M A S S A C H U S E T T S P R E M I E R S O C C E R
Massachusetts Premier Soccer
Youth Development Academy
U14 Coaching Manual 2008
85 Central Street Suite 204 – Waltham MA 02453
Phone: 781-891-6900 Fax 781-891-6910
www.masspremiersoccer.com
MPS U14 Curriculum
Week / Day 1 / Day 2 / Game- 11 v 111 / Passing / Short, short, long / Passing to switch play
2 /
Dribbling
/ Speed dribbling / Penetrating3 / Turning / Playing back to pressure / When, where, how to turn
4 / Shooting / Crossing and finishing / Attacking runs in the box
5 / 1 v 1 Defending / 2 v 2 Defending / High pressure defending
6 / 1 v 1 attacking / 2 v 2 attacking / When and where to perform a 2 player combination
7 / 3 Player Combinations / Running off the ball / Playing from midfield to attack
8 / Attacking Shape of the team / Defensive shape of the team-Low pressure / Counter Attack
9 / Small-sided Games / Putting it all together / The big picture
MPS U14 Curriculum
Week 1
Day 1 – Passing
Warm-up: In a 20 x 60 yard grid, with the 60 yards divided by a midfield line at the 30 yard mark. Every player has a ball and dribbles in one half of the field. On the coaches command they will a) use left foot only, b) right foot only, c) both feet, d) put foot on ball and change balls, e) change direction/dribble in any grid, f) switch – make eye contact and pass ball to someone else and g) switcheroo – make eye contact and switch balls with someone in opposite box. Stretching exercises between the introduction of each of the instructions/tasks.
Activity 1: Square 12 yards by 12, however with enough room to extend in all four directions. Pass and follow – A passes to B, B passes to C etc. then change direction so that A passes to D, D passes to C etc. 2) Pass to anyone in the square and follow your pass to their position. 3) A passes to B, B lays off for A and A passes to C. C then lays off for B who passes to D and so on. Start with any amount of touches then limit it to two touches and finally one touch.
* Weight of pass
* Angle of pass
* Use both feet to pass and receive
* Eye contact and concentration
Activity 2: Place players into two teams in either half of the grid. Team A send 1 player into grid B’s side who attempts to win the ball. Team B strives to get 10 passes, if they get 10 passes then they score 1 point and Team A send in a second player to defend. If the defenders win the ball then they need to pass it back to there team on the other side of the grid and Team B then send in 1 defender to try and win the ball. First team to 10 points wins.
* Supporting angles from teammates
* Speed of play and decisions
* Quality of controlling touch
* Communication between players
* Disguising the passes you are making
Game condition: 8 v 8 free play with the added bonus of making 8 passes also a goal. Encourage keeping possession until there is an opening to penetrate into.
Cool Down: Light gentle jog across the field with longer stretches and a discussion regarding the session – what have we learnt, when to pass, where to pass etc.
Week 1
Day 2 – Short, short, long passing
Warm – up: In groups of 4 and using a half field area, all players pass and move. Players number themselves one to four and pass using only two touches maximum (stretching should be implemented until all players are ready to compete in a competitive manner). The coach will then call out a number and this player will defend and create a 3v1 situation.
A goal is scored by the attackers making 5 passes in concession, and by the defender touching the ball. First party to three goals wins, and then the passing and moving continues.
Activity 1: Set up three grids side by side (30yards long x 20 yards wide). Inside each of the three grids will be one team of four/five players (dependant on numbers).
The coach will play the ball into one of the outside grids. Two players from the central grid will go into that grid and pressure. Players must make at least five short passes and then play a long ball through the central zone to the team at the opposite end to score. At this point both defenders return to the centre and the other two defenders are released. If the defenders gain possession of the ball then they will move to the outside grid while the other team (who lost possession) will move into the central grid and become defenders.
* Movement from players NOT in possession of the ball
* Angles created by the players to receive the ball
* Commit the defenders before playing the pass
* Correct decision making, making the correct pass at the right time
* Players create space while in possession and choose the correct time to play the ball long
Activity 2: Three teams of five players play in a half field area. Goals are scored by making 10 consecutive passes. The coach will name a team to start off as defenders, they will therefore be playing 10 v 5, in a numbers up game. When the defending team win possession back then they become attackers and the team that lost the ball become defenders.
* How quickly can we make the transition from defenders to attackers
* Shape that is created for the attackers – width, depth and length
* Are we encouraging the defenders to come short before playing the long ball
* Is there good communication between the players, is the player on the ball given the correct instructions
Game condition: 8 v 8 game however if one team scores then they CANNOT score again until the opposition have equalized. Therefore they must keep possession of the ball and ‘frustrate’ their opponents. Incorporating all that has been practiced with the short and long passes. Observe the other players movement in and around the ball.
Cool Down: Light jog, stretches and a recap on the session.
