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The following four ideas are the guiding principles from which I structure my practice: Direction
The design of the practice should allow the teams or players to attack to score in a particular direction using some kind of ‘goal’. The focus for the players may be a traditional goal, an end zone, a target player or other type of target point. By designing practices in this way ensures the principles of attack and defence remain fundamental to the practice.
Directional practices which are based on these principles don’t necessarily need to be opposed, as shown in the diagram below. In this practice example, both teams can use combination play across and between each other providing interference without a threat to the ball. This example also includes mannequins through which the players look to find their target player.
Theme in possession Playing through midfield Parameter Thirds - Horizontal Restrict
Goalkeeper must return the ball back through a different pair of mannequins they received through
Relate
Recognise when to play between the opposition's back four Reward
= goalkeeper = mannequin
= movement of ball = movement of player
Definition
A practice should be constructed within the area of the pitch that it would occur on match-day. For example, if the session theme was playing through midfield, (see above) the practice would be delivered in the midfield area of the pitch, if the session was defending around the penalty box, the set up would be constructed around the box and so on. This approach helps the practice have a visible link to the game of football.
Decisions
Within the practice the players should have a cognitive challenge with decisions to make, problems to solve, triggers to read and situations to perceive. By building these ingredients into a practice the execution of any technique is coupled to some kind of visual trigger such as the movements and decisions of the opposition or teammates.
Difference
Practices should provide opportunities for players to practise the session theme in a range of varying circumstances such as running with the ball over both short and longer distances. Additionally, the practice should allow the players to practise different themes within the same practice, for example Josh practises marking and intercepting whilst James practises passing forward.
Whilst these four things aren’t strict rules that coaches must apply to their work, there is a clear rationale from which, in principle, a coach can apply to practice.
Any pass between mannequins to goalkeeper = 1 goal
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