more the relationship between your shooting knee and foot. If a player is shooting the ball high every time, make sure their knee is not too far behind their foot when they make contact and tell them to focus on striking the middle or top half of the ball.

Shooting With Combination Plays

With shooting exercises, I prefer to get my players as many repetitions as possible, allowing proper technique to become second nature for the kids.

http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=244 -- This exercise brings three shooting scenarios into play and offers continuous shooting on goal. It is demonstrated with younger players, but I do it with my U19 team and they get a lot out of it (I obviously ask them to raise the bar a little higher as far as technique and production than I would U12s). Also, you only need one goal, which is often the scenario on the Arsenal practice fields. Have the players rotate between the three lines, and change in different goalies if you have them. Make sure the cones are the appropriate distance away from goal for your players (I also like setting up a cone as a stationary defender for the first line of players to perform their move around). And emphasize quick shots--we want the players to become comfortable in quickly creating a window to shoot on goal, rather than taking a ton of touches and potentially losing their scoring opportunity. The objective is to score, but if the players have the choice you would prefer them to shoot low and to the far corner, as this produces the best rebounds for teammates if the goalie can not field the shot cleanly.

Crossing, Shooting & Finishing -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=474

This finishing exercises allows players to focus on crosses, finishing from crosses, and shooting on goal. Note the rotation and the quick repetitions. Encourage a quick turn around the cone from the player crossing the ball. Also explain that players should not be looking to dribble down to the corner flag (or end line) before crossing--early crosses are usually extremely effective as the player tries to cross the ball into the area behind the defense (but out of the reach of the goalie) for his or her attacking teammates to run onto. Also explain how a ball crossed with pace is easier to redirect into the back of the net. If the cross is floated in, the player finishing the ball usually tries to put more power behind the shot which makes it more difficult to be accurate. The coach in the video uses two goals, which is ideal, however if you only have access to one big goal, you can set up a tiny goal for the shooting player to strike the ball into.

POSSESSION

Example of the Value and Beauty of Possession--

I wanted to send you a collection of clips demonstrating great possession soccer because there is nothing like seeing its beauty and benefit in real game situations. Notice how pretty much all of the play is one or two-touch passing. Also notice the early off-ball movement by supporting players as well as the anticipation and quick decision making of the player off the ball (they usually have decided what they are going to do with the ball BEFORE receiving it). You can see how this quick ball movement makes the defense shift constantly, creating gaps for the offense to exploit. If a player were to take too many touches, this would just give the defense time to organize and setup behind the ball. It is a very entertaining video as it makes the play look so simple, although we all know how difficult it really is (the best players and teams in the world make the game look so easy). I hope you enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ortWLYEYnM

Possession With Neutral Targets -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=202&pro=1

This is a great possession game that focuses on quick passing and organized defense. As you can see in the video, when each team has the ball, it is basically a 4v2 possession game. Encourage your players to move the ball quickly (one and two touch) and to know what they want to do with the ball before they receive it. The team on offense is trying to make the defense constantly shift and stretch the field with their passing by finding one of the target players. The defense should be organized with good pressure and support. When a defender wins the ball, he should find one of his target players immediately and quickly shift to an offensive role. Place a big emphasis on quick transitions from defense to offense and vice versa, as this is a significant concept in the game of soccer. Teams that can transition back and forth faster than their opponents are more organized, can anticipate faster, and hold a huge advantage.

Possession With Advantage In Own Half -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=573&pro=1

This clip shows the Valencia (Spain) U15 team playing a simple possession game that I love to run with my Arsenal team for both indoor and outdoor practices, although it can be great for younger ages as well. Personally, I think the game works better if the numbers are 5 or 6 versus 2 in each half, with the grids being slightly bigger (if you have bigger numbers, you can even go 7 or 8 players in each half, with the other team sending 3 defenders). Encourage the offensive players to move early off the ball to support and tell the player in possession to move the ball quickly in order to be productive (advise him or her to try and know where he/she wants to go with the ball before receiving it). With the older age groups, enforce a two or even one touch limit to promote this idea, especially if you are like me and have a 6v2 or a scenario with a big offensive advantage. Also, give the defenders a counter objective and tell them to find their teammates in the other half if they win the ball (rather than simply kicking it out of bounds). If they do this successfully, encourage them to find the teammate that is deepest in their offensive half, as that player not only has the most space, but the best vision of the field as well. Also, ask your players on offense to focus on their body position, keeping themselves "open" to the field. You want the restarts to be fast, as to avoid interrupting the flow, so have balls ready.

