[NOTE: In 3v3 soccer, your last player (defender) should refrain from risky moves unless they are very practiced. I constantly encourage the forwards to have fun with these fancy moves.]
Here are more, advanced moves my players had fun with. I'm not going to explain these moves because there are many tutorials on youtube that can show you how to do them, but this puts a name for the move if you want to find more examples:
1) Rabona, a cross-under kick that can allow you to be 45 degrees in front of the ball and still kick the ball forward.
My son showing a Rabona, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo, Pelé and Maradona...
2) Hocus Pocus, similar to the Rabona except a sharper cut that keeps the ball close to your body. Keeping your foot pointed toward the ground can help.
My son showing the Hocus Pocus, followed by Ronaldinho and Ronaldo...
3) Sombrero, a juggle that goes over your opponent’s head and you run around your opponent and collect the ball behind him or her. We practice this move by tossing the ball at the player while another player runs in.
My son showing a sombrero, followed by Robinho and Pelé...
4) Rainbow [Really cool if you can rainbow the ball over the defender and into a goal!]
Ilhan Mansiz rainbows...
5) Cow, a pass around the defender where the ball goes one way and the player runs around his opponent the opposite way to collect the ball behind his opponent. While this is a fairly simple move, the way Ronaldinho does it, receiving a pass and one touching the ball so it goes one way while he goes the other, that's beautiful...
6) Bicycle Kick
Maradona setting up his own bicycle kick and Pelé performing a common bicycle kick...
7) Scorpion Kick
Here’s a clip of René Higuita, the famous Columbian goalie, performing a scorpion kick as a ‘cheeky’ defensive maneuver, however this can be used anywhere on the field, including to score a goal...
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Chaos dribbling drill...
This is another fun drill. It teaches keeping the ball close while dribbling through traffic.
Required: All players, the more, the better. Each player should have a ball. Parents can join in as well.
Setup: Make a square small enough to fit everyone in the drill (four cones will work). All players line up along the outside of the square, with all four sides having players.
Drill: When the coach says go, everyone dribbles through the square at the same time, weaving through traffic, to the other side and back again. You try to avoid all other players or balls. The first one back to where he or she started, with their ball, wins.
Variation: Instead of dribbling just once, you can have players dribble back and forth several times.
Hint: Players should keep the ball close, using all their dribbling skills, i.e. inside, outside, brushing, cuts, etc...
Required: All players, the more, the better. Each player should have a ball. Parents can join in as well.
Setup: Make a square small enough to fit everyone in the drill (four cones will work). All players line up along the outside of the square, with all four sides having players.
Drill: When the coach says go, everyone dribbles through the square at the same time, weaving through traffic, to the other side and back again. You try to avoid all other players or balls. The first one back to where he or she started, with their ball, wins.
Variation: Instead of dribbling just once, you can have players dribble back and forth several times.
Hint: Players should keep the ball close, using all their dribbling skills, i.e. inside, outside, brushing, cuts, etc...
Topic:
3v3 soccer practice,
fun soccer drills
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Running/throwing/dribbling drill...
This drill is one of the easiest, most fun, and effective drills you can run. Players absolutely love this drill and it teaches them to dribble without looking at the ball and running backwards.
Required: Two players and two balls.
Setup: The two players face each other, somewhat apart. The player who will start running backwards holds his ball while the other player will dribble his ball with his feet towards the backward running player.
Drill: When the player starts backwards, he tosses his ball at the dribbling player (like a basketball pass to the chest), who must catch the ball and toss it back while continuing to dribble after the player running backwards. Once they cross the field, the players run back in their same path and position, except now the player who started backwards is now the dribbler while the other player is only catching and tossing the ball.
This drill is even more fun when the players race against other teammates. I usually switch players around so they run with different teammates.
My sons showing the running/throwing/dribbling drill...
Required: Two players and two balls.
Setup: The two players face each other, somewhat apart. The player who will start running backwards holds his ball while the other player will dribble his ball with his feet towards the backward running player.
Drill: When the player starts backwards, he tosses his ball at the dribbling player (like a basketball pass to the chest), who must catch the ball and toss it back while continuing to dribble after the player running backwards. Once they cross the field, the players run back in their same path and position, except now the player who started backwards is now the dribbler while the other player is only catching and tossing the ball.
This drill is even more fun when the players race against other teammates. I usually switch players around so they run with different teammates.
My sons showing the running/throwing/dribbling drill...
