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net july 2013

In partnership with

Soccer
Coaching practices from the world’s
leading managers and coaches

Exclusive om top
Training practicesafrers
professional man g

gordon
scotland

strachan
direct central attacks

SHEFFIELD
DERBY COUNTY WALSALL CARDIFF CITY LEICESTER CITY WEDNESDAY

NIGEL DEAN KEVIN NICKY STUART

CLOUGH SMITH NICHOLSON EADEN GRAY
Switching Playing with Pre-season Defending when Mastering
play split strikers fitness plan overloaded possession
former Doncaster Rovers
extra-time: manager David Penney
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Elite Soccer is published by:

issue 35/july 2013: FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Engagingandinspiringsoccer 3
Green Star Media Ltd
Meadow View, Tannery Lane
sessionsfromsomeofthe GORDON
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Tel: +44 (0) 1483 892 894 mostrespectednamesinthe SCOTLAND

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professionalgame Attacking
Email: using
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Dear Coach,
direct
Publisher:
Kevin Barrow
central
Editor: Welcome to the July issue of Elite Soccer. passing
James Evans
Contributing Editor: For most of us, it’s the close season, and a great opportunity to take
Matthew Amos, LMA
Design:
stock of what we’ve learnt from the past year, as well as planning ideas
and initiatives for the new campaign. 5
Jimmy Egerton And in this issue we’ve got another great combination of coaching NIGEL CLOUGH
Illustrator: DERBY COUNTY
sessions and initiatives. We’re delighted to showcase an exclusive
Richard Palmer
Customer Services:
practice from Scotland national team manager Gordon Strachan, who Switching
Duncan Heard looks at the purpose and potential of direct attacks through the middle play
Marketing Manager: of the pitch. This is a plan that enables coaches to apply their own
Paul Mortimer interplay on top of a solid platform.
Operations Director:
Toby Curthoys
From the npower Championship, Derby County manager Nigel Clough
introduces the benefits of switching the ball in attacking situations; and 7
Managing Director: from League One, Walsall boss Dean Smith has put together a fantastic DEAN SMITH
Andrew Griffiths WALSALL
session that uses split strikers as a potent attacking weapon.
Photos: Action Images
New Cardiff City Academy Head Coach Kevin Nicholson has delivered Playing
Publishedinpartnershipwith: for us a perfectly timed pre-season training practice, designed at with split
getting your players back into shape for the new campaign. And to
conclude, Sheffield Wednesday’s Stuart Gray, and Nicky Eaden of
strikers
Leicester City, have presented for us galvanising blueprints that look at
9
League Managers
Association possession, and defending against the counter-attack, respectively.
St George’s Park We hope you enjoy this month’s selection, and look forward to seeing KEVIN
National Football Centre you again next month. NICHOLSON
Newborough Road
CARDIFF CITY
Needwood
Burton upon Trent DE12 9PD Pre-season
Tel: +44 (0)1926 831 556
Email: lma@lmasecure.com
Enjoy the summer! fitness plan
President:
Roy Hodgson
Chairman: 12
Howard Wilkinson NICKY EADEN
Chief Executive: LEICESTER CITY
Richard Bevan
Howard Wilkinson, LMA Chairman
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 In partnership with

