SoccerHelp's Tip of the Week Archives

�Skill Factor Advanced Attacking, Defending and Finishing� is 74 minutes and is the best advanced attacking/defending video we�ve seen. It consists of 5 �Training Modules� which cover individual, group and team pressure and defending; possession and attacking; and finishing, crossing, and finishing on breakaways. It is for advanced coaches and players U-13 and older. This video features Alan Shearer, the leading all-time scorer in English Premier League history, and one of the greatest scorers to ever play soccer. Each of the 5 Modules starts with an Objective and ends with a summary of the Teaching Points that were demonstrated.

Here are some tips from Module 1 of the video:

When defenidng1v1 -- Make ground up while the ball travels (shift with the ball); force the attacker to make play predictable; and stop the attacker from turning if possible.
When defending as a group � the nearest man should pressure the ball; all defenders should deny passing opportunities; as the ball moves, defenders should move in a chain reaction; and adjust positions by making ground up as ball travels.
When defending as a team � apply defensive pressure to prevent forward passing; teach a chain reaction of movement by defenders; and concentrate on "squeezing" the play.

Read the Review of �Skill Factor Advanced Attacking, Defending and Finishing DVD� for more tips.

How to Find Topics on a DVD: When you buy a video from SoccerHelp, go to our Detailed Review to see the contents. You can easily find exactly what you're looking for on the video by using the Detailed Review on SoccerHelp.com.

January 28, 2006

Tips from the "Mia Hamm Soccer Secrets"

This DVD is highly recommended and an outstanding value. This was originally on 3 DVD's or tapes, but is now on one DVD. It was very expensive to produce this. It is unique in that it shows how to teach skills to girl soccer players (all the players involved are female). The video is done in such a way that girls (or boys) can learn by watching the video, with Mia, Tiffeny and Lorrie as their personal coaches/trainers. Most Recreational coaches can also learn a lot by watching this video. We believe that the Beginner and Intermediate sections should be viewed together and used for players ages 7-10 and that the Intermediate and Advanced sections should be viewed together and are suitable for ages 11-14.

Here are some tips from the Intermediate and Advanced sections:

On a "power shot": stay relaxed, it isn't how hard you swing, but technique that determines power; hit the ball with the "laces"; the "plant foot" should be beside the ball (about half a ball width away) or slightly behind the ball; the kicking foot should have the toes pointed down and the ankle locked; the knee over the ball when making contact; keep the head down thru the shot; follow thru straight toward the target (pretend a string is pulling your shooting foot toward the goal and follow straight thru, NOT a sideways movement because that will cause the ball to curve and lose power).

Great scorers have "attitude" and determination to score.

On a long aerial pass, you want back spin (NOT side-spin) so the ball floats and is easy to receive. Use the inside of the foot for short passes and the laces for intermediate passes on the ground.

When receiving, one-touch block the ball into open space away from the defender, then accelerate and explode past the defender.

Drive attacking headers (shots) down toward the ground and defensive headers up to clear the ball from the danger area.

In 1v1 defending, the defender should stay "goal side", stay low, use a stance with one foot in front of the other, and drop-step - don't let your feet get "square".

There are 3 times to tackle: when you know you can win the ball, when the attacker has a bad touch, and when you know you have support behind you who will pick up the attacker if she gets past you. Tackle with your whole body. Defenders must be patient and wait for the right moment to tackle.

Read the review of "Mia Hamm's Soccer Secrets" for more tips.

February 2, 2006

Tips from the England Skills Uncovered DVD

The "England Skills Uncovered DVD" is 88 minutes and is truly outstanding. 19 skills are demonstrated by professional players, and explained by commentary and graphics, including turning, dribbling, running with the ball (aka �speed dribbling�), one-touch passing, combination play, forward runs in front of the ball, helping the player behind the ball, scoring goals, long range shots, quick shots in the box, beating the goalkeeper, headers from crosses, free kicks, penalty kicks, defending, pressuring the ball, marking and turning and winning the ball. There are many good tips on the DVD, including these:

Attackers should know where the defender is, shield the ball away from the defender, disguise their intentions, and then turn quickly into the space available, with a change of pace (i.e., speed up).

Learn to Speed Dribble without looking down. Kick the ball out in front so you can look up. Assess where there is space to run into, and attack this space with speed.

On Long Range Shots, stress accuracy and good form, not power. It�s better have the Keeper stop the ball than to miss the goal. Keep shots low, a shoot over the top of the goal has no chance of a rebound. From the side, shoot toward the far post; you are more likely to get a rebound. Kick thru the top half of the ball, to keep the ball low.

Read the review of "England Skills Uncovered" for more tips.

February 12, 2006

Tips from "Soccer Tactics - Defending and Attacking 4-DVD Set

Defending Tips

Close down attackers from the front ("quick, slow, sideways, low") when your team loses the ball.

It is very important to transition quickly to a defensive shape. The closest player to the ball should apply immediate defensive pressure and the remaining defenders should position themselves in a shape that prevents the penetrating pass.

Defenders should run to quickly get "behind" the ball, meaning to get between the ball and the goal they are defending.

The First Defender should:

Try to keep the onball-attacker from turning, and should pressure him before he can turn.
Force the attacker to move to his or her "weak side" (toward the player's weak foot) by "channeling" (aka "steering" and "dictating").
Apply enough pressure that the dribbler must look at the ball, which means he or she isn't looking for a teammate to pass to.

Attacking Tips:

Much of the time the best way to beat a defender is a simple change of speed and/or a change of direction.
The point of attacking is to play "forward" if possible -- if it's possible to play the ball forward, it's better than playing the ball sideways or backwards.
Coaching "Offensive Transition" means that at the instant you win the ball you try to play the ball forward to get the ball behind the opponent so you have a good chance of scoring.
The best pass is the one that eliminates the most defenders while keeping possession.
Only pass sideways and backward if you can't play forward. Attackers should look for an "open space" near the goal to move into. Putting pressure on defenders will pull them out of position, which will create "open space" that can be attacked.

Read the review of "Soccer Tactics - Defending and Attacking 4-DVD Set" for more tips.

February 19, 2006

Don't Scrimmage Too Much At Practice

23 Of The Best SoccerHelp Tips & Tactics" on Premium). I think some coaches scrimmage a lot at practice because it is easy and doesn't require much preparation or a practice plan. I am not a big fan of scrimmaging for more than 15 minutes per practice because players don't get enough touches on the ball (particularly the less skillful or less aggressive players), scrimmaging doesn't allow you to practice specific skills, scrimmaging can actually reinforce bad habits and I noticed that my players were more excited about playing their league game if they hadn't scrimmaged a lot at practice. If you scrimmage, I recommend: (a). Only scrimmage for the last 10 to 15 minutes of practice. (b). You choose the teams but do not assign positions (let the players decide; trust me, this will work). (c). Scrimmage Without a Goalie. The advantages far outweigh the benefits of using a goalie. (Trust Me On This). Call offside if it is obvious. (Play the "Small Sided Scrimmage Without A Goalie" practice game at SoccerHelp Premium).

