Over the holiday period you want to be playing games and keeping your players aware of the techniques and tactics you will want to use during pre-season and be ready when the season starts.
You need to play games, get the basics right and your team will be ready to go.
At my club we will be going into the break with an eye on gearing up for pre-season and all the extra work behind the scenes that goes into putting a team on the pitch.
Keep players up to date with the shape you want your players to keep next season. Team shape – pass from the back is a great game to play that gets players alert to the ball from the back.
If you have younger players make sure their techniques are up to scratch before you go into pre-season with Dribble the ball 5 yards and score. This works for other techniques as well – try my session for Running with the ball.
Finally Beat two and score is a dream practice for players who love to show off their skill and dribbling ability. Players must compete to dribble outside the opponent’s end line and into a second 1v1 situation where a quick change of direction can give them the opportunity to shoot.
This session is about team shape right up the pitch – it is aimed at encouraging your players to bring the ball out from the back and attack while keeping possession so they are playing through the thirds MORE
Simple way to practice an important technique in matchplay something every age group and ability level needs to do. Also a handy session to run as a warm up MORE
Beat two and score is a dream practice for players who love to show off their skill and dribbling ability. Players must compete to dribble outside the opponent’s end line and into a second 1v1 situation where a quick change of direction can give them the opportunity to shoot. MORE
In this game when you say “go”, each dribbler aims to dribble his ball from the big square into one of the smaller squares. The three middle players must try to win the balls from the dribblers. MORE
Your players have made it to week 4 with the first whistle of the new season not far away. But before it blows you've got one final week to get your players through so they are ready and focused for that first match of the season. MORE
Organising your team's defence is vital to having a successful season. So how do you go about getting your team to stop the opposition scoring goals?
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The basics have been taken care of with 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 on the pitch. MORE
Don't just dig out your boot bag the day before training is due to start and polish your boots... there's more to getting ready for the new season than that. Map out your pre-season fitness blueprint for you and your players. MORE
The second week of pre-season is a lot more than just shaking off the cobwebs. Now it's the real thing! Some of your players may not be ready to move up the gears so it is up to you to motivate them using the activities and advice in the Soccer Coach Weekly Pre-season Guide. MORE
You don't have to be on a football pitch to start your pre-season – players and coaches alike can be a bit creative at the beach and set themselves some targets for the holidays. So put sunbathing on hold get yourself in shape for the coming season! MORE
“I took a free trial and I was blown away by the drills; it made my training sessions so much easier. ”
