www.elitesoccercoaching.

net AUGUST 2011

SOCCER
COACHING PRACTICES FROM ENGLISH
FOOTBALL LEAGUE MANAGERS AND COACHES

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

MICK MCCARTHY
COUNTER
ATTACKS:
•ATTACK•DEFEND•SUPPORT

Exclusive
Training practices nal IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

from top professio

managers

BRIGHTON &
HOVE ALBION BRENTFORD ALDERSHOT TOWN LMA AMBASSADOR SWANSEA CITY

GUS UWE DEAN SAMMY ADRIAN

POYET RÖSLER HOLDSWORTH MCILROY TUCKER
Finding the free Pre-season Support play and Crosses from Keeper’s passing
player conditioning swapping roles danger zones practice
NEW
EXTRA-TIME: KARL ROBINSON
INTERVIEW
FEATURE WITH MK DONS
INSIDE MANAGER
 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Elite Soccer is published by:

ISSUE 13/ AUGUST 2011: FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Drivencoachingintelligence 03
Green Star Media Ltd
Meadow View, Tannery Lane MICK McCARTHY
Guildford, Surrey,
GU5 0AB, UK fromsoccer’sleadinglights WOLVERHAMPTON
WANDERERS
Tel: +44 (0) 1483 892 894 Attacking and
Fax: +44 (0) 1483 894 148 defending
Email:
elitesoccer@greenstarmedia.net Dear Coach,
in counter-
Welcome to the August issue of Elite Soccer.
attack
Publisher:
Kevin Barrow situations
Editor:
As usual, we’re delighted to bring you six
James Evans exclusive, innovative and bespoke training
practices from those working at the top levels
05
Contributing Editor: GUS POYET
Matthew Amos, LMA of the English game. BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Design:
Jimmy Egerton From the Barclays Premier League, Finding the
Illustrator: Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Mick free player
Richard Palmer McCarthy has produced a session that
Customer Services: examines the tactical and technical aspects of counter-attacking
Duncan Heard
football, examining and presenting some tremendous ideas that
07
Operations Director:
Toby Curthoys benefit attackers and defenders in equal measure.
Managing Director: Next, Gus Poyet explains why finding the free player has been UWE RÖSLER
Andrew Griffiths so beneficial to his Brighton & Hove Albion side, who are freshly BRENTFORD

Pre-season
Photos: Action Images
promoted this season to the npower Championship.
Publishedinpartnershipwith: New Brentford manager Uwe Rösler guides us through the conditioning
principles of possession football when on the attack, while
Aldershot Town’s Dean Holdsworth presents an exclusive
League Managers
Association
session that looks at support play and swapping roles.
We also have training practices from LMA Ambassador Sammy
09
The Camkin Suite, DEAN
1 Pegasus House,
McIlroy and Swansea City goalkeeping coach Adrian Tucker, HOLDSWORTH
Tachbrook Park, Warwick, who look at crossing from danger zones and keeper distribution ALDERSHOT TOWN
CV34 6LW, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1926 831 556
respectively. Support play
Email: lma@lmasecure.com
We also have an interview with MK Dons boss Karl Robinson, and and swapping
in a new feature entitled The Playbook, we rerun a classic set play
President:
Fabio Capello from recent months – in this issue it’s Jamie O’Hara’s strike for
roles
Chairman:
Howard Wilkinson
Wolves against Blackburn Rovers on the final day of last season. 11
Chief Executive:
We hope your team can get the best out of these exclusive SAMMY McILROY
Richard Bevan sessions, and look forward to bringing more your way next LMA AMBASSADOR
month. Crosses
This publication is protected
by national and international from danger
copyright laws. Elite Soccer will
take legal action against any
zones
individuals or organisations

13
found to be infringing our rights,
and will make that action public.
Elite Soccer members who
have purchased this report may Howard Wilkinson, LMA Chairman ADRIAN TUCKER
circulate electronic or hard SWANSEA CITY
copies to members of their own
club or school, provided this is
Elite Soccer is a monthly publication Keeper’s
done without commercial gain.
passing practice
However, no part or whole of
this report may be circulated for professional, semi-professional
elsewhere or displayed on
any website or distributed and aspiring soccer coaches and is 15
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or call on +44 (0) 1483 892 894 18EXTRA-TIME:

... with Karl Robinson

2 AUGUST 2011 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

WOLVERHAMPTON
WANDERERS ATTACKING AND DEFENDING IN COUNTER-ATTACK SITUATIONS: MAIN SESSION
Mick
McCarthy SET-UP
Attacking AREA

and
1a
Full pitch
defending EQUIPMENT

in counter- Balls, bibs, cones,

goals
attack NUMBER OF PLAYERS

situations Squad
SESSION TIME
Overview:
Practices 3x20mins,
This session looks game 20mins
at the principles
behind attacking and What do I get the
defending counter- players to do?
attack situations Practice 1
quickly. It’s important We mark out a 20-yard In 1v1s, each attacker
to practise this channel down the pitch
KEY
Ball
movement
receives a long pass and
because counter- and place attackers Player
movement
attacks the goal
attacks occur in the centre circle.
Dribble

regularly in matches, Defenders start from

particularly in the behind each goal,
Barclays Premier
League. Matt Jarvis’s
second-minute goal
which is protected by a
keeper.
An attacker is served
1b
against Blackpool in a ball from behind the
February was a great goal. As he controls
example ofa counter- and advances towards
attacking goal that goal, a defender takes
set us up for a 4-0 win, up position to play out a
our biggest victory of 1v1 situation (1a).
the season.
At the end of the move,
We construct this players continue their
session as three runs so attackers
separate practices become defenders
– each slightly and vice versa. We then KEY
Moving to 2v2s, players
different, and progress this to 2v2s,
Ball
movement
must link up and
communicate in defence
each building on
Player
movement
looking for players to Dribble and attack
the tactical points communicate, cover
outlined previously. and support recovery

