These are five of my go to sessions when I want to coach shooting or to give my players a good workout using both feet to put the ball in the net… it’s also the thing they love to do at training better than anything.
Accuracy is more important than power. If your players are not getting shots on target, they will not score. Great fun for the players trying to knock the balls off cones – you may need a helper to gather balls with this one!
This session gives players the confidence to shoot from outside the penalty area when the opportunity arises. Often young players will want to get closer to goal before they take a shot but that gives defenders time to get across and cover.
Sometimes players get a quick opportunity to score a goal when the ball is passed to them and a one touch shot can be the ideal way to catch a keeper off guard.
Even at the top level, strikers can often be seen wasting presentable chances because they lack the confidence to shoot with their weaker foot. If practised enough times your players will start to have more confidence on their weaker foot.
This drill will teach your players to attack the ball when trying to connect with a cross into the area. Often a shot from the cross will come back off the keeper or a defender and players must be ready to score from the rebound.
in Defending, Email newsletters
Defending against overloads can happen whether your team is in an organised or disorganised state. You can plan defending when organised much easier than when you are defending disorganised. MORE
in Ball Control and Footwork, Email newsletters
I was talking to a coach this week about how to control balls in the air, especially when heading the ball in training is off the menu for most clubs. I imagine that there will be much more of a contest to win the ball with a volley once it has dropped from head height. So how do you coach controlling balls in the air? MORE
This week I have been reunited with parents and players from my teams because the club I coach at has used the Easter school holidays to give back to the players what they have been missing for the last four months. So this week I have been coaching full days – around 7 hours – in three sessions. I've coached U9s, U10s and U13s boys and U11 girls. I really enjoy it but it does come with some very obvious problems. MORE
in Email newsletters, Return to play
Now we are back playing matches and training after nearly four months of lockdown I can certainly notice the difference in my players. It isn't like when they come back from summer holidays because that is usually just down to a bit of fitness and rusty match play. So how can you relight their fire? MORE
in Defending, Email newsletters
A high pressing game gives teams a huge advantage when they win the ball back because you are close to your opponents goal. Lose the ball, win it back in 6 seconds is a rule that I use in training sessions. But how does that work? MORE
Player trials are likely to be one of the most stressful events facing young players after they have been missing games due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Even the most confident players will get stressed out when they have to put their talents on show to a new group of coaches and players. And now without the help of a full season behind them they will feel a lot more exposed than normal. MORE
