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English Premier League Academy Tour Journal December 2006

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ANKENY SOCCER CLUB

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE COACHES TOUR

DECEMBER 2006

Notes provided by Ozzie White, DOC, Ankeny Soccer Club, IA Published by WORLD CLASS COACHING 15004 Buena Vista Drive, Leawood, KS 66224

WORLD CLASS COACHING 2007

Ankeny Soccer Club; Expanding Coaching Horizons EPL Coaches Tour December 2006
Ankeny Soccer Club Professional Coaching Staff members Justin Vorster, Matt Sahag, and Andrew Kewley visited England during December as part of their ongoing coaching education. During the visit, arranged by ASC Director of Coaching Ozzie White, the coaches visited a number of professional youth academies, attended training sessions, exchanged dialogue and ideas with club coaches as well as watched a number of Premier League and European Competition matches. The trip was a customized tour planned through renowned Soccer Tour Company, Travel and Play. Barry Walmsley and Martyn Heather are great to work as they understand the nuances which make these visits invaluable, therefore, unforgettable. We arrived in England and made our way to the hotel to unpack before going to the Valley; home of Charlton Athletic to watch them play against Blackburn Rovers. Charlton won the game 1-0 to give them hope in the Premiership relegation battle. After the game we met and spoke with American World Cup veteran goalkeeper Brad Friedel. He has enjoyed a magnificent career and was happy to spend time with us and share some of his thoughts on the game. Day Two took us to Tottenham Hotspur Football Club to visit with Trevor Webb and the coaching staff at Spurs Lodge. In the evening we watched West Ham vs. Wigan Athletic at Upton Park. Day Three was again spent at Tottenham Hotspur Youth Academy in the morning. During the afternoon we visited Arsenals new Emirates Stadium. One word- magnificent!!

In the evening we where again close to the action as the Spurs youngsters trained under the watchful eyes of Coaches Alex Inglethorpe and Chris Ramsey. Day Four was another visit to the Valley. This time we attended a presentation from Debbie Brown, General Business Manager Charlton Athletic Professional Womens Program. Debbie is so well respected for her contributions to the Womens game that she was recently invited by

FIFA to present her Womens Football Business Model to a recent symposium attended by all Womens Professional Clubs throughout Europe. It was a pleasure receiving information from Debbie as we at Ankeny Soccer Club aspire to make our girls program as successful as we possibly can.

During the afternoon of Day Four we had the privilege of visiting the David Beckham Academy in London. This facility is what every coach dreams about. Two full sized indoor pitches, dressing rooms, a museum with memorabilia from Beckhams career, a canteen providing the right foods for athletes to train, and a full medical facility. The complex also boasts interactive white boards in class rooms as well rooms full of computers, soccer DVDs and books for players to look up the moves for themselves.

During our visit to the Beckham Academy we watched the Charlton Athletic U/18 Girls participate in a training session run by Coaches Graham Webb and Keith Boanas. The Charlton Womens team is fortunate to train at the Academy during times of inclement London weather. Day Five was another Premier League match between Watford and Reading, followed by a traditional Saturday night out in England; a few beers to discuss the weeks football followed by a late night curry and an anticipation of the next weeks football. Day Six had us all excited; we where attending the Chelsea vs. Arsenal match at Stamford Bridge. We went early and savored the electric atmosphere on the surrounding streets. We found our seat in the stadium and eagerly watched the build up to a fantastic game of football. Jens Lehman treated us to a mind blowing dynamic warm up followed by a comedy with Didier Drogba during the game.

Day Seven was a travel day as Matt and I traveled up the M1 Motorway to Sheffield to meet with Scott Sellars. Scott is the Sheffield United u/18 coach and he agreed to spend the day with us to discuss training philosophies and how to implement certain methods with young professional players. Brad Friedal drove across from Blackburn and the four of us enjoyed a great afternoon of football discussion. In the evening we watched another great game Sheffield United vs. Aston Villa

Scott Sellars, Matt Sahag, Brad Friedal Day Eight took us across from Yorkshire to Manchester and a visit to Old Trafford, home of Manchester United.

