Technical Training: Building Up Exercises from Beginner to Advanced Level; Dutch & Spanish Method

The following session comes from Bobby Smyrniotis and was presented at the 2013 Soccer Champions Coaches' Clinic. Find out more about the Soccer Champions Coaches' Clinic.

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Technical Training - 2 Zone Exercise (1v1 Passive Pressure + Passing)

Organization:

1. Create two grids of 8m x 8m (each grid can have 5-6 max players participating)
2. Player from bottom dribbles with the right foot diagonal toward middle red cone, executes a move (inside cut, hook turn, outside cut, stall, chop, stepover, scissor, maradona, zidane) beating the passive pressure from the middle defender followed by a left footed pass to top of grip
3. Player from the top dribbles with left foot executing a move (as above) followed by a right footed pass to bottom of grid

Coaching Points: Focus on use of proper foot for dribbling (lots of touches) and passing (Pace)

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Technical Training - 3 Zone Exercise

Organization: 

1. This is an extension of the exercise above
2. Extend the grid above with an additional 8m x 8m
3. Phase 1 (players A - B - C -D from bottom of Grid to top) - "B" tags "C" to passively defend him as he checks to one side of the grid. "A" passes the ball to "B" who turns with the outside of the foot to the inside and passes to "D" who supports on the opposite side.
4. Phase 2 (return): "D" dribbles along the outside line to the opposite side executing (outside Cut or Cruyff) while receiving passive pressure from "C". "D" continues forward to beat "B" in 1v1 line dribble situation. "D" finished with a pass to the starting point and continues to the end of line.
5. Players rotate 1 place up the grid.

Coaching Points:

1. Players need to follow exact instruction regarding body positioning, support angles and any fakes or feints used
2. Part of the exercise is to initiate the players mind and make them responsible for situations (concentration)

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Technical/Tactical Training - 3 Zone Exercise

Organization (Same as above): 

1. We now introduce the concept of play using 1 support in 1v1 and 2v1 situations
2. Phase 1: "B" tags "C" and picks a side to support. "A" passes to "B" who plays the ball directly back on an angle with the inside foot. "A" then plays a long pass to "D"
3. Phase 2: "D" plays 1v1 live in the top grid with "C". After beating "C", Player "D" continues to the next grid to play 2v1 (D+A vs. B). Upon getting into the lower grid "D" finished with a pass to the starting point

Coaching Points:

1. In Passing players should offer proper angles of support
2. Player D should look to initiate 1v1 and 2v1 with pace

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Bonus Exercise: + or Circle Technical Exercise (youngest youth teams U6-U13)

Organization:

1. Create the (+) with one set of cones (8). Distance between the middle and outside is 8-10m. Create the circle if you need to keep kids in one organization - no coaching help
2. Two players go to each outer cone with one ball
3. Player 1 in each line dribbles to their inside cone and initiates a move (inside cut outside cut, hook turn, stall, crujff, stepover, scissor, etc.) to change direction. Half way back player makes the same move to turn and does it once more in the middle and picks up dribbling pace to the starting point to leave the ball with the partner.
4. On instruction from the coach the next set of players begin

Coaching Points:

1. Players must always change from one foot to the other each time they change direction
2. Give the players a specific amount of touches each direction in order to initiate the moves in proper timing

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Progression Notes

Technical Training - 3 Zone Exercise

Progressions:

1. Player "B" when turning receives the ball after separating from the defender
2. Change the move made at the top of the grid by player "D"
3. Player "D" immediately after receiving the ball plays 1v1 in upper grid followed by 1v1 in middle grid

With progressions be creative within an exercise always linking the situations to the real game.

Technical/Tactical Training - 3 Zone Exercise

Progressions:

1. Change style of longer passing (lofted)
2. Create a 2v1 line dribble situation in the lower grid

In this exercise players must make a variety of choices similar to the game. The exercise may be difficult first time around for players but once they understand the motions it is a great dynamic exercise encompassing, dribbling 1v1, passing+receiving, supporting and defending!

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Additional Notes

Of most importance when instructing technical aspects of the game is to remain disciplined in what you are asking as a coach in an organized exercise. Attention to detail including proper body positioning, dribbling technique (laces) and making moves in game type situations.

With technical training make sure to always keep it Dynamic, keep the young players working (active) make it fun and from time to time break up the routine with other simple exercises which can be done in the same organization (ex. with exercise above players can play soccer tennis or heading games)

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Related:

Download PDF of this session

Soccer Champions Coaches' Clinic Website

Tactical Thoughts on the Development of the New 4 v 4, 7 v 7 and 9 v 9 Game Sizes