Drills Archives - Page 20 of 38

Ball Handling Drills for the Goalkeeper

Don’ t neglect the goalkeepers. They need training too. In this post Houston Dynamo, GoalKeeper Coach demonstrates three drills for you to use to train your goalkeepers.

In the clip below Coach Rogers, , leads several drills during his Goalkeeping – Training a Pro demonstration. Coach Rogers is very experienced and has been a goalkeeper coach in the past for the United States Women’s National Team. These drills are designed for professional players, but could be used by high school or any age group of goalkeepers.
Coach Rogers discusses and demonstrates four drills for goalkeepers that can be used during a practice session or a pre-game warm up. There are four players used for these drills, but this could be adjusted as needed based on your numbers.
The four drills that are demonstrated are listed below:

Ball Handling

The goalkeeper working is on one side with three other players directly across and a few yards away. Two of these three players have soccer balls in their hands ready to toss to the goalkeeper working. The objective is for one player to toss a ball at the face on the goalkeeper, who catches the ball with two hands and tosses it to the player without a ball. The second player repeats with the goalkeeper again catching and tossing to the open player. The focus should be on the goalkeeper catching the ball with good hand shape out in front, while having good balance on his or her feet.

Passing

The soccer balls are now on the ground and passed from the feet. Once the goalkeeper receives the pass, they trap it and then pass back to the player without a ball. This continues with the goalkeeper focusing on playing two touch and accurately receiving, trapping, and passing the ball.
One Hand Toss
The goalkeeper is now only allowed to catch the ball with one hand and then must use the same hand and motion to toss the ball back to the open player. The purpose of this drill is for the goalkeeper to practice on getting a good touch and feel for the ball. The more comfortable a goalkeeper is handling a ball, the better off they will be when making a save during a game.

Bounce & Volley

The soccer balls are now tossed to the goalkeeper so they bounce towards the feet. The goalkeeper has one touch and must use a side of the foot volley to kick the ball back to the open player. This helps a goalkeeper get reps using their feet and having to adjust to the bounce of the ball. It’s important for all goalkeepers to practice with their feet since there are times where they will have to pass during a game.

The clip below is just a portion of Coach Rodgers’ presentation at a Glazier Soccer Clinic. You would like more information about how to gain access to his entire presentation, as well as hundreds of other great clinic presentations, click the link Glazier Soccer Clinics

The YouTube video below has audio, so please make sure that your volume is turned up and that you have access to the site. Note that some schools block access to YouTube.

Goal Keeper Agility Drills

Don’t forget the goal keepers. Your goal keepers are critical components of your team and their training can sometimes get overlooked. Here is a simple agility drill that will help train your goal keepers.

In the clip below Michael Cracas, Hiram University Head Women’s Soccer Coach;
owner of Quick Hands Goalkeeper Training, LLC., USSF National “D” License, NSCAA State (Level 1) & Regional (Level 2) Goalkeeper Diploma, demonstrates a simple agility drill that will also teach goal keepers to come forward and keep their hands in front of their bodies.

The drill set-up is as follows. Place four cones in the corners of a rectangle that is approximately 8 yds x 4yds. Place a short segment of an agility ladder on the front line of the rectangle about 1 yard from the corner. The goal keeper will begin at the agility ladder. In this video Coach Cracas is requiring the athlete to execute the “Icky Shuffle” through the ladder. You could, of course, require the athlete to execute any number of footwork patterns through the ladder. When the athlete reaches the end of the ladder he/she will turn and face forward. A coach or player will serve the ball on the ground at the cone or slightly past. The goal keeper will get their hands in front of them and take a power step forward, shoot their hands and execute either a collapse dive or extend dive depending on how wide the ball is served.

Next the athlete will backpedal to the back of the box and then shuffle along the back line. When he/she reaches the far cone they will come forward. As the approach the front cone the will come to aquick stop with their hands in front. At this point another ball will be served along the ground, and the athlete will have to make a collapse dive or extend dive to stop the ball.

