Training Greg Brown NSCAA

Training Greg Brown NSCAA

• 1.
  BALL EXCHANGE PASSING Passing Players are positioned as shown in four squads with a ball at two diagonally opposite groups. The front players take a touch and then play a weighted pass (1) across to each other. They move forward and, on receiving the other ball, pass it (2) to the front player of the facing group then follow their pass to the back of the facing group. The receiving player at the front of the opposite line passes the ball (3) to the new front player in the original starting position. The activity then resumes as before. Later the exercise can be attempted at increased speed and with one touch only. Then to encourage left foot passes the exercise should be done starting at the two other groups. Shooting The shooting activity begins as for the passing one with an exchange of balls (1) from diagonally opposite front players. The next pass to the same front player of the facing line is a lay-off (2) to enable the receiving player to dribble forward (3) and shoot (4). After shooting, either the player or goalkeeper plays the ball to the side of the squad on his right where other spare balls should be located. This helps to ensure that the exercise flows without interruption. He then joins the end of the opposite squad as in the passing activity. Crossing and Finishing A further progression is to make the activity into a ‘Crossing and Finishing’ exercise. The fist pass is an exchange (1) as before. Then, instead of laying the ball off inside it is played wide (2) for the receiving player from the front of the opposite group. Having played the ball out for the ‘winger’, the player who initiated the exercise moves forward as a striker to finish the cross from the other squad. The winger dribbles (3) the ball into a wide position before crossing (4) for the striker’s finish (5). After shooting, the player joins the end of the squad straight opposite from where he started (6). The new front players take another ball and recommence the activity with the opening diagonal pass. Craig Brown
• 2.
  CENTRE GOALS GAME Thegame is played 4 v 4 with the possession 4 starting at the marker cone some 35 yards from the goal. They play against 2 outfield defenders and two other defenders who must remain on the goal line. In order to control the start of the play it is an idea to have all 4 players do an exercise (eg 3 press ups) before they start playing. The 4 v 2 exercise thus created should result in a goal attempt after which all 4 defenders take the ball to their starting cone on the other side of the centre goal. The defending team change the 2 defenders with 2 'goalkeepers'. The coaching opportunities in the 4 v 2 activity are limitless and it is suggested that there is no defined width in the playing area. Play naturally comes back to the focal area - the goal which is being attacked! The goalkeepers may be introduced from the beginning, or after the players have played for a time with 2 defenders in goal. When the 'keepers are in goal the 2 from the goal line move to the cone behind the goal in preparation to be joined by their colleagues who were defending the goal line. Craig Brown
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  SoccerSpecific.com Session Plan:Exchanging Boxes ACTIVITY #1 Set up: Exchanging Boxes Introduction in a 25 x 50 yard area subdivided into two 25 x 20 yard end zones with a middle 10 x 25 yard zone. Instructions: Using the same number of players in each end box, they familiarise themselves with the playing area by having a passing session using a ball in each box. Coaching Points: Type Coaching Points Here... www.SoccerSpecific.com ACTIVITY #2 Set up: Exchanging Boxes: Thereafter one ball is removed and three 'defending' players are sent to the box with the ball. In this example a 9v3 exercise is then put in operation, but it could be any numbers to suit the coach. Instructions: If the 3 defending players win possession, or it the ball is played outside the playing area, the 3 players return to their own box followed by 3 new defenders. The defenders can run straight into the new box or be asked to undertake 3 x 10 yard shuttles before assuming their defensive duties against the new group in possession. Coaching Points: Type Coaching Points Here... www.SoccerSpecific.com
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  SoccerSpecific.com Session Plan:Craig_Brown_Matching_Pairs ACTIVITY #1 Set up: Matching Pairs Warm-Up 1 Instructions: Warm up starts with players working in pairs with no balls. The leader determines the warm-up movement of his following colleague and, of course, the leader is changed frequently. Coaching Points: Type Coaching Points Here... www.SoccerSpecific.com ACTIVITY #2 Set up: Matching Pairs Warm-Up 2 Instructions: Progress with several pairs having a ball each. They do whatever movement the leader determines with the ball, while the other proceeds as before. Coaching Points: Type Coaching Points Here... www.SoccerSpecific.com ACTIVITY #3 Set up: Matching Pairs Warm-Up 3 The players without a ball separate and stand in a space while selected pairs continue with a ball each. To learn the activity it is useful if the players with a ball each, following one behind the other, carry the balls by hand. When desired, the leading player throws the ball to one of the standing colleagues and takes his place. Instructions: The player who receives the ball immediately runs to move in behind the former following player who now is the leader. This is repeated several times to ensure that all standing players have the opportunity to become mobile. An advancement of this is for the ball to be thrown twice by the leading player to one of the standing colleagues. He catches the ball, returns it to the front player who, again, throws it back. Only then does he run to catch up and move in behind the former follwing player. This exercise then is done by throwing thowing to head, headed back, and caught by the player who then runs to follow the leading www.SoccerSpecific.com player who first threw the ball. Coaching Points:
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  SoccerSpecific.com Session Plan:Craig_Brown_Matching_Pairs ACTIVITY #4 Set up: Matching Pairs Warm-Up 4 Instructions: Having learned by hand, then incorporating heading, the ball is now played on the ground. The dribbling pair, one behind the other, may be asked to perform a matching turn, or other activities, before the leader passes the ball and takes the place of the receiving player. An additional, testing activity, is to do the exercise with all players keeping the ball in the air. Then, finally, free "Matching Paris" movements are encouraged before the leader passes the ball to the new following player. Coaching Points: www.SoccerSpecific.com
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  SoccerSpecific.com Session Plan:craig_brown_shaping_a_team_4_4_2 ACTIVITY #1 Set up: 8v4 Cross Running: This is an 8 v 4 exercise with the middle 4 players playing in both directions. For fitness work it can be used on a full size of field, but the penalty box to penalty box distance can be equally demanding. Instructions: Shown in the diagram is the middle team (red) playing from right to left with the black team. When the attack is over, either by a successful attack or the defending (green) team winning possession and playing the ball back to their 'keeper or putting out of play, the middle 4 players change places at speed as shown, A with C and B with D. The game resumes on the signal of the coach when the change of positions has been undertaken successfully. After, say, a 10 minute period of hard work, the middle 4 players change with one of the other 'teams' of 4. This is a good preparatory activity for the 'SHAPING A TEAM IN 4-4-2 FORMATION', when in a 10 v 6 structure, the midfield 4 players www.SoccerSpecific.com work in both directions. Coaching Points: When playing in the other direction the red players change positions - SPRINTING - wide right A changing with C, and B changing with D. The 'keeper holds the ball until after the change. ACTIVITY #2 Set up: Shaping a Team In a 4-4-2 Formation: Using the 70-yard pitch teams are set up in three colours. One back four and two strikers, another back four and two strikers and a middle four playing with both teams. Instructions: The 10 v 6 game is started by a throw-out from on e goalkeeper who initiates the nature of the play specified by the coach. The back four of this team operates with the neutral coloured middle four and their own two strikers against the back four and two strikers of the opposition. This numerical superiority should result in a successful attack. On winning the ball teh defenders should attempt to pass back to their goalkeeper or clear up field or out of play. They do not initiate an attack, or counter attack at this time. Coaching Points: The defending team, supplemented by the neutral midfield players (who could have changed to their own www.SoccerSpecific.com positions prior to the new movement), now plays against the original six. The game proceeds from end to end allowing the coach to make relevant points and introduce attacking and defending set piece arrangements.