Austin Daniels is the Director of Coaching for the Arizona Youth Soccer Association. Formerly, he was the head coach at the University of Hartford. He led the Hawks to the NCAA Tournament on six occasions, including a Final Four run in 1992. He was awarded NSCAA New England Division I Coach of the Year honors in 1989 and 1992, as well as America East Coach of the Year accolades in 1991 and 1992. He also had a three-year stint as head coach for the New England Mutiny of the Women´s Premier Soccer League, the Mutiny made it to the National Finals under Daniels in 2004 when he was named WPSL Coach of the Year. Daniels currently holds a United States Soccer Federation ´A´ License, the US Soccer National Youth License and is a member of the NSCAA.

Activity #1:

Warm Up

Set Up:

Players in 3 groups of 4 each with a different color bib (Black, Yellow, Red). 1 or 2 balls per group – depending on ability of the players. Area 25×25 – modify as needed.

Explanation:

Each group of 4 passes and moves around the grid. Work on different type of combination plays – give and go, overtake, third man running. Add a defender from one of the other groups to make 3 games of 3v1. Rotate defender.

Coaching Points:

• First touch
• Body position
• Vision
• Speed of the pass
• Attitude of the defender to win the ball.

Activity #2:

4v4v4

Setup:

3 groups of 4 players. Each group in a colored bibs – Red, Black and Yellow. Grid 30×25 – modify as needed.

Explanation:

2 groups try to keep possession of the ball against the third group – 4v4v4 or 8v4. The group that wins the ball becomes part of the group keeping possession. The group that loses the ball transitions to defending.

Coaching Points:

• The defending group try to get pressure on the ball
• Defending team tries to deny penetrating passes
• First touch
• Body position
• Vision
• Speed of the pass
• Penetrating passes
• Attitude to win the ball back
• Organization of the four defenders when they lose possession of the ball

Activity #3:

5v5

Set Up:

Half-field with full goal and two small counter goals on half-way line. 2 teams of five (5) plus a keeper in goal. Play 5v5+K.

Explanation:

Attacking team looks to attack and score in the full size goal. The defending team attacks the two small counter goals. If the defending team scores they then attack the full size goal.

Coaching Points:

• Same points as previous activities
• When the attacking team loses the ball they look to put pressure on the ball right away
• Defending team must get good cover and balance to prevent the opposition from going forward.

Activity #4:

Game

Set Up:

Half-field with full goals – Play 6v6+Ks (7v7) or 7v7+Ks (8v8).

Explanation:

Organize the two teams into a formation that mirrors the formation they play or will play in an upcoming game. Play a regular game with throw-ins, goals kicks, offside, etc.

Coaching Points:

• Same coaching points as previous activities.