Week 3: Create a match strategy

Player roles

The third training session should really see you visualising how players will fulfil their roles, and for that to happen you’ll need a clear indication of what is expected in each position. Use the table below to formulate the roles of your players, whilst assessing in which area players might need to improve:

Passing and ball control

As with the previous weeks, a good warmup is essential. Then go through some passing drills followed by a ‘pass and move’ game, as outlined in the first two parts of this plan. These are the fundamental basics and should be incorporated into any training session. But from this point onwards we can be a little bit more ambitious. Practise some ball control games – a simple ‘throw and control’ between two players will do for starters.

The final ball

Split the circle

Side Supports

Take on me

Crossing and finishing

For the first team drill, try a ‘crossing and finishing’ challenge. Not only is the ability to get balls in from the wing a very important part of the game, but this doubles as a great conditioning tool too. And what’s more, any
practice that ends with an effort on goal will reinforce in your team the idea that training has a positive end product.

Start with four players in the final third – a midfielder, a winger and two forwards – plus a keeper in the goal. The midfielder plays out to the winger who, in one or two touches, crosses for the forwards.

Starting on the edge of the area, they now run in looking to finish in the goal.

As players get used to the process, progress it by adding in overlaps on the wing, or by introducing a defender – and always ensure you rotate positions so every player samples each role.

You can also use these two simple sessions to get your players crossing and finishing:

What half-time drinks or snacks are best for my players on match day?

Finishing touch

Small-sided games

By the third session, you’ll also find that players’ fitness is building nicely. For a great pursuit that tests pace and finishing skill, give a player the ball 40 yards from goal, and tell him he has 10 seconds in which to find the net. This is extremely motivating, generates good banter and concentrates on skill.

Finish the session with a small-sided game, putting into practice everything the players have learnt, then a warm down.

Organise defence to counter

Behind the defence

PRE-SEASON TRAINING ESSENTIALS

No.4: You are what you eat -

Kids may not be renowned for having the best diets - they do not know how critical a good diet is to an athlete,
and a fair proportion don’t care. After all, this is football with their mates, so there’s no point making them conduct a health regime befitting of an Olympian.

But eating a proper diet during the season can be the difference between a starting position and sitting on the bench; or taking home a championship trophy and finishing second.

It can also be the deciding factor in close games. A poor diet can undo all the hard work that is done in training by preventing the body from recovering, adapting, and improving.

You should inform your players what is good to eat and what to avoid, offering guidelines for what and when
to eat before games and training.

Finally, identify the foods that, ideally, should be avoided, such as sweets, high fat and deep-fried food, and high sugar drinks. If players’ parents follow these guidelines for proper nutrition throughout the season, the rewards can be great!