Dr. Jose Carlos Meeroff is the Director of Coaching for the Lauderdale Soccer Club and Chairperson of the USASA Region III Coaching Committee. He is a native of La Paternal, Buenos Aires, Argentina. He received his MD and PhD degrees from the University of Buenos Aires and played youth and professional soccer in several first and second division teams in Argentina before moving to South Florida, USA.

Activity #1:

Set Up:

Ping-pong passing on the ground. Cones set up 20 meters apart. Excercise for 3 minutes. Then do a series of static stretching excercises for 2 minutes.

Explanation:

Passing and moving to the opposite cone on the outside of the channel. Starting slow and as getting precision increasing speed and force.

Coaching Points:

• Good passing technique: hitting the ball in the center with the instep; standing foot directing to target; ankle locked, follow trought
• Eyes fixed on target not on the ball
• Running speed
• Communication
• Low intensity activity: heart rate between 110 & 130 bpm

Activity #2:

Set Up:

Groups of four players with one ball. Cones set up 25 meters apart. Do the activity in one direction and then in the opposite way. Play for 3 minutes then rotate players clockwise. After all rotations do dynamic stretching for 2 minutes. Players must alternate receiving with the inside and the outside of the foot.

Explanation:

Player S passes to player F who either turns dribbles and passes to plaayer T or passes back to player S who in turn passes the ball to player T.

Coaching Points:

• Good passing technique.
• Frontrunner must be aware of the position of the defender to make the appropiate decision.
• Appropiate evaluation of the angle of the pass in order to decide type of action.
• Decision making when to turn and go and when to pass back.
• Mobilty of the server to be ready to receive a pass back.
• Visual and oral communication amog players.
• Moderate intensity activity: heart rate between 130 to 140 bpm.

Activity #3:

Set Up:

Four players and one ball in a square grid 20 by 20 meters.

Explanation:

A passes to B & runs from A1 to A2. Player B passes to player C & runs from B1 to B2. Player C dribbles player D & passes to player A2 who passes to player B2 & runs back to A1. Player B2 passes to player C and runs back to position B1. Player C dribbles player D & passes to A1. After 3 minutes rotate players clockwise. After all rotations, do static and dynamic stretching and rehydration.

Coaching Points:

• Good first touch
• Precision passing to feet.
• Concentration & coordination.
• Communication among players.

Activity #4:

Set Up:

Half of the field. Shadow play scenario 1. Eight players distributed as two back players, four midfielders and two frontrunners. They attack a full goal with a keeper.

Explanation:

Central, direct set up to create an opportunity for a pass back to a midfielder who will shoot on goal. Player #2 passes the ball to player #5 who connects with frontrunner #9 (who is back to the goal). Then player #9 passes back to any outcoming midfielder who will shoot on goal.

Coaching Points:

• Visual & oral communication between midfielders and frontrunners
• Timing, force & angle of the pass to the frontrunner
• Movement on & off the ball to create open space or to go to open space
• Accurate ball reception, good first touch and coordinated deceptive move by the frontrunner
• Decision making by the frontrunner when & where to pass the ball
• Commitment by the midfielders to get into shooting position & to execute
• Good shooting mechanics by the midfielders

Activity #5:

Set Up:

Half of the field. Eight players distributed as two back players, four midfielders and two frontrunners. They attack a full goal with a keeper.

Explanation:

Early cross to create an opportunity for a pass back for shoot on goal by a midfielder. Player #2 passes the ball to player #4 who passes to player # 7.Then player # 7 connects with frontrunner #9 (who is back to the goal). Frontrunner # 9 pass back to an outcoming midfielder who shoots on goal.

Coaching Points:

• Visual & oral communication between midfielders and frontrunners
• Timing, force & angle of the pass to the frontrunner
• Movement on & off the ball to create open space or to go to open space
• Accurate ball reception, good first touch and coordinated deceptive move by the frontrunner
• Decision making by the frontrunner when & where to pass the ball
• Commitment by the midfielders to get into shooting position & to execute
• Good shooting mechanics by the midfielders

Activity #6:

Set Up:

Half of the field. Eight players distributed as two back players, four midfielders and two frontrunners. They attack a full goal with a keeper.

Explanation:

Late cross to create an opportunity for a shoot on goal by a midfielder. Player #2 passes the ball to player #5 who passes to player # 9. Then player # 9 who is back to the goal, makes a deceiving movement & passes wide to player # 7 who runs with the ball to the corner flag and crosses back for a midfielder to recieve and shoot on goal.

Coaching Points:

• Visual & oral communication between midfielders and frontrunners
• Timing, force & angle of the pass to the frontrunner
• Movement on & off the ball to create open space or to go to open space
• Accurate ball reception, good first touch and coordinated deceptive move by the frontrunner
• Decision making by the frontrunner when & where to pass the ball
• Commitment by the midfielders to get into shooting position & to execute
• Good shooting mechanics by the midfielders

Activity #7:

Set Up:

3/4 of the field. Game with conditions. Eight v Eight game as 2-4-2 v (1)-2-3-2 formation.

Explanation:

Attacking team scores on the goal defender by a keeper. Regular goal casts one point, goal scored by a miedfielder casts two points, goal scored after a combination/back pass casts three points. Opponents cast a point by scoring on the small goals but if the goal results from intercepting a back pass they cast three points. Opponents are allowed five touches maximum before they must atempt to shoot to target.

Coaching Points:

• Visual & oral communication between midfielders and frontrunners
• Timing, force & angle of the pass to the frontrunner
• Accurate ball reception, good first touch and coordinated deceptive move by the frontrunner
• Decision making by the frontrunner when & where to pass the ball
• Movements on & off the ball to create open space or to go to open space
• Good shooting mechanics by the midfielders

Activity #8:

Set Up:

Half of the field. Small sided game with limited opposition. Eight vs six game. Eight players distributed as two back players, four midfielders and two frontrunners (2-4-2). Opponents play (1)-2-2-1.

Explanation:

The excercise starts with the keeper serving a long ball for the attacking team to develop a combination play ending in a back pass by a frontrunner for a midfilder to shoot on goal.The defensive team cast a point by intercepting the back pass and passing the ball to the target small goals. Go from simple to complex. Start with low, passive pressure and build up to full pressure.

Coaching Points:

• Visual & oral communication between midfielders and frontrunners
• Timing, force & angle of the pass to the frontrunner
• Accurate ball reception, good first touch and coordinated deceptive move by the frontrunner
• Mobility on & off the ball to create open space or to go to open space
• Commitment by the midfielders to get into shooting position and to execute
• Decision making when to pass and when to shoot. Good shooting mechanics by the midfielders
• Off the ball movements by all players

Activity #9:

Set Up:

Eleven v eleven match us (1)-4-4-2 vs them (1)-3-4-3.

Explanation:

Regular game with emphasis on miedfielders shooting to score fafter a combination pass.

Coaching Points:

• Visual & oral communication between midfielders and frontrunners
• Timing, force & angle of the pass to the frontrunner
• Mobility on & off the ball to create open space or to go to open space
• Frontrunner decision making when to turn and go forward & when to set a pass back
• for a midfielder to shoot on goal:importance of reading the position of the opponent
• marking back and the movements of the midfielders
• Decision making by the miedfielders when to shoot or when to continue building up play
• Off the ball movements by all players