Fall 2009, Coaching Education Newsletter #7

In this week’s newsletter we address spatial awareness and passing options.  

Spatial Awareness
While watching high level soccer games, we sometimes notice a player looking over their shoulder before they receive the ball.  This player is trying to gain information to allow him/her to make a good decision in regards to playing the ball.  Checking while the ball is almost in possession is late.  The player needs to be aware of the space around him/her prior to the ball being played.  Scanning the field needs to be a constant at the highest level throughout the entire game.  The demands of the playing at a high level require players scan the entire field.

When players are aware of their position on the field relative to the ball, opposition, team mates, and the goal they have all of the information in hand to put themselves in a position to help their team.  Developing spatial awareness can start at the U8 age level by adding simple conditions to your activities.  We can be satisfied with U8 players if they can scan a five yard radius around themselves.  As players move develop and graduate to higher age levels they will need to be able to be aware of larger amounts of space.

Coaching with conditions:  Activity or game has an objective but players are required to meet the demands of an additional rule within the game or activit 

Conditions to use to develop spatial awareness

• Stop activities and ask players ‘Who is behind you’ while they are looking at you.
• Require players point to the closest opponent while in opposition games.
• Require players point to open space during games.
• Require players to talk out loud during play by announcing how much space they have prior to receiving the ball.

*Note:  Each condition allows the coach to see or hear part of the spatial awareness of the player. 

Suggestions

• Require players to open hips to the field whenever possible.
• Ask players to glance around continuously during play.
• Use Conditions above.
• Follow the animated progression below.

Only Coaches with a membership to the Animated Coach’s Library can view the activities in animation.  If you like any of these activities we have over 1000 animated in are member’s only site.

Who is behind you? Players dribble and pass the ball throughout a 15 yard by 15 yard grid and stop and look at the coach on command.  The coach then asks some of the players ‘Who is behind them’.
Where is the opposition? Players play 3v3 possession with the condition that each attacking player must point to the closest opponent.
Where is the open space?  Same as above, but the attacking players now point to open space close by.
3v3 talk aloud Players now play 3v3 with the condition that before receiving a ball the player must state aloud if the have no, little, some, or a lot of space.
6v6 You can use the condition from above to start, but by sure to take the condition off before ending the session.

Finding the best passing option
Coaches need to demand players make quick decisions when developing players passing ability.  Technique and tactics need to be combined for true development to occur. 

Suggestions

• Use dynamic activities that require players to make decisions while maximizing repetition. 
• Use the phrase ‘find the free player’.
• Make sure players understand the difference between passes to feet and passes to space. 
• Recognize coaching moments on technical issues of accuracy and correct pace.
• Recognize coaching moments on tactical issues of timing and options.
• Follow the animated progression below.

Only Coaches with a membership to the Animated Coach’s Library can view the activities in animation.  If you like any of these activities we have over 1000 animated in are member’s only site.

 Animated Coaching Progression

Find the free player Players are divided into groups of four and placed in a 10 yard by 10 yard grid.  Three take a position in an open corner, leaving one corner unoccupied (two of the players begin with a ball).  The remaining player starts in the middle of the grid and receives a ball and passes to the player in a corner without a ball.  When a player on the outside passes a ball they then run to the unoccupied corner.  The activity continues for 45 seconds and then roles change.
Find the right option Groups of four are combined to form a group of eight. In the same grid from above groups to two begin in each corner with one player starting with a ball.  The player passes to another line and moves to any line.  The restriction given is that the ball can’t be played to a corner with only one player.  How quick can the players play?
Find the space A 15 yard by 15 yard grid is divided in quadrants.  Players play 4v2 in this space and score by playing a ball into a different section of the quadrant for a player to receive on the move.  The ball must be played before the receiver enters the new quadrant.
6v6 with no square passes Player play 6v6 with the restriction of no square passes.
7v7 with only angled passing We now continue to restrict square passes but also restrict balls played straight up the field.

 Copyright, Soccer Source 360, 2009

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