TOUCHLINE TALES STOP PLAYERS SULKING AT TRAINING

< JOSÉ MOURINHO MANCHESTER UNITED

MANAGER

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June 15, 2016 Issue 477

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Proven, Easy to Use Soccer Drills

HOW MOURINHO LEAVES NOTHING TO CHANCE

PREPARE TO SUCCEED

ATTACKING OVERLOADSHOW TO PASS ON THE VOLLEY> POWER & ACCURACY> HIT THE LONG PASS

10 WAYS TO WIN A TOURNAMENT

When it comes to youth teams I’m sure we’ve all had young players who are

convinced they are the best players in the squad and are absolutely shocked when they are left out – and usually so are their parents!

I have had players like this and it is in their best interests to understand that every young player has a place on the team and all players in my squads will get a game. But sometimes this becomes difficult and dealing with the player involved gets tricky.

It has been very interesting to read that this is certainly not something that is the domain of young players – even the professionals are afflicted. According to Matthew Syed the author of “Bounce” most of us think we are better than we are. In fact, the tendency is so powerful that psychologists have given it a name: illusory superiority.

Syed writing in his column in The Times talks about how England rugby union player Chris Ashton — after not being selected for the England tour to Australia — had refused the invitation,

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possibly in a fit of pique, to go with the Saxons (effectively the B team) on their tour to South Africa, potentially burning his bridges with Eddie Jones, the England head coach.

He also mentions David Beckham when he was out of favour at Real Madrid under Fabio Capello. Many felt that the Italian had made a mistake by dropping the midfielder, and it would have been easy for Beckham to have had a slanging match with his coach.

Instead, he forced himself to accept that Capello was doing what he thought was the best for the team, which was the first step in trying to convince the coach to change his mind. “I knew that Fabio wanted the club to do well, and that the best way to get back into the team was working harder, showing my stuff on the training pitch, giving it everything,” Beckham said.

A few weeks later, Capello was impressed with his workrate and put him back in the team.

“I started to see that he was working hard and he trained perfectly,” said Capello. “He was better than good. He has behaved

like a great professional.” Capello was rewarded for his decision. ‘Becks’ proved pivotal in the run-in as Madrid took the title from FC Barcelona.

This is exactly the attitude I want to see from my young players – obviously it isn’t quite the same as playing for a club like Real Madrid! And of course the player’s parents are paying money for their child to be part of the club – and that has to be respected – but I like all my players to show that they will work hard to be in the team every week.

3 PREPARE LIKE MOURINHOHow does José motivate his players and how does he prepare for matches? 4 COUNTER ATTACKSA high intensity game that tests defenders as well as attackers 5 SOCCER WARM-UPSReaction work out helps players to keep going right through a game 6 THE VOLLEY PASSThe best way to pass long and accurately 7 ATTACKING OVERLOADSUsing triangles to develop play 8 TIPS FOR TOURNAMENT PLAY10 top tips to be the best you can when you play in summer tournaments

9 BUILD UP TO SCOREMoving the ball to wingers can bypass congested midfield and expose defences

10 STAR GATESFun way to coach transitions of play

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3

José Mourinho’s style of play was created while he was at Barcelona in the 1990s as assistant to Bobby

Robson and then Louis van Gaal. In Mourinho’s time at the club he was working with players that are now the managers of Manchester City, Barcelona, Porto, PSV Eindhoven and Everton – and of course Van Gaal was at Manchester United where Mourinho has stepped into his shoes as manager.

Mourinho came to prominence at Porto, where he would vary his team’s formation according to whether he was playing in the domestic league or the European Champions League. The shape, though, was a minor detail alongside the style. “He wanted us to press very high,” said Maniche, a midfielder in Mourinho’s team. “He wanted the team to react quickly when they lose the ball, so we gain it in their midfield. This pressure would be done as a team, and not only one or two players.” But, crucially possession was not the end goal. “The more the ball circulates in midfield,” Mourinho said, “the more likely it is that the other team will dispossess us.”

