ATTACKING PATTERNS of Play - 7v7

[@HelloHuber]

What a video! I’m doing this for tomorrow’s practice. This is what I’ve been missing, thank you!

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Thank you! Let me know how it goes.

[@HelloHuber]

I inherited my sons rec team of U8/U9 that inherited a lot of U6/U7 players. I'm having trouble keeping everyone focused. It went Ok, but it will need to be practiced routinely. Definitely some signs of progress. Thank you again! @@CoachRorySoccer

[@maherkhaleel2794]

Will definitely be putting this into practice. Great video Coach! 💥

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Thanks!

[@Scousetiger]

Thanks. I'm definitely going to try these as my team can struggle to combine with each other.

[@tjlyricz4730]

We have most of these combinations. And some more direct ones. But rather than have them as “patterns of play” I coach them as options. Imo this gives them structure but also they know they have flexibility within a certain frame work.

[@brianpeterson520]

I just implemented dedicated runs w my team last weekend and we won 5-1. Gonna try and use some of these attacking patterns this week.

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Fantastic!!

[@brianpeterson520]

@@CoachRorySoccer Ok - question for you. We are about to play against team with a 9 kid that will year old kid that will probably go pro. Any secret strategies to help shut him down? I told my son to follow him around and tell him jokes, distract him all game. Half joking..... thoughts?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

@@brianpeterson520 id probably just focus on your CB pairing and individual defending techniques. Side on, keep in front, front foot defending, no stabbing etc.

[@brianpeterson520]

@@CoachRorySoccer right on. That was my instinct. The kids really want to steal the ball immediately. I just told them to stay with the guy. Get in the way and slow him down. Thanks!!! Attacking patterns were tough for them but hard when half the kids miss practice 🤣🤣

[@mrd8802]

Hey, great video, it always good to see how others do things. Can I ask you when you do the training and you start with 7 Vs 0 what do you do with the other 3/4/5 players

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Just switch out every pattern run through. So if you have two kids who play right wing they just switch every run etc.

[@andrewhurst918]

nice video mate 🤝

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Thanks

[@yurikostin6172]

very nice video, thanks !

[@kaijaloren]

I’m currently coaching a 12u team with a “star player“ so I have the opposite problem (in core AYSO, so recreational league). I’m really trying to work with him to focus on other things than just goal scoring this year. He’s totally a player that can just dribble though and score without help from his team. He’s in 12u so this strategy still works, but I’ve seen too many players like this over the years that don’t do well once they move to higher ages. Any advice welcome.

[@CoachRorySoccer]

I wonder if he needs more of a challenge? Maybe encourage him to play higher level? If not possible or available certainly some external motivation (piece of candy for every assist…etc). This is a common problem and usually is because player is much more talented then those around him

[@kaijaloren]

@@CoachRorySoccerAgreed, a higher level of play would be great for him, but likely won’t happen until high school. At practice I frequently give him certain conditions on top of what we are doing, like left foot only shooting, or will have him be a neutral player that can’t score. Good news is that the parents are on board with this and don’t undermine with win at all cost attitudes. Small pieces of candy are a great idea, and I can apply across the team so no one is singled out.

[@franchizetheartist]

What a great resource you are getting ready for fall season , 9 v 9 u12 have found how I want to play but struggled with 7 v 7 I love your patterns , practices your very thorough 🙌🏿🏆

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Awesome. Good luck!

[@MikeBaas]

Welp, now I know what I'm doing next month. Thanks!

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Just to give you a frame of reference the new team I took on this fall has not advanced to attacking patterns yet 6 month in. We are still on BOOTB patterns. Which is typical. Sometimes I’m doing BOOTB for a year or more before getting to Attacking patterns.

[@MikeBaas]

@@CoachRorySoccer Oh wow, ok. Well, these U10 guys looked really great on BOOTB so I think their curve is shorter, but I will keep it in mind to go step by step.

