Eric Da Costa is currently Head Coach at Quinnipiac University and is also a youth coach with Soccer Plus FC. In 2007 Da Costa was selected as the NSCAA/adidas North Atlantic Division-I Coach of the Year in his third season as the Bobcats’ coach as well as being named a finalist for theNSCAA/adidas Division-I National Coach of the Year.

Da Costa played soccer professionally for two seasons beginning his career with the Connecticut Wolves in 2002. He then enjoyed a brief training stint with the 2002 Major League Soccer semi-finalist New England Revolution as well as a year with the Western Mass. Pioneers. He has also enjoyed two seasons in the Professional Indoor Soccer Leagues with both the Massachusetts Twisters (2002), and the Connecticut Academica F.C. (2003).

Activity #1:

Warm up

Set Up:

Split the team up into 2 groups and put in 2 grids. Play 5v2, 6v2, or 7v2. Use all the players in the squad including the keepers.

Explanation:

Keep away with the 2 defenders looking to win the ball to get out of the middle.

Coaching Points:

• Establish the tone for the rest of the practice
• Simple play
• Quick play
• Create trinagles
• Ball movement
• Player movement

Activity #2:

3v1

Setup:

Grid 10×10. Players in groups of 4 with 3 attackers and 1 defender.

Explanation:

Play 3v1 keep away with a 2 touch limitation. Rotate the defender. Play for 7-8 minutes.

Coaching Points:

• Player on the ball should always have an option right and left
• Simple play
• Quick play
• Create trinagles
• Ball movement
• Player movement

Activity #3:

4v1

Set Up:

Increase grid to 15×15. Players in groups of 5 with 4 attackers and 1 defender.

Explanation:

Play 4v1 keep away with a 1 touch limitation. Rotate the defender. Play for 7-8 minutes.

Coaching Points:

• Players should create passing lanes
• Have open hips to allow to play in all directions and to see the field
• Player on the ball should always have an option right and left
• Simple play
• Quick play
• Create trinagles
• Ball movement
• Player movement

Activity #4:

4v4 + 1

Set Up:

11 players in the center circle. 4 attacking players (Yellow) on the outside as shown – 2 on each opposite side. 3 neutral players (Red) – 1 on either side and 1 in the middle. 4 defending players (Black) inside the circle.

Explanation:

Group of 4 attackers on the outside try to maintain possession of the ball using the 3 neutrals players in a game of 4v4+3 (7v4). If the defending team wins the ball, or possession is lost they switch places with the attacking team. This is done in the flow of the game, so play should not stop. Play for 20 minutes.

Coaching Points:

• Simple play
• Quick play
• Create trinagles
• Ball movement
• Player movement

Activity #5:

5v5 + 1

Setup:

Field 48x 36 yards with two full goals. Two teams of 5 players each, with 2 keepers and a neutral player.

Explanation:

Play 5v5+1 (6v5) to goals with keepers (7v6). Free play. Expand to 7v7, 8v8, etc. and increase the size of the field.

Coaching Points:

• Simple play
• Quick play
• Create trinagles
• Ball movement
• Player movement