Coaching the U14 and Above Player
U-14 Training Priorities
Development of Individual Skills, Individual and Small Group TacticsHIGH PRIORITY: The importance of possession: DO NOT GIVE THE BALL AWAY!!!
Development of individual skill
All practices must challenge the player in competition
Understanding of combination play:
1 Support
2 Takeovers
3 Wall pass individual and small group defending
One session in three devoted to lv1's, 2v2's, 3v3's. Develop an understanding of:
1 Delay
2 Tracking back
3 Depth
4 Balance
LOWER EMPHASIS Functional play, Team play, Set Plays
All activities should be challenging, motivating and involve TRANSITION!
U-16 Training Priorities
Development Of Group Skill / TacticsHIGH PRIORITY: Development of individual skill should be covered in the warm-up. Understanding of combination play:
1. SupportDO NOT GIVE THE BALL AWAY!
2. Takeovers
3. Wall pass
4. Third man running
5. Overlap
One session in three devoted to 3v3's, 4v4's, 5v5's.
Develop an understanding of:
1. Depth -- role of strong side defenders.
2. Balance -- role of weak side defenders
3. Compactness
4. Communication -- who what, when.
LOWER EMPHASIS: Functional play, 'team play, set plays.
All activities should be challenging, motivating, and involve Transition!
U-19 Training Priorities.
Development of Positional PlayIndividual and group skill should be covered in the warm-up
Functional Play:
Attacking roles and responsibilities
Defending roles and responsibilities. One in three practices devoted to defending principles of play
Match - related practice: offense vs. defense.
Crossing: Develop a complete understanding of:
1 Crossing angle
2 Overlaps
3 near and far post runs
Set Plays: Develop a complete understanding of:
1 Attacking and defending responsibilities at corner kicks and all other restarts
2 The importance of possession from throw-ins in defensive and mid field third of field versus
3 Possession and creativity in the final third
All activities should be challenging, motivating and involve Transition!
Development of Team Play
Individual and group skill should be covered in the warm – up
Functional play: Training players for specific positions and roles
Team Play:
1. Match - related practice; offense vs. defense
2. Match conditioned. One in three practices devoted to the defensive aspects of the game.
Players should have a complete understanding of the principles of team play.