Topic:
3v3 soccer practice,
fun soccer drills
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Practicing 3v3 Soccer: Structured Practices
I have six parts to my practices.
1) Dribbling and shooting, our warm-up.
I set up two rows of cones with a goal on each end. The players dribble through the cones and shoot at the goals. For dribbling we do many variations: a) any method, b) right foot only, c) left foot only, d) outside of feet only, e) brushing only, f) backwards, g) over the ball, etc… The key point in dribbling is keeping the ball close. The key point in shooting is looking at your target first before looking down at the ball.
2) Moves
Next I teach 1v1 moves by having them all stand in a line facing me, dribbling across the field and showing the move. I’ve already posted good 1v1 moves, but here are some warm-ups we do.
3) Drills
Here’s where we do simple drills, which I’ll go into more detail in the next post. Some of my favorites are gauntlet, obstacle courses, learning 3v3 plays, and running/throwing/dribbling.
4) 1v1
I make a very small field (like 20 yds x 20 yds), with goals. I throw in a ball, and the players, standing on either side of me, rush in and begin play. The focus is on seeing moves and good defending (no stabbing, but waiting for the player and ball to separate before attacking).
5) Scrimmage, Strategies or Games
Most of the time it is just a 3v3 soccer scrimmage. Before a tournament we focus on plays. For fun days, to change it up, I bring soccer tennis or we play sand soccer (playing on one side of a beach volleyball court), or other games I’ll go into more detail in another post.
6) Sprints - a few sprints after practice. Sometimes I teach proper running techniques, or they wear a harness and pull a weight while running.
As you can tell, my practices can run long, but I keep it fun by bringing many devices that keep practice interesting; the most important of these being goals, backstops and sometimes painting the field.
Having real goals instead of cones or orange flags makes practicing fun. Your players also get used to rebounds off the goal, which doesn’t happen with cones or flags.
A backstop (same as a baseball pitch back), allows players who are waiting in lines or waiting for 1v1 turns to juggle against the backstop. I also use the backstop for chipping over it, wall passes in drills, and a really fun pre-warmup drill for early arriving players, but I'll post that later.
Before tournaments, I come out early and paint actual fields on the grass, painting boxes in front of the goals as well. The fastest way to do this is to already have rope with loops in the correct length. (To make a loop, hold the rope in a loop shape and make a simple overhand knot.) All you need is one side of the field because you duplicate it, and you can use the tiny orange flags from Home Depot to hold the loops in the ground while you spray field paint next to the rope. I do the same with the box, but for circles, I place the end of a looped line in the middle of the circle, held in place by a flag, and with my hand holding the paint can and the rope, I make a circle by keeping the rope tight.
You'll notice I bring other items too, to make my practices fun; but I think that, and trying to teach fancy moves, makes them really like practice. I've often heard new players (who we invited to our practice) tell my players how cool our practices were. One player told me, “I like practicing with you.” A parent told me her son never talked about his other practices, but he always talked about what we did in ours.
1) Dribbling and shooting, our warm-up.
I set up two rows of cones with a goal on each end. The players dribble through the cones and shoot at the goals. For dribbling we do many variations: a) any method, b) right foot only, c) left foot only, d) outside of feet only, e) brushing only, f) backwards, g) over the ball, etc… The key point in dribbling is keeping the ball close. The key point in shooting is looking at your target first before looking down at the ball.
2) Moves
Next I teach 1v1 moves by having them all stand in a line facing me, dribbling across the field and showing the move. I’ve already posted good 1v1 moves, but here are some warm-ups we do.
3) Drills
Here’s where we do simple drills, which I’ll go into more detail in the next post. Some of my favorites are gauntlet, obstacle courses, learning 3v3 plays, and running/throwing/dribbling.
4) 1v1
I make a very small field (like 20 yds x 20 yds), with goals. I throw in a ball, and the players, standing on either side of me, rush in and begin play. The focus is on seeing moves and good defending (no stabbing, but waiting for the player and ball to separate before attacking).
5) Scrimmage, Strategies or Games
Most of the time it is just a 3v3 soccer scrimmage. Before a tournament we focus on plays. For fun days, to change it up, I bring soccer tennis or we play sand soccer (playing on one side of a beach volleyball court), or other games I’ll go into more detail in another post.
6) Sprints - a few sprints after practice. Sometimes I teach proper running techniques, or they wear a harness and pull a weight while running.
