The Blog
The Blog
Technical Corner with Joe
Technical Corner with Joe
Before reading the below. I have put together a 75 Creative Games e-book for everyone to utilize. This can be for parents in the club who coach rec or club or even if you coach different sports. Or if kids play informally, they are welcome to use some of the games in the e-book with their peers. Hopefully it proves useful!
One of the things I am really striving toward is being more informative and intentional with the technical side of things. As much as organization, operations and general processes are vital in the day to day running of my working day what underpins everything is what I do and try to do daily on the grass.
I have always been vocal around not stifling or having rigid systems rather having the strapline of 'play with freedom' and then refine and build from that part out. This demands all types of things from staff, often what I would call the 'behind the scenes work' where there is hidden coaching or skilful neglect. When there isn't always explicit coaching rather 'drive by' coaching or different types of intervention methods.
I am introducing two new things this coming summer as we head into the new season:
1) A robust resource center that will house all of our session content, principles (please also see below) evaluation forms and much more. Almost a one stop shop to utilize further best practices.
2) An introduction weekend. This will be over a weekend where we do in house facilitating and training both in the classroom and on the field. This will also be consistent with the staff CPD events I run quarterly.
Principles 2026
I plan to show each principle to each family via video with a clip from games and then also a clip from a professional setting so the players can start to role model these behaviors.
I have 12 guiding principles with sub principles within the principle. The 12 principles represent the 11 starting players in the formal format of soccer and the 12th being the coach.
Anticipate next step:
-Scanning when ball rolls
-Ready to move
-Small steps
-When A gives it to B, C runs
-Striker on same vertical line as ball when ball in defensive half
-Rest in front of opponents
-‘How quick’
-Rest defence- can’t all be on attack
Stay on the ball:
-Run with the ball (toe down)
-Protect the ball
-Cut diagonally with the ball
-Change speed
-Change direction
-Eyes up inbetween touches
-Get close to the fire but don’t get burnt
-Use teammate as a decoy
Look forward play forward:
-Eyes at opposition goal as ball rolls (sneak a peak)
-Run with the ball when you have space
-Pass it or go 1v1 when closed down (drive and slide)
-Play through when opposition leave gaps, play over when space behind, play around when compact
-Leave pass playable first time
-Eye contact with receiver
Disguise:
-Small late movements
-Reverse pass
-Front foot pass
-Double movement
-Pretend to jump
Outwit your opponent:
-Contrast, change speed
-Use hands
-Revolving door
-Blindside of opponent
-Move when opponent looks away from you
-Get in lane of opponent
Separation
-Check to see where space in when ball rolls
-Space is wide=backpeddle
-Space is central= diagonal run
-Space is low= check in
-Space is high= spin behind
-Green light (clear path for passer to play ball)
-Hand signal
Winning the ball cleanly:
-Get in lane of opponent
-‘Tag’ then get legs/ butt/ shoulder blades across opponent
-Small steps when defending 1v1
-Narrow feet (inside shoulder width)
-Take ball back after opponent takes larger touch, not when opponent is about to kick it
-Open hips, see player and the ball
-Contact on clearances. Adjust body to be able to play in 1 touch- height/ distance/ width
Going against the flow:
-Shift one way finish the other
-Shoot though defenders legs
-Defender comes tight=spin
-Defender protects space= check in
-Defender arrives quickly= change direction
-Defender predicts pass one way, play the other
Run beyond:
-Blindside of opponent
-See space attack space
-Give and go
-Hand signal, point to space
-Change speed at point of eye contact with teammate/ when defender looks away
-Straight run= diagonal pass
-Diagonal
Clever Finishing:
-Reverse finishes
-Touch, one step, shoot (catch goalie off guard)
-Place ball out of goalkeepers reach
-Going for power= both feet of floor, land on shooting foot
-1 if you can, 2 if you can’t, 3 if you must
-Goalie goes low= chip/ dink/ lob
-Near post high, far post low
-Shoot through defenders outstretched leg
-Small steps, adjust feet before planting foot
-Plant foot in same zip code as ball, just before you shoot
-Shoulders over ball to keep it low
-Finish bouncing balls down into the ground
Embracing contact:
-Hand across opponents chest
-Bend in forearm
-Grab wrist on def set pieces
-Revolving door
-Get in lane
-Sit on opponents knee
-Tag
-2 steps forward, one step back
-Triangle with elbows to pin defender back
Champion mentality:
-Body language (on toes, chest up, scanning when ball rolls)
-Response to adversity
-Desire to win