2a
runs (1b).
Practice 2
We now narrow the
pitch by 10 yards,
remove the channel,
and mark a 20-yard
zone across the
middle. Within this
central zone there
are two unopposed
“We’re looking teams of four. Four
for strong additional players from
communication, each team position
themselves outside the
intelligent zone as defenders.
In Practice 2, whites hold
possession and prepare to
support play, The ball is served
counter

and good
KEY

in and the team in Ball

movement
Player

recovery runs.” possession must movement

Dribble

3 AUGUST 2011 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

ATTACKING AND DEFENDING IN COUNTER-ATTACK SITUATIONS

break quickly, looking

to score (2a). If the

2b
opposing team wins
Mick McCarthy the ball, they counter-
WOLVERHAMPTON attack 4v4 towards the
WANDERERS other goal (2b).
Mick McCarthy is one
Practice 3
of the most respected
managers in the Now we add a holding
Barclays Premier midfielder for each
League, thanks in no team in the middle.
small part to his direct This player attacks
and honest approach to with his team mates
the game. but supports from
He has taken on a deep, and also tracks
number of major back when defending
rebuilding tasks during (3a/3b). An interception is made and
his time as a manager, KEY
play now switches to the
starting at Millwall in How do I put Ball
movement
opposite direction
this into a game
Player
movement
1992 aged just 32. Dribble

After impressing in
situation?
south London, he In the game, we

3a
accepted the Republic remove the width
of Ireland post, restrictions and the
taking the country he central zone but
represented 57 times shorten the length so
as a player to the 2002 that play is between the
World Cup.
two penalty boxes. We
Upon his return to play 10v10 including
domestic football a keepers, but retain
year later he joined
a solid back four,
Sunderland, securing
the Championship title
encouraging teams to
in 2005, before moving attack in numbers. The
to Wolves. small area and large
The club achieved
number of players
promotion at the end of creates numerous
opportunities to KEY In Practice 3, the holding
the 2008/09 season and Ball midfielder begins an
has since cemented its counter. movement
Player
movement attack
place in the top tier of What are the key
Dribble

English football. things to look

As a player, McCarthy for technically/
was a fearless centre-
back for Barnsley,
Manchester City, Celtic,
Lyon and Millwall.
tactically?
We’re looking for
composure from
3b
all players, while
attackers must come
forward at speed, using
technical skills such as
dribbling, a slick final
pass or a clever finish.
Defenders must stay
on their feet, delay the
speed of the attack,
and tackle. We require
good communication, KEY The midfielder doesn’t
intelligent support Ball
movement advance as far as his team
Player mates, and here scores
play and good recovery movement
Dribble from a ball cut back
runs.

4 AUGUST 2011 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

BRIGHTON &
HOVE ALBION FINDING THE FREE PLAYER: MAIN SESSION
Gus Poyet
Finding the
1a
SET-UP
free player AREA
60x40 yards
Overview: EQUIPMENT
This session is about Balls, bibs, poles
retaining possession NUMBER OF PLAYERS
and finding players 12
in key positions. This SESSION TIME
concept is important
Session 10mins,
to us at Brighton development 10mins,
because of the way game 25mins
we play – namely
that we often have What do I get the KEY

players to do?
Ball
the lion’s share movement
Player In the centre circle
movement
of possession yet We begin with a centre Dribble warm-up, players move
the ball in and out,
find the opposition circle drill involving 12 following their pass
denying space in the players. Two start in the
final third. middle with everyone
We work through else on the outside
this session once
or twice a week and
frequently see the
facing in. Two balls, on
opposite sides of the
circle, are passed in.
1b
results paying off in The player who passes
matches, particularly follows the ball, then
when concerted the receiving player
periods of possession does likewise, passing
succeed in pulling clockwise to the next
our opponents out of man outside the circle
position, enabling a (1a).
clear route to goal. We then add poles
within the circle to KEY
create obstacles, Ball
movement Adding in poles creates
encouraging players Player
movement
Dribble
obstacles that players
to take a touch to make need to be aware of
space (1b). And we’ll
change the direction
of play every couple of
minutes.

