U8 Positional Play 2-1-2 Formation
The 2-1-2 web page does not seem to work for me in the Firefox browser.  It should would fine in Internet Explorer.  So, for those of you without Internet Explorer here is a pdf of the same thing.

The Instep Drive

This week's skill is called the instep drive. For those of you who missed practice or need a refresher here are some links that describe the technique:

• http://www.ayso751.org/coaches_tecs.html#instep
• http://www.expertfootball.com/training/instep_drive.php
• http://www.expertfootball.com/gossip/answer.php?qid=84

By now you're asking yourself, "How can I help teach my daughter this important soccer technique?"

One exercise you can do in the comfort of your own home is to sit on the floor and support a soccer ball with your feet. Then have your daughter approach and go through the kicking motion up to planting their kicking foot on the ball. If you have stairs you can also set the ball up against the bottom step and let your daughter go crazy. The stair will hold the ball so you can concentrate on watching the technique. Things to watch for during this excercise:

• The plant foot (non-kicking foot) should be placed slightly behind the midpoint of the ball and should be pointed in the direction that the kick should go (you don't want the plant foot in line or ahead of the ball)
• The ankle of the kicking foot should be locked with the toe stretched out like a ballet dancer
• The kicking foot should contact the ball on the shoe laces.

In practice we noticed that many of the girls have difficulty approaching the ball, cocking the kicking leg and executing the kick in one smooth motion so you can work on this when they understand the mechanics of the kick.

Throw-ins, Passing, and PCB Defense

Let's focus on throw-ins and passing using the inside of both feet. Some key points for the passing technique include:

• Strike the ball with the side of the foot at the equator of the ball with the toe of the kicking foot pointed slightly up
• Follow through with the kick so that the receiver sees the sole of the passers shoe (like every other sport, follow through is important)
• USE BOTH FEET. I know the girls don't like to use their non-dominant foot but now is the time. I challenge Nicole at home all of the time to use her left foot for basic practice skills and it's amazing how fast they can do great things if they just try.

Here are some passing links that describe the technique in more detail:

• http://www.ayso751.org/coaches_tecs.html#pass
  
• http://www.sweetspotworld.com/players.html

For the throw-ins the key points include:

• Both feet must stay on the ground during the throw (lifting either foot is a foul and results in a turn over). "Listen" for your back toe to drag in the grass when you throw.
• Throw with the whole body (not just your arms) by transferring your weight forward during the throw. This technique is what puts the power in the throw.

• http://www.ayso751.org/coaches_tecs.html#throw
• http://www.ehow.com/how_5100_develop-throw-skills.html

Let's talk about the defensive strategy Pressure, Cover, Balance (PCB).  One other way to remember the strategy is to remember, Pretty Cute Boys. This extends another one of our techniques the stacked defense (one girl forward and one girl back).

• Pressure - The defender closest to the ball (the first defender) forces the opponent outside
• Cover - The second defender gets into position between the opponent and the goal to cover the opponent in the event that the pressure player misses the tackle. In games we want the girls to start communicating so that the cover girl yells "COVER" to let the pressure girl know it is safe to try to steal the ball.
• Balance - The girls should start to be aware of the opposing players and "mark up" (guard) them. The coaches will start using "mark up" during the games to give the players in indication that they need to look around them and guard an opponent.

Here is a long-ish article that I found interesting. Skip to section 1.a. for a brief description of the PCB fundamentals.

Shoulder Tackles and More Passing

There are a couple of things that you can do to help your daughter have more fun and progress in the game faster:

• NO-MO-TOE! We really want the girls to stop kicking with their toes. It comes naturally and feels good but it's time to transition into the proper techniques. When you are at home practicing (as we know you do) please emphasise that big kicks are done with the laces (instep drive) and passing is done with the inside of the foot. They don't like it right now because it feels wierd and they need the practice so please help reinforce the proper kicking techniques.
• USE BOTH FEET! Praise, bribe, and otherwise provide incentive for your daughter to practice kicking with her non-dominant foot. This skill is critical to developing soccer players and the more they do it the better they will get. Several of the girls point out with pride when they use their opposite foot. Make it fun, a challenge, or whatever works but get them to practice with both feet.

More about the shoulder tackle - coach Drew said it best "it's like jogging with your friend shoulder to shoulder and then you decide they're not your friend and you push them to the side with your body". Some of the do's and don'ts of the shoulder tackle:

Do

• wait until you hear the cover girl yell "COVER" before you go for the tackle
• catch up to and run along side the attacker (the person with the ball)
• look for the attacker to have their weight on the foot closest to you
• lean into the attacker with your shoulder to put the attacker off balance
• take the ball

Don't

• use the arms, elbows, or hands to engage the attacker
• run into the attacker
• go for the tackle unless you are sure there is a cover girl

Shielding the Ball

We've seen this one before but it's a very important skill to learn. It's deceptively simple in that you are trying to put your body between the defender and the ball. Here is a link that provides some of the basics: http://www.footy4kids.co.uk/shielding_the_ball.htm.

Positions, clearing, and driving for a goal

Let's take a look at where to go when you play a particular position. Sometimes it can be confusing, so a refresher never hurts. Work with your player occasionnally by doing a pop quiz on where they would go for the following positions:

• Left Fullback (left side on defense) - puts pressure on attackers on the left side of the defensive zone and pushes attackers outside until the right fullback yells "COVER"
• Right Fullback (right side on defense) - same as the left fullback but handles the right side.
• Left Forward (left side on offense) - hangs around the center line looking for a pass from the defense and attacks from the right side.
• Right Forward (right side on offense) - same as the left forward but handles the right side.
• Wonder woman (center of the field) - this is the only player that covers the whole field playing offense and defense. This position is one of the hardest working on the field.
• Keeper - (in the goal box) - primarily hangs in the goal box where she can use her hands to pick up and cover the ball.

It is important that the girls understand each position so when they are given an assignment they know what to do.

We also worked on the concept of clearing the ball to the side, passing up field near the center line, and taking the ball outside to drive on offense. Another good pop quiz is to ask your player where to clear the ball. The answer should always be "TO THE SIDE" or "DOWN THE SIDELINE". If they clear to the center it's too easy for the other team to take the opportunity to score.

After the defense transitions the ball to the offense the attacker should drive down the side while the other forward and wonder woman position themselves in open space. The attacker should look to center the ball to the other players when there is an opening.

Last but not least, the girls should work on controling the ball before they go for the big kick.  It is key to control the ball and get one or two touches on it before passing or clearing out of the zone.

Kicking to open space

The effective use of open space includes:

• Getting into open space if you don't have the ball (to look for a pass) and;
• Kicking the ball hard into open space and chasing it (so you can run faster)

Someimtes we'll play a game sort of like freeze tag in the sense that the person with the ball must freeze and pass rather than dribble or run with the ball. This is meant to teach the girls to get into open space and look for a pass rather than bunch around the ball.