Mourinho would always present his team with dossiers on their opponents. “One of

the most important aspects about José, which I support, is that the other team has to be the one making the changes, you have to keep your own identity,” said Costinha, who was Porto’s defensive midfielder at the time. “Of course, he would give us detailed information about the team we were facing next at the start of the training week and more precisely about the player that would be closest to our area of play. ‘What was the player like? Did he have a tendency to get many cards? What kind of movements did he make?’ It was new for many of us back then, but it was very helpful and meant we were much better prepared for each match.”

Where Mourinho excelled was in his attention to detail and, specifically, in anticipating scenarios that might occur during the game. “Sometimes it was as though he could see the future,” said goalkeeper Vítor Baía. “I remember a specific incident against Benfica, when throughout the week he prepared us for

what we should do after we scored a goal … He told us that [the Benfica coach José Antonio] Camacho would make a specific substitution and change his tactics, which was what happened. So we already knew what to do when he did it; we were completely prepared for it. For the same match, we also prepared to play with 10 players, because José knew the referee would not be able to take the pressure and would show a red card along the way. That also happened … so we knew what to do and got a narrow win.”

Baía stresses how good Mourinho was at handling different personalities, what an astute man-manager he was. “He knew everybody so deeply that he could control our emotions in every situation,” he said.

“In my case, he would just pat me on the back and I was ready to go. However, there were players who needed motivation, who needed to be praised, and he knew which ones needed what, that’s what made him so good.”

How to play, how the opponents play, what to do with and without the ball – José Mourinho is bringing his ‘be prepared’ style of coaching to Manchester United. Take a leaf from his book… by David Clarke

Prepare Like Mourinho Uruguay play soccer tennis in preparation for the game

STYLE OF PLAY

SoccerCoachWeekly.net Issue 477

Mourinho excelled in his attention to detail and in anticipating scenarios that might occur during the game. “Sometimes it was as though he could see the future,” said goalkeeper Vítor Baía

POSSESSION GAMEMOURINHO OUT OF POSSESSION

> Fall back and close down the space which will slow the opposition and give you time to get organized.

> Pressure the ball carrier as a unit when the opportunity presents itself.

> Close down passing lanes.

> Take the initiative by steering the ball carrier into a position that disadvantages him/her and advantages you such as forcing the opponent onto his/her wrong foot, down the sidelines etc.

> Force the opponent to make mistakes.

MOURINHO IN POSSESSION

> Secure the ball quickly.

> Support the ball.

> Play forward.

> Exploit the spaces left at the back.

A

B

CD

E

A

DE

4

Player movement Ball movement Run with ball Shot

Players A and C approach from either

side of the goal, linking with player B. Player A makes a forward run

WHY USE IT It’s important to practise this because there will be several occasions in every game, both home and away, when counter-attacking gives the team the winning edge.

SET-UPYou need balls, bibs, cones and goals using half your normal pitch. We used 10 players in the session (the other 4 from the squad sat out the

first time but we brought them in for the second run of the session.)

HOW TO DO ITSet up so teams are playing 5v3 with two goalkeers – teams are attacking through a lone striker. At the end of each attack (whether that ends in a goal, a save, a shot that goes wide or a tackle) play now comes back in the opposite direction. Each move showcases one particular example of the type of interplay that can occur,

with different variations and passing moves.

Progress the session by adding more defenders, or by putting pressure on the forward with a time limit of 10-12 seconds to get a goal attempt in.

TECHNIQUEPlayers use the top of the laces of their boots and kick through the centre of the ball for power and direction.

� Player C feeds the ball in to player D, who drops

deep to receive

� Player D touches the ball off to player A,

who arrives at pace then dribbles forward a few yards

� Player D makes a wide blindside run and finds space to receive a pass from player

A, then crosses into the middle where player E heads home

SoccerCoachWeekly.net� Issue�477

This�session�helps�quick�counter-attacking�play�with�a�variety�of�combinations�–�it’s�a�high�intensity�session�that�tests�both�forwards�and�defenders.�By David Clarke�

Counter Attacks

PREPARE LIKE MOURINHO AGES 11 TO 18

10yds

3yds2yds

1

2

3

4

GO!

