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JOHN ACHTERBERG LIVERPOOL Goalkeeping Soccer technique Coaching practices from the world’s leading managers and coaches NICK DAWS QPR Throw-in tactics Elite Soccer: MICHAEL JOLLEY burnley Perfect ball technical contact
masterclaSix completess KEVIN Bespoke and soccer blueprints NICHOLSON cardiff city exclusive from the game’s On the practices top coaches move that drill down into STUART the technical WATKISS GRIMSBY TOWN detail of Defending soccer technique
CRAIG BREWSTER PFCA MEMBER Heads ALL NEW SESSIONS FOR THE 2014/15 SEASON up ELITE SOCCER TECHNICAL MASTERCLASS CONTENTS
Elite Soccer is published by: A technical soccer showcase from some of the professional game’s Green Star Media Ltd most accomplished coaches Meadow View, Tannery Lane Guildford, Surrey, GU5 0AB, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1483 892 894 hank you very much for picking up this, our first special issue of Elite Fax: +44 (0) 1483 894 148 TSoccer in 2014. Email: I’m sure you’ve enjoyed the assortment of brilliant soccer on show at the [email protected] Brazil World Cup this summer. Only when you draw together nations from every corner of the globe do you realise how diverse and specialised Editor: James Evans the modern game is – different approaches, different styles, different Contributing Editor: philosophies. Yet at the heart of every nation, every player and every team Matthew Amos, LMA talk is the reality that having a sound appreciation of the requirements of Design: technical proficiency is an absolute must for any player who aspires to Jimmy Egerton perform to their potential. Illustrator: Richard Palmer Whether you’re talking defenders, striker, midfielders or keepers, knowing Customer Services: how to manipulate the ball, opponents and body movement is imperative. Duncan Heard And that’s why we’ve really drilled down on the mechanics of soccer to bring Head of Marketing: Paul Mortimer you this Technical Masterclass issue. Operations Director: As always, we’re grateful for some incredible contributions from some Toby Curthoys of the best coaches in the game, all imparting their fantastic knowledge Managing Director: for the benefit of Elite Soccer readers; as you’ll see, at first they focus on Andrew Griffiths Photos: Action Images individual technical proficiency before explaining how to perform what’s learnt in a practice situation. Published in partnership with: So from the Barclays Premier League, Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg takes us through a brilliant technical mainframe for the man between the sticks. And we’ve two more sessions from other coaches League Managers whose clubs are joining the Reds in the top division this coming season Association – Burnley Under-21s manager Michael Jolley looks at the skills behind St George’s Park National Football Centre perfect ball control, while QPR’s Academy Head Nick Daws explains how to Newborough Road perfect throw-in technique. Needwood Burton upon Trent DE13 9PD Highly-rated Cardiff City Under-21s manager Kevin Nicholson presents a Tel: +44 (0)1926 831 556 session that coaches proficiency on the move, while Grimsby Town’s Stuart Email: [email protected] Watkiss assesses key defensive positions in a technical and tactical setting. President: And to conclude, we have an engaging appraisal of heading know-how Roy Hodgson from vastly experienced coach Craig Brewster, who unveils the technical Chairman: Howard Wilkinson contradictions behind this supposedly lost art. Chief Executive: We hope you enjoy utilising what’s here for the benefit of your team, and Richard Bevan look forward to seeing you again very shortly as the 2014/15 season gets underway. This publication is protected by national and international copyright laws. Elite Soccer will take legal action against any Enjoy your football, individuals or organisations found to be infringing our rights, and will make that action public. Elite Soccer members who have purchased this report may circulate electronic or hard copies to members of their own Howard Wilkinson club or school, provided this is done without commercial gain. However, no part or whole of this report may be circulated elsewhere or displayed on any website or distributed Elite Soccer is a monthly publication for professional, commercially except under licence from the copyright owners. semi-professional and aspiring soccer coaches and © Green Star Media Ltd. All rights reserved is available by subscription only. £97 for 12 issues. To subscribe email [email protected] or call on+44 (0) 1483 892 894
2 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERclass www.elitesoccercoaching.net ELITE SOCCER TECHNICAL MASTERCLASS profiles
JOHN ACHTERBERG NICK DAWS MICHAEL JOLLEY LIVERPOOL QPR burnley John Achterberg joined Liverpool as Nick Daws is Head of Academy at Barclays Michael Jolley is another young and ambitious goalkeeping coach in 2009 having hung up his Premier League side Queens Park Rangers, coach who will begin the new season in the gloves after 16 years as a professional, during a position he took up in September 2013. Barclays Premier League, having recently which time he made over 300 appearances A former player with vast Football League joined the Burnley coaching staff. for Tranmere Rovers, and spent time at experience – for Bury, Rotherham United The 37-year-old is a former Cambridge NAC Breda and FC Eindhoven in his native and Grimsby Town – the 44-year-old hung up University Masters graduate who, having been Netherlands. his boots in 2004 and gained a BSc in Sport a youth team player at Barnsley, moved into Arriving at the Barclays Premier League Science from Manchester Metropolitan coaching in 2003 at the Crystal Palace Academy. giants, he initially looked after the reserve University. Jolley switched to Nottingham Forest in 2007, and academy goalkeepers before being He joined the coaching staff at Rotherham, then took on the role of High Performance promoted to first-team goalkeeping coach in and after earning his UEFA A Licence Football Coach at the University of Stirling. the summer of 2011. switched to Barnsley. His Pro Licence He progressed to Head Coach of the Scotland On a day-to-day basis, the 42-year-old followed, and after scouting for a number of Universities Team whilst working towards a overseas the development of Reds stoppers sides, he joined Harry Redknapp’s revolution MSc Degree in Sports Coaching. Simon Mignolet, Brad Jones and Danny at Loftus Road. He is now looking to bring Moving back into club football in 2012, Jolley Ward. through the next breed of talented youngster completed the FA Elite Coaches Award – one at QPR. of only 16 coaches globally – before joining Burnley as Senior Professional Development Coach of the Under-21 team.
KEVIN NICHOLSON STUART WATKISS CRAIG BREWSTER CARDIFF CITY GRIMSBY TOWN PFCA MEMBER Popular coach Kevin Nicholson is Under- Experienced coach Stuart Watkiss is Craig Brewster has coached and managed 18s manager at Sky Bet Championship club current aiding Grimsby Town’s attempts across numerous levels of the game in England Cardiff City. to regain league status having previously and Wales, and spent five years as a player with Kevin holds a wealth of qualifications spent time at Stockport County as Assistant Greek side Ionikos. including the FA Elite/Pro Coaches award Manager. Bursting onto the scene with Forfar Athletic (which sits alongside the UEFA Pro Licence), Prior to that, the 48-year-old was as a tall and powerful striker in 1985, he went the UEFA A Licence and the LMA Diploma in Development Coach at Hull City for three on to play for Raith Rovers, Dundee United, Football Management. years up to 2012, and has also worked Dunfermline Athletic and Inverness Caledonian He joined the South Wales club in June having at Mansfield Town and Kidderminster Thistle amongst others. spent 10 months at Exeter City, after six years Harriers. Progressing into management, Craig at Derby County and, before that, a spell at As a player, Watkiss was a strong and established Inverness as a force in the Scottish Stoke City. confident defender, beginning his career Premier League, and following a spell at At 28, Nicholson is regarded as one of the at Wolverhampton Wanderers before Dundee United returned to Thistle to save the hottest properties in professional coaching appearing for the likes of Crewe Alexandra, club from relegation in 2007/08 season. and is looking to bring through a wealth of Walsall, Hereford United and Mansfield He then took Ross County to the Scottish Cup promising talent at Cardiff as the club plot Town. final in 2010, before guiding Crawley Town an immediate route back into the Barclays to promotion from League Two in 2011. The Premier League. 47-year-old is currently undertaking coaching work for a number of sides in the south of England.
3 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERclass www.elitesoccercoaching.net JOHN ACHTERBERG GOALKEEPING COACH LIVERPOOL The key technical elements of Goalkeeping goalkeeping • Catching and handling technique • Stance • Closing down Overview a threat t Liverpool we have a very simple way of analysing how our goalkeepers are • Kicking Aperforming – simply, everything is judged on their strengths and weaknesses. and ball As goalkeeping coach, I come to decisions on distribution keepers by assessing them live in training and matches, and also on DVD, but any coach can • Diving build a picture of the areas a keeper needs to work at, and this is important to do. What’s more, technical football is often at the heart of how a keeper performs, since the margins are very fine for someone who must be precise in what he does and how he does it. So where keeper training is concerned, I like to put together sessions on the training pitch that maximise technical proficiency and progress. Much of this is done by recreating key moments in matches where a keeper needs to have precision and purpose in what he does, and that’s what this training blueprint looks to do. After all, if the keeper trains and develops well, he will recognise when these situations come about in matches and recreate the correct action.
