| | | | | possession of the ball should always be one of the |
| I have seen on many occasions a team of gifted | | | | major aims, so teaching your players to use their |
| young soccer players go through a season | | | | body to protect possession is also another key skill |
| undefeated, only to get to the grand final and lose | | | | to be focussing on leading into the finals. |
| their only game of the season. My son played in a | | | | Are you the underdog? Are you playing against a |
| team that only lost two games last season. They | | | | team that you have not beaten all year? All teams |
| were the final, and the grand final. I have coached | | | | have key players, and all teams have weaknesses. |
| teams on many occasions that defeated the | | | | When I coach a team against a stronger club, I try |
| undefeated team in the grand final. Maybe you are | | | | to identify the key players on the opposition team. If |
| the coach of a team that is currently undefeated and | | | | you have played them in the regular season you will |
| entering the finals. Or maybe you are the coach of a | | | | already know this. Shut them down. Man mark them. |
| team that is the underdog going into the finals. How | | | | Play them out of the game. This may involve |
| do you prepare young soccer players to play in the | | | | reorganising the structure of your team, so I like to |
| finals? | | | | practice this structure in a few regular season games |
| I hear it said on many occasions that a final is just | | | | so that the players are familiar with it. I also use |
| another game. I do not subscribe to this theory. | | | | defensive training drills like tagging, and drills to close |
| While the game is played on the same field, with the | | | | space on attackers to help with this. If you can |
| same ball, and the same number of players, junior | | | | upset the game of the key players on the opposition |
| soccer players attach a greater importance to finals. | | | | you will go a long way to beating them. |
| And so do senior players for that matter. I think that | | | | Attack. The aim of a finals game is to win. Draws do |
| telling players that it is just another game is just a | | | | not count in finals. So you must score goals. Team |
| defensive mechanism so that they do not feel so | | | | formation is a critical element in the playing style of |
| bad if they lose. I coach players to approach a final | | | | your team. Are you playing 4 4 2, 4 3 3, or 3 4 3. I |
| with an attitude that this is the game of the year | | | | do not like to vary too much the formation that I |
| when they should give their absolutely best effort. It | | | | have used during the regular season. But one of the |
| is at this time of the year that they should really aim | | | | main aims in a finals match must be to score goals. |
| up and show how good they really are. Encourage | | | | Preparing your team to play in the finals should start |
| them to be their best and be 100 percent committed | | | | at training a few weeks before the finals start. |
| is the best way to approach a final. And, then if they | | | | Soccer drills should encourage ball control, short |
| lose you can comfort them with the fact that they | | | | passing, and speed of movement. Defensive drills |
| did their best. | | | | should encourage tagging, and closing space. Think |
| Finals matches are usually more intense than regular | | | | clearly about the formation you are going to play and |
| season games. There is usually less time and less | | | | how you are going to score goals. And identify the |
| space for players to work in. In the weeks leading | | | | strengths of your opponent and try to neutralise |
| into the finals your soccer drills should be | | | | them. Then before the game build your players up to |
| concentrating on the first touch, short passes, | | | | give 100 percent and play to the best of their ability. |
| passing and moving, and controlling the ball under | | | | That will give them the best chance to be successful |
| pressure. This will help your players cope with the | | | | on the field. |
| extra pressure placed on them in a final. Keeping | | | | |