It is important to coach supporting attacking players and wide players to make runs into the penalty area when teams are on the attack that defenders miss leaving them free to receive and score goals.
This is often down to the individual timing of the run and the direction and pattern of the run. These include runs like faking movement one way then sprinting into spaces that defenders have left open.
There are runs that are much slower where players are drifting away from the defenders and often runs that do not work so players are tracking back to make the run again. In the youth game late runs are one of the most successful because the defenders have already picked up a player to mark and don’t react to the movement from the late run.
Runs can also trigger other runs where space is created by the initial run that drags defenders away from attacking areas. Decoy and dummy runs are often created when the player on the ball ignores the movement and goes on his/her own because the defenders are all occupied.
Get your players making runs into the box that catch out defences and create lots of chances to score goals.You can use a session like Time your runs to coach strikers to burst into the penalty area with well-timed runs to latch onto killer passes that split defences and leave strikers 1v1 with the goalkeeper giving them a great chance to score a goal.
My other favourite session to get players to time their runs into the penalty area with quick thinking and movement to create space is Running late which is a great game for strikers concentrating and getting an advantage in the most dangerous part of the pitch.
Use this fun training game to ensure your players are both quick-thinking and quick into the box for a shooting chance. Players must think quickly so they can be first to the ball and shoot. It's a great game for concentration, balance and movement. MORE
Use this lively attacking session to coach your strikers to burst into the penalty area with well-timed runs to latch onto killer passes that split defences and leave your striker 1v1 with the goalkeeper. MORE
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
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
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
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