U14 Week 5

PCB COLORS

  • ✅COMMUNICATE

    The pressure player can get in the habit of saying they’re pressuring and the cover can even say ‘cover left/right’ depending on which side they’re on

    ✅AWARENESS

    The players need to all know where they are in the PCB and be able to move if it changes

    ✅GET COMPACT

    Imagine the line is an invisible wall - could a dribble or pass get through easily?

  • ✅4 color cones/objects, an equal distance apart

    ✅2 teams of 4 opposite

    ✅No ball is needed

    ✅If there are more than 8 then teams can switch between each repetition or for level 3, after 1 minute

  • While the concept of PCB is going to be difficult to get at first and this fun game can give initial help in visualizing PCB - don’t worry too much if they’re not quite getting it right every time, keep it light and encourage!

    🏆 Level 1

    ✅Getting to know pressure cover and balance (PCB) - the coach goes through the shape of PCB and the concept that they work as a unit to make sure the attacking team cannot get through

    ✅Coach calls out a color and both teams move to that color in PCB

    ✅Coach checks for understanding and the shape of the team and gives feedback

    🏆Level 2

    ✅Coach calls out a color and the fastest to the color and best shape wins a point

    🏆Level 3

    ✅The coach calls out colors in quick succession to see if the players can adjust and gain a greater of moving as a defensive unit

  • ✅Call out the colors quicker

    ✅Make a points system

    1. 1st to the cone -1 point

    2. Best shape - 1 point

    3. Wrong shape - -1 point

  • The concept of Pressure, Cover & Balance (PCB) is to ensure the attacking team finds it difficult to break through the defensive line in a game of soccer.

    The nearest defender - pressures the ball

    The second player(s) cover. The cover is needed in case the initial pressure is beaten with a dribble or pass and the cover can tackle, apply pressure or intercept a pass.

    Other players offer balance - in case the ball moves over to their area and they are ready to apply pressure.

    PCB needs organization and compactness.

Foosball

  • ✅COMMUNICATE

    The pressure player can get in the habit of saying they’re pressuring and the cover can even say ‘cover left/right’ depending on which side they’re on

    ✅AWARENESS

    The players need to all know where they are in the PCB and be able to move if it changes

    ✅GET COMPACT

    Imagine the line is an invisible wall - could a dribble or pass get through easily?

  • ✅15 x 20 yd area (each zone 5x15 yds)

    ✅1 x ⚽ in play

    ✅Split group into 2 teams and split those teams into 2 groups

    ✅

    ✅cones or flat markers to mark field

  • ✅The team in possession has to pass to their adjacent team, through the opposition's defense

    ✅Possession changes if:

    • Ball goes out of play

    • Ball is mis-controlled and rolls into the opposition area

    • Opposition intercept

    ✅Players cannot go into opposition area

    ✅After 3 minutes, get the outside team to switch places with the inside team as the inside team usually gets more play.

    🏆1 point for each successful pass

    If you have more players?

    Have a team rest and rotate them every minute

    Create larger teams

    Uneven - one team can have an extra player or the player is neutral and can be on whichever team is attacking or defending

  • ✅Create larger teams

    ✅Add mini-goals to score in behind the opposition end zone after a number of successful passes

    ✅Two touches for each team

    ✅Create uneven teams

  • Passing through the opposition is also called ‘breaking lines’. This means that one pass can potentially beat a number of players and advance the ball through the field.

    Having width and support helps penetration towards goal. Being organized, compact and using pressure, cover and balance makes it difficult for the attacking team to advance and can create a turnover

Defending the goal

  • ✅ATTACK

    Look to get the ball forward when you can, get open for a pass & get wide and make space!

    ✅DEFENSE

    Get compact, pressure the ball, and work together!

    ✅BOTH

    Be brave, encourage teammates and do your best!

  • ✅9v9 half-field

    ✅1 x ⚽

    ✅1 9v9 goal, 2 mini-goals 🥅 (2 cones work too, if no goal)

    ✅Attacking team - 2 defenders, 3 midfield, 2 striker

    ✅Defenders - 1 GK, 3 defenders, 3 midfield, 2 Forwards

    ✅Ball restarts with goal kick when the ball goes out of play.

  • Defending the goal exercise is used to develop the defensive unit in a game situation with all the rules of soccer.

    The game is played on a half-field as this is the area being developed. Two mini-goals represent a good area for the team to aim at, to get forward through wide areas.

    ✅Make sure there are LOTS of reps. Each rep starts at half-way with the attacking team going to goal

    ✅Attackers should be brave and try and score

    ✅Defenders need to remember the defensive principles:

    1. Organized - Communicate and stay aware of your position

    2. Compact - Work & move as a compact unit to stop the attack

    3. Pressure, Cover, Balance

    💡TIP: Lots of reps and don’t be too strict on positioning and let the players learn and explore the game by trial and error.

    💡TIP: Switch positions after a few reps to give players experience in other areas.

    💡TIP: You can explain that the team with the ball is always the attacking team, no matter, if the GK has the ball or the attacking team are in front of their own goal. Alternatively, without the ball, the opposition striker is a defender!

  • ✅Less attackers make it easier for defenders

  • The more experience players get in real game situations, the more they will understand the game and how they can find success. Also, how all of the different skills they’ve learned will fit into the game.

    The goal is to allow players to experience, have fun and build confidence in this game-like situation with lots of reps to allow for development.

GAME TIME!

What you need:

✅ 1 x⚽

✅ 2 teams (different colors)

✅ 2 goals

✅ All the rules of the game - throwins, goal-kicks, corners, kickoffs and fouls. So they can practice for the weekend!

TIME TO PLAY! ⚽ Allow the players to have fun, be competitive, and express themselves. At this age, don’t impose too much structure. Don’t force passing or stop the play. Encourage and give positive comments on the goal of the session (dribbling) and coach sporadically as the game goes on.