“Speed and reactions
are the two key SET-UP elements that Area the keeper needs Up to a half-pitch Equipment to achieve in any Balls, cones, goals situation in the Session time penalty area.” 60mins
4 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERclass www.elitesoccercoaching.net john achterberg LIVERPOOL Goalkeeping technique Basic handling technique No1 The W Handling is central to a goalkeeper’s ability to halt The keeper must aim to attacking threat and, from that, begin his side’s offensive claim the ball at the top push. The first hand shape to master is ‘the W’ – a hand of the semicircular arc position that links the thumbs and, in doing so, creates a nest above his head - the point where it’s least likely into which the ball can go (and stay). opposing attackers will Arms begin around hip be able to reach height and are raised as The keeper needs the ball comes in to look through the gloves and The ‘shock absorber through the ball distance’ means the ball is 15-18 inches away from the face Note: The ‘w’ is used Wrists can be even when moved closer the keeper together (for is diving left a wider ‘w’) or or right for further apart (to the ball form a diamond)
Touching of thumbs means Elbows should be hands form the slightly bent so shape of ‘the w’ as to act as shock absorbers from opponents
Catching technique Knowing when to come for a ball is of course a tactical part of the game and can only be learnt with time, but once that decision has been made, establishing a polished and efficient catching technique enables a keeper to claim possession of the ball whilst also protecting himself from opponents.
The keeper lifts off with The English Premier League’sbest his strong leg, bringing keepers… up the other in front of (2013/14 campaign, more than 25 games played) him for protection Top six by saves made by: Saves Diving David Marshall (Cardiff City) 129 85 Vito Mannone (Sunderland) 99 51 Tim Howard (Everton) 95 55 Brad Guzan (Aston Villa) 95 54 John Ruddy (Norwich City) 91 64 Hugo Lloris (Tottenham H) 85 53
Movement of the keeper forms an arc trajectory
5 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERclass www.elitesoccercoaching.net john achterberg LIVERPOOL Goalkeeping technique
Basic handling The back arches Basic handling techniqueN o3 technique No2 and the bottom The scoop catch sticks out in order The basket to absorb the The scoop catch is a favoured technique for Gathering the ball into impact of the ball receiving a low shot that has either rolled along your midrift is the most the ground or has a low trajectory. The basic effective way to save a motion is still that practised in The Basket, but Forearms shot without the danger and fingers this time one leg is bent in order to enable the of it spilling out, but wrapped body to lower and claim the ball. The bent leg it must be done with around the also acts as a secondary blocking mechanism technique in mind. As ball should the ball slip through the keeper’s grasp. with most things keeper- based, it requires split-second timing, in One leg is kept upright this instance in wrapping so the keeper can move the fingers and forearms forward quickly, either around the ball as it Not having the to a spillage, or to start comes into the chest. feet planted a counter-attack helps with As this happens, the absorbing the The other leg is bent to back should arch and impact because enable the keeper to the bottom sticks out so there is no reach down, and also as to absorb the impact friction against to provide a second blocking mechanism of the ball, which in turn the ground lessens the likelihood of it bouncing out. Forearms and fingers gather around the ball
Drills for line 1 Practice for catching Arm rolls Knees Heels and handling Side-to-side movements Warm-up (15mins) Forward/backward movements Although typically a warm-up practice, this drill proves Criss-cross movements very useful in rehearsing catching and handling Little jumps technique given that it tests keepers predominantly in Low save these skills. Take off left and right feet Drills for line 2 Kick-outs So setting up as shown, on the left-hand side the server Forward over the top Forward sideways Sideways over the top plays in to each working keeper, who then moves Backwards run/shuffle forward level with the penalty spot, performs a task, In and out forward around the cones then runs around the penalty spot and back to his line. Sideways forwards backwards One leg jumps over the cones On the right-hand side, we conduct a similar drill, Two leg jumps over the cones except keepers have to step through the Low save cones first before being played a pass Smothering of the ball by the server, which may come straight, to the left or to the right. Each task is run 10 times, with serves varying between passes and volleys. The server may decide which skills are practised based on what is featured in the rest of the session, or perhaps by the sorts of challenges that will confront the keeper in an upcoming game. For instance, lots of jumping and catching should he be coming up against a side who like to play long balls into the penalty area. What are the key technical elements to look out for? As well as looking for handling and smothering of the ball, there is also a strong emphasis on footwork in this session. This factors in quality and speed of movement, Key balance, being light-footed and reacting on the front foot. In addition, we want to see Ball movement keepers maintaining square shoulders, with feet and toes pointed forward, steady Player movement arms, hands being open and level, and moving with a steady, balanced body. Dribble
6 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERclass www.elitesoccercoaching.net john achterberg LIVERPOOL Goalkeeping technique
Technique: Stance 1 2 3 4 It is important keepers adopt the right stance for where the ball is on the pitch, although different areas require a different posture, as shown on this page.
This position is adopted when the ball is wide in the channels. It is similar 2 to the ready position (see below) but the body still faces forward so that the keeper can survey inrushing players whilst organising his defence
3 4 This position is known as the standard ‘ready’ position, and is the stance a keeper 1 will usually adopt when the ball is in front of him in the penalty area. His legs are shoulder width apart and arms are raised in a position that means they can react to a ball quickly (rather than A crouched position is being down by his sides and When the ball is in this area, the used when the keeper having a long way to travel keeper must be alert to the potential has to turn side-on in should a high shot come in) need of coming out and become order to close down an extra sweeper for his defence. angles or an opponent. Tottenham Hotspur keeper Hugo He makes his body as Lloris is renowned for having this skill wide as possible with in his locker hands facing outwards Practice for ‘stance’ positioning reactions 1v1 (10mins) In this practice, the keeper has to react to the server’s shot volley or half-volley and make an initial save. As soon as that first shot is saved, the keeper must get to his feet quickly, as The server a new ball will be released into either of the two attackers, releases the ball who advance through on goal for a 1v1. and a shot is taken from the edge of What are the key technical elements to look out for? the box In this exercise we’re looking for the keeper’s starting position in being ready to react to the first shot. He needs to be on the front foot and prepared for any type of shot, be that low or high, central or to the side. In making the save, we’re paying particular attention to the shape of his hands – they Key must be open and in the ready position, but then quickly Ball movement Player operating so as to catch, parry, push to one side or smother, movement and either strong or soft. And if smothering, the keeper Dribble needs to keep his head low to the floor in order to protect himself from kicks. Once he deals with that, can he regroup quickly, moving forward off his line in order to react to the 1v1? In doing this, he needs to regain good balance quickly, with equal weight No sooner is the on both legs. Hands need to be open again, with head and save made that a shoulders over his knees, leaning forward, so he can attack second ball is released the ball and not fall back. If he keeps a clear, calm mind, he for a player to go 1v1, has a good chance of repelling the 1v1. meaning the keeper must be up quickly to react
7 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERclass www.elitesoccercoaching.net john achterberg LIVERPOOL Goalkeeping technique
TECHNIQUE: Punt kick Punting the ball long is a crucial task if a keeper is going to turn defence into attack to maximum effect. The punt (or drop-kick) sees the keeper release the ball with the hand that’s opposite to the kicking foot. Similarly, the initial step will be with the non-kicking foot.
Eyes are on the ball at all times, not the target The left arm drops the ball The landing is out in front The left arm is now on the kicking used for balance foot
A large last step The foot is is taken with the locked kicking non-kicking leg upwards
Contact is made with the firmest part of the foot
TECHNIQUE: Goal kick Good goal-kicking requires a combination of power and accuracy, and this is usually best achieved with large strides on the run-up to striking the ball, with a long backswing and firm follow-through.
