Simple and fun drills to improve touch.
Today's focus; One and two touch passing.
Requires two players, one ball.
Start with the ball on the ground, players 10 to 20 yards apart.
1) Play simple inside of the foot pass to partner. Trap and play back. After 20 to 25 warm -up passes begin to increase speed the of the passes. Not too hard to handle but with good pace and accurate. Work on a good well placed trap that allows the receiver to play the ball very quickly. The drill becomes quick release (or speed of play) well weighted pass (a pass with a little hot sauce) that is accurate and well placed.
2) Work on returning passes on the first touch. Play one touch when you can or when the pass you receive allows and two touch when you must. Work on accurate, well paced/weighted balls. This will increase speed of play.
3) Advanced: Back to square 1, but now it becomes a juggling drill. Players 10 to 15 yards apart. Play ball in the air. Work on a good trap that allows a good accurate pass back. (work on trajectory, don't play balls 20 yards high, make the passes easy to handle but with some thought and pace) It may take two touches to gain control before player can pass back. Don't worry about the ball bouncing either after the initial trap or on the pass back, try to keep the "juggle" alive and try to make accurate passes.
Over time players will be able to execute with the ball rarely touching the ground and will be playing balls one touch out of the air.
The goal is to be able to play balls 1 and 2 touch as required with players 15 to 20 yards apart with the ball never touching the ground. Count the passes made without the ball touching the ground.

UEFA.com
Think UEFA Cup

This comes from a good friend of mine. He is out to change the world one ball at a time. I am confident he can do it because I've seen him play midfield. I think he is already making an impact, with a little help from his friends.

The Power of the Ball:

Take a look at this slide show of our trip to Niger, the pictures say it all.

Pictures of Project Play, Feb 2008
http://niger.myphotoalbum.com/slideshow.php?set_albumName=album01&utm_source=share&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=slideshow

These people explain why the soccer ball is a very powerful tool against poverty and violence!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSqVETszHrs

Semis kick off in Glasgow and MunichWednesday 16 April 2008


Rangers FC and ACF Fiorentina will re-enact a European final while FC Zenit St. Petersburg gun for favourites FC Bayern München in the UEFA Cup semi-finals.
Famous finalRangers and Fiorentina met back in 1960/61, in the two-legged final of the first UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, but it will be a tie that few at Ibrox would care to remember. The Scottish giants lost 2-0 at home against their Italian rivals, and were beaten again in the second leg, 2-1. Walter Smith's side can now avenge that defeat as the Fiorentina class of 2008 make the trip to Glasgow.
Similar sidesFormer Rangers and Fiorentina player Lorenzo Amoruso said: "Fiorentina have the quality of Adrian Mutu but their main strength is the collective game. Rangers have good players like Barry Ferguson and Kris Boyd, but above all, it is the unity that works well for them and gives them the edge. I don't know who will progress, but I do know I am going to watch a fantastic couple of games."
Zenit hopefulZenit are the only team in the last four never to have won a major European title but that will not deter them as they visit Bayern for the first leg. Impressive winners at Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the quarter-finals when they defeated their hosts 4-1, Dick Advocaat's men have no reason to fear a trip to Germany. If Zenit can ensure the tie is still in the balance after the first leg, Ottmar Hitzfeld's side will have plenty to do in Russia as the semi-finals conclude on 1 May

http://www.lacancha.com/brazilianmethod.html

http://www.d-videos.com/tags/ronaldinio

A high level of individual skill in each player is what every coach wants and is what it takes to play at the highest level.
Developing individual skills is often thought to take away from developing a team concept or working toward the team goal. Or maybe more to the point, we coaches tend to focus on team and let the individual fend for their self.
Combining both individual skill work in a team tactic settting takes thought, time and energy. - but it can be done.
Tactics are developed over time taking small steps toward the ultimate goal. Each step along the way may, and probably should, involve a certain set of drills and exercises that perfect a concept, such as a give and go drill or patterns. Within these drills it is essential that skill be emphasiszed at each station and at every opportunity. Don't let a bad trap go, don't let a bad pass be OK. Start it over and demand that the pass and trap be executed properly. It may take more time initially, but with consistency eventually players will know what is expected and will meet those expectations.
A great skill drill is the Ajax triangle passing drill. Explaned simply below it can become dynamic in it's process and benefits. Expanded the triangle can lead to a through pass and a cross to goal where an attacker is moving into position to finish.
In practices we often form two groups on either side of the field at the midline and run the triangle. By expanding the drill or adding an extra pass to the end of the drill, we add a through pass to the flag and the player on the end of the pass crosses the ball on goal. With good timing and thought, that same player who just took the through ball and hit a cross now moves into position to recieve the cross from the other side of the field (from the other group/triangle).
THe key is timing; watching the other group for the queue to start the first pass of the drill so as to be synchronized and have the two sides/triangles flow as one drill, while teaching timing/patience - when to run and when to fade so as not to crowd or close space too early - and ideally working on passing and recieving skills so vital to the game.

Ajax triangle:
Form a triangle, roughly 15 yards, players start at point A, and one each at points B and C. Player at point A passes to player at point B and follows his pass with expectation to get the ball back. Player at point B moves to ball to recieve and plays back to the A , preferably two touch, and moves to next space between B and C. B receives second pass from A, then plays to point C and finishes his run. Player at point C either receives to feet or through pass home to point A. Keep lines short or players tend to fall asleep. Passing using the right foot on counterclockwise, left foot on clockwise. Coaching points: receive on the far foot (the one away from hypothetical pressure) & pass with the other foot (right for counterclockwise, left for clockwise); weight and accuracy of the pass; speed of the run. So many variations....

Developing a team takes thought, time and energy. Tactics need to to be developed over time taking small steps and making sure step A is conquered before moving on to B. Consistency in coaching technique and approach needs to be applied and sophistication or depth of tactics needs to be added incrementally on to the foundation.
Too often we coaches get ahead of ourselves in an effort to implement a system that will promote tactical play and we forget about the fundamentals and skills required to execute those tactics.
It is just as important if not more important to develop skills at every level in order to continue to raise the level of play on the field. Every session should incorporate ball skills. A time set aside to really focus on controlling and handling the ball. It's such an important and beautiful part of the game! Yet skills should have meaning. Doing something useful and well thought out with the ball is the key. Drills should incorporate skills as well as fundamental tactics.
A simple give and go drill can turn into a useful defensive drill while teaching players how to execute a give and go while being defended.
Start simple. Form a triangle and get the ball moving 1 touch and two touch. At some point when A plays the ball to B, A will attack B and B must pass to C and run past A to receive the ball back from C. Timing is key; B must hold the ball long enough to draw A in but not too long as to allow A to close down the passing lane or tackle the ball. The passes must be executed quickly and precisely. So as not to be predictable B can sometimes fake the pass and carry the ball past A into space or fake the pass and play the ball past A to C in the next space. Players should take turns defending and attacking. Make the drill flow, keep the ball moving and switch rolls often and quickly.
The drill should start passively and become more competitive as players become more accustomed to the exercise.
Phase 2 of this drill is to have A track B to denie B from getting the ball back, thus defending the Give and Go. So; A plays to B, A closes down on B to force the pass or tackle the ball; if B passes and runs A tracks B cutting off passing lane while looking for ball and intercepts if possible.

Great warm up. Emphasize sharp well weighted passes to the proper side of the body and tight traps to usable space and/or away from pressure.