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February 26, 2006

Tips From "Advanced Soccer Tactics"

We are honored to announce our online publication of Phil Wymer's "Advanced Soccer Tactics" - it is truly brilliant, the definitive master-work on Soccer Tactics. We offer this as a premium feature for serious and advanced coaches.

About 40 pages and the Table of Contents can be previewed free from the links below and over 500 pages are available by subscription. Phil plans to continue to add to the material, and it is much easier to navigate than a printed book. There is a 30-Day "No Questions Asked" Money Back Guarantee.

Improving your tactics is the quickest way to improve your team's play. Every serious coach can benefit from Advanced Soccer Tactics. Following are some tips from "Advanced Soccer Tactics":

Tactics explain why and where players position themselves (movement) when they are attacking and defending, the best passing options, and speed at which the ball is moved. Tactics help get the best from your players and stop the opposition from getting the best from their players. Tactically organized teams can beat teams with better players. Teams often lose due to lack of organization or not getting the best from the players they have, not lack of effort or technique.

Everything in training should be "game related". (This is the cornerstone of the SoccerHelp Premium training program. We have developed over 60 practice games that involve competition and are fun because score is kept and everyone is involved. Keeping score lets you measure progress. Because the training is at "game speed", it is more realistic and players improve more quickly. This is why teams using our training approach win more games).

If possible, players should play the ball forward, instead of to the side or backward.

All players and forwards need to practice one-touch soccer, as this is the best way of improving their decision making, awareness, delivery and first touch. (Try our "Passing Pairs" and "Dribble Around Cone & Pass Relay Race" practice games to practice this).

Defending is about denying time and space in critical areas. Attacking is about creating space and finding space, about moving the ball quickly, probing the opposition's defensive position, testing their concentration and waiting for a player to be out of position to pounce.

Only a zonal defending system is effective in soccer. Why? Because no matter how fast you are, the person you are marking will always find space.

Successful teams use a mixture of long and short passes to exploit time and space. These passes can be played quickly to exploit available space, or slowly to attract the opposition to the ball and create space elsewhere. The best way to draw players in will probably be a short pass. The best way to exploit space on the transition may be a long ball.

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March 5, 2006

One of the Most Important Things to teach is proper technique for an "Advanced Throw-In" and how to defend Throw-Ins so your opponent can't use them to create scoring opportunities.
(From "Most Important Things" on Soccerhelp and Premium):

Throw-ins are important because both you and your opponent will get 15-25 of them in a typical game.

Good throw-ins can create scoring opportunities for your team, but incorrect form will result in the assistant referee giving the ball to the other team.

If you don't defend Throw-ins properly, they can result in scoring opportunities for your opponent.

How to teach an Advanced Throw-in is described at "Skills" and how to teach defense of Throw-ins is described in SoccerHelp Premium at "Quick Team Improvement Program" section 2.

To teach throw-ins, play the "Throw-Ins Teaching Game" on Premium.

March 12, 2006

About Kick-Offs
From "23 Of The Best SoccerHelp Tips & Tactics" on Premium

Don't spend much time on kick-offs. There are few of them & you need to spend your time on more important things. Read "Kick-Off" in the Dictionary. It is acceptable and safe to kick the ball deep to the corner and push-up to try to win it back; I've even seen professional women's teams do this.

Another good alternative is to put 2 good ballhandlers beside the ball, have one tap it to the other & then let them work together to try to start an attack toward goal. Keep the rest of your team toward the center if you do this because if you turn over the ball at the halfway line you are vulnerable to a quick counterattack. Before you try a backward pass type of kick-off, consider that you are vulnerable if you do.
TIP: If you see a team do this (i.e., they will have the "kicker" pass the ball backward to a player who is waiting and who will either kick it hard forward or start an attack from the back) Put your 2 fastest players on each side of the circle at the halfway line and have them run straight across as soon as the ball is touched. They will often either steal the ball or will disrupt your opponent's attack. Tell them to run straight across & not toward the receiver, in this way if they don't intercept the backward pass. They can usually stop the receiver from kicking it forward.

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March 19, 2006

If you have a Rec team with slow Fullbacks, have your Fullback's "Defend Deep" instead of "Pushing Up" & tell them they only have 2 jobs:

To "clear" the ball, even if they have to kick it out of bounds (don't dribble it, just clear it; you can teach them when they can dribble it after they've learned to clear it. If young players don't have clear, simple instructions, they will be confused and hesitant. This is why it is better to start out by telling them to just clear the ball; otherwise they will hesitate while thinking about whether they should dribble, pass or clear the ball). Play the Premium "Chips/Lofted Passes Game" to teach them how to "clear" the ball.

To play "First Defender/Second Defender" to slow down the opponent's attack & don't give a clear shot until the Defensive Midfielder(s) ("DMF's", also called "Stoppers") have time to drop back to help defend. Some coaches find it easier to teach the concept of DMF's by calling them Stoppers. (See "Formations" in SoccerHelp Premium for the role of DMF's/Stoppers). Some Rec coaches put their best players at FB, where the players are unhappy, and the team doesn't score many goals. "Defending Deep", combined with the ideas at # 8 & 9 in "Quick Team Improvement Program" on Premium, allows you to play slow, less skillful players at FB and still be successful. (See "Assigning Positions", "Assigning Positions Tips" and "Assigning Positions Rules" in SoccerHelp Premium for ideas about how to choose Fullbacks). (From "Quick Team Improvement Program" on Premium).

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March 26, 2006

Make Your Practices Fun This Spring (from David at SoccerHelp)

We recently received a letter from Coach Jim who wanted us to remind coaches that practices should be fun. He wrote,

"Right in the middle of practice I let them play "last one in". Basically, all the kids are in a circle I have drawn out and they all try and kick each other's ball out. The winner gets a Soccerhelp Incentive Patch. That little break, even though they're still running around, gets them revived for another half hour of practice."

We agree 100%. The SoccerHelp program is based on fun. There are 2 things every coach can easily do to make practice and games more fun. First, play SoccerHelp Practice Games at practice. Our games are fun and will keep all your players active and involved. Your players will learn to play soccer by playing the games. They're designed so one coach can set up and manage the games. There are 10 free practice games on SoccerHelp and 65 on Premium. On the Home Page, follow the link to "Soccer Drills" to find them. The other thing you should do is have fun yourself. One way to do this is to use the SoccerHelp training program. It really works and will save you a huge amount of time and worry. Instead of worrying about what to do, just use our program. Your players will have fun, come to practice and play better. Your team will win more games, have more fun, and parents and coaches will have more fun. It really works. Read the Testimonials. Try our Practice Games and you will see for yourself. If you aren't a Premium subscriber, remember that there's a 15 Day "No Questions Asked" Money Back. Out of 8,000 subscriptions, we've only had about 2 or 3 per 1,000 ask for a refund. Isn't Spring soccer Great!!! Enjoy this Spring. Thinking about it makes me wish I was out there. Nothing could be more fun than the excitement of the soccer fields in the Spring.

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April 2, 2006

Teach the concept of "First Defender/ Second Defender:
(From SoccerHelp Premium, "Quick Team Improvement Program").