As you can tell, my practices can run long, but I keep it fun by bringing many devices that keep practice interesting; the most important of these being goals, backstops and sometimes painting the field.
Having real goals instead of cones or orange flags makes practicing fun. Your players also get used to rebounds off the goal, which doesn’t happen with cones or flags.
A backstop (same as a baseball pitch back), allows players who are waiting in lines or waiting for 1v1 turns to juggle against the backstop. I also use the backstop for chipping over it, wall passes in drills, and a really fun pre-warmup drill for early arriving players, but I'll post that later.
Before tournaments, I come out early and paint actual fields on the grass, painting boxes in front of the goals as well. The fastest way to do this is to already have rope with loops in the correct length. (To make a loop, hold the rope in a loop shape and make a simple overhand knot.) All you need is one side of the field because you duplicate it, and you can use the tiny orange flags from Home Depot to hold the loops in the ground while you spray field paint next to the rope. I do the same with the box, but for circles, I place the end of a looped line in the middle of the circle, held in place by a flag, and with my hand holding the paint can and the rope, I make a circle by keeping the rope tight.
You'll notice I bring other items too, to make my practices fun; but I think that, and trying to teach fancy moves, makes them really like practice. I've often heard new players (who we invited to our practice) tell my players how cool our practices were. One player told me, “I like practicing with you.” A parent told me her son never talked about his other practices, but he always talked about what we did in ours.
Topic:
3v3 soccer practice
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Effective 1v1 moves, open field, EXPERT skill required:
[NOTE: In 3v3 Soccer, your last player (defender) should refrain from risky moves unless they are very practiced. I constantly encourage the forwards to have fun with these fancy moves.]
Again, these moves are somewhat complicated, but I’ll try my best to describe them. When executed correctly, spectators usually go wild!
1) Ronaldo. Named after the Brazilian. I’ve seen defenders actually turn and run in the wrong direction, completely baffled.
This move is like a pass to yourself. With your right foot forward and over the ball (and slightly in front of the ball), brush the ball back toward your left foot, which should be under your body, at the same time keeping your right foot forward and in the air. Your left ankle punches the ball forward (usually with a hop), toward the defender. Since your right foot is still hovering out in front, it can redirect the ball toward the left, right and even straight.
To practice this move, I have the player pass the ball back to himself, punch it forward and step on the ball. In other words, right foot passes back, left ankle punches forward, and right foot stops ball by stepping on it. This move is effective because defenders see the ball coming toward them and hear the kick, but at the last moment, your hovering foot redirects. And if you punch the ball, slightly angled toward the opposite direction of which you're really going to go, you can make the defender turn in the wrong direction.
Once you get it, this move is actually easier while on the run. My son showing the Ronaldo, followed by Ronaldo...
2) Pedalada. Robinho is the true master of this move, the multiple scissors.
The scissors is when your foot first moves behind the ball then around and out in front, coming to rest beside the ball again. A Pedalada is effective because your feet are moving around the ball and at anytime you can move your foot slightly and cut the ball with either your right or left foot, using the inside or outside of either foot. While this is a common move, most players kick the ball forward and then try to catch up to the ball to do their scissors. This isn’t ideal.
The best way to start a Pedalada, especially on a small field, is to stand over and slightly in front of the ball (your bottom over the ball), with one foot far forward. Your back foot brushes the ball forward and steps on the outside of the ball, thereby being the first scissor. In other words, you don’t need to send the ball first, your brush is what gets the ball rolling, and since you’re already over the ball, you’ve jumped right into your Pedalada thus eliminating the need for space.
My son showing the Pedalada, followed by Robinho...
3) Roulette. Zidane is the master of this move.
Some people call this the helicopter, where you spin over the ball. Most youth players do it incorrectly because they simply do a 360 over a ball that moves in a straight line. This move is more effective when the ball actually moves off path. And while a roulette can be done on the run, you can also do it from a stand still. This is the method I will describe.
Push the ball diagonally (forward/left) with the inside of your right foot, across your body and then stop the ball with your toe. The ball should be away from your body, your leg extended. Next, rake the ball back on the same path (diagonally back/right) with your right foot as you start to spin your body counterclockwise. As you spin, your left foot steps on the ball (that your right foot sent back) and brushes it forward/right. By now you should have spun about 330. You dribble in that new direction.
This move really works well when a defender challenges from the side. Your raking foot should be the one closest to your defender because you don’t want to shield the ball from your opponent. You're teasing them to go after the ball. So, if they come in from your right, you rake the ball back with your right, spin your back toward the defender, and cut in an angle somewhat in the direction your defender had just come from. This allows you to use their momentum against them, and use your spinning arms/elbows to push off your opponent.
