www.elitesoccercoaching.

net march 2012

Soccer
Coaching practices from English
football league managers and coaches

Roberto
wigan athletic

martinez
The 1v1 situation
Exclusive
Training practices nal
from top professio
In partnership with

managers

Colchester United Southend United Crewe Alexandra Derby County LMA Ambassador

JOHN PAUL STEVE KEVIN KEITH

WARD STURROCK DAVIS NICHOLSON MILLEN
Finishing under Countering Preventing Drilling the Combination
pressure through a striker crosses defence play

Exclusive interview with swansea

extra-time: city manager brendan rodgers

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2 march 2012
In partnership with
issue 20/march 2012: FROM THE CHAIRMAN
Absorbingcoachingsessionsfrom 4
ROBERTO
Englishfootball’sleadinglights MARTINEZ
WIGAN ATHLETIC
Dear Coach, The 1v1
Welcome to the March issue of Elite Soccer.
situation
The season is now entering a crucial phase
as teams fight for success, whether they be
claiming honours at the top of the table or
fighting relegation at the bottom. We’re 6
sure the selection of training practices JOHN WARD
Colchester United
contained in this month’s Elite Soccer will
help you in this crucial period. Finishing
As always, our sessions are written by the managers and under
coaches themselves, and presented to you in a clear, concise and pressure
actionable fashion.
From the Barclays Premier League, Wigan Athletic manager
Roberto Martinez shows how defenders can succeed in 8
challenging 1v1 situations, explaining how even the quickest PAUL STURROCK
attacking moves can be repelled. Southend United
Countering that approach, npower League One manager John Countering
Ward presents a session on finishing under pressure, something through
a striker
that has helped his Colchester United side maintain their push
for the play-offs this season.
In League Two, experienced Southend United boss Paul Sturrock
looks at the finer points behind counter-attacking through 10
a striker, while Crewe Alexandra manager Steve Davis puts STEVE DAVIS
forward a drill that rehearses defenders in dealing with the threat Crewe Alexandra
from crosses. Preventing
We’ve also got a detailed defensive practice from Derby County crosses
coach Kevin Nicholson, while LMA Ambassador Keith Millen
explains how quick combination play can really get players
moving and creating opportunities.
We hope these exclusive sessions will inspire your team, and look 12
forward to bringing more your way next month. KEVIN
NICHOLSON
Derby County
Drilling the
defence
Howard Wilkinson, LMA Chairman
14
KEITH MILLEN
LMA Ambassador
Elite Soccer is a monthly publication Quick
for professional, semi-professional combination
and aspiring soccer coaches and is play
available by subscription only. 03MANAGEMENT
£97 for 12 issues.
MATTERS
Ourreviewofthepastmonth
To subscribe email 16 BOOKED
Elite sports book review
duncanh@greenstarmedia.net 18 EXTRA-TIME:
or call on +44 (0) 1483 892 894 ...with Swansea City
manager Brendan Rogers
www.elitesoccercoaching.net
 In partnership with

management matters

MANAGER OF THE MONTH AWARDS

Brendan Birmingham In npower And finally to

Rodgers
scooped the
Barclays
Premier League Manager of
the Month Award for January
after Swansea City gained
impressive league victories
over Aston Villa and Arsenal.
Having started the month with
a 2-0 success at Villa Park,
Danny Graham’s winner at the
Liberty Stadium then saw off
the Gunners. And Swansea
were less than a minute away
from repeating the trick at
home to Chelsea at the end of
January, but a Neil Taylor own
goal in injury time cancelled
out Scott Sinclair’s opener.
We’ve an interview with
manager Brendan Rodgers
on page 18.
Swansea City: W2 D1 L2
(league only)
City’s revival
under manager
Chris Hughton stepped up
another gear in January,
leading the 53-year-old
manager to take the divisional
award.
The Blues’ league form was
nothing short of sensational
during the month. After
beginning with a 1-1 draw at
Peterborough United, City hit
six, three and four goals in their
next three matches, against
Millwall, Watford and Leeds
United respectively.
They also defeated
Wolverhampton Wanderers
and Sheffield United in the FA
Cup.
Birmingham City: W4 D1 L0
League One,
Charlton
Athletic manager Chris
Powell scooped the award
after his side moved clear at
the top of the division.
The Addicks saw their way
past Brentford, Sheffield
Wednesday, Sheffield United
and Exeter City during the
month – keeping clean sheets
in all four matches - before
finishing January with a draw
against Bury.
The run cemented their place
as the bookmaker’s favourites
for the League One title.
Charlton Athletic: W4 D1 L0
npower League
Two, where
Torquay United manager
Martin Ling was the panel’s
choice. Torquay had started
the campaign relatively
slowly, but roared into top
form in the opening matches
of 2012 with a sequence of
results that took them into the
play-off places.
The Gulls saw off Plymouth
Argyle, Macclesfield Town and
Morecambe (in consecutive
2-1 away successes), before
back-to-back 1-0 home
wins against Dagenham &
Redbridge and Northampton
Town.
Torquay United: W5 D0 L0