2a
For the main session,
there are 12 players
in a 60x40-yard area.
Inside we place a
circle measuring 10
“Attackers yards across that only
attackers can enter.
must This is an 8v4 game
show good where overloaded
defenders must
judgement prevent attackers from
of when to threading a pass to a
team mate inside the
pass safe circle (2a).
and when Attackers score two KEY In the 60x40-yard area,
points for a received
to risk a blues thread a scoring
Ball
movement

pass, and to prevent Player

movement pass into the circle

ball into the

Dribble
defenders from just
shielding the circle,
circle.”
5 AUGUST 2011 www.elitesoccercoaching.net
 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

FINDING THE FREE PLAYER

also score a point by

making six consecutive
passes anywhere in the

2b
Gus Poyet area (2b). Defenders
BRIGHTON & score a point by
HOVE ALBION
winning possession.
Gus Poyet will celebrate Play restarts after
two years in charge
every point scored and
of Brighton & Hove
Albion in November
we play this in three-
2011. In that time he has minute sets before
transformed the South rotating defenders. We
Coast club, culminating do three sets then rest.
in promotion to the What are the key
npower Championship things to look
in April of this year. for technically/
The Uruguayan had tactically?
previously acted as Attackers must move
assistant manager at Blues score again, this
the ball quickly and KEY
time by making six
Swindon Town, Leeds Ball
movement

United and Tottenham

stretch the defending Player
movement
consecutive passes
Hotspur, and joined team, always with the Dribble

aim of playing into the

2c
Brighton with the club in
danger of dropping into circle. They must show
the bottom division. good judgement of
But in his first year he when to pass safe and
steadied the ship, then when to risk a ball into
in 2010/11 guided the the circle. Defenders
Seagulls to the npower must communicate
League One title, and cover space
scooping 95 points as quickly and effectively.
well as the divisional
Manager of the Year How do I progress
award in the process. the session?
As a player, Poyet was Reducing the size of
a stylish midfielder, the circle or adding
winning numerous a second circle Adding a second circle
KEY
domestic and European elsewhere in the area Ball
movement offers an additional
trophies, notably with increases difficulty for Player
movement
challenge for defenders
Chelsea. He also played defenders (2c).
Dribble

3
for Grenoble, River
Plate, Real Zaragoza To offer a new option
and Tottenham. for attackers, we swap
the circles for a thin line
across the area, five
yards wide. All players
can cross the line but
only attackers can wait
in it. Here, attackers
“To offer a are looking at a width
new option rather than a focused
target (3). This is done
forattackers, to make the practice
we swap the as match-realistic as
possible.
circles for KEY
Ball
Creating a scoring
strip means attackers
a thin line
movement
Player
movement are looking for
Dribble width rather than a
across the designated target

area, five
yards wide.”
6 AUGUST 2011 www.elitesoccercoaching.net
 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

BRENTFORD
Uwe Rösler PRE-SEASON CONDITIONING: MAIN SESSION
Pre-season
1
SET-UP
conditioning AREA
Overview: 60x60 yards
This session is EQUIPMENT

about developing Balls, cones

the conditioning of NUMBER OF PLAYERS
players throughout 9
pre-season and into SESSION TIME
the new campaign, Development 45mins,
by using a strong game 30mins
technical passing
approach. What do I get the
players to do?
We like to practise
We begin with a
this because it KEY

passing triangle – Ball

movement
offers match-like Player
cones are 10 yards movement
The first move, a simple
passing conditions, Dribble
passing triangle, gets
apart. The ball is
and working with a players comfortable with
quickly moved around the ball
ball is the best way
using one-touch
to increase fitness
passing, during which
whilst brushing up on

2a
we’ll also encourage
passing ability.
ad hoc one-twos. (1)
We find that a player
We now switch to
lacking fitness will
straight-line passing
drop off sharply in
- two players 16 yards
the final quarter of a
apart in a line with a
match. 16
floater in the middle. yd
White passes to yellow,
who sets back to white
who then passes to red.
Yellow and white swap
positions. (2a) The
process is repeated
when white passes to
red.
Coaches can vary the KEY
Ball
In straight line passing,
distance between movement
Player
movement white and yellow link up,
players – shortening it Dribble
swap positions, and the ball
makes the task easier, is fed to red
lengthening it means
“Coaches
can vary the
greater difficulty. (2b)
How do I progress
the session?
2b
distance In the progression, we
between rehearse third-man
32

runs – the idea that a

yd

players – third player (not the

shortening passer) makes an
attacking run and
it makes the receives the ball. We
task easier, use nine players in
a 20x30-yard area.
lengthening Players position KEY
Ball

it means themselves in pairs, movement

Player
movement
just in from each Dribble

greater corner along the short Enlarging the playing area

offers a greater challenge
difficulty.” touchline. The spare for passers

7 AUGUST 2011 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

PRE-SEASON CONDITIONING

player starts in the

Uwe
middle of the area.
A ball is played along the
top edge from player
3a
Rösler 1 to 2, then fed to the
middle man (player 3)
BRENTFORD
Uwe Rösler was
and back to the serving
confirmed as manager player to replicate the
of npower League One passing triangle. (3a)
side Brentford on June Player 3 now runs to the
10, 2011. right-hand side bottom
Rösler is a holder of touchline and joins the
the UEFA Pro License, back of the queue. The
and has enjoyed highly server takes his place in
successful spells in the middle after playing KEY
Ball
movement
charge of Lillestrom, a third-man pass to Player
movement
Viking and Molde in player 2, who sprints Dribble

Norway. down the flank. As

In the progression, third-
The German returned player 2 progresses, he man running comes into
to the English game lays a pass ahead and effect, beginning with a