Ozzie White in Alex Fergusons seat at Old Trafford Day Nine was spent visiting family, sightseeing, and shopping? Day Ten was another visit to White Hart Lane in London to watch Spurs play Dynamo Bucharest in the UEFA Cup Day Eleven and Twelve was indeed a pleasure. Justin Vorsters (ASC Director for Youth Development) brother, Kieran is the personal trainer hired by Chelsea Football Club to rehabilitate Goalkeeper Petr Cech following his horrific skull fracture back in November. Justin and I where invited to attend during Petrs training program.

Justin Vorster with Petr Cech Day Thirteen was another quick commute up the motorway to wave goodbye to the family Day Fourteen was a long journey home discussing all that we had seen, heard and discussed. The challenge is how to implement and adapt all of the great ideas we saw during an exhausting but memorable two weeks in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club Academy Visit, December 2006

Tottenham Hotspur Academy coaches young footballers from the age of 8 to 18. The operation involves approximately 150 young players, looked after by 30 full time and part time staff. A network of 35 scouts ensure that Spurs bring in the best talent locally, and compete for other national players and those based abroad. This season nine new scholars will join the 11 existing 2nd year boys to form the nucleus of the Academy U18 squad. The 3rd year Academy players all train with the Reserve/ Development Squad and compete for places in the Reserve Team. We arrived in England after planning the trip through Barry Walmsley and Martyn Heather from the Travel and Play organization. Trevor Webb is the Education and Welfare Officer at Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs) Football Club and has been a friend since a previous visit to West Ham United when he was employed by the Hammers. Trevor is a lifelong Spurs fan and the thrill of working with, and for, his childhood favorites proved too much of a lure and Trevor moved across London after a number of years serving West Ham. During our visit to White Hart Lane, (Spurs Stadium) Trevor pointed to a framed photograph on the wall in the Spurs reception, and with obvious pride stated that he was in the crowd with his father on that day and remembers it as though it where yesterday. The photograph was of the famous 1962 double winning Spurs team riding on the topless Double Decker bus through the streets of North London and returning to White Hart lane. Trevor states that half a million people turned out to cheer the team on that day and he has been hooked ever since.

Spurs Stadium; White Hart Lane

Andrew Kewley and Mathew Sahag holding the boot of Tottenham Center Forward Jermain Defoe in the Dressing room at White Hart Lane

The Spurs academy is housed at the same training complex (Spurs Lodge) as the first team and other professionals at the club. It is always great to see the players who grace our television screens each week, working on their game even harder than the young hopefuls at the same training facilities. It is an eternal inspiration for the young players to mix with the stars each day.

Spurs u/18 team training with Skills Coach Ricardo Montiz

The Spurs Academy was started 9 years ago in response to the great strides taken in the development of young players in the professional game in England, especially within the Premier League Clubs. The players between 9-14 years train a minimum of 5 hours per week and play one competitive match. The 15-17 year old players are training every week day and playing a match each week. There is great pressure on Premier League clubs to produce the best young players as the value to the club as a financial asset is sometimes the difference between survival and relegation. Being in a position to develop and sell at a profit is reality in todays game. Spurs have signed four foreign 17 year old players in the last two months which proves the big clubs will go to ends of the earth in order to discover the best young talent wherever it can be found. The club paid over 2 million ponds ($4 million) for 19 year old Aaron Lennon two years ago when he was just 17 and he is now a regular member of the Full England Squad. Tom Huddlestone is another big money teenager to arrive from Derby County, as is first team regular Center Back Michael Dawson from Nottingham Forrest. This kind of money for teenagers makes the role of the Academy and the pressure to produce home grown talent even more vital to the financial survival of football clubs. The Academy staff comprises of a number of ex professional players who have attained the highest coaching credentials to accompany their playing experiences. John McDermott is the Academy Manager and is assisted in the coaching department by; Alex Inglethorpe, Chris Ramsey, Perry Suckling, Ricardo Montiz, and Steve Palmer, all of whom have enjoyed illustrious playing careers. The Academy also boasts its own doctor, fitness coach, physical therapist, Sports Scientist, and Education and Welfare Officer. The Spurs Academy Manager, John McDermott has implemented a one year, three year, and five year plan with targets to produce a certain number of viable first team assets within those time frames.