Week 2
Day 1 – Dribbling
Warm – up: Ball each dribbling around inside 18 yard box. Every few touches must complete a turn or move. Completing the same turn or move twice – with both feet or turning in both directions. Then ball between two and each player attempts to score as many points as possible by dribbling the ball onto a cone. Playing 1v1 inside the 18yard box area, have many cones laid out inside the area – at least double the amount to players. Incorporate stretching before you have the players competing against each other.
Activity 1: 1 v 1 with side players (3v1) – 1 v 1 to a goal with goalkeeper, in an area 20 x 10 yards. The players have one and a half minutes to score as many goals as possible. Both players have supporting players in the attacking half. When attacking player receives the ball the defender must be 4 – 5 yards away unless he is receiving the ball in the attacking half. Change players at the end of one and a half minutes.
O 20 Yards X
GK X . O GK 10 Yards
O X
* Use upper body to create fake, change of direction and speed once fake is created
* Once you have beaten the defender and have a sight at goal, have a shot
*If struggling to pass the defender one on one then use a side player to increase the chance of success
Activity 2: 1 v 1 to a small goal with a goalkeeper for each player. Players change with goalkeepers at the end of each match. They can play winners play winners and losers play losers after both players have played outfield. Combine the number of goals scored and the highest scoring partnership move upwards. If it finishes in a tie then they play each other again.
Game condition: Player must beat an opposing player before they can pass the ball. Encourage as many 1 v 1 situations as you can.
Cool down: Controlled jog across the field with a question and answer session on what the players have learnt from the session.
Week 2
Day 2 – Speed Dribbling
Warm – up: Players jog from A to B. when they get to B they accelerate to C and recover on the outside – dribbling with their strong foot, weaker foot and both feet. Players then must perform a move when they get to the cone at point B, using the cone as a defender, they also complete the same move on the recovery. Coach then introduces specific moves for the whole group to perform – step-over, double step-over, Maradona, L shape etc. Stretches can be completed while waiting in line to complete the dribble and move.
XXX .A Jog .B ¾ to full pace .C
OOO .A .B .C
Activity 1: 1 v 1 dribbling, score by a) stopping the ball on the opponents line and b) dribble across the line in full control of the ball. Play in an area 15 yards long by 10 yards wide.
Activity 2: Wingers Game.
GK
Z Z
X X . X X
O
X O O
O
X
O O
X
| goal | *COACH* | goal |
Wingers game – a) in zone Z, O has to take on X and then either go for goal by dribbling inwards or cross the ball over for one of the strikers to attack.
b) take away the cones from the wide areas and encourage attacking players out wide to take their opponent on THEN decide whether to cross, dribble or pass etc.
Defenders can score points by dribbling the ball through the goals at the half-way line.
* Look to isolate the defender out wide in a 1 v 1 situation
* Take the defender on at game pace, the fastest you possibly can with the ball under control
Game condition: Score extra points for a successful move past a defender
Cool down: Jog, stretch and session recap.
Week 3
Day 1 – Turning
Warm – up: In twos, with one ball, playing small passes about ten yards in distance. Looking for receiving player to check into space from imaginary defender and turning their body through 180 degrees and then attacking the ‘defender’. Change positions after each pass. Have players use different ways of receiving and turning to beat their opponent. Stretch players off every couple of minutes then continue with the exercise, emphasizing on element of surprise when receiving and turning.
Activity 1: Half of the team on the outside of a circle (feeders), half on the inside (receivers). Players on the outside have the balls. The feeders begin by passing the ball into the receivers feet who turn, using different methods, and then play a pass to another feeder who does not have a ball. The next progression is for the feeder to play the ball from their hands for the receiver to control and turn using either foot, thigh or chest. Change positions after every one and a half minutes.
* Have players check away from the ball before receiving
* Change receiving method – part of body, move performed, speed of receiving
* With an array of receiving tricks this will make it harder for the defender to anticipate and intercept. If you use the same move consistently it makes it easier for the defender to read.
* Depends on the weight of the pass to which receiving method can be used e.g. if the pass is soft then it would be inappropriate to let the ball run through your legs
Activity 2: 2 v 1 to a line. Receiving player with his back to pressure has to receive, turn and go past defender - he scores his point by reaching the end line. Feeder plays as an option to go backwards if player cannot beat the defender, he then looks to play back into the receiving players feet for him to turn and attack the end line. Play in an area 20 yards by 10 yards.
20 Yards
X O
END
X. ZONE 10 Yards
* Create space between yourself and the defender by checking back into an ‘old area’
* Turn through 180 degrees and attack the defender
* Receive the ball with the foot furthest away from the defender
* Feeder must attempt to play the ball to the receivers ‘safe side’, away from the defender
Game condition: 4 goal soccer. Coach can change the direction of the attack by changing the goal that the team have to attack.
Cool down: Light jog, stretching off holding them longer than in the warm – up and a recap on the session with your players.