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    Developing Soccer Players: Forward-Specific Practices
    Developing Soccer Players: Forward-Specific Practices
    Developing Soccer Players: Forward-Specific Practices
    Ebook135 pages1 hour

    Developing Soccer Players: Forward-Specific Practices

    By Dan Bolas

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    About this ebook

    The development path for soccer players contains many elements: from technical execution, to tactical awareness, to mental strength, and more. But as players progress, they specialise, and skillsets and practices advance, based on the specific requirements of their positions. At this point, coaches need to offer tailored coaching.

    With forwards, a key aspect to developing finishing and scoring goals is to focus on executing the right techniques when under pressure. This can be achieved by placing the forward in game-realistic positions and scenarios, then allowing them to ‘practise’ appropriate techniques. In doing so, they develop a feel for a successful strike and continue to build their skills until they become comfortable.

    Aimed at football coaches of all levels, and players of all ages and abilities, Developing Soccer Players: Forward-Specific Practices seeks to develop, and enhance, the skills and functions of forward players through low numbers training. This includes the player on their own, with a coach, and in small-sided games.

    Detailing research into technique, psychology, and using the statistics of how goals are scored in the modern game, this book highlights where and how modern goalscorers get their goals, and serves up exercises to help players develop and excel accordingly.

    Developing Soccer Players: Forward-Specific Practices offers drills that develop the full range of core finishing techniques including volleys, headers, and both sides of the boot. The book also provides a wide spectrum of game scenarios including: across goal finishing, combination finishing, across defender finishing, second phase finishing, and more.

    Containing more than 40 illustrated soccer templates, the book presents a core coaching reference that will help coaches take their forwards to the next level.

    About the author. Dan Bolas has been working in football for the past 15 years, with a focus on developing and improving players of all ages and abilities. For the last nine years, he has been coaching in English academy football, working with some of the best young players and alongside some of the most experienced coaches in the game. Dan holds the UEFA A Licence qualification and is a graduate of the Premier League’s innovative Elite Coach Apprenticeship Scheme.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBennion Kearny
    Release dateSep 21, 2018
    ISBN9781911121619
    Developing Soccer Players: Forward-Specific Practices

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      Book preview

      Developing Soccer Players - Dan Bolas

      Developing Soccer Players: Forward-Specific Practices

      *

      Dan Bolas

      *

      [Smashwords Edition]

      *

      *

      Published in 2018 by Dark River, an imprint of Bennion Kearny.

      Copyright © Dark River 2018

      ISBN: 978-1-911121-61-9

      All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

      This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that it which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

      Dark River has endeavoured to provide trademark information about all the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Dark River cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

      Published by Dark River, an imprint of Bennion Kearny Limited, 6 Woodside, Churnet View Road, Oakamoor, Staffordshire, ST10 3AE

      www.BennionKearny.com

      Table of Contents

      Title Page

      Dedication

      About the Author

      1. Introduction

      2. Notes

      3. Technique-Based Practices

      4. Psychology

      5. Statistics and Best Practice

      Harry Kane

      Luis Suárez

      Mauro Icardi

      Miroslav Klose

      Radamel Falcao

      Robert Lewandowski

      Goals, Shots, and Touches

      Considerations for Practice

      Penalty Kicks

      Penalty Kick Analysis

      6. This looks simple…

      7. Equipment

      8. Sessions

      1. Finishing Technique: Laces

      2. Finishing Technique: Inside of the Foot

      3. Finishing Technique: Toe Poke

      4. Finishing Technique: Volley

      5. Finishing Technique: Chip

      6. Finishing Technique: Dinking the ball over a grounded goalkeeper

      7. Finishing Technique: Rounding the goalkeeper

      8. Finishing Technique: Powerful Header

      9. Finishing Technique: Flick Header

      10. Finishing Technique: Instinctive Finish

      9. Forward-Specific Practices

      1. Multiple One Touch Finishes

      2. Heading Game

      3. Rebound Finishing

      4. Low Cross Finishing

      5. Back to Goal Finishing

      6. Angled Finishing

      7. Spin and Finish

      8. Crossing and Finishing

      9. Attacking the Ball to Finish

      10. Close Rebound Finishing

      11. Across Goal Finish

      12. Wide Pass Finish

      13. 2 v 2 Finishing Game

      14. Quick Finishing

      15. Combination Finishing

      16. Through-Ball Finishing

      17. Across Defender Finishing

      18. Run from Behind Finishing

      19. Aerial Finishing

      20. One Touch Finish

      21. One on One Finishing

      22. One-Two Finishing

      23. Tight Marking Finishing

      24. One against One Finishing

      25. Rebound Finishing

      26. Quick Combination Finishing

      27. Running-Through Finishing

      28. High Cross Finishing

      29. Edge of Area Finishing

      30. Second Phase Finishing

      10. Session Templates

      Other Coaching Books from Bennion Kearny

      Dedication

      To my Dad, Eddie Bolas, the greatest goal scorer I never saw play!

      About the Author

      Dan Bolas started working as a volunteer football coach as part of a community sports leadership award, and immediately got bitten by the coaching bug. Leaving school, he started off working as a community school coach, before moving through the ranks into full-time employment in academy football. He has worked across all levels of the game, ranging from 4 and 5-year olds kicking their first football right through coaching to open age, men’s amateur, and semi-professional sides. Dan holds the UEFA A Licence and is a graduate of Premier League’s Elite Coach Apprenticeship Scheme.

      1. Introduction

      No matter what level you coach or manage at, one thing will be consistent – the importance of scoring goals. Whilst good defensive organisation and a clear game plan can be massively beneficial to a group’s success; it is the ability and consistency of the forward players that will dictate how far a team can go.

      In a generation of showboaters, freestylers, and highlight-reel players, the value of a ‘good goal scorer’ is as important as ever. Someone to finish the creative moves, head home the great crosses, and tap in the winding runs, adds value to the players around them; they provide a focal point for attacking play.

      The concept for this book was born out of personal experience. Like many coaches, I am fortunate to watch a lot of football, both televised and live in stadiums. Whilst the main spectacle is always the match, I am intrigued to watch how teams prepare for games – the pre-match ‘warm up’ activities they do and the rationale behind them (be it technical, tactical, or physical). One of the most common practices is a session where the coach lines up four or five forward players, five metres outside the penalty area, and the forward players take it in turns to play a one-two before shooting at goal from around the edge of the area. It is a practice that everyone will have seen take place, and one that will no doubt continue

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