Practice length:
90-120 minutes
Emphasis:
Fitness 25% | Technical 30% | Tactical 45%
Players in this age group often attempt to assert themselves more. Increased structure and discipline is required of the coach. Understanding each player’s psychology and good communication skills are also important. Technique should be solid but it must still be practiced regularly. Coaches can stress tactics, including 11v11. Fitness requires more attention as players have developed physically. Strengthening programs may include plyometrics. This is a critical time in the player’s development.
** Note: All training under pressure of the opponent at game speed.
Technique:
- Skills should be mastered, leading to artistry and improvisation - all under match conditions.
- Individual skill covered during the warm-up, and/or in competitive situations.
- Increase technical speed. It is important that technique is still highly emphasized at this age.
- Strike balls cleanly over distance with accuracy under pressure.
- More Coerver moves and other fakes
- Finishing
- Slide tackling
- Goalkeeper (advanced technique, advanced tactics, should attend camps)
Tactics:
Increase tactical speed (decision making)
- Individual: Decisions based on thirds of the field.
- Attacking: Application of varied technical abilities in order to increase tactical options. Aggressive attacking mentality in final third. Emphasis placed on predicting what the game will need next. Knowing what each player’s specific roles and responsibilities are lends to greater understanding of the big picture.
- Defending: Clear understanding of how the quality of pressure affects team defending success. Being able to take options away from the attacker.
- Small Group: 4v4, 7v7, 9v9
- Attacking:
- Balance of needing possession / penetration
- Combination play: wall pass take over, overlap, double pass, third man running
- Creativity in solving problems
- Mobility: movement without the ball
- Crossing: picking out a runner rather than putting it in the box
- Box Organization-penetration, width and support for every ball played in the box
- Attacking as a group of 3 (forwards, midfields and defenders)
- Set plays (80% success rate: where we get : Goal, Shot on Goal, or Corner Kick)
- Defending:
- Compactness
- Cover, Delay, Dictate and Recover
- Communication (Who, what, when, where)
- Defending as a group of 3 (forwards, midfielders, and defenders)
- Enjoy winning possession of the ball and dictating the play
- Set plays
- Attacking:
- Team: Clearly defined team tactics — how the team decides to play as a group.
- Attacking:
- Comfort with direct and indirect styles
- Sustained possession as a means to break down the opponent’s defense
- Understanding how to counter attack
- Decisions based on thirds of the field
- Defending:
- Comfort with “high pressure” and “delayed high pressure” styles
- Understanding of zonal and man-to-man marking play
- Goalkeeper as the last defender
- Keeping good team compactness
- Stopping the counter attack
- Decisions based on thirds of the field and different systems of play
- Attacking:
Physical:
- Fitness work with and without the ball
- Flexibility: Static stretching after training/matches
- Dynamic Flexibility : partner stretching
- Importance of discipline for warm-up and cool-down
- Agility: with and without the ball
- Footwork: keeping the feet active when moving / playing
- Endurance: Aerobic and anaerobic
- Strength: Upper and lower body. Core strength and stability
- Balance
- Nutrition: Proper diet, pre-game, post game, tournaments, etc.
- Prevention and care of injuries
- Importance of rest/recovery — schedule issues relative to the physical demands.
Psychological:
- Increased concentration
- Leadership / player responsibilities
- Discipline
- Respect for the game
- Goal setting
- Vary program — Satisfy player’s urge for competition
- Establish pre practice and pre game routine (as individuals and team)
- Encourage players/teams to watch professional and national team soccer on TV.
