WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4
It is an exciting time of the year for young players when they all gather together again to catch up on what has been happening since the end of last season – and a chance to get back out on the pitch. Half your players’ minds will still be on the beach or perhaps some of your players are still on the beach having a late summer holiday. Getting the team back together can be a tricky business so you can make use of Soccer Coach Weekly’s Pre-season Guide to help you get the team ready for the first matches of the season .
Fortunately young players don’t require the same level of fitness building as older players (whose diets and generally less active lifestyles tend to catch up with them over the break) but there’s still lots of important work to do.
And the chances are you’re dealing with players moving up to a new format of the game this year, so while you worry about that, why not take some of the pressure off by following our 4-week pre-season plan.
And don’t worry there’s plenty of ball-work involved.
Here’s the first in our series of pre-season training sessions that will ensure your players are in the best possible shape for the season ahead.
Our plan helps you and your team shake off the cobwebs as we assemble a targeted, up-to-date schedule that’s as easy to coach as it is great fun to participate in.
The first session back after the summer break gives everyone the chance to link up, brush off the cobwebs and get back to soccer. But the second session is, in theory, where the hard work really begins.
So having eased yourself and your players back into the swing of things, now is really the time to extend thinking, develop ideas and deliver a programme that will see your team flourish.
Pre-season training is in full swing. You’ve recapped the basics of passing, possession and fitness, and there has been plenty of small-sided game-play thrown into the mix as well. But now you want to delve down into what your players are going to produce this coming season.
The start of the season is almost upon us, and over the last three weeks, you’ll have seen your players getting into the sort of physical and mental shape that is going to guide them through the long season ahead.
The final pre-season session is all about stepping up and brushing up. You’re looking for the final pieces of the jigsaw to fall into place with your players, as they put into practice everything they’ve learnt so far.
in Ball Control and Footwork, Email newsletters
It's the bit we all love to see over and over again. A great player gets nutmegged or left behind when the ball is swiftly moved from one foot to the other. Attacking excitement is built on this kind of play – but do you allow your players time to master the skill? MORE
in Defending, Email newsletters
Defending can be waiting game for teams that play a good attacking game and dominate the opposition. How do you keep them alert, organised and ready to drop back, recover and defend a counter attack or long ball over the top? MORE
in Email newsletters, Team Management
Just when I think I have seen it all another problem rears it’s ugly head on training night. I have worked with disruptive players every club I have coached at, from U7s right through to U18s but I got very frustrated this week with a new player who just wasn’t interested in training. MORE
It was the first matches of the season in youth leagues up and down the country in the UK this week and it has been interesting to see the different reactions from the coaches I know. Most have been excited but some have been back to the “same old thing” with players turning up late and not being ready to play a match. MORE
in Email newsletters, Goalkeeping
The start of the season always has coaches frantically trying to find a goalkeeper particularly in the younger age groups. And when you find one what do you do with them? MORE
in Email newsletters, Tips and advice
Communication on the pitch is very important for match day success and judging by the amount of correspondence I’ve had with other soccer coaches, it’s a topic which concerns a lot of you. MORE