CAREERPATH
... with Terry Brown, manager of League
Two side AFC Wimbledon
How difficult did you find the transition
from player to coach?
I was very lucky in that I was playing
for Wokingham at the time, and got
the opportunity to become first-team
coach there. This enabled me to do my
homework really by running the youth
section, the reserves and then the
first-team – I’d also been to summer
schools and attended courses. So by the
time I hung up my boots I was ready for
the challenges of coaching. Taking over
at a club I’d played for, in Hayes FC, was
another bonus because that provided me
with familiar surroundings, and I had nine
fantastic years there.
What advice would you give to those done your homework.
looking to start on the path to semi-pro Has your management style changed?
coaching and management? My overall perspective has always been
You need is to start off at a level where you the same – and that philosophy is ‘winning
are comfortable. It doesn’t matter what is everything’. I love reading about sports
style of football you play - whether it’s route psychology and what makes people
one or something akin to Barcelona, it just strive for success. My driving force is
has to be winning football. But it’s all about fear of failure - that
hard work and ambition – and there are no doesn’t make me
fast-track routes. negative or any
Should opportunities come your way then less positive than
you need to make bold decisions. I was those inspired by
working for a sales company at the time, so success, but I’m
needed to decide whether the gamble was always driven on
right for me to enter football management by not wanting to
full-time. I’m glad it has worked out! fail at anything I do.
But the lower you go the more It isn’t something
opportunities you get, and the better you choose - it’s
your chance of success as well. But keep already inside your
everything in perspective - success can soul, but having that
be just keeping a side in the division. But mentality helps me on
nothing comes easy - make sure you’ve a daily basis.

3 march 2012 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 In partnership with

Wigan Athletic
Roberto the 1v1 situation
Martinez SET-UP
The 1v1
situation
Overview:
Area
Up to 44x30 yards
Equipment
1
Any football game Balls, cones, goal
relies on being Number of Players

able to control Up to 12
Key
1v1 situations, in Session time Ball
movement

defence or in attack. 1v1 10mins, Player

movement
Dribble
In 1v1s, it’s not just Three box drill
the technical aspect 10mins,
Small-sided game
of the play, but the 24mins
decision as to when to Simple contact and non-
take players on, when What do I get the contact 1v1s begin the
to use a simple ball to players to do? session

find a team mate, or 1v1 warm-up

10

when to develop the In each 10x8-yard

situation. channel, players begin
Key
Ball
movement
There is nothing in at opposing ends. Blues Player
movement

2
Dribble
the game better than feed yellows, then
a successful 1v1 close down at first by ii. The second

10
defender
attacking situation shadowing only, not approaches
to dislodge any making contact. This square on and
defensive set-up. encourages balance i. Having failed the attacker
to close down side-steps past
This session can and movement of feet. quickly, the
encourage any Moving on, this can defender
be run as a contact allows the 10
individual or any attack a way
team - at any age or drill (1). If desired, this past iii. The third
level - to experiment simple warm-up can defender shows
in that aspect of the also incorporate some composure,
dynamic flex exercises. 10 first angling the
game, from the basic attacker towards
skill of the 1v1, up to Three box drill the byline and
decision-making Next, we use three timing his tackle
to win the ball
in a game-related 10x10-yard boxes side- 10
situation. by-side, with a defender
in each. Defenders face
the side where a line of
attackers wait. One at
a time, each attacker’s

3a
objective is to dribble
through the three boxes
(2). If he succeeds, a
point is awarded. Each
“There is player who works
nothing in during the phase is
rotated off the pitch.
the game Small-sided game
better than In a 44x30-yard area,
a successful we play seven phases
played over a six-
1v1attacking minute period.
situation to Starting from beside
the goal he’s defending,
dislodge any blue dribbles out
Key
Ball
movement

defensive
Player
aiming to score, but will Blue dribbles out but is tackled
movement
Dribble

be closed down by his

set-up.”
by yellow in the 1v1 before he can
get a shot away
opponent (3a).
4 march 2012 www.elitesoccercoaching.net
 In partnership with

the 1v1 situation

Whether or not the

3b
phase ends in a tackle,
or a goal, a second
Roberto yellow then moves
Martinez forward to form a 2v1
Wigan Athletic coming back the other
Roberto Martinez way (3b).
became Wigan The overload now
Athletic manager in
switches with two
the summer of 2009,
returning to the club
blues entering play to Key
Ball
where he’d made his make a 3v2 (3c), and movement
Player

name as a player in the so on - two players are movement

Dribble

mid-1990s. always added to the

The 38-year-old team playing against
Spaniard was an the overload, until 6v6,
industrious midfielder when this becomes a
who brought small-sided game for
continental flair to the remaining time. After the first phase, a
the club’s former second yellow enters play
Each of our attackers to make a 2v1
Springfield Park home,
will take a turn starting
and he has extended
the methodologies of
in a 1v1.
10

3c
technical excellence What are the key
into his approach to things to look out
coaching as well. for?
Beginning in We encourage the
management at natural talent of an
Swansea City, for 10attacker in taking
whom he also played,
defenders on, but he
Martinez guided the
south Wales club into
also needs to think
0
the1Championship – about how best to use a Key
Ball
the first time they had 1v1 for the benefit of the movement
Player