[@mrmartin14]

Absolutely loving the videos, really appreciate. This season my 9/10u will be playing 8v8. I intend to run a 2-3-2 following the same principles and patterns but am curious of your thoughts on the 9 & 10s roles with the additional player. I figure they would follow the same rule of don’t cross the half way line, and really just gives our 6 one more option

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Yep. 232 is what I would recommend. Basically playing with two strikers up top. Slight variation but pretty easy to adapt from 231 at 7v7

[@samanthateal22]

Hi. I need practice drills for u11 that work on their long kicks, power kicks, and when passing the ball in crowded situations to pass to open team members and not just to a wide open area. We have our practices and most of it helps but in those moments on the field they are not ready for I need to train their basic instincts to automatically do long kicks, power kicks, and knowing to look up to find who's open. Some kids I just cannot get to grasp keeping control of the ball and attacking . Please help.

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Unfortunately I don’t work much on long kicks. In terms of passing I would check out my rondo video or session planning vids.

[@williambarnes5136]

Coach Rory my U12 team is improving coordinating their attack in the final third but about half have a tendency to dribble too long (right into the goalie’s hands) and the other half tend to launch it the instant they have a lane even if they’re far out. Any advice?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Keep at it. All age appropriate mistakes. Have you checked out my attacking 1/3 breakdown games. Those help a lot.

[@finch2213]

I’m coaching U12 9v9 Rec kids with only a few (4-5 players) who seem to have any soccer knowledge. We’ve only had one (1hr/week) practice so far. Do you think there is any value in trying to teach a numbered zoning system to teach off the ball movement and pattern play?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Probably not at that level and time you would have to practice etc. But if it were a travel level or older group it’s not a bad thought!

[@finch2213]

@@CoachRorySoccer thanks for the response! I’m a recent subscriber to your channel and I’m really impressed with the quality of your content.

[@Eli821000]

I really enjoy your videos! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Do you have actual footage from a practice session to share as well? I am fairly new to coaching and would love to implement more pattern plays!

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Thanks!! Yes I do have practice session videos. Will share for sure. In fact, likely this spring I will be filming whole sessions to implement into videos for the channel.

[@ktkingston13]

@@CoachRorySoccer Great! This is what I was hoping for as well!

[@nofurtherwest3474]

Just wondering why do you call your wide mids fullbacks and not wingbacks?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

As you progress to 11v11 those positions become the fullbacks.

[@nofurtherwest3474]

@@CoachRorySoccer I see. Do you call them fullbacks when talking to the kids too? Or do you call them midfielders?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

@@nofurtherwest3474 I use both terms. Usually fullbacks.

[@nofurtherwest3474]

@@CoachRorySoccer I see thanks. Can I ask a separate ques - do you ever encourage your kids to go 1v1? Like when they are attacking? Or do you always want them to pass?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

@@nofurtherwest3474 really this is dependent on area of the field they are in. In our defense 1/3 I don’t want them trying to beat people 1v1 very much because losing the ball here can be catastrophic. As you move up the field it is absolutely encouraged. Especially in the wide areas. Also if you are playing a team and recognize a clear mismatch etc.

[@ellobo7627]

Thanks good stuff

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Thanks!

[@Antesyd]

One problem with this is that 9/10yo kids have a hard time understand consequences and don't understand when they need to stay and when to run.

[@CoachRorySoccer]

It’s a challenge.

[@milindingle8201]

Awesome 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Thanks 🔥

[@edwinmakau5603]

Too much theory. Your strategy can only work if the opponent is stationary.

[@CoachRorySoccer]

😂

[@tonicox4005]

Every other sport uses set plays beginning in youth ages and building muscle memory. In football when they run a play of course the defense can "mess it up" and the quarterback has to look and decide one of the other options. In basketball, same thing. Why not soccer? Youth players (ESPECIALLY at the 7-10 year old range) get so caught up in small particular things or overthinking, that practicing some of the time with patterns is very helpful for them. Especially if the coach does as Coach Rory says to make sure the players are looking up and seeing the field, that is fundamental all the way through professional soccer. All of these are very basic passing types actually, but it gives young players a much more dynamic and game-like way to practice then just practicing a 1-2 over and over in lines.