This is one of the most important things you can teach. There is usually only one First Defender. I think it is best if you teach that there should only be one First Defender, and that the second closest defender(s) should be the Second Defender(s). Otherwise you may have a problem of too many defenders rushing at the ball and a lack of Second Defenders, which could give your opponent a scoring chance (the exception to the idea that there should only be one First Defender is when your opponent gets the ball in your "Attacking Third�, in which case double-teaming to try to steal the ball back is a good idea and there is no chance that the opponent will score due to a defensive error). There are often 2 Second Defenders (one behind the First Defender and one to the "goalside", as shown in the diagram at "Shift & Sag" in the Dictionary, or one on each side behind the First Attacker). There is also a concept called "Third Defender". I have found that First Defender/Second Defender is easy to teach, but that the concept of "Third Defender" can be confusing to young players. The reason is that where the Third Defender should position herself depends on whether your team "Pushes Up" on your attack or "Defends Deep". So, my suggestion is to just teach "First Defender/Second Defender" and "Shift & Sag" and avoid using the term "Third Defender". I think "Shift & Sag" is an easier concept to teach than "Third Defenders" and "Shift & Sag" has the effect of putting the players who would be the "Third Defenders" in a good defensive position by teaching your team to stay compact on defense and to "shift & sag" to a position between the ball and the goal, so there are "multiple layers of defenders" (i.e., defensive "depth") between the ball and the goal. In essence, the concepts of "First Defender/Second Defender" and "Shift & Sag" teach "Support" and teamwork.

April 9, 2006

Teach Your Players To "Create Space" And Passing Options On Your Attack By Teaching 2 Simple Types Of "Movement Off The Ball"
(From "23 Of The Best SoccerHelp Tips and Tactics on SoccerHelp Premium

There are 2 simple types of "movement off the ball" that all coaches should teach teams U-8 and older.

Teach your attackers (Midfielders and Forwards) to stay a pass apart. This gives you width in your attack and creates space by spreading out defenders.

Teach your players that when a teammate with the ball is dribbling toward them, they must move away from the ball in order to create space for the ballhandler and to create a passing option. By moving away they pull their defender with them (which is what creates open space for the ballhandler), whereas if they stay still, one defender can guard them both & there is no realistic passing option. This is the opposite of the natural tendency of many young players, which is to move toward the ball. I even see high school players who haven't been taught this and will just stand there as a teammate dribbles toward them.

It is easy to teach by simply demonstrating it a few times (have a player dribble toward you with a defender beside you and one time just stand there and the second time move away & have the defender go with you). You will probably have to remind your players during games for a while until they start to remember. This is critical to a good attack. (See "Creating Space" in the Dictionary and "Scoring More Goals", "Quick Team Improvement Program" and "Tips and Tactics for Coach of Undefeated U-12 Rec Team" in SoccerHelp Premium).

April 16, 2006

Good Hydration and Carbohydrate Intake Can Be Worth A Goal On a Hot Day
(From "23 Of The Best SoccerHelp Tips and Tactics on SoccerHelp Premium

This is especially true if you have fewer players than your opponent, play on a big field or have out-of-shape players. Like most coaches I used to rely on the players to bring their own water to the games. As an experiment, last season I bought several cases of bottled water (plastic bottles with sport caps) at Costco and a big can of powdered Gatorade. I mixed the Gatorade in the water bottles, put the bottles in a cooler with ice and had an Assistant ready to hand them out during the game. (These were "Team" bottles & we told players to not put them in their mouth but to squirt the liquid in). Technically, players aren't supposed to drink on the field, but most refs don't care if a player comes to the sideline to take a drink and the Goalie can keep a bottle in the goal. This made a big difference in the final 20 minutes and I'm convinced we won one game because of it (it was a close game & we only had one sub but we were fresher in the final 20 minutes).

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April 23, 2006

How To Cause A Quick Improvement In Your Team
(From "Most Important Things" on SoccerHelp Premium):

If your team is losing all of its games, it may be important to you to try some things that can quickly cause a big improvement. There is nothing wrong with wanting to win, as long as you don't sacrifice good sportsmanship or fun to do so. My experience is that by U-8 most players and parents prefer winning to losing. First, read Stopper Importance, this tip can be worth 3 goals per game. If you want to try some ideas that can result in a quick improvement, try "Quick Team Improvement Program", "22 Coaching Rules" and "23 Of The Best SoccerHelp Tips & Tactics" at SoccerHelp Premium. Also, consider whether the "Formation" and "Style of Play" you use suits your team. See "Formations" on Premium, "Quick Team Improvement Program" section no. 9, "How To Teach Soccer Positions" and "How To Teach Soccer Formations".

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April 30, 2006

The concepts of "Positions", "Support" and "Shift & Sag" teach teamwork and, when combined with a "Formation" and "Style Of Play", they provide the organization for your team's play and collectively are called your "System of Play"
(From "Most Important Things" on SoccerHelp Premium):

Starting at U-8, you should teach your players the concepts of:

"Positions" (i.e., that there are "Forwards", "Midfielders", "Fullbacks" and a "Goalie")

"Support" (i.e., "First Defender/Second Defender" and "First Attacker/Second Attacker/Third Attacker")

"Shift & Sag"

These concepts are easily taught and, in essence, teach teamwork. They can make a huge difference in your team's play. How to teach "Positions" is explained in SoccerHelp Premium at "How To Teach Soccer Positions". How to teach "First Defender/Second Defender" is explained at "Quick Team Improvement Program" section no. 3, at "10 Defense Tips & Tactics" section no. 7 and at "Support" in the Dictionary. How to teach "First Attacker/Second Attacker/Third Attacker" is explained at "First Attacker" in the Dictionary, and In Premium at "Scoring More Goals" and "Attacking Plan". How to teach "Shift & Sag" is explained in Premium at "Quick Team Improvement Program" section no. 4 and at "Shift & Sag" in the Dictionary. On Premium, also see "How To Teach Soccer Formations", "Formations" and see "Styles of Play" in the Dictionary.

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May 5, 2006

Dribbling, Turns, Shielding the Ball and "Strength on the Ball"
(From "Most Important Things" on SoccerHelp Premium):

We believe being able to dribble and shield the ball is perhaps the most important soccer skill. Your players will have a lot more confidence and will play with more enthusiasm if they know they can dribble and protect the ball (phrased differently, a player can't be confident with the ball unless he or she can dribble in a crowd and protect the ball when under pressure).

The Premium Version of the "Dribble Across A Square Game" is the best way to teach control dribbling, speed dribbling and turns and we strongly recommend you play it 3 times to start every practice. The "Shoulder Tackle & Strength On The Ball Game" and "Attack & Defend Ball Tag" are a great way to teach shielding and strength on the ball. There are many other good Premium Practice Games that teach dribbling, such as "Dribble Around A Cone & Pass Relay Race", and the "2 Team Keep Away" game is a great way to practice controlling the ball in a crowd and while under pressure and also involves a lot of "transitions" from offense to defense and from defense to offense.

These are available at SoccerHelp or SoccerHelp Premium, and Premium provides links to sites that use video and photos to show dribbling, turns and skills. See "How To Teach Soccer Dribbling" for more on this subject and for the advantages of the "Dribble Across A Square Game". If you don't subscribe to Premium, try the version of the "Dribble Across A Square Game" on SoccerHelp Basic. There are also many good dribbling games on Premium for U-6 players and the "Driving School" game on Basic and Premium is a good, fun way to teach dribbling and turning to U-6 and U-8 players. See "How To Teach Soccer Dribbling" for more ideas and games that teach dribbling.