featured in the second team – should he attack, movement

Dribble

tier of English football or wait to gain a better

for 24 years. numerical advantage?
After the Swans Defenders must
finished 8th in the adopt a low, balanced
2008/09 season, Wigan position. And because In the next passage, blues
made their move. And offsides count in this have the overload in a 3v2
on one of the smallest
practice, when they are
budgets, Martinez
has secured the club’s
overloaded, they should
The table represents one set,
use attackers’ positions
Barclays Premier
to decide whether to
Small-sided and the team with the overload
number is always the attackers,
League status for the
close in to the man on game phases with the scores being carried
past two seasons, with
through. A player who scores in
notable victories along the ball (to catch the Phases
of game Blues Yellows the first phase of the game will
the way over the likes of opposition off-side), or 1st 1 v 1 present a massive advantage
Arsenal, Liverpool and not. 2nd 1 v 2
to his team. The session will
Tottenham Hotspur. help attackers and defenders
How do I progress 3rd 3 v 2 appreciate the immediate
“An attacker the session? 4th
5th
3
5
v
v
4
4
importance of their actions
in terms of the scoreline, as
We can condition one
needs to of the teams to play 6th 5 v 6
well as helping players think
about the different numerical
think about one- or two-touch, 7th 6 v 6 advantages presented during
the game.
to encourage quick
how best to passing; while allowing
use a 1v1 for the other team free play,
to encourage dribbling.
the benefit of This, in itself, will create
the team.” lots of 1v1 situations.

5 march 2012 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 In partnership with

Colchester United
John Ward finishing under pressure
Finishing SET-UP
under
pressure
Overview:
Area
Up to third of a pitch
Equipment
1
This session is Balls, cones, goals
about shooting and Number of Players

scoring goals in open Up to 14

practice. It’s effective Session time

because it takes Coach determined

players through
developing game What do I get the
situations, getting players to do?

20
them used to working 1v1 game
and creating chances We begin in a 20x10- In the 1v1 players go
head-to-head looking to
in tight spaces. yard area. The coach Key score in their opponent’s 10
Ball
This ability to serves the ball out movement
Player
coned goal
movement
recognise quick to start a simple 1v1 Dribble

opportunities is game - each player

essential because looking to score in his

2
every match we play opponent’s 2-yard
offers penalty box coned goal(1).
situations where 2v2 game - halves
chances appear and Adding an identical
disappear quickly. channel to the side
To recognise and sees us move to
act upon these we 2v2. Each player
require players to must remain in his
have a quickness designated channel,
of mind and the but can pass to a
willingness to 10
team mate in the
gamble. neighbouring box to
20

Players enjoy the progress goalscoring

session because chances (2).
everyone gets to 10
2v2 game - full
shoot, and we’ll With an additional channel
generally run this for Now the middle Key
Ball to the side, team mates can
movement

as long as we believe boundary is removed Player

movement
combine left and right, but
must stay in their area
they are still being and all four players Dribble

stimulated by the can move around the

3
game. area, though team
mates have only one
2-yard goal to aim at,
placed centrally on the
touchline(3).
3v3
The next scenario
is 3v3, played in a
standard penalty area
(44x18 yards), with a
“This session halfway line added to
is about determine offsides.
Players must link up
shooting well, displaying good
and scoring Removing the boundary line
goals in open and centring a single goal,
players work as pairs to
practice.” fashion goalscoring angles

6 march 2012 www.elitesoccercoaching.net


John Ward
Colchester United
John Ward has been
Colchester United
manager since May
2010, and in his first
full season in charge,
guided the Essex side to
10th in npower League
One.
Taken under the wing
of former England
manager Graham 0 (plus keepers) (5).
Taylor at Aston Villa in 1
the early-1990s, Ward
went about working his
way up the coaching
ladder, eventually
taking charge at York
City, Bristol City, Bristol
Rovers, Cheltenham
Town and Carlisle
United.
The 60-year-old is
also highly respected
as a scout and media
commentator, and as a
player clocked up over
100 league goals for
Watford, Grimsby Town 10
and Lincoln City.
10
“Quick
and brave
attacking
decisions
can catch out
defenders.”
7 march 2012
In partnership with
finishing under pressure
timing and recognition
4
of team mates’ runs
(4). 1v1 situations
are important and
attackers should
be looking to exploit
space.
5v5
In the last game, we
extend the penalty area
out a further 12 yards
and mark a halfway
line, adding a second
44
The 3v3 penalty box
goal and playing 5v5 challenge provides a
longer and narrower
18
Key
Progressing this, and Ball
movement area in which to attack
Player
to encourage crosses, movement
Dribble
we can add neutral
wide players (6). We
5
might also introduce
a strict two-touch rule
to ensure the ball is
moved quickly and
efficiently.
What are the key
things to look out
for technically/
tactically?
Accuracy is paramount
in each of the games
and players must be
quick to recognise
shooting opportunities
44
when they come
their way. When Key 30
that happens, they Ball
movement
must shoot low and Player
movement
Dribble
powerfully, always Here, in the extended
being aware that quick 5v5, a quick interchange
and brave attacking of passes leads to an
6
attempt on goal
decisions can catch
out defenders. Playing
without keepers in
the early phases
encourages players to
shoot every time they
can find half a yard
of space. These are
principles they should
carry through into the
latter parts.
Progressing the
game by adding
wide neutral players
encourages players to
Key
Ball
movement
build in different ways
Player
movement
Dribble
www.elitesoccercoaching.net
 In partnership with

Southend United
Paul countering through your striker
Sturrock SET-UP
Countering
1a
These players are

through
Area inactive during the
attack
7
Space in between
your penalty boxes
striker Equipment

44
Balls, cones, goals
Overview: Number of Players
This session is about Up to 14
counter-attacking Session time
through your
Session 20mins,
striker and using game 15mins
an extra man in
overload situations. 7 5
What do I get the 75
It’s a scenario that players to do? One of the attacking players
always develops in 4444
receives the ball from
In the space between the keeper and moves
matches and is worth Key
two penalty areas we Ball unopposed through their
running regularly
movement
half
place two defenders
Player
movement
so attackers, in Dribble
and a striker in each
particular, can
half. From one end, an