LEFT!

2!

5

WHY USE IT Players are always twisting and turning in matches right from the kick off to the final whistle – this session helps to prepare them for doing that.

SET-UPYou need balls, bibs, cones and a goal, in an area 30 x 20 yards wide. We used 7 players in the session.

HOW TO DO ITA player stands in the middle of the square facing a team-mate with the ball. Number the cones in the square 1-4. The server throws the ball for the player to volley back before calling a command (ie ‘two’). The player then reacts and touches the relevant disc with their foot before returning to the centre of the box. If the team-mate calls ‘left’ or ‘right’, the player shuffles to the relevant cone and back into the box. If he calls ‘go’, the player

turns and runs around the cone 10 yards away, before returning to the middle of the square. Perform the drill for 30 seconds before changing places with your team-mate. Work for 30 seconds, then rest for 60 seconds.

TECHNIQUEThis is all about fitness pressure with movement and ability to turn and recognise when the ball is being served to return the pass.

The player works in the 3 yard square reacting to calls from the server

If the server says a number the player runs to touch the relevant cone

Each time the player returns to the square he must volley the ball back to the server

A call of left or right and the working player must run to the cones either

side of the square – a call of ‘go’ and the player must track back to the top

cone 10 yards away

This drill keeps the player’s mind alert and concentrated, while

challenging their ability to move quickly on command

SoccerCoachWeekly.net� Issue�477

Player movement Ball movement Run with ball Shot

DIFFICULTY RATING

In the last 10 minutes of matches many coaches tell me their young players often lose the ability to react to situations because they are too tired – this session helps to give them the energy to go the extra mile in the last 10 of a game.

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No.29: Reaction Work out This�simple�two�player�work�out�is�great�for�fitness�and�for�creating�match�like�turns�and�moves�with�accurate�passing.�By David Clarke

Soccer Warm-ups101

AGES 6 TO 18WORKSHOP

15yds

Tell your players to use the top of their

foot for the volley pass

15yds

Tell your players to use the top of their

foot for the volley pass

6

Player movement Ball movement Run with ball Shot

� Try and get players to kick the ball flat through

the air there shouldn’t be too much height on the volley or it gives defenders time to get in line with it.

WHY USE IT A volley pass gives players power and accuracy over longer distances.

SET-UPYou need balls and cones with players standing 10-15 yards apart in a circle. We used 5 players in the session.

HOW TO DO IT> When they are volleying the ball to each

other – let them catch the volley and return it by dropping it onto their foot rather like a goalkeeper would.

> Tell your players to use the top of their foot to pass the ball over the distance to ensure it drops exactly into the hands of the other players.

> Make sure there is not too much height on the volley pass.

HOW TO ADVANCE IT> Tell your players to spread around the field volleying the ball to each other to catch. Players maintain a distance of 10-15 yards between

each other. In the diagram, A volleys to D who catches, then from his hands he volleys it to C and so the practice continues. You can try progressing to no hands. Players must then control the ball by foot, head, chest or thigh before volleying on to the next player or volley first time.

TECHNIQUEPlayers use the top of the laces of their boots and kick through the centre of the ball for power and direction.

Make sure the players are standing around 15 yards

apart by putting down cones for them

� Tell your players to catch the ball and

drop it onto their foot to make the pass

� Try different sequences so the ball is not always

going the same way around the circle

SoccerCoachWeekly.net� Issue�477

Your�players�need�to�have�skills�to�beat�their�opponents�and�give�your�team�the�advantage�on�match�days�and�a�volley�pass�is�a�fast�pass�when�team�mates�are�in�space�for�a�long�pass�to�catch�out�their�opponents.�Here’s�how�to�do�it…��By David Clarke�

The Volley Pass

TECHNIQUE AGES 11 TO 18

20yds

30yds20yds

30yds20yds

30yds

7

Player movement Ball movement Run with ball Shot

Forming triangles inside the group of six is the

challenge for the players

WHY USE IT The activity places the demand of transition on the players to go from a defending aspect to an attacking triangle as soon as they regain possession. Also helps the players in recognizing space on the field to give them width and depth on the attack.