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May 12, 2006

Tell Parents To Not Coach From The Sideline
(From "23 Of The Best SoccerHelp Tips and Tactics on SoccerHelp Premium

Tell the parents what you are trying to do and that you can use all the help you can get and if they want to be an assistant, you can really use their help, BUT they must not yell instruction or criticism from the sideline or they will confuse the players and hurt the team. Tell them that if they have ideas about how the team should play to please come & talk to you because you welcome ideas & their help. Explain that they should not yell "Kick It" or "Get It" or "Get Him" or "Push Up" or anything except "Good Try" or "Way To Hustle" or "Good Shot". If your league doesn't prevent it, it will be hugely helpful for you to coach during the games (view the games as a teaching opportunity) since certain things such as "Shift & Sag", where Forwards should play when the opponent is attacking your goal and playing off the Far Post on the attack are best taught in games, and your players can't listen to you and your assistants if parents are yelling at them.

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May 22, 2006

Tips For Better Practices

One of the most important things a coach can do is to run a fun, efficient and effective practice. A typical Rec coach only achieves about 15-30 minutes of effective practice time in an hour and has a 50%-70% attendance by players. Think about it: What if you could achieve twice as much at each practice and have 90% attendance? Four practices would be equal to about 10. The good news is that you CAN do this if you follow the recommendations on SoccerHelp. For how to improve your practices, click on the links below. The best way we know to improve your practice attendance is to give out our iron-on soccerball patches as a reward for attending practice. If you read the Patch Testimonials you will see they really work and get quick results - for example, Coach Gayla's team was 7-1 after she started using our patches compared to 0-8 the prior season. Many of you will only coach for a few seasons. Coaching can be one of the most fun and rewarding experiences you will ever have. Your kids will grow up quickly. Make the most of this special time so it is truly fun and a memory you will cherish.

Patch Testimonials: /shshop/testimonials.php?classId=2
Tips For Better Practices: /Soccer_Drills.shtml#keys
Things You Need For A Good Practice: /Soccer_Drills.shtml#things

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May 26, 2006

David has revised the "Dribble Around Cone and Pass Relay Race" game.

Try it, it's now my favorite game. This game really works, and is self-teaching and set-up is easy. It teaches speed dribbling, passing, receiving, turning, kicking a ball while running and under pressure. It teaches receivers that they must anticipate the pass, be alert and move to the ball instead of waiting for the ball to come to them. It teaches the passer that the proper "weight" of the pass is very important. Click here to go to Dribble Around the Cone and Pass Relay Race.

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June 2, 2006

Four New Practice Games on SoccerHelp Basic

We've just added 4 new Practice Games to SoccerHelp Basic. They're free for everyone to try. They are: "Small Sided Scrimmage Without a Goalie" (U-8 & up), "Throw-Ins Teaching Game" (U-8 & up), "Double Dare Attack/Defend" (U-8 & up) and "Kick A Crossed Ball Game" (U-8 & up). You can find these at /Soccer_Drills.shtml#practice_games. Also try "Inside/Outside Figure 8 Dribbling Race" (for ages U-8 & up) which is at /Soccer_Dribbling.shtml, in "How To Teach Soccer Dribbling".

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June 9, 2006

Being able to dribble and shield the ball is perhaps the most important soccer skill.

Your players will have a lot more confidence and will play with more enthusiasm if they know they can dribble and protect the ball. It is very difficult to play soccer if you can't dribble and shield the ball. For young players there is probably nothing more important to practice than dribbling, and the best way to practice is while under pressure. The best two practice games for teaching dribbling are "Dribble Across A Square" and "Dribble Around Cone and Pass Relay Race". You should definitely try these games. They really work and will teach players how to control the ball in traffic, to dribble with their head up, to speed dribble, and to turn while keeping control of the ball. They teach the use of peripheral vision and to make fast, instinctive decisions while under pressure. They're self-teaching games and your players will improve by playing these games. You will see a noticeable improvement within 3 practices. Read "How To Teach Dribbling" on SoccerHelp Basic or Premium. Here's the link to the Basic version of "How To Teach Dribbling": /Soccer_Dribbling.shtml. On that page are links to the two practice games. If you're a Premium member sign in and click "Dribbling -- How To Teach" on the left side or go to "Skills".

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June 16, 2006

How Goals Are Scored

As I watched early World Cup games, I was reminded of how much I learned by watching "404 Great Goals". In the first 8 World Cup games only 18 goals were scored. Most "Goals" DVDs focus only on the most spectacular goals, such as long shots and spectacular individual efforts, yet about 90% of goals are due to good positioning, team play and good coaching. A team that has players who dribble too much will usually lose to a team that has players who are unselfish and know when to dribble and when to pass. Figo�s great assist to Pauleta in Portugal�s victory over Angola is an example of what you want. On the other hand, there were many examples of players such as Christian Ronaldo dribbling too much and losing the ball. Your enjoyment of the game and your effectiveness as a coach will increase if you improve your understanding of how most goals are scored. This will help you develop a better attack and also a better defense. Watching "404 Great Goals" can be very enlightening because you see how 404 goals were scored in the English Premier League over a 3 year period. You will see that there are patterns and that there are things you can do to improve your offense and defense, and that scrappy forwards can score a lot of goals by positioning, anticipating and hustling. The great thing about this video is that most goals are shown twice, once at normal speed, a second time in slow motion and sometimes from a different angle, and the build up of play is shown.

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June 23, 2006

Being able to dribble and shield the ball is perhaps the most important soccer skill.

our players will have a lot more confidence and will play with more enthusiasm if they know they can dribble and protect the ball. It is very difficult to play soccer if you can't dribble and shield the ball. For beginning players, there is probably nothing more important to practice than dribbling, and the best way to practice is while under pressure. The best two practice games for teaching dribbling are "Dribble Across A Square" and "Dribble Around Cone and Pass Relay Race". You should definitely try these games. They really work and will teach players how to control the ball in around defenders, to dribble with their head up, to speed dribble, and to turn while keeping control of the ball. They teach the use of peripheral vision and to make fast, instinctive decisions while under pressure. They're self-teaching games and your players will improve by playing these games. You will see a noticeable improvement within 3 practices. Read "How To Teach Dribbling" on SoccerHelp Basic or Premium. Here's the link to the Basic version of "How To Teach Dribbling": /Soccer_Dribbling.shtml. On that page are links to the two practice games. If you're a Premium member sign in and follow the link to "Dribbling -- How To Teach" on the left side or go to "Skills".

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June 30, 2006

How To Teach Proper Technique for Passing and Receiving with the Inside-of-the-Foot.

75% of all passes and receptions at all levels of play are with the inside of the foot, yet over 50% of all Rec players use incorrect technique, with the result that passes are inaccurate, don�t stay on the ground, or are sometimes too hard and sometimes too slow. If a player has used incorrect technique for several years, it is difficult to correct. So, it is very important to start teaching the proper technique by age 7 or 8. See "Skills" for how to teach Inside-of-Foot passing & receiving.

