Great news this week that the lockdown in England will end at the beginning of December… out comes my training schedule and my tactical changes for my Under 10s – they were promoted to the division above just before the lockdown began. Exciting times!
What I am looking for in the next few weeks of training is to work with two strikers in attack and to encourage them to press high up the pitch when they have lost the ball. What I want to do is to work on box-to-box passing moves – counter-attacking play that involves passing and receiving between the lines, well-timed movements and crossover runs, and the exploitation of space behind the opposition’s back line.
In possession, a team is at its most dangerous when a player can make a forward pass to a team mate running in a forward direction. And one of the main attributes of two strikers is the awareness of knowing where to run to beat an opponents defensive block.
So at different age groups you a looking at formations like 3-5-2 at 11-a-side, 3-3-2 at 9-a-side or 2-2-2 at 7-a-side. Try the sessions below to help you work with two strikers in your team.
My go to session for getting my team to play with twin strikers is Working with attacking pairs. This game where players work in twos is all about shooting and recognising when to move into different zones to support the attack. It is a great way to forge a partnership with your front two.
Forging a partnership is key to getting the best out of the two players. Two up front in tandem gets your players to combine well by teaching your forwards how to communicate and develop their attacking relationship.
One short, one long is a rule used by teams that use two forwards. To disrupt defenders, one forward makes a short run towards the ball, and the other forward makes a long run into the space left by the first forward. This type of movement will create space for one of the forwards to receive a pass.
And finally to get your strike partners firing on all cylinders use Parallel lines which is a simple unopposed shooting activity that coaches strikers to receive, look up, lay off and support, the way twin attackers should be behaving in the final third.
Simple unopposed link up play is an ideal way to start your strike partners working together. Receive, look up, lay off, support. This is the way attackers should be behaving in the final third. MORE
If your team uses two strikers, it is important they combine well to produce the goods in terms of scoring goals. Read on to find out how to teach your forwards how they can develop their attacking relationship. 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