SCOTLAND
Gordon attacking using direct passing
Strachan
Attacking
using direct
central
passing
Overview:
This session looks at
improving the speed
of passing moves in
attacking situations.
It is a reaction to the
modern trends of
compact defending
and cautious
forward play,
and uses
fast counter-
attacking as a key
weapon, with the
premise of sending On a full-sized pitch, the
the ball through the game is 11v11, with hatching
central area of the representing areas in
which the ball cannot enter,
pitch in seeking the although players can still
quickest and most run through these spaces.
direct route to goal.
The session – which
takes the form of a SET-UP What do I get the other 11v11 – we are What are the key
pitch template – uses Area players to do? inviting coaches to use things to look out
designated ‘no go’ Full pitch The premise is to the template but to still for?
areas, and relies on Equipment create a playing area apply all of their usual Although this is only
players being quick, that forces players to in-play observations a template onto
Balls, cones, goals
precise and positive. think and behave in a and instructions. which other coaching
Number of Players
The expectation is certain way. This is a Those requests could principles should be
11v11 be in the context of
for coaches apply all Session time
standard 11v11 game applied, there will
of their usual in-play but we add a semi- passing, dribbling, always be the need for
40mins movement, one-twos,
observations onto circle on each side of speed and accuracy.
this template. the halfway line so overloads, blind side We also want to see
that play is channelled runs etc. But whatever players considering
through the middle. the technical and body angle – in
Each extendable tactical aims are, the particular, receiving
“This session semi-circle creates limitations of the pitch on the half-turn – so
is a reaction to a no-go zone that the must be adhered to. as to encourage rapid
ball cannot be played We can adjust the forward play.
the modern into, across or over. width of the no-go It’s important to
trends of Players may still move zones as the 11v11 consider too that while
in that area but cannot match progresses.
compact receive the ball in it. The bigger they are,
the ball cannot go
into the no-go zones,
defending Any team that, whilst the more intense the players can still run
requirement is for
and cautious in possession, takes
the ball into the ‘no players to construct
through those areas in
making forward and
forward play, go’ zone, relinquishes tight passing moves defensive runs. This
through the middle,
and uses possession, with play
restarting with the because the margin
can be particularly
helpful when looking
fast counter- opposition keeper. for error is greater. to create space for
attacking as a The game itself must team mates in the tight
central area.
be coached like any
key weapon.”
3 july 2013 www.elitesoccercoaching.net
 In partnership with

attacking using direct passing

From a good defensive
Cristiano header, Ji-Sung Park
Ronaldo goal brings the ball out of
Arsenal v defence
Gordon
ROONEY
Manchester United
The Emirates,
Strachan May 2009 RONALDO
SCOTLAND
Gordon Strachan With Arsenal
described it as a “life’s already trailing
ambition fulfilled” by two goals PARK JI-SUNG

when he was appointed to nil in this

Arsenal have overcommitted
Scotland national team Champions going forward and United
manager in January League semi- counter-attack at pace
2013. His first match final second
in charge came three leg (and 3-0 on
weeks later in a 1-0
aggregate),
victory against Estonia Wayne Rooney makes
at the Pittodrie Stadium.
Manchester a central break
United put
Strachan, 56, has
together a
enjoyed a long and ROONEY

successful career
classic counter-
as both player and attacking move
manager. As a player, that was quick,
he made 635 senior precise, and
appearances for focused on
the likes of Dundee, attacking purely
Aberdeen, Manchester down the centre
RONALDO

United, Leeds United of the pitch. PARK JI-SUNG Cristiano Ronaldo drops
and Coventry City, plus back to meet the clearance
and plays a clever back heel
50 starts for his country. to Park
And having moved
into management at
Coventry in 1996, he Park carries the ball
subsequently took forward, stranding the
charge of Southampton, Arsenal players and lays
a pass to Rooney
Celtic – where he won
ROONEY

three successive SPL

titles as well as guiding
the club to the last 16 in
PARK JI-SUNG
the Champions League
– and Middlesbrough, RONALDO

before agreeing to
become Scotland
manager.
After the inital lay-off,
Ronaldo immediately
continues his run
“While the ball
cannot go Rooney advances to the

into the no-go edge of the box, attracting

the Arsenal defence before ROONEY

zones,players sliding a pass across goal

RONALDO

can still run

through
those areas
PARK JI-SUNG

in making
forward and Ronaldo has continued
defensive Key
Ball
movement
his run and gets goal side,
firing the ball past Manuel
runs.”
Player
movement
Dribble Almunia

4 july 2013 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 In partnership with

DERBY COUNTY
Nigel switching play
Clough
1
Key
SET-UP
Switching
Ball
movement
Player

play
Area movement
Dribble

Up to a half pitch
Overview: Equipment

This session is about Balls, cones

Number of Players
maximising space so
as to be able to switch Up to 8v8 plus keepers
the ball quickly in Session time

creating positive Passing drills 10mins

attacking options. each,
Games 20mins each
And at the heart of
this is helping players
recognise when to What do I get the
play forward and players to do?
In the Passing drill 1, teams move the
when to switch play. Passing drill 1 ball around anti-clockwise to begin, with
Set up as shown, with each player following his pass. Teams in
It’s important neighbouring squares can compete to be
to practise this two players on each the quickest to finish
because moving corner, and two balls
the ball quickly with starting at opposite
both short and long corners (1). In each