A solid posture is essential Opposite arm to kicking foot offers Eyes are on the balance ball at all times, The opposite arm The last stride should not the target drives down across be the longest and most the body powerful
The ball should be The heel of the non- struck on the laces kicking foot should be between 6-12 inches to the side of the ball The keeper must drive through the bottom of the ball for leverage
8 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERclass www.elitesoccercoaching.net john achterberg LIVERPOOL Goalkeeping technique
We run this at first two-touch, but can What are the key technical elements Practice for punt progress to one-touch when we feel the to look out for? time is right. The keeper must deliver the ball at the and goal kick right angle, and to be able to do this his (15mins) Kick 1 – The keeper receives the ball and body needs to be firmly behind it. His passes out either left or right to the waiting stance is set and the pass must be hit with centre-half. confidence. He needs to be able to switch This is a fantastic distribution game that between using the side of the foot (for Kick 2 – The keeper receives the ball puts into practice the kicking elements we accuracy) and driving off the front of the and clips into the small or big goal, have rehearsed, and also looks at passing, foot (for power and speed). receiving and controlling the ball. which replicates a pass to a full-back or midfielder in a game. The ball must always be moved out of We set up on a half-pitch, as shown, with the feet so the keeper can pick the option Kick 3 – The keeper receives the ball and the keeper fed a ball in by the central under pressure to pass. server. He must move the back pass to drives into the small or big goal, with a the floor, then pass, clip or drive towards greater emphasis on power. either players or targets, as outlined Kick 4 – The keeper receives the ball and below. We work on the left and right foot to can pass to any player or target goal using ensure we build equal quality in both – this free play. means there should always be an outlet if We will perform 10 repetitions of each one side route is blocked. kick.
4 1 A variety of targets and distances is a great keeper distribution practice
4 3 2 2 3
1 4 2 3 4
Key Ball movement Player movement Dribble
The English Premier League’sbest keepers… by distribution (2013/14 campaign, more than 25 games played) Top six by ground kick Success % Top six kicking out of hands Success % Asmir Begovic (Stoke City) 66% Tim Howard (Everton) 40% Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal) 58% Artur Boruc (Southampton) 40% Simon Mignolet (Liverpool) 58% Joe Hart (Manchester City) 39% Artur Boruc (Southampton) 58% Brad Guzan (Aston Villa) 38% Tim Howard (Everton) 58% Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal) 37% David de Gea (Man Utd) 55% Asmir Begovic (Stoke City) 35%
9 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERclass www.elitesoccercoaching.net john achterberg LIVERPOOL Goalkeeping technique
The top hand is driven up into the air Fingers are spread The keeper wide to offer the best leans in the chance of keeping the direction of ball away from goal the ball Eyes remain on the ball at all times
The High Dive
Chest and arm pit land first
Note: the keeper The back leg moves must get back up on towards the chest his feet as quickly as The lower back is possible. arched The near leg drives off the ankle Hips are bent The back leg TECHNIQUE: raises up, moving gradually into a High and low diving saves horizontal position Being able to dive safely and efficiently is crucial for a keeper, and good technique only comes with practice. While a lot of attention Eyes remain on the is applied to diving technique, excellent initial stance and quick ball at all times reactions are both essential in the lead-up to movement being taken. So once the flight of the ball has been tracked, it’s the keeper’s job to move into the correct position as quickly as possible, with The upper body twists the emphasis on upper body movement towards the ball, not towards the ground footwork. in the quickest time possible
The Low Dive
The keeper lands on the side of his body with legs in the air The keeper must push the ball to a place where danger has been cleared
The hand is driven down and moved towards the The heel is driven up, in Fingers are spread wide in Note: the keeper ball essence so that the leg order to get as much behind ‘gives way’ underneath must get back up on the ball as possible his feet as quickly as possible.
10 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERclass www.elitesoccercoaching.net john achterberg LIVERPOOL Goalkeeping technique Positional play in central goal (20mins) This session rehearses the keeper’s positional play in goal, from a point of The keeper being out of position to getting back 1a runs to the towards the middle in order to block an first disc then back-pedals to incoming shot or attacking play. The his line practice is used to play out the core technical elements already learned, utilising rehearsed position, body shape and stance. With the correct technical approach play to the task, keepers should still be able to make a save in any area of the goal given that the immediate threat is from outside the penalty box. Immediately a shot at goal comes in from So to begin, and as shown, the keeper the attacker for the works a set of four tasks. Starting from a keeper to react to central position, he moves fast to the left flat disc, touches it with his hand, then back-pedals quickly onto his goal line to Now the keeper give himself the best chance of making runs to the a save. The striker approaches the first second disc ball and shoots at goal(1a) . 1b For the next phase, the keeper touches the second disc. This time, the striker picks the ball up and takes a volleyed shot out of his hands(1b) . Next, the keeper moves to the third disc. This time, the striker dribbles the ball in for a 1v1(1c ). In the final phase, any of the first three moves can be repeated by the striker. This time, the attacker volleys the ball out of What are the key things to look out his hands for? Speed and reactions are the two key elements that the keeper needs to achieve in any situation in the penalty area. In this session, that’s the speed to and from the cone, and the reactive quality to deal with the attack that then begins. What are the technical elements to 1c be rehearsed? When the keeper sets himself back on the goal line, he must be at the right angle to the ball. Furthermore, he must be on his front foot leaning into the ball to be able to attack it. He must ensure his body height is prepared for any type of shot, be that low, medium or high into the goal, with his hands out in front of his In the third phase, the body, open, and palms facing the ball. keeper runs to the next From a coaching perspective, we look disc, with the attacker at whether he succeeds in catching bringing the ball in for a 1v1 the ball, or if not, how and to where he parries. Does he put power onto the parry to get the ball away out of the danger zone, or is he looking to take the sting out of it and get up quickly to ensure Key he holds onto possession should it spill Ball movement out of his grasp? Player movement Dribble
11 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERclass www.elitesoccercoaching.net NICK DAWS HEAD OF COACHING QPR The key technical elements of The art throw-ins • Posture of the • Movement • Release throw-in • Direction • Power Overview • Accuracy s part of an individual’s development programme, players will practise Acorners, free-kicks and goal kicks in order to improve their technique, but how often is the art of the throw-in properly rehearsed, either individually or as a team? And look at the accepted evidence - there are more restarts from throw-ins than any other method in football. And restarting from the hands plays a significant role in a team’s play, be that relieving pressure in the defending third, retaining possession anywhere on the pitch, or setting up effective attacking moves in the opposition half. Unfortunately, poor technique, lack of appreciation of team mates and ineffective decision-making quite often lead to the throw- in becoming a key part of the opposition’s ability to counterattack. So this session looks at perfecting the art and developing the technique of the throw-in. We look at both short and long throw-in technique, how to practise it in isolation and how to integrate it into one of many practices that have a multiple outcome. Players should quickly understand how the short throw-in helps the team to retain possession and switch play effectively. And rather than look at the traditional use of the long throw-in to load the box with strong aerial players, we will analyse how it can be used as an attacking weapon to break lines in the “There are middle or attacking thirds. more restarts It’s important to practise the art of the thrown- in because, as part of any team’s game from throw- preparation, a coach or manager will place ins than any great significance on set plays and restarts. other method in football. And restarting from the SET-UP Area hands plays Up to a full pitch a significant Equipment role in a team’s Balls, cones, goals Session time play.” 60 mins
12 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERclass www.elitesoccercoaching.net nick daws qpr the art of the throw-in
Release the ball TECHNIQUE: Place the from the hands at a hands point slightly behind behind and The art of the or above the head slightly to the side of throw-in the ball (45 degrees), with fingers apart
Propel the elbows down and the hands over the head to create momentum
The longest Take the ball behind the recorded throw… head to a point where the fingers are pointing The longest throw-in was backwards and elbows recorded at 51.3m (168ft) are forwards by Thomas Gronnemark on June 18, 2010. The Dane used a ‘forward roll and flip’ technique, with the achievement recorded in a throwing demonstration at a girls’ football camp. To increase power, arch the back as the movement starts and follow through with the arms during the Throw-ins: common mistakes forward motion Technical mistakes: • Releasing after the ball has passed over the head, resulting in a foul throw • Lifting one foot off the ground • Overstepping the touchline • Releasing with one hand Tactical mistakes: • Lack of accuracy and overuse of the long throw into the box • Using the throw-in down the line to relieve pressure rather than playing to feet and receiving back to feet • Teams rushing the throw-in, rather than waiting for movement from receiving players
For a powerful throw, approach the pitch ensuring feet stay behind or on the line
To add power and distance to the throw, ‘snap’ the feet For a short throw, together at the start of face the pitch with the movement feet apart and in contact with the line
13 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERclass www.elitesoccercoaching.net nick daws qpr the art of the throw-in
