Building the Total Player Across Three Dimensions--Session 2 Training--Elite Sports Center

Here is a quick guide to Session 2 at Elite Sports Center

Building the Total Player Across Three Dimensions--

It is good to have skills, but if you shy away from taking players on, or don't understand how to team defend, your skills limit your "player dimensions". Session 2 Training at Elite will work to expand players' knowledge across the three dimensions, individual, small side, and team.

The Individual player dimensions involve Attacking and Defending 1 Versus 1. Many players fail to recognize moments, or fail in the attribute of confidence to exploit these situations.

1v1 Training will incorporate learning "moves" such as in Session 1, as well as reinforce the basic notion of beating a player by dribbling. The attached videos should give you an idea as to what to expect from the Warm-ups in the Individual Player sessions.

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Moreover, 1v1 defensive training will also focus on learning how to "contain and force" a dribbler. These skills will become essential to step through the next two player dimensions.

 Breaking Down the Dribbler PlayList: 3 Videos
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI9xuPsmfAW_Y3Rg4qgu5fyBLq3FAMirm

The Small Side player dimensions involve Attacking and Defending 1V2, 2V1, 2V2, and 3V3. The small side dimension teaches players how to combine on the attack and how to play the roles of "Pressure and Support Defenders".

Borrowing from the Tactical Training from Session 1, we will utilize the number system, specifically the #'s 1 and 2 Defenders--The home and Defending Midfield player--as alternating pressure and cover.

Training in the Team dimension started in Session 1, but some of the language was lost because we hadn't stepped through the earlier independent and small-sided dimensions.

So it is my hope we can move through the first two dimensions in a span which allows us to incorporate this third dimension.

The idea behind the third dimension is essentially training the team as a unit to "read the play" and to respond in a coordinated sense. The tactical system works efficiently to transition from defense to attack involving every player.

So that is the goal--hee, hee-- I have in mind for Session 2 Training at Elite. Your player can join if they were not in Session 1, and we will get them up to speed with the basics from that series.

It is my hope that players begin to see the game as an outlet for physical, emotional, and intellectual energy as well as cultivate a "professional attitude for use in later games, with later teams, and in later life.

Training Checklist Academy Teams Weeks 9, 10, 11

Academy Training Checklist Weeks 9, 10, 11

Based on some sound Feedback from the far touchline--ASA has paired the input with the issues and solutions and will use this to structure training items for the coming three weeks.

Input #1--the small sided drills from Thursday's training are effective because it simplifies the game for the less experienced players enabling them to work as a unit with only a couple of passing options. Maybe we could take some time in similar drills and limit the play area to the penalty area with a goalie- then do 1v2, 2v2,etc. then add support players around the outside of the penalty area. This could also be some valuable practice for the goalies.

Training Solution-- Small Field Games with Passing Support & Goalkeepers

Input #2--all the offensive players wanted to shoot on goal and go it alone.  They didn't seem to want to or know to stay in their lanes.  There were often 3 offensive players bunched up in front of the goal time after time, as if they all wanted to shoot on goal by themselves, or maybe b/c they were afraid to spread out and lose control of the ball.  Then there would be no one open to pass to that was on that end when the pressure got hot, and they would often try to make a shot from too far away.  

 

There also seemed to be issues with not following through on missed shots.  As soon as the shot was missed, everyone would turn to fall back on defense rather than looking for a follow-up shot.  Many times they were too deep in the box and didn't have an angle but would still shoot instead of looking for a trailing shooter. 

Issues to be addressed--Framing the goal as a team--Shooting V Finishing//Angles--Shooting: hips and angles need to be corrected//Finishing with the side of the foot

Input #3--When a player was taking the ball down the field, there was often none to pass to, so a possible score was missed

 

 --to solidify what their roles are and learn to stay in their areas as they move the ball.  Maybe a "special teams" approach with running certain plays over and over in practice?  

 once the other team would gain ball control, there was no one downfield to protect/aid the #1, because as you said, they didn't anticipate the rebound. 

 
Issues to be addressed--On the ball strength--Our dribblers need to gain stability and hold possession after "shoulder challenges" the referee allows--Staying Compact--

 Training Solution--1v1 and 1v2 1v3 small sided play with  designated attacker

Input 4--In the second game from Saturday, number 12 from the other team was the biggest challenge (I think he scored 4 out of the 5 goals). Maybe in defense there is a way to identify these challenges and have them practice a strategy to defend against this kind of situation. Last time we played them (in Albany) he only scored two times, and I think we tied that game.

 

 Training Solution--1v1 and 1v2 1v3 small sided play with  designated defenders coaching against the dribble

Input #5--They r young still! if the team stays together and can have some consistent practice with decent weather they will better know what to do!

Training Solution--Indoor and Spring 2016 Soccer--

Indoor Soccer trainings

-- in Albany will be on Tuesday& Thursday nights for Academy teams starting in November

--in Parkersburg will be on Monday & Wednesday nights at Elite Sport Center

 Under 6 Under 8 4:00-5:00

U9--U11 5:00-6:00 

U12-U14 6:15-7:15 

& High School 7:15-8:15pm

 Mind          Body          Spirit          Soccer

Daughter's Day at Training: Setting the Psychology for Soccer

We start by setting up a blanket in the shade.  We place our equipment here, because the sun destroys fibers over time, and we don't want to come back to hot gear to change into when we cool down.

We remove our flats--click on orange words to take you to the KICKTIONARY,  Athens Soccer Academy's Soccer Terms Dictionary-- or street shoes, and put on fresh, clean socks, with the shinguards sliding under.


This setting up and preparing a cool down location is an important step in the overall training process.  The training routine should take on a ritualistc emotional and physical arch, and this first step in the process sets the players' psychological motor spinning.  As the players sit and dress to play, the mind is 'switched' from the street to the field.


Since the field is rock hard solid, Coach selects his multi-studs to wear for hard ground.

We invited some other players along, but it is summer and not a day when we will see the team, so it turns out to be just the three of us.  These girls could use some 1v1 work, and strengthening up on the ball.  I want to shake some of the passivity out of these girls--sisters, really, and teach them to "switch-on".  I want them to understand that competitiveness has its beautiful edge wherein ultimate respect is paid to the opponent and the Game.








Next we Take the Field.  The game is 1 versus 1 to goal. Coach calls out the color of the ball.  First player to the ball becomes the attacker and the second player in defends...





Then we change the setup: the Defender starts in the goal and the attackers align on the outer edge of the perimeter with a ball at feet.  The attacker is called out and the defender must respond by  applying immediate pressure away from the center of the field.  Though we have no goalkeeper, the Defender assumes there is a keeper, and attempts to squeeze the shooter into a sharper and sharper angle away from the center of the field.

The defender wants to get into the rhythm with the shooter and attempt to block the shot, but failing that the shot should be made predictable to a well positioned goalkeeper.  Above all the defender wants to avoid getting beaten to the inside.  These girls are only starting to learn these concepts.




This exercise is setup as 1v1, but when the attackers have spent their solo opportunity, they can combine to present a 2V1, wherein the attackers outnumber the Defender.  Here the Defender has a new and urgent priority when pressuring the ball, to deny the opponents the passing lane.

Again we see the focus here is not yet on these concepts.  Today we are working on mentality--confidence to have the ball and to win the ball from an opponent.  We will build on this as the summer turns later and we get more of the team.  Also the six year old gets weary when her dad goes on, so I need to keep her attentive with activity, having fun, chasing the ball, and scoring goals against her dad and her sister.


She also wants a chance to make a movie, so Coach gets a turn in the Grid.