Directional Possession -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=229

This is one of my favorite conditioned games as it places an emphasis on possession but also incorporates a directional element. This game can be played in a small area, but it is also effective in a much larger playing area (sometimes I use an entire half of a pitch, with the length being from sideline to sideline and the width between the half field line and the top of the eighteen yard box extended). Players in the end-zone are neutral, and I like to have them act as goal keepers who can use their hands to catch passes and distribute. I also like to have one or two players in the middle who are neutral goal keepers as well. Not only does this give the team in possession an advantage, but it also allows the goal keepers to practice hand-eye coordination and connect with the flow of play (something we want them doing in a game). Note how when a team finds a neutral player in the end-zone, they quickly get the ball back and go the opposite way. If the team on defense wins the ball, they want to quickly find an end-zone player to establish possession and attempt to work the ball in the other direction. However, although there is a directional element to this game, players should be looking to possess the ball first and foremost. You don't want teams giving the ball away needlessly just because they are trying to get forward. Note in the video how players often play back to the neutral end-zone player to keep possession.

Three Team Possession -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=374

This is a great possession game that is prevalent throughout the world of soccer, from youth teams to college and pro teams. I prefer making it 6v3, 8v4, or even 10v5, obviously with a bigger playing area. You always want a 2:1 ration, so three teams of the same number, with two teams together on offense. On offense, make the players move the ball quickly, knowing where they are going with the ball before they receive it. Note how the team on offense that gives it away immediately switches to defense, now defending the other two teams. This game highlights quick thinking and fast transition back and forth between offense and defense. Make the players quickly sort out any confusion through communication. Do not let your players stand around trying to figure out which team is on defense after a change of possession--make them think and adjust quickly and accordingly (even if the players mess up and the wrong team ends up on defense, let the play continue--the emphasis is on players taking a quick initiative to sort it out). Soccer is a game of flow and constant transitioning, and this game forces your players to embrace that concept. With an older team, especially if it is 8v4 or 10v5, limit the amount of touches each player can take on offense (for 8v4, see http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=203&pro=1 although ignore the last part of the clip).

Possession & Switching Play -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=360 When possessing in soccer, teams are looking to anticipate, make early supporting runs off the ball, and to know what they want to do before receiving the ball in order to move the ball quickly (and let the ball do the work). Part of possession involves finding the areas on the field to relieve pressure and create space. "Switching play" is an important concept in soccer, and encouraging your players to be aware and keep their heads up to achieve this objective not only helps your team maintain possession, but also makes the defense shift, creating gaps that can be exploited. In this exercise, don't be afraid to add more neutral players to give the team on offense a bigger advantage (sometimes players need this at first to make the concept work). Notice the quick restarts--the coach never disrupts the flow of the game. You can also use this game to focus on defensive ideas by forcing the team without possession to communicate and stay organized as they shift back and forth (their objective is to defend the goals while not letting themselves get to stretched apart).

Possession With Neutral Players-- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=328

This possession game may be more geared toward older teams (U13+), but can be done with younger ages using smaller numbers and certain restrictions (you know your team and what works best for them, so don't be afraid to tweak the exercise so that it works for your players). Let the players on the outside be unopposed by other outside players, but limit their touches to one or two touch (I also allow outside players to be able to pass to each other and through the cone goals--this makes them keep their head up and be aware of opportunities beyond those that are right in front of them). With older, more experienced teams, you can eventually challenge them by limiting their touches inside the grid as well. Even though there are goal objectives, each teams' number one priority should be to POSSESS the ball, and use their numbers advantage with the players on the outside of the grid. Obviously rotate the players from the outside to the inside after a set amount of time. Demand that the team in possession move off the ball early to support, know where they are going with the ball before they receive it (ANTICIPATION!!), and move the ball quickly. You can also advance this game by allowing players on the outside to take-over and dribble inside once they have received a pass from a teammate inside the grid (the player passing them the ball would replace them on the outside).

