HOW TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM

Tackling is a basic skill that every player must be able to execute properly. Otherwise the consequences will be disastrous. With youth football coaching drills, I would like to focus on three methods of tackling.

THE BLOCK TACKLE:

 

The block tackle is used when confronting an opponent head on. Timing is crucial and players need understand when to make this tackle. If the opponent is off balance or has allowed the ball to run too far in front, then making a block tackle is simple. The technique works as follows:

1)      Ensure that the non-tackling foot is firmly on the ground to act as an anchor.

2)      Let the tackling foot make contact with the middle of the ball like you would a side-foot pass.

3)      Keep your body forward and your knees bent.

4)      Ensure that your knee and ankle are locked and that you are balanced.

5)      Commit to the tackle and put a foot under the ball to lift it away.

THE POKE TACKLE:

The poke tackle is simply knocking the ball away from the opposing attacker so that it either goes out of play or you are able to win the ball back. This is an effective tackle as it throws the attacker off guard and can allow for a counter attack. It’s done as follows:

1)      Approach the attacker from the side.

2)      Use the foot nearest to the ball.

3)      Extend the foot from the side or through the opponent’s legs.

4)      Stab the ball away using the toes to kick near its center.

5)      Ensure that the body is balanced and avoid tripping up the opposing player.

THE SLIDE TACKLE:

The slide tackle is similar to the poke tackle and is effective in tacking the ball away from opposing attackers who you know are very fast. The tackle is done as follows:

1)      Run towards the person you want to tackle.

2)      Try to lead with the foot that is nearest to the opponent and ball. This allows you to reach the ball quickly.

3)      Slide down to the ground extend your leg out, poking the ball away from the opponent. Hit the ball from the front and onto the opposing players legs.

4)      Ensure that contact is made with the ball to avoid committing a foul.

REMEMBER – It’s not just your defenders that need to know how to tackle. Every player must tackle opposing players and ensure that the pressure is always on your opponents.

Cheers for now.

Mike

A DRIBBLING CIRCUIT

THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF DRIBBLING

I have been asked why I have given little attention to dribbling. In youth football coaching drills one would expect an emphasis on dribbling through cones etc.

Dribbling is certainly important and if you have a small number of players then one can focus on individual dribbling drills. However if you have in excess of sixteen players in your squad and you do not have an assistant, you will encounter a problem as most of your players will be standing or sitting idle waiting for their turn and hardly touching the ball during a practice session.

The dribbling drill that I laid out in an earlier post is to me very effective as it involves all of your players at the same time and if done correctly will ensure that they get the necessary training on dribbling. Also my fitness programs include sprinting and dribbling.

However it is important to go back to basics and cone dribbling has its place. The above video offers a look at setting up a circuit which should involve all of your players. Use this as a guide as you can set the circuit to your specific needs and with the equipment you have on hand. The more you have in your dribbling circuit, the busier your players will be and the more effective this youth football coaching drill.

Remember each player must have a ball.

Cheers for now.

Mike

LETS CONTINUE WITH PASSING DRILLS

In the above video titled: ADVANCE PASSING TRIANGLE; this youth football coaching drill works as follows:

1) Mark out a triangle with cones each with a distance of 20 meters between the points.
2) Put 1 player at each point of the triangle with 1 additional player at the starting point (in other words you will have 4 players in total).
3) Player 1 passes to player 2 who passes back to player 1 as player 1 runs to replace 2’s point. Player 1 then passes on the outside to player 2.
4) Player 2 passes to player 3 who passes back to player 2 as player 2 runs to replace player 3’s point. Player 2 then passes outside to player 3.
5) Player 3 then passes to player 4 at the starting point. Player 4 passes back to player 3 who again passes to player 4.
6) The sequence starts again.

 Another really good passing drill is called: DOUBLE BALL PASSING and is done as follows:
1) Set your players up on a starting point in pairs (each player with a partner next to them). Measure a distance from the starting point of 30 meters and mark it with two cones.
2) Each starting pair of players must have a ball.
3) The starting pair will dribble their ball forward and in turn pass their ball to their partner as they move towards the 30 meter mark.
 4) They do the same when coming back to the start.

This youth football coaching drill works well as it forces players to concentrate on their pass, especially in trying to avoid their ball from hitting their partner’s ball when they make the pass. It also forces your players to communicate with each other and avoid passing to opposition players on match days.

 REMEMBER: There are many passing drills that you can practice, but you need to focus on drills that work and not on drills that look good on paper but are very hard to implement. Depending on the age group that you are coaching, complicated drills cause too much confusion and waste precious time. Adopt the “ KISS” principle which is keep it simple stupid. In this way players will learn quickly and implement what you teach them on match days.


Cheers for now.

Mike

THE PUSH PASS

PASSING

Before I go into the passing drills, let me add some advice which I have learned over the years. As I have mentioned there are a lot of different youth football coaching drills that one can use, however you do not have the time to implement every one. If you’re an amateur coach, then time is a problem (you don’t have enough of it). Therefore you need to assess what’s really effective and works versus what’s fun and time consuming.

When passing a ball it is important to use the inside foot from the base of the big toe to the central area of the heel under the ankle bone. The kicking foot is at a right angle to the ball and the player’s belly button should be facing the player who is receiving the pass. Let the kicking foot hit the ball’s horizontal mid-line in order to keep the ball low.

1)      PASS & SHOOT DIRECTLY:  Set up three groups of players outside the goal box and at least 20 meters apart in a triangle. The first player in the middle passes the ball to the player in the left group who passes the ball to the first player in the right group. This player should then shoot at the goal directly. All three players then rotate.

2)      DISTANCE PASSING:   In an area of 10 X 15 meters using six players per group as a maximum; place two players on either end of the marked area and two players in the middle. The player at the end side foots a pass along the ground to the center of the playing area, where the nearest player returns the ball on their second touch. The player at the end controls it and then hits a lofted pass to the far side over the heads of both players in the middle. The sequence is repeated at the opposite end.

3)      PASSING ON THE MOVE:   Mark out two small fields of about 15 X 15 meters. Divide your players into groups of no more than five players a side. The small teams face each other inside the marked out field. The team that is in possession of the ball should try to keep the ball within their team for as long as is possible. Normally eight consecutive touches within a team will gain that team a point. This is in my opinion one of the most effective youth football coaching drills and really improves inter play on match days. You should do this drill at least once a week.

Passing is a very important drill both in terms of attack as well as ensuring continued possession. You need to practice this drill every week.

Cheers for now.

Mike