Tag: 11v11 Soccer

Playing Out From The Back – Full Session Plan and Key Coaching Points

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coaching

Playing out from the back is far from a new concept, but the importance it has taken on in the last decade has grown immensely in the modern game. Nearly every team strives to play out from the back and with the recent rule change to allow defenders inside their own penalty area on goal kicks, playing out from the back is set to become even more encouraged for every team on the planet. Some less familiar to football may question why teams would want to play the ball around their own half off of goal kicks, rather than just clearing it away to the other half. However, playing out from the back is actually a far less dangerous option...

Attacking Transitions – Full Session Plan and Key Coaching Points

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coaching

INTRODUCTION Attacking transitions are one of the four key phases of the beautiful game. They can be defined as the movements and patterns of play after the first regain of possession in order to set up the attack. After regaining possession, there are two things that the team in possession can do to quickly catch … Continue reading Attacking Transitions – Full Session Plan and Key Coaching Points

Individual Marking & Defensive Awareness – Analytical Activity

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coaching

As the great Sir Alex Ferguson once said - "Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles." This quotation does a fantastic job in highlighting the importance of a strong defence, but it's also important to note that defense also wins you games, which eventually then leads to those title wins that the legendary former … Continue reading Individual Marking & Defensive Awareness – Analytical Activity

Playing Through the Central Midfielder – Conditioned Game

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coaching, World Football

Central midfielders are essential to build up play and playing out from the back. As a result, it is necessary to teach players in the position where to be on the pitch during build-up phases. This conditioned game will teach all players how to involve the central midfielder in playing out from the back, in … Continue reading Playing Through the Central Midfielder – Conditioned Game

Is U13 Too Early For 11v11?

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coaching, Sport Psychology, World Football

When Long-Term-Player-Development (LTPD) was introduced to soccer in Canada in 2008, one of its many goals was to shorten field sizes, game times and players on the field in accordance with what would be most beneficial for the development of children. Now, eleven years on from all the changes which have widely been accepted and … Continue reading Is U13 Too Early For 11v11?

How To Coach Pressing

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coaching, Formations, German Bundesliga, Managers, Premier League, UEFA Champions League, World Football

Pressing has become an increasingly important aspect to the modern game. Some of the most successful teams in the world play a high pressing game, including Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. As a result, it has received great attention worldwide and is beginning to be implemented everywhere as a strategy, including with young players. … Continue reading How To Coach Pressing

4-3-3 vs. 4-1-4-1: Tactical Flexibility

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Coaching, Formations, German Bundesliga, Managers, Masterclasses, UEFA Champions League, World Football

In the post 4-4-2 era, teams all over the world play a variety of different formations. These formations change game by game or even within games, so it is becomingly increasingly difficult to nail professional teams down to just one single formation. That being said, two of the most popular formations in the world right now are the tactically flexible 4-3-3 and 4-1-4-1, both of which have been used heavily by Pep Guardiola throughout his career. Ultimately the formation has to suit the players that you have and their developmental, psychological and physiological characteristics. But the 4-3-3 and 4-1-4-1 are two very similar formations. The 4-1-4-1 is perhaps a little more physically demanding and tactically complex, while the 4-3-3 is perhaps more rooted in wing-play and the collaboration of the midfield triangle. Although these formations are very similar, they can offer a team a completely different dynamic, depending on how a manger or coach wants to implement them. 

The Rise of the 3-1-4-2

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coaching, Formations, German Bundesliga, Premier League, UEFA Champions League, World Football

In terms of formations and tactics, one of the major surprises of the 2018-19 season in Europe has been the rise of the 3-1-4-2. Although the formation is only a very minor spin on the popular 3-5-2, seemingly a host of teams around Europe have implemented this formation, and not just in Italy where back-three … Continue reading The Rise of the 3-1-4-2