2a
passes gives us the square, the two players
chance to create in possession pass
1v1 situations or and follow to their right
overloads, which until they make it back
are key situations to their starting places.
for exploiting the We’ll then restart the
opposition. practice with players
Keeping possession moving in the opposite
under pressure and direction.
knowing when to We like to set up with
switch is a major part two squares going in
of our style of play. competition with each
For that reason, we’ll other – which team For Passing drill 2, two midway
work on this type of can complete the task players are added on opposite
session frequently. quickest? touchlines on each square. In this
instance, these players stand
Passing drill 2 side-on, receive on the back foot
and move the ball on
We now add in two
players midway along
two opposite sides.

2b
These players either
receive on the back foot
and move forward (2a),
or set the ball for the
“Moving the approaching player
ball quickly (2b), depending on the
coach’s instruction.
with both Again, players follow
short and their passes until they
return to their starting
long passes places.
gives us the What are the key
chance to things to look out
Alternatively, we can ask the
midway player to lay the ball
for?
create 1v1 The emphasis here
off for a team mate to receive
and pass on

situations or is on passing quickly,

overloads.” receiving on the back

5 july 2013 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 In partnership with

switching play

3a
Key
foot and playing at a Ball
movement
high tempo. Players Player
movement

must communicate
Dribble

Nigel Clough and concentrate at all

DERBY COUNTY times.
Nigel Clough has been Directional
manager of Derby possession game, 8v8
County since January
2009, consolidating This game is full width,
the club’s npower played in the area
Championship status between the penalty
whilst bringing through box and the halfway
an exciting breed of line. Setting up as
young talent. shown, teams can In the Directional

75
possession game, each team has
The 47-year-old, like his dribble through any a central goal and end goals to
legendary father Brian, of the end line goals attack. Here, a quick switch across 40
has a measured and being attacked (3a) or the full width presents the white
pragmatic approach to player with time and space to
in the middle goal (3b). dribble through the goal
the game, a fact borne If scoring in the middle
out by his 11 years in goal, the ball must be
charge of Burton Albion

3b
passed to a team mate
prior to accepting the
Pride Park post, during
on the other side for
which time he took the the goal to count, and
Staffordshire club from it cannot then come
the Southern League straight back through.
to Football League 8v8 game with
Division Two. keepers
As a player, Clough Now on a half pitch,
made his Nottingham
we’re looking for
Forest debut in 1984,
and went on to clock
players to use the full
up 403 appearances width and to switch
in two spells with the the ball, in the process In this instance whites
creating overload score in the central goal
75

club, becoming the

by threading a pass
second highest scorer situations and breaks through to a team mate
in Forest’s history with (4). We might choose to on the other side of it 40
131 goals. introduce three-touch
As a midfielder or to ensure the ball is
striker, Clough also moved quickly.
turned out for Liverpool,
Manchester City, What are the key
Sheffield Wednesday things to look out
for?

4
and Burton, and pulled
on the England shirt a Players should show
total of 14 times excellent awareness,
move the ball quickly
out of tight areas and
make forward runs at
pace.
Technical skills
“Technical are important –
skills are particularly receiving
on the back foot – but
important – players must also The 8v8 game
steps up match
particularly resist challenges
and be comfortable
realism. Here, a switch
across is blocked so a
receiving passing the ball over forward pass is made.
With two breaking
on the back a variety of different
distances.
whites, a 3v2 overload
situation develops
foot.”
6 july 2013 www.elitesoccercoaching.net
 In partnership with

WALSALL
Dean Smith playing with split strikers
Playing
with split
strikers
SET-UP
Area
Up to 54x44 yards
1
Overview: Equipment