There are multiple ways to vary this drill, use your imagination and modify or expand on it to meet your needs.

This drill is from Coach Cracas’ training DVD. For more information about the DVD, click the link Developing Goalkeepers: Taking Your Game to the Next Level

The YouTube video below has audio, so please make sure your sound is turned on and that you have access to the site. Note some schools block access to YouTube.

Double Box Dribbling and Passing Drill

Looking for a different drill to use at the beginning of your training sessions? Here is a simple dribbling and passing drill that is easily adaptable and can involve many players at once.

The clip below is courtesy of World Class Coaching, a great resource for coaches. In the video Coach Tom Mura illustrates a warm-up drill that he calls Double Box. This is a simple, easy to teach drill that can be altered to meet your team’s needs.

To start the drill use cones to mark a large square with the cones placed 20 yards apart. In the center of the large square, mark a second square with cones that are placed five yards apart. Position a line of players (3 to 4 players) at each corner of the large square.

To begin the drill Coach Mura has his players simply dribble into the cone and the return to their line. He then progresses to dribbling into the cone, making a move and then dribbling to the line to their right. Next, he asks them to make a move and then dribble to the left. This is a point in the drill where you can add some variety. You may either let the players be creative with their moves are you might want to dictate the moves they make.

In the next progression of the drill, players are asked to dribble straight through the box to the line opposite them. This requires them to negotiate traffic in the center box. He then askes them to dribble into the box and then make a move and dribble either to the left or right.

Not shown in this video, however, the next progression would include adding a player at the corners of the small box and introducing a pass to the drill. The combinations here are limited only by your imagination. Add moves, return passes or whatever you want to complete this versatile warm-up drill.

World Class Coaching offers a wide variety of resources for coaches, but I just want to point out a free resource for you. Click this link 50 Free Coaching Drills and receive a free coaching eBook.

The YouTube video below has audio, so please make sure that your sound is turned on and that you have access to the site. Note that some schools block access to YouTube

Here is the link to the World Class Coaching Free eBook that includes 50 drills.

Yes, Play Favorites

This article was provided by Changing the Game Project

Most coaches are accused of playing “favorites”. The truth is most of us do play our favorite players. Here is a list of 6 qualities that will make a players the coaches “favorite.”

By James Leath (@jamesleath))

“I am sick and tired of coaches playing favorites” a parent once told me at a speaking event. “A coach should be completely impartial. It teaches the wrong message when he or she only plays favorites. Am I right?”

I smiled, took a breath and responded, “I actually think all coaches play their favorites, at least at the youth levels. And honestly, I think they should play their favorites…as long as those players possess specific characteristics that makes them favorable in the coach’s eyes.”

I could tell she was not convinced and was about to explode again, so I quickly explained myself.

“I am not talking about favorites when it comes to silly politics, daddy ball, parents buddying up to a coach, or even a player’s athletic talent. You are right about that kind of favoritism that it has no place in youth sports. But as a coach, I certainly have my favorites, or those that I want to make sure get a lot of playing time. Again, at the youth level, this has less to do with athletic ability than more important intangibles. I am talking about the kids on my team that are a joy to coach because they exhibit certain traits. When it comes to those characteristics, yes, I do play my favorites.”

Here is the reality. I am a youth coach. I believe, at the youth level, it is very important everyone on the team can do things to get playing time. But remember, this is not the NBA, NFL, MLB, or any other professional organization, and I do not have to play my best players in order to win so I can keep my job. Winning is not the point, but wanting to win is.

A huge psychological benefit of coaching youth sports is there is less pressure to win, and as a coach I can focus on player development without worrying about getting fired. Ask the average youth athlete why they play sports and I bet they would say because it’s fun. Maybe they will say because they get to hang out with friends. Maybe they like the coach. Rarely will they say it’s only because they like to win.

