The Covid-19 pandemic has caused havoc all over and the footballing world has in no way been immune. While things are starting to get back to a "normal" way of life, restrictions are forcing coaches to come up with creative ideas to help their players develop. Some have resorted to conditioning activities. For me, this is a waste of a valuable opportunity to help our players improve techniques that they may never consider working on.
The following techniques are things that can get missed by coaches who only have and hour to an hour and a half a week to work with players. It's understandable, as we want to give them as much game realistic practice as possible. Now we have the chance to help build their muscle memory in performing certain skills so that when we go back to contact practice, we can highlight when to use them in a game situation.
Ball Manipulation
Prior to Messi and Ronaldo dominating the world player of the year awards, Ronaldinho was head and shoulders above everyone else. His ability to manipulate the ball in tight spaces helped bring the game of Futsal to people's attention as a tool for player development. The video above highlights just how good he was at using multiple parts of both feet to get the ball to do what he wanted.
Most of us will have our foundation age players start with a warm up that involves ball mastery techniques and multiple touches. Many of us will also forget about that when it comes to games as we encourage our players to "pass!". I've certainly been guilty of it in the past. By using the current time to help our players become comfortable using all parts of both feet to manipulate the ball, we can encourage them to keep hold of it in tight situations when we go back to full team practice.
Since returning to coaching 2 weeks ago, the following practice has been a staple of my session plan when working with the players
Players get 100's of touches. The size of the square encourages use of both feet and many different parts. Players can be given the freedom to work on their own turns, as well as turns that the coach designates. On top of that, it's an intense workout when they're competing against each other.
Ball Striking Techniques
"Pass with the inside, shoot with the laces."
In my early years, this was the advice I gave my players. In hindsight, it was terrible advice to give. While there is nothing wrong with using those techniques, as the video above shows, there are many ways to score or pass to a team mate.
Techniques like the one above highlighted by Messi are rarely worked on at practice. At least in the practices that I see. With that in mind, players' are being denied valuable opportunities to come up with creative solutions to problems they face in games. The option to swerve a pass with the outside of the foot may not cross their mind as they never struck the ball in that manner before.
One of my most enjoyable moments coaching was a when a U12 player I had done some 1 to 1 work with chipped the on-rushing 'keeper in a game. Though the ball bounced back off the crossbar, the fact she recognised the situation from the 1 to 1 session we had done previously was very pleasing.
Develop your practices to include swerving the ball, chipping, lofting the ball with backspin and any other advanced ball striking technique you can think of.
Aerial Control
"DON'T LET IT BOUNCE!!!"
I've lost count of the amount of times I've heard that over the years. The shout tends to stem from someone who cannot empathise with a 10/11 year old seeing this fast moving object drop from the sky, becoming bigger and bigger as it gets closer. Naturally, these players have never been taught how to deal with an aerial ball and as such, it either balloons off their foot or they let it bounce due to fear.
Zidane was the master of not letting it bounce (except for the Cryuff turn he uses to bamboozle the pressing defender). He was comfortable using his feet, thighs and chest to bring the ball down. Our players may not get the deliberate practice they need on these techniques. This can make that fear manifest and grow as they move into their teenage years.
Take the defender away and Aerial Control 1 v 1 becomes a suitable practice to maintain social distancing procedures and work on controlling the ball with different parts of the body.