Soccer Sessions

Warm ups of the mental as well as the physical side of the game are vital for getting teams to start games with a bang. You don't want your players to be woken up by conceding a goal. Go to the warm ups section of Cupello and pick something out like a basketball style warm up game with passing between players that gets minds thinking about movement, support and finding a player with a pass. Some quick sprints between cones 10 yards apart also get bodies up to speed. And don't forget to do something just before kick off – a huddle is good with the Captain giving words of encouragement and get the players to shout their team name.

Give players targets to take their mind off the other team that are playing badly. Set your attacker the task of three shots that are on target and your midfielders the task of four assists in the second half. Ask defenders to try to play out from the back at each goal kick. There are many targets you can give players to keep focus during the game. Praise for any of the targets being met, ask what stopped them making the targets if they fail to do them. Getting them to explain why is a good learning curve for the players helping them understand the problem.

First point is an obvious one – do your players understand that they must get back when they lose the ball and cover the defensive third or that if they lose the ball high up the pitch they press to try and win it back. One of the phrases that came out of the great Barcelona team under Pep Guardiola was "lose the ball win it back in 6 seconds".

The reason it is 6 seconds is because that is about the length of time your team has to win it back before they must then drop into a defensive formation.

Defenders need to be coached in their lines of recovery. So they must be aware at all times of their position on the pitch and the recovery lines back to goal. Full backs tuck in central defenders secure the area in front of goal. 

Here is your checklist:

• Getting your players goalside is one of your main aims.
• Awareness to recover to the main areas where your team is under threat.
• Forwards press and midfielders pick up supporting runners.
• Defenders go tight with areas of the pitch highlighted so they know where to recover to.
• Body position/angle to the position of the ball and the goal players are defending.

Most of this is where your coaching comes in to get players to understand that this is good practice and get your team letting in less goals.

The soccer sessions that we create at Cupello are comprehensive, inclusive, and age-appropriate. Within the sessions winning becomes a key element - it's okay to want to win but you also learn a lot by losing. Our soccer sessions also embrace fun so that the players go home wanting to come back to training and can't wait for the next match.

Player development is key with sessions based on position and possession style of play. When you have the ball, the goal is not to move the ball but to move the opponent by quick switches of position to find somewhere to pass the ball in order to give your side an advantage. The sessions also increase individual skill levels for a fast passing team - and the players love them.

When designing soccer sessions it is important that they develop individual skills and team tactics. Understanding is key both for the coach and the players they are coaching. Soccer session design should be specific to what happens in the game, are age/ability appropriate with individual and group challenges and are fun and engaging for the players.

When you look to plan a coaching session and create the structure think about the ability of the players, players needs and requirements, space available, and player numbers.

it is important that the session reflects the game, challenges the players, and is fun to take part in – remember whatever age group and formation you play it all reflects back to the 11v11 game which is the holy grail you are trying to build up to.

SESSION PLANNING by Andy Maciel Go4Goal

This section is inspired by the coaching and session planning of Andy Maciel who has studied the works of many of the world's best coaches and how sessions are created.

Why:

• Why am I delivering this particular topic to the players, is it a new concept, the pattern of play- strategy, or idea? 
• Is it part of a development plan or programme or is it to address issues from a recent match analysis?



What: 

• What am I looking to improve, affect in the session? 
• Am I focusing on individuals, units of players, or the team as a whole? 
• How will I gauge success on the training ground & on the pitch, are the players able to comprehend the learning outcomes? 
• What situations will I need to recreate for the players? 
• What practice will I employ to get the picture across to the group?

• What are the technical & personal attributes of the key players I need in the session? 
• What are the verbal, non – verbal triggers for the players to recognise the situation to use this new knowledge? 
• What collectives or pictures do individuals need to see? 
• What references am I building in the players’ brains?



How:

• How will I deliver this topic? 
• Practical & theory content, what format will iI use [pop, full pitch, small-sided game or skill practice]? 
• How will i develop the players understanding, how will i utilise the principles of play? 
• How do I link this new concept-knowledge-technical information with previous or future learning? 
• How many players should be used in the session to ensure realism? 
• How will I vary the practice? 



When: 

• When will the players use this new knowledge? 
• When do I move on to the next part of the session?



Who: 

• Who will be involved in the session? 
• Key individuals in key positions. Who is the key focus of the session?



PLAN FOR SUCCESS & RECOGNISE IT WHEN IT HAPPENS!

• Session & games key coaching points 
• Possession - Position - Pressing 
• Quality Weight Accuracy (QWA) of pass
• Quality 1st touch to keep the ball moving 
• Minimal touches 
• Triangles 
• Scanning 
• Body Position 
• Numerical Superiority 
• Positioning 

Tips:

• Incorporate offside line/zones in all SSGs 
• Film sessions & games as regularly as possible to support reflection (mobile phone on tripod / veo etc)
• Coach & players’ Reflection on sessions & games …KEY!
• Regular meetings (e.g. zoom) with players once a month if poss. Collective reflection. (off-field coaching!!!)
• Relay (via players) to parents what tactical principles (intentions) & challenges are on the game, so communication is clear & they understand the What…the How is then down to the players! 

WARM UP

Individual/Fundamental: 

For the warm up players are working in pairs or individually with emphasis on the technical side of their game. It may not be directly relevant to the topic you are working on but you can use the warm up for repetition of fundamental technical skills that will be used in the coaching topic. You may start with basic actions – passing the ball between players or using individual skills like turning or dribbling. You may want to add small games that incorporate 1v1 or 2v2.

PHASE OF PLAY

Small Group/Match Related:

This very important phase of play is where coaches need to be on top of their game and show their creativity in the practice. These are competitive games like 6v2, 4v4+3 with overloads and game related actions. The conditions imposed will allow the players to have success in the topic. This is a pressure phase where I use my philosophy of the three P’s: position, possession and pressure to their greatest effect. Small sided games are ideal for putting players under the necessary pressure.

GAME

Large Group/Match Conditions: 

Now what the players have been coached should show up in the large sided game at the end of practice. This is where the game is the teacher (although you as the coach have put in a lot of the teaching!) These should be fun and have a match like competition about them. They can still be small sided games if you have a small squad. This is where you should be evaluating the players and watch how they are using the skills you have taught them.