3b
for the first time the move begins in the passing triangle
in nine years after
other direction. (3b)
leaving Southampton
in 2002, but it is for an How do I put
entertaining four-year this into a game
spell at Manchester City situation?
that he is best known in We use a 60x60-yard
the UK, having played area, with each team
167 times for the club.
looking to attack a
He also played for 10-yard end zone.
Dynamo Dresden, FC The match is 6v6 with
Nuremberg, and played
two floating neutrals,
in the UEFA Champions
League with FC
who always support
Kaiserslautern. the attacking team.
Defenders cannot enter KEY
Ball
zones, but attackers movement
Player
movement
can when receiving a Dribble

through pass. Each Now as players adopt new

zone pass completed
“We’re scores a point. (4)
positions, a third-man run is
made and the pass finds him
looking
4
What are the key
for players things to look
for technically/
to make tactically?
purposeful, The session relies
on quick one-touch
attacking passing between
and team mates, plus
purposeful, attacking
overlapping and overlapping runs.
runs whilst Players must display
remaining technique, skill and the
ability to launch third-
conscious man runs, so precise KEY

of their
Ball
timing and intelligent movement
Player
movement
movement off the ball is In the zone game, reds link
designated
Dribble
with a floating player to feed
crucial. the runner and score a point
positions.”
8 AUGUST 2011 www.elitesoccercoaching.net
 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

ALDERSHOT TOWN
Dean SUPPORT PLAY AND SWAPPING ROLES: MAIN SESSION
Holdsworth
SET-UP
Support
play and
AREA
30x10 yards
swapping EQUIPMENT
roles Balls, cones, goals
Overview: NUMBER OF PLAYERS
8
This session
SESSION TIME
encourages players

1a
to problem solve Small-sided games
3x10mins,
and find space, full size 30mins
and is formed
of four different What do I get the
game scenarios. players to do? Play off the target player
Reds successfully pass
The practice offers Game one: Play off a through the areas, each of
lessons in how target player which is a 1v1 duel
players can really
This is a 3v3 game in a
work positional KEY
30x10 area, split into Ball
flexibility to their movement
three zones. It’s 1v1 Player
advantage.
movement
Dribble
in each zone, plus a
By rehearsing this neutral target player at
and playing it out in each end.
match situations,
The attacking team
we can fashion long
must pass the ball
sustainable periods
through the zones
of pressure, and the
to their target man

1b
longer an attack
at the end (1a). While
lasts, the more
defenders cannot
chance the team has
change zones,
of scoring.
attackers can in order Players are now switching
The session is to work space and zones so as to spread play,
also great for with the ball coming back
angles, though one the other way
defenders because it team mate must
necessitates strong remain in each box (1b). KEY
communication. At If attackers succeed
Ball
movement

Aldershot, we always in working the ball to

Player
movement
Dribble
state that the success the opposite end they
of how we attack is score a point, then play
identifiable in how back the other way.
well we can then
Game two: Dribble to
defend.
the end zone
Now we add a two-yard
scoring zone at each
end. This time, players
pass then dribble
through into the end
zone (2a).
2a Dribble to the end zone
“The longer Game three: Pass,
dribble and finish
The red player at the
top receives, turns, and
an attack Extending to a six-
dribbles into the zone.

lasts, the yard scoring zone and

more placing a goal and
keeper at each end,
KEY
Ball

chance the
movement

we now revert to 4v4.

Player
movement
Dribble

team has of Players rehearse

elements from the first
scoring.” two games – playing

9 AUGUST 2011 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

SUPPORT PLAY AND SWAPPING ROLES

off a target man in

the main zones, then
dribbling the ball into
Dean the scoring zone,
Holdsworth except now attackers
ALDERSHOT TOWN must shoot past the
Dean Holdsworth keeper for a point (2b).
took charge of npower Game four: Full match
League Two side
In a full-sized 11v11

2b
Aldershot Town after
an impressive spell game, there are
at Newport County, channels on both sides
having originally cut his outside the width of the Pass, dribble and finish
managerial teeth with 18-yard box. We set up The red player receives
Redbridge. 4-3-3 against 4-4-2 a pass, dribbles into the
scoring zone and fires past
He guided Newport to produce varying the keeper
to promotion from attacking approaches,
the Blue Square Bet with two wingers from
Conference South in each side out wide
2009/10 season, and (one in each half), and KEY
subsequently had taken Ball
a 3v3 in each half in the movement
County into the play-off Player
middle.
movement

Zo
Dribble

n
places in non-league’s

e
1
top division before Players must always
moving to Aldershot in occupy each of the

Zo
3a
n
January of this year. zones, so we’re

e
2
He steadied the looking for rotation
Hampshire outfit, of the front five,

Zo
ne
1
scooping the npower communication, and
League Two Manager clever interchanges
Zo

of the Month award for (3a/3b).

n
e
1

March in guiding the

Shots clear of relegation What are the key
things to look
Zo

danger.
en
2

In a distinguished
for technically/
21-year playing career
tactically? KEY
Full match
The central midfielder breaks
Zo
n

Ball
For attackers, timing,
e

that included spells at movement

to the wing as his team mate
1

Player
Brentford, Wimbledon angle of movement movement
Dribble
comes back inside. The
attacking team must occupy
and Bolton Wanderers, and hitting space is each of the zones at all times
Holdsworth scored vital. They must be
240 goals in 704 versatile and on the
appearances. same wavelength,
Zo
n

knowing when to fill or

e
1

vacate a zone.
Zo

Because defenders
n

3b
e
2

cannot change zones,

communication is
Zo

“Attackers
n

key. Given the 1v1

e
1

situations, they
must be should avoid going
Zo
n
e

versatile and
1

to ground, and must

be prepared to make
on the same
Zo

recovery runs.
en
2

wavelength, Yellows tackle back and

knowing
play progresses in the
Zo

KEY
en

Ball
opposite direction. The
1

movement
Player

when to fill
movement red players should stay in
Dribble
their zones to defend and

or vacate a
not recover to their original
positions

zone.”
10 AUGUST 2011 www.elitesoccercoaching.net
 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