Practice for ‘the art of the throw-in’ White plays to blue and receives a Short and long throws return pass (10mins) Setting up as shown using the side of the pitch - area size can vary depending on the ages of players - white begins with the ball at his feet and passes to blue in front. As blue returns Red controls with his the pass, white adopts a crouched position to pick up the ball chest, knocks the ball with both hands. After resuming a standing position, white into space, then passes performs the throw-in, over blue and to the red at the opposite back for the move to side of the practice. Here, red controls the ball with his chest, restart thigh or foot, takes an additional touch to the side and passes the ball back to white. Each player performs 6-8 repetitions of He picks the ball up and throws it over each role. blue’s head to red How do I progress the practice? We can progress by varying distances, as well as using verbal/ non-verbal communication between players to signal when to pick up the ball within a minimum or maximum number of passing reps – for instance, after the fourth pass. Finally, we can vary the skill that the player uses to get the In the progression, ball in hands from a team mate – for instance “flick up”, thus we can adjust the distances between players – here, blue allowing a serving player to call out the skill the other must plays a shorter pass in front attempt. of white, who sprints forward before making the throw Key Ball movement Player movement Dribble Practice for ‘the art of the throw-in’ Moving, receiving and returning (10mins) This begins as a simple throw-in technique practice with equal numbers of players, and can be used as an extended warm-up activity To warm-up also. players move at random in the square, We use 12 players - whites who stand around calling for the ball and the area on the outside with a ball, while returning it first time blues occupy the middle area without a ball. to the thrower Blues move around the area calling for the ball from whites, who must throw into the middle. Receiving players touch or head the Techniques for ball back, then look for a new team mate. receiving a throw-in We’ll run 6-8 repetitions before the roles are 1 pinning the defender reversed. 6 pulling behind the 2 checking off The session can be progressed in a number defender to receive over the defender the top or down the sides of ways by varying the distance of the of the defenders receiver, varying the body part the receiver 3 pulling off must use to control the ball, using a one- and around the touch return to the thrower and increasing defender the number of touches with the ball not touching the ground. We might also ask the receiver to control and take the ball away before turning and playing back to the thrower. In the second practice, mannequins are added to the same area to act as passive defenders. In the diagram, the coloured arrows highlight the progressions after each set of 6-8 repetitions. The ball is always 5 playing back to the 4 playing back to the passed back to the thrower between each thrower before pulling thrower before pulling off rep. off with an open body to and around to receive a pass receive back in play back in play
14 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERClass www.elitesoccercoaching.net nick daws qpr the art of the throw-in
Black arrows: The Red arrows: Utilising a midfield trio show good long throw sees the ball Set plays movement and rotation to enter the defensive third (10mins) make space, and the ball before being fed to the is fed on to the right-sided right In this practice we are looking at an example of switching play central defender from a throw-in, in the mid third. We have split the pitch up into thirds (defence, midfield, attack), and can adapt the practice to focus on one area, or develop throw- ins from all three areas. So we’re looking at the movement and rotation of the midfield trio of players (in the square box – black arrows) to create space for one of them to receive and switch play to the advancing full- back or opposite wide player (in the blue box). We can also encourage a long throw in order to release a right-sided player. The second example (red arrows) is used to show how a team can utilise the long throw to release the right-sided central defender. For this to be possible the movement of the midfield trio 4, 8 and 10 changes to clear the space for a safe throw-in.
Long throw forward to an attacking runner Short throw into in the attacking third, the central area unopposed Breaking lines opposed (10mins) Long throw back This practice takes place as an adaptation of a to the unopposed traditional mid-third game aimed at developing the defender team’s ability to play through the mid-third and break lines into the attacking third. This can be used to set up against a team who play a high defensive line. The practice allows defensive players to use the defensive third unopposed to play into the mid-third and can be progressed to become semi-opposed (2v1/3v1) in this area. Play restarts with a throw-in in the mid-third with three options available to the thrower: • Play a long throw back to the unopposed defender • Play into the central area opposed • Play a long throw forward to an attacking runner in the attacking third, unopposed If the third option is taken, a supporting attacker can enter the attacking zone unopposed to receive a cross. A time limit should be placed on the attackers to shoot at goal. We can progress the practice by manipulating the number of players permitted in the attacking zone – for instance 2v1, What are the advanced technical elements players 2v2, 3v2. should be expected to progress to? Over time, and once basic techniques are pinned down, we begin to introduce a link between the technical subtleties and tactical preferences of the team. These advanced principles include awareness of time and space, movement, Key exploiting the opposition’s lack of awareness, as well as Ball movement Player manipulating flight and speed elements. movement Dribble
15 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERclass www.elitesoccercoaching.net michael jolley Under-21s manager burnley The key technical elements of kicking • Contact areas Perfect ball of the foot • Body contact movement • Control to Overview set up a pass his session - or series of sessions - is about • Types of pass developing a range of varied bilateral ball Tstriking techniques that can be recalled • Ball physics and relied upon in matches whilst playing under pressure. By developing enhanced ‘range’, players can open up new possibilities for delivering the ball to the correct part of the pitch or team mate at the required moment. Why is it important to practise these techniques? Well, it’s simple - when a golfer stands on the 18th tee knowing he must make a four to win the tournament, he is under intense pressure. He must hold his thoughts together and trust that he has performed sufficient practice that his technique will not falter when placed under such intense scrutiny. Similarly, footballers - especially those operating at the top end of the professional game - are under incredible pressure. Solid ball striking techniques can make the difference between a successful performance and an unsuccessful one - at every level of the game. Furthermore, if a player can improve his ball striking with both feet, he can execute passes and shots which demand a very high level of skill. Glenn Hoddle was a player with great mastery of technique. A pass that sticks in my mind was one he played in England’s 1986 World Cup match against Paraguay. After an initial feint, he played a ball with the outside of his left foot that bent into Gary Stevens’ path, who crossed for England’s third goal. It was a simple looking pass but would have taken Hoddle hours of practice to develop that type of contact with his ‘weaker’ foot. When he spoke recently during the 2014 World Cup, Hoddle said he developed his techniques with “a ball and a wall”, and that’s what forms a key focus of this session.
“Solid ball striking techniques can make the difference between a successful SET-UP Area performance and Up to a half-pitch an unsuccessful Equipment one - at every level Balls, cones, goals Session time of the game.” 60mins
16 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERClasss www.elitesoccercoaching.net michael jolley burnley perfect ball contact
Technique: Toe Much like the outside of the foot, a key area of the foot used to move the ball with speed. A locked foot means playing Parts of the foot off the toe can deliver an accurate pass albeit probably only over short Outside foot A key area for ‘quick’ distances. play, where a subtle poke or flick can move the ball quickly away from a High instep The top surface before tackle or past an outrushing keeper. where the laces begin, and the part Also used to deceive an opponent of the foot where most spin can be as to the direction a pass will take, generated. When the foot isn’t being perhaps after a step-over has cut across the ball, the high instep is been performed. also used for long passes, including goal kicks, but often with height.
Laces A key area for Instep Used for accuracy and generating power, using placement with less power given the fact weight transferred through the ankle needs to be locked. from the thigh muscles in order to fire the ball towards its intended target, though with more premise of keeping the ball down Sole of the foot Used predominantly to (compared to the high control an incoming pass, the sole should be instep). For players to angled so the ball nestles into the space between perfect ‘getting laces the angled foot and the ground. The sole is also behind the ball’, they must used to push the ball in front of the player when then have the foot pointed making an onward pass. Although a player resting the down, and locked, with ball under the sole of the foot can still be tackled, he is toes curled. They must nonetheless protecting it more than if it was simply left balance on one foot, in front of him. swing the leg and have solid, planned placement of the non-kicking foot (see next page).
PHYSICS OF A Outside heel FOOTBALL Used primarily Pictured here is a plan for one-touch view of a football flicks and tricks spinning about an when moving an axis perpendicular to incoming pass onto the flow of air across it. The an opponent quickly. air travels faster relative to A subtle use of the foot the centre of the ball where the yet a part of the boot periphery of the ball is moving in the much more used now in same direction as the airflow (left). the modern era of technical This reduces the pressure on one soccer. side, yet increases it on the other, where the air travels slower relative to the centre Heel The heel, or back of the of the ball (right). foot, is used for ‘clever’ lay- There is therefore an imbalance in the forces, offs or short passes, usually and the ball deflects in the same sense as the in attempting to throw an spin - from bottom right to top left. This lift force is opponent off the scent. It’s a also known as the Magnus Force, after the 19th- quick, grounded pass and the century German physicist Gustav Magnus. aim should be to hit the centre The accentuation of airflow and air pressure on the of the ball in order to maintain ball means even minor irregularities in technique accuracy. The foot should be can lead to huge differences in height, direction kept flexed when attempting and power. Thus, perfecting technique means this technique. giving every pass or shot the best chance of hitting its intended target.
