The following contains information about the weeks practice. The email will outline the sessions that have been completed and what the players worked on. We have a player centric, proactive curriculum which ensures the players will cover all the necessary mechanics, skill work, and give players a chance to be decision makers and creative players. Through the long-term development from U8 to U19, the players will pass through different stages and priorities as outlined in the program welcome meeting.
While during practice the players will be given the tools they need, if an individual wants to push on with playing at a higher level and performing to the best of their ability, practicing at home will always give them that extra edge, and we can’t encourage enough for those with passion for the sports to practice in their own time. This also avoids unnecessary over-training of structured practices continuously throughout the week.
ADP Training Pool, U8 and Competitive Ages
The session provides a large amount of contact with the ball, where an individual session based around shooting is created. The player has a specific area to dribble in, and upon the call of the coach must break through in to the attacking area and strike at goal. The priority is the fundamental of striking the ball, working on the breakdown of the kick, while placed in to a game realistic situation of a moving ball and space behind and in front of the player. Depending on the rate at which players show progress, the session can be progressed to include defenders, time constraints, and challenges, to add to the skill acquisition of the isolated technique.
- Small Sided Games, Free Play
Free play is vitally important, and more of this is needed in youth sports. https://www.soccertoday.com/platini-soaf-let-youth-players-be-kids-they-are-not-pros-yet/ This gives empowerment to the individual player to perform with creative actions and to use the game situation to problem solve, not relying on the instructions from external sources outside of the games context.
11’s to 08’s Competitive Teams
In a 1v1 situation, the player defending works on the approach to engage with the attacker in possession of the ball. Players are taught how to press by the speed of approach, the body shape on approach, and the adjustment to slowing down to affect the possessors space in possession of the ball. As players get older or have a greater understanding, the introduction of a second attacker changes the situation where the defender must now press at an angle and change body positioning based on the spaces.
- Player Movement and Body Shape
A possession session where players movement and body positioning adjusts depending on the position and direction of the ball, and supporting players. At younger age or level of ability, the priority is to get player adjusting body shape to open their body to the field on their first touch for a positive touch in to space. As players develop, the player movement of disguising the pass, moving in to the pass and allowing it to roll, and movement to see as much of the field as possible to take in as much useful information as the player can.
Free play is vitally important, and more of this is needed in youth sports. https://www.soccertoday.com/platini-soaf-let-youth-players-be-kids-they-are-not-pros-yet/ This gives empowerment to the individual player to perform with creative actions and to use the game situation to problem solve, not relying on the instructions from external sources outside of the games context.
07’s to 05’s (Monday was a rest day, the following breakdown is for the session the coaches chose to run)
In a 1v1 situation, the player defending works on the approach to engage with the attacker in possession of the ball. Players are taught how to press by the speed of approach, the body shape on approach, and the adjustment to slowing down to affect the possessors space in possession of the ball. Progressing this from younger age groups, the defender is given an area to defend, therefore the angle of approach must be considered. Such stimuli included, the opponents preferred foot, pitch geography to use a touchline as an addition defender, area of the field giving up space. The target was to prevent spaces behind the defender getting exposed and to start o learn how to affect the oppositions play.
A functional session where protecting the space between MF line and DF line was the objective, and depending on the rate of learning, introducing the added problem of teams switching the point of attack. MF defended zonally in a flat 3, where depending on the receivers position the player must decide on whether to force them outside to cut the size of the field the opposition play in, or force them in to an rea in the middle of the field with high pressure from supporting defenders. Relationship with DF is key with knowing when to push up higher in to Zone B, or to sit back and stay organized at the playing line between Zone A and B.
Free play is vitally important, and more of this is needed in youth sports. https://www.soccertoday.com/platini-soaf-let-youth-players-be-kids-they-are-not-pros-yet/ This gives empowerment to the individual player to perform with creative actions and to use the game situation to problem solve, not relying on the instructions from external sources outside of the games context.
04’s and Older
- Physiological Conditioning – Injury Prevention & Core Activation
A circuit of exercises to engage the core through hip hinge movements, and glute activation. A low intensity and low impact session for recovery purposes and re-entry in to the week of practice. A significant amount of time allotted to stretching, loosening up the posterior chain, and hip-flexor muscles.
04 and 02 age groups practice small sided rondos, in a low impact session for managing intensity following the weekend games.
- Attacking with a MF diamond.
A multi-directional game where the diamond is created in the 4-3-3 from the striker withdrawing in to the MF line, creating the diamond. Rondos and positional games to introduce the concepts of attacking with a MF 3 and withdrawn striker. MF players start by creating the spare player from movement off the ball, either passive movement in to open spaces, or moving in to a defender and using 1-2 quick passes with the possessor to create the 2v1 situation and spaces for the player in possession. The withdrawn striker creates the point of the MF 4 between the MF and DF lines of the opposition. The objective is to pull a CB out of position creating spaces in the central area of the field for 3rd man runners to gain forward momentum in to the open spaces created.
- Playing Centrally Through a MF 3
A change in coaching methodology from the session earlier in the week. A drill is used to have all players in positions on the field, creating the realism of the game scenario, different to the American interpretation of a ‘drill’. Objective of the practice was to attack through the central channels and utilizing the CF to create the spaces in advanced positions, or as an advanced pivot to switch the point of attack as a solution to the oppositions organization remaining compact and central.
Every session is structured to facilitate all four pillars of the players development, and to include challenges, targets, and competition to get players to push themselves further. We are a program that heavily focuses on the players individual development, and not to get caught up in the race for trophies and excessive travel to unnecessary tournaments. If you ever have any questions about the Fremont YSC philosophy, and the proactive curriculum, we are always available to answer.
Breakdown of mechanics in technique – https://www.fremontyouthsoccer.com/technical-tactical/
We are just a day away from the start of the Fall season, we are now at a time that is equivalent to waiting inline for a roller-coaster ride!
Shouting at players is sadly a cultural thing, which for so long has been the benchmark of what is a good coach. The louder and more often the coach shouts, the better that coach must be. This is so painfully wrong.
Day 8 was a very busy day. With practice cancelled so we could spend more time in London, it was an early start to go see the changing of the Queen’s guards. A very busy area of London, around Buckingham Palace, with thousands of people lining the streets and packing the sidewalks, and all this while the City of London goes about it’s normal business day. In roasting hot heat, not often seen in the UK, the players looked on in amazement at the spectacle of the Beefeaters marching down the street, accompanied by the marching band. We watched from the left of the palace, on the roundabout as suggested by our tour guide, Flying Scotsman, Jack. After the pomp, we headed to the gates for a closer look, working our way through the huge crowds to get a glimpse of the palace gates and guards on duty.
Emirates Stadium is massive, and there is plenty to see inside and out of it. Just outside of the stadium for the general public to view are several statues and murals. One can find the ‘Celebration Corner,’ which is a photo-mural of players celebrating their goals from a famous moment. Along the walls of the Emirates are enlarged photos of notable players with quotes about them from fans and colleagues. Then they’re statues of some of their most iconic former players. Along the outside perimeter of the Emirates is the statues of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Tony Adams, and Herbert Chapman. They make great for a photo op.
During the tour we got to see a bust of Arsene Wenger, director’s box view of the pitch, a time capsule of important items from Arsenal’s history, the player’s tunnel, changing rooms with the players’ jerseys, press room, and best of all, go pitch side and sit right where the first team does. Their pitch is fantastic, and we even got to see the grounds men cut the grass. Tour staff told us that it’s a synthetic pitch, quite like at St. George’s Park and Old Trafford. We took our time in that area, as we enjoyed sitting where the players sat. They’ve got some comfy seats.
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