The Ultimate Soccer

Coaching Series
The Worlds foremost
soccer coaching education
program.
YDSA Publications

About the presenter:

Vasco Nunes
Technical Coaching DirectorYouth Development Soccer
Academy (YDSA)

Vasco Nunes is recognized as a leading expert in youth soccer

coaching.
He has coached in four continents Africa (South Africa) Europe
(Switzerland), North and South America, he holds various coaching
licenses from Canada, USA, Europe, South Africa and Brazil.
For over 28 years he has coached youth provincial, and national teams.

Drawing on his extensive coaching experience and real world knowledge

on which soccer exercises are the most motivating and effective, Vasco
has written a number of soccer coaching blogs, coaching manuals,
guides and delivered coaching courses to various soccer clubs and
Copyright 2014 YDSA
associations around the
world. He also has written articles for leading

Vasco professes to be a student of the game and not the other way
round. He believes that soccer coaching is an ongoing evolution. Every
continent, in fact every country has their own internal nuances, being
the weather, the education system, and political instability.Therefore,
one size fit all coaching does not work.

Over the last decade, Vasco has amassed an extensive library of over
5,000 articles on the latest innovative approaches to youth soccer
training, the best soccer drills, games, exercises suitable exercises for
youth players, team tactics and training tips.
In 2005 theYouth Development Model (YDM)wasimplemented in
North America.
Coaching Profile:
Ph.D. Sports ScienceCognitive appraisal in Sport
Coached for 27 years South Africa, Switzerland and now Canada
Brazilian A License
Pre-B OSA
Goalkeeper Diploma OSA
UEFA B Denmark
UEFA B Spain
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The Ultimate Soccer Coaching Series.

The Ultimate Soccer Coaching Series is a series of coaching manuals,

seminars and training sessions, to educate coaches on how to develop
and coach players from the ages 7+ using the mirco- coaching
approach.
Coaches often accelerate into small sided games of 3 v 3, 4 v 4, 5 v 5,
etc. even 11 v 11 without spending adequate time on the basic
component of the larger game. i.e. 1 v 1, 2 v1 etc.
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By breaking down the game into smaller components and coaching

players to master each component, will not only help the player grow in
confidence, but also the entire team understands each players role.
There are not that many resources available in the market place,
specifically for the development of the 1 v 1 situation
There are a couple of drills on the internet posted by various
subscription web-pages.

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Background to Drills vs Games,

Activities.
The on-going debate on how to develop skill and technique for young
soccer players is as old as the game itself.
Street-Soccer has been replaced by structured competitive leagues with
vocal coaches continually giving instructions.
Every week, fields are occupied with teams spending most of their time
taking corners, free-kicks and practicing using drills to develop skills.
The most famous drill is the 1 meter spaced cones in a straight line with
children lined up behind each other waiting for their turn to dribble the
ball in and out the cones.

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Bruce Lee (the famous martial artist, actor and

philosopher) was asked why doesn't he break bricks to
prove his strength.
His reply was Bricks dont hit back.
The same could be said with drills
have you ever seen six defenders lined up behind each
other waiting to be beaten?

This is a
drill!
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Some coaches will argue that this is a drill to develop ball control!
However, a couple of issues arisethe player never looks up, knows
exactly where the next cone will be and never gets challenged.
By using games in The Ultimate Soccer Coaching Series, you the coach,
can develop your players skills without resorting to static and boring
drills.
The most important component that has to be emphasized is
A player has to beat another player(s) without being told what part
of the foot to use etc.

Askillis thelearnedability to carry out a task with pre-determined

results often within a given amount oftime,energy, or both.
Oxford dictionary

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This presentation is focussed on the 1 v 1 situation.

I have researched coaching books, DVDs, and the internet and its
amazing how many 1 v 1 practices are drills. Most are static, with certain
rules, i.e. use only the outside of the foot, only the opposite foot, dribble
in and out cones, run and shoot at net, and so on.
This stifles the players creativity , game intelligence and game
awareness.

This is where the Youth Development Model (YDM) comes in.

1v1 practice games using the YDM are vital to any coach as this situation
occurs naturally in any game.
Players must feel comfortable dealing with these situations and finding a
solution whether they are attacking or defending.
In the Ultimate 1 v 1 coaching manual I have included games to
stimulate creativity and improve technique, skill, and game awareness
without using drills.

