Pre-match warm-up routine premerleas,,}!f.??3,13,!3jf? $.

To get the most out of a pre-match warm up it Players

should be personalised to your team. run across
Spending time planning and discussing with the pitch,
your players what they would like to do in a warm- followingyour
up is often a very effective way of ensuring that instructions
they enjoy it, and that they prepare both mentally (e.g. "jump and
and physically for the game ahead. head"r "ntn on
*Ew wevw?"-:Ir the spot then
." ": 4\.1 4# 4* &&&: " &";irsYi4'-r{:,.:
continue")
Various approaches can be included
in your warm-up:
Jogging + Possession
rr Stretching (static and dynamic)
,, Crossing and finishing Sprinting *
Small-sided games ":; Ball work
',
Next players
Nothing is set in stone though and there is
sprint down the
no right or wrong way - it's much better to find
inside of a line
what's comfortable for you and your team of
ofcones before
players. The same is true for the amount of time
tuming atthe
you dedicate to the warm-up:
bottom and
,ir Do you and your players arrive early and go
iogging back
out to warm-up before returning to the dressing
up to the top
room for the team talk?
+ Or do you name the team and then go out to
warm-up, staying out on the pitch until kick-off?
These are important decisions that must be
made in advance and must be continued on a
consistent basis.
43#tE 4 t jl * .4isner ri.ri
F& ;nw. 'r,'i1't u i
F rn%!:x 47

Consistency is the key to a pre-match warm-

up as you need your players to work freely, Finally, players
knowing exactly what they are going to be are free to work
completing during their preparation. This will on their own
allow the players to focus on the game ahead. tlexible rnoves
Personally, I only change the content of the in a tight area
pre-match warm-up when I think that the players
are bored with the current schedule, and are not
showing enough intensity.
The diagrams on the right show the three most
popular ways of taking your team through the
initial running and stretching routine.
| ,,ti. ,:: ;:::.al;_
::/:i,
The team reacts to your call and jogs across
the pitch and back

With cones between 5 and 10 yards apart, the

team works in two lines and runs in pairs

, r "r l l llll -^ .: ::::::. : :. l

ln a 15x1S-yard area, the players are free to run
around, limbering up and getting active ::.. i.4:a:::+jli:tj:tjk il I | | i tti til,t

Soccer Coach Weekly is published by Green Star Media Ltd, Meadow View, Tannery Lane, Bramley, Guildford, GUs 0AB, UK.

.;.. l:,,..,.. :,, DUnCan Head Steve Southern i..,:4?.:t*it.it1f,t]tii. Michael Beale, Stu Galise, David Lewis, Shaun Waruick, Steve Waison
O Green Star Media Ltd, All rights reserved.
 Phil Davies
Gentre Gircle soroery Soach, Total Soccer Fitness

One pair
Flutrll *m A*im.w +ri"
. : :::1. ;::i;;1.:.':

combines with
", Set up as shown in the diagram with an outside man
players split into pairs. Two pairs start in ,r.iiigruflrfli,i
in 1ti.triqli. i to continue their
the middle of the centre circle with others ; LL i iri(lirl'l:re I possession
, .: /#li.
<.r
spread around the outside. /i ,1, ,, game
s' ln the middle, one team is nominated as ,t',!:;:i:::l:.:,=t."
attackers and the other pair defenders.
r The attacking pair must keep possession ::,t:t i;ji;;jtiii:alj,j;.a;.:=:t t,
jlta.t;1r',41t3.t:,t:.:l:4\il\l
i
for 30 seconds in order to score a point. rJ!
,:.i:,ltiiii#Fj:irtllitlri
To help them do so, they can use players
At the end of
around the outside for one-twos. 90 seconds,
,i, lf the possessionis lost, the other pair pairs rotate and
now attempts to retain the ball for 30 the warm-up
seconds- continues
"r Rotate the pairs every 90 seconds.

"t:ix#!t:j*irt :+t\t:: ,. ,' , .

+ The central players need to work hard

at all times - either in moving to support, or
closing down opponents in possession.
't Outside players must be aled and ready
to receive the ball at all times.

The need for speed David Glarke G

Head Coach, Soccer Goach Weekly .X,
ln issue 252, reader Barry John asked if he could train speed in his players. Here's a set-up that will rehearse youngsters in
pedecting pace - both as short bursts and gradual acceleration,
Sfu#fl* fuaxrs$ru
Short bursts of speed can help your players make up ground and surge
l.dst opponents. lt gives them the extra something they need to win games.
Use this simple training exercise but be sure to repeat it in each session.
Set up three cones in a straight line. The first two are 15 yards apart,
and represent the distance players are sprinting. The distance between the
second and third cone is 5 yards - in this area players will slow down to
a jog. By using the third cone your players will hit maximum speed at the
second cone ratherthan between cones. Players sprint one by one.

{frsx#sxm$ effiww&wyeg&w*e
Gradual acceleration still utilises pace but adds in a stamina element
as well. lt's more controlled and is great for rehearsing players in making ACCETERAIIOII
support runs for team mates.
Put four cones in a line so that they split the sprint path in three equal
1O-yard sections. Star.t your players from the first and get them to gradually
increase their pace untilthey reach the third cone. From that point on, they
must sprint at top speed to the last cone.

Soccer Goach Weekly is published by Green Star Media Ltd, Meadow View, Tannery Lane, Bramley, Guildford, GUs 0AB, UK.

O Green Star lvledia Ltd. All riqhts reserved.

 t

Michael Beale @
The delensiue barrier Premier League Academy soccer coach 2@
Taking the sting out The defender
follows his
of counter-attacks pass
There's no greater fear for a defender than
seeing the opposition team counter-attacking at
pace, with an attacker bearing down on him, 1v1.
ln that situation, it's important to slow the
attack down, giving team mates the opportunity
to chase back and support.
The main object of this practice is to see
defenders positioning well and buying time, but
tackling is also allowed.

