Coaching Advanced Players

By Stevie Grieve, Author of Coaching the 4-2-3-1, Modern Soccer Tactics and Winning Soccer Tactics.  Check out his new book, Coaching the 4-2-3-1 Advanced Tactics here.

Barcelona v Bayern Munich (0-3) Champions League Semi-Final 2nd Leg, April 2013

Bayern Target Barcelona’s Full Backs to Create Goal Scoring Chances

Robben Goal – Alaba’s long pass opens up the space on the far side

Alaba has possession and can see that Alba is too narrow (out of picture) and Robben will be able to receive on the far side. He drills the

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This article is an excerpt from our new eBook by Scott Allison – Coaching the Barcelona 4-3-3

Attacking in the Final Third

Exercise 1: Combination play in and around the box

Objective:
To develop good combinations in and around the box that lead to goal-scoring opportunities in the scoring zone from central positions.

Setup:
In this exercise you need a minimum of 8 players and a goalkeeper attacking a goal (For larger groups duplicate the exercise with another group going towards another goal. Use a penalty box area and have two groups working from either side of the goal. Players positioned on the goal line start the exercise with a ball. Three players are positioned in a triangle at the edge of the box (use markers as a guide for players). One Goalkeeper in the goal:

Instructions:
The exercise begins with player A passing the ball to player B. A then moves forward and player B plays a quick combination with A. A then passes to C. C plays a pass to D and makes a

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Our new book, The Triangle Midfield, includes a free eBook with an additional 10 exercises and small-sided games to train the core techniques and tactics required to play with a midfield triangle.  I have shared the introduction below as well as the Exercise #1.

Introduction

This is a collection of drills and exercises you can use to train in any triangle midfield formation. The exercises are designed to get the players moving the ball quickly in an organized and disciplined fashion, elements needed to be successful in the triangle midfield. Some of these exercises are generic enough that they can be used with all players as they will focus on all of the elements of technical training (preparation, skill and speed). Use them to develop a quicker technical mentality for your players while also developing them in the training exercises shown in the Triangle Midfield Book. It is important that you first focus on the technical aspects of the triangle midfield and making sure that the qualities you need for each position are present in the players you have in these positions. Here are some suggestions of qualities you should be looking for:

Attacking Central Midfielder- You need players that are very good technical players. They need to read the game very quickly and must be dangerous when going forward to attack the goal. The player should have good physical speed but, more importantly, explosive technical speed and the ability to receive and play with a soft touch. They must see the field very well and be able to distribute the ball to create attacking opportunities. This player is your playmaker and considered to be the HEART of the triangle midfield. They must also be very fit.

Holding Central Midfielder- This player or players must be the physical presence of your midfield. They will always challenge anyone who attempts to come inside the triangle or anyone attempting to bring the ball into the central part of the field. They must be strong at winning the ball in the air and in challenging 50/50 balls. They are usually the ones responsible for keeping the shape of the triangle, so they must be excellent communicators. In possession they must be 1-2 touch players as they are responsible for linking possession between the defense and the attack. They are often there to re-direct the flow of possession from either one side to the other or one point to another. They must also have a good level of fitness.

Roving Central Midfielder- If you employ one, they must have very similar qualities as the holding central midfielder with a couple of exceptions. First, they must have incredible fitness as they will always be moving and shifting side-to-side, more so than in a normal triangle midfield. They must also be very quick in physical speed as they are responsible for keeping the shape of the triangle. In possession they are there to link possession to the two central options (central attacker and attacking central midfielder). They must also be quick to react to opportunities for withdrawn runs as attacking options.

The following ten drills and exercises should help you to organize and train your triangle midfield. Good luck in your preparations.