LMA AMBASSADOR
Sammy CROSSES FROM DANGER ZONES: MAIN SESSION
McIlroy SET-UP
Crosses
from
1a
AREA
Final third
danger EQUIPMENT
zones Balls, goals
Overview: NUMBER OF PLAYERS
10
This session looks at
SESSION TIME
crossing the ball into
the penalty area from Session 20mins,
development 20mins,
advanced positions, game 20mins
also known as
danger zones. These What do I get the
areas are crucial in players to do?
the game because We set up initially with
they’re so difficult a six-man unopposed KEY
for the opposition to attacking move in Ball
movement

defend. the final third, plus Player

movement
Dribble
a keeper. There is a In the first phase, one-
The aim of the touch play invites the
practice is, of course, midfielder (placed winger to hit the danger
centrally), three

1b
to find the net, but it zone
features movement wingers (two on one
and positional side) and two strikers
play for attackers, (on the edge of the box).
wingers and In the chosen scenario,
midfielders too, with the midfielder plays
defenders involved out to one of the two
in the opposed wingers on the right.
progressions. As soon as the winger’s
The session we have first touch lays the ball
outlined shows to the nearest striker,
specific movement of the second winger
one chosen scenario, overlaps into what we
though of course, class as a crossing
variations of crossing danger zone – namely, KEY

and movement exist. a 10-yard strip running Ball

movement
Player
the outside the 18-yard movement
Dribble
box – and crosses (1a). Strikers attack the ball
diagonally (shown by the
Both strikers must blue bar) while the opposite

2a
challenge for the winger comes in from the
flank
ball, along with the
third winger who
approaches from the
opposite flank. To
“The practice reduce the chance of
features the cross beating the
striking duo, striker 1
movement should run to the near
and post with striker 2
coming across behind
positional him on a diagonal run
play for (1b). Now rerun on the
opposite flank.
attackers, How do I progress
KEY

wingers and
Ball
movement
the session? Player
movement

midfielders
Dribble In the progression,
For the next phase, quick passing results in
we make one of the
too.” the ball being spread to
the flank

11 AUGUST 2011 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

CROSSES FROM DANGER ZONES

wingers a defender.

Sammy McIlroy
The midfielder passes
in to either of the two
strikers, who must
2b
LMA AMBASSADOR protect the ball from
Sammy McIlroy is a the defender and play
vastly experienced it back (2a). It now goes
football manager wide to a winger, who
who, most recently, takes a first touch into
was in charge at
npower League Two
danger zone, before
Morecambe. crossing. (2b)
He took the Shrimps In the second
into the Football League progression, an
for the first time in overlapping full-back
2007 after winning the comes into play. The KEY
Conference play-off midfielder feeds the Ball
movement
final against Exeter City. Player
ball out to the right movement
Dribble
It was the second time He takes a touch and
and the winger’s touch crosses as the strikers
he had achieved the
feat having secured takes him infield gain a yard on the lone

3a
slightly. But the full- defender
promotion for
Macclesfield Town back back overlaps,
in 1997, with a second receives the pass and
successive promotion crosses. (3a)
arriving the following
year. His achievements
In the centre is 2v2,
led to three years in defenders versus
charge of the Northern strikers, although
Ireland international attacking options
side. He has also can be increased
managed Northwich by encouraging the
Victoria and Stockport opposite winger
County.
and midfielder to
As a player, Sammy
move in. (3b)
was the last of the
‘Busby Babes’, and What are the key
played 342 games for things to look KEY
Ball
the Manchester United for technically/ movement
Player

tactically?
movement
between 1971-82. He Dribble
The second progression
also turned out for Stoke uses an overlapping
City, Manchester City Danger zones are
winger in attack
key areas and we’ll

3b
and Preston North End,
plus earned 88 caps reference them
for Northern Ireland, frequently in this
including appearances session. In essence,
at the 1982 and 1986 we’re looking for
World Cups.
players to adopt good
body shape and to
approach the ball with
intelligent runs.
The strikers’ runs
should be timed in
order to meet the ball
on the move.
For overlapping
wingers, the full-back KEY
must not advance past Ball
movement
Player
the wide man until the movement
Dribble Now fully opposed in the
pass is made, for fear of middle, the winger ignores
options in the six-yard box
straying offside. and lays the ball back for the
midfielder

12 AUGUST 2011 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

SWANSEA CITY
Adrian KEEPER’S KICKING DRILL: MAIN SESSION
Tucker SET-UP
Keeper’s
kicking 1
AREA
Half pitch
drill EQUIPMENT

Overview: Balls, cones, goals

NUMBER OF PLAYERS
This practice is
designed to enhance 12 (incl. 2 keepers)
SESSION TIME
the composure of
goalkeepers when Warm-up 5mins,
they have the ball development 15mins,
game 25mins
at their feet. It uses
situations that vary What do I get the
in space, time and players to do?
pressure to test
First, we run a
ability and decision-
6v6 warm-up in a KEY
In the warm-up, the
making skills. Ball
25x20-yard area with
movement
Player keeper is a crucial part
As we discovered last keepers on opposite
movement
Dribble of a possession game
season at Swansea long touchlines. On
City, the platform for opposite shorter
success often starts

