THE BUZZ ABOUT FORMATION

As a coach of youth football coaching drills, it is important to understand formations and to select one that is suitable for you and your players. I have tried several formations in my time from the 5-3-2, 3-4-3, etc. and quite frankly when dealing with players under the age of 13, it is far better to stick to the conventional 4-4-2 formation.

If you have good strikers and a strong midfield, then you will be in a far better position to attack using your midfielders to set up your strikers to score goals. Always ensure that your defenders do not stand in a straight line behind the midfielders, as what tends to happen is that a large open gap is set up between the two which allows the opposing side to exploit this space to counter attack. Make sure that two defenders are directly behind the midfielders and two defenders are behind them closer to the outside goal box.

With youth football coaching drills, I am a great believer in using my outside midfielders as wings to launch attacks up either side of the field in order to set up the strikers to score. In most junior football matches, the game seems to be played in the center of the field and little attention is paid to the sides of the field. Often you will see a channel developing on one side of the field which in turn will allow your wing to dribble the ball right up to the outside goal box and set up a goal.

It is also a good strategy to use your strongest and fastest player as a defender who in turn acts as a sweeper. Meaning that this player must be able to launch counter attacks from within your half and once again link up with either wing to set up scoring opportunities, whilst at the same time this player must be able to run back and defend should the need arise.

As the coach it is your job to act as the General on the side line and to talk, shout, warn and direct your players whilst the game is on. Most junior soccer players are NOT going to be looking at what’s going on around them and will be focused on wherever the ball is. You need to direct your players and you need to become their eyes when they miss something or when they are moving out of position.

Cheers for now.

Mike

THE ULTIMATE TRAP

Trapping a soccer ball is one of the most important youth football coaching drills you can teach your players. Not only does this drill control the pace and flow of the game, but it is a key component of other skills such as dribbling, passing and shooting. If we define TRAPPING, it is stopping the ball by cushioning it so that it can be controlled.

In youth football coaching drills there are three methods of trapping the ball:

Trapping with the foot:

1)      Get in line with the ball.

2)      Lift the foot that will be trapping the ball off the ground, ensuring it is perpendicular to the path of the ball.

3)      Lock the ankle of the trapping foot and keep the toe up. Keep the foot soft to ensure that you do not kick the ball.

4)      Make sure that your arms are not in the way. Keep them to the sides.

5)      As the ball is about to make contact with the trapping foot, bring the foot backwards slightly on contact.

Trapping with the chest:

1)      Watch the ball as it comes down and position the body underneath it.

2)      Arch the back to allow the ball to land as softly as is possible.

3)      Keep your arms out to the side away from the ball.

4)      Steer the ball downwards to the ground in order to control its’ next direction.

Trapping with the thighs:

1)      Ensure that your thigh that you are going to trap the ball with is parallel to the ground.

2)      Raise your elbows in a lateral direction to the sides in order to maintain balance.

3)      Remember that you are merely catching the ball with the inside part of the thigh. You are not using the knee to knock the ball in the air.

REMEMBER – The main objective of trapping is to deaden the ball in order to control its’ flow and direction.

To practice trapping you need a wall where your players can kick a ball at the wall and therefore control the rebound. This will allow them to grasp the technique quickly and in turn implement it on match days.

Cheers for now.

Mike

HEADS UP EVERYONE

When doing youth football coaching drills, I am not a stickler on headers. Youngsters 12 years old and younger very seldom jump into the air to header the ball and if they do their level of accuracy is poor. However every player in your squad must be able to header a soccer ball from a flat standing position and must be able to force the ball forwards and not backwards.

The correct technique:

1)      Make sure that you feet are at least shoulder width apart, lean back to generate some power.

2)      Bring your upper body forward to meet the ball. You can raise both arms in a lateral position to the sides of the body for balance.

3)      Keep your eyes on the ball and hit it squarely with your forehead between the hairline and the brow.

4)      Aim the ball where you want it to go by pointing your forehead in that direction.

5)      If you’re going to jump, then jump straight up in the air. Draw your neck back and propel the body forward as you strike the ball. Use your arms to thrust yourself forward as you make contact with the ball.

With your youth football coaching drills, you will find that your taller players are far better at executing headers than your smaller players. So in set pieces such as corners, use your strongest player to execute the movement.

Cheers for now.

Mike

MASSIVE ATTACK

Following on from my last post, a very important and effective youth football coaching drill is to attack the goal directly by running at it. This works as follows:

1)      Using one goal with your keeper in the goal; set up two teams of even numbers on the half way line with a distance of 15 meters apart.

2)      Then mark a line with two cones 30 meters apart in width and 5 meters outside the goal box.

3)      A player from team “A” then dribbles the ball towards the goal and shoots directly at the goal from the marked area just outside the goal box. The player from team “B” then does the drill and so on. Each player must have at least 4 shots at goal.

4)      It is important to teach your players to be able to shoot while they are running. Most junior players develop the habit of stopping first then moving back and then running and taking the shot at goal. This habit transcends itself on match days and prevents scoring opportunities.

5)      With this youth football coaching drill your players must be comfortable at attacking the goal while running at the target. By getting them to take the shot from outside the goal box, this teaches them to take shots out wide which will lead to better scoring opportunities.

6)      You as coach will also quickly identify those players who can not kick properly and in turn you can remedy this with more individual involvement and practice.

This drill should be done at least once a week and you will definitely see results on match days.

Cheers for now.

Mike