Park Regis JFC Training Tips

Training Tips

Junior Soccer Coach Tip of The Week - 01 October 2008

Tip of the Week - #218

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Playing With Tempo and Pressure

Have you ever noticed how some teams that you come against
always seem to be either first to a loose ball or
immediately pressurizing your players when they are in
possession of the ball?

When teams set themselves up this way it requires
discipline in terms of roles and responsibilities of the
players, a decent level of fitness, energy and
co-ordination of efforts.

All of this starts on the training ground, from early stage
development U8's right through to U18 and beyond.

If you start coaching your players from an early age that
when they don't have the ball they must always close down
opponents, denying time and space, this will stand them in
very good stead through their playing years.

What players do when your team doesn't have the ball will
have a massive impact on the outcome of a game.

Last weekend we played in a terrific game of football
against a team who finished runners up in the League behind
us, and beat us in the League Cup final.

Both teams are finely matched, no real outstanding stars
amongst the ranks but as a team each are very solid with
good players in all positions.

Before the game I told my players that the game was going
to be won by the team that worked harder on the day,
closing down opponents quickly and challenging for the
second ball.

Although this seems like a very simple instruction and
gane tactic very few coaches that we play against ask their
players to do this. Instead, they make changes in playing
personnel, ask the players to work harder and fail to
organise their team properly on the pitch.

In training this week, work with your players on closing
down.

Remember, the first defender principle...

Whoever is closest to the player on the ball makes an
aggressive run towards the player on the ball... slows just
before they get to the ball carrier and the holds them up.

If they can win the ball, go and win it.

If not, keep their head down and minimise passing channels.

You can do this with any age of player.

If you're working with an older squad (U10+) then you
should be working with supporting players around the first
defender... concentrate on minimising passing channels,
providing cover and recovery runs.

In our team we don't do anything special, we train hard,
are well organised and compete... but all of these elements
start on the training ground.