Your Resource for the best in Soccer Education

Brandon, 2011 USCFA Summer Select

RECEIVING AWAY FROM PRESSURE (TO THE BACK FOOT)
PART II

 

 

 

For this second session I am going to add a few different exercises to the first. AS the parent coach or trainer you will be able to mix and match these as you go. I will remind you that with all of these sessions TECHNIQUE AND MECHANICS are critical!

Just going through the exercises without focusing on the coaching points will be a mistake and will create bad habits reinforced by repetition and muscle memory.

WARM UP
Dynamic Agility  Squats

In addition to the warm up exercise from session #1, this is a low dynamic exercise that teaches each player to keep a good open set (TM), and improves posture, flexibility, and even acceleration.

Players will keep shoulders behind the knees, open set, elbows locked at 90 degree angles, and slowly squat down to a sitting position (knees to 90 degrees)

Video – Dynamic Agility Squats

WARM UP WITH THE BALL

Coordinated Touches x3– Progression from session #1Get the players to focus on receiving away from pressure. If the ball is coming from the left, receive with the right, and vice versa.

This teaches the players to learn how the foot mechanics for receiving to the opposite foot, and playing away with two touches with a coordinated pattern. MAKE SURE THEIR FEET ARE MOVING. As they progress, you will notice that we try to have the ball played in two touches, and three steps.

Video – Coordinated Touches x3

S.A.Q.

Hurdles –  Opening the hips– Set up two hurdles as seen. Make sure the players get their feet over the hurdles, open the hip and go to the cone. Knees and Ankles stay locked in 90 degrees. When they reset themselves, make sure they open the set, and go the opposite way.

Video – Hurdles – Opening the Hip

As with anything when it comes to S.A.Q., MECHANICS are the most important.

In Speed and Soccer,
Billy Elias

{ 0 comments }

RECEIVING AWAY FROM PRESSURE (TO THE BACK FOOT)
PART I

Video Introduction

I suppose that every trainer coach or parent coach has their pet peeve when it comes to the development of players. Well, to cut to the chase, this one is mine. The fourth part of our Speed of Play philosophy is switching the field away from pressure.

In order to teach this, the mechanics on receiving the ball with the back foot needs to become second nature. When it is not, speed of play will break down and when you are playing against well-trained and disciplined teams that pressure well, react well, and now how to counter your attack, this is a critical skill for not only organization, but also its speed, and coordination.

The Back Foot – When receiving from one side of the field, do so with the foot opposite that side. Therefore, if the ball is being played from the right side of the field, we want to receive the ball with the left foot, and vice versa. The second step is to receive the ball away from the body at 45º angle so the player can turn the head, and open the hips to the whole field.

***PROBLEM*** – Too many players receive the ball on the front foot, thus keeping the ball into pressure. If they have learned to use the back foot, they play the ball straight ahead of them, thus slowing down speed of play, and forcing the ball forwards prematurely, or attempting a split or through ball that fails.

***DIAGNOSIS*** The Hips are to tight, and cannot open!

As a result, I have developed an entire S.A.Q. curriculum based on this simple yet rarely taught skill.

WARM UP
One of the coordinated exercises we use that is good for players of all ages is dynamic in nature and we call it opening the gate.

Perhaps the biggest problem that I have found in developing this skill is loosening the hips of the player. Far too many have “tight Hips”. You can teach them to receive the ball to the back foot, but they cannot open the hip enough to get the ball moving away from pressure to the intended target.

Video – Opening The Gate

WARM UP WITH THE BALL

Coordinated Touches – Get the players to focus on receiving away from pressure. If the ball is coming from the left, receive with the right, and vice versa.

This teaches the players to learn how the foot mechanics for receiving to the opposite foot, and playing away with two touches with a coordinated pattern. MAKE SURE THEIR FEET ARE MOVING. As they progress, you will notice that we try to have the ball played in two touches, and three steps.

Video – Coordinated Touches

S.A.Q.

Low Box Lateral Hops – Make sure the players open the set, stay square and keep the hips open on the box.

You can substitute Egg Crates or office crates from staples for the wooden boxes. We obviously use the wooden boxes for durability and we have an entire curriculum just for using these boxes. However, using an egg or milk crate, or office-carrying box works just as good and they are much cheaper.

Video – Low Boxes Lateral Hops

Low Box Substitute

Each week we will use a different apparatus of S.A.Q. equipment to accomplish our goal, as well as exercises that progress from this first session. Before the progression is attempted, make sure each player has a working understanding of what you are trying to accomplish.

As with anything when it comes to S.A.Q., MECHANICS are the most important.

In Speed and Soccer,
Billy Elias

{ 0 comments }

Tyler (U15) USCFA 2011

Speed, Agility, and Quickness for Foot Speed, First Touch, and Coordination Part III

by Billy Elias

In Part III we are going to add some field agilities as well as some new coordinated warm up exercises. WE will also progress these agility exercises with the ball.

COORDINATED WARM UP

In addition to the other Global Coordinated Exercises we add one a week. In our mindset the warm up without the ball should take at least 25 minutes. For some teams we will run whatever their half would run (older teams will go for 30 minutes in a warm up without the ball, and then 15 – 20 with the ball). This is one of my favorites and it not only looks good, but it really helps with Global Coordination purposes. It’s a very simple exercise but it really reinforces the importance of open set (TM) training, and body management off the pivot.

COUNT, CLAP, and PIVOT

The whole idea is to stay square before the pivot and after. The set (TM) should remain open, and the hips, shoulders, and toes should be square. The players count to three double clap and pivot. For many, it seems easier than it looks only because it is specific for body mechanics and control.

Video Count, Clap, and Pivot

1st  Touch Development with Disorientation x2

This is another great exercise using disorientation that will certainly help with body mechanics, center of gravity and mental focus. It is based on recovery, and changing of shapes.

Your players can either get double touch close or a little bit further apart. They play two touches as usual. On the command, they backpedal, perform either a side roll, front roll or cartwheel, and then return the ball with one touch. After the return they must turn quickly to their second partner and repeat the exercise. We run the exercise between 30 and 45 seconds pending the age group

Video 1st touch development with disorientation x2

BOX HOPS (triples and go)

This is a common exercise that I’ve seen many times before. In the progression, we add a ball with touches and traps. HOWEVER, this is an exercise where mechanics and foot speed is stressed.

The players double slalom hop in and then immediately explode into triples (In-In- Out, In – In – Out, In – In – Accelerate)). After completing the triples progression, they must accelerate out. Their body lean must be on the 45 degree angle, with their knees, elbows, and ankles locked in 90 degree ankles. We use this as the forerunner to being able to receive the ball under control into possession back into motion (next installment).

Make sure the mechanics are perfect as the players progress with the exercise.

Video Box Hops, Triples and Go

Progression

In the progression to the above exercise we use the ball. The player must exit the hurdles and at about 8 – 10 yards play the ball back to the server. The server must sole trap the ball, killing it’s movement and then moving to the back of the line. The player running the hurdles must quickly turn and pass with Pace Weight and Accuracy to keep the flow of the exercise going.

Obviously first touch is key with control, and playing back with proper touch and return. Recognition Reaction is also a great technique for the players running the exercise. That is to be able to recognize the pace and shape of the ball coming at them while returning it properly.

Video Box Hops, Triples, Go and Touch

In our next installment, we’ll be adding some S.A.Q. exercises and some more Global Coordination, and hurdle exercises. Remember that hurdles can alsways be replaced with a soccer ball!

In Speed and Soccer,

Billy

{ Comments on this entry are closed }