My son showing the Roulette, followed by Zidane on the run...
4) Elastico. Ronaldinho is the master of this move. An optical illusion move where the ball appears stuck to the player's foot.
Stand behind the ball with your feet together. With your kicking foot, push the ball with the outside of your foot, away from your body. [HINT: It’s easier if you point your toes toward the ground.] As you push the ball, your pushing foot works its way around the ball. [HINT: Knicking the back edge of the ball with your foot is another way to get around the ball.] Once your foot is on the outside of the ball, cut the ball back with the inside of your foot.
My son showing the Elastico, followed by Ronaldinho...
Again, these moves are somewhat complicated, but I’ll try my best to describe them. When executed correctly, spectators usually go wild!
1) Ronaldo. Named after the Brazilian. I’ve seen defenders actually turn and run in the wrong direction, completely baffled.
This move is like a pass to yourself. With your right foot forward and over the ball (and slightly in front of the ball), brush the ball back toward your left foot, which should be under your body, at the same time keeping your right foot forward and in the air. Your left ankle punches the ball forward (usually with a hop), toward the defender. Since your right foot is still hovering out in front, it can redirect the ball toward the left, right and even straight.
To practice this move, I have the player pass the ball back to himself, punch it forward and step on the ball. In other words, right foot passes back, left ankle punches forward, and right foot stops ball by stepping on it. This move is effective because defenders see the ball coming toward them and hear the kick, but at the last moment, your hovering foot redirects. And if you punch the ball, slightly angled toward the opposite direction of which you're really going to go, you can make the defender turn in the wrong direction.
Once you get it, this move is actually easier while on the run. My son showing the Ronaldo, followed by Ronaldo...
2) Pedalada. Robinho is the true master of this move, the multiple scissors.
The scissors is when your foot first moves behind the ball then around and out in front, coming to rest beside the ball again. A Pedalada is effective because your feet are moving around the ball and at anytime you can move your foot slightly and cut the ball with either your right or left foot, using the inside or outside of either foot. While this is a common move, most players kick the ball forward and then try to catch up to the ball to do their scissors. This isn’t ideal.
The best way to start a Pedalada, especially on a small field, is to stand over and slightly in front of the ball (your bottom over the ball), with one foot far forward. Your back foot brushes the ball forward and steps on the outside of the ball, thereby being the first scissor. In other words, you don’t need to send the ball first, your brush is what gets the ball rolling, and since you’re already over the ball, you’ve jumped right into your Pedalada thus eliminating the need for space.
My son showing the Pedalada, followed by Robinho...
3) Roulette. Zidane is the master of this move.
Some people call this the helicopter, where you spin over the ball. Most youth players do it incorrectly because they simply do a 360 over a ball that moves in a straight line. This move is more effective when the ball actually moves off path. And while a roulette can be done on the run, you can also do it from a stand still. This is the method I will describe.
Push the ball diagonally (forward/left) with the inside of your right foot, across your body and then stop the ball with your toe. The ball should be away from your body, your leg extended. Next, rake the ball back on the same path (diagonally back/right) with your right foot as you start to spin your body counterclockwise. As you spin, your left foot steps on the ball (that your right foot sent back) and brushes it forward/right. By now you should have spun about 330. You dribble in that new direction.
This move really works well when a defender challenges from the side. Your raking foot should be the one closest to your defender because you don’t want to shield the ball from your opponent. You're teasing them to go after the ball. So, if they come in from your right, you rake the ball back with your right, spin your back toward the defender, and cut in an angle somewhat in the direction your defender had just come from. This allows you to use their momentum against them, and use your spinning arms/elbows to push off your opponent.
My son showing the Roulette, followed by Zidane on the run...
4) Elastico. Ronaldinho is the master of this move. An optical illusion move where the ball appears stuck to the player's foot.
Stand behind the ball with your feet together. With your kicking foot, push the ball with the outside of your foot, away from your body. [HINT: It’s easier if you point your toes toward the ground.] As you push the ball, your pushing foot works its way around the ball. [HINT: Knicking the back edge of the ball with your foot is another way to get around the ball.] Once your foot is on the outside of the ball, cut the ball back with the inside of your foot.
My son showing the Elastico, followed by Ronaldinho...
Topic:
1v1 soccer moves
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