EXERCISE ONE – QUICK COMBINATION PASSING

Drill Introduction: This is a quick combination passing drill that focuses on building to one-touch play. Create a 25 yard by 25 yard box with cones or disks. In the middle of each of the four lines place a player and add a fifth player in the middle. One ball will be used for this exercise. Have the ball start with one of the outside players and begin the exercise by having that player pass the ball to one of the outside supporting players to either their right or left. The receiving player will then pass the ball inside to the middle player who receives and passes to one of the other outside players. Once the middle player passes to one of the outside players they immediately switch with one of the other three outside players. The player who receives the ball then passes it to one of the wide outside players supporting them. Keep in mind that they must be aware that they aren’t passing the ball to the outside player who is switching with the middle player, they must pick one of the outside players who is remaining in their position. The player who is coming inside must now adjust to the player receiving the ball. The drill is continuous.

COACHING POINTS

• Players should prepare to receive and pass the ball by being on their toes and having their hips open to the middle of the grid.
• Players should work on targeting their passes by looking to pass to a certain foot to help them prepare for one-touch play.
• Players need to stay focused so that they stay within the pattern of the drill.
• Players need to communicate clearly so that they are prepared for where possession is going in the drill.
• Players need to move at game speed throughout the drill.

Equipment Needed: 4 Cones and soccer balls

Recommended Duration: It would depend upon your goals and objectives and what your plans are following this drill. This drill is not timed, but it is typically done as part of a progressive warm-up and would cover no more than 10-15 minutes before progressing. As with any drill or exercise you would not progress if the players have not succeeded in establishing the level of success you are looking for.

By: Dan Minutillo – Author of Formation Based Soccer Training

Coaches of great soccer teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid and Arsenal struggle to find and maintain a balance between game day offense and defense measured by goals for as compared to goals against. Arsene Wenger, longtime coach at Arsenal, said as late as April 2013, over 30 games into the EPL season that Arsenal had only now just found the proper balance between offense and defense during League games–too many goals against, not enough goals for. Numbers up on attack, high in the front third of the pitch but numbers down in the middle third of the pitch when defending on transition.

Offensive balance means that a team has not over committed players high up field going forward on attack during the run of play to expose it to quick transition if it loses the ball. Defensive balance means that a team has held shape and has committed enough players or the right players behind the ball as the team is attacking to slow transition in the event the ball is lost. Defensive balance promotes the freedom of movement of the attacking players during an attack but offensive balance does not likewise influence defensive balance. This will make more sense as the theme of this article is developed.

What is game day offensive and defensive balance and how is it attained by a team?

Game day offensive and defensive balance is a tactical maneuver, no matter what formation is used, to ensure

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We have a great new video series called Attacking the Barcelona Way. These are new style “Tactical Analysis” videos. You won’t see usual “old school” type footage with players demonstrating drills and exercises. 

These videos go much deeper and include actual real game footage, where the coach analyses the tactics, breaks down movement, sequences, combinations, goals, etc. and then describes training sessions you can do to help train your team to produce the same style of play. Also included is an eBook of all the training sessions covered in the video.  Here is part of the eBook from the first video that takes a look at a passing exercise.  The eBook shows more progressions of this exercise as well as lots more exercises that appear in the videos.  For more info on the Attacking the Barcelona Way videos and eBook, click this link.

Attacking the Barcelona Way – Passing Exercise

In this exercise we look at a player with his back to goal receiving under pressure from a tight marker from behind.

The defender is passive, but must pressure the player so it is realistic.

• Player 1 passes to Player 2
• Player 2 moves

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We have a great new video series called Attacking the Barcelona Way. These are new style “Tactical Analysis” videos. You won’t see usual “old school” type footage with players demonstrating drills and exercises. 

These videos go much deeper and include actual real game footage, where the coach analyses the tactics, breaks down movement, sequences, combinations, goals, etc. and then describes training sessions you can do to help train your team to produce the same style of play. Also included is an eBook of all the training sessions covered in the video.

Here is a sample of the video series, Attacking the Barcelona Way.

Coaches have been asking for these tactical analysis type videos for a long time so we hope you like them.   Please let us know what you think in the comments section below.  Thanks.

Mike Saif
WORLD CLASS COACHING