17 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERClass www.elitesoccercoaching.net michael jolley burnley perfect ball contact
Mastering the key technique: The head The head should be still as the player strikes the ball, with eyes focusing on the panel of the ball that he wishes to contact with his laces. Some top players will Striking the ball be able to lift their head or look away on contact, but for with the laces now, they should focus on keeping the head still. The player should stand around 12 yards from a target – we use a wall on the pages that follow. He must ‘pick a spot’ about 3ft from the floor to begin with, striking the ball - using his laces - against that spot, so that it comes straight back to him. We advise not to practise by striking a dead ball because Use of arms The front arm should be it’s not an accurate reflection of the sort of ball you raised slightly, out in front and to the side would usually hit in a game. Instead, the player must of the body, almost pointing the way for the roll the ball slowly in front of him on a 45 degree strike as it develops . The other arm should angle, then move onto it and strike it. be used as a counterbalance to keep weight It is good practice for a player to strike two balls neutral down at the side of the hips. Arm with his weaker foot for every one struck with positions are not critical, and every individual the stronger foot. In every strike, the player will feel conformable with slightly different must pay attention to the following factors: positions, but if the arms are in a poor position the player will lose power, accuracy, balance, or all three. The torso and hips should ‘make room’ for the strike, meaning the player will be leaning away from the ball. Use of the arms Contact points should be to retain balance, whilst avoiding Avoid contacts that are ‘part being too upright, as that will make the player laces, part instep’ at this stage. less likely to achieve the necessary ‘feel’ in his ball Those contacts will give players more striking. options as they become more advanced, but the players should focus initially on We’re not all the pure laces contacts that do not impart spin same – although this is easier said than done. You Non-striking leg The Remember, every will know when a player has been successful non-striking leg should be player will have a by the lack of spin on the ball and the ‘clean’ way it slightly bent at the knee as the slightly different moves through the air. And the player will know from striking foot is cocked back. technique/body the feeling he gets when he makes a sweet contact position for this type of with the ball – he’ll hardly feel the ball come off ball striking, so don’t his laces. get too hung up on every Contact individual aspect - the The player must focus on making good contact most important thing on the centre of the ball at the back. The aim is to avoid is for players to be putting spin on the ball, instead making a ‘clean’ strike. balanced, comfortable Can he make the ball travel seamlessly through the air and focused on good towards the wall without imparting spin on it? technique.
Position of the non-striking foot Depending on the age/ Foot speed As players become more consistent size of the player, the inside edge of the non-striking foot should in the contact they make on the ball, consider be between 6 and 12 inches from the centre point of the ball. If the recommending they increase foot speed through the non-striking foot is too close, the player will cramp himself and not ball and follow through more. develop sufficient power and range. If the non-striking foot is too far away, he may lose balance and accuracy of the strike.
Angle of the shoulders Shoulders should be pointing roughly square to the target on contact. Now, as players develop range and disguise with more sophisticated ball striking, they may use their shoulders to trick opponents as to the direction the ball will take. But for basic techniques, keeping shoulders aligned with the target is good practice.
Here’s an example of an attacker going 1v1 with the full- Key back and using his shoulders to imply he is going to move Ball movement in a certain direction, yet actually releasing a pass ‘out Player movement the side’ to an overlapping team mate Dribble Optional pass/ run
18 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERClass www.elitesoccercoaching.net michael jolley burnley perfect ball contact Practice for foot WA L L techniques The organisation for this type of practice could not be simpler. As referenced 15 already, players need a football each and 10 a wall to rebound the ball back to them. 5 Ideally the wall will be made from an appropriate hard surface so it comes back to the player at a realistic speed. Players practise one- twos with the wall at varying distances, and Depending on the type of technique being using different passing and receiving techniques practised, the coach might also consider organising the players into pairs or groups of three, in order to make the practice flow contacts with both feet should be the main enhanced ball striking techniques on more easily. For example, lobs or ‘dipping concern. relevant passes - for example, when a volleys’ are practised most effectively in How do I progress the session? midfield player turns and switches play pairs rather than against the wall. 40 yards with a driven pass to the moving You can progress the practice by varying target of an onrushing full-back; or when a It is worth remembering (from the foot the distance from the wall, or by choosing a player produces an outstanding technical diagram) there are, essentially, eight key different spot on the wall to aim for. surfaces (or 16 counting both feet) for finish. A further progression may be to work in striking or manipulating the ball. Bear this From this very basic laces ball-striking pairs and move closer to the wall (perhaps in mind when identifying which part of the practice, a player can rehearse a range five yards away), so that one player can foot you’re asking the players to strike the of other techniques using the same very practise his close control by receiving the ball with. simple organisation (a ball and a wall). So strike of his partner as it comes back from I would recommend a one-hour session, What are the most commonly made the rebound wall. mistakes? doing four blocks of 15mins, on four How do you measure improvement of different techniques (practising both feet), Players should not try to hit the ball too the techniques shown? hard until they have reached a good level from the variety of techniques already of competency; and even then, that should In training you can mark areas/targets on outlined in the Emulating The Experts box, not be the focus. Timing the foot speed the wall and compete to see who can be below. through the ball and getting the right most accurate. In games, you’ll observe
Emulating the Extended team experts See if you can get your practice players to emulate We now extend play the types of dead ball out onto a 70x50-yard techniques seen area that progresses by some of the best the wall practice into a in the game, either one-touch, laces only passing against a wall or into exercise among five players. This a goal: set-up, ultimately, invites players to be more ambitious about the passes they are ‘David Luiz’ sidefoot making. On the face of it, it may not look especially free kicks innovative, but soccer relies on mastering the basics, On a half-pitch, players use a variety of bent, ‘Ronaldo’ shooting and players will be improving their ball-striking techniques driven and lofted with top spin and with every pass. passes, one-touch swerve So the aim is to now include: ‘Roberto Carlos’ • Bent passes with the inside of the foot long-range bending • Bent passes with the outside of the foot free kicks • Driven half volleys with slice and late fade with laces (telling players to cut ‘David Beckham’ across the ball as they contact and dipping their non-striking shoulder lower) short-range free kicks • Lofted passes with ‘late dip’ as they reach their target Chipped finishes The technique can be moved into any small-sided game because the with backspin mechanics involved are always excellent for testing these ball-striking Key Ball Dipping volleys with techniques. Each player must adjust his body position in order to deal with the movement Player ball as it comes, ensuring he makes excellent contact. movement laces Dribble
19 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERClass www.elitesoccercoaching.net KEVIN NICHOLSON UNDER-18s manager CARDIFF CITY
The key technical elements of OPERATING ON THE MOVE On the move... • Playing on the back foot Overview lick technical soccer has • Receiving on its foundation in receiving the half-turn Sand passing with style and confidence, and this session drills down into the heart of why the Spain • Balance and Barcelona method of play has courted worldwide acclaim. Whilst we • Anticipation all know the importance of good touch, close control and the progressing of • Awareness key technical skills that enable players to find a way out of tight situations, this session also puts a lot of emphasis on player awareness. Simply, without this, no amount of receiving ability, control, movement or shielding will let a player reach his full potential. I like this session because it has a strong bedrock in touch, close control and passing, and that’s essentially what players practise throughout, but by adding in an intellectual edge, it means players can’t just rely on technical skills, and need to build a proper ‘game’ understanding if they are to really flourish. I’ve organised the games so they can be interchanged depending on how the coach or the players feel on the day. They each offer something different – almost a ‘greatest hits’ of practices that I enjoy delivering – and can be used either as a collection or separately. But at the heart of everything I coach is simplicity. For players to master technical elements of soccer they require repetition over detail. I still see many coaches making training complicated, yet if players can combine basic technical moves with an ability to read and work the play, they will take great reward from these practices.
SET-UP Area Up to 35x25 yards Equipment Balls, cones, goals Session time 15mins per practice
20 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERCALSS www.elitesoccercoaching.net KEVIN NICHOLSON CARDIFF CITY on the move
KEY TERMS
Receiving on the half turn Still shielding, he turns away from the 3 Receiving on the back foot defender and moves on into the space in T his technique enables players to receive without the pressure front of him of receiving on the front foot, which is closest to the ball. Instead, receiving on the back foot draws the ball in to the body and enables the player to open his hips and turn towards the attacking direction. Another universal term for ‘receiving on the back foot’ is ‘receiving across the body’, but either way, the ball must be allowed to run across. Opening up the hips This describes the action of players receiving a pass with an open stance. Balance is equally weighted which means the player has the opportunity to move off in either direction, at the same time not offering an opponent any clues as to the direction he intends to take.