Possession With Objective-- h ttp://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=435&pro=1

"Passing & Interception Game." -- If you were to get the chance to attend a training session of any professional club in Europe, chances are you will see this game being played. It is also great for youth teams of all ages. I think it works best with three teams of four, but it is also very doable with teams of five or even three. There is no need for corner flags, as cones work just fine. Encourage the teams on offense to move the ball quickly to create gaps in the defense and instruct the defense to try and stay organized (if, after a while, the players struggle to develop any fluidity to the game, take away one defender to give the teams on offense a slight advantage). "Goals" can be scored with a successful pass from one side to the other (see which defensive team can give up the fewest goals over a set period of time). Obviously, rotate the team on defense, and to advance the game, if the team on defense wins the ball, they can replace the team on offense that gave the ball away. To advance it even further, especially with older teams, you can allow the team on defense to send one defender out of the middle grid to challenge the team on offense in possession (if you do this, you might want to make the grids a little bigger). I would ignore the last 1:30 of the video where they go to goal. Instead I would focus on quick restarts and maintaining a good flow to the exercise.

Possession & Early Off-Ball Movement -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=625 This is a great game to highlight the importance of early off-ball movement to support the ball. Explain the need to play quickly (one or two-touch passes) in such a small area. This can easily be played with four on each team--for the team on offense not in possession, have two players stand in the middle grid opposite the grid where the possession is being played. The emphasis in this game is on the players who are on offense but not in possession of the ball. Their challenge is to anticipate and move quickly so they can arrive in the appropriate grid early to support the ball once their teams receives it. Explain how in soccer it is essential for players off the ball to be very much involved in the play (in a game there are 22 players on the field and only one soccer ball--the best players are the ones that work effectively and efficiently off the ball to make their teammates better). I think this game works best if you keep one team on defense for a set amount of time and then rotate. If the defense wins the ball, or if possession is lost for any other reason, simply get the ball back in play quickly and restart. You can play that the team which loses the ball has to immediately go to defense, however this can make things complicated and may cause disruptions in the flow of play.

Possession, Scoring & Defending -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=570&pro=1

This is a great conditioned game that incorporates a lot of soccer concepts and creates an environment that allows for many scoring opportunities in order to practice shooting and attacking. In the video, Valencia's reserve team uses the entire half of the field for this game, however it can be performed in a much smaller playing area. I like to play on a field that is approximately 30 yards long and about the width of the 18-yard box. I love playing with two large goals, however if you do not have such access, they can be substituted with smaller goals (without goalies if need be). The emphasis for the team in possession should be to move the ball quickly in order to exploit the find gaps in the defense, thus creating scoring opportunities that MUST be taken quickly (this game punishes the player who takes too many touches in front of goal which is why I love it so much). The team on defense wants to stay as organized as possible and transition quickly after winning possession. Note the touch restrictions explained in the video (two-touch for the players on the field and one-touch for the neutral players off the field). This is the standard we should strive for with all of our older teams, and although the restrictions might be tough with some of the younger teams, we should still be emphasizing quick ball movement. In the video, the Valencia coach lets the teams play for four minutes before rotating them out with the neutral team on the outside. I often like to modify the game so that when a team scores a goal, they immediately get the ball from the goal or goalie that they just scored on and they attack in the other direction. The neutral team hustles on to take the place of the team that just got scored on, who becomes the neutral team on the outside. This way, the players on the outside are always involved as neutral players, however they must be ready to quickly defend the appropriate goal after a goal is scored.

ATTACKING PRINCIPLES

Attacking With a Numerical Advantage -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=533&pro=1

This exercise helps players practice executing scoring opportunities with a numerical advantage. Help your players understand that in a game there will most likely be other defenders recovering back to the goal, so the attack needs to be performed with pace and direction. If a player takes too many touches and slows the attack down, they will almost certainly lose their chance on goal (if you need to emphasize this point, you can add a second defender who starts ten yards behind the attackers and chases down the play after the attackers take their first touch). Encourage quick decision making and early shots on goal. Note the overlapping run of the second attacker--this adds horizontal movement to the vertical direction of the play, which is an important concept when going to goal as it makes life difficult for the defender (a defender loves it when attacking players stay in their "channels" and make the play predictable). In a numerical advantage situation, the player with the ball usually wants to draw the defender before passing (although holding the ball too long can create an offsides situation). However, please be advised that this is a dangerous concept to teach players and needs to be done with care. In possession scenarios, if players always try to draw defenders before passing the ball, it often slows down the play, kills ball movement, causes the flow to become static, and allows defenders the time to get organized behind the ball. In these types of situations, players are usually better off moving the ball quickly, even if a defender is not in their immediate vicinity, and making the defenders constantly shift and chase, which creates gaps to exploit and makes possessing the ball much easier.

