Newcastle United training sessions in KHS way (EXERCISES)

This time it was a pleasure to attend and have opportunity to watch training sessions and coaching from the stuff of renowned premiership club Newcastle United. During the three days camp, group of kids, mainly 7-12 years old, learned and practiced technical/tactical elements of soccer game. Experienced, motivated and well prepared coaches conducted 12 hours of fun and challenging program that young players fully enjoyed. Following the training scheme, proposing exercises that improve mainly first touch ball control, passing and finishing, there was a time to break hard work and have entertaining moments like penalty shootout competition where the winner takes the trophy home.

It was very interesting to watch training preparation and coaches’ introduction, same as hearing coaching tips itself such as correction and challenging players to achieve training objectives. There were precise instructions sent, timing when to stop and correct in a appropriate way so the practice flow and fun of training are not disturbed.

When coaches observe other colleague’ training sessions, they are looking to find and see some new ideas and modern tendencies in training practice. Also, it is opportunity to check your own knowledge and coaching style. Leading the same principle, I was delighted to spot few exercises they proposed and that you can find in our Knowhowsoccer coaching manual for the pre-senior age. They are placed under the category ‘’U13-U17‘’ (Circuit Training, session number 9) or ‘’U13-U17 (Small Sided Games, session number 6’’).

As always, when I visit various training camps, I share best sessions I find. I will present you some exercises that I believe are very interesting, useful, beneficial, well balanced and age appropriate. I will present them originally as they were done, but this time I will take the opportunity to observe the same exercises in our way with no intention to belittle the original performance practice and retain full respect for the coaches from the camp.

Newcastle United session: 2v1 finishing

Focus is on shooting technique and combination play between two players in order to finish with a shot at goal. Also, transition and defending.

Players are divided in two groups. First player from the red group moves forward towards the goalpost to receive the pass from his teammate behind him. He controls the ball, turns and takes quick shot at goal. In that moment, first two players from the yellow group start the action creating 2v1 situation against the red player who just had a shot. After few repetitions players change roles.

Knowhowsoccer session: 2v1 finishing

Focus is on shooting technique and combination play between two players in order to finish with a shot at goal. Also, transition and defending.

The same objective and similar set up as it is in the previous original sample. This time the difference is that red players have the goalpost to defend in the situation when defender wins the ball. Therefore, red players’ starting position is next to the goalpost like on the diagram above. The action starts with two red players exchanging pass on the run and taking a shot at goal. The attacking player A becomes defender against two yellow players, while player B remains in the covering position in case player A wins the ball, player B can receive the pass and turn to score. In this situation we activate defenders in the transition phase when they regain the possession of the ball.

To make it fully realistic and match related we will arrange the direction of play and position red players behind the opposite goalpost. It will look like on the diagram bellow. In this situation both teams attack towards the opposite goalposts during transitional phase.

Progression 1

We instruct player A to recover back after the shot at goal to help in defense and create 2v2 situation.

Progression 2

We insist to involve goalkeepers in build-up play creating numerical advantage in 3v2 situation.

The main challenge for every coach in today’s more pronounced modern tendencies in coaching is to create more realistic game situations in order to simulate real game situation. In practice vs drill, the difference is that the action finishes with the shot at both goals so the exercise has the game direction.

Do you think that we progressed and achieve goals with their full potential?

This type of proactive coaching sessions we train with our players at the KHS Academy.