1+3avH **d gd"#F ss The attacker

+ Set up as shown in the first diagram. tries to lose
* The defender passes the ball tothe attacker the defender
and races out to defend. but is against
Upon receiving the ball, the attacker has five the clock
seconds to score in one of the two goals.
e An attacker scores two points for a goal and
one for a shot saved by either keeper. lf the
defender does his job and blocks, or time runs
out, the attacker scores nothing.
+ At the end of each phase, players return to
the back of their respective lines and restart.
..l Play for five minutes then swap team roles.
Time has run
downwith
the defender
',:, lt's imperative the defender races out to close
down as soon as the first pass is made. The successful,
attacker must not be allowed time and space to The players
run at will. rcturn to ther:r
,r The defender must be careful not leave a gap lines and
in between his legs or the attacker could perform anew pair
a nutmeg. He must also jockey and approach at enters
an angle with good positional balance so he's
ready to change direction quickly if required to.
Forcing the attacker wide is important,
although the positioning of the goals towards the
edges means the defender must stay goal side 1!,:Ji.l:t;:
:!:t:.:a::
of his man at all times - pushing him towards the :1v1i,i;1fi

wing isn't enough in itself. &,liiiqji:.

PliPtil

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1l)' fND SHSS KINDLY
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The power of repetition
It's essential for every team to capitalise
on goalscoring opportunities. After all, it's
likely that the higher up the ladder your
players go, the fewer opportunities they'll
receive. Take the example set by Arsenal's
Robin Van Persie last weekend in their
Premier League match against Liverpool.
Deep into injury-time a half-chance came
to him in the penalty area, and with a
skilful volley he scored in through the
smallest of gaps between the post and
the keeper. lt was a contribution that
clinched a vital three points for his team.
While the Dutchman's finishing skill was
exemplary the goal was as much down to
his reading of the game, and an ability to
nl'J into the right place at the right time.
A few hours before that goal, my
youngsters were playing a league match
against a team level on points with us. lt
was a close game - we were 1-0 and 3-2
up in it, but ended up losing 4-3... a real
rollercoaster of emotions for players and
parents.
The parent trap
lnvolving parents as much as possible
in your team is a great idea, even if at
times they need to be nurtured as much
as the kids!
Here are my nine top tips for getting
'rents onside:
.$"
Hqp$** r*W{Xffitr *t?##tEe$ffis
Hold regular meetings to discuss plans
and to update expectations. Encourage
questions from the parents and let them
know that you have given a lot o{ thought
to how you coach their children. This is
also a good time to discuss and agree
codes of conduct for everyone in the club -
the parents, the players and the officials.
#- $-*st*xr ** ?d*ms
Always listen to their ideas and feelings.
Encourage parental involvement - don't try
to keep them at arms' length.
*- ffxpl*$* *b$e*B**v*x
Know what your objectives are and
explain them to the parents. Make sure
they know and understand that you are
working to a long-term plan.
Like Arsenal, we had a chance to score
with the last kick of the game when two
players worked the ballto the back post.
It was virtually an open goal, but by the
time they had decided between them who
would shoot, a defender sprinted across
and deflected the ball away from danger.
The previous week another chance was
lost with the game finely poised at 0-0.
Now the players had been fantastic
in both matches so there was no way
I would criticise them for missing such
great chances - their own disappointment
was enough for them to cope with. ln
truth, I was annoyed with myself for not
having given them the tools so that, just
like van Persie, they could cap a great
team pedormance with a telling late goal.
Handle any confrontations
one-on-one and not in a
crowd situation. Begin by
letting the parent talk while
you listen. Thank them for it
and respond appropriately
and assertively.
r. rltolt:*
{;'.1. )les1"4 ;+r'
!r"
"t"t
rtff
tsgEdx.'rt
:
Don't discuss individual
players with other parents.
The grapevine will hang you
every time.
{ s4l-. "--. - . -.4
iF. #fhi;{Icia's{;t
-^--.., #{6f #,fl:1
.t.r\ E*tv:44"{,rnt
t J' EEtsdl# ln 1
Ask parents not to criticise
their children (or anyone else's)
in front of anyone else. Don't
let your players be humiliated,
even by their own parents.
V, *stgurrt, &ffiffi#t&te{* hg\mmzw
Don't blame the players for their parents'
actions.
David Clarke
Head Goach, Soccer Goach Weekly
lf, in instances like this, chances aren't
being taken, you need to work with your
players to help them make better use of
their skills.
Maybe they are too hesitant, making the
wrong choice of shot or pass in front of
goal? Maybe they don't know how to react
because they are in that situation only
once or twice during a match?
ln training, they have the ability to
repeat a situation over and over again
untilthe process is locked in. At school,
my group is taught about neutral
pathways in the brain in their biology
lessons, and this is a practical playing out
of that. Think of it like a path on the grass
- tread the same path and ii will wear
more and more. Leave it and the grass
grows over it again.
ln short, repetition will really help
your players develop. lt's something l'm
working on in training this week and l'm
already seeing the rewards. Why don't
you try it as well?
Steve Watson
Editor, Footy4kids.co.uk
l; i;'r ILlj"+c.",al
fr1 '5"+4
-^^ ..
*.'ffiw *w**a#,*r{}"
Don't change a rule or philosophy during
the season if you can help it.
#,ffi*fum{*****6&tffi fe*w p*t* **?
And most importantly, be fair! Flespect
has to earned. lf you treat all your players
fairly and equally, you will gain their
respect, and that of their parents as well.