Advanced Sessions Ingredients : Model session

We need to cover what players don't do at team training, or don't cover in enough at team training.

• Elevated ball mastery
• Weak feet development
• Passing and Ball striking in general
• Ball moving patterns which help players manipulate their time and space
• Incorporate receiving, passing and movement into and out of the ball into the ball moving
• Games which test a players football intelligence (awareness etc), in combination of their technique.

Try to incorporate as much as possible into a drill. Including these general football components:

• Game functional agility
• Game functional communication

The objective is to help players master the ball when it is in the air.

Most players learn laces/toe juggling and never move past this. This makes no sense. In a game, the ball comes at all heights, directions and speeds and players are also moving at differing speeds.  In a game players need to move the body to adjust to all these factors, and learn to deal with the ball using whatever body parts bests fits the moment.

Remember:

• Coaching starts with building a relationship with players.
• Always put this above all other aspects of coaching.

So we need to devise 'juggling' challenges that reflect what best reflects what will be required in a game.

We also need to always set targets to work towards, and following success, set up a new harder challenge/target.

Possible Phase 1 for good players: [My progression]

• 1. Inside shuffle juggles (target 12 touches )
• 2. Thigh (R) lace (L) Inside (R) Thigh (L)  lace (R) Inside (L) Thing (R)...... (24 touches)
• Uses 6 different body parts
• 3. Thigh (R) lace (L) Inside (R) Thigh (L) Outside (L) Thigh (L) ...... (36 touches)
• Uses 10 different body parts

I will add a link for other ideas of how to develop game functional elevated ball mastery.

Key links:

• Weak Foot Development
• Step In
• Step In : level 1
• Step In : level 2
• Step in - Level 3
• Weak foot - level 4 - Squat
• Weak foot - level 5 - jump and Squat
• Weak foot : Swing Through : Draw a circle
• Weak Foot: Finish
• Weak Foot : Step-in : Balance : Mechanics

Try to incorporate as much as possible into a drill. Including these general football components:

• Game functional agility
• Game functional communication

Footwork is based on the following Model :

In words, relative to the way the player is facing:

• Drive forward
• Lateral forward
• lateral
• Fake lateral
• Back and out
• Turn

I use these 6 patterns as a base;

• Drive forward - Outside step Outside
• Lateral forward - Inside Inside
• lateral -Inside switch Outside
• Fake lateral - Inside step outside
• Back and out - Swame foot V
• Turn - Drag turn

To see alternatives to the above go to : Technical Football Tuition : Chapter 5

Typical Ball Movement exercise

The game below is an 8 player game, but the same game could be taken up to 16 players (4v4 in the middle).

The game below : key rules.

• 2v2 in middle
• Directional ; Score and keep
• First time finish
• Middle players - max 4 touches
• Outside players - max 2 touches
• Middle players can pass to anyone
• Outside players - can only pass across or to middle players
• Interception & pressure rules apply (change possession)

The intelligence is about manipulating the diamond, to work the ball into a goal scoring opportunity.