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by Gary Rue
garyrue@bellsouth.net
 

NOTE:  Gary did not write these exercises and tips with the idea that someone would publish them.  I subscribe to the Soccer-Coach-L e-mail list and Gary is one of the coaches that posts extremely well thought out replies.  These are some of Gary's posts that I collected for use in coaching my own teams.   I approached Gary and he was gracious enough to allow me to publish them here.  If you like what you see or have a question about one of the exercises you can reach Gary at garyrue@bellsouth.net There are 50+ more pages of Gary's posts categorized at the Home Page of Exercises of the Day by Gary Rue. Click here and enjoy.

Session: Attacking the Zone Defense
Clinician: Mike Parsons, Director NSCAA Coaching
NSCAA Convention, January 18, 2001

     The purpose of the session was to train the players to find and operate in the areas (seams) between defenders playing a zone defense. Timing of showing runs and body position to see and play the next pass were key individual requirements.

• 6 + 1 v 3 - 6 attackers play keep-a-way (possession focus) with extra attacker in the center
  • find player in the middle (reinforce the possession focus)
  • middle player should find the seam (split defenders),
    finding a different seam for next pass
  • one touch return
  • open up body to give more return pass options
  • other players to play as quickly as possible
    
• 3 (backs) v 2 (forwards) + 4 v 3 (midfielders)
  • attack is to get to the end line; restart with coach;
  • defense plays to coach if possession gained
  • defense plays zone
  • get to end line in as few passes as possible
  • demonstrate defensive shift as ball is played to wing
    midfielder; ball is dropped to a back and played to the other wing quickly to beat the shift
  • work with the center midfielders to show to the ball at
    different times
  • add a forward and marking defender; add goals and GKs
  • restrict the pressure area; that is, do not allow the
    defending front runners to pressure the backs until they get closer to the midline 
  • move the attacking midfielders towards attacking end (away from the ball when it is in the back) to create more space in which they can move into on a showing run
  • work with the back defender in order to help the attacking
    forward later; if the attacking back with ball is not under pressure, then defender should play deep; as the attacking back comes under pressure, the back defender steps up and applies tighter coverage to the attacking front runner
  • work with the attacking front runner; the front runner needs to constantly look to move into ball side (same side of the pitch as the ball) space behind the defender; if the wing midfielder can't play the ball into that space, then the ball is played to depth (dropped to the back) and
    the back looks for a opportunity to put the ball into that space (over the top?)
    
  • Play the game straight up with no restrictions. Look for the picture (and tell the players) when something good happens.
    
  • These are my personal notes of a session at the NSCAA Convention in Indianapolis, IN on January 18, 2001.
    Later! Gary Rue 
    gary.rue@mail.state.ky.us

Session: Condition to Transition
Clinician: George Perry, Wabash College
Date: NSCAA Convention, January 18, 2001

      As players get older, the ability to move quickly from an attacking mind set to a defensive one and visa versa helps to determine the quality of a team. This session emphasizes, promotes and trains transition in players.

• Warm-up - 5v2 or 5v3 in unrestricted areas
  • if ball moves away from original area, all attacking players must move to ball, else ball is turned over to the defenders
  • when the 5 player team lose the ball, the must quickly converge on the ball and other opponents; once possession is regained, they must quickly spread out; compress on defense, spread out on the attack
    
• 1v1 on small goals 20 yards apart; at least one player is waiting at each end with a ball
  • player that scores (or if ball goes over the attacking goalline) transitions to defense as next player behind that endline immediately attacks the opposite goal with a different ball; the player waiting with ball must be ready to attack as soon as ball goes over the endline
  • Goalkeepers may defend as a GK would on a breakaway
    
  • Indiana University (Perry was an assistant coach at IU many years ago) has a defensive adage - the ball may go through or around the defender and the attacker may get around the defender, but never shall the two meet. In other words, if the defender can't stop the ball from getting past him, he will stop the attacker from getting to ball.
    
• 2v2 with large goals and GKs, same setup; at least one pair of players wait at each end with a ball.
  • attacking players transition back to defense as soon as ball goes over attacking goalline as the new team attacks the opposite goal 
  • players now must start making choices, both offensively and defensively; for example, should the defender close down and pressure the ball or delay, waiting for the teammate to recover
    
• 3v3 or 4v4 transition game; same as above except for number of players
  • allow only one pass back against a particular team; every other pass must be forward to increase the speed of play toward goal
  • move one of the waiting players to the attacking end for a quick outlet option; this causes the other team to make sure they recover back
  • train the attacker's movement as ball is moving towards touch; i.e., what kind of runs do you (coach) want the front runners or backs to make in your system
    
• Play the game, looking for transition opportunities (taken and missed).

Session: Playing With Your Back To Goal
Clinician: Hayden Knight (Black Soccer Coaches Committee)
Date: NSCAA Convention, January 19, 2001

Below are personal notes of a session at the NSCAA Convention in
Indianapolis, IN on January 19, 2001.
Gary Rue gary.rue@mail.state.ky.us

---

Warm-up - pairs passing

    X1o- - - - > X2

    X1o- - - - > X2

    X1o- - - - > X2

    X1o- - - - > X2

• word game - not using proper nouns, say a word on your passing touch; receiver on reception touch repeats word and creates a new word on passing touch
• players move closer
• receive outside of foot
• partner receives point for missed pass, missed reception or missed word
• pushups for low point partner at end
• receive and turn as passer checks away to passing foot's side
• receive with different turns; e.g., outside, inside, dummy, side-on (player checks at angle), etc.
• partner tells receiver to "turn"
• add GKs behind each line; players are numbered (first pair are #1, second pair #2, etc.); GKs independently call out a number as that number turns (when they get the ball) and shoots
  
  Group of 4, passer and defender, receiver and defender; passer takes defender away as the receiver checks at an angle; defense is fairly passive. Switch roles after a few passes.
  
