From the touchline: Clever Training Pays Off

I work on position, possession, pressing at training with my two teams, U11 boys and U13 girls – both sets of players really respond well to this type of training.

My boys are playing some fantastic soccer winning 8-2 last week and 5-2 this week – for the first 10 minutes they were unplayable and scored three goals against an opposition team that was at full strength, a strong attacking team.

But they had no answer to that first 10 minutes. It took them that long to realise my two wingers were tearing the defence apart and there was no one in the centre to defend the balls into the box. Not only that but when they were trying to play out from the back we pressed and kept them in their own half.

Moments of chaos

At 4-0 up in the second half we had a period where the gave turned chaotic. Our goalie went rushing out to block a pass arrived late and the player passed to a team mate who had a simple tap in. Then they scored a great goal with a shot from outside the penalty area.

So at 4-2 the opposition coaches and subs were roaring to their team that they could get this back – for a moment I saw a look of panic between my players, but we work on this in training by playing games like 7v3. When the three players get hold of the ball they try to keep it. This creates those moments of chaos when the team of 7 are trying to win the ball back and regain control.

In the game rather than panic and start booting the ball downfield the players kept to their team shape and went up the other end to make it 5-2 with 5 minutes to go. This was enough to dampen any thoughts of a comeback for the opposition and we easily saw the game out.

Tougher game for the girls

Slightly different for my girls. They were playing a team at the top of the table who had won or drawn every game they had played. They had easily beaten us earlier in the season but we had worked hard in training on position, possession and pressing games.

This time the game was much closer – we lost but only by 1-0 and had a number of chances to equalise. The girls were pleased that we had played so well and their development was plain to see but it was tinged with annoyance that they hadn't won the game. I don't mind that because I like to see them wanting to win games it's why they work so hard at training.

All in all a fantastic weekend for both teams. The development they are showing over the course of the season is remarkable and I thank them for the dedication they show during the week that helps them play so well at the weekend.