kick off rules and variation of plays

[george]

We always seem to strugal at kick offs immediately ending up under pressure from our own start.
Any tips or ideas for creative kick offs would be great.

[Jerzy]

I've had similar problems, and what I do when things get hard is simplify rather than try something creative. Two years ago my team continually lost the ball on the kickoffs, so I created a rather simple play, and then practised it a lot.

Two players in the center circle with two wide players up at the line. Right player in the circle passes the left player in the circle. Wide right player runs diagonally into space to receive ball. Wide left player runs down the wing to receive the ball. Player who passed the ball to the wide right player runs forward to receive give and go from wide right player with the ball. Player who kicked off loops wide right around and tries to support player with the ball from the right (I really must start using the chalkboard...)

Very simple, very direct. You won't lose the ball in your own half with this one. We scored a goal pretty much directly off the kick off two seasons ago.

The bigger problem, if you are having trouble with confidence and poise, is that everyone on your team who might be a wing or forward or central midfielder, has to know all the parts of the "play". One person forgets or isn't on the same script, and the whole thing breaks down. Most teams, I don't have the training time to drill this in to the point where it works. The team this worked for, all the kids came to both practices (most dedicated group of rec players I've had) and I only had three kids who wanted to play either of the two forward positions, so I didn't have to spend a lot of time on this. Three practices is the most I did, I think.


PS It would help if you would tell us the team you've got, age and skill, and what you're currently doing that is either working, or not working.

[obande]

am coaching children between the age of 12 - 18 years.i want to teach them how to hold onto the ball and be a fast dribbiler.i just want to make them good footballers.