2a
touchlines add a player
with a comfortable from each team.
and confident Simply, the starting
goalkeeper. The team must retain
more assured possession by using
he is, the better both keepers (1).
the variation and
For the main 5v5
accuracy of his supply
game, we lay three
to defenders and
18-yard boxes end to
other players.
end. Outfield players
cannot stray from
the middle box. The
team in possession
must complete five
passes before passing
to either keeper (2a), KEY
Ball
movement
who deals with the Player
movement

back pass and plays Dribble For the main practice,

players make five passes
back out to the team in before laying the ball back

2b
possession. That team to the keeper
can now score a point
by playing through to
the opposite keeper,
and so on (2b). If play is
turned over, the new
team in possession
now attempts to make
“The platform five passes. If the ball
for success goes out of play, the
coach restarts.
often starts
How do I progress
with a the session?
comfortable To progress, when a KEY

back pass is made to

and
Ball
movement
Player
a keeper, opposition movement

confident He makes a pass, enabling

Dribble

players can enter the his team to retain possession

area to close him down
goalkeeper.” and switch the direction of
play

13 AUGUST 2011 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

KEEPER’S KICKING DRILL

and apply pressure.

Here, he must make

3a
one of three decisions
Adrian Tucker – pass to a supporting
SWANSEA CITY team mate (3a) , play
Adrian Tucker is the the ball forward to an
goalkeeping coach advanced player (3b),
at Barclays Premier or clear the ball out of
League side Swansea play. If he succeeds in
City. completing a return
The 34-year-old joined pass, the team in
the Swans in July 2009 possession can now
after 12 years with the send men to attack
technical department
the far goal (3c). If a
of the Welsh Football
Trust, and works
goal is scored, the
exclusively with the ball goes dead or the
club’s goalkeeping keeper saves a shot, KEY
Ball
talent. play restarts with the movement
Player

As a player, Tucker coach. movement

Dribble In the progression, a
back pass can be closed
was forced to retire What are the key down by an opposition

3b
from the professional things to look player
game because of a for technically/
shoulder injury, but tactically?
continued to play for
The keeper must
semi-professional
sides including Ebbw
stay focused - he
Vale, Inter Cardiff, needs to observe,
Aberystwyth and communicate and
Merthyr Tydfil. understand the
And the Welshman, ever-changing player
who is one of only three environment in front
people in Wales to hold of him. He should
the UEFA Pro Licence always be positioned
with the goalkeeping on the front foot, ready
‘A’ grade, also enjoyed to receive the ball at
a successful period in any time. KEY
Ball
charge of the Wales movement

women’s football side. How do I put Player

movement
Under pressure, with
this into a game Dribble
the wingers covered,
situation? the keeper plays a long

3c
In any game scenario, ball to a team mate
we can maintain and
reinforce the aims
and objectives of this
practice by insisting
“When the that play always goes
through the keeper
keeper before an attack can
returns be launched.

the ball,
the team in
possession
can now KEY
Ball
movement

send men to
Player
movement
Dribble Involving the keeper
allows the team to
attack the far attack and a goal is
scored
goal.”
14 AUGUST 2011 www.elitesoccercoaching.net
 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Wolverhampton THE PLAYBOOK: WOLVES HUNT FOR SAFETY

Wanderers

1
v Blackburn
Rovers
May 27, 2011

The scenario
It’s the final day of an O’HARA
enthralling Barclays
Premier League
season. After an
impressive run of
results in the second
half of the season, FOLEY
JARVIS
Wolves need a result
to guarantee safety. HENRY
But things haven’t HUNT Stephen Hunt stands over the ball with Karl
gone to plan in the Henry providing a screen. Kevin Foley holds a
position centrally, 25 yards from goal.
first half and Mick KEY
Ball Matt Jarvis has positioned himself to the left
McCarthy’s men find movement
Player
movement
of the wall, forcing Michel Salgado to mark
themselves 3-0 down Dribble him and – importantly – leaving Jamie O’Hara
unmarked on the far side of the area.
at half time. To avoid

2
relying on results
elsewhere Wolves
need to get back in
the game.
Their chance would
come in the 73rd
O’HARA
minute when they
win a free kick on
the left of the D,
approximately JARVIS
22-yards from the
FOLEY
Blackburn goal…
HENRY

HUNT Henry breaks to the left and Hunt shapes to

deliver a cross with his left foot. The group
of five Wolves attackers run towards goal
KEY
Ball
creating a space between the penalty spot
movement
Player
and the edge of the penalty box (shaded
movement
Dribble
area). O’Hara drops off the back of the
attacking group and arcs his run into the
empty space.

3
Elite
Soccer O’HARA
prides
itself on offering a
vast range of technical JARVIS
and tactical training FOLEY
ground ideas, but
for the first time HENRY
here we examine the
mechanics behind a HUNT Hunt plays the ball to the edge of the area.
successful set piece. The majority of the Blackburn defenders
We’re hoping that have dropped back towards their goal and
our step-by-step cannot cover the ground. The men in the
reconstruction might KEY wall are too far from the ball to be effective
Ball
inspire your side to movement in closing down. O’Hara gets his head over
Player
attempt the move. movement the ball and calmly slots it into the left hand
Dribble
corner through the crowd of players.