This session looks Balls, mannequins (or

poles), goals
at playing with split
Number of Players
strikers – one short,
one long. Up to 6v6
Session time
In the session, we
Positional and half
look for the different pitch practices 10mins
movements of the each, Game 40mins
strikers in linking up
to create space and What do I get the
opportunities for players to do?
both themselves and Positional practice
others. Working as a pair, In the Positional practice,
balls are served in from the
Naturally, this serves come in from sidelines. One striker brings
scenario happens different areas, with the ball under control, then
feeds his partner
regularly in matches, the ‘long’ striker and
and utilising
specific link-up play
between strikers is
‘short’ striker linking up.
Either can receive and
manipulate the ball to
2
worth many goals each other. Good control
to us throughout and smart positional
the course of the awareness is key (1/2).
campaign. Half pitch practice
Setting up as shown,
using two strikers and
two mannequins, the
attacking duo link up
having been served the
ball in, with each move
ending with a shot at
goal (3). The long striker
will always look to
stretch play, while the Now a second ball is fed in
from another server
short striker comes in
close to receive.
How do I progress
the session?
We progress by
3
replacing the
“The long mannequins with
striker will defenders (4). The short
striker looks to draw the
always look defender out to create
to stretch space behind. If he
cannot do this, the short
play, while striker faces up the
the short defender to run at him,
while the long striker’s
striker movement keeps the
comes in In the Half pitch practice, servers
line long and creates pass in, with one striker (who comes
space.
close to to meet the ball) designated ‘short’ and
the other (who looks to create attacking

receive.” space by stretching the distance

between them) ‘long’

7 july 2013 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 In partnership with

playing with split strikers

4
Small-sided game
This is a 6v6 small-
sided game, set up as
Dean Smith shown (5). The idea is to
WALSALL again use the premise
Dean Smith has been of the short and long
in charge of first-team strikers, albeit in a
affairs at Bescot game situation. There
Stadium for two-and-
are three 18-yard
a-half years having
previously worked as
zones, although if using
Walsall’s Head of Youth. greater player numbers
Last year, the
we would extend the
In the progression,
npower League 1 width of the pitch from mannequins have been
outfit surpassed 30 to 44 yards. replaced with live defenders
expectations, with the The zones are used in
club narrowly failing order to encourage the
to make the end- short striker to drop into
of-season play-offs the middle section, thus
following a tremendous
manufacturing a 3v2
surge up the table in
overload for his team.

5
the second half of the
campaign. Decoy runs can also be
used should the team
As a player, Smith – a
centre-back – made
want to go long (6).
142 appearances When possession is
for Walsall, though turned over, the other
his most notable team attacks.
contribution was at
Leyton Orient, for whom What are the key
he appeared 239 times. things to look out 18
After spells at Hereford for?
United, Sheffield We’re looking for
Wednesday and Port good movement and
Vale, he hung up his 18
receiving skills, with
boots in 2005.
attackers building up In the Small-sided game, the short
an intuitive relationship
30

striker drops back into the middle

so that each knows 18 third to create a 3v2 overload. The
long striker gets goal side of his
what the other intends man, in space, and goes on to shoot
to do. Timing and

6
communication are
“We’re looking obviously essential
elements.
for good There is pressure on
movement the long striker, in
particular, who needs
and receiving to stretch play at every
skills, with opportunity whilst
remaining onside, but
attackers the short striker’s ability 18
building up to drop is also key.
an intuitive Finally, we cannot
understate the 18
relationship importance of a clinical
so that each finish, otherwise In this instance, the short striker
30

has made a decoy run. His marker

the time and energy
knows what 18 has dropped expecting to track a
invested in the approach short ball, but a longer pass over
the other play is for nothing. the top creates a different threat,
with the right-sided midfielder
intends to do.” providing extra attacking numbers

8 july 2013 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 In partnership with

CARDIFF CITY
Kevin pre-season fitness plan
Nicholson
1
Key

Pre-season Ball
movement
Player

fitness plan
movement
Dribble

Overview:
This is a pre-season
fitness plan that 10
gets players back
into shape in time 10
10
for the start of the
new season. It uses a
ball in each practice 18
and helps players
combine technical In Circuit, reds move around
skills with positioning the area in a clockwise

10
direction, while yellows work
and movement, both anti-clockwise. Both teams
as drills and team must run and dribble at high
games. intensity

This is a great plan

2
that has been utilised
at a number of sides
I have coached. It’s
workable for players
of any level and any
age.