2 He lets the ball come across him using a side-on stance and shields it from the defender who has PROVING THE COMPONENTS OF closed in. Receiving TECHNICAL SOCCER? side-on also allows It’s said that the key exemplars of technical soccer are him to begin moving forward as he sees passing success and possession, but is there a strong passing options in enough correlation between the two, and are the rewards front of him there for the sides who play a staunchly technical game? Top 10 teams in European football (2013/14 season) by average match possession by pass completion 1 Bayern Munich (71%) PSG (89%) 2 Barcelona (68%) Barcelona (88%) 3 1 PSG (65%) Bayern Munich (88%) The player glances 4 Rayo Vallecano (60%) Roma (86%) over his shoulder as the 5 Roma (59%) Manchester City (86%) ball approaches. He is assessing the situation, 6 Real Madrid (59%) Juventus (86%) checking for the positions 7 Southampton (59%) Arsenal (86%) of team mates as well as 8 Fiorentina (59%) Fiorentina (86%) opponents 9 Manchester City (58%) Real Madrid (86%) 10 Swansea City (57%) Swansea City (85%) Bold denotes domestic or European trophy winners Italics denotes domestic or European trophy runners-up
21 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERclass www.elitesoccercoaching.net KEVIN NICHOLSON CARDIFF CITY on the move Passing and receiving to turn For the first drill, and on a 15x15-yard practice area, we have three players on each cone and two balls in play, as shown. The player at top left begins, passing into the man in the middle before following his pass. The receiver takes the ball on the half-turn, then passes out the other side, diagonally, to bottom right. He The ball is fed 15 also follows his pass. into the player in 15 Now the new player in the middle immediately receives a pass the middle, who receives and passes from top right. Again, the action is to receive on the half-turn and on, with players continue the line of the ball by playing out to the man waiting at following their passes bottom left. Once more, all players follow their passes, with the ball now coming back in the other direction from bottom right, In the progression the and so on. central player has to What are the key technical elements to look out for? call out the number of fingers being held up by This is a continuous practice that requires basic technical skills, the player behind him such as receiving on the back foot and receiving on the half-turn. Passes must be accurate, sensibly-weighted, and tactical sense requires everyone to be on the move quickly and with purpose. 3! How do I progress the drill? Just before the player in the middle receives, he must take a look over his shoulder towards the player he is about to pass to. The player on the cone holds up either 1, 2 or 3 fingers. Whatever number that is, the central player must shout it out, before 15 turning to receive the ball and passing it on. The goal here is for 15 central players to begin to develop an anticipation of the next Key phase something we give more emphasis to in upcoming drills. Ball movement Player movement Dribble
We now set up three passing squares, be fed inside the square where the two Passing as shown. One requires short passing central players become involved. These (of under 10 yards), another medium players can combine and then send on to squares – three (between 10 and 25 yards) and the third the next corner players. No players follow long (over 25 yards). Players aren’t fixed their passes and all operate at two-touch variations in one area for long – we’ll rotate them maximum. around all three areas with the intention of How do I progress the drill? mixing up the passing challenges quickly At first, switch the direction to and regularly. anticlockwise to ensure players become Each square works in the same way - the comfortable using both feet. ball is moved around clockwise. At each Next, we introduce the idea of players corner, the player must receive on the moving ‘in and out’. So, in mirroring what back foot before passing on. The ball can was done in ‘Passing and Receiving to either go to the next corner man, or it can Turn’, a corner player will swap positions with a team mate in the middle. This must 10 10 be done though when the player on the At irregular previous cone has the ball - this means intervals players moving ‘in and out’ only have a the ball is couple of seconds to organise themselves passed into the middle before a pass comes in. where What are the key technical central elements to look out for? players Now players15 have 15 combine different distances Technical proficiency is now and feed the to contend with, building given that when and central players ball back players move ‘in and out rehearse receiving on the half-turn out’ the receiver is before passing out no longer taking on a straight pass running In the biggest square, we want to see players across the body, but a pass moving ‘in and out’ (swapping positions) as the that might have to be taken on pass is laid into that cone, in order to test angles the back foot and turned 270 degrees for receiving and passing the ball on 25 towards25 the next cone.
22 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERclass www.elitesoccercoaching.net KEVIN NICHOLSON CARDIFF CITY on the move
Players rotate positions then a pass is laid down Passing, receiving the left side A short pass is fed along the top edge, with the and turning circuit player receiving on the half-turn and passing to This is a 40x40-yard circuit, set up as shown. There the top left are two balls in play at once, and the task is for players to move themselves (by following each pass) and the ball around using a variety of ever- A one-two changing technical skills. between working players is made at the top corner
One player is positioned between two mannequins, and must either stay fixed, or move left or right, in reacting to the incoming pass. He collects the ball then passes on The man at40 bottom left 40 receives on the back foot A one-two is played against then performs a curling the wall, before a lofted pass is pass using the inside or the made to the next station, either outside of the foot to the man over the wall or around it at bottom right
central neutrals are now defenders, Transfer end- with the practice having reverted to a 4v2. Thus, attackers must know what to-end they are turning into before the ball arrives, or they run the risk of being In a penalty area turned sideways, the tackled and losing possession. task here is to get the ball from one target player to the next, though no Small-sided game player can be in possession of the ball To finish, we run a tight small-sided for longer than one second. game on a 35x25-yard area. At first the two central players are neutral; Midfielders drop into the middle channels to they can only play one-touch, whereas all In Transfer End- other players are two-touch. receive, unopposed To-End, the simple at first, though Players must always be looking to turn task is to move the ball moving into opposed from one target man to and pass forward, with the intention of in the progression. the other using quick getting the ball to the other target man and incisive passing as quickly as possible. Furthermore, an attacker can technique with greys, at move into the opposition half to make first, one-touch neutrals When a target player receives, team it 4v4 when his team is on the attack – mates must make themselves open for In the small-sided game, all players are two-touch. reds successfully receive a pass so the ball can be turned around in the central zone and E N D S C O R I N G Z O N E and the other target player attacked The intention for each team is to get pass the ball on using the immediately. the ball to a designated target at each techniques practised end. This can either be a goal, a target to score in the What are the key technical player, or an end zone. end zone principles to look out for? In playing out the small-sided game, This is another practice that uses the we would expect to see all of the technical ‘wins’ from other practices, intelligent technical and tactical so that includes receiving on the half- actions learnt from the other turn and the back foot, movement to parts of the session. We go ‘in and out’ in working space and want players to be E N D S C O R I N G Z O N E angles, and passing with speed. proactive, with sharp How do I progress the drill? movements and In the progression, players must also bright minds, staying Key Ball look over their shoulders to survey ahead of the game and, as a movement Player any incoming threat, because the two result, enjoying their soccer. movement Dribble
23 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERclass www.elitesoccercoaching.net stuart watkiss head of youth grimsby town Implementing defensive principles
Overview he job of the defender is like no other, given Tthe relationship he needs to have with the keeper behind, and midfielders in front. So much of a defender’s technique comes down to positioning, communication and awareness, and that’s what this session looks to coach. So this session is a favourite of mine for its use of good technical habits as a basis for sound positional knowledge, combined with the anticipation of danger and opportunity required for any player in the defensive line.