Attacking With a Numerical Advantage 2.0

If you think your team is ready for a more advanced attack exercise, try http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=531&pro=1. This is a very realistic counter attack situation where a midfielder plays the ball into a strikers feet and then it is laid off creating a 3v2 situation. Note how effective the overlapping runs, or horizontal movement mixed with the vertical attack, are when the players choose to execute it. In this case, the defenders should be looking to force play into the corners and also try to block shots and passes without stabbing.

Transition -- h ttp://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=317&pro=1

This is a great exercise for players of all ages, as it promotes the essential concept of transitioning in the flow of play. In the game of soccer, a team has a huge advantage if they can transition quickly, specifically from offense to defense and vice versa, as they stay much more organized as a team. This ability usually translates to more attacking/scoring opportunities for your team and less easy chances for your opponents. But this concept must be embraced and executed by the players--it cannot be something achieved by a coach yelling from the bench (much like most other soccer tactics). The best part about this exercise is that the pair that "falls asleep" suffers and the teams that stays mentally sharp benefits. As a coach, have a number of balls ready for quick restarts in order to promote the fast pace, up-tempo action, and quick transitions.

Crossing & Finishing -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=532&pro=1

Please fast forward to the 1:13 mark of the video (the first minute is a shadow walk-through that focuses on crossing, which you can choose to explore if you would like, but I want to concentrate on the second part of the video). This is one of my favorite conditioned crossing games because it provides many repetitions, a number of scoring opportunities, and constant flow combined with quick transitions. You need two goals, so if you are sharing a field, you might have to work something out where you borrow a second goal for a limited amount of time. The wide players in the channels are neutral serving crosses into whichever team plays them the ball. You can advance the exercise by allowing the outside players on the weak side to come in as an additional attacker on a cross. The crosses should be delivered with pace (not lofted). It is always easier to simply redirect a cross with pace into the back of the net than try to put extra force behind a shot when trying to finish a "floated" pass into the box.

Also, try to explain to your players the advantage of early crosses. Many players feel the need to dribble to the end-line before crossing the ball into the box. Often, this mistake allows the defenders time to get back, set up, and organize in front of the goal. A wing player looking to play the ball early can often exploit the defense by sending a cross into the area behind the defenders and beyond the range of the goalie (usually between the top of the eighteen and the penalty spot, sometimes closer depending on the keeper). This allows the strikers to run onto a ball in front of them and also makes the defenders turn and have to defend facing their own net, which is always difficult. Additionally, make sure the attacking players "frame" the box with smart runs to different spots (usually near post, far post, and penalty spot), and they must be sure to time their runs accordingly so that they don't get too deep too early, which would result in the cross landing behind them. Lastly, if the cross ends up at the back post and there is not a good scoring angle, get your players into the habit of heading or serving the ball back across the face of the goal (toward the top of the six-yard box) in an effort to find a teammate with a better scoring opportunity.

Possession, Scoring & Defending -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=570&pro=1

This is a great conditioned game that incorporates a lot of soccer concepts and creates an environment that allows for many scoring opportunities in order to practice shooting and attacking. In the video, Valencia's reserve team uses the entire half of the field for this game, however it can be performed in a much smaller playing area. I like to play on a field that is approximately 30 yards long and about the width of the 18-yard box. I love playing with two large goals, however if you do not have such access, they can be substituted with smaller goals (without goalies if need be). The emphasis for the team in possession should be to move the ball quickly in order to exploit the find gaps in the defense, thus creating scoring opportunities that MUST be taken quickly (this game punishes the player who takes too many touches in front of goal which is why I love it so much). The team on defense wants to stay as organized as possible and transition quickly after winning possession. Note the touch restrictions explained in the video (two-touch for the players on the field and one-touch for the neutral players off the field). This is the standard we should strive for with all of our older teams, and although the restrictions might might be tough with some of the younger teams, we should still be emphasizing quick ball movement. In the video, the Valencia coach lets the teams play for four minutes before rotating them out with the neutral team on the outside. I often like to modify the game so that when a team scores a goal, they immediately get the ball from the goal or goalie that they just scored on and they attack in the other direction. The neutral team hustles on to take the place of the team that just got scored on, who becomes the neutral team on the outside. This way, the players on the outside are always involved as neutral players, however they must be ready to quickly defend the appropriate goal after a goal is scored.