10

10
10

18

In one of the progressions,

players pass diagonally and
10

run straight. This, for example,

could mimic a full-back who
passes inside before sprinting
to the wing

SET-UP What do I get the red runs diagonally intensity, with a We’ll also ask players
Area players to do? up and around the one-minute rest in to make different
Up to a full pitch Circuit flag. Moving along the between. passes - diagonally
top, he dribbles the As a progression to before making a
Equipment This is a circuit that
ball from one cone boost aerobic capacity, straight run (2); then
Balls, cones, goals, practises passing
poles to another, stops it at we ask for one-touch passing straight
and running both with
the second, then runs passing to start. We’ll before making a
Number of Players and without the ball. It
around the second will need at least eight diagonal run to the
Up to 11v11 would typically follow
flag before joining the men per line as the opposite corner flag
Session time a 15-minute warm-up
back of the line. demands are great on (which removes the
Circuit 12mins, with the conditioning
Yellows make the players to get around dribbling task).
Box game 20mins, coach.
Halves game 23mins, same movement in the circuit quickly.
11v11 games 30mins Setting up as shown
the other direction so Alternatively, we can
(1), reds at the front
that both teams are use the same number
of each line begin
working. but reduce the area
by passing the ball
We run this twice - size.
forward to a yellow,
who stops it. Each one minute at high

9 july 2013 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 In partnership with

pre-season fitness plan

Key

3
Box game
Ball
In Box game, the team in movement
Player
possession has to make three of movement
Here, two pitches work at the same time with four consecutive passes in the first Dribble

coaches overseeing each. part of the challenge

Setting up as shown, three or four passes must

be made for a point to be awarded (3). The ball
is fed back to the coach in that square, who
transfers it into a new quarter (4). All players
must then run over into the new possession
quarter. This is best of three with the winning
team having scored the most points – 5 minutes
per game, with 90 seconds rest in between.

The ball is then fed back to the coach, who floats a pass
into a different quarter where the team in possession
must take control of the ball and construct another
passing sequence

Halves game In the Halves game (example one), the

red team, the red team on the left pitch
Again, two pitches is pressured by two opposing
work at the same yellows, who are closing down
time. The team out looking to turn over
possession
of possession can

5
send across up to
four players to press
and win the ball (5, left
pitch). If successful,
they switch the ball
back into their own
half, then retreat ready
to keep possession
themselves. Any
team that kicks the
ball out relinquishes
possession.
To progress, we can
add a keeper at each
end - the team in On the right pitch (example two),
possession uses this there is a ‘keeper’ at each end who
supports the team in possession.
player to help keep the Four yellows are pressing on this
ball (5, right pitch). occasion

10 july 2013 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 In partnership with

pre-season fitness plan

Key
In the Halfway line game, Ball
movement
reds score a legitimate goal Player
movement
since all their men are in the Dribble

Kevin Nicholson opposition half

CARDIFF CITY

6a
Kevin Nicholson is
Under-18s Manager
and Academy Head
Coach (17-21) at
Barclays Premier
League newcomers
Cardiff City.
The 27-year-old holds
the UEFA ‘A’ Licence In addition, they are awarded
an extra point as one yellow
qualification, attends player failed to get back into
the inaugural FA Elite his own half in support of his
Coaches Award and team mates
was selected by the
LMA (League Managers
Association) to be
part of the Leadership
Education Programme,
which is aimed at
developing leadership
skills in potential
managers of Premier
League and Football
League teams in the
future.
Prior to his appointment
at Cardiff City,
6b
Nicholson had been
Under-18s manager
at Exeter City. He
worked at npower
Championship side In the progression of the Numbers
Derby County for 3! game, the number 3 called by the
six years, and Stoke coach has to run around two poles
City previous to that. before returning to action. This
creates space in the middle that
He joined Derby in opposition players should look to
February 2007 and exploit
progressed through
the ranks to become
Academy Head 11v11 games This game encourages numbered between 1 What are the key
Coach and Under-16s The Halfway line players to attack and and 10. On the coach’s things to look out
manager. game encourages defend as a team. command, the player for?
players to attack and Good concentration is called out must sprint In each game we’re
defend as a team, vital, with incentives around, firstly, one of looking for teamwork,
working forwards (and penalties) for not the six poles; then, as a communication,
and backwards working as a unit. progression, two poles, passing, running and
continuously. A goal The second game, before he can return to movement skills.
only counts if every called Numbers game, the game (6b). Although basic, these
player on the team includes high intensity This game encourages are key elements
(apart from the keeper) sprints and introduces aerobic activity and is where pre-season
is on or over the smaller numbers in useful in helping the training is concerned
halfway line to support a big area at certain coach manufacture because everything
the attacking play. If moments in the game overload situations. we go on to coach
all of defending team (which means more throughout the course
are not back in their distance to cover and of the campaign is
own half when the an increase in aerobic based around these
opposition scores, the demand). Each outfield specific foundations.
goal is doubled (6a). player in the team is