If I have a win-less season as a 5th grade football coach and every athlete wants to play again the next year, was I successful? That actually happened to me. In 2013, we lost every game; we essentially went defeated. Every game, the coaching staff made sure every player played before the first half was finished. Every Monday the whole team showed up ready for another week. At the end of the year party, I was brought to tears. I asked the team to raise their hand if they planned on playing the next year. Every single athlete raised his or her hand.

I just happened to run into one of those athletes a few months ago at his lacrosse game. (I am not coaching, but I was driving by, heard a whistle, and I cannot resist). You know what we didn’t talk about? Losing every game. I asked him what he remembered about the season and he said, “It was a lot of fun, and you let us play tag at the end of practice.” He thought it was fun. He played a lot and yes, he was one of my favorites. Keep in mind we lost every, single, game.

At the beginning of every season I hold a parent meeting where I present my goals for that season. They include character development, skill development, tons of encouragement to take chances and lots of high-fives. Notice: winning is not on that list. It doesn’t need to be. When you keep things simple and kids are learning and improving every week, winning is a by-product. Two years before that season, we won every game, including the championship. For both seasons, I used the same playbook. That playbook is still being used successfully today by some coaches I have given it to. And let’s not fool ourselves; the scoreboard at a youth game is for the parents and the coaches, less so the athletes.

So yes, I play my favorites.

Here are six things that will make a youth athlete one of my favorites:

Punctual: I look for athletes that show up early, stay late, and do the extra work not because they have to, but because they love to! I hate wondering whether a player is going to show up that day, or if he/she is going to stroll in late and I am going to have to teach them all over again. Now I get it; if a kid is late to youth practice, it’s not his or her fault. Being a parent is tough and getting all their kids to practice on time is just not always possible. I’ll never punish a kid for being late to youth practice, as long as when they come in they jump right into the drills and get to work. However, if a high school kid is late to practice, it’s the athlete’s fault and that athlete will be held accountable. If your child wants to fall in the category of one of my favorites, I am happy to work with them before and/or after practice for a bit…or even better, help you with some things you can do to help your child improve.

Committed: I appreciate when an athlete is trying to juggle two sports, but this should not be an every week occurrence. When a player shows up to practice, I expect them to be ready to practice, not exhausted because they just got done with another practice. When you commit to a team for a season, see it through. I do not believe a young athlete should specialize, a subject I have written about before here and here. Our articles on sport specialization, such as “Is it Wise to Specialize?” are some of our most read. But I do believe that players who commit to one sport per season get the most out of that season, are less likely to get injured, and more likely to improve. If an athlete shows up everyday, works their tail off, and shows their commitment to the team and to getting better, it is very likely they will play a lot.

Adaptable: The game is on Saturday and I get a call Friday night saying that your kid got in trouble at school and they won’t be at the game the next day. Coaches, sound familiar? Now I need someone to play a position your child may have never played before. Being adaptable is an indispensable attribute for an athlete. It drives me crazy when parents and young athletes tell me that is not their position when I ask them to go in and try something new. As long as they are not in danger, then why not? They need to go out there and give it their best shot. If they really want to play at the high school or college level, they need to be adaptable and be unafraid to try new things.

Aggressive: As a coach I do whatever I can to keep game time assignments simple. I tell an athlete, “This is your position, and these are your two options. ( I try to keep it at no more than two options). Pick one and go all out. If you pick the wrong one, it’s okay, just go all out.” I love athletes who are not afraid to fail. Athletes who are not afraid to fail are free to take chances and be aggressive with their performance. I love athletes who seek out challenging situations and embrace failure as a necessary part of learning.

Growth Mindset: This Ted Talk by Carol Dweck talks about how what someone believes about their ability to learn actually affects their ability to learn! She contrasts a growth mindset with a “fixed mindset” and proves that anyone can learn something new if only they believe they can, and then work smart about it. Growth mindset athletes focus on the process of getting better, seek input and appreciate feedback. If an athlete goes to go to pieces every time they are coached or taught something, they will struggle to play as much as others who say “I can’t do that…yet!”

