12: Grow Coach Newsletter

Football Coaching: A full Session on counter attacks toward goal.

Mar 14, 2024

A warm welcome from JustCoachMD. We are happy to have you on board.

Here is what to expect:

Education: Challenge players effectively.
Arrival Activity: A wall-passing activity to work on the finish.
Activity 1: 5v5 possession into 3v2 counterattacks.
Activity 2: 2v0 into 3v2 combining to score.
Activity 3: 4v4 small-sided game.
Session Commentary: Thought process behind the session plan.
Coach Action: A task to complete

How Do You Challenge Your Players?

Football coaches can aid player development by using challenges to shift their focus toward an action that will aid their development.

When designing challenges for players there are several ways to do it:

Positional: This can be used to provide a player with action related to the position they play. A striker may need to shield the ball so they may challenge them to spot the correct time to secure the ball via shielding.
Tactical: This is a good way to get players to work together to implement a tactic or play like a top team. Team A might need to high press whereas Team B has to play like Man City.
Technical: Often used to get a player to practice a turn, pass, or skill but do it in a game-like moment at the right time. For example, use a long diagonal pass to switch play.
Physical: Use different match-ups in training that stretch the player. Speed vs strength, endurance vs agility.

Challenges help to narrow a player’s focus onto aspects of the game that they need to practice. The challenges need to be achievable for the player/group otherwise success may happen too quickly. A good challenge will not be too easy nor will it be too hard.

The sweet spot is to find challenges that bring a sense of achievement if completed.

How to Level Up?

What if the challenge is completed quickly?

Stick with it and see if the challenge you set is completed again within the next minute or so. If it is you may need to adapt to the challenge.
Levelling up could offer a solution. For example, the coach may say ‘Now that you can do X, the next level is Y’.
Think about realistic level-ups for players, don’t just add the next level for the sake of it. Place a value on its achievement.

Keeping Track:

Coaches will often set a task, rule, or challenge and forget about it. Other aspects of the session grab their attention. It’s vital to remember that you challenged the player/group.
It can be helpful to assign an assistant or helper to keep track of the challenges and hold the players accountable. Even having a person count the number of times they were able to complete the challenge brings with it some motivation.
If you are alone purchase a pair of clickers that count for you, so each time you see a player complete their challenge you can use the clicker to keep track.

How many challenges should you use:

Aim to challenge 2-3 individuals per session or have 1-2 collective challenges. If you overuse the challenge it can become boring for the players and they don’t engage as well in trying to achieve them.
It might be helpful to have a challenge activity within a session if you only train once per week. If you train more frequently you could assign one full session per month to challenges.

By incorporating these different types of challenges into training sessions and matches, coaches can level up their player’s performances while not needing to move away from the topic of the session that they wish to cover.

‘‘YOU CAN OVERCOME ANYTHING, IF, AND ONLY IF, YOU LOVE SOMETHING ENOUGH’’ (L, Messi)

Arrival Activity: Ball Mastery

Set-Up: In a 30 by 20 space, with 2 x mini goals and a pair of manikins. Arrange the players into two lines. The player at the front of each line plays a wall pass with a central player and then looks to finish into the mini-goal. The player then moves around to the next line and the practice continues.

Add in a challenge: Can players combine and finish using both feet? Challenge them to get 3 in a row with each foot.

“YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE”

(C-PULISIC)

5v5 into 3v2 to Goal

Set Up: In the 40 by 30 space. Split the field in half and add a 5-yard scoring zone (dashed line) into the opposite half. One team is nominated as the possession team (Blacks) and one as the attacking team (Reds).

Scoring: The blacks score a goal each time they connect 4-6 passes in one half of the field. The Reds win the ball and 3 players can break over the halfway line. They must get into the scoring zone before finishing into the goal. 2 players from the possession team can recover.

Challenge: Can the attacking team win back the ball and score within 6 seconds?

2v0 into 3v2 to Finish

Set-Up: In the 25 by 35 area, add small goals at one end and a large goal with a GK at the other end. Position the attacking players (Blacks) to the left, central, and right of the mini goals. Then position defending players (Red) on the sides of the box.

Playing: Reds start the practice. They perform an unopposed cross and finish into the large goal. As soon as this attack finishes they defend against the blacks in a 3v2 to goal. If the Reds win the ball they score in the mini goals.

Scoring: The Reds score unopposed into the larger goal, then they score in the mini goals for the 3v2. Blacks score into the larger goal in the 3v2 moment.

Challenge: Can the attackers (Blacks), score using a 1st-time finish from inside the 6-yard box?

5v5 Small Sided Game

Set-Up: In a 30 by 20 space, Split the field in half. Place a large goal at each end and a GK in each goal. Place a striker in each of the o’s half’s to create a 4v1 (with GK).

Scoring: There are three ways to score:

Connect 3 passes and score with a long-range finish
Play off your striker to finish 1st time from a set
Play into your striker and 2 players join in to score

Session Commentary

Aim: The session aims to increase the amount of counterattacks toward the goal.

Objectives:

Counterattack quickly upon a regain.
look to play forwards and run forwards.
Set up a teammate or take shooting opportunities early.
In defense work try to force the ball wide or backward and isolate the attacker into 1v1 or 1v2 situations.

Coaching Process: This is the method you could use to coach the session to the players.

What: Show, tell, or ask the players WHAT you would like them to do.
When: Ask the players WHEN is the best time to do it.
Ways: Get the players to think about how many WAYS there are to achieve it.

Coaching Points: Share some coaching points that are most relevant to the players

In attack:

Share: Give the ball to a player in a dangerous space and support the attack.
Set Up: Create scoring opportunities for yourself using skills or for others using through balls or crosses.
Score: Use a variety of finishes when presented with chances and be sure to hit the target.

In defense:

Stop: Can you stop the opponent from traveling forward?
Slide: Stay compact and leave the least dangerous player.
Seal: Keep the ball out of the box and funnel it away from the goal.

‘‘Dont Be Afraid of Failure, This is the Way to Succeed’’

(L-B, James)

Coach Project

Objective: List some ways to challenge your players.

Task: Write down 2-4 challenges for each of the following aspects:

Positional
Tactical
Technical
Physical

* Use one or more of the challenges within a practice, next time you are coaching.

Please feel free to get in touch or share your ideas, actions, and interventions. We would love to hear from you. If you have any questions, post them here; we will do our best to answer them.