SET-UPYou need balls, bibs, cones and 1 large and 3 small target goals (or use cones). Set up an area 30 x 20 yards. We used 9 players in the session – 3 teams of 3 players.

HOW TO DO ITTwo teams (6 players) designated by the coach play combination passes to pass across the grid end line. The other team of 3 players defend for approximately 3 minutes and then switch roles with 1 of the attacking groups.

Focus on triangles within the group of 6 shape. The passer must always have options both to the left and right. Work on group cooperation, via shape giving width and depth, to move the ball quickly when the attackers are numbers up. Technical speed to take advantage of the moment increases the chance for success.

TECHNIQUETactical decision making and the execution of ball skills under match-related conditions will now push the players along on how good triangle shapes in their group play leads to success.

� Encourage players to see the game

from their team mate’s perspective

The attackers combine passes to penetrate

down the sideline

The players combine play and then switch

the point of attack

Ask players Guided Discovery questions such as:

Q: What shape could the 6 attackers take? Q: if the forward pass isn’t there what should you do?

This is all about attacking overloads that happen often in a game – 3v2 and 2v1 plus a passing sequence. By Sam Snow, Coaching Director, US Youth Soccer

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

www.nscaa.comAttacking Overloads

OVERLOADS

SoccerCoachWeekly.net Issue 477

AGES 12 TO 18

Tournaments are great fun so you don’t want to be the first to pack your kit away and head home. Here are David Clarke’s 10 tips to help your team have a successful experience

How to WIN A

TOURNAMENT

SoccerCoachWeekly.net Issue 477 SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 8

THE ART OF COACHING

01 CHECK YOUR TEAM’S PLAYER AVAILABILITY

Tournaments usually take place at weekends and during school holidays, so check your players will be available. TOP TIP: Many tournaments allow teams to field guest players, so check the rules if you need to add players.

02 CHOOSE THE LEVEL OF PLAY

The level of play is crucial to how successful your team is going to be. TOP TIP: Call coaches you know who have competed in the tournament to ask their opinion.

03 OUTLINE THE TRAVEL OPTIONS

When choosing tournaments parents will need to know the transportation options that are available. TOP TIP: Do your research on travel and the best means of getting to the destination.

04 GET READY THE NIGHT BEFORE

Put together a checklist to give to the parents of all of your players. Include directions and maps showing how to

get to the tournament, plus a list of things that players need to bring. TOP TIP: Make yourself a list of mobile phone contact numbers for everyone connected with the team – just in case.

05 PREPARE FOR THE WEATHER CONDITIONS

It is vital that you prepare your team for the weather conditions on the weekend of the tournament. TOP TIP: Keep an eye on the weather forecast for the area hosting the tournament and inform parents.

06 CHOOSE TACTICS FOR THE SURFACE

Find out in advance what kind of surface the matches will be played on. Is it grass or on a synthetic turf?TOP TIP: Make sure you prepare tactics for the type of surface your teams is playing on.

07 SPREAD THE LOAD Most tournaments guarantee a

minimum of three or four games, but the most successful teams will often play more as they go through the rounds and get to the final. TOP TIP: If you spread the load equally

among the entire team your chances of success will be greatly enhanced.

08 GO ON THE ATTACK STRAIGHT AWAY

Going straight on the attack in tournament games is vital to get on top, both physically and psychologically.TOP TIP: Use one of your best kickers for a shot – or kick for touch in the opponents’ half and press high

09 PREPARE FOR THE GAP BETWEEN GAMES

There is always a lot of down time at tournaments and you should be prepared for it.TOP TIP: Ensure your players snack every two or three hours – energy bars or bananas are perfect. They should also drink water regularly.

