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I’m sorry that last week’s podcast wasn’t released until Sunday. Our internet was out from Thursday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. I’ve prided myself on releasing a new podcast every Friday so this was extremely frustrating.

If you missed the episode I’d encourage you to go back and listen because there’s some great information there on shooting activities you can do with your team during the winter months.

This week I want to focus on what I feel is the key to being an effective coach. It’s not a certain drill, exercise or game. It’s the coaching points and corrections you make as your players are performing a drill or playing a small-sided game.

Coaching Points

The drills, exercises and small-sided games we do with our teams don’t teach our players the technical skills necessary to compete successfully in the game. They only provide an environment to repeat what we have taught them or a game to put the skills into the context of the real match. The coaching points and corrections we make are the keys to the development of our players.

Today I want to share the coaching points that I use with my own teams. They create the expectations that the players have for their performance. They also focus me during drills and games to make sure that the players are doing these things correctly.

Over the years I’ve collected a long list of ‘things to watch for’ when training each of the technical skills. During that time I’ve narrowed them down to the ones I’ll discuss today because they are the most effective cues that I’ve found. They help paint the picture for the player so that they understand exactly what I’m looking for from them.

I want to focus on five skills today; moves to beat a player, Change of Direction, Shooting, Receiving, Passing.

Moves to Beat a Player

1. Setup
   1. Small touches
   2. One with every step
      1. Controlled speed
2.  Fake
   1. Fake something
   2. Not just a move
      1. Sell it
      2. Fake one way, go the other
3. Play away
   1. Out of your feet
   2. Big enough to have to sprint to get it

Favorite Drill – Two Lines Facing

Changing Direction

1. Drive
   1. Fake to drive in one direction
   2. Drive defender in that direction
   3. Make it believable
2.  COD
   1. Start with a fake shot
3. Lean in the direction of the play awayPlay away
   1. Out of your feet

Favorite Drill – Up Two Back One

Shooting

1. Balance
   1. Foot alongside the ball
      1. Plant heel first for power
   2. Leaning forward
2. Contact
   1. Lock ankle
      1. Foot like a brick not a noodle
      2. Foot like a fist
      3. Toes down and out (diagonal)
   2. Center of the ball
      1. What happens when you spin a penny?
      2. What happens if I strike the bottom half of the ball?
3. Follow Through
   1. Understand – your leg swings in an arc not a line
   2. Land low on the shooting foot
   3. Swing through the ball not just at it

Favorite Drill – Shooting on the Wall

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This episode of Coaching Soccer Weekly is supported by ZoomReports.com. If you’re a coach looking to give your players valuable feedback or a director of coaching searching for a way to manage the evaluations for your whole club you should try a free trial of ZoomReports by going to ZoomReports.com and entering the promo code CSW when registering for the free trial.

 

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Receiving

1. Body Position
   1. In line with the ball
      1. Shouldn’t have to reach if you have time
      2. Select largest surface
         1. Inside
         2. Sole – Futsal
      3. Open body
         1. Face the largest space
         2. Or intended target
   2. ‘Magic Hop’
      1. Bob Warming
      2. Saw it in my better players
      3. Important when ball is in the air
   3.  Contact
      1. Middle of the ball
      2. Top half if it’s bouncing at all
      3. Develop a feel for the ball
      4. Out of your feet
         1. Two feet from your feet
         2. Away from pressure
         3. Into space
         4. Toward your target

Favorite Drill – ‘The Cage’

Passing

1. First touch
   1. Out of your feet
   2. Diagonal to prepare
2. Balance
   1. Foot alongside the ball
   2. Leaning forward
3. Contact
   1. Lock ankle
      1. Foot like a brick not a noodle
      2. Foot like a fist
      3. Toes up and out (hockey stick)
   2. Center of the ball
      1. What happens when you spin a penny?
      2. What happens if I strike the bottom half of the ball?
4. Follow Through
   1. Like you’re putting a golf ball

Favorite Drill – Diamond or Triangle Passing

Now your coaching points may be different than these. That’s fine. The important thing is that you choose coaching points that resonate with your players and stick in their minds. If they’re able to internalize the key points that you give them they will be able to correct themselves when they have a bad touch or take a poor shot.

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In the Next Episode

Next week I want look at how different scoring methods change the focus of small-sided games. I’ll share ways to structure your games to get the most out of the specific topic you want to cover.