Ankeny Soccer Club Coaching staff listening to Chris Ramsey Assistant Academy Manager for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club

Training Session - Spurs U18 Team

Spurs warm up 1

Morning training session for Spurs u/18 team Warm Up Nathan Gardiner Spurs Fitness Coach warmed the players up The coach set out a series of grids and the players used the cones as a maze. Session length 20 minutes The players started in one corner and navigated through the cones using a variety of movement to reach a different corner. Movement included; Forwards Backwards Side skips Carioca High knees Butt kicks Dynamic movements The players then started in pairs by jumping in the air to complete a double handed high five before turning in different directions to navigate to a pre determined corner. This was repeated with a variety of starts; High five, back off 5 yards return and repeat the high five

Jump and bump chests, land correctly, turn and sprint five yards, return, repeat, and navigate to a corner The coach then added the balls The players navigated the maze of cones with a ball at their feet The players navigated the maze of cones while juggling the ball

A number of dynamic stretches where completed between running exercises

Spurs warm up 2

The coach changed the cones into a number of Diamonds Players started in pairs by serving and completing a number of drills before sprinting around the diamond in opposite directions 6-Side volleys 6- Headers 6-volleys with laces 6-juggles, one touch 6-juggles, 2 touch Slide from side to side doing low fives Chest bumps 6-Half volleys keeping the ball moving between the players 6-Chest/volley keeping the ball up Check away Header Check away-volley

The warm up was concluded with a number of static stretches and a couple of drink breaks.

All players where fully warmed up and had a good sweat on

Spurs Session Coach Alex Inglethorpe; Pro License, UEFA A License Asst Coach Chris Ramsey; UEFA A License Spurs 2

Session organization: Half pitch Server 2 wide players 2 strikers 2 defenders GK Free wide Channel from 18 yard box to bye line Supply of balls Objective: 1v1 domination in wide areas Attacking the full back Combination play around the box Finishing

Server plays ball to wide player One defender leaves the middle and pressures the ball Spurs 3

Wide player attempts to get past the defender into the free wide space ASAP

Spurs 4

Wide player crosses for strikers to finish Defender retreats back into the box Spurs 5

Coaching Points: Quality of serve Angle and pace of pass Body shape and receiving touch of wide player Awareness of pressure Decision making early cross or take on and beat the defender Angle and quality of delivery from wide positions when and how

Spurs 6

Serve both sides to balance the attack and to look at the runs from either flank

Make sure that the defender applies realistic game like pressure Coaching points: How and when to beat defender 1v1 skills Change of pace Change of direction Disguise

Spurs 7

Relationship and runs from the front 2 players Coaching Points: Visual/verbal cues Timing Curve the runs Attack areas of the box Attack the ball Finish

Spurs 8

Add

Attacking midfielder Attacking midfielder to get into the box after the ball is served wide

Coaching point for wide player: Make an angled run at the defender then move in a different direction with ball before you reach the defenders tackling distance

Spurs 9

Progression: Serve into the striker to begin the practice Striker can play wide or combine with strike partner

Spurs 10

Relationship between opposite wide player, central midfielder and strikers when making runs into the box

Spurs 11

Make sure that the near post, middle of the goal and far post are attacked and that the runs are staggered

Spurs -12

Coaching point: Can the wide player combine with players inside to improve crossing position out wide?

Spurs 13

Progression: Add a third defender to apply pressure on the ball and maintain a defensive presence in the box

Spurs 14

Progression: Add a second goal and GK Play 6v6 in a half field area

If you do not achieve success with crosses from wide areas then add a fee wide channel The Spurs players have enough quality so crosses where delivered regularly

Spurs 15

Recognize during the free play of a game when and how to make runs into the box The players worked on all facets of the progression and the coach did not lose focus of his objective

Spurs 16

1v1 domination Attack the full back Combine with strikers and midfielders Deliver quality from wide positions Attack the ball in the box Finish

COOL DOWN

Spurs Skills Montiz 1

Afternoon training session for Spurs u/18 team Coach Ricardo Montiz Brazilian born coach who came through the professional coaching ranks in Holland Montiz is the Spurs Skills Coach and works with all age groups including the first team Montiz was employed by Tottenham Hotspur manager Martin Jol and came from PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Eredivise During a conversation with Montiz he expressed his skill coaching philosophy like this: Ball manipulation that transposes to the game as opposed to choreographed tricks How? Why? Make the game natural 1ST HALF Warm up Grid 20x12 yards Players navigated through the cones using various parts of the foot; Left foot Right foot Sole of the foot Inside

Outside Add

Quick touches Look up Disguise Touches behind standing leg Drag back Maradona Open body shape up and drag with inside of foot

