Coaching Tips from Brian!

Soccer Nights makes for a long, awesome week.  Make sure you are getting some rest, drinking lots of water and eating lots of veggies and lean protein this week.  I was so excited to get to watch all the awesome dynamics on the field.  Some of you guys were coaching for the first time, some of you have been doing it for years, but across the board I noticed lots of smiles and some good soccer.  

Tips for Red and Blue Divisions: 
During the scrimmages, it’s very helpful if at least one coach is acting as the referee. Get right in the action. Stay close to play and use your whistle.  When the players all jump on top of the ball and get too clumped up and start falling all over each other, feel free to blow your whistle, stop play and tell everyone to go back to their sides.  

Also, feel free to experiment with the #’s game. In this game, each player starts behind their own endline with no goalie.  Each player is given a #.  The coach starts in the middle of the field with the balls. Coach calls out a # (could just be one #, or several together).  On coaches’ whistle, the player from each side with corresponding #(s) comes out and tries to score on the opposite team.  This game is good at getting smaller groups on the field and helps eliminate some of the problems with clustering.  When a goal is scored, or ball goes out of bounds, coach blows whistle to end play, sends all players back behind their line and resets for a new group of #’s to be called. 

Tips for Orange and Green divisions:
As the players in the Orange and Green divisions are older, they are more capable of trying new advanced drills.  Especially with the Green division, keep away games and small sided practice games are very helpful.  Try a 5 vs. 2 where 5 players create a circle and 2 defenders step in the middle and try to steal the ball.  Encourage players to look for chances to ‘split’ (make a successful pass across the circle between the 2 defenders) the defenders.  Defenders look to maintain depth vs. getting ‘flat’ to the ball. 

You could also try a small-sided game (or scrimmage) in which you limit the amount of touches each player takes (start with 4, or 3).  Additionally, you could try a keep away game in a square.  Have each player in a 5x5 space so you have 8 players (4 with a pinnie, 4 without) in a 10x10 yard space.  Each team scores a point by getting each player to touch the ball. In this drill, players can’t leave their space and must pass the ball out of their space.  

Just some more ideas to keep things interesting!