Soccer Lesson Plans, Soccer Articles

Coaching Good Support Play

Coaching players to support the player with the ball is not easy, this week we look at a session to encourage players to work for each other.

This requires a changing of focus of the coach's attention from the ball carrier to the other players, and especially those on his team. It is about movement off the ball and making sure the ball carrier has plenty of options to make a decision about where the ball has to go (and, at some stage, decide whether to dribble or pass).

If a player can't find a pass their team mates must realise it is their responsibility to move and offer the option to pass and not just wait for the ball to come.

Defending Turnover Ball

Turnover ball or loss of possession can be a very dangerous moment during a match. This session looks at some of the roles and positional play for the team that loses possession. The team getting in possession will be looking for a deep (attacking) ball and the opponent must look to frustrate that.

As mentioned, this is all about trying to simulate losing possession and the team getting in possession trying to look for the counter attack. Coaching needs to focus on cutting out the long ball and forcing a back pass or wide pass. Players need to close down the other team and the ball needs to be recycled very fast by the team in possession.