15 AUGUST 2011 www.elitesoccercoaching.net


BOOKED: THIS MONTH’S CHOICE
The Laws of
Teaching and Learning
You Haven’t Taught Until They
Have Learned
John Wooden’s Teaching
Principles and Practices
By Swen Nater and Ronald Gallimore
Fitness Information Technology
151pp £16.99
I
f anyone could lay claim to the
title of World’s Greatest Sports
Coach it would be John Wooden,
the basketball trainer who died
in 2010, aged 99. To surpass his
achievement, the contender would
have to win more than 10 national
championships in 12 seasons,
beat opponents in 89 consecutive
games over four seasons, and be
named National Coach of the Year
seven times. Anyone up for that?
Wooden’s influence reaches
out to us from his heyday more
than 40 years ago. Yet curiously,
relatively little of his obviously
winning philosophy has seeped
into major sports. There are
many books about Wooden and
his coaching (more than 20 are
listed on Amazon, including his
autobiography They Call Me
Coach), but are his methods used
widely?
In this book, Swen Nater and
Ronald Gallimore bring a laser-like
focus on the detail of Wooden’s
principles and practices, making
16 AUGUST 2011
You Haven’t Taught Until They Have
Learned a diligent and thorough
documentation of his coaching
delivery methods. If you want to
know exactly how Wooden did it,
this book will tell you.
Nater was a player in Wooden’s
record-breaking UCLA basketball
team; Gallimore is a psychology
and education professor. The
starting point in their analysis is
that Wooden was teacher first,
coach second. This is significant
because it leads to the conclusion
that anyone who follows his
principles can succeed in any
sphere of teaching and learning, not
just sport. According to the authors,
this is proven by the many dozens
of former basketball players who
testified that the lessons they
learned on court helped them also
in life. Nater says they were better
players through what Wooden
taught and better human beings
through how he taught.
Wooden ensured that the
teacher-student relationship was
first on his list. He made sure he
knew every one of his players well.
He was fatherly and kind, but he
was also strict. “Once practice
began, the understanding, gentle,
considerate, caring, sensitive
father figure I had spoken with
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
earlier in the day unleashed a
two-hour barrage of corrections
directed at me,” recalls Nater.
Nater had first-hand knowledge
of how Wooden could keep players
motivated. Nater spent much of
his playing career as a reserve,
the understudy for the team’s star
“Theyareall centre Bill Walton. How could he
different. be motivated, knowing that he
was destined to forever sit on the
There is no bench? Wooden’s response to
formula. the dilemma was surprising: not
to invite Nater to “deal with it” or
You can’t to pacify him with the promise of
work with more game time, but to patiently
explain that his challenge was to
them push Walton to reach higher levels
exactly that Walton would not otherwise
achieve. Nater’s role was to make
the same another player better, and by this
way. You’ve method would become better
himself – this was reason enough
got to for Nater to remain committed.
study and Wooden’s teacher-student
analyse relationship is characterised by the
following approaches:
each • Setting challenging expectations
individual matched to an individual’s ability
and personality
and find • Getting to know each individual
out what well enough to comprehend what
he was capable of achieving
makes • Truly caring about each as an
them tick.” individual person
www.elitesoccercoaching.net
 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

BOOKED: THIS MONTH’S CHOICE

• Tailoring instruction and support JOHN

to individual differences WOODEN’S WHAT SPECIAL TEACHERS HAVE IN COMMON
• Treating everyone with respect CAREER – AS PRACTISED BY JOHN WOODEN
and fairness Playing Career
But the key principle was not to Purdue University,
They make learning They treat everyone with
treat everyone the same. Wooden Indiana engaging respect
said: “They are all different. There Position: Guard They have a passion for They are fair
is no formula. You can’t work with the material
them exactly the same way. You’ve Coaching Career They believe all students
got to study and analyse each 1946-48 Indiana They have deep subject are natural learners
State University
individual and find out what makes
1948-75 UCLA
knowledge They make it implicitly
them tick.”
What was Wooden’s definition
(University of
California, Los
They are extremely known they like being
of success? Many may be Angeles) organised with their students
surprised that it was not related
Head Coaching
They are intense They place priority on
to winning in itself, at least not in individualised teaching
the conventional sense. For him,
Record They know students need
“success is peace of mind which is
Overall 664 wins,
162 defeats to be recognised for even Source: You Haven’t Taught Until They Have
a direct result of self-satisfaction (80% win ratio) small progress Learned

