A Unique Team Building Exercise Randy Hanson Team building exercises tend to be isolated events where the effects fade soon after the event. Here is one that I found that is longer in duration and, also, the positive effects could last a lifetime . . . keep reading Breaking Lines Randy Hanson I had seen the idea of "breaking lines" at a coaching clinic (the NSCAA Convention, I believe) and it, unfortunately, didn't resonate with me at the time. After seeing the idea again, I think I finally got it! I then started incorporating this "tweak" in various exercises and really began to appreciate it's value in the little extra precision it requires in support angles, passing and receiving . . . keep reading Functional Neutral Players Randy Hanson Many times we will begin practice with some sort of possession activity that creates the mood for the session and is an introduction to a particular theme. The logistics of putting teams toget . . . keep reading Lay-Off Possession Randy Hanson Possession games are great because of the repetition in passing, receiving and support the environment provides. I have been attempting to add some direction and realistic tactical elements to the possession games I use, while hopefully still keeping similar amounts of repetition. Here is a game I have been using with my teams lately that adds the element of a finding a target player and adding teammates into the attack. . . . keep reading The Dutch Star Randy Hanson Fitting into the theme of technical exercises that allow for repetition and decision making, I came across the "Dutch Star". My guess is that it is one of those tried and true exercises that l . . . keep reading Adding Decision Making to Technical Training Randy Hanson Combining decision-making with the required repetition when training technique can sometimes be difficult. Many times we pick simple passing exercises and then move directly to a small-sided game. While this can be fine, I have been seeking ways to bridge the gap by simply and progressively adding decision making - while keeping the repetition high. . . . keep reading Re-Think Everything You Do Randy Hanson The New Year is a natural time for introspection, to review what we are doing and commit to changes to do better in the year to come. I am choosing this time to not only review but to RE- . . . keep reading Team Fitness Randy Hanson At certain intervals we will do fitness runs, choosing the distance and standard we feel are appropriate at the time. We measure an individual players results in whatever r . . . keep reading Add a Twist to Your 6v3 Possession Games Randy Hanson When choosing possession exercises for my team, I often pick what I would consider traditional organizations. One might be just a possession group around the defenders, or an organization with a bit more transition where one group sends in 3 defenders to "hunt down" the ball and bring it back, or another may even be to put these two ideas together where 2 teams group around a third team and the roles transition frequently . . . keep reading No Goals? Try This. Randy Hanson Many times we will arrive at our practices and have one goal to use or even an open space with no goals. Cones, corner flags or "coaching sticks" will have to do on the day, but how do you optimize this situation? Here is an idea to add to your arsenal to try. . . . keep reading Add This To Your Crossing and Finishing Exercises Randy Hanson I am always looking to polish the existing exercises I use, either to add progression or to also make them a bit more economical - getting more out of the same type of set up. Here is a quick . . . keep reading Rhythm Passing II - Combination Play Variations Randy Hanson In a previous article I outlined a Rhythm Passing exercise that created a nice passing intro to a training session. I have since added 1v1 and combination play variations that could lead into a crossing and finishing or general finishing scenario. Really any session where some technical and tactical elements of passing and combination play will help. Diagrams and a short video are included to help with detail . . . keep reading Protect the Ball Bootcamp Randy Hanson When playing the ball in the defensive and middle thirds of the field, possession with the least amount of risk is at a premium. As I observe younger players, they tend to play with the ball "exposed" to the defender, lacking an appreciation of how to navigate the game while keeping the ball protected - all the while looking for and exploiting opportunities to penetrate the defense . . . keep reading Bending the Ball: An Attacking Necessity Randy Hanson Passing technique is a basic skill and building block for both players and teams. It is also a part of most training sessions that I witness. But what I don't often see is variety in passing - driven, chipped or bent passes. In observing the best players and teams in the attacking third, the ability to bend or curve the ball seems to be a necessity for creating scoring chances. What follows are a few scenarios where the skill in bending the ball may be effective . . . keep reading Team and Player Dynamics Learned from WWC 2011 Randy Hanson What a journey the United States Women's National team took and let us share during the 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany. Whether one was impressed with the resilience shown in the late match stages or ultimately disappointed with the results, there was much to be learned, especially in regards to team and players mindsets. . . . keep reading 2v1: An Important Building Block of the Game Randy Hanson Sometimes themes come out where you least expect them. While instructing a coaching license, the 2v1 situation kept popping up over and over again, giving me a chance to revisit it in more detail. Where they were on the field, how they could be created, the visual cues to both the players with and without the ball and the stagnation of attacking play without them. . . . keep reading Teaching Group Defending Randy Hanson Sometimes when you run an exercise with your team, things go even better than expected. Although the objective is to take scenarios from the team's matches and teach them, again it can go even deeper than originally thought. So it went when coaching group defending in a 6v3 organization. . . . keep reading Coaching Wisdom from Responsible Sports Randy Hanson This is the time of year where many coaches are in the midst of tryouts and others are in their "off-seasons".  For me, these times are perfect for reflecting on coaching philosophy and preparing . . . keep reading "Clearing Your Lines" - Clearing Training Randy Hanson "Clearing Your Lines", or the technical and tactical ability to play safely and effectively out of your own penalty area, is a skill that must be practiced. Many times an opponent will have the tactics to play directly into the penalty area or attempt to produce goals while crossing from wide areas. The goals themselves can be created by the opponents effective skill in using these tactics or from our own teams mistakes. To avoid the latter is where clearing training comes in. . . . keep reading Two Key Performance Mindsets, Part 2 Randy Hanson In "Two Key Performance Mindsets, Part 1", we discussed the importance of each individual playing at their top end, and some impactful concepts to help achieve that with more consistency. Now I will touch on another high-leverage performance mindset ... "Mind the Gap" . . . keep reading More