Session progression advise

[Ryan RichParticipant]

Eric,

4. One of these tactical pieces

a) playing out from the back basic- Then added pressure with defensive player having numbers up. Also do it with 8 players/ 2 sets facing each other and working on movement while working the ball around the pitch. Lots of kids engaged and replicates offensive movements as well for positional play.

What does this look like in little more detail? I have a bit of bigger squad and would like to run someone similar.

b) Offensive pressure- we added out outside backs pressuring on the rotation vs target players as we play a 3-2-2 with very active outside backs.

So essentially you a cone where an outside mid/winger would be on the opposing team for your outside backs to shift to?

Thanks for sharing!

 

 

• This reply was modified 10 years, 9 months ago by  Gary.

[Eric DykesParticipant]

my main question to you Eric is how did you deal with lower numbers at practice to still do the drills? I was thinking I could change the 4v0 to 3v0 in a triangle or join in myself any thought would be appreciated

Hi Sean- We did have a day or two where I had kids out sick and numbers were lower than usual but I have never had less that 8 at practice. I actually have had the opposite problem. We have had 2-3 kids trying out for our team and have had 16 players for an 8 v 8 team on a practice day.

I have several capable people that are willing to help me out. My usual rondo look with our standard 12 man roster is 2 4 v 0 rondos, 1 3v 0 and the keeper at goalie training.

When the goalie comes over I have 1 double rondo adjusted to 4 v 4 and a 3 v 1 rondo run by a parent or one of the high school players whos brother is on my team.

So essentially you a cone where an outside mid/winger would be on the opposing team for your outside backs to shift to?

Ryan- Thats exactly what I do. Pressure with our formation isnt any good if they opponent can get the ball cleanly to the outside winger. Even with an outside in approach to pressure the flight I defender is often crafty enough to release the ball to the waiting winger. If that winger collects the ball with space to turn and run were in trouble. We have very athletic and active outside backs that can run for ever.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 9 months ago by  Gary.

[David TkachParticipant]

Eric,
I’ve really liked hearing the success you’ve had implementing the 3four3 stuff and how you’re already seeing results with your group.  I’m curious as to how the kids have reacted to the new format.  I used to work with that age group, but more of a bronze level in terms of ability/interest.  I tried to vary my exercises a lot (although underneath the umbrella of the same topic) to keep everyone interested, active, and exposed to different things (so kind of the opposite of the 3four3 theme!).  I know the group would love rondos but I’m curious as to how they’d react to some of the other concepts.  Particularly with some of the “slower” or “harder” topics where everything isn’t easily grasped and repetition is required over and over within the same exercise.

Do the kids seem excited by the repetition of the same activities over and over at practice?  How are they able to stay interested when they’re doing the same thing on Thursday as they were just doing on Tuesday (and the previous Thursday)?  I’m sure part of this deals with the art of coaching in terms of getting them to believe in what you’re doing (and sounds like the results so far will encourage this) but I’m interested as to how you’ve dealt with this or if it’s even been an issue.

[SEAN KIERNANParticipant]

Gary,

My sessions are going well

I have been doing

4v0, 4v1 Ghost, 4v1 full pressure emphasizing the correct touch, body position and movement for 30 mins

Playing out of the back for 30 minutes varying it with ball in play, throw in start or GK start

I then added pressure by playing 6(GK-3-1-1) vs 5(3-2) playing Goals to counter goals.  It worked very well and I saw good improvements, not perfect but it was great to see the players enjoy the session and progress.  I am going to keep with this for at least a month to see where we are at.  In the past I would have moved onto something else after a week!

We finished with a regular scrimmage also

Good Stuff Gary!

[Eric DykesParticipant]

i haven’t had an issue yet with a lack of focus with rondos. My homework assignment to watch 15 minutes of a proffessional game and make hash marks on how many times the players collected across their bodies was a huge help. I told them that if they want to play like a premier player this is where it starts ( barca game had 144 across and 13 not)

kids LOVE double rondos, 4 v ghost rondos and 3v1 so no issue there

playing out from the back basic- we rotate stations- group of 4 practice movement w/o pressure and the others are doing 2v1 and 2v2.

 

[GaryKeymaster]

Thanks for checking in Sean and giving everyone an update!

I would like to zoom in on this:

I am going to keep with this for at least a month to see where we are at. In the past I would have moved onto something else after a week!

It’s critical that everyone here NOT “move on” to something else!
Doing that is guaranteed failure.

One month, or 2 months, or 5, is not enough.
The 3four3 methodology requires a much longer commitment. These core activities must be worked on and repeated over and over and over.
These core activities must become part of your identity. And it never gets old … because the objective becomes to execute it better than you did yesterday – the vision is of “perfection”! The vision is of master class, jaw dropping execution!

If this commitment is made, then you’re on your way.
If not, then it’s not gonna happen.

That’s the methodology. That’s what’s enabled us to field the product we field.

Keep at it Sean!
And if possible, try to have some video taken of your team now, and then 6 months from now, and then again at the 1 year mark.
I personally would love to see how everyone’s team looks like a year into the program.

[SEAN KIERNANParticipant]

Gary,

I am in for the long haul for sure!! I am definitely going to stay the course.

When I said move on after a month I meant I am just doing playing out from the back for a month before moving on to midfield/attacking patterns/offensive pressure as it all begins with good play at the back.

I was planning to cycle through playing out thru to attacking patterns over the 4 month season.