in knowing you made the effort to

become the best of which you are Accomplishments
capable.” UCLA teams were barely and Achievements
aware of the opposition teams As Player
National by his 452-page textbook Practical top teams in the country spending
they were about to face. Wooden Championship, Modern Basketball. He ran significant time on the most basic
concentrated all his efforts on 1932 fantastically precise, clockwork- of drills, repeating the simple skills
making his players and his team As Coach like training sessions, with players that are the building blocks of the
as good as they could be. The National moving from drill to drill with game. But skills are not everything,
pre-game speech by Wooden was Championship,
1964, 1965, 1967, efficiency and intensity. according to Wooden, they are “a
not about beating the opponents, 1968, 1969, 1970, Most coaches would understand foundation on which individual
it was: “At the end of the game, 1971, 1972, 1973, conditioning to mean improving creativity and imagination can
everyone here should be capable 1975
physical fitness, but for Wooden, flourish”.
of walking to the mirror, looking at physical fitness was dependent When it came to delivery Wooden
themselves, and saying ‘I did the Awards
Basketball Hall of on the obsessively
best I could’.”
Hearing Wooden speak (as you
Fame – Inducted in emotional and
1961
“Success is peace planned. After
psychological all, it is he who
can, mainly as a very old man, 1964, Henry Iba state of players. of mind which is a coined the
Award, Coach of the
on YouTube) one is struck by his
lucidity, his clarity of thought,
Year He sought to direct result of self- much-quoted
avoid frustration
but above all, his certainty. The
1972, National
Basketball Hall of and lack of satisfaction in knowing phrase: “Failure
to prepare is
groundwork for this was his
organised system of research and
Fame as a coach
Six time NCAA
concentration. you made the effort preparing to fail.”
Players who Even this
development, which allowed him College Basketball
Coach of the Year were easily
to become the best relatively slim
to make substantial improvements Presidential Medal distracted by of which you are volume contains
every year in how he taught
basketball. He knew the game like
of Freedom the crowd were
College Basketball not mentally capable.” huge detail
of Wooden’s
no-one else, giving him a rock-solid Hall of Fame –
Inducted in 2006 conditioned. “Pre-game talks were techniques. Coaches seeking
conviction that what he taught was short, to the point and not in the inspiration have a goldmine of best
Source: Wikipedia
right. least melodramatic.” practice to ponder and potentially
Over years of study and Wooden’s analysis of close implement. But the overwhelming
application, Wooden established games (he proved that a large feeling this reviewer is left with is
almost immutable laws of teaching majority were lost through one of awe at the all-consuming
and learning, and applied them mistakes, rather than being won) commitment and relentless hard
to basketball. His gargantuan led him to a fundamental focus on work that the man put into his craft.
knowledge of his sport is evidenced skills. The result was one of the

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 AUGUST 2011 www.elitesoccercoaching.net


EXTRA-TIME: KARL ROBINSON
Karl Robinson talks to the LMA about the onward progression of his MK Dons side, and their prospects of making
it to the npower Championship this season.
H ow do you view your
development as a manager
since your appointment at MK
Dons?
“Well I know I’ve aged an awful
lot and put weight on! [Laughs]
But joking aside, I am thoroughly
enjoying being a manager. I think
that the most important thing
when you do this job is to make
sure that you don’t get ahead of
yourself and become something
that you are not. It’s still important
to listen to the people who got you
to the place you’re at. For me they
are the likes of Sam Allardyce
at Blackburn Rovers, Steve
Heighway at Liverpool’s Academy
and Paul Ince, my predecessor
here at MK Dons.
“I am one of those characters
who is always asking questions of
whomever I meet... ‘Why are you
doing that?’ ‘How are you doing
that?’ I never get bored of learning
and I am never going to stand still
in my own personal development.
“I believe that by keeping your
feet on the ground, being yourself
and doing the right things by
your players and your staff,
that you can obtain success. It’s
unbelievable to have been given
the opportunity to manage so
young and I have got to carry on
achieving so that I am not seen as
just a flash in the pan.”
H ow conscious were you of
your age when you were
appointed manager? how important has that been
“It didn’t bother me one bit. I only
ever doubted my age when I had
a bit of a confrontation with Tugay
when I was at Blackburn Rovers. I
was 27 at the time; he was 38 and
a bit of a hero of mine as well. We
had a confrontation and I stood
my ground and he respected that
18 AUGUST 2011
“Youhavegotto
bethepersonthat
peoplerelyon...
Ilovethat
responsibility
andIwillneverlet
anyonedown–
that’sjusthow
Iammade.”
immediately. I think that if you
are confident and know what you
are talking about then players
will listen to you, follow you and
support what you are doing.”
Y ou had a strong coaching
foundation before you got
the opportunity to manage;
in helping you succeed in
management?
“I feel that I prepared well to go
into coaching and management. I
did all my coaching qualifications
and got my UEFA Pro Licence
at 29. I coached every level from
Under-8 teams to Under-18s,
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
worked with reserve sides and
at clubs from npower League
Two up to the Barclays Premier
League. So there’s not an area
within the industry that I have not
coached in.
“That experience has stood
me in good stead going forward.
I have had to change though
because when you step up from a
coach to a manager you’ve got to
become a different type of person
around the dressing room. Your
leadership qualities have got to
come through a lot more. You
have got to be the person that
people rely on, and if you don’t do
your job right you know you will
have let the fans, the Chairman
and the players down. I love that
responsibility and I will never let
anyone down - that’s just how I am
made.
“So I enjoy being a leader but I
have very good people around me
who support everything that I am
trying to do.”
W hat type of manager are
you; what is your style of
management?
“I’m very open, honest and
straight to the point. I am
thorough and I don’t leave
anything to chance. I love
coaching and that’s my strength.
“Having worked under Sam
Allardyce at Blackburn I am very
big on analysis too. In addition, I’m
very supportive of my staff and
my players and I like to think that
they know that there is nothing I
won’t do for them. I believe that it
is important when I am asking my
players to climb over mountains
and push barriers further and
further that they are able to look at
me and think ‘well he does that for
me so I will do that for him.’”
www.elitesoccercoaching.net