DEFENDING PRINCIPLES

Art of Defending -- As in football, basketball, ice hockey, and other sports, sometimes a team can experience a huge "lift" from a great defensive play. In college and in England, I remember being more fired up about great tackles as opposed to goals or one-on-one moves. Try and instill a sense of this in your team. If they need some motivation, email them this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRSzSNfTPvk&NR=1. Although we like to encourage patient and composed defending for the most part, and despite the fact that in Montana we are generally not allowed to play soccer as physically as in other parts of the country or world (i.e. England), this video will get any defender's blood pumping.

As far as exercises, here are two simple games to encourage good small group defending. Jeff Bookman is a phenomenal coach in Chelsea's youth system, and these exact drills are often done at the college and professional level as well as with younger ages.

http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=342

Although it is a little confusing, the objective in this game is to get the ball from the player at the top of the diamond to the one at the bottom of the diamond, or vice versa. For older teams, explain to the players on offense that they will be most successful if they move the ball quickly with one or two touch play (this also pressures the defenders to be quick in their organization).

http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=343

Explain to your defenders that the idea is to pressure/direct the ball into defensive support. For the older ages, demand quick ball movement (one-touch passing allows the players on offense to split the defenders easier) and quick defensive positioning. You can also divide the players into pairs, cycling each pair into the defensive role, and see which team allows the fewest goals (the ball going from one end to the other) in a certain time limit.

Defending & Fitness -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=192&pro=1

This is a great fitness game. It also emphasizes good possession. When a player is tired, the first two things to go are the mental awareness and his or her touch, so encourage the offense and defense to focus on maintaining both. I think this works best with FOUR players on offense in each grid (the number of grids will depend on how many players are at practice). Also, you can add space in between each grid if you want to achieve further fitness. Note how the defenders have to go through all the grids TWICE without stopping before rotating in a new pair. Also note how there is a gate, made up of two orange cones, that the defenders are suppose to go through after they run the length on the outside and before they enter first the grid (this is done correctly at the 2:02 mark in the video).

Transition -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=317&pro=1

Possession, Scoring & Defending -- http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=570&pro=1

This is a great conditioned game that incorporates a lot of soccer concepts and creates an environment that allows for many scoring opportunities in order to practice shooting and attacking. In the video, Valencia's reserve team uses the entire half of the field for this game, however it can be performed in a much smaller playing area. I like to play on a field that is approximately 30 yards long and about the width of the 18-yard box. I love playing with two large goals, however if you do not have such access, they can be substituted with smaller goals (without goalies if need be). The emphasis for the team in possession should be to move the ball quickly in order to exploit the find gaps in the defense, thus creating scoring opportunities that MUST be taken quickly (this game punishes the player who takes too many touches in front of goal which is why I love it so much). The team on defense wants to stay as organized as possible and transition quickly after winning possession. Note the touch restrictions explained in the video (two-touch for the players on the field and one-touch for the neutral players off the field). This is the standard we should strive for with all of our older teams, and although the restrictions might might be tough with some of the younger teams, we should still be emphasizing quick ball movement. In the video, the Valencia coach lets the teams play for four minutes before rotating them out with the neutral team on the outside. I often like to modify the game so that when a team scores a goal, they immediately get the ball from the goal or goalie that they just scored on and they attack in the other direction. The neutral team hustles on to take the place of the team that just got scored on, who becomes the neutral team on the outside. This way, the players on the outside are always involved as neutral players, however they must be ready to quickly defend the appropriate goal after a goal is scored.

FITNESS

First thing is first, you must be diligent when it comes to fitness. There is an argument out there as to whether or not fitness exercises even benefit or are necessary for younger players (U10 and U11). I don't necessarily agree with one side or the other, but my point is that we must each take into account the age level and ability of our teams and plan accordingly. With that said, there are many ways to tweak and modify some of the exercises below to better suit your players.

