U13 Technical Report
U13 Christmas Training Event
Body Zone,
Head Coach
Nancy Feldman
Staff Coaches
Anthony James
Steve Quinones
Chris Bleam
Lauren Schwarz
Ashley LoCasale CIT
Trainers
Andrew Lee
Mike Vallee
Administrators
Cathy Jo Edgar
Jack Bayer
Event Schedule
Training session: Technical focus – passing and receiving ending with possession games
two training pods, discuss goals for the event
balance (Nancy and Lauren lead with James, Chris and Ashley assist)
10:40-12 noon Training group B – Zonal Defending Shape – move to ideas of cover and
balance (Chris and James lead – Nancy, Lauren and Ashley assist)
2-5 pm Coaches Clinic – 2-3 pm James – individual defending technique applied to back 1/3; 3-4 pm Quinones – goalkeeper training session; 4-5 pm
Feldman – zonal defending
final games Tuesday a.m.)
lead with Nancy, Lauren and Ashley assist)
10:30-12 noon Training group A –
Playing to and off of forward targets (
Lauren lead with Chris, James and Ashley assist)
General Observations
Facilities:
The Body Zone complex had two indoor field surfaces surrounded by boards. One was 60x25 yards, and the other, 50x25 yards. Both had a synthetic field turf surface. Although the space was a little tight, it was an effective enough training facility. Having less players would alleviate some of the space problems. The rest of the facility was fantastic and the Body Zone staff was very accommodating.
Coaching Staff:
The coaching staff was fantastic and I received many compliments from parents and players about the staff. They organized excellent training sessions and related to the players at this age very well.
Administrative Staff:
This was one of the smoothest running events I have been involved in. Cathy Jo and Jack did a terrific job of organizing the players, the equipment, the schedule and the van driver crew. Kudos to the group of parents that helped shuttle the players back and forth from the hotel to meals and training. It needs to be reiterated to parents of players in this age group, (in the invite letter), what the restrictions are for parents interacting with players at a regional event. Understandably, parents and players in this age group being new to the program, need to be informed of the ground rules, so it is fair for all involved.
Trainers:
Two athletic trainers are necessary to cover this event because of the split schedules of training. As this is the first event for these players, it is important that we have the medical staff to manage incidents as they come up. Good job staffing two for us!
Players:
The size of this pool was definitely on the larger side (75), but it worked out fine for this event and I do not see a problem for the April scramble either. There certainly was a discrepancy in talent from top to bottom, but every player at the event was motivated to train and was eager to learn. It was a competitive environment for all involved.
Coaches Clinic:
The regional staff was asked to run a coaching clinic for local youth/h.s./club coaches. The attendance was low (about 12 coaches), but the sessions were well done and the feedback was positive. Anthony James and Nancy Feldman led field sessions and Steve Quinones demonstrated a goalkeeper training session. We were able to complete it in a 3 hour block of time. Doug Miller from Body Zone thinks it was a great offering and that if it is better advertised and coaches that participated get the word out, it will be attended. So as not to conflict with the training camp, I may suggest that we offer this on the afternoon of the day we travel in. We can use players that arrive early as demonstrators.
Training sessions
Passing and Receiving
Passing and moving ½ with ½ without ball
Passing grid – receiving balls with different surfaces, pass and follow
Circle passing – receiving in circle with 3-4 defenders roaming to pressure
4v4 +2 possession
4v4 +2 to endline
Zonal Defending
Passing and moving – closing down player after pass
2v2 to endline
3v3 to endline with keepers defending breakaways
6v6 + 2 to targets
6 v 6 to goal
Playing to and off of forward targets
In 3’s – play target and combine with 3rd player
Continuous 3v2 with field in two halves – 1v1 in for ½ and 2v1 in back ½
5v5 +1 with targets in end zones with goal behind with keepers – progress to pressure on target and players join after they play into target