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Hi - I need suggestions for training on Monday. Varsity high school girls, playing on grass. Last couple of games tackling, especially body position, has been weak. Anyone got any great drills? The girls know it's gonna be a hard session..! Thx
Mike BakerCoach, United States of America
TOP ANSWER
Gary ThompsonCoach, England
hi Mike.
Could you be a bit more specific about the problems you`re having?
Is it that the opposition are accessing a direct line to goal too easily (i.e. your players are not stopping infield movement)?
Are your players being caught square footed and eliminated too easily?
Are they diving in when closing down and/or tackling?
Perhaps start with the main strategy for defending i.e. deny direct path to goal and deny middle of the pitch. Get player positioning right for where the ball is and where you want to direct the opposition play.
Then work on tracking, shadowing and channelling.
Remind them that the tackle comes last and isn`t even necessary sometimes (if you force an error from the ball carrier).
Interesting though that you`re playing on grass, as the passing tactics may be difficult - it`s a long time since I play regularly on grass but the game was different then and people tended to hit long balls, looked for touches to redirect the ball and allow the uneven nature of grass to create unexpected bounces of the ball i.e. maybe it`s about marking and getting infront of the player receiving the ball + upright control. Flat sticks tackles might be weaker too on grass?
Regards,
Gary
ANSWERS
Gary ThompsonCoach, England
hi Mike.
Could you be a bit more specific about the problems you`re having?
Is it that the opposition are accessing a direct line to goal too easily (i.e. your players are not stopping infield movement)?
Are your players being caught square footed and eliminated too easily?
Are they diving in when closing down and/or tackling?
Perhaps start with the main strategy for defending i.e. deny direct path to goal and deny middle of the pitch. Get player positioning right for where the ball is and where you want to direct the opposition play.
Then work on tracking, shadowing and channelling.
Remind them that the tackle comes last and isn`t even necessary sometimes (if you force an error from the ball carrier).
Interesting though that you`re playing on grass, as the passing tactics may be difficult - it`s a long time since I play regularly on grass but the game was different then and people tended to hit long balls, looked for touches to redirect the ball and allow the uneven nature of grass to create unexpected bounces of the ball i.e. maybe it`s about marking and getting infront of the player receiving the ball + upright control. Flat sticks tackles might be weaker too on grass?
Regards,
Gary