Personally, I grew up hating fitness, especially when it came time to dedicate part of practice to them. But when I played over in England and for my coach in college (who was also English) I was exposed to some great fitness exercises that were a lot of fun, as well as competitive and very beneficial (these are the types of fitness exercises that you will see many professional clubs run if you ever get a chance to watch a training session). Often, they involve relay races that incorporated agility, footwork, speed and conditioning, where players have to navigate different patterns of cones while sprinting/shuffling/hopping/rolling/etc. and they almost always incorporate a ball, whether the person in motion is running at speed with the ball at his/her feet or holding it over their head the entire time, or even throwing it back and forth between a teammate. In England and in college, my soccer coaches were incredible at being creative and coming up with great exercises that were very challenging physically.

I think it is also very important to focus on the idea of "recovery." By this I mean both making sure the players have enough time to recover during fitness, but also helping them practice the different elements of recovery, since this is an important part of the game. At times, in between bursts of fitness, my college coach would have us recover on a very, very, very slow jog, and he made us focus on our breathing which allowed us to lower our heart rate so that we trained our bodies to recover on the move (obviously very appropriate to the game of soccer). While we were recovering on the jog, we were usually in two lines and he would give us commands (like "up" to jump up or "down" to touch the ground, etc.) but he would mix them all up (so "up" actually meant down, etc.) to try to confuse us in order to force us to be extra sharp mentally while tired. If we quickly performed the action correctly when he shouted a specific command, we were okay, but if we were sloppy and slow and got it wrong, we would have to pay up with push-ups, sit-ups or what-have-you. So we were rewarded for staying mentally sharp when tired, (this also forced us to practice the important soccer concept of helping your teammates out, in this case by quickly telling each other the correct act to perform without letting anyone mess up).

Along with the mental game, a player's touch is the next thing to deteriorate when he or she becomes tired. Sometimes my coach would have us recover while juggling a ball between two people, forcing us to focus on our touch and being precise while tired. If we could keep it up for a certain amount of touches or time, we were in the clear. If not, again we would have to "pay up." The recovering activity was never physically demanding, but we had to focus every ounce of tired energy on being sharp mentally and physically. Occasionally, he would also run fitness exercises three quarters of the way through our practice/training session, and then ask/demand that we be very sharp in the final technical/tactical exercise. This emulated the last 10 minutes of a match and therefore we were training ourselves to stay sharp at the all important time when the other team is usually exhausted.

Check out http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=685&pro=1 and http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=684&pro=1. Both of these videos demonstrate several examples of the soccer movements and agility that we want our players to focus on during a fitness exercise. You can also be more creative with these exercises by working in the use of soccer balls (for instance the first video could be done as a relay race where the person running has to hold the ball over their head while going through the cones/ladders, then drop it for the speed dribble back to the line and then use their foot to flip it into the hands of the next person before they can go). Obviously you don't have all the equipment that this coach has, but you can find many different ways to make it work.

You can also use elements of a skills circuit to build into a relay race or any sort of fitness exercise for your team. A couple examples are http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=189&pro=1,

http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=503&pro=1,

http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=502&pro=1, and http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=504&pro=1. All of these can be made or incorporated into great fitness exercises, games, or even races that focus on elements of soccer.

Remember, you will have to make adjustments to make a fitness exercise appropriate for your team, but have some fun with it. In every other sport we see kids on the endline doing wind-sprints or shuttle runs. There are plenty of other ways to train our players for the specific needs of soccer, and you should find ways to train the mind along with the body.

http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=691 -- Here's an example of a fitness exercise that focuses on soccer agility and short bursts of speed. Of course you can make all of your own adjustments to this exercise, for instance making it a relay race, spreading the poles or cones out over a longer distance, making each player turn after going around the final cone to receive a ball in the air and then sprint with it back to their original line before the next player goes. Feel free to be creative, push the players to an appropriate degree, and look for ways to make it soccer related.

http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=709&pro=1 -- Although I'm not a huge fan of this exact circuit, it's another example of soccer related fitness. The players are going at a slow pace in the video in order to provide a demonstration, but you can obviously push the players to go at full speed. Feel free to substitute certain pieces of the circuit with ones that might be more beneficial or appropriate, whether it is a skill with the ball, and obstacle course, etc. Coaches should also be encouraged to incorporate some sort of mental aspect to some part of the circuit, making the players think and always be mentally sharp. You may always want to tweak the exercise so that it becomes a race between two teams (sometimes it is beneficial to get the competitive juices flowing).

