smithwaystacked

Review Phase 1-5

Welcome to your first Review Phase, covering phases 1-5!

This is only a 1 week Phase covering one key element from each of the 5 Smithway Soccer Pillars.

Do 3 sessions this week to review your new soccer habits and soccer techniques.

 

Work each Phase where applicable using the 3-4-3 principle.  3 minutes Strong foot/side, 3 minutes Weak foot, 3 minutes The 10% or players choice.  If short on time keep the ratio 1-2-1.

Strive for 50%-80% success rate, less than 50% decrease the difficulty (speed, complexity, etc.), above 80% increase the difficulty (add defender, increase the speed etc).

Work in PERFECT CONSECUTIVE REPS.  3 out of 5, 5 out of 7, 7 out of 10.  Increase difficulty when above 80%.

IF STRUGGLING, break the actions into CHUNKS.  Work on one PERFECT CHUNK per section.  Try the movement in SLOW MO REPLAY.

BE WILLING TO MAKE MISTAKES!!  No progress can be achieved without TRIAL AND ERROR

Remember that HARD WORK and REPETITION are the most valuable tools in a players arsenal!!  Lionel Messi, Michael Jordan, Cristiano Ronaldo all are famous for their work ethics.

Always end with a GAME and a HIGH NOTE!

Ball Striking

Ball Striking: Inside Foot-L Prostep

Now we add the angled approach, engaging the entire body with all its leverage into the swing.  It is of vital importance that the step is quick in order to be airborne.  A slow step will result in a weakly struck ball most of the time.

Coaching Points

  • Take one lunge back and one step to the side to form the L

  • Stand on the kicking foot and swing the PLANT foot

  • PROSTEP next to the ball with the PLANT foot pointing at the target

  • Make sure your PROSTEP is QUICK and AIRBORNE

  • Strike the ball with the inside of the foot, toe up, heel down.

Ball Protection

Ball Protection: Straight Line Dribbling

When a player dribbles quickly they want to have their feet facing as close to forward as possible. If they dribble with the inside it will be slow and awkward. Dribble with the “3 toes”, pinkie plus 2.

Coaching Points

  • Use “3 toes”, pinkie plus 2

  • Angle the big toe towards the other big toe.

  • Keep the hips and shoulders facing forward

  • Protect the ball with your body

Offensive Recognition

Offensive Recognition: Committed Defender, Cow

The easiest way to beat a defender is to recognize that they are committed to tackling. If they are running at the player or lunging in with one leg, they are committed to that direction. Play the ball on one side of the defender and run around on the other side.

Coaching Points

  • CLUE: Defender “Diving in” or coming toward us quickly

  • See defender moving towards you

  • Play the ball on one side of them

  • Run quickly around the other side and get the ball.

  • Use the outside of the dribbling foot for extra deception

Body Position and Receiving

Body Position and Receiving: Check Run, Far Foot, Shuffle-Split

Check run your defender away and check back to the ball receiving the ball with the far foot. Take your first touch inside towards the center of the field and then with the opposite foot, push the ball between the two defenders with the inside of the foot.

Coaching Points

  • Angle the knee in and the foot out.

  • Cover the ball with inside of the foot as it hits the ground

  • Lean the way you want the ball to travel and dribble away.

Aerial Receiving

Aerial Receiving: Inside Foot Wedge

When you cannot take the ball directly out of the air, one of the most common ways is to cover the bounce with the inside of the foot, flattening the balls flight to the side.

Coaching Points

  • Relax!

  • Pull the toe towards the knee and turn it out at a 90-degree angle

  • Receive the ball with the inside of the foot and pull it back gently on contact till it is even with the standing leg.