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
If your team is getting caught out by counter attacks, balls over the top or a team that dominates with through passes, a sweeper can be a godsend MORE
If your opponents boast a player capable of winning the game with a moment of solo genius, then use this activity to coach your team to contain this special threat MORE
Great strikers can score goals with both of their feet, so try to get your players using their weaker foot close to goal so they’re not twisting their bodies into unusual shapes to try and get their foot in the right position to score.
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By pitting individual defenders against two attackers, this session teaches a lone defender to be patient and delay play until he either wins the ball or his team-mate recovers to assist. MORE
Every age group in youth soccer will, at one time or another, use twin strikers as their attacking threat. From 4v4 right up to 11v11 pairs of strikers work very well. Here are my sessions to help you coach two strikers with your team. MORE
To dominate the centre of the park you need players who can drive through midfield with excellent close control and balance, get into advanced positions and link with strikers to create goalscoring opportunities. MORE