10 USE SUBSTITUTES TO WIN GAMES

Most tournaments have a roll-on, roll-off style substitute policy – so make sure you use it to your advantage. TOP TIP: Make a list of your subs and ensure you use all of them by switching players at regular intervals.

10TOP TIPS

Zinedine Zidane congratulates the winners of the Danone Youth Cup

Improve your players awareness of how moving the ball to the wings and supporting play can open up the most stubborn defence. By Michael Beale

9

Build Up To Score

OVERVIEW Build up to score improves your players’ awareness of switching play to the wingers and then making forward runs to score from a cross into the opponent’s penalty box.

SET-UPPitch 40yds x 30yds including two 5yd side channels

WHAT YOU GET YOUR PLAYERS TO DOTwo players take the position of wingers and go into the channel, which is opposite the one you are in. The remaining players pair up, and stand either side of the goal.

To start, the first two attackers run to receive your pass. The players combine and then pass the ball out to the wide player. The wide player then dribbles down the line and crosses into the box.

The attackers continue their runs into the box to meet the cross and shoot. The attackers should ensure that one player runs to the near post and one to the far post in order to cover the whole box.

Play now reverses with two attackers entering the field from the opposite side and receiving a pass from you.

RULESThe game is played for ten minutes

All players are limited to two touches to increase the speed and realism of the game

If the ball goes off or a goal is scored you pass to the next set of attackers on the opposite side

DEVELOPMENTBy adding a defender in each box the attackers will be forced to improve their movement to lose the defender and the winger will have to ensure they cross with accuracy to one of the attackers.

If you call out a new game the

players must react and play to the rules of the new game, for example, the four goal game.

The team in possession

now attempts to score a goal by passing the ball into one of the opponent’s two mini goals.

The two teams play a

normal game where they attack the opponent’s goal in order to score past the keeper.

SoccerCoachWeekly.net Issue 477

SMALL-SIDED GAME

MOVEMENT DRIBBLE PASS

From 64 SMALL-SIDED SOCCER GAMES VOLUME 2To buy the manual click here or go to:

www.soccercoachweekly.net

AGES 11 TO 18

Great fun game to get players passing, dribbling and timing their forward runs to great effect. Also good for coaching transitions of play. By Keith Boanas

10

Star Gates

THE RULES The team in possession must play a set number of passes (say 5) then attempt to break into the next frontier through one of the star gates by passing or dribbling through.

The defending players must not simply stand in front of the gate to block it.

Once the ball has been played through a gate - and the player who played it has followed it through - all of the players can move through into the next frontier and the process begins again.

Unless both ball and player have gone through, no-one else is allowed in as the next frontier is deemed to be unsafe.

The object of the game is to get from one end to the other and back again through any combination of gates.

If possession is lost the other team faces the same challenge. However, if the ball is lost in the central zone the other team must get into an end zone before the process can start again.

MAIN OBJECTIVESPassing, dribbling, timing and angle of forward runs, switching play.

SET UPArea: 45x30 yard area divided into 3, 15 yard zones

Players: 10, 2 teams of 5

Equipment: Cones, balls

WHAT TO CALL OUT“Stargate open” – the passing target has been met.

“All clear” – all players can move through a gate.

“Try and switch to another gate”

PROGRESSIONThe ball can be passed through a gate into space but players are not allowed into space before the ball as it is unsafe. This acts as an early introduction to the offside rule, timing runs, and passing into space.

HINTKeep a supply of footballs nearby to keep the practice flowing.

A player breaks

through a Star Gate.

The rest of the players

can then enter the zone.

Teams must make 5

passes within the zone.

SoccerCoachWeekly.net Issue 477

PASS RUN GROUND COVERED

From FUN SOCCER GAMES FOR 5 TO 8 YEAR OLDSTo buy the manual click here or go to:

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FUN GAME AGES 5 TO 8