11 july 2013 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 In partnership with

LEICESTER CITY
Nicky defending when overloaded
Eaden
1
Key
SET-UP
Defending
Ball
movement
Player

when
Area movement
Dribble
Up to half pitch
overloaded Equipment

Overview: Balls, cones, polls,

goals
This session looks Number of Players
at the principles of Up to 7
defending when Session time
overloaded. This
Warm-up, 1v1s and
is a vital practice 3v2s 10mins,
for our players, 2v1 pitch overload and
given that even the progression 20mins
best defences can What do I get the 30

30
find themselves players to do?
challenged by quick Warm-up In the Warm-up, defenders
and tricky attackers, practise positional play
and the ability of sides This simple warm-up and jockeying technique as
to counter-attack at rehearses defenders attackers approach in 1v1s

pace. in the art of jockeying

and working their feet
Knowing what to

2
(1). We ask the attacker
do – as individuals to run at his man with
and defensive units – the ball at his feet. He
when backlines are is not trying to take
stretched, is vitally his man on, instead
important, and we encouraging the
encourage continued defender to think about
practice of these stance, balance and
principles as part of positioning.
our regular training 20
routines. 1v1s
We now move this into
Moving into competitive 1v1s,
competitive 1v1s. The the defender feeds the attacker,
10

defender passes to who must look to get past him and

the attacker to start. walk the ball through either goal
The attacker must
try to run with the ball
through either gate to
“Defenders score(2). Defenders
should concentrate
should try to on closing down space
dictate the
3
first. Then, they try to
dictate the situation by
situation by forcing the opponent
forcing the towards the defender’s
stronger side, or onto
opponent the opponent’s weaker
towards the side. Play stops when
the defender wins the
defender’s ball, puts it out of play,
stronger or the attacker scores.
20
side, or 3v2s
20

The coach serves

onto the to any red. These
Now as a 3v2, the coach feeds
the attackers, who cannot
opponent’s attackers have to overlap, but must work
the ball from side to side in
score by running the
weaker ball through any gate.
attempting to dribble through
any of the goals
side.” Reds cannot make

12 july 2013 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 In partnership with

defending when overloaded

crossover runs and

Nicky Eaden
must keep the ball
moving between them
(3). This gets defenders
4a
LEICESTER CITY moving, supporting,
Nicky Eaden is Under- covering and
21s coach at npower communicating - they
Championship side will also have recovery
Leicester City. runs to make if they do
The 40-year-old get beaten. Again, try
hung up his boots in to get the defenders to
2009 after a 17-year dictate to the attackers
career which saw him In the 2v1 Pitch overload
by engaging the man (recovery), the defender
make over 500 senior
on the ball in a 1v1. feeds the two attackers who
appearances for the break with a 2v1 overload
likes of Barnsley, 2v1 pitch overload
Birmingham City, (recovery)
Wigan Athletic and Setting up as shown The serving defender
Nottingham Forest. (4a), the blue server moves back into position
while his team mate
The former full-back feeds either red jockeys back and slows
moved into coaching attacker. This prompts the red attack
in the Conference an immediate 2v1

4b
with Kettering Town, attacking overload
then moved on to
situation. It’s up to the
Peterborough United
and Rotherham United.
second defending blue
After moving back into to either win the ball
the non-league game or delay play until his
as assistant manager team mate can recover.
at Tamworth, Eaden In the progression,
accepted the chance we add two wide men
to join Leicester City, so that if defenders
and is now charged In the
successfully repel the progression, if the
with developing the
Academy players into
first phase, the ball can defenders successfully
finished first-team be fed wide (4b). This block the initial attack,
the ball can be fed out to a wide
products. means defenders now man. Defenders now have to deal
have to recover into with a cross into the box
the box to defend the
cross. The wide man
who doesn’t cross can
attack the back post.
3v2 game