1b
practise their
attacking pair move in,
movement and
and one receives the
make the most of the
ball from the keeper.
forward moves.
Unopposed, the pair
We relate this session make a pass between
to our upcoming themselves (1a) then,
opponents so it before reaching the
becomes the perfect halfway line, feed the
practice for players. lone striker in the other
So we’ll examine half. He must evade the
who we are playing defenders near him 7
next and what and work the ball back
characteristics their to his two supporting 7 5
75
defenders have – big, men who continue
44

slow, quick, strong, their runs, looking for

4444

tricky etc. We then set the attack to end with a

up the practice based shot on goal (1b). Key The striker receives the ball,
on their defending Ball passes to an onrushing blue
At the end of the move, movement
Player and a goal is scored
characteristics. movement
the strikers leave the Dribble

area and are replaced

“We are
by a new pair, who
repeat the task in the
other direction(1c/1d).
1c These players
are inactive

looking for We then rotate players.

during the
attack

clever striker Restrictions can be

placed to test players
movement – and vary difficulty, such
away to come as allowing only six
seconds before a finish
short or a must be made, or
quick turn; instructing defenders
to only become active 7 5
body shape - 75
when the pass into the
side on or flat; striker is made. And to Now the move comes
4444

back in the opposite

progress, we can limit
and an ability touches or reduce the
direction with the
striker in the other half

to hold up time to four seconds. Key

Ball
movement
moving off the covering
defenders to find space

play.”
Player
movement
Dribble
7
8 march 2012 www.elitesoccercoaching.net
4
 In partnership with

countering through your striker

1d
What are the key Key
Ball
things to look movement
Player
movement
for technically/ Dribble

Paul Sturrock tactically?

Southend United High tempo and good
Paul Sturrock has attacking pace is very
revived the fortunes of important, and strikers
Southend United since must draw defenders
arriving at Roots Hall in in, which is why the
July 2010. In that time, quality of the initial
he has made changes
pass into the striker’s
to the Shrimpers’ squad
and taken them to the
feet is crucial.
75 League
top of npower We’re looking for clever 75
Two. striker movement –
The 55-year-old has away to come short or a 44
extensive experience quick turn; body shape
The striker does not
in the lower leagues - side on or flat; and an have to pass – in this
having earned
promotion to the third
ability to hold up play.
He also needs to be
75 instance wingers have
pushed the centre-backs
tier for Plymouth Argyle wide to enable space for
aware of space and the

2a
him to shoot
in 2002 and Swindon benefits of releasing
44

Town five years later.

the ball quickly to
And as well as taking
Sheffield Wednesday
prevent tackles.
to the Championship How would you put
in 2004, Sturrock has this into a game
been in the hotseat situation?
at Southampton,
For a small-sided
Dundee United and St
Johnstone.
game, we place
together two penalty
As a player, Sturrock
boxes to form a 44x36-
scored over 100 goals
for Dundee United in a
yard area, with a goal at
15-year 5
7professional each end. 3v3 in each
career. half, strikers follow
their passes into the Key
other half to make 4v3 Ball
movement
overloads (2a). Now, Player
movement
Dribble
if a tackle is made,
opponents can counter In the small-sided game, the
left-back passes upfield then
to make a 3v2 overload moves to form a 4v3 attacking
(2b), or if really alert
2b
overload in the other half...
(and able to beat the
recovery run) can push
an additional player
forward to make a 4v2
advantage.

“We relate this

session to our
upcoming
opponents
75 so
it becomes ... but when a tackle is
the perfect Key
made and the ball played back
downfield, he leaves his team
practice for Ball
movement
Player mates exposed to a 3v2 counter-
attack
players.”
movement
Dribble

9 march 2012 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 In partnership with

Crewe Alexandra
Steve Davis Preventing crosses
Preventing SET-UP
crosses
Overview:
This session is about
Area
Up to half pitch
Equipment
1
full-backs and Balls, cones, goals
wingers stopping Number of Players
crosses into the Up to 18 players
penalty area. Session time

Most attacks come Session 30mins,

from out wide, so the game 30mins
ability for defenders What do I get the
to be able to block players to do?
crosses is essential, The server
Setting up as shown in feeds the ball
particularly in the diagram, the server Key out left for
Ball
matches when our plays to the left-sided
movement
Player
the winger to
opponents have movement attack 1v1
attacker (1). This player Dribble

strikers who are good attempts to take on the

headers of the ball. winger or make room
This applies to most for a cross into a team
teams in our division.

2
mate who attacks
At the end of each the ball from his start It is important
phase, we reset play, position in the ‘D’. for the defender
and rotate positions In the second phase, to get his
regularly. positioning right
we add an attacking to hold up play
full-back, plus an and not ‘dive in’
additional defender
to create a 2v2 wing
attack (2). The two
defenders must stifle
the threat of a cross.
In the next stage, we
progress again by Moving to 2v2,
going 8v8 and coning
Key
Ball
movement
defenders must
lines from the edges of Player
movement
deal with the
support player
the penalty area to the
Dribble
Optional pass/
run and the risk of an
halfway line. Wingers overlap or overload
and full-backs work
outside this line (3),
while midfielders must
ensure a good supply