http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=660 -- This is third example of a soccer related fitness exercise. Obviously, for fitness, this is performed at a higher tempo and the runs that follow the passes should be bursts of speed. Again, you can make little adjustments, but it demonstrates an exercise where soccer concepts are performed at pace, much like in a game. Like the other exercises, you can make it a race and put a player from each team in between the cones in the channels. Note how the players at the end dribble at speed, alternating directions around the grid each time (remember, when players dribble at speed they should use their laces and have their toe pointed down). And don't hesitate to incorporate some sort of mental challenge or obstacle for the players so they have to think, for instant the players must perform a skill or an agility move depending on what number you call out (and if they get it wrong, their team has to do a certain number of sit-ups or push-ups before they can continue). This exercise, if done at pace and over an extended period of time, will get your players breathing just as hard as doing full field sprints and it will demand more from them in the process.

MISC Topics

Above is an article published by footballtricks.com. It raises the interesting topic of "one versus two-footed players" in youth soccer. This subject evokes many differing opinions, which is why it is a relevant issue for discussion and thought among coaches.

Obviously, there is a huge advantage to a kid being comfortable and confident using both feet in soccer (these points are highlighted in the article). And, like a language or anything else, there is great benefit to teaching ambidexterity at a young age. However, this topic is...not challenged but let's say "further considered" by coaches at the highest level in this country and around the world (this was evident at the National, Advanced-National, and Premier Coaching Courses in Ft. Lauderdale this January).

Teaching proper technique for both feet is imperative, especially at a young age. But many top level coaches, especially foreign ones, think American youth coaches try to shape, mold, and forcefully fashion players too much. Players are born with certain skill sets and some are fortunate enough to be naturally remarkable in particular areas. Many top level coaches believe that although we do need to encourage proper and ambidextrous technique, we should never risk stunting a player's organic talents, especially if they are extraordinary. In Brazil, the majority of "youth soccer" is played in the streets without any coaches yelling at the kids to use both feet (and of course we all know that the Brazilians are considered to be the most technically sound players in the world). And in England and other European countries, the lack of ambidexterity at the international level manifests itself in a general deficiency at the left midfield position (many countries share the joke that if you are a left-footed player, you are immediately qualified to make the national squad as a left-winger). Watch the World Cup this summer and although the vast majority of players will be profoundly technical with both feet, I think you will be surprised to find that a handful of individuals blatantly favor one side over the other.

Read the article and consider your own stance on this issue. There is no right or wrong answer. Personally, I always, always, always encourage young players to become comfortable with both feet and often put them in situations or exercises where they learn the huge advantage of being ambidextrous in any situation. I am a big advocate of possessing the ball with fast, simple play, and clearly the ability to naturally use both feet makes a player much quicker on offense. But, although I want to enhance a player's skill set, I try to make sure that I never impede the natural development of a player, especially if it is exceptional and helps distinguish the player.

I hope you find the article interesting and enjoy thinking about this topic. Don't be afraid to disagree with anything I have written. I simply wanted to throw out a number of opinions and also offer my own.

Set Pieces

Below are two general illustrations of offensive and defensive position on corner kicks. The top image is for a standard 11v11 game, and the second illustration depicts an 8v8 game. There are many, many different variations for corners, I just wanted to provide two standard blueprints for coaches to use or build off of. Please contact me if you want details regarding variations or if you have any questions.

11v11

OFFENSE:

-Player taking the kick should look to pick out an area or spot on the field to play the ball, rather than a specific player (should be somewhere between the penalty spot and the top of the 6-yard box--close enough to allow for a good shot on target but far enough away so that the keeper cannot collect the ball easily. Ball should be driven into the box, not "floated." A driven ball is much easier to redirect into the back of the net than a lofted ball that needs extra power behind the shot.

- Three or four players should provide runs into the box to "frame" the penalty area. These usually include a near post run, a run to the far post, and one to the middle. Players need to time their runs to avoid the ball landing in the area behind them (this timing can be achieved if the player taking the corner kick drops his or her arm just before they approach to strike the ball, signaling the runs to begin). Often, a ball hit long to the far-post will present a great opportunity for the player making that run to head or direct the ball back across the face of the goal in an attempt to find a teammate with a better angle for a shot.