Overview Of How To Teach Inside-of-Foot Passing & Receiving

Diagnosing & Solving Problems With 2-Touch Passing With Inside-of-Foot

Diagnosing & Solving Problems With Inside-of-Foot Receiving

Detailed Directions For Teaching Inside-of-Foot Pass

Detailed Directions For Teaching How To Receive a Pass With Inside-of-Foot

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July 7, 2006

Your Players Can Learn Twice As Quickly If You Use SoccerHelp Practice Games Instead of Drills. That�s right, you can achieve more in 4 practices using SoccerHelp Practice Games than you would in 8 practices using drills. Your team will quickly play better and have more fun.

Think about what a difference that can make. If you doubt it, read the letters from coaches we�ve received. We�ve received hundreds and there�s a link below to 100 of them. We�ve spent 9 years developing and testing the SoccerHelp training program. It�s a better way to train players that uses Practice Games instead of drills. Most coaches who switch to the SoccerHelp Premium program see dramatic, fast results. The reasons are simple: SoccerHelp Practice Games are fun (so more players come to practice and enjoy it more), they involve competition and pressure (which drills don't), and they better prepare players to perform under pressure in match-like conditions and at game speed (it is one thing to perform an activity without pressure, but it is very different to perform the same activity at game speed and under pressure). Many of our Practice Games are self-teaching and players learn soccer skills by simply playing the games. One coach can set up and manage our Practice Games, and they don�t require large fields (a small area will work), lined fields or real goals. Over 8,000 coaches have subscribed to SoccerHelp Premium. We�ve put a link below to 10 complimentary Practice Games that you can try. There�s a 30 day no-questions-asked refund, and the cost is only $29.95 for a year and you can print the material if you want to. If you plan to coach this Fall, this is a good time to get started looking over the SoccerHelp Program and thinking about how you can use it to help your team. We�ve added about 50 pages of new Premium material since last year, and there are currently over 550 pages.

Here�s part of a letter we just received from Coach Chris of New Zealand (U-10 Rec coed team) that is typical of the letters we receive. Chris saw dramatic results after only two practices: "We only had 1 victory and 4 narrow losses until I subscribed to Premium, used the Practice Games and put into place your tactics for playing a Stopper, marking on throw-ins, goal kicks, punts and "free kicks" (Coaching Rule No. 3) and using patches as incentives to motivate players. The team we played today would have normally beaten us, but we beat them 3-0! The number of assists and striking in the goal box was amazing. The parents were screaming their heads off - they couldn't believe the change in our team. All the kids came off the field heads held high and smiling. SoccerHelp - I am raising a glass to you guys this evening - I think the team is starting out on a great path. You've made the difference today mate! All the best and have a great weekend. The start of ours has been awesome." Here�s part of a letter from Coach Bryan of the USA: "I used the 'Dribble Across A Square Practice Game' last season in exactly the way you suggest, and you are correct, we did see results very quickly. In my opinion, the 'Dribble Across' game alone is worth the Premium membership." (We�ve made this a complimentary game for you to try from the link below). Here�s part of a letter from Coach Don, CA, USA: "We had gone 5 games without a victory (0-4-1) when I started using SoccerHelp Premium in mid-season. The next game we tied. Since then we have won 4 straight games, outscoring opponents 17-2. The kids can't get enough of it. Neither can I."

100 Letters From Coaches Discussing how SoccerHelp Premium has Helped their Teams

Read a Soccer Journal Article About Why SoccerHelp Practice Games Are Better Than Drills

10 Complimentary SoccerHelp Practice Games You Should Try

Tips For Good Practices

Things You Need For A Good Practice

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July 14, 2006

New Throw-Ins Navigation Page. Throw-ins are very important because each team will take 25 or more of them during a game. We have created new throw-ins navigation pages for SoccerHelp Basic and for SoccerHelp Premium. There are 3 articles on Basic and 9 articles on the Premium Throw-Ins Navigation Page, including tips for throw-ins when attacking and defending.

One of the most important things you can do is to teach "Coaching Rule No. 3", which is described in Premium. It�s worth one or two goals per game, and will help your team dominate opponents on their throw-ins, goal kicks, punts and free kicks; this can make a huge difference in your team�s play.

These are links to the 3 throw-ins articles on SoccerHelp Basic (there are 9 articles about throw-ins on Premium, including how to teach Coaching Rule No. 3):

Throw-Ins Navigation Page

How To Teach Throw-Ins

Definition of a Throw-In and Rules For Throw-Ins

How Far Must Defenders Be Back On A Throw-In?

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July 21, 2006

Hustling, Aggressive Play and "Winning The Ball".

Soccer is a physical game. It is greatly beneficial to teach your players at an early age (starting by U-10) that they must hustle and fight to "win the ball". If your team doesn't hustle and play aggressively, you will almost always get beaten by a team that is significantly more aggressive. When we refer to aggressive play, we mean hustling, not being afraid of making contact and "winning" the "50/50 balls", which are the loose balls that either team has an equal chance of winning (it's difficult to end up with these if you are afraid of contact). The most aggressive team will usually "win" most of the 50/50 balls and will usually end up victorious. It is critical that your defenders be tough and not afraid of contact. If a player is afraid of contact, you will give up many goals if you play him or her at Fullback or Sweeper. Any player who is afraid of contact is at a disadvantage. Ideally, you want to teach your players to not only be brave and unafraid of contact, but also to hustle and be aggressive about going to the ball and to "win" loose balls. We aren't talking about encouraging dirty, dangerous or unfair play, we're only talking about encouraging players to hustle, be brave and do their best. This is often not easy to teach. Some kids are naturally timid (I was) and most younger children have been taught that rough or aggressive play is bad because someone might get hurt. A great way to encourage hustling and practice attendance is by using our iron-on patches as rewards for those who hustle. Coach Gayla of Missouri USA said: "I can't say enough about the tried and true results of using these patches! This very same team that lost ALL 8 games in the fall, won 7 out of 8 games this spring! The kids wanted those patches!" Read "Most Important Things For A Rec Soccer Coach To Teach and For New Coaches To Read"

SoccerHelp Premium Practice Games Teach Hustling, Aggressive Play, Winning The Ball and the "Desire To Win". SoccerHelp Premium Practice Games involve competition, pressure and winning and losing. Our Practice Games teach hustling, aggressive play, winning the ball and the "desire to win". Players learn they must hustle and play hard or they will get beaten. In these respects, SoccerHelp Practice Games simulate real "match" conditions and encourage players to hustle and perform soccer activities under pressure at "game speed". This will help teach players to do their best and that winning is fun. We believe it is important to teach players to "do their very best and give it their all", and that although we don�t like to lose, it's okay if we�ve done our very best, and we�re good sports either way. Try 10 Complimentary SoccerHelp Practice Games

See "How To Teach Aggressive Play" for more on this subject and for Premium Practice Games that teach hustling, tackling and aggressive play. Also see "Marking, Jockeying, Shepherding & Defensive Footwork" on Premium.