“We look at
of balls out wide,
although the server
can follow his pass to
3 Good defensive
angles from a
angles and the wing to support.
tackle should
result in a
distances What are the key throw-in and
not a corner
between things to look
for technically/
defender tactically?
and attacker The role of the full-
back is crucial - he
– the must be alert to a
common number of attacking
options, maintaining
fault is to be a position between
Key
Ball
movement
Now 8v8, and with
marked channels,
too tight or winger and goal (4).
Never diving in, he
Player
movement
Dribble
defenders focus on
precise blocking
too far away.”
Optional pass/
run angles
holds up the attacker
10 march 2012 www.elitesoccercoaching.net
 In partnership with

Preventing crosses

4
to allow time for fellow Defending
midfielder should
defenders to support. stay in contact with
We look at angles and his attacker, but be
Steve Davis distances between ready to support the
Crewe Alexandra other defenders
defender and attacker
Steve Davis was – the common fault
confirmed as the new is to be too tight or too
manager of Crewe far away. Angles vary
Alexandra in November
depending on how far
2011, having been
assistant manager at
up the touchline the
Gresty Road for the tackle is being made,
previous two years. but a defender should
Prior to that, the
never be more than
Midfielders and full-backs
46-year-old had been three yards away from Key
Ball
movement must maintain a presence between
in charge at Northwich the crosser. A defender Player
movement the attacker and the goal, whilst staying
Victoria and Nantwich at the wrong angle will Dribble
Optional pass/
the correct distance from an opponent
Town, guiding the latter fail to block the cross. If run
Full back must
to two promotions in the ball is successfully cover the winger,
three seasons and an blocked but goes but be ready to
close down the
FA Vase final victory in out for a corner, the

5
attacker should
2006. defender’s angles are he beat the first
As a player, Davis made slightly wrong. But if defender
145 appearances in the cross is stopped
defence for Crewe, and goes out for a
and also turned out for
throw-in he is perfectly
Burnley, Barnsley and
Oxford United.
positioned.
Defenders must also
consider if the winger
is quick or tricky, and
right- or left-footed.
Does he want him to
go inside or outside?
And he must also be
well balanced should Key
Ball
In the first game
movement
situation phase, wingers
the attacker change Player
movement are conditioned to stay in
direction at any time Dribble
Optional pass/ their halves, so 1v1s develop
run
- over-striding is a
common mistake.
How do I put Using a midfielder
to defend allows
this into a game

6
the centre back
situation?
“Defenders In the set-up shown,
to move across to
cover potential
must the pitch is 50 yards
attacking options

consider if long (5). Midfielders

are two-touch,
the winger while wingers are
is quick or conditioned to play in
one half before, on the
tricky, and coach’s instruction,
right- or being allowed into the
other half (1v1s leading
left-footed. into 2v2s). We can now
So should drop in other individual
training plans, such as ... but when that
he position defensive midfielders Key
Ball
condition is dropped, the
defensive midfielder must
inside or
movement
tracking in relation to Player
movement track back to defend in relation
full-backs (6). Dribble
to his full-back and centre-
outside?” Optional pass/
run back

11 march 2012 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 In partnership with

Derby County
Kevin defending in and around the penalty area
Nicholson iii. The coach nominates an attacker,

1
ii. The defender
SET-UP
Defending heads clear and who dribbles the ball out to create a
1v1. He can only shoot once inside the
in and
Area away from goal –
1v1s the ball mustn’t central part of the penalty box
Up to half pitch
around the Equipment
bounce

penalty
Key
Ball
Balls, cones, goals movement

area
Player
movement
Number of Players Dribble
Optional pass/

Overview: Up to 18 players run

Session time
This session is about
10mins per phase
defending in and
around the penalty What do I get the
area in a variety of players to do?
situations. It looks
Mark out the area as
at defending as an i. The full-
shown in the diagram.
individual, a pair and back starts by iv. The defender
Split the group into delivering a long must steer the
a whole unit. The way
four defenders and aerial ball towards attacker into the
the session is built the penalty area shaded areas,
six attackers, plus two
up helps players to tackle, block or
full-backs who serve force a mistake
understand their
long aerial balls from
various roles and

2
just over the halfway
responsibilities and
line. Attackers line up ii. The second defender
the key defensive
behind two cones 10 2v2s drops then moves
priority of protecting forward, reacting off
yards apart, placed 12
the goal. the first defender who
yards from the 18-yard attacks the aerial ball
It’s important to box.
practise this because
We run through a
defenders need to be
number of scenarios
able to react quickly
that build in
and deal effectively
complexity:
with the numerous iii. One attacker
defensive scenarios 1v1s dribbles the ball while iv. Defenders
a second attacker joins should again aim
that occur. This The defender clears a to create a 2v2 situation to show attackers
session covers many long flighted ball back away from goal
skills and qualities in the direction it came,
that will be required either using a header Key
i. Another aerial
at the highest level, or side-foot volley, and ball is lofted in
Ball
movement
Player
including the reality without it bouncing. He movement
Dribble

that many top level then has to react to a Optional pass/

run

sides are now are 1v1 with an attacker (1).

playing without an In the 1v1, the angle
assigned centre-
forward. This means
central defenders
(getting and staying
low) and speed of
approach is important,
3a
2v2s and a
will now often have and the defender must cross
no player to directly put the brakes on at
mark and may come final moment when
up against a player tight to the attacker. He
facing them up in an needs to steer away
attempt to dribble from goal, because the
past them. We deliver attacker can only shoot ii. Defenders look to steer
a session of this from the non-hatched attackers away from goal,
type once every two area. The defender’s forcing them to feed the i. Two wingers
weeks. ball wide to wingers are added as a
main task is to keep supply line for
the ball out of the the attackers
area, rather than win Key
Ball
possession. Defenders movement
Player
movement
rotate after each Dribble
Optional pass/
phase and full-backs run