The key elements of defensive principles:
SET-UP • Jockeying Area Up to 50x40 yards • Tackling Equipment • Positioning Balls, cones, goals, mannequins • Communication Session time 20mins per practice • Clearances
24 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERClass www.elitesoccercoaching.net stuart watkiss grimsby town defensive principles Position and technique rehearsal
What do I get the players to do? 25x25-yard practice
We begin by setting up a 25x25-yard square, 25 25 as shown - four midfielders in a line at the The working defender must top, four defenders at the bottom behind use the right part of the boot mannequins – note, the left and right in ensuring the ball goes back mannequins (which shield the full-backs) first time, needing to adjust his are slightly further forward. body shape quickly once past the mannequin given that he’s The ball is played in to a midfielder. They approaching the ball from an angle must hold their line and pass the ball left and right, not necessarily to the ‘man next door’. Defenders move left and right in order to see beyond the mannequin and keep watch of the ball. After three or four passes, a midfielder passes into a mannequin. The defender obstructed by that ‘opponent’ must nip around the side and play a one- touch pass back to any midfielder. We want to ensure defenders adopt the 25 habit of using quick technical movement to 25 The attacker passes in to a nip around mannequins - they cannot get defender who must emerge from caught behind and must always be working behind the mannequin and pass to the side. And this technical movement is back first-touch to a different in the context of positional elements too - so attacker the shape of the back four when the ball is transferred. Defenders should be equally spaced, six yards apart and moving as a unit as the ball goes left and right. When the defender moves forward to return the pass his team mates must ensure they adopt adequate covering positions. If a centre-back returns the pass: His fellow centre-back comes around and sits deeper The nearest full-back drops back to protect the baseline 25 The furthest full-back moves slightly 25 towards the centre-back’s mannequin In the progression, we replace the mannequins If a full-back returns the pass: with attackers to create an The nearest centre-back has to be to the 8v4 situation side of the full-back’s mannequin, half a yard behind Now progressing to intricate play, attackers work space The second centre-back is three yards but defenders position deeper and in between the two central well to close down mannequins the threat The other full-back is one yard in front of the centre-half, the usual six yards across. His position is in advance of his team mate so that he doesn’t play fellow defenders onside – he must always be in front. When the ball is returned, defenders squeeze up and flatten the line.
25 Key 25 Ball movement Player movement Dribble
25 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERClass www.elitesoccercoaching.net stuart watkiss grimsby town defensive principles
Key How do I progress the game? Ball movement Player We now replace the mannequins with movement strikers. A defender must come forward and Dribble press his man . Working individually, strikers are aiming to run the ball over the baseline using simple approach play (no tricks). If held up, he lays the ball back, thus causing the working defender to drop back and a team mate to move forward for the next press. If a defender wins the ball, he passes back to the server, who restarts.
Defenders must combine technical play 50 (jockeying) with positional skill, forcing an opponent to the wing, rather than inside. 40 Attackers can hold up using shielding, and can progress by becoming more adventurous, We set up a 50x40-yard especially those out wide, to include receiving practice to show a back four on the half-turn and taking on a defender in a being tested by waves of 1v1. attacking threat, as well as having to deal with the What are the key things to look out for? obstacle of two mannequins Using shepherding and jockeying, can the defender force play out towards the wing? If strikers make one-twos, we want all always with the aim of forcing play away around the mannequins, a defender defenders reminded of their positional duties, from goal, by protecting the goal and must be aware and alert, coming forward and the idea of keeping an eye on the ball at all jockeying players high up the pitch (with to close down the threat. Defenders must times. cover in behind). always look to fill that danger area in front 50x40-yard practice If one attacking midfield player gets goal of the goal, tracking potential runs and movement, and using measured and Now setting up as shown (with an 8v4 plus two side of the defensive mannequins, the controlled clearances. midfielders acting as potential obstacles to back four should become really compact the back four) the attacking team ensure that to force the attacking team to play wide. If defenders win the ball, they gain a point every third or fourth pass is played in to either The nearest full-back then tries to stop by returning it to the server. If clearing into a striker or a wide man. Two-touch full-backs the cross; the nearest centre-half covers opposition territory, the defensive line only support from behind and don’t overlap. the near post; the furthest centre-half must push out and squeeze. Strikers must score in the top goal; defensive covers the middle of the goal; the furthest To progress, the attacking full-back is positions must be set and secure (10 yards full-back covers the back post. allowed to overlap to create 2v1s on the apart) with consistency over depth, and Likewise, if attackers play one-twos wing, so lots of crosses come into the box.
CLEARING WITH THE SIDE OF THE FOOT “The best When defenders are dealing with a cross from method for the wing there are a number of ways to see off the threat – some better than others. The temptation for clearing a inexperienced defenders (or non-defenders helping cross is with out in defence) is to punt the ball as far forward as possible. Although this removes the immediate a controlled danger, more often than not it offers the ball straight volley. Players back to the other team, and a new attacking wave begins. should not The best method for clearing a cross is with a jump at it, controlled volley. Players should not jump at it, rather side-foot the ball clear and with medium pace (if rather side- kicked too hard it’s likely they’ll slice the clearance), foot the ball achieving power and distance. Any headed clearance should be made full on the clear and with forehead (even if that means being returned to the medium pace, general direction it came from), with height and power. achieving As soon as a clearance is made, defenders push out power and and squeeze the space. distance.”
26 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERClass www.elitesoccercoaching.net stuart watkiss grimsby town defensive principles
Technique Jockeying Jockeying is crucial in closing down opponents in possession of the ball, and relies on the patience of the pressing player. It’s a technique that slows play, threatens a tackle and puts maneuverability back the way of the defender. Approaching quickly can He must have his often panic the opponent into making a mistake, even if the jockeying defender does eyes on the ball at not attempt to get the ball. Lunging in is a mistake since it offers the easiest escape all times route for an attacker, as well as increasing the prospect of fouling the opponent.
The defender must be patient and not be fooled He will usually be at by the attacker’s feint or a slight angle to the tricks, like ‘dropping the opponent in guiding that shoulder’ to appear to move player the way he wants in a direction him to go, usually away from goal
Arms dropping low help the rest of the body move quickly towards the ball
25 25
Watch the ball and feet at all times, but try to be aware of the attacker’s hips, which will face in the direction of movement A low position is adopted with both knees bent
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Jockeying is used to ‘guide’ the defender away from the danger area The foot that offers balance pressure is the non-dominant foot
He must be close enough to make a potential tackle whilst remaining a generous enough distance away to react to his opponent’s movement
The dominant foot is be furthest away but, because it isn’t taking the main weight of the 25 25 balance, can be used to tackle and intercept He stays on his feet when the opportunity arises at all times
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25 25 craig brewster PFCA member The key technical elements of Heads up heading • Posture • Power and subtlety • Direction • Style • Leverage
Overview The logic behind having heading specialists in your team uch like tackling, good heading is something that has been in danger of becoming a lost art Most managers will select players Min recent years, but 20% of goals are still scored purely because they are good in the air, with the head, and try telling any defender that this even if there are better defensive players, unique sporting skill isn’t important! or other attackers who have more impressive goal ratios. Having to deal I’m passionate about the mechanics behind heading, with set pieces as well as the physical from biology of neck movement, use of core strength side of the game is imperative. in elevation and propulsion, plus the variety of different headers determined by specific match day situations. I often see more skilful players being substituted and good headers of the In this session I examine heading from two different ball remaining on the pitch because of extremes. On one hand, there is the aggressiveness and the prospect that without that player on, power that defenders invest into almost every header - the team’s small full-backs might get the unrelenting full-throttle approach to clearing their exploited at set pieces, for instance. It can lines. But then contrast that with the delicacy and art of make having good headers of the ball as an attacker, whose purchase on the ball might be the important tactically as it is technically. thinnest and most precise flick. Whatever the position, I always begin by offering players and coaches one key point – that height is not the biggest factor in heading ability. So often is there a lazy assumption that the best way to master a team’s heading potential is via ‘the big lad’. The reality is, the art of heading – be that preventing goals or scoring them – isn’t actually about how tall a player is at all, and I’ll show why in this session.