1v1 practice games using the YDM are vital to any coach as this situation
occurs naturally in any game.
Players must feel comfortable dealing with these situations and finding a
solution whether they are attacking or defending.
In the Ultimate 1 v 1 coaching manual -(Available for sale )
YDSA STORE.
I have included games to stimulate creativity and improve technique,
skill, and game awareness without using drills.

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The Youth Development Model

To isolate specific techniques is unwise since technique is useless without
the dynamics of time, space, decision making, and teammate/opponent
movements.
The model works on the premise that nothing happens in isolation.
It teaches that technique cannot be learned without incorporating
decision making, without considering the emotional and motivational
state, and without creating an environment that mirrors the physical
demands of the game.
If learning a skill is not enjoyable and if it does not feature lots of
movement, the players will stop participating before they get to the
game.

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If learning occurred in a static environment, do the players possess the

understanding to make game decisions? That would be unlikely.
The YDM approach is a dynamic instructional method that allows the
participant to fully experience the sport.
It is not the just let them play, approach.
Proper technical execution is not important, because between the ages of
7-13, children should be allowed to express their creativity without
continuously being told how to stop a ball, pass a ball etc.
Technique will improve with practice and experience.
Young players need to make decisions, exert themselves
physically, perform technical skills, and most importantly,
challenging.

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Important questions to ask yourself. Are my

training sessions:
Challenging?

Are they enjoyable to perform and will it keep their interest?

Are they organized?
Are the objectives clear? It doesnt need to be highly structured
or without any rules, but the purpose and guidelines of the
activity need to be understood.
Are the players involved in the activities?
Is there maximum participation of all players, or are some more
active than others?
Is creativity and decision making being used?
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Are their decisions to move or employ a particular skill ever changing,

or are they just repeating the same movement without thinking?
Is the space appropriate for the age group and number of players? Is
the space allowing for the objectives of the activity to be realized?
Is the coachs feedback appropriate? For younger players, feedback
should be positive and frequent.
What are the implications for the game?
Are the objectives of the activity related to the demands they
will face in a game?

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TheYDMis the worlds most comprehensive youth coaching

philosophy.
The YDM has been developed and researched by
Master Youth Coach Vasco Nunes
TheYDMhas incorporated ideas from other sports, like gymnastics,
basketball, Futsal and rugby. TheYDM includes educational tested
coaching philosophies like Dr. Lynn Kidman's Athlete Centered Coaching,
Developing Decision Makers and Training Games for Understanding.
AllYDMtraining sessions are age appropriate, including
duration of the session, coaches involved and equipment used.
TheYDMs main objective is to develop creative, intelligent, skillful
and decisive soccer players that have great game awareness.

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The YDM program uses the "Teaching Games for Understanding

(TGfU)" is an approach to learning and athlete-centered coaching,
where the player comes first and each game has a learning component,
the young players' will learn with little coach interference
The TGFU approach wasproposedas a way of putting the WHY of a
game before the HOW.Bunker & Thorpe, )
The YDM games are use for:

Technique building;
Decision making;
Creative and skill building;
Soccer intelligence;
Developing game vision and perception;

No more drills, laps and lectures. All aspects of the game: technical,
physical, tactical and game intelligence are developed in an integrated
manner for greater transfer and effect.

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The most important aspect of the YDM is that, all the

games are competitive and challenging.
Player vs. Objective (e.g. Learn a new skill)
Player vs. Time (Perform a task as quick as possible)
Player vs Player
Player vs Players
Players vs Players
Player(s) vs Player(s) with restrictions
(different sized or shaped fields).

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Why coaching series dedicated to each component e.g. The 1 v 1

Situation?
The benefit of each practice is:
They are games;
Players understand and know how to apply what they have learned in
the real game;
Competitive;
Stimulate creativity;
Develop game awareness;
Develop perception, interpretation and decision-making skills;
And most importantchallenging!!

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Characteristics of Characteristics of
Drills
Game/Activities

Static

Military

Lines

Boring

No Thought

Age Inappropriate

Waiting around

Dynamic

Organized but unstructured

Free Movement

Challenging

Decision Making

Age Appropriate

No excessive coaching pressure

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Examples of YDM games to

develop the
1 v 1 situation

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1 v 0 GameAcceleration & Speed

Equipment

Game #3

Training Vests for each player

Ball for each player

4 cones / pylons

Set-up

Set up the field as shown.

