Notes from MLS Soccer Camp

For U12/14 Coaches

Held on April 5, 2003

 

  1. Skill - Turns and maneuvers – crouyff, chop and pull-back turns
  2. Game – Sharks & Minnows – in marked off area, assign one player (without a ball) to be the shark and the rest of the players with balls to be the minnows.  The object is for the shark to kick out of the marked area the balls of the minnows.  The last minnow remaining is the winner and becomes the shark in the next game.  Progression – to shorten the game and make it more challenging, have minnows whose balls have been kicked out become sharks.
  3. Game – Red Light Green Light - practice in marked off area dribbling and turning skills by calling out green light (go), yellow (stop and practice a dribbling skill, and Red (stop).  Progression – have players practice maneuvers, such as the crouyff, chop and pull-back.
  4. Skill – volley pass – show kids how to properly pass the ball using inside of ankle with toe raised with foot square to the ball.  Hint:  get kids to stay on the ball of their foot instead of being flat-footed.
  5. Skill – foot trap – show kids how to receive and properly trap the ball with the inside of the ankle.  They should let the leg give as the ball is received to cushion the ball and prevent it from bouncing away.
  6. Drill – passing & trapping – have players line up opposing each other and practice passing and trapping the ball.
  7. Skill – chest traps – player should maneuver so that ball makes contact with the “V” where the collar bones meet.  Contact with the ball is cushioned so as to allow ball to fall in front of the player by bending knees and moving upper torso in a backward and downward motion.
  8. Game – Calling for the Ball – position two players, each with a ball, about 10 yards apart.  In-between, place two players, one an attacker (A) and one a defender (D).  The goal is for the attacker to maneuver into position to call for and receive passes from the players with the balls at both ends.  After receiving the ball, it should immediately be passed back (1-touch preferable).  Hints:  tell kids to be vocal and lively when calling for the pass.  They should be feigning moves to deceiving the defender thereby creating open space in which to receive the passes.  Defenders should stay approximately 1-arm’s length from the attacker.  After receiving and passing back the ball, the attacker should immediately move.

 

           

 

 

  1. Important note:  remember to give periodic water breaks.
  2. Warm ups and stretches.  Don’t really need a lot of warm up for kids in the 12-14 year old ages, but it’s still a good idea:

a.      Cross-legged “glute” stretches.  In sitting position, pull one leg up and cross over the other.  Pull knee toward yourself.

b.     Calf stretch – push up position w/ back foot flat

c.      Butterfly pull up – remember to breath deep!

d.      Cross leg – works hamstring

e.      Groin Stretch – back leg outstretched with foot perpendicular

f.      Quad Stretch – hold foot aloft in back.  Finger in ear helps with balance.

  1. Game – Doctor Doctor:  Game is played 5 v 5 plus one doctor for each team.  Set up a coned off area with two “clinic” areas at opposing corners of the area.  Each player (except the 2 doctors) is provided a ball.  The goal is to kick the ball and hit an opposing player below the waist.  When that occurs, the player falls ill and must fall down and cry “doctor doctor”.  To heal a player, so that he/she may return to play, the doctor must tap the player on the shoulder.  The doctor is safe in his/her corner clinic.  However, if struck when out of the clinic, the doctor is out ill and since there’s only one doctor per team no additional players on that team may be healed.  The team which knocks out all the opposing players first wins.

 

 

                

 

 

  1. Game – Mark off playing area with 4-goals, one in each corner.  Adjust width of goals to suit player ability (smaller for more skilled players, wider for coaches!).  Two teams of 4-6 players attack the goals at the opposite end.  To score a goal, a player must pass the ball through a goal and have it be received by one of his/her teammates.  No keepers are allowed to goal tend.  Game can also be played such that any team can attack any of the 4-goals.  This game teaches players about field dimension and looking for passing & receiving opportunities.