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July 28, 2006

We receive many letters from coaches. Following is a letter from a Girls U-11 Coach, and SoccerHelp's recommended tips, DVD's and using patches to motivate players:

Hello SoccerHelp,

I really like your combo deals which include the patches (great motivation tactic). However, I need some help. I am a coach of a U11 girls soccer team. We are playing in a U-12 league. Our skills are very average. This is probably due to my lack of soccer savvy/knowledge. Could you please recommend a combo package that would address skills, fitness, and game strategies for my U11 girls. These would be videos I would watch and bring the skill/activity to practice to teach our young athletes. I would also want something that our girls could grow with. Meaning I wouldn't want to purchase anything that is outdated in 6 months because I went thru all the skills in the fall season. Please help!

--Coach Michael

Hi Michael,

You won't find a good DVD for tactics that will help you, but SoccerHelp Premium can. Here are my recommendations:

Subscribe to Premium and (read the Testimonials if you doubt it, and it has a 30 day guarantee); the things recommended below will greatly help your players and are worth 2 or 3 goals per game. You will see rapid improvement:

Play the "Dribble Across A Square" game 3 times to start each practice. (This is on SoccerHelp Basic and Premium). Trust me, this really works.
Read "How To Teach Dribbling" on Premium.
Play the "Dribble Around A Cone and Pass" game a lot. (This is on SoccerHelp Basic and Premium). Trust me, this really works.
Teach Coaching Rule # 3. (worth a goal per game)
Read "Stopper Importance" on Premium and switch to a formation that uses a Stopper, such as a 2-1-2-2, 2-1-3-1 (if you need to hide players at RMF or LMF) a 3-1-3-3, 3-2-3-2 or 3-1-4-2 (if you need to hide players at RMF or LMF). This is worth 1 or 2 goals per game.
Read "Defending Deep Basics" on Premium, especially # 1 thru 7, and from that teach: # 1, 2, 3 ,4 ,5 and 6. ("First Defender/Second Defender" and "Shift and Sag" are critical). The Italians won the 2006 World Cup by "Defending Deep" and using fast counterattacks and set plays to score. At times they gave up the midfield, but they never gave up a goal on a breakaway.
Read "Kick-Offs and Recommended Kick-Off" and just kick it deep to the corner -- you don't have time to worry about fancy kick-offs.
Read "Corner Kick Tips" and "Goal Kick Tips".
Go to "Throw-Ins Navigation Page" to "How To Teach Throw-Ins" and teach an Advanced Throw-Ins. Use the " Throw-Ins Teaching Game" to teach this.

DVD's I recommend (these are in various types of Combos). Read the reviews of each on SoccerHelp:

April Heinrichs "Training Girls and Women To Win" (this is a bargain and is fantastic)
If you don't know how to teach proper technique for passing and shooting:
1. On Premium, go to "Skills" and read # 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
2. Buy "Just Kickin" It" DVD
Buy either "Zonal Defending" or the "Modern Defending" set (read the reviews to choose)
"Soccer Success One On One" (shows how to teach a lot of skills)
The above are the most critical, but others that are really good include:
1. Coaching Set Plays
2. Keeper!
3. Systems of Play

When you order the DVD's, order some extra patches to give to your players. These really work and the kids love them. I used them when I coached and you can read the Testimonials. Give them for aggressive play, hustle and winning the ball, or anything you want to emphasize. And, if your practice attendance isn't good, give them to encourage attendance.

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August 5, 2006

Tips For Good Practices (our Practice Games meet these requirements):

Kids love playing games and keeping score. In practice, try to use Practice Games and not drills. (Try our 10 Practice Games on Basic)

Everyone should stay active and participate. Avoid lines.

Maximize "touches" on the ball. At least 100 touches per practice for each player.

Teach proper technique and use games that practice skills or simulate play or "match conditions". Our Practice Games are much better than drills because they involve competition and pressure (which drills don't) and better prepare players to perform under pressure in "match" conditions and at "game speed". It is one thing to perform an activity without pressure, but it is very different to perform the same activity at "game speed" and under pressure. Players improve more quickly and become better players when they practice at game speed in match-related conditions.

Run games by keeping time (e.g., so they last 1, 3, or 5 minutes) or by keeping score (e.g., first to 3, 12, etc.). We recommend you by an inexpensive sports watch that has a count-down timer (about $25 at Wal-Mart or Target).

Praise hustle, improvement and a good attitude. Measure each player's playing by his or her personal improvement and effort, and not by comparing them to someone else. Try to motivate in a positive way that builds self-esteem.

A good Practice Game must be easy and quick to set up by one coach and should be simple to explain and manage. If you are spending too much time on set up or instruction, simplify it. You should be able to play the game in a small area and without special equipment, except for cones or �disk cones�. This is important so you can achieve more in your practices and not waste time. Think about the benefit of being able to achieve 20% or 30% more in each practice.

If it's not fun, it's not a good Practice Game.

You MUST have at least one ball per player. This is absolutely critical. Ask players to bring extra balls or buy some.

DON'T use practice games that eliminate or "knock-out" players. For Recreational players, we believe in positive motivation and we don't believe in punishing a child who has tried their best but lost a practice game. Our Practice Games don't make the losers leave the game or run laps. Nor do we use knock-out or elimination games that leave the players who need the most practice on the sideline. From a practical perspective, punishing players slows down practice and elimination games don't produce as many touches on the ball.

Avoid general scrimmaging for more than 10 minutes per hour. In general scrimmages players don't get enough touches on the ball, the weaker players tend to get the fewest touches and bad habits can be reinforced because players tend to do the same things they have always done. If you scrimmage, do so without a goalkeeper and encourage players to work the ball close to the goal before shooting. View the "Small Sided Scrimmage Without A Goalkeeper" Practice Game.

Adopt this philosophy: Keep it simple, keep them active, keep it fun & at least 100 touches per player per practice".

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August 11, 2006

Things You Need For A Good Practice:

A Ball for Every Player. Ask each child to bring a ball to practice, but buy some extras to bring because some kids will forget. A nylon mesh laundry bag makes a great ball bag. Also, buy a ball pump to keep the balls inflated.

Small Soccer "Disk" Cones. Disk cones are ideal for marking areas for small sided games. You need 2 disk cones per player (e.g., 30 disk cones for 15 players). Disk cones look like an upside down bowl and come in fluorescent yellow and orange; orange is most visible on brown grass. Consider buying a strap to keep your disk cones on. It is only a few dollars and worth it. As an alternative, you can use strips of brightly colored cloth to mark the areas.

A Way To Identify "Teams". You can buy practice vests (also called "bibs") for about $6 each, or there are several cheaper ways to identify teams during practice games. One cheap way is to cut the sleeves & bottoms off old t-shirts & use the tops as practice vests; you can spray paint them in different colors to make enough for several teams. Another cheap way is to buy a roll of pink plastic "flagging" at Home Depot ($5.00 in the tool area near the surveying equipment), cut pieces & tie the ends to make a circle that will fit over players heads (around their necks). A third way is to buy a 3-pack of men's "Athletic T-shirts" (about $6.00) in the x-large size. Cut off the top about 3 inches below the bottom of the sleeve & then cut the bottom into 3 cloth circles (just cut it straight across to make the circles). You will get 12 pieces for $6.00. If you need different colors, spray some red or blue paint on them to give a "tie-dyed" look. The bottoms can also be used as field markers.

