Matt Stimson enters his fourth season as an assistant coach for the Stanford men’s soccer team. Stimson came to Stanford in 2001 with current head coach Bret Simon after spending the 1999 and 2000 seasons as Simon´s assistant at Creighton. Stimson has helped lead Stanford to unprecedented success in recent years, including back-to-back College Cup appearances in 2001 and 2002. In their first season on The Farm, Stimson helped coach Stanford to a 19-2-1 record and the program´s first Pac-10 championship. They advanced to the NCAA Championship game for just the second time in program history in 2002, falling just short of a national title.

Stimson received his Bachelor´s of Science degree in physical education from Springfield College in December of 1993. In May of 1998, he earned a Master´s of Education from Plymouth State College. He currently holds a USSF “A” License and a NSCAA Premier Diploma.

Warm-Up:

25-30 minutes total.

Phase I 10-15 minutes.

All players in groups of two, as seen in Diagram (a) below, and take 10 minutes to jog, perform dynamic movements and flexibility exercises. Our players like the free warm-up at times as they can prepare their body as they need. Encourage all players to concentrate and prepare themselves for full activity.

Phase II – Technical ball work 10-15 minutes.

With your partner, one is a server, one is a worker. One ball per two players. Coaches give out technical ball work exercises. Example: One touch instep, Heading back to partner, Side-to-side volleying etc. All activities should be approximately 30 seconds in duration. Encourage side to side, back and forth, and quick dynamic movements. After 30 seconds or so, switch roles with your partner. Perform 10-15 technical exercises total.

Phase III – 3 minutes of free time with partner.

Encourage high energy and movement covering different areas of the field. Strike longer driven balls, quick combination play, short one touch passes….etc, etc.

Activity #1:

Encouraging Attacking Soccer Through Possession. 15-20 minutes

Set Up:

Phase I

40×45 yard field (college age players) as seen in Diagram (b) below. 8v8 +2.Coaches at the corners with a supply of extra soccer balls.

Objective:

The two “plus” players play for both teams. We call them “kingpins”. 3 touch maximum possession game and all out of bounds result in a throw-in. All throw-ins to teammates have to be played one-touch to another player. Points are awarded for consecutive passes.

Coaching points:

• Encourage quick play and keeping the ball moving at all times.
• Have players open their bodies to the playing field and get in supporting positions as the ball is moving.
• Let the players play and limit the amount of times you step in to make coaching points.

Phase II:

Same game as above but we add a “variation” to make the game more competitive. If you wall-pass a defender cleanly, that defender has to sprint around the perimeter of the playing field. Play continues as the defender is running. They may re-enter the game when finished. This will “up” the pace and competitiveness of the game. It will also force players to defend with greater intensity.

Activity #2:

Game Conditions

Part I 15 minutes.

8v8+2. Field size is 18 to 18, full width as shown below in Diagram (c). Two mini-goals (flags can be used) 2-yards wide placed 5 yards from the sideline. A supply of soccer balls placed by each goal. Coaches positioned on the sidelines.

Objective:

3 touch maximum per player attempting to score in their opponents mini-goal. There are no offsides. One team plays a 3-4-1 and the other a 4-3-1. This forces each team to make defensive adjustments. Play is for the designated period of time.

Coaching Points:

• Promote free play and combination play.
• Changing the area of the field you attack.
• There are always two extra players for the attacking team so the ball should move quickly.

Activity #3:

Game Conditions

Part II 15-20 minutes.

Phase I: 8v8+2.Field size is 18 to 18 full width as shown in Diagram (d) below. Extra soccer balls at midfield with coaches.

Objective:

Three-touch game in which you score by “playing someone in” behind the holding line (the 18). The holding line is also the offsides line. NO defender can cross the holding line to defend. Once you receive a ball over the line on the run, the play stops and possession switches to the team that got scored on. This is a fast moving game with lots of chances to get in-behind the defense.

Coaching Points:

• Promote quick combinations to get behind the defense.
• Attack all areas of the field.

Phase II: Same game as above but once you receive a ball over the holding line, you can attack the goal and score. Play is live for the attacking team. Defenders cannot defend behind the holding line.

Coaching points:

• Encourage attacking players to join the attack after a teammate receives a ball over the holding line.
• Promote quick play and combinations.

Final Game:

11v11 No restrictions 15 minutes.

Set Up:

See Diagram (e) below. Extra soccer balls in the goals. Coaches positioned around the field to help coach team and individual players. One team in a 4-4-2 formation and the other in a 3-5-2.

Coaching points:

• Promote attacking soccer.
• Encourage players to get to the goal in scoring situations.
• Attack all areas of the field.
• Attempt to get in-behind defenders.