SET-UP Area Up to a full pitch Equipment Balls, cones, goals Session time 60mins
28 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERclass www.elitesoccercoaching.net CRAIG BREWSTER PFCA MEMBER heads up
TECHNIQUE: Connection on the centre Defensive headers of the forehead Going up for the header The first lesson of heading technique begins with the arms. Whether nodding a chest-height ball down to an opponent or climbing for a tall header on goal above a packed defence, using the arms is essential. Eyes open Use of the arms means bringing them up, either for leverage (in the case of a tall header), or to balance the body (for something closer to Taut neck for power the ground). I don’t believe in having the arms in a regimented, set position. Rather, they should be loose and responsive to the different types of crosses Arms bent for that arrive. leverage through And of course, some of the best centre-backs don’t have to jump - the torso they know the flight of the ball and have the strength to hold off an opponent. That strength is concentrated into the elbows, which form a zone around the player. This is also what gives a player presence. Interestingly, a lot is made of players closing their eyes on connection, and if you look you’ll still see this in the professional game, but there is a reason for it. Very often, players are closing their eyes because they’re waiting for the impact of a defender, yet they’ve been firmly fixed on an arriving ball right up until the moment they head it. The best way to ensure eyes remain open is to coach the use of the arms as protection, as well as balance and leverage. That should give players more confidence to stay fixed on the ball even with the threat of an inrushing opponent around them. The ‘core’ I always emphasise to players and coaches the need to have a strong core. What I mean by this is the ability to drive strength up through the stomach. This is done by tensing the mid-section. If a player jumps without a strong, flexed core, he is allowing a lot of the energy generated by his legs to escape as he pushes up off the ground. The moment of impact The power with which the ball strikes the head is generated by the Strong neck muscles. This is done by tilting the neck back as the ball arrives, core lifting the chin slightly, Knees slightly bent to then arrowing the aid power being driven forehead forward with a through the body, ‘bang’, punching motion. and to ensure the ball strikes at exactly The best impact point will the right point on the always be found at the forehead centre of the forehead – this is where the head is smoothest, flattest and offers the ‘truest’ contact. And obviously, making the best contact means being able to return the ball with something close to the power it arrives at. So it is around this point that I remind people of my original point, that a player’s height isn’t the most important aspect – in fact it’s way down the list. Good heading ability is all about the core, leverage, the arms, and technique at the moment of impact, because that’s where real heading power Players going up for the header is generated. using their arms for leverage and positioning
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Key Ball movement Practices for Player movement Dribble defensive headers 1 Face-on headers (1) 5 We work in pairs with players five yards apart. We want The working player to see the feet planted on the ground and shoulder watches the flight of width apart. the ball then heads it back on the middle The server throws into the working player at head of the forehead height, who must focus on the ball, using a strong core to arch the neck back a maximum of three inches. Now the player must use his core to power through the ball and head it back. Arms are vital in terms of balance and the ball must hit firmly square on the forehead. The ‘throw and catch’ works for 10 repetitions, then we swap roles. 2
Side-on headers (2) 5 Now the working player turns 90 degrees with the The working player now turns 90 left foot in front. So standing side-on it’s the same degrees and returns movement in terms of strong core, a twist of the neck the ball by angling and a header back with the left side of the forehead, his head nothing against the side of the head. We then change to the opposite side – so again, 10 repetitions on each side, then swap roles. You’ll always find players have a strong side and a weak side. If a player finds one side unnatural, the only way to make it natural is to work on it again and again. 3 Jumping into headers (3) Now we practise by using a jumping position, with feet 5 The working player together. Again it’s 10 yards, straight on, then side on. must now jump to We want to see a full jump with lots of spring, with power return the header coming from the legs.
Headers off one foot(4) Finally, we will practise headers off one foot. Players will find that when they jump off one foot (their strong side), they can usually get a bit more height. This is why zonal marking can sometimes be of real benefit to attacking teams, with attackers running from deep to 4 gain height, power and leverage by going off one foot. With a running jump off one foot, the core and arm 5 Finally, the working movement is still essential, but now combined with the player jumps into the momentum of pushing off a strong leg. header off one foot
5 Box practice (5) We perform this drill using crosses sent into a penalty box. Now, the crosses are being kicked in not thrown. Although these are unopposed, we are chasing different angles on each cross so the challenge has progressed. Defenders must head the ball back to wherever it came from. Heading it squarely back like this ensures maximum return momentum. If they flick it or head it Balls are sent in from left to the side then it won’t go as far. Tactically, in a game, by and right start points with defenders tasked to head the time the ball has made it back to where it came from, the cross back to where it team mates should have squeezed out to close down came from using height and the threat. distance
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Trajectory of the ball TECHNIQUE: changed, not the direction Attacking Eyes open Neck and head headers moved back three inches Chin raised as For me – and I say this even as a former contact is made attacker – the key players when it comes Neck looser than to heading are your centre-backs, with defensive because they’ve got to protect that headers defensive area and the goal. Although it’s great when attackers are good at heading in the area, I count it as a bonus because strikers arguably have Steady core a bigger job to do when it comes to heading. Instead of just going up and heading away from danger, they need to consider a precise destination for where the ball should be headed to. Is it up, a knockdown for a supporting player, a flick with the side of the head to a wide man, a back-flick for somebody to run onto, or perhaps something else? Although there are a variety of moves, most are achieved by the same Bent knees technique, namely to draw the neck in and compress it into the shoulders. And whereas with defensive headers it was about getting the core and the neck rigid, now the core remains tight but the neck is loose and relaxed. The tightness is there still because the centre-forward has got to win the header, yet unless he’s going for a bullet header into the goal, he’s probably going to be knocking the ball down or bringing others into play, hence why he needs to be relaxed and accurate.
Despite a 13cm height disadvantage to the average basketball player, Ronaldo makes almost all of that shortfall up with his incredible jumping ability PROPULSION OFF THE GROUND Why is it that players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Tim Cahill can achieve incredible height and power with headers, yet some of the tallest players in soccer – such as Peter Crouch – cannot? The secret is in the way good headers of the ball propel themselves 244cm off the ground, almost always possessing the leg muscles to Goal achieve that aim. Ronaldo has worked for years at increasing power in his thighs and upper body. With a thigh circumference of 62cm, it’s little wonder the Real Madrid man can reach heights of 44cm in the air from a standing start, and 78cm with a run-up – that’s 7cm more than the average NBA player. So to jump high, the players need strong calf muscles, hamstrings, 263cm quads and glutes. When in the air, they must utilise strong stomach muscles in order for them to move back, shoulder and neck muscles. I would lay on heavy weights in short bursts to develop these muscles. Now compare this physical framework to someone like Peter 78cm Crouch. The Stoke City man is a brilliant footballer and technically 71cm excellent, but he has thin legs, and energy has so much more time Average NBA standing jump to be lost as it moves up through his body on the way to his head.
31 ELITE SOCCER: THE TECHNICAL MASTERclass www.elitesoccercoaching.net CRAIG BREWSTER PFCA MEMBER heads up Practices for attacking headers ‘Flicked’ headers 5 A flicked header lets the ball guide itself. We are not looking to change the angle necessarily, more give it a different trajectory on its way into 5 a danger area. The attacker must be subtle and The ball is thrown in to the controlled; at the moment of contact he is not attacker, who flicks it back using aggression. Sure, he’s got to be aggressive to the waiting team mate in terms of going up strongly, but it’s then about relaxing. The flick is usually done with the top of the head. If a player is tense, he will either miss the ball completely or gain too much purchase on it, meaning it flies up in the air. It’s like a striker in and around the goal – when he’s relaxed, he’ll most likely do well. At times, we see a goal happening before it’s a goal, and that’s the dangerous part; that’s when players lose so many chances because they see the goal – the attacker is excited 5 and tense, instead of approaching with a clear mind and performing the task comfortably. For the practice, we simply stand three players 5 in a line, five yards between each. The first player In the Cushioned Header throws to the second, who flicks a header back practice, the receiver moves into the arms of the player behind him. We around behind and to the side progress this by changing the distances between of the heading player players.
Cushioned headers What are the key technical elements to look out for? For a cushioned header, it’s more about touch Game than power, and this is where we ask attackers We want attacking and defending to be really sensitive in their approach. We are situation players to ensure they are looking for looking for a ‘late cut’ on the ball, enough just to Fully opposed game the flight of the ball, showing good timing and balance to get up. Use of allow it to change direction slightly, and it can only Setting up as shown, this is an arms must be prominent in helping be done on the side of the head. opposed crossing game - 11v11 on a with elevation and protecting their full pitch. It’s 8v8 in the middle, with To practice this, the set-up is the same as for the space, and once up, the neck must each team having a winger in the flicked headers, but the third man moves around either be powerful and purposeful, opposition’s attacking half, but these in an arc with the heading player having to direct or loose and subtle, depending on the are locked in channels. the ball to him using cushioned headers. Again type of header being executed. we can progress by altering distances between Simply, any attack must come via an The most common mistakes are players. attacking winger (on either flank), players jumping too early, misjudging with a high cross sent into the middle the flight, jumping off two feet when to be challenged. This is 10mins each Downward headers they might get a better spring with way, with the wingers encouraged For downward headers, the player will need to one, and poor balance. be over the ball. Like a defender, this is relying to mix between outswinging and on good use of the forehead, but the neck is tilted inswinging crosses, and from various strongly downwards. Still, there is a subtlety areas within the channel. to the play – the head is purely being used to kill the power in the ball and deflect it towards the ground, so that means going up strongly then relaxing as it’s sent down into the path of a team mate. Even when heading at goal, the header isn’t taken with the same venom and ferocity as a defensive clearing header, since the attacker must factor in accuracy, and that means lessening speed.
Key Ball movement Player movement Dribble
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