Shinguards & Water. Every player should wear shinguards & bring a plastic water bottle with their name on it. I always take extra water because some always forget.

Assistants. The more the better. Ask parents to help, even if it is just to pick up balls.

A Whistle. A cheap one will do. This will be hugely helpful in getting attention. Use the whistle to stop & start the practice games described herein.

An Equipment Bag. To keep your gear in. In it should be some Band-Aids or a small medical kit (about $5). One of the 99� instant ice packs is good. (You squeeze these & they get cold. They are at drugstores).

Do You Need a Goal or a Lined Field? No. None of the SoccerHelp Practice Games require a goal or a lined field. However, a goal or a net backstop is handy if you are practicing shooting.

A Watch With A Countdown Timer. You can get by without this, but it makes it a lot easier to run timed games. Timex and Casio make models that are available at Target and Wal-Mart for about $25.

Plan in advance which Practice Games you will play and get there 10 to 15 minutes early so you can set up your first Practice Game.

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August 18, 2006

Part 1 of 2 Parts: Most Important Things For A Rec Soccer Coach To Teach and For New Coaches To Read (For U-8 and Up, Except Dribbling).

The answer to "what are the most important things to teach" depends on how you define "important" (from SoccerHelp Basic):

If you are a new coach, the most important things for you to read might be: Positions Basics & Kick-Offs, Assigning Soccer Positions, Formations, and Coaching Rules (especially Coaching Rule No. 3).

If you coach ages 5-8, follow this link: How To Coach Ages 5 & 6 and 7 & 8

If your team is losing all of its games, it may be important to you to try some things that can quickly cause a big improvement. . There is nothing wrong with wanting to be victorious, as long as you don't sacrifice good sportsmanship or fun to do so. My experience is that by U-8 most players and parents prefer winning to losing. First, read Stopper Importance, this tip can be worth 3 goals per game. If you want to try some ideas that can result in a quick improvement, try "Quick Team Improvement Program", "22 Coaching Rules" and "23 Of The Best SoccerHelp Tips & Tactics" at SoccerHelp Premium. Also, consider whether the "Formation" and "Style of Play" you use suits your team. See "Formations" on Premium, "Quick Team Improvement Program" section no. 9, "How To Teach Soccer Positions" and "How To Teach Soccer Formations".

If you define "important" as teaching your players the basic skills and concepts that they need to become good players, then we recommend teaching at a minimum:

Dribbling, Turns, Shielding the Ball and "Strength on the Ball". ". We believe being able to dribble and shield the ball is perhaps the most important soccer skill. Your players will have a lot more confidence and will play with more enthusiasm if they know they can dribble and protect the ball (phrased differently, a player can't be confident with the ball unless he or she can dribble in a crowd and protect the ball when under pressure). The Premium Version of the "Dribble Across A Square Game" is the best way to teach control dribbling, speed dribbling and turns and we strongly recommend you play it 3 times to start every practice. The "Shoulder Tackle & Strength On The Ball Game" and "Attack & Defend Ball Tag" are a great way to teach shielding and strength on the ball. There are many other good Premium Practice Games that teach dribbling, such as "Dribble Around A Cone & Back Relay Race", and the "2 Team Keep Away" game is a great way to practice controlling the ball in a crowd and while under pressure and also involves a lot of "transitions" from offense to defense and from defense to offense. See "How To Teach Soccer Dribbling" for more ideas and games that teach dribbling.

Read a review of the highly recommened "Coerver Play Great Soccer 2-DVD Set"
Read a review of the "Super Soccer Skills" video

Hustling, Aggressive Play and "Winning The Ball". Soccer is a physical game. It is greatly beneficial to teach your players at an early age (starting by U-10) that they must hustle and fight to "win the ball". If your team doesn't hustle and play aggressively, you will rarely beat a team that is significantly more aggressive. A great way to encourage hustling and practice attendance is by using our iron-on patches as rewards for those who hustle or attend practice. Coach Gayla of Missouri USA said: "I can't say enough about the tried and true results of using these patches! This very same team that lost ALL 8 games in the fall, won 7 out of 8 games this spring! The kids wanted those patches!" Read about our iron-on soccer incentive patches. See "How To Teach Aggressive Play" for more on this subject and for Premium Practice Games that teach hustling, tackling and aggressive play. Also see "Marking, Jockeying, Shepherding & Defensive Footwork" on Premium.

Proper Technique for Passing and Receiving with the Inside-of-the-Foot. 75% of all passes and receptions at all levels of play are with the inside of the foot, yet over 50% of all Rec players use incorrect technique. If a player has used incorrect technique for several years, it is difficult to correct. So, it is very important to start teaching the proper technique by age 7 or 8. See "Skills" for how to teach Inside-of-Foot passing & receiving.
Part 2 (sections 4-10) will appear in the next newsletter. Or, go to "Most Important" at www.soccerhelp.com

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August 24, 2006

Part 2 of 2 Parts: Most Important Things For A Rec Soccer Coach To Teach and For New Coaches To Read (For U-8 and Up, Except Dribbling).

The answer to "what are the most important things to teach" depends on how you define "important". If you define "important" as teaching your players the basic skills and concepts that they need to become good players, then we recommend teaching at a minimum (from SoccerHelp Basic):

Basic Terminology So You Can Communicate With Your Players And They Can Communicate With Each Other. "Far Post". "Near Post", "Center of the Field", "Middle of the Field", "Cross the Ball", "Center the Ball", "Ballside", "Goalside", "Mark", and "Win The Ball" are among the terms that are important to teach.

Proper technique for an "Advanced Throw-In" and how to defend Throw-Ins so your opponent can't use them to create scoring opportunities.. Throw-ins are important because both you and your opponent will get 15-25 of them in a typical game. Good throw-ins can create scoring opportunities for your team, but incorrect technique will result in the assistant referee giving the ball to the other team. If you don't defend Throw-ins properly, they can result in scoring opportunities for your opponent. How to teach an Advanced throw-in is described at "Skills" and how to teach defense of Throw-ins is described in SoccerHelp Premium at "Quick Team Improvement Program" section 2. (To teach throw-ins, play the "Throw-Ins Teaching Game" on Premium)

The concepts of "Positions", "Support" and "Shift & Sag" teach teamwork and, when combined with a "Formation" and "Style Of Play", they provide the organization for your team's play. Starting at U-8, you should teach your players the concepts of "Positions" (i.e., that there are "Forwards", "Midfielders", "Fullbacks" and a "Goalie"), "Support" (i.e., "First Defender/Second Defender" and "First Attacker/Second Attacker/Third Attacker") and to "Shift & Sag". These concepts are easily taught and, in essence, teach teamwork. They can make a huge difference in your team's play. How to teach "Positions" is explained in SoccerHelp Premium at "How To Teach Soccer Positions". How to teach "First Defender/Second Defender" is explained at "Quick Team Improvement Program" section no. 3, at "10 Defense Tips & Tactics" section no. 7 and at "Support" in the Dictionary. How to teach "First Attacker/Second Attacker/Third Attacker" is explained at "First Attacker" in the Dictionary, and In Premium at "Scoring More Goals" and "Attacking Plan". How to teach "Shift & Sag" is explained in Premium at "Quick Team Improvement Program" section no. 4 and at "Shift & Sag" in the Dictionary. On Premium, also see "How To Teach Soccer Formations", "Formations" and see "Styles of Play" in the Dictionary.

