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55 UK Academy Small-sided Games
Academies use these training exercises on a daily basis with their players.more
When you follow the games in 55 UK Academy Small-Sided Games in sequence, your players will have all the materials that modern-day academies offer to their youngsters. Academies use these training exercises on a daily basis with their players.
If you are working with players aged 12 and above, who have reached a proficient level technically and physically, now you must focus on improving their team tactical development and individual match awareness – this manual can help.
The games are in four categories:
1) Playing out of defence,
2) Building through midfield,
3) Final 3rd – creating chances to score, and
4) Defending
Focusing specifically on 11v11 football and tactical development, these small-sided games prepare players for the challenges of the real game.
The can help develop key areas of team play. Each one is realistic and easy to follow, with the players learning through playing rather than a coach’s instruction.
The 55 games:
Playing Out of Defence
1. Defensive diamond, 2. 2nd line, 3. Find the number 6, 4. Man to man, 5. Full back introduction, 6. Full back outlet, 7. Attacking full backs, 8. Three-zone build-up, 9. Play out v high press, 10. Zombie build-up
Building Through Midfield
11. The horse shoe, 12. Find the number 10, 13. Find the attacking midfielders, 14. Through the midfielders, 15. Quick play in midfield, 16. Extra midfielders, 17. Diamond midfield, 18. Rotating the defence, 19. Midfield rotation, 20. Xavi and Iniesta possession, 21. Pirlo the playmaker, 22. Central overload, 23. Running off the ball, 24. Dribble or pass forward, 25. Forward runs, forward passes, 26. Zig zag through the pitch, 27. Quick passing square, 28. Play through traffic
Final 3rd – Creating Chances to Score
29. Inverted wingers, 30. Line break runs, 31. Line breaking passes, 32. The Iniesta zone (between lines), 33. Between lines / behind to space, 34. Central v wide attack, 35. Play forward or switch play, 36. 1v1 domination, 37. Play off your forward, 38. Composed finishing, 39. Two-touch / all in
Defending
40. High press, 41. Low press, 42. Controlling the opponent, 43. Defensive slide, 44. Defend and counter, 45. Keep play in front, 46. Keep play to one side, 47. Lock in, 48. Press and pass, 49. Press and 1v1, 50. Midfield 3v3, 51. Dealing with direct play, 52. Recover team shape, 53. High-pressing defence, 54. Possession v counter attack, 55. Defend the cross, attack the cross
Additional information
Author
Michael Beale
About the Author
Michael Beale is a world renowned coach and author of the best-selling 64 Small-Sided Soccer Games coaching manual.
A former player at Charlton, Michael moved into coaching with the Chelsea academy at Cobham and established himself as one of the best youth developers in the game. During this time, Michael authored a number of hugely successful coaching manuals including 64 Small-Sided Soccer Games, Soccer Attack!, Perfect Defending and The Ultimate Soccer Warm-Ups Manual (all published by Soccer Coach Weekly and available here).
Having worked under and learnt from a number of high-profile Chelsea managers during a decade at Cobham, Michael made the move to Liverpool in 2012 where he coached the U23 team from 2012 to 2016. In 2017 he moved to Sao Paolo and took the role of assistant manager but returned to Liverpool 6 months later. After a year as academy manager at Liverpool Michael moved to Rangers and became first team coach working under Steven Gerrard.
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