Tony Carr is one of the most influential figures in English football. The former West Ham Academy director has brought through – from the youth team to the first team – players like Glen Johnson, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole and Jermain Defoe.
The goal doesn’t move, so when your forwards receive the ball with their backs to goal they should know where to shoot without aiming. MORE
Being able to keep control of the ball while changing direction when dribbling is an important skill that players must use in matches, especially when trying to beat or avoid a defender. MORE
This session is designed to improve 1v1 duels in the midfield. The players are forced to continually attack and defend 1v1 in order to get a chance to attack and score a goal. MORE
Forwards must always be “alive” and ready to react should a defender fail to clear the ball, miss-control, play a poor pass or not react to a rebound off the goalkeeper. Use this session to keep your forwards alert and they will steal goals for your team. MORE
in Goalkeeping, Practice plans
Goalkeepers have to be alert even if they don’t have a lot to do in some games. Any attack on their goal can be prevented by early action such as interrupting long balls to sweep away danger. MORE
in Goalkeeping, Practice plans
It may only be for a split second, but having a good “ready” position will give a goalkeeper a good platform from which to make a save. Such preparation can be the difference between winning and losing a match. MORE
Good passing and movement will generate instances of 4 v 2 overload. Take these chances when they arise and you’ll win the game. This session shows your players how to maximize the opportunity. MORE
in Practice plans, Soccer dribbling drills
This session will test whether your players have the skills to take on and beat defenders, and then go on to score goals. If they haven’t, use this practice plan and they will soon have the technique. MORE
in Goalkeeping, Practice plans
Improving your goalkeeper’s reaction speed to different attacking situations such as rebounds and the fast, unexpected shot could stop your team leaking goals. MORE
Teams are at their most vulnerable when they lose the ball in the attacking third. This session will help your team to capitalise on these opportunities by making a quick fire counter strike when they win possession and the opposition’s defence is vulnerable. MORE
Defending in a 1v1 is tough – use this drill to improve your players’ ability to come out on top in such situations. MORE
If you can improve your team’s ability to quickly switch play from one side of the pitch to the other, the attacking options are far greater. MORE
When the ball’s between knee and waist height the side-on volley is a very effective technique for getting a strike in at goal. MORE
In professional soccer almost 50% of goals are scored from set pieces (corners and free kicks). So organisation and efficiency in set-piece attacking and defending is crucial to the success of your team. This session focuses on corners. MORE
in Ball Control and Footwork, Practice plans
In the previous Smart Sessions Core Skills, we looked at long passing. Today, we show you how to teach your players how to bring those long passes under control. MORE
in Goalkeeping, Practice plans
A keeper needs a variety of techniques to cope with those times when they can’t catch the ball. Palming the ball over the bar is one of those techniques, and is ideal for high crosses that could potentially drop behind the keeper and into the net. MORE
This session will improve your team’s ability to play the ball out of defence. It develops technique and understanding through unopposed, opposed and small-sided games. MORE
in Goalkeeping, Practice plans
Any shot that is traveling towards a goalkeeper’s legs at pace is difficult to deal with. Young goalkeepers in particular have problems with these and often opt for kicking the ball away, or end up with the ball hitting, or even worse, going through their legs into the goal. MORE
in Goalkeeping, Practice plans
When a cross arrives between the six-yard box and penalty spot, the goalkeeper can catch the ball or leave it to his defenders. This session will improve your goalkeeper’s confidence and decision making in the crucial “second six yards”. MORE
Sharpen up your players’ finishing abilities in and around the penalty area with this hot-shot session. MORE
This session aims to improve the attitude to shooting from outside the box. MORE
in Goalkeeping, Practice plans
This week’s session is designed to improve your goalkeeper’s ability to pass and receive the ball and make him more confident while in possession. MORE
Fine-tune your players’ general passing and receiving and passing. skills with this trio of drills that all take place inside a circle. Increasing the speed of each activity will improve players’ skill level. MORE
in Ball Control and Footwork, Practice plans
Players should be comfortable at dealing with balls at whatever height they arrive – and that means being able to control a ball that’s too high to control with feet or thighs or too low to head. MORE
