Soccer – Page 25 – Coaches Insider

Successful Prevention Of a Serious Injury: Hamstring Strain

All this has another effect. In our day, the number-one injury was a sprained ankle, but today, the most common injury amongst high-level players (at least in males) is a hamstring strain. In our day, my college team had one hamstring strain over…

Dec 23, 2014

Soccer Fitness Training: 30-Minute Post-Season Workout

Soccer has an incredibly long and grueling season. Your body is probably battered and bruised from repeatedly sprinting and battling opponents. When the season ends, your first instinct might be to rest, and you should – but not for too long…

Dec 23, 2014

Goalkeeper Direct Play Drill

Organization
Set up a full field area. There are 10 players plus a goalkeeper on offense and 10 players plus a goalkeeper on defense. Place a supply of balls in each goal…

Dec 23, 2014

Soccer Goalies: Step Up Your Game With Lateral Movement Drills

To be effective, soccer goalies have to be able to change direction on a dime and explode with speed and power. Coaches and trainers often run drills hoping to improve lateral explosiveness, but few teach the underlying mechanics. Understanding…

Dec 23, 2014

Training Drills for Soccer Goalies

Becoming an elite goalkeeper requires great reflexes, agility and coordination. During a soccer game, goalies are constantly in high-pressure situations. They know that one small misstep can cause their team to lose a game.

Dec 23, 2014

5-Phase Women’s Soccer Goalie Training Program

Great soccer goalies have an abundance of skills – smart positioning, fast reflexes and excellent ball handling. The demands of the position make goalkeeper conditioning different from that of other players. Develop the necessary explosive power…

Dec 22, 2014

Role of Holding Midfielder

The holding midfield player has numerous responsibilities. Physical speed is not considered a major factor for players in this position (although it never hurts) as this is, really, a sweeper in front of the back players with little need to make…

Dec 22, 2014

Group Defending

3 players 12-15 yards apart
Knock it one touch for several passes
When one player (3) stops the ball the other two must sprint to pressure it
Develop to when a player turns away the other two must sprint and shape to pressure and cover…

Dec 22, 2014

1st Defender

Organization / Instructions

In pairs players will pass and move. On coach’s command player with ball (#1) will pass and close down the player with the ball (#2).

Defender will emphasize quickly putting pressure on the ball.
Angle of…

Dec 22, 2014

Defending from a 4-2-3-1 formation

Organization:
40 yds of width, 35 yds of length
Servers on each side of the space
Servers are targets for the team defending the big goal

Attacking team (white) sets up in a 2-2
Defending team (black) sets…

Dec 22, 2014

Speed of play with a short passing emphasis

Activity #1: Warm Up

Organization:

• 16 players organized into four groups of four in grids that are 12 x 12 yards
• Players move freely and pass the ball using 1 or 2 touches
• Players are encourage to pass the way they are facing…

Dec 22, 2014

Passing Exercises

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Organization:

• Games of three attackers opposing one defender in a restricted area
• Two games of three attackers opposing one defender…

Dec 22, 2014

Middle Third Drill – Find the Forward and Go

Purpose
Encouraging counterattacking habits in midfielders

Organization
Set up a full-size field for an 11v11 tactical team session. Although this game does not need to be 11v11, the numbers should allow the teams to play in three lines to…

Dec 22, 2014