Jan, 2008

TRAINING DOMINANT 1v1 PLAY

Cultivate the Mentality. Developing powerful and therefore successful players means training the mentality and the tactics which drive "dominant soccer." And the core of powerful soccer is 1v1 ability. Every element of training can emphasize and cultivate dominant 1v1 play. Here is a specific training design for developing 1v1 ability that you could use right away in your next training session.

1) 1v1 to Four Goals with Promotion/Relegation

In a playing area 20 by 15 yards, each player defends and attacks two cone goals that are 3 yards wide and 14 yards apart. To score, a player dribbles the ball through either goal. One goal is designated being worth 3 points, and the other is only 1 point. Set up enough 1v1 fields so that about 4-5 players are competing at each 1v1 field, preventing long-waiting lines from forming. Also, give each field a designated division. Every 2 minutes ask players to tally up their points. The lowest scorers move down to the lowest division field, with middle and highest scorers moving to corresponding division fields before starting a new round of 1v1.

Reward early and on time players with a game ready to go. Only a few players are needed to start playing this game, and more players can join in midway.
Players MUST keep score and referee (however as coach, you oversee that players are doing so).
Players will sort themselves by ability.
Players have complete control over success - whether to move up a higher division or to go for 3 points or 1.

2) 3v3 Street Soccer Tournament

Create enough fields to have a 3v3 tournament. In a playing area 30 by 20 yards, two teams of three players each play. To score, a player dribbles the ball over the end line. Before a game begins, each team competes in a juggle off to determine the team captain. For a juggle off, each player starts juggling a ball at the same time. The winner keeps the ball up for the longest time. At the end of each match, the captain is required to vote one player off the team. The captain can choose to vote herself off the team. From the pool of players voted off, new random teams are made. New captains are made with a juggle off before the next game. Keeping a cumulative record throughout the tournament, players earn 1 point for every individual goal scored, and also earn 3 points for every team win and 1 point for every team tie.

Challenge players to balance team victory and individual accomplishment with winning points for individual and team success. To achieve success, a player must take on opponents 1v1 and handle defensive pressure.
Challenge players to handle peer pressure by giving them power to alter the composition of their team
Coach should require captains to express specific soccer reasons taken only form the previous game for their decisions - e.g., "Missy was only looking to pass. She wasn't taking anyone on when she had scoring chances."
Layer multiple simultaneous competitions to foster competitiveness, with juggle offs, individual points, and 3v3 matches.
Players MUST keep score and referee.
Recognize and reward players at the end of tournament based on individual results.

3) 5v5 Futsal Tournament

Create three competitively balanced teams with two teams playing, while one waits to play the winner on the sideline after 5 minutes. The team on the sideline plays a 1v1 competition (dribbling over the end line still to work on dominant 1v1 ability). Players keep score in the 1v1 competition that last 4 minutes. The remaining minute is for players to choose positions with highest scorers choosing first before competing in the 5v5 match.

Reward 1v1 ability with the right to select position of choice.
Players MUST keep score and referee.
Connect 1v1 ability with dominance in the bigger game.

TAKE AWAY PRINCIPLES

Here are overarching principles to take away from this specific training session to apply in any training session to build a culture of dominant 1v1 play:

Players MUST keep score and referee themselves.
Play 1v1 and give players rewards for accomplishing 1v1 dominance.
Reward and challenge players to balance individual accomplishment and team victory.
Create a situation where the players reinforce the principles rather than the coach (mutual self-coaching)
Layer multiple simultaneous competitions to motivate competitiveness.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Grasshopper Football, Grasshopper FC, Grasshopper Academy, and GFC Academy are trademarks or service marks, or registered trademarks or service marks for Grasshopper Football Club.