I don’t know about your team, but I can imagine that like mine yours is involved in many games where the score is tight. Standing on the touchline you can feel the pressure on the players who are desperate to hold on to a lead.
These are the sessions I use with my players to give them the tactics and the confidence to keep the game in their favour:
One of the best ways to do this is to create a scenario that your players have to act out. This one is my favourite… Your team is 1-0 up but your opponents have a two-man advantage. One nil up two men down is a game to teach each team the importance of setting out the tactics to hold on to a lead – give your players ownership of the game and watch them work out their own tactics.
Tactics are a vital part of game management whether you are hanging onto a lead or need to score because you are losing. Half time is usually a great moment to get across your thoughts and to give the team the confidence to hang onto a lead, read my advice on How half time tactics can make all the difference.
Taking control of the game means making sure all your players are committed for the full match and don’t take their foot off the gas. They need to be first to every ball. Win the ball is a great session to get them focused and gives them the confidence to see the game out.
For the older age groups you also need to get them focused on winning balls in the air when the opposition are desperate to score a goal and will try any means possible to break your team’s resolve. Win the first header is a fantastic way to get players to make sure they are not sitting back and inviting their opponents to come at them. You want them to Win the first header and take control of the game.
This game is all about winning the first header and directing it to your team-mate. If your players can get control of the ball in the air then it makes it easier to repel opponents and start an attack. MORE
This session is all about staying calm when under attack and reading the through ball. As this game progresses good tackling is needed as the danger changes. MORE
Your team is 1-0 up but your opponents have a two-man advantage. A game to teach each team the importance of setting out the tactics to hold on to a lead. MORE
It’s a tough call. The half-time whistle sounds and you’re leading 1-0. You need those three points. The dilemma confronting you is do you try to keep things tight and hold onto your lead, or do you press on for more goals and a convincing win? MORE
My team has scored goals from lots of different areas this month but the main source of goals has been by passing the ball wide or switching play so the ball is coming from the wings, but they also score from corners and free-kicks. MORE
Moments of transition and how players react to them are vital to having a successful team. Former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho thinks reactions to transitions are the most important part of the game. He coached his teams to react quickly to winning and losing the ball which led to them dominating games MORE
The 4-3-3 is a great system to study if you are looking for a system of play for your team. No matter the age or the numbers of players involved the principles are the same. Good width, good support play, and fantastic attacking moves. MORE
My Under 9s team won a match that when you look at the result it seemed like a big win but that didn’t tell the story of the game. Both teams played well and had some great combination play but my team had an end product which unfortunately the visitors didn’t. MORE
It brought it home to me last Saturday when one of my Under 9s had played a fantastic match creating three goals and generally running the game... "but I didn't score!" he said with a face fighting back the tears. Kids don't appreciate the importance of an assist. MORE
Dribbling is the key to unlocking an opponents defence creating space to score goals either by crossing to a team mate or shooting themselves. Beating a man with a quick drop of the shoulder or with tight control is fantastic to watch not only with the top players but also with your own players – but the skill takes practice. MORE
“I took a free trial and I was blown away by the drills; it made my training sessions so much easier. ”
