Dave Clarke is head coach and editor of Soccer Coach Weekly, providing thousands of subscribers worldwide with drills, insight and advice covering all aspects of coaching.
Try using this training game to encourage your team to build up patiently until an opportunity for a lightning fast attack presents itself. Players learn to work the ball from the back four to the front players. MORE
in Crossing, Email newsletters, Set pieces
My team has scored goals from lots of different areas this month but the main source of goals has been by passing the ball wide or switching play so the ball is coming from the wings, but they also score from corners and free-kicks. MORE
Moments of transition and how players react to them are vital to having a successful team. Former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho thinks reactions to transitions are the most important part of the game. He coached his teams to react quickly to winning and losing the ball which led to them dominating games MORE
in Blog, Team Management, Tips and advice
A massive change in the weather during the last month made me think of that old Boy Scout saying: be prepared! MORE
Passing sequences are fun ways to get your team used to linking play and using the ball with good direction and weight. MORE
in Email newsletters, Formations
The 4-3-3 is a great system to study if you are looking for a system of play for your team. No matter the age or the numbers of players involved the principles are the same. Good width, good support play, and fantastic attacking moves. MORE
in Attacking
The objective of this game is to practise attacking and defending skills in a variety of different situations – for instance, 2v1s, 3v2s, 4v1s, and so on. MORE
In this session lose possession and the team faces a 4v1 attack – keep the ball though and they have a 7 v 4 in their favour. MORE
in Email newsletters, Shooting
My Under 9s team won a match that when you look at the result it seemed like a big win but that didn’t tell the story of the game. Both teams played well and had some great combination play but my team had an end product which unfortunately the visitors didn’t. MORE
in Blog, Tips and advice
One of the first things we must do as coaches is to make sure the environment we work in allows young players to be creative and not to worry about making mistakes if they try to do something different. MORE
in Attacking, Small Sided Games
This session is designed to help coaches look at the decision-making of the players. Can they take on the defender 1v1? Or is the right decision to keep possession by passing to a team-mate? MORE
in Blog, Psychology
It’s a big question. But one that I am often asked “what do I do when he/she wont play or hides on the pitch?” MORE
in Attacking, Email newsletters
It brought it home to me last Saturday when one of my Under 9s had played a fantastic match creating three goals and generally running the game... "but I didn't score!" he said with a face fighting back the tears. Kids don't appreciate the importance of an assist. MORE
Clever passing game with overloads and lots of chances to score points. Vital for players to create and use space in this tight area. Helps players to look around and see where the best pass it to make use of the overloads and floating player. MORE
in Ball Control and Footwork, Passing
Fast passing games help teams to keep the ball when they play in matches. This unopposed game helps develop first touch, movement and accuracy. Great session to get teams passing the ball with speed. MORE
in Ball Control and Footwork, Email newsletters, Soccer dribbling drills
Dribbling is the key to unlocking an opponents defence creating space to score goals either by crossing to a team mate or shooting themselves. Beating a man with a quick drop of the shoulder or with tight control is fantastic to watch not only with the top players but also with your own players – but the skill takes practice. MORE
in Psychology, Team Management
I was in China last week and one thing I noticed was that everyone was on their mobile phone! It made me realize that sports clubs are one of the few remaining areas where kids get face to face contact and interaction with each other. MORE
in Attacking, Small Sided Games
Megan Rapinoe was rewarded at the FIFA Best awards for leading the United States to the women's World Cup title in July. MORE
in Email newsletters, Warm Ups
Warm ups or arrival activities are the best way to get fuzzy minds focused on the game ahead. Afterall you don't want to be 3-0 down after 10 minutes before they wake up and react to the fact they are playing a game. MORE
One of the great sights in soccer is watching a Brazilian centre-back storm out of defence into the opposition half with midfielders and attackers fanning out in front of them, creating chaos in the opposition defence. This session will get young players doing the same. MORE
This session gets young fullbacks to recognise opportunities to advance down the wing and cross the ball into the attackers, adding numbers and pressure in the final third of the pitch. MORE
in Email newsletters, Formations
What kind of shape does your team have on match day? Getting players to fit a formation can be a tricky business especially at the younger age groups, it's all about getting the players to understand how the formation works and their role in it. MORE
in Attacking, Small Sided Games
Lionel Messi is The Best again. Barcelona and Argentina's maestro pipped Virgil van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo to win FIFA's player of the year award for a record sixth time. MORE
in Blog, Tips and advice
I had a very interesting chat with a group of coaches last week, discussing risk taking in the final third of the pitch and how to get young players to try different skills, taking risks that can open up defences. MORE