12 march 2012 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 In partnership with

defending in and around the penalty area

3b
alternate.
2v2s
Kevin Nicholson As before, except this
Derby County
time after the aerial
ball it’s a 2v2. The
Kevin Nicholson is
second defender must
Under-16s Head
Coach at npower
provide cover and The defender has
Championship side support, track runs, done well to force
play wide. With
Derby County. The 25- and communicate his team mate,
year-old holds the UEFA danger. The pressuring he must now
‘A’ Licence qualification. defender must look to react, positioning
themselves in
On a day-to-day cut off the option of the order to deal with
basis, he manages second attacker, so a cross
the development of leaving a 1v1, or a 2v1 in
elite youth footballers his favour (2). The angle
from the age of eight of approach is crucial, Key
Ball
movement
upwards, whilst as is the need for Player
movement
educating and guiding defenders to stay close. Dribble
Optional pass/
his team of coaches. run
2v2s and a cross
Nicholson joined Derby

4a
in February 2007 having Building on the iii. The full-back
worked as Academy previous phase, two moves out wide
Coach at Stoke City, attacking wingers to defend 1v1,
are added, who must attempting to stop
while he also has Full phase the cross if possible.
extensive experience in deliver crosses into
running Football in the the penalty area using
Community projects. ii. With the back
the fewest number of four in place,
He has recently been touches. Defenders two team mates
selected by the Football
have done well if drop around
Association to attend the defender to
the inaugural FA Elite
they force play to the provide cover
Coaches Award. wingers, but they must i. Now attackers are and support
then deal with the challenged in a 2v4,
and the player in
cross (3a/3b). possession is forced
Full phase to play out to the
winger
Now full backs are
added. After defending Key
Ball
the long aerial ball, the
movement
Player
movement
entire back four is now Dribble
Optional pass/
involved in repelling the run

4b
central attack 4v2 (4a).
They then reorganise
for a potential cross.
The full-back must
go out wide to defend
“Patience 1v1, preventing the
and blocking cross if possible (4b).
If he cannot get there,
ability will he drops to become an
be required extra defender.

if the ball
can’t be won
immediately Defenders organise
with a to counter the threat
of a successful cross
Key
Ball

tackle or
movement
Player
movement
Dribble

interception.” Optional pass/

run

13 march 2012 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 In partnership with

LMA Ambassador
Keith quick combination play
Millen SET-UP
Quick
combination
play
Area
Half pitch
Equipment
1a
Overview: Ball, cones (and/or
poles)
This session is about Number of Players
moving the ball
18
quickly in creating
Session time
and exploiting space.
In any match, it’s very Session 27mins,
progression 27mins,
important to move the game 10mins
ball within tight areas,
to create overloads What do I get the
and to understand players to do?
how to use space. Set up as shown in the Key
Blues and yellows are fixed
Ball in their area, but two reds
The result is that, in diagram (1a), using movement
Player can roam and press at any
movement
turn, this improves the space between Dribble one time
decision-making and the penalty area and
technique. halfway line, extended
In this training
session, we’re fully
focused on technique
outward to each
touchline. Across
the centre is a 4-yard
1b
and high tempo channel. The practice
passing, so all passes is three teams of six.
should be below Red defenders start
head height as we in the central zone,
progress from short, which they can move
quick combination out of, while blues and
play to longer passing yellows remain in their
passages designed to zones. The server plays 75
stretch play. to the blue team (1b), 75
who must complete Blues are served the ball
six passes – all of them
35

and begin their passing

below head height – in sequence as reds move
35

forward and press

transferring the ball Key
Ball
movement
to yellows through Player
movement

the central zone. Two Dribble

defenders can move

1c
out of the channel and
apply pressure on the
“All passes ball. The remaining
four defenders shuffle
should be from side to side to try
below head to intercept a through
pass (1c).
height as If blues lose
we progress possession the server 75
from short, plays to yellows and
the practice restarts
quick with two different red 75
35

combination defenders pressing.

Every time yellows or Blues complete six passes
play to blues complete six
and transfer the ball. Two
new pressing reds move to
35

longer passes and transfer

the ball they are
close down yellows

passing awarded a point.

Key
Ball
movement

passages
Player
movement
Dribble

14 march 2012 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 In partnership with

quick combination play

Each team defends for

2a
three minutes with the
practice run all-in, then
Keith Millen two-touch, then one-
LMA Ambassador touch – so a total of nine
Having previously minutes per team.
turned down the role,
Keith Millen accepted
How do I progress
the job of manager
the session?
at Bristol City in In the progression, we
March 2010, securing increase the difficulty
the club’s npower for passing teams.
Championship status Now, players must
for two seasons before transfer through one of 75
departing Ashton Gate three gates, which are
in October 2011. Bringing in gates means to
protected by two red transfer, blues must pass
Prior to that, the defenders. And as two Key quickly and switch cleverly,
35

45-year-old had been Ball

which they achieve here
reds move out of the movement
Player
Under-17s manager at middle zone to press,
movement
Dribble
the club, having ended
another enters from
a 20-year professional
playing career at City in
the back of the area to