Confident: Confidence is something that builds over time. If my team is in week-three of basketball practice and my athlete is still afraid to shoot the ball, then we have a problem and we need to fix it. It’s okay, it’s youth sports and it will take time to build confidence. However, if the athlete is afraid to shoot the ball because her parents will be disappointed that she missed, then I have a problem with the parent and that is a whole other issue. Don’t mind me, I’ll be on the sideline ecstatic that she shot the ball regardless of the result. You know what that does? It shows her it’s okay to shoot and she will most likely shoot again. She is bound to make it eventually.

So yes, I do play my favorites. When I make the lineup, I favor the athletes who are confident, growth mindset individuals. I love players who are aggressive, adaptable, and committed to the cause–the ones that show up on time and ready to play.

Every one of these characteristics are qualities that have nothing to do with talent and are 100% within an athlete’s control.

Yes, that is right, every athlete has the opportunity to be one of my favorites.

Every athlete has the opportunity to embrace the attributes all coaches look for in an athlete.

Parents, do your young athletes a favor: teach them to have these six attributes by modeling them yourself, because kids may not always listen, but they rarely fail to imitate.

And coaches, let your athletes know that every one of them has the ability to become a favorite of the coach. It has little to do with how fast they run and how high they jump, and everything to do with the six intangibles that make them a great teammate.

(This article was written by James Leath (@jamesleath), and originally appeared on his blog. James is the Head of Leadership at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, and is also a member of the Changing the Game Project speaking team. Sign up for his weekly Coach Note here and visit his website at www.JamesLeath.com.)

Changing the Game Project was founded John O’Sullivan. Coach O’Sullivan is a former college and professional player as well as a high school, club team and college coach. He is offering a FREE video series that is part of his Coaching Mastery program. For more information about gaining access to that program click the link above or in the image below. The video series includes a wealth of coaching education including some motivational and team building ideas used by some of the most successful coaches.

Attacking 4 v2

This post contains a drill that will help to train your players to attack when they have the advantage. This 4v2, 4v3 drill will get teach your players to play direct, limit touches and get proper spacing.

Tony Massie, a Celtic Soccer Academy coach, leads a 4 v 2, 3, 4 drill as part of his Attacking in Congested Areas demonstration at a recent Glazier Soccer Clinic. Coach Massie is an experienced coach in youth and academy soccer with his current role as the International Soccer Academy Manager for Celtic Football Club.

This drill is set up with four offensive players on one end of the grid and two defensive players on the other end. The two defensive players pass a ball out to the offensive players, which starts the 4 v 2. The four players on offense are trying to attack the space behind the defenders by a pass or on the dribble. The two players on defense are trying to win the ball back by stealing or deflecting it. This continues with players switching and rotating until a third defender is added to play 4 v 3. The offensive players are now attacking towards a goal and the defensive players are trying to win the ball to counter attack three small goals set up at the end of the grid.

Coach Massie discusses several important points to focus on during this drill:

1. Play Direct

When your team has a numbers advantage attacking towards goal, you don’t want to be patient and pass the ball around playing possession. The players need to be very direct in dribbling and passing towards the goal to get a shot and try to score.

2. Limit Touches

The only time an offensive player should be taking more than one or two touches attacking towards goal is if they are trying to beat a defender on the dribble. The ball needs to be moving quickly to find the open player and best shot.

3. Spacing

If attacking players don’t spread out and have proper spacing when going towards goal, they are giving away their advantage. Depth and width are two important things to focus on and make it more difficult for the defenders.

This drill is just part of Coach Massie’s presentation. If you are interested in gaining access to his entire presentation, as well as hundreds of other great clinic presentations, click the link Glazier Soccer Clinics.

The YouTube video below has audio, so please make sure that your sound is turned on and that you have access to the site. Note some schools block access to YouTube.