Here is a drill to help players understand the importance of playing together.
In the video below Schellas Hyndman, current Men’s Soccer Head Coach at Grand Canyon University, leads the Introduction and Basic Understanding drill as part of his Exercises to Train the Striker demonstration. Coach Hyndman, who has over 30 years of coaching experience, has excelled at both the collegiate (Eastern Illinois, SMU) and professional (FC Dallas) levels.
This drill is set up with six players on the field that are around 15 yards apart in lines of three. There are training poles set up by each player, which simulates a player or defender on the field. The first player on the end starts the drill by passing the ball to the second player, who is checking away and then back to receive the ball. The second player passes or drops the ball back to the first player, who then connects a pass to the other middle player on the opposite side. This player connects a pass to the second player who has made a run into space. The ball is then played to the third player who takes a touch and plays a pass to the fourth player on the other side. The fourth player starts the same pattern by passing a ball into the fifth player and then connecting the give and go combination play. Once this is complete and the ball gets back to sixth player, they pass to the first player and the drill starts over again.
Coach Hyndman discusses a few key points with the players which includes the middle players checking away and then back to receive the ball. This movement gets players use to moving and not standing still to receive the ball. Also, the combination play in the drill helps players understand the importance of playing together as a team. If these players are forwards or midfielders during a game, they must work together in order to be successful.
This clip is just a sample from Coach Hyndman’s presentation at a recent Glazzier Soccer Clinic. For information about how to gain access to his complete presentation, as well as hundreds of other clinic presentations, click the link Glazier Soccer Clinics
The YouTube video below has audio, so please make sure that your speakers are turned on and that you have access to the site. Note that some schools block access to YouTube.