A Lofted Kick. This is important so your players can clear the ball when on defense and so they can send lofted passes or take lofted shots when on offense. How to teach this is found at "Skills" and the "Chips / Lofted Passes" Practice Game in SoccerHelp Premium and links are provided to sites that show visual demonstrations of technique. It is important to practice this and to try to teach it to your players starting at U-8.

Teach the concept of "Passing To Space" and the concept of "Movement Off The Ball" as a way to "Create Space". "Passing To Space" will greatly improve the speed and flow of your attack. It will also teach your players to think about the use of space and it will teach receivers that they must go to the ball and not wait for the ball to come to them. It is a superior style of play to only "Passing To Feet". How to teach "Passing To Space" and the 2 basic types of Movement Off The Ball that all coaches can easily teach players U-10 and older are described in SoccerHelp Premium in "23 Of The Best SoccerHelp Tips & Tactics" (see no. 19 & 20).

Teach "Coaching Rule No. 3", Which Explains How To Defend The Opponent's Throw-Ins, Goal Kicks, Punts and Free-Kicks. This is very important because there are so many throw-ins, goal kicks, punts and free-kicks, and each one is a chance for your team to take the ball, or at the least your team should not give the opponent an easy chance to score. See "Coaching Rules" and "Quick team Improvement Program" No. 2 in Premium for how to teach this. Coaching Rule No. 3 Allows Team to Dominate Opponents.

1 vs. 1 Attacking and Defending. Practice Games that are 1 vs. 1 are excellent for teaching dribbling, shielding, ball control under pressure, defending and aggressive play. Many of our Premium Practice Games teach these things.

E. If you define "important" as teaching good sportsmanship and fair play, we agree 100%, but you don't need our help to teach those things and your players will learn a lot by watching their Coach and Assistant Coaches.

On the Premium version of this document, all the terms and referenced sections are links. There are over 80 links in the Premium version of this document.

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August 31, 2006

Tips for Rec Coaches, Part 1 of 2 (Part 2 next week). Following are some proven tips that work for most Rec teams. If you have a great team, some of these might not apply to you:

Play the "Dribble Across A Square" and "Dribble Around Cone and Pass Relay Race" games a lot, they will really help. Seriously, trust me on this.

Read Stopper Importance", it's worth 2 or 3 goals per game.

Teach "Coaching Rule No. 3' on Premium, it's worth 1 or 2 goals per game.

Read "Defending Deep Basics" on Premium and Defend Deep (tell your Fullbacks to NOT come out of the Penalty Box -- if you have a good CFB, you can let him come to the top of the Penalty Box Circle).

Stay strong in the "Center of the Field (between the 2 goals) -- force your opponent to attack down the sidelines, they will run a lot more and your team will have time to "recover" and get back into a defensive position.

Teach your "Right" and "Left" side players to NOT go past the Center of the Field (an imaginary line between the 2 goals) -- that way you will always have strength in the Center. Let your opponent attack down the sidelines, and encourage it. You just can't let them attack down the Center. Most Rec teams can't score from the sideline, and your team will have time to "sag" back to defend.

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September 8, 2006

Tips for Rec Coaches, Part 2 of 2. Following are some proven tips that work for most Rec teams. If you have a great team, some of these might not apply to you:

Put your best, toughest, fast athlete at Stopper and let him roam to the ball, but tell him he MUST get back to help defend. If he has a problem getting back, tell him to NOT go past the Halfway line unless he can win a loose ball, and as soon as he passes to a teammate to drop back.

You CAN'T put timid or scared players at Fullback -- if a timid player is a good dribbler he can play Midfield, if not and you need to "Hide" players, put them at the Right MF or Left MF spots.

Put slow players who are brave at FB and have them "Defend Deep". It's okay if they are big or small, but it is CRITICAL that they MUST stay in position (do NOT go past the Penalty Box line if they are slow). Two of my favorite players ever were not skillful (they couldn't pass or dribble) and were slow, but they were brave and would never back down.

Tell your Fullbacks that they only have 3 jobs:

Stay in position and don't go past the Penalty Box line (unless you allow your CFB to go to the top of the Penalty Box Circle -- but only allow this if you're sure he can "recover" if needed).

Slow down the attack by playing "First Defender/Second Defender" and staying between the ball and the goal, and try to "toe poke" away and clear the ball. DO NOT jump at the attacker or rush the attacker -- they MUST not get beaten and MUST stay between the ball and the goal, and MUST play "First Defender/Second Defender".

Clear the ball -- don't try to dribble or pass, just kick it hard STRAIGHT AHEAD. Tell your Stopper, MF's and Forwards to expect it to be kicked hard straight ahead and to SHIFT with the ball so they are in position to win it. The Stopper should be a short pass away (say 10 steps, in case it's miskicked -- if it's a hard kick, the Stopper should let the ball go by and follow it), the MF's should be a long pass away (say 20 steps), and the Forwards should be long kick away (say 30 steps). It's okay and good if these players are kicked over; being kicked over won't allow the opponent to score, but if they are too far from the ball and the ball never reaches them and the opponent wins it, then your ST, MF's and F's aren't in position to help stop the attack. On the other hand, your ST, MF's and Forwards MUST be far enough out to have a chance to win the cleared balls or your opponent will always win them and eventually score.

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September 14, 2006

Many of your seasons have just started. Below are some things that might be useful to you:

Letter to Parents. There is a letter to parents on Basic and Premium that you can copy and paste into Word. It discusses practice attendance, objectives, equipment rules (such as no jewelry or shoes with front cleats), expected behavior by parents and players, safety rules and a discipline policy. We hope you never have a problem with parents or players, but if you do, or if you want to avoid a problem, this letter will help. You have our permission to copy this letter, paste it into Word and revise it to suit your needs. Here is a link to it: /Letter_To_Parents.shtml You can also reach it from the Home Page on Basic or Premium, or go to the Basic Info Table of Contents.

Volunteers Form. We recommend you encourage parents to volunteer to help. Here is a link to this form: /Volunteers_Form.shtml. You can also reach it from the Home Page on Basic or Premium, or go to the Basic Info Table of Contents. You have our permission to copy this form, paste it into Word and revise it to suit your needs.

Medical Form. Your league may have already gotten one of these, but if not, it's a good idea. Here is a link to this form: /Medical_Form.shtml. You can also reach it from the Home Page on Basic or Premium, or go to the Basic Info Table of Contents. You have our permission to copy this form, paste it into Word and revise it to suit your needs.

Keeping Players and Parents Under Control, Safety Rules, Expected Behavior and Discipline Policy. This article discusses our experience and advice. The Letter To Parents includes much of this. This is Section 22 at "Basic Info" (/Basic_Info.shtml#keeping_children_under_control)

You might want to review the Basic Info Table of Contents (/Soccer_Coaching_Tips_New_Soccer_Coach.shtml), which discusses topics such as "Warming Up and Stretching" (section 23) and "Injuries" (section 12).

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