2b
2003. apply pressure from
behind (2a/2b).
Millen, who made his
Brentford debut in 1983, Finally, and using
made 305 appearances the lessons learnt,
for the Bees, before we move to a 12v6
switching to Watford in scenario (3). The team
1994, where he clocked that relinquishes
up a further 165. possession becomes
defenders.
What are the key
things to look
75 for technically/ 75
tactically? On the ball being
transferred, two reds move
Passing and Key out of the channel and are
movement are key
35

Ball
movement replaced by recovering
components, and we
Player
movement team mates from the other
Dribble area
have to make sure
players don’t take up
the same positions

“Passing
teams must
each time. Passing
teams must support
the man on the ball and
3
keep it moving, and
support shouldn’t feel forced
to transfer on the sixth
the man pass.
on the ball In the progression,
and keep it bringing in the gates
means passing has to
moving, and be quicker in order to
75 75
shouldn’t move red players who
are protecting gates. Removing all boundaries,
feel forced blues and yellows team up
to form a 12v6 possession
to transfer
35

overload game against reds

on the sixth Key

Ball
movement

pass.”
Player
movement
Dribble

15 march 2012 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 In partnership with

booked: this month’s choice

Talentis
overrated

Talent is Overrated important role, about 5,000 things

What Really Separates World- and in essence you can do wrong
Class Performers from Everybody Colvin’s book is an when hitting a golf
Else exploration of what ball, so I pick one of
Nicholas Brealey Publishing 228pp
£12.99 this means, and them and work on

B
ecoming world class
in any field of human
endeavour is neither
the consequence of
hard work or God-
given endowment”,
Geoff Colvin states decisively at the
opening of his investigation into
what explains top performance.
These are the two most popular
explanations of how greatness
is achieved, yet they are not the
full explanations. Lots of people
work hard all their lives and never
become great at what they do, and
plenty of people achieve greatness
without having an innate talent.
“Great performance is in our hands
far more than many of us ever
suspected,” he suggests. So what
is the secret?
Modern research into high
performance in many fields has
shown that something called
“deliberate practice” plays an
the implications.
Precisely what
role deliberate
practice plays remains a matter
of some debate, with questions
outstanding about exactly what
needs to be practised and how, and,
still more about where the passion,
motivation and dedication required
to carry out such practice comes
from.
So what is deliberate practice
and what use might it be to a soccer
coach? Colvin is good at explaining
what it isn’t and many of us will
recognise his personal example
of “practising” golf at the driving
range. He turns up, grabs a couple
of buckets of balls and does what
he always does - hits a few short
shorts, a few long shots, and quite a
few bad shots. It feels like practice,
but on reflection it’s not doing
much, if anything, for his game.
“Occasionally I realise that I
should stop to think about why the
shot was bad. There seem to be
it a bit, convincing
myself that I can
sense improvement,
until I hit another bad
one, at which point I
“We have figure I should probably also work
to identify on another one of the 5,000 things.”
So this certainly is not deliberate
the painful, practice.
difficult Anders Ericsson, the researcher
activities who coined the phrase, described
that will it as something that isn’t work and
make our isn’t play but something unique.
players There are several elements:
• It is activity specifically designed
better and to improve performance, often
do those with a teacher’s help.
things over • It can be repeated a lot.
and over.” • Feedback on results is
continuously available.
• It’s highly demanding mentally
– whether an intellectual or
physical challenge.
• It isn’t much fun.
So deliberate practice isn’t
what most of us do when we are

16 march 2012 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 In partnership with

booked: this month’s choice

“practising”, or coaching our team,
and it is most certainly a recipe for
not having fun. According to Colvin:
“Doing things we know how to do
well is enjoyable, and that’s exactly
the opposite of what deliberate
practice demands.”
What would a soccer coaching
regime based on deliberate
practice look like? Well a positive
start is that the team has a coach
in the first place; a coach with a
knowledge of how performance
is developed and improved is
even better. By observation a
coach can see things that the
players cannot. However, here’s
betting that in a majority of soccer
clubs on a Sunday morning the
sessions do not fit the deliberate
practice template, that they are
not designed specifically for
improvement, and that they are
more likely chosen on a whim with
little planning.
Let’s start with the first element.
The key word here is ‘designed’.
Someone has to choose the best
practice activity and to make it
stretch an individual beyond his
or her current abilities. This is
done by identifying certain sharply
defined elements of performance
that need to be improved, and then
working intently on them.
We need not dwell on from
the second element that ‘it can
“Doing be repeated a lot’ as coaching
drills are inherently repeatable.
things we The third, ‘feedback on results
know how is continuously available’, is also
to do well is true in a coached environment,
enjoyable, and this puts a big responsibility
and that’s on the coach to provide individual
exactly the and accurate feedback. One
has to be on the case on every
opposite individual – commenting, cajoling,
of what encouraging – and given that this
deliberate is in essence fault correction, they
practice are probably not going to enjoy the
demands.” experience.
Fourthly, the fact that it is ‘highly
Geoff Colvin
demanding mentally’ presents
issues for groups of 20 or more 14
year-old soccer players in terms
of concentration span, ability to
engage, motivation, willingness
to learn and not muck around, and
so on.
And finally ‘it isn’t much fun’. This
goes to the root of the purpose of
sport and coaching an amateur
team. What are we doing it for?
To win matches at all costs? To
have fun? To develop world class
performers? There is unlikely to be
a consensus among the players,
their parents or even the coaches.
Why would you invite your players to
come along and not have fun every
week? They probably wouldn’t
come. The reality is probably that
the painful, deliberate practice
should form just a part of the
coaching regime, other elements
of which are game play and which
are very much fun and enjoyable.
All of this points to one very hard
fact. Even if we as coaches wanted
nothing else than to produce great
performances from our players
there are massive hurdles in the
execution required just to set off on
the road.
As Colvin points out, instead of
doing what we are good at, we need
to insistently seek out what we are
not good at. We have to identify the
painful, difficult activities that will
make our players better and do
those things over and over. Practice
is all about pushing our players just
beyond what they can currently do.
There’s more in this book about
applying these principles in our
lives and in organisations, but if it all
seems a little daunting, consider
this - as Colvin points out, if the
activities that lead to greatness
were easy and fun, then everyone
would do them and they would not
distinguish the best from the rest.
“The reality that deliberate
practice is hard can even be seen
as good news. It means that
most people won’t do it. So your
willingness to do it will distinguish
you all the more.”
Precisely.