  In order to teach the physical requirement of keeping a defender from the ball while playing with your back to goal, have the player bounce the ball as if a basketball, while shielding the partner. The player should not move the bounce position. Switch to rolling the ball on the ground with the hand; the ball can be moved to different positions on this one.
  
         In a middle zone between two GKs (with a ball each), pairs of attackers and defenders jog in the area. The pairs are divided into two groups, each assigned a GK. The attackers are to time their run to the GK, losing their defender. If the attacker is at least 5 yards ahead of the defender, the GK will distribute the ball, receiving an immediate touch back from the attacker who sprints away.
  
• GK serves to the head (instead of feet)
• points for valid check and pass back
• mandatory two-touch
• attacker seals the defender (moves into him slightly) prior to making the check to GK
• prior to the check, the attacker moves his leg across the defender's leg closest to the GK and pushes off with his forearm
  
        In the same setup, all players have a ball except for one on each end. As the players are dribbling in the middle zone, the player without ball checks to a player for a pass, turn and shot. The passer now will look to check to receive a ball for a turn and shot. The shooter will retrieve their shot and go back to dribbling in the middle zone.
         Three man combinations using two front runners (A1, A2) and a deeper 'hole' player (A3) were developed for shots on goal. Defenders (D1, D2) were marking the front runners.
  
                         A3
  
  
  
                A1                   A2
                   D1               D2
  
  Double pass, offside hidden run behind defenders - A1 checks wide at an angle, receives and drops back (double pass) back to A3; A2 runs into A1's vacated spaces and makes a double pass combo with A3; after A1 had returned his pass to A3, he makes the run to the opposite side, behind the defense,
  receiving the through pass from A3.
  
  Receive, turn, through - A1 checks wide, receives pass from A3; A2 also checks wide and back taking his mark (D2); as A1 turns towards the middle, A2 diagonals back towards the middle receiving a through ball, looking for a shot on goal.
  
  Receive, take-over, through - same as above except after A1 receives the pass, he dribbles towards and executes a take-over with A3; A3 then makes the through pass to A2 for a shot on goal.
  
  Overlap - A1 checks towards A3, then spins to the outside; A2 checks towards A3, receives pass and lays it off to A3 overlapping A2. A shot on goal or a cross to A1 are options.

Session: Transition and Counter Attack
Clinician: Hylton Dayes (Wright State)
Date: NSCAA Convention, January 18, 2001

Below are personal notes of a session at the NSCAA Convention in Indianapolis, IN on January 18, 2001.
Gary Rue gary.rue@mail.state.ky.us

---

Teaching players how to transition, specifically from defense to offense involves certain key points outlined below: 

• Mentality to attack immediately when ball is won using available options (long or short)
• Relieve pressure - By having teammates in good supporting positions and making correct decision as to when and where to pass. 
• Speed of play - Look to relieve immediate pressure by playing early and intelligent passes based on the shape of the opponent.
• Attack or Possess? - Making the correct decision whether to attack immediately or slow it down and possess. 
  
  
  Transition
  
  3 v 1
• emphasis on possession and angles of support
• 10x10 grids
• when defender gains possession, the ball is played quickly to one of the other two attackers who play against the player who lost the ball 
• maximum of 3 touches
• maximum of 1 touch, with defender getting one extra control touch
  
  
  3 v 3 v 3
• emphasis on transition from defense to offense
• one team defends against the other two combined
• team that loses possession defends against other two combined
• team that wins possession must focus on maintaining possession as team shape on the interception is probably poor
• 2 touch
• 1 touch
  
  3 +2 (targets) v 3 + 2 (targets)
• get ball to target player (on endline) as quickly as possible
• supporting player runs off target players are needed
• target player must return pass to another player (not passer)
  
  3 (backs) v 2 + 2 (forwards) v 1 on goal
• 3v2 in one half and 2v1 in the other
• when ball is dispossessed by the defending team, they are to get pass back to the coach as the other team tried to recover possession and counter attack
• add 2 wing midfielders and a 2nd defender on the forwards
• worked on balls being played to the wings to open up runs by the forwards
  
  Played the game looking for counter attacking opportunities. 
  
  Counter Attack

(The following was included in the program notes, but was not part of the presentation.) 

The ability to train your team to execute quick and effective counter attacks begins with transition. At the instant the ball is won, can the player in possession play a forward pass, eliminating as many opponents as
possible and continue the attack forward to goal. 

4v2 to 2v1 to Goal

• emphasis: 4 defenders winning the ball and starting quick counter to 2 forwards.
  
  4v2 to 2v2 to Goal
• emphasis: the quality and type of passes to 2 forwards. under pressure of 2 defenders. 
  
  4v2 to 2v3 to Goal
• emphasis: if balls cannot be played over the top, can attackers combine (up-back-thru )
• add 1 midfield player to help run the ball forward
• if defenders arc pressured and cannot play to forwards, can a midfielder be used to run ball forward into space? 
• movement of forwards are very important to create space and drag defenders out of balance. 
• build with more numbers
  
  8v8 to goal (one team plays low pressure and looks to counter)
• emphasis: quick early counter when "on", first pass should be forward, keep counter going forward!