Total Soccer Fitness and Training is dedicated to teaching 'The Beautiful Game' to players, coaches, parents, leagues, clubs, and teams.



Tactical Drills

The Tactical Phase in any practice session plan should include more than just a 2-team scrimmage. Here you will find games -- from small-sided (3v3, 5v5, etc.) to large group (6v3+3, etc.) -- and match-specific exercises to fit any tactical theme.

Technical Drills

As the saying goes, there are no tactics without techniques. Included here are drills that hone all the technical fundamentals -- juggling, dribbling, striking the ball/finishing, defending and goalkeeping. Also included are warmup drills to use at the beginning of each session.

Session Plans

Every training session should have a plan with a specific theme, be it technical, tactical or fitness. Here you will find session plans that emphasize such concepts as "Possession", "Striking the Ball", and "Speed of Play".

Speed, Agility, Quickness Drills

Speed, Agility and Quickness is a major part of all our sessions. In this section you will find drills that work all three concepts both with and without the soccer ball. Also included are warmup routines and a dynamic stretching routine.

“READY. SET. GO!”
One of the most important concepts taught at Total Soccer Fitness & Training is Proper Running Mechanics. In our individual and small group training sessions we time our players in various sprints, such as a 10-Yard Sprint and a 10x4 Shuttle. Our young soccer player is about to run a 10-yard sprint. Notice the following Proper Running Mechanics:

  • Heels are off the ground
  • A slight lean to the body
  • Right arm and left leg are back and ready to explode off the start
  • Left arm is in a good position – a 90-degree angle
  • Both hands are open and loose, not clenched in a fist

Published Articles

"Performance Conditioning" is an outstanding newsletter that has specific issues devoted to many sports, including, of course, soccer. TSFT Owner & Director Tom DeNigris, a former professional sports writer, has written several articles for the soccer edition. He highly recommends subscribing to the newsletter. View their website at www.performance conditioning.com.

Training Videos


"QUICK FEET" -- one of the many drills we use to teach quick feet is demonstrated here by one of our high school players. Watch how she high-steps quickly through the 14 hurdles.


Teaching Attacking v Defending

by Tom DeNigris 19. May 2009 00:18

Coaching the finer points of attacking and defending seems relatively simple and it is -- just let them play. Two teams. Two goals. One ball. And off they go...attacking and defending.

But to get your players to really understand the concepts of attacking and defending; to get them to fully comprehend the principles of attacking and defending, there is one method or drill that will help:

"Numbers-up vs. Numbers-down" is the way to go.

I've always believed that when coaching attacking soccer you should have your attacking team/players in a numbers-up situation. And by the same token, when coaching defending, you should have your defending tea/players in a numbers-down situation.

Attacking in a numbers-up situation allows for the players to have a feeling of superiority. You want your attacking players -- be they forwards, midfielders or even defenders -- to be confident. You want them to learn how to exploit space, to move off the ball, to take advantage of that extra player or players on the pitch.

Defending in a numbers-down situation adds pressure to the players. You want your defending players to be able to deal with pressure, to be calm under pressure.

Before ending your session with a two-team match, try this first:

For teams at the U11 or younger level, form two teams. For U12s and older, separate your players into two teams as follows: starting defenders and goalkeeper on one team, starting forwards and midfielders on another. Place remaining players on each team.

Start play with 2 attackers v 1 defender plus the Keeper. Progress to 3v2, 4v2, 4v3, 5v3 and end with 7v4.

Preview the Five Principles of Attack and the Five Principles of Defending (available under the above "Soccer Drills" list under "Tactics"). As players are added to the game, emphasize the different principles -- penetration, support width and depth, etc.; pressure, delay, cover and balance, etc.

There is another drill, "Box Pressure", that will also help coach the concepts of attacking and defending.

And also do not hesitate to play a regular two-team scrimmage with a "numbers-up vs. numbers-down" situation. Instead of a 7v7, play 8v6 or 9v5.

 

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Total Soccer Fitness and Training
4 Pheasant Drive
Colts Neck, NJ 07722
totalsoccerft@earthlink.net