We plan the soccer training with the tactical periodization. The soccer training must receive an extreme importance to tactical level, treating all the aspects that the trainer of football wants that they happen (game model) inside the area of game in the different moments that the football possesses (offensive moment, defensive moment, transition attacks - defense and transition defense - attacks).
Currently I coach an adult recreational team where I don't plan training sessions. Previously I coached pre-teens. Because of the age the planning was different, but I think it is typical of plans for pre-teens. In terms of planning in the US we talk of four areas: technical, tactical, fitness and mentality. There was no periodization because of the age. Normally we had two practice sessions and one match per week. While I was considering tactics in planning, my focus was on technical. I would pick a theme for each session normally involving two skills (for instance dribbling and tackling or passing and receiving). I used the same session format generally (warmup/technical drill/SSG/scrimmage/cool down). I would then plan the specific exercises that would provide the focus on the chosen skills. The players would move from a focus on demonstrating perfect technique in warmup, to repetition of technique in drill, to using the technique in small groups, and finally to using the technique in match like conditions of the scrimmage where creativity is not limited except by match conditions. Using the SSG and scrimmage format provided opportunity for players to use all skills so that prior training sessions would be reinforced. Using the scrimmage format provided opportunity for players to perform advanced techniques and tactics under match conditions (e.g., the training plan is not going to hold back or bore the team's more advanced players or reduce the competitiveness of the session). Tactics, fitness, and mentality were all considered in my planning and execution and those four areas were improved by my coaching, but as secondary results of the technical training sessions. For instance I planned and controlled the work to rest ratios to improve fitness over time. Regarding mentality my planning for this aspect was in how I would conduct myself as well of the substance of my instructions during the contact time.
Planning for practices is all done during the offseason. After the season ends, I make several notes concerning each player's development and a summary of strengths/weaknesses. From there I look for a trend through the team and take some time for learning material/research related to areas that I'd like to work on. After researching, reading books or articles, watching coaching videos, etc., then I'm ready to start planning practices for the next session. This approach typically has been leaving me with more material than I need to plan out the progression in the next session, so that's the time to set goals for the team. These goals help to me to decide which activities will fit best into the basic format that rca2 described very well above. My basic format is very similar. Warm-up consists of repetitive technical work. For example, the current warm-up for the U8 team involves dribbling technique for close ball control at speed, slowly going from a light jog to full sprint, followed by stations to work on several areas - fakes, throw-ins, 1v1, cuts, etc. The next activity and SSG will depend the goals for the season. For example, the U8 team (as typical) struggles with spacing. So we're working through a 3v0 to 3v3 SSG progression as described in some materials from Horst Wein that I came across over the winter. The no restriction scrimmage is maybe the most important part of the practice as this is the evaluation time for the coach - did the kids get it? It's also important for the players as many don't get that free play time with soccer. Be certain to always allow enough time for the scrimmage, it cannot be an after-thought. For cool down I go back to dribbling warm-up in reverse order of intensity. Dribbling is the most important ball skill in the game IMHO, so we make it priority. I actually have gone to planning the entire season's practices before the start, which makes it very easy to build in the progressions to meet our goals. It also makes it easy when it comes to the busy time during the season - nothing to prepare each week gives me time to focus on other details. Of course the plans typically require changes as we go, such as the kids are picking up the 3v3 progression much faster than I anticipated, so we've been able to skip some of the repeating steps as I had originally planned and move ahead faster. But by not needing to worry so much about what we're going to do, I have plenty of time to make these observations and corrections.
Monkey, can I hear some more about 3v0 for spacing? Is that someone on the wing playing a ball to two attackers going to goal? Thanks
It was a couple of videos I got from the local library while going through most of the available soccer coaching materials there. This one seemed like a nice simple progression to working spacing and ball movement toward goal. The progression is pretty simple. All of the play is set-up on a 20x30 field with 4 goals and a line about 5-6 yards from the goals. The first step is to have players set in 3 spots across one end line with one ball. They are to get the ball to the other side and score in either goal with the rules that everyone must touch the ball at least once and must use a pass to cross the line in front of the goals. After they get a feel for that, then have other groups going the opposite direction at the same time. Then the players have to change positions, followed by a challenge to see which can be fastest. After that, introduce one defender to beat in front of them. Followed by one from behind. Once they've mastered working against the two defenders, add a 3rd from the side. All the time, keep the same basic passing rules to get to a score. Once they are comfortable beating the 3 defenders, the players are ready for the 3v3 SSGs in the same field space. So far it's taken my group about 5 practices of this activity to get to 2 defenders, but we only spend about 15 minutes or so on it each practice. The players were bored by the basic stuff, but we saw an immediate improvement in their spacing as well as their passing and movement after just the basic passing to get down the field. Realize though that this is a group of 12 U8s where 9 have been with me for at least 2 years and 5 for even longer. The 3 new players this year were quickly mixed in - having to raise their level to keep up with everyone else. In that time we've worked their individual ball control to the point that they are comfortable keeping it close and looking for options while under pressure. Still over a third of our practice time is spent working on individual ball control, dribbling, 1v1, or 2 player combination activities, and there are several more advanced skills that we haven't touched on yet that most aren't ready for.
For better or worse, I've broken away from the USSF model of single-topic, warm-up/technical/SSG/scrimmage model. Not that I think that i'm doing it better, I just looked at what my team needs and the logistics (shitty attendance) and plan accordingly. Warm-up addresses some need that I see in the previous game or ongoing problem. Then we do two segments of small-sided game type activities with usually the same topic but sometimes it varies (but it's usually complementary). Finally, we end with a scrimmage, but with attendance the way it's been I've been limited to mostly SSG (4v4/5v5).
Thanks for the reply. Just to clarify, is this a pass into space in the area for someone to run onto OR a pass across the line ie cross or square ball?
The pass must be across the line. No requirement on if that's in front of a player or to one already on the other side. With no defenders, it tends to be a leading pass, but it varies a bit more as they're learning of different ways to beat a defender.
When I am demonstrating something for other coaches or being tested at a licensing course, I follow this model very strictly. When I am working with my team, I might occasionally follow this model, but more often I deviate. I think the important thing is to go from simple to complex and to present more decision-making challenges to the players as the session goes on.
Well to a certain extent you are tied to that sequence. Unless you are dealing with senior players and can do periodization. Otherwise you pack all the training into one session. If you are doing speed and agility work or doing technical work during that practice, it has to be at the beginning of the practice while the players are fresh. And you can incorporate those goals into your warmup, so its pretty efficient. And in most development situations, you are going to want to spend some time on agility and ball skills. Given that those types of training won't benefit a tired player, you shouldn't plan to spend more than 5-10 minutes on the areas with novices. If the players tire or the technique degenerates, you should cut the drills short. So you are kind of stuck with that progression. Occasionally I would plan something different (for example working on tactics with shadow play or do some circuit training).