October 26th, 2009:
The program began that night with a session of passing and receiving under pressure. Once split into groups according to age, we began a drill that involved passing in a star shape. The players were instructed to check to the ball in order to receive an easier pass to control, as well as giving the player with the ball a clear option to pass to. The coaches also initiated a direction to pressure the ball that you played. This applied pressure to the receiver and helped us recognize how essential it is to allow our first touch to be taken away from pressure.
The following drill had us pass with a few other teammates in a large grid. When the coach instructed us to “go” we were then required to play a well paced and accurate pass to another teammate in an opposite grid. To expand on that, we selected a designated passer and receiver, to whom we later applied pressure.
The main objective of this drill was to teach composure and control. Applying stress really enabled us to dissect and analyze each and every pass we made. We had to carefully and constantly evaluate our first touch, our consistency, our accuracy, and our decision making while under pressure. The laws of passing and receiving under pressure that we learned that Monday night can now be easily applied to our game. It was helpful and insightful information/practice that really took a simplistic technique and developed our theory of passing and receiving while under pressure.
November 2nd, 2009:
The program continued that night with a second session working on dribbling while under pressure. The coaches established a drill in which there were four boxes. Players were instructed to utilize one of their six textures of the foot (laces, outside, inside, back heel, sole, and occasionally toe) while dribbling, with three to four other players along with them in their grid. When we heard “go”, we then had to dribble to another box using another specified texture of the foot. This put restriction and pressure on us so that we could learn to keep control in difficult situations.
Subsequent to that, there were then several smaller boxes set up in a condensed area. We dribbled around these boxes (without entering or passing through them) avoiding contact with other players. Once the whistle was blown, we hurriedly had to speed dribble into a box. Because each mini-grid could only contain a certain amount of players, any player left standing without a box had to do some inane gesture (such as star jumps, donkey kicks, etc.) to give these players the motivation to do better next time. This was a great idea for it added competition and an incentive for each player to reach their full potential.
The coaches then laid out gates consisting of two cones, in which we had to dribble in and out of as fast as we could; however, we were not allowed to collide with a cone or other players. To develop the rivalry aspect the player who went through the most gates won.
The great thing about this philosophy was that the pressure being applied to our dribbling was indirect, yet it was closely related to the game of soccer. Although nobody was directly trying to take your ball, there was constant chaos, movement, and obstacles in your way that in game would be defenders. Similar to the passing and receiving under pressure, this facet of the game can also be easily related to our game.
Final thoughts:
In conclusion, the Monday night sessions are a great way to grow as a player and improve your technical and tactical skills. You learn so much and can easily take the wisdom and practice to help you improve. Even after two nights the amount of techniques we have learned is massive. Have you ever heard the saying “Practice makes perfect”? Well here is something that really summarizes the concept of these Monday night sessions; “Practice makes permanent” (saying taught by Coach Steve Davis). This means that if you challenge yourself, try your hardest, and do the moves correctly, it will really show when it matters most: GAME TIME.
