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[ilsontown]

Hi everybody im new here just like to say hello.

I am coaching a u14s youth team, in training they don’t have a problem playing the ball to feet and keeping possession. But when it comes to match days they just seem to want to play the long ball over the top, which normally ends in losing possession and generally we tend to get caught offside . Any thoughts on how to solve this problem ?

Cheers i.t

[Jerzy]

It sounds like your kids behave differently between practices and gamedays, so it might make the most sense to try to minimize the differences. Do you practice much full field during practices, or are you mostly small sided games? Maybe trying to play longer field would help them get away from the overwhelming desire just to kick the ball long. If you play short sided games during practice, are they more on the line of keep away, or do they have goals to go to. I like smaller games, but I'm always afraid my guys will learn to keep possession and not know what to do with it, which may be happening to your kids. Get them used to going to goal and scoring. And lastly, maybe get them to work more on dribbling, teach them a Matthews turn or a Cruyff or a good step-over. Maybe if they feel more confident dribbling they'll try that before they just boot the ball long.

[mcolwell1959]

I reckon that it is also a pressure thing why they go long. There is an obvious fear in matches that they do not want to lose possesion in their own half and are anxious to get forward to score lots of goals. When you play in a league you worry about league position and so pressure to win kicks in. One wya to go is play friendlies where it is less important to win and then restrict them in what they can do, i.e. not play the ball farther than 40 metres?

Obviously do the SSG's in practice as prescribed as well.

[Val]

Good idea on the friendlies. Makes sense to try to get your players used to playing full field with as little external (i.e. parental, scorekeeping) pressure as possible. I am starting a U11 girls travel team in the spring, and I'm as busy lining up a couple of friendlies as I am planning tournaments and fundraising.

[ilsontown]

SSG's in training are match related IE: to attack and score goals, I don’t believe in drills as the players lose interest standing in lines passing balls back & forth. Football games are decided by goals, so the SSG’s are perfect for learning how to create chances in front of goal, and for the defence to deny the attackers any opportunities.

I.T

[JCREM]

Hi everyone, just a quick word to introduce myself to the forum. at present I am coaching an under 16 club side, a county developement squad at u/11 and a senior side in Ireland. I have just completed the second week of my UEFA A licence and am awaiting a date for assesment. I am a firm believer in my sides getting the ball down and playing football. Easy in principle but not as easy in practice.

[mcolwell]

Just keep practising it, along with good technique. Your platers beacause of their age have probably picked up bad habits when they were younger, when they should have been taught this. It can still turn around though.

Try some pass and move drills in restricted SSG's.