1. We
played 35 minutes of 5 v 5 –remember playing a 3-1-1, moving the ball from side
to side, using our forwards
and midfielders checking to the ball to help move from side to side when needed,
with our midfielder and forward interchanging constantly, both finding pockets
of space and passing lanes (“seams” as Dan Blank describes in Soccer
IQ), and NEVER turning
into pressure; but playing back or wide to our
3 backs, and then moving quickly to new space, always trying to find that time
to advance ball when girl can play a give ‘n go, or turn and play forward
(she should be checking shoulder but also hearing well before she receives the
ball “TURN” or “Man On”), with outside backs knowing when to get up and join
attack to create passing options, but also be patient on the buildup, always making sure they stay open as
passing option for pressured mid and forward to play back too. Try and remember Sheena in practice as the center mid doing a great job
checking to ball with girl on her back, laying off a 1 touch back to a defender,
and then sprinting out to other space to become a possible option, but more importantly allowing our forward to check in the new
space Sheena created???
2. Think of Soccer IQ book chapter 3 (I think—maybe
chapter 2). DON’T JUST YELL TEAMMATES NAME! Give a purpose with your constant talk—“got
me wide, got me back, man on, turn, one more, switch field, look long, etc.
3. QUICK AND CONSTANT MOVEMENT in attacking 1/3rd. CONSTANT movement with purpose in final 3rd
when we have the ball. How can you help
teammate with ball, constant pass and move.
If guarded, quickly become an UNGUARDED OPTION, and the second you see
you are not an option, QUICKLY make yourself an option (remember my example of when Hannah had ball
with back to goal, and Maria played to Hannah from Right side, and didn’t run
forward because two defenders were on that right side, but ZERO defenders were
on left side. Perfect opportunity for maria
to play to Hannahs outside foot (her right foot since her back was to goal),
and Maria sprint overlap Hannah for Hannah to give a simple ball back to maria
for simple finish.
4. Last but not least---IF YOU ARE IN
ATTACKING 1/3rd, MANY TIMES you won’t have the time to set yourself
up for the perfect strike, with defenders and goalie coming at you. If your toe is all you can get on the ball for a quick finish, USE
IT!!! A toe poke is used by top
finishers in the world. I have talked
about this for the past, 3-4 months (and ironically your Soccer IQ book even
addresses this in a later chapter!!!).
Thanks all!
Coach BW