- Usually two defenders hang back to guard against the counterattack. You always want at least one more than the number of high opposing attackers (so if the other teams leaves two strikers high, you would want three defenders).

- At least one player needs to stay ready at the top of the 18-yard box, in case a ball comes bouncing out to that area (this player should obviously look to strike the ball quickly on frame). The other players position themselves in opportunistic areas, either to get a shot or cross an errant ball back into the box. At least one person should guard against a corner struck too far to the opposite edge of the 18-yard box. This could either be a second "holding" player or the far-post run--either way you want to guard against a corner being played completely over the top of everyone.

DEFENSE:

- Usually, a defender is positioned just off the corner of the 6-yard box closest to the corner where the kick is being taken. The objective is to force the player taking the corner into a lofted ball over the top, which is easier to defend.

- A player should be on each post, making the goal mouth smaller. They should be at arm's distance from the post and should be responsible for an area about a yard on either side of them. When the ball is cleared, the goalie needs to instruct these players to release upfield, so as to not keep attacking players on-sides close to the goal.

- You want your best arial defender positioned in the middle of the box, acting as a rover to clear out the dangerous balls served from the corner.

- Each attacking player making a run into the box should be marked. The defender should be sagged off the attacker so that they can not easily run by them. The other holding attacking players should be manned if possible, especially if there is one in or near the goal mouth.

- A striker can hold high, looking to gather a ball for a counter attack or possibly disrupting a ball being played back into the box after it is cleared.

- All defenders should look to meet the ball at its highest point and should clear the ball up and away to to the sides of the field beyond the corner of the 18-yard box. PLAYERS MUST HOLD THEMSELVES ACCOUNTABLE AS FAR AS THEIR DEFENSIVE RESPONSIBILITIES.

8v8

OFFENSIVE:

- More or less the same ideas mentioned in the 11v11 format above, although certain adjustments will have to be made due to the smaller numbers. You probably want three players making runs into the box with a fourth holding on top of the 18-yard box. And make sure you have a man advantage for the defenders holding around midfield.

DEFENSIVE:

- Again, same general ideas that are listed above, although you will most likely want just one player on the post, since you will most likely prefer having an extra player to clear the ball out of dangerous areas. If this is the case, have one person on the near post and the far post player can position themselves in the middle just outside the 6-yard box.

Short Corners:

I am not a huge fan of short corners for several personal reasons, but there are a number of teams out there that like to perform them, and also some of the younger teams might not have a player that can strike a great ball to the penalty spot, so I thought I would quickly discuss the concept in its simplest form. Basically, the idea is to create a 2v1 in order to work the ball in before crossing. All the other elements of the corner (the positioning and timing of runs and holding players) basically stays the same.

When playing a short corner, the player receiving the ball wants to turn to goal (possibly even at an angle toward the end-line), allowing the second player to perform an overlapping run to the opposite side of the end-line. This is necessary because otherwise you will have a 2v1 with the supporting player in an offsides position (specifically if the defending team has their post players step forward to trap you offsides).

After establishing the 2v1, you want to take advantage of the situation quickly in order to get a cross into the box, with the supporting players timing their runs and positioning themselves accordingly. Usually this is accomplished by passing the ball to the overlapping player who sends in a cross.

If you find yourselves defending short corners, and are consistently getting beaten when you send just one player to defend, then you should consider sending a second defender, forcing them into a 2v2. This is the easiest way to disrupt an effective short corner.

Likewise, if you are on offense, you want to try to perform your short corner quickly so the other team doesn't have time to react and reorganize.

New Content

http://www.insidesoccer.com/is-web/movie?id=546

This is a great conditioned, possession game that incorporates a shooting and finishing element. You can adjust it according to your team's age and skill level. For instance, with older teams, try placing a one-touch restriction on the possession play for part of the game.

Also, as exemplified in the video, it is great to get attacking players comfortable with the idea of playing the ball into a striker who then lays it off for a second player running on for a shot. This is an extremely effective and common tactic when trying to manufacture shots on goal. Also, you can progress the game so that there are two attackers and one defender in each zone in front of goal. This forces the attacking players to combine quickly and efficiently when trying to produce a shot (also, allow a third player to join in once the ball is played into one of the targets--this encourages midfielders and others to make attacking, goal scoring runs that support their strikers).

Training Exercises

Simon