FUNdamental Coach – Have you added any unique ideas to our ‘9-Step Practice Routine? Why not share them with our readership? Send us the changes you have made that worked with your team(s).
Adding another P... by Bill Hooper
FUNdamental Soccer Coach
I hope you don't mind, but I added another P to your Push, Peek, Pass sequence. After using this (even having the players say it out loud). I realized that many of my players were doing each step properly but then stopping.
That is, they would Push the ball forward and give themselves time to Peek (Read the Game). Then they would Pass the ball and come to an almost complete STOP. Many took a split second to watch where the ball was travelling. I wanted my players to ‘immediately’ either:
· Get into a good defensive position.
· Get into a good attacking position.
In other words I wanted them to continue being active after releasing the ball.
I decided to add and found it very successful to add another P to your original sequence. The 'new' P stood for 'Positioning.'
I now ask my players to say and carry out 'Positioning’ when they are 'Serving' the ball
The following is from a workbook I give each player at the beginning of the season:
After going around ‘the Serve’ pattern and you are ready to pass the ball. Use the following sequence of words, “PUSH” – “PEAK” – “PASS” – “POSITION”
PUSH the ball slightly in front of you.
Far enough to be able to get the eyes up and ‘read the field’ before an opponent could touch the ball.
PEEK to ‘read the field.’
If you aren’t in a position to shoot, look for your teammates who are in the best position to received the ball and have a shot on goal?
Things to look for:
-Where am I on the field?
-Where is the goal we are attacking?
-Where are my teammates?
-Where are the opponents?
PASS the ball so that your teammate can easily control the ball. Don’t make it hard for him, he’s on your team!
POSITION yourself to either:
· Get into a good attacking position.
· Get into a good defensive position.
VERY IMPORTANT: Once you have released the ball the game is not over! You must Look and either Move into a POSITION to support your teammate with the ball. Or, Move into a good defending POSITION between the goal, the ball or the opponent!
FUNdamental Coach – Have you added any unique ideas to our ‘9-Step Practice Routine? Why not share them with our readership? Send us the changes you have made that worked with your team(s).
Send your ideas to: jdfunsoccer@comcast.net