 

 

                     

 

 

  1. Important point:  In the U10 & U12 ages, it’s important to encourage and allow kids to play all positions.  This will help them develop well-rounded soccer skills.
  2. Skill - Communication between players on the field is critical for success.
  3. Drill – Time vs. Man On – This drill helps teach players effective communication skills and the need to support teammates.  Line players up in pairs opposing each other about 10-15 yards apart.  One player has a ball.  The player passes the ball to his/her teammate and calls out either “time” or “man on”.  This indicates that that there is no immediate defensive threat or that there is an imminent threat.  If no threat exists, “time”, the player should receive the ball and with a single touch of the ball turn and survey the field to look for the next passing opportunity.  If a defensive threat exists, “man on”, the player immediately moves away from his/her current position while keeping the ball protected from the defensive player assumedly approaching from behind.
  4. Hint:  Teach players that when turning to defend the ball, it’s best to turn with the stronger side (leg) away from the defender. 
  5. Hint:  A player who is going for an open ball should call to his/her teammates to let them know that he/she has it.  Never pass off responsibility for a ball to a teammate.  Always vie for the ball unless that teammate waives you off.
  6. Skill – Defending – The defender should remain about an arms length away from an attacking player in a sideway angled stance poised on the balls of the feet.  Attacking players should be steered toward the sidelines of the field.  This is accomplished by remaining to the field side of the attacker with the body angled downfield toward the touchline.  The defending player should maintain their distance until the attacking player commits.  At this point, the defender should attempt to steal the ball via a “poke” or tackle of the ball.
  7. Game – Attack and Defend – The goal is for the attacking player to get by the defending player and cross over the end of the playing area with the ball under his/her control (within playing distance).

 

 

          

 

  1.  Game – The Wall – The goal of this game is to teach the use of wall passes as a means of moving the ball past a defender.  Mark off about a 5 yd X 10 yd play area.  Position an attacker with a ball at one end and a defender at the other.  Two wall players are placed midway along the play touchline.  The wall players are allowed to move only along the touchline.  To score the attacker must deliver the ball and stop it on the goal line at the far end.  Two points are scored if the ball is passed once off a wall player.  One point is scored if passed off a wall player two or more times or if the attacker scores without use of a wall pass.  An attacking player may request that a ball be immediately passed back by calling out “check” to the wall player.  A defender who tackles the ball may also score by any of the means described above.  After a score, the ball in put into play by the opposing player.  Play is typically timed with a given attacker/defending pair playing no more than 5-minutes and then rotating with the wall players.

 

 

        

 

 

  1. Skill – Use of the scissor move is an effective way to deceive a defender on which direction the ball will be taken.
  2.  Hint – Teach players to pass with both their left and right feet using both the inside and outside of the foot.
  3.  Skill – Striking through the ball – This is used to deliver the ball over long distances and/or with speed and power.  When striking through the ball, the instep of the foot (shoe laces) makes contact with the ball.  When approaching the ball, the non-shooting foot is planted directly next to the ball pointed in the direction the ball is to be shot.  To maximize power, the player’s body should continue in a forward motion through the kick.  Hint:  practice this skill without a ball to give the player the feel of the motion.  Hint:  Taking a deep breath before striking the ball will relax the player.  Hint:  Player should look up at the frame of the goal before looking down and maintaining eye contact on the ball while kicking.
  4.  Drill – Pass, Decoy & Driving Shot – This drill employs a number of the skills learned including:  passing, trapping, wall shots and a driving shot on the ball.  To set up for the drill, lay out three cones approximately 10 yds apart in a triangular shape.  Four players will be required:  Attacker A, Wall B, Wall C and a Goal Keeper.  The following sequence is followed for this drill:

1.       Attacker A passes to Wall B and immediately begins a run forward to the right of Wall B.

2.     Wall B passes the ball back to Attacker A and immediately turns and runs to the left as a decoy.   Hint:  To be effective, the decoy must be looking back to Attacker A as if expecting a pass.

3.     Upon receiving the pass, Attacker A passes the ball to Wall C and continues his run downfield.

4.     Wall C passes the ball to Attacker A

5.     Attacker takes a driving shot on goal.