Spurs Skills Montiz 2

1v1 with passive pressure to start Use a variety of skills to beat the opponent and reach the opposite end line Coaching points: Look up Disguise Touches behind standing leg Drag back Maradona Open body shape up and drag with inside of foot Mathews Rivelino Rohnaldinho

Add Shielding

Spurs Skills Montiz 3

Progression: Ball is played to attacker who approaches pressure at speed Attacker opens up body shape, fakes to move one way and drags the ball across his body in the opposite direction Work/Rest ratio 2:1 Work 30 sec Rest 15 sec

The coach emphasized that he wanted a very high tempo and all of his sessions are very demanding because the matches at this level are extremely demanding

Spurs Skills Montiz 4

Progression Allow support player to offer an option to the player in possession Becomes 2v1 Still encourage player in possession to take on defender in a 1v1 situation Players look to combine or add disguise and drag the ball in the other direction Combine all moves into the practice; Step over Drag back Sole of the foot drag Session time 45 minutes Montiz then spoke with the players for 10 minutes He believes in breaking the session into two parts with a half time interval to mirror the real game

2ND HALF Spurs Skills Montiz 5

Half field 2 goals 2 GK 2- White 2-Grey 2-Black Cones as wide as the 6 yard box for the length of the field Start with the ball at the feet of an attacking player who dribbles to meet the pressure applied by the defending team 2v2 Beat the defenders by using 1v1 individual skill or combining to finish

Spurs Skills Montiz 6

Coaching Points: Visual cues to decide when to pass or use individual skill to beat an opponent Timing of pass to distract 2nd defender Pass to front foot Receive with an open body shape Be ready to move with the ball Add the wider channel to give more space when the players combine. The optimum objective is to beat the defenders in the tighter channel

Spurs Skills Montiz 7

The pitch is narrow to eliminate time and space encouraging the players to get technically better in tight spaces Always focus on the end product

Spurs Suckling GK 1

Conducted by Spurs goalkeeper Coach, Perry Suckling Suckling took the two goalkeepers through a series of dynamic stretches including; Forward, backward, and sideways movements Ballistic stretching Dynamic stretching Strength work Fast footwork Suckling then served a variety of balls to the GK who positioned himself in the goal Ground balls Midriff Head height High balls When the GK joined in the players session the Coach worked one on one with the GK from inside the goal

Charlton Athletic Womens U18 Session was conducted at the David Beckham Academy in London

Ozzie White, Mathew Sahag, and Andrew Kewley of Ankeny Soccer Club, Iowa

Charlton 1 warm up

Players are in pairs about 10 yards apart They play one and two touch passes to each other The players complete 5 passes and then wrestle each other to retrieve the ball The players increase the distance and play 20 yard passes before sprinting to each other and wrestling

Charlton 2

The players complete five passes with another partner 20 yards away by receiving from the closest partner, spinning with the ball and then passing to the player at the other end of the area Coach encourages different turning techniques: Inside foot Outside foot Cruyff turn Through the legs Across the body

Charlton 3

Players complete five passes and then play the ball into space for their partner to chase, retrieve, turn and pass Vary the distance of the serve Pass through the legs To the side Over the head

Charlton 4

Partners head the ball to each other and then one partner heads over for her partner to spin and retrieve the ball as it comes out of the air Dynamic and static stretching is performed in between these warm up drills

Charlton 5

Half field GK 4 Defenders 2 Defensive m/f 2 strikers 4 Attacking m/f 4 target players over the halfway line

White team-score goals Black team-find grey target players Objective: Midfield transition Numbers up Midfielders joining the attack and combining with front two Score goals

Charlton 6

Coaching points: Runs into the box Delivery of cross Relationship between strikers and midfielders Speed and timing of runs to unbalance defense

Charlton 7

When play breaks down, a goal is scored, or the black team play the ball out to the grey team then the next attack starts by the grey team quickly changing position with the white team midfielders. Charlton 8 A group of players is taken by another Academy Coach to work on the runs into the box

4v2 in a 15x20 grid on the half way line with a wide player on each flank White players complete five passes before passing to a wide player who dribbles at speed and crosses into the box

Charlton 9

Coaching points: Angle of run Speed of run Visual and verbal communication to decide who runs where Cover the near and far post Attack the ball