5
In the 3v2 game, defenders
In the final game, and must allow a pass into the lone
setting up as shown (5), attacker, but can close down the
attacking duo as they emerge
attackers emerge from from behind the goal looking
behind one goal and to build an attack
feed their lone attacker
“Knowing in the other half, joining
what to do – as him to make a 3v2
attack.
individuals After each attack,
and defensive the coach can quickly
units – when decide to replace all
or leave select players
backlines are on, with a new attack 40
stretched, beginning immediately
in the opposite
25

is vitally direction.
important.”
13 july 2013 www.elitesoccercoaching.net
 In partnership with

SHEFFIELD
WEDNESDAY mastering possession
Stuart Gray
Mastering
1
Key
SET-UP Ball
movement

possession
Player
Area movement
Dribble
Half pitch
Overview: Equipment
This is a competitive Balls, poles
session devised of Number of Players
two similar games. 23
It involves players Session time
being put under Floating keepers
pressure in keeping game 10mins,
possession, and Goals game 25mins
also enhances
fitness, passing, What do I get the
decision-making and players to do?
communication. Floating keepers game In the Floating Keepers game,
both sides can combine with
We practise this Teams are two- or the three floating keepers
because the modern three-touch, and score as they aim to make 10
consecutive passes (scoring a
game demands in this 10v10 game point if successful)
that all 11 players by completing 10
are comfortable in consecutive passes (1).
possession of the Keepers are neutral and

2
ball, from front to two-touch.
back. We increase difficulty by
making teams strictly
two-touch, and keepers
one-touch.
Goals game
In the Goals game,
each keeper protects a
goal, which is five yards
wide. The defending
team now works with
the keepers to repel
the attacking threat (2). In the Goals game, defenders
Attackers score in the work with their keepers – who
goals, while defenders are now each positioned in front
of a goal – to repel the attacking
are still awarded a point threat. Their objective is to retain
by making 10 passes. possession for 10 passes
Stuart Gray
SHEFFIELD What are the key
WEDNESDAY things to look out

3
Stuart Gray is a coach at for?
npower Championship We’re looking for
side Sheffield players making angles
Wednesday. He has
with good movement
managed Southampton
and Northampton
to receive the ball. An
Town, as well as accomplished first
taken up caretaker touch is important,
roles at Aston Villa, with a focus on weight
Wolves, Burnley and and quality of passing.
Portsmouth. We want to see quick
As a player, Gray was a one-twos and sharp
left-sided midfielder, reactions from the
who starred for a keepers, in the form of
number of sides, neat footwork (in the If attackers win possession
including Nottingham first game) or shot- they can attack any of the
Forest, Barnsley and three goals
stopping (in the second).
Villa.

14 july 2013 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 In partnership with

EXTRA-TIME

PENNEY HAS HIS EYES OPENED

“They are using

football as a
means to get the
message across
,
but the real
lesson is about
Former Doncaster Rovers the life skills” based sessions as well
manager Dave Penney has as ensuring they are
spoken of an eye-opening age appropriate.
experience after spending a The coaches
week training local coaches in work with nine
South Africa on behalf of the organisations that
charity coaching for Hope. use football to reach
disadvantaged groups.

T he League Managers’ The organisations

Association is backing the
charity’s programme to support
and develop community
football coaches in order
for them to engage
more effectively with
the most disadvantaged
young people in Cape
Town, Johannesburg and
Durban.
Penney, 48, delivered
a week-long residential
course, which was made
possible by The LMA’s
Community Fund and UK
Sport’s ICES programme,
at the Marsh Memorial
Children’s Home in Cape
Town.
“It was excellent,” said
Dave, who trained 20 female and
16 male coaches. “Coaching for
Hope teaches you football skills,
but they teach you life skills as
well. Hopefully the coaches
will take that back into their
communities.
“We coached from 9am until
5pm and then from 6.30pm until
8.30pm kids would get coaching
on life skills, social skills, HIV
awareness etc. It’s been a really
useful experience to show how
soccer coaching can help build
knowledge and life skills outside
of the game. We got involved
and we listened and got an idea
of the situation these people
are working in. We were obviously
“Footballers,
delivering the football skills, but life
andtoa skills were as important in the areas
certainextent that they were going back to.”
managers, Dave added: “It was really eye-
oftengetabad opening for us. Sometimes you sit
rap.People back and you think ‘Wow, how lucky
don’trealise are we?’ Everyone moans about what
they have or haven’t got but when
theworkthat you look at their situation it’s a bit of a
manydoin reality check.”
givingbackto The ability to plan, deliver and
society.” assess coaching sessions was at
the heart of the training delivered by
Dave, who was assisted by Michael
Richardson from Hull City’s Tiger
Trust. The coaches also learned how
to manage and progress skills-
work with boys and girls
from townships and
street children living
and working on the
streets of the Central
Business Districts of Cape Town,
Johannesburg and Durban.
Dave added: “They are using
football as a means to get the
message across, but the real lesson
is about the life skills - helping the
kids they coach to know about right
from wrong and saying ‘no’ to things
that can sidetrack them from getting
on in life.”
He believes The LMA’s support for
projects like Coaching for Hope is
hugely important.
“It’s about giving something
back,” he said. “Footballers, and
to a certain extent managers, often
get a bad rap. People don’t realise
the work that many footballers do in
giving back to society, whether in this
country or abroad.
“Managers are the same. If you’re
not working at a particular time and
you can get involved in projects like
this, then people are willing to do it.
People in football are good people
generally and they want to help
people if and when they can.
“I’d like to go back to South Africa
again and get involved with Coaching
for Hope. I’ve said to them that any
time that I’m available and they feel
that I can be of help, then I’d look
forward to going back.”