Split the team into 2 groups with
each group wearing alternate training
vests.
Pairs of players.
Line up the players behind the end
nets.
Ensure that all players are standing
on the line between the cones.
Every player of the blue group should
have a ball.
Players stand 2 m apart.

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1 v 0 GameAcceleration & Speed

Objectives
Speed and acceleration while keeping the ball
under control.

Competition: player vs player

Instructions

The player with the ball stands between the two cones.
The player without the ball stands 2 m apart from the
opposing player
Player with the ball decides the moment when to dribble
the ball to the opposite net.
As soon as the ball is touched the play is live.
The player without the ball sprints to opposite side.
The player who runs / dribble the ball first over the end
line wins.
Every player should have a turn with the ball and
Coaching Points
without.

Ask the player whats faster?

Five touches of the ball or three touches? Three or two

touches etc.
Let your players practice a couple of turns before
progressing to the next exercise.
The sprinter should be in a ready position before the
game begins.

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Game #3

1 v 0 GameAcceleration & Speed

Progression

Same as previous game, however, players

dribble over the end line then do a turn (of
their own choosing) and run towards the starting
point.
The player who dribbles the ball / run over the
end line first, wins.
If a player does not dribble the ball over the end
line the goal does not count.
Variation Change the type of ball used during
the game. E.g. Volley ball, mini ball etc.

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Game #3

1 v 1 GamePass, Receive, Attack & Defend

Game #21
Equipment

Training Vests for each player

Ball for each player
8 cones / pylons

Set-up

Set up the field as shown.

Split the team into 2 groups
with each group wearing
alternate training vests.
Position each group behind
one of the double nets.
Players should remain
behind the double nets.

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1 v 1 GamePass, Receive, Attack & Defend

Game #21
Objectives

Quick attacking and defending.

Improve multilateral vision.
Improve jockeying and
defending.
Accurate passing.
Competition : player vs player
andInstructions
time
The first player passes the ball to the opposing
player.
The opposing player attacks the ball and tries to
score a goal on either net.
If the passer wins back the ball he can score on
the opposite nets.
The game lasts 30 seconds.
A goal is scored by dribbling through the net.
Change roles of players after every game.
Progression 1
Same as above, this time the red player chip the
ball instead of passing it.
Variation
1.Change the type of ball used during the
game. E.g. Volley ball, mini ball etc.
2.Make grid smaller

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Coaching Points
The defender should try and guide the attacker
towards the sides of the playing area.
The defender should close down the attacker
quickly, force the attacker to the weak side and
break down the attack.
Start all games by the rolling the ball
forward using the sole of the cleats and then
passing the ball.

1 v 1 GameReceive, Attack, Defend & Shoot

Equipment

Game #51

Training Vests for

each player
Ball for each
player
8 cones / pylons

Set-up

2 Futsal or Outdoor full sized nets

Set up the field as shown.

Split the team into 2 groups with
each group wearing alternate
training vests.
Each group stand on opposite
side of the field.
Facing each other diagonally.
Make sure each player in the
attacking group has a ball.

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1 v 1 GameReceive, Attack, Defend & Shoot

Game #51

Objectives

Improve reaction and

acceleration with and without the
ball.
Turning and shooting on net.
Shoot on the run.
Improve ball control.
Receiving and turning.
Shielding the ball.
Instructions
Competition : player vs player
The red player passesand
thetime
ball diagonally
to the opposing player.

The opposing player attacks the ball and

tries to score a goal in the opposing net.
A goal can only be scored when the
attacking is in the 7 m shooting zone.
If the passer wins back the ball he can
score on the opposite nets.
The game lasts 30 seconds.
Change roles and players after every
game.
Progression 1
Same as above, however, the goal can only
be scored between the two 7 m shooting
zones.
Progression 2
Pick any of the above two games, now add
GK to both nets.
Variation Change the type of Copyright
ball used
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Coaching Points
First touch.
Shooting using either foot.
Aim for accuracy vs power of the
shot.
Closing down the attacker quickly.
Start all games by the rolling the ball
forward using the sole of the cleats
and then passing the ball.

Thank you for your attention!!

Visit website : www.ydsa.com

To purchase the Ultimate 1 v 1

Coaching Manual click here:

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