Here at Elite Soccer, the psychological side of sports practice, but
we value highly the there are undoubtedly a number of gems
knowledge and we’ve not uncovered.
judgement of you, our We’d like to hear from you if there’s a
subscribers. Over the past few months coaching book that has really helped to
we’ve been delighted to put forward some shape and focus your side. Contact us at
fantastic coaching literature that examines elitesoccer@greenstarmedia.net, and we’ll
look to showcase the best going forward.
In striving to make Elite Soccer the ultimate
monthly soccer coaching title, we’re
always keen to hear your feedback on the
magazine’s content - be that our book
reviews, bonus manager features, or the
coaching sessions themselves.

17 march 2012 www.elitesoccercoaching.net


EXTRA-TIME
brendan rogers /swansea city
Swansea City manager Brendan
Rodgers gives an insight into a
coaching philosophy that has won
the Welsh club many admirers
in their first season as a Barclays
Premier League club.
Y ou’re known as one of the most
progressive coaches in the
game - what are the main elements
of your philosophy?
In terms of coaching I like my
players to be technically strong and to
understand the game tactically, but
I also think it’s vital to maximise the
extent to which every player can play
the game. It’s also very important
to understand the human needs
element of players.
In terms of the actual philosophy,
I like my teams to be attractive and
creative, but also with good tactical
discipline, and that is really the core
of all our work each and every day.
H ow beneficial was it for you to
inherit a squad of technically
accomplished players at Swansea
who were used to a flowing,
attractive style? Did that make it
easier for you to make immediate
progress?
Certainly Swansea is a club with
a tradition of having teams that
play good football, and obviously
they changed their structure when
Roberto Martinez changed from a
4-4-2 to a 4-3-3. From that moment
on the club brought in coaches and
managers who understood that way
of working and playing. That enabled
me to fast-track and implement my
own ideas into the group.
They’d had a very good year in the
Championship where they finished
eighth. Paulo Sousa took over and
did an excellent job and they reached
seventh position, and then I had the
big challenge to take the club forward
on a very limited budget.
So it was really about trying to
implement my own ideas, but the
core of the group knew and believed
in that way of playing. It was then a
case of developing and improving
18 march 2011
that way rather than having to create
it right from the beginning.
H as there been a change in the
perception of how a promoted
team should play, in light of the
success enjoyed in recent years
by free-flowing sides like West
Bromwich Albion, Reading and
Blackpool?
I honestly don’t think there is a
right or a wrong way to play. You are
judged on your results. West Brom
played some fantastic football under
Tony Mowbray, were in the Barclays
Premier League, and when they
were relegated they were told they
were too naive.
Watford came up and were a
breath of fresh air for the first few
months, and they went direct and
long. Aidy Boothroyd didn’t have a
lot of time after they got promoted to
change his style so they went with the
philosophy that got them promoted.
And after a few months when they
lost some games, everyone was
telling them they should be passing
In partnership with
the ball. I don’t think there’s a right
or a wrong way to do it. You have to
win games, but the coach’s own
philosophy will determine the way a
team plays.
Y
ou mentioned implementing
a 4-3-3 formation. How much
did your time at Chelsea with
Jose Mourinho contribute to your
development? Do you still stay in
touch with Mourinho?
Yes, I do stay in touch with him.
But it wasn’t just at Chelsea that I
came round to that way of thinking. I
have always coached my teams like
that. From 20 years of age I studied
in Spain and travelled throughout
Europe, to understand the structure
and the formation of 4-3-3.
I had always done that as a youth
coach, but obviously going to Chelsea
allowed me to work with players at
the very highest level, both youths
and seniors. It also allowed me to
explore and experiment with how far
you can take that system with really
good players.
“Ilikemy
Y
ou and Andre Villas-Boas
teamstobe worked with Mourinho, while a
attractive
and
large number of Sir Alex Ferguson’s
ex-players have gone on to manage.
What is it about top managers that
creative, seems to rub off on the people they
butalso work with?
withgood I think you obviously have your own
tactical ambition, and you need people to
give you a chance, who think you have
discipline, the capacity to work at that level. But
andthatis obviously when you get the chance
reallythe to work with such managers it gives
coreofall you a chance to learn from the best
ourwork and develop, and Jose was a fantastic
eachand influence for me.
When you move into management,
everyday.” you’re working alone, you can’t look
to imitate or be anyone else, and you
have to carry your own ideas with
you. But the more experience you
have the better, and I have been very
fortunate to be able to work with lots
of very good managers. I have then
hopefully been intelligent enough to
take on board the good and the bad,
and work it into my own identity.
www.elitesoccercoaching.net