15 july 2013 www.elitesoccercoaching.net


booked: this month’s choice
Coachingoutsidethebox
COACHING OUTSIDE THE BOX
Changing the Mindset in Youth
Soccer
Paul Mairs and Richard Shaw, £14.99
Two former semi-professional
footballers combine the
psychological skills picked up
from two decades in the game
to offer a new take on player
development and engagement.
O
f all the statistics that
surround youth soccer
coaching there is probably
one that stands out as the most
alarming – that 70-80% of all
kids involved in the formative
stages of the sport will drop out
before they’ve even come close to
realising their full potential.
In assessing why that is and
offering a solution to the stale
and outdated mindsets that still
occupy a number of coaches in
Europe, the US and beyond, Paul
Mairs and Richard Shaw have put
together a new take on soccer
development. ‘Coaching Outside
the Box’ is making great waves
on both sides of the Atlantic for its
ability to strip out the conversation
and conjecture. Instead it focuses
on the core essentials – the
alarming juxtapositions that sit in
the triangle between what players
want, what players need, and
what coaches ultimately offer.
As Mairs and Shaw discuss,
the solution for the perfect
coaching environment and
16 july 2013
structure is probably
somewhere in the
middle of that triangle,
but the guidance can
only come from one
person – you, the
coach.
Crucial soccer
ideals are
approached
in this book –
everything from
equal playing time
to competitiveness,
coaches not progressing their
own development, right through
to the way young players are
treated and spoken to. ‘Coaching
Outside the Box’ asks readers
to assess every aspect of their
delivery and philosophy, with
the suggestion that, over time,
working habits become laboured,
blurred and lazy.
What’s more, the book can just
as easily be directed at parents
looking to improve their child’s
ability away from a team situation,
such is the way it encompasses
the basic ideals of sports
provision.
Perhaps the only frustration
that remains after reading this
is the reality that not everything
is solvable. Councils, leagues,
organisations and authorities
come in for criticism for the
availability of sport, and the
financial bias that is increasingly
being placed on that provision.
In partnership with
By James Evans
And despite the
fact that both
authors grew up
playing in the north-
west of England,
against competitors
as renowned as David
Beckham and Paul
Scholes, there is a
strong US bias that’s
perhaps unnecessary
given the ubiquitous
nature of the problems
outlined in the study.
“In years But the overriding
to come feeling that remains upon
‘Coaching completing the book is hope.
Outside the Mairs and Shaw do not as much
Box’ may well reinvent the wheel (or in their
be regarded terms, collapse the box and
as one of the rebuild it); rather they draw in and
cornerstones organise widespread research
of literature and observations, with that
that helped presenting punishingly strong
to mend what cases for changes of mindset.
is, in places, Perhaps for the first time ever,
a broken a book on soccer coaching
game.” succeeds in tackling every aspect
of coaching philosophy for young
players.
The true usefulness of this
book may not be witnessed on
parks and training pitches next
week, next month, or even next
season. But in years to come
‘Coaching Outside the Box’ may
well be regarded as one of the
cornerstones of literature that
helped to mend what is, in places,
a broken game.
www.elitesoccercoaching.net