Thanks againI will for sure get some videos up

[Dan KomorowskiParticipant]

Eric, Sean
What is Rondos 4 v ghost or 4v1 Ghost? I have not heard those terms before.

[Eric DykesParticipant]

Rondo v ghost is a player that pressures the passer but does not take the ball away. Having a defender mirror the ball provides stress on the passer and is more difficult that 4 v 0 without the threat of losing the ball

[Eric DykesParticipant]

Two steps forward one step back- right? Got shelled this weekend.

What went well-

2 goals in 3 games on team pressure- This was a proper angle taken by the attacking player on the outside back with proper cut off of the last man. Outside back did the correct thing and attempted to play it back to the keeper. poor touch and a goal for us.
– when we were organized we made it tough on the opponent to get out of their end. Way too inconsistent here. One player pressuring and the other out of place and they were out

Was able to point out how players that collected properly were making fast decisions and were much more successful. The kids are getting it and now just need to do it much more consistently.

Playing out from the back basic- huge step back. Struggled here. Zero times did we collect on the touchline. Very few good decisions here and the correct ones results in a poor touch and a goal or give away deep in our end. Have to build the boys back up after this one. We had an off day in the back.

Going to keep grinding!

[CalebParticipant]

Keep it up. I’m starting in a couple of weeks and I am getting ants in the pants.

How many sessions are you doing per week? I think I am doing two per week in March, then amp it up to three per week in April- have back to back tournament weekends at the end of April/first week of May.

[SEAN KIERNANParticipant]

Eric,

Keep with it!

My U11 Girls just had their first tournament where we played up at U12 and won the tournament which was a bonus.  We played mid-level teams though as I wanted the players to get comfortable in the system and what we were doing.

They did very well the key thing for me is that players now really see the importance of things like collecting across the body, giving each other advice, keeping the ball and they are now bought in on how we are training.

The highlight of the weekend was being 3-0 down and coming back to win 5-3, the players didn’t panic kept playing as we kept creating good space and chances.

I have only worked on Playing out of the back so far so we were very vulnerable when we lost the ball but with the amount of extra chances we created and the way we played I didn’t really care!

it was a great start but I am sure I will face the challenges you have further down the road!

A Brazilian coach told me once “the road to good soccer is long…but the road is beautiful!”

I will check in again when we are playing the top team at our age later this and next month to see how we handle the increased speed of play and pressure

[Eric DykesParticipant]

State Cup Presidents Bu10 bracket report-

Game 1- tied 3-3- Tough one for developing a possession mindset. Played a top level flight II team (runner up in state cup governors last year) they were very direct and fast. Dominated 25 shots to 5 but couldn’t find the back of the net.

Coordinated pressure- decent- they are starting to understand but arriving too late. The opponent played kickball.

PLaying out from the back basic- gave up two goals with this one and really hurt the kids mentality in game two. First goal was on a foot to foot switch and the center back missed his touch. The right back went to support and clear and missed his touch. Cheap goal. Second was a ball played back to the keeper who thought the opponent had touched it and picked it up. In direct kick from 3 yards out- goal

Game 2- loss to state cup finalist and dallas cup finalist 2-0- (our 2nd game and their 1st) I think one of the Brothers was watching the game. Cool to have the teacher at the game (Hoping for his feedback- Im a big boy and know we have TON to work on but Im committed and have thick skin- fire away!)

coordinated pressure- Big step in the right direction. Caused a usually very solid possession team to be a kickball team (sadly we played the same way) Both goal given up were break away goals on long through balls. Opponent has some outstanding team speed.

Playing out from the back basic- F- non existent. I think the previous games goals were in their heads. Total jungle ball. I will need to spend some time fixing this one.

From a coaching standpoint I need to take a big chunk of the blame as its difficult to have a possession identity when your huffing the ball out on goal kicks.

I think Ill get better result when our entire spring will be devoted to playing out from the back using the entire package.

We move on to the knockout rounds next week with a likely matchup with the State Cup champion Albione in the round of 32.

Keep u posted!

[Eric DykesParticipant]

Sorry I haven’t responded sooner to your questions David-

Do the kids seem excited by the repetition of the same activities over and over at practice? How are they able to stay interested when they’re doing the same thing on Thursday as they were just doing on Tuesday (and the previous Thursday)? I’m sure part of this deals with the art of coaching in terms of getting them to believe in what you’re doing (and sounds like the results so far will encourage this) but I’m interested as to how you’ve dealt with this or if it’s even been an issue.

Just like most of us I have two types of kids-
Type A kids- practice at a high intensity level no matter what the drill is- 5 of my players fit this mold little less that 1/2

Your typical 10 year old- Rondos without pressure get boring and I have to stay on top of them. Keep reminding them what were trying to accomplish. This same kid also doesnt want to make things easy. They want to get fancy with their touches and just collecting across the body for them isnt fancy enough. Fancy footwork is what they enjoy doing and is a important part of the game BUT they just dont understand when its important and when its better to take the easy touch.

I havent introduced video to them and I think this is an important next step. Sometimes they just know they lost the ball but not why they lost it.

[David TkachParticipant]

Hi Eric,

Thanks for the feedback.  It’s cool being able to follow the progress of your team so far.  My team women’s team has our first practice tonight so I’m excited to transition from reading the new material to actually putting in practice and seeing what type of results I get with it.

David

 

 

 

 

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