By Marvin Smith, Baton Rouge Soccer Association

This exercise can be used to conduct offensive training sessions on speed of play, possession play, etc. It can also be used for defensive training sessions - small group defending (pressure, cover, balance) team pressing, high pressure, etc.

* Divide the team into two groups.
* Have players pair up with another player within their group.
* Assign each pair a number (X = 1-? O = 1-?).
* The objective is to maintain possession to complete a number of passes as determined by the coach.
* When a player loses possession, they must call out their number and that pair immediately takes a knee. They are out of the game until their group regains possession.

This allows two situations to occur:
1. The defending group must now defend with numbers down (-2 players).
2. The group in possession now has a numerical advantage (+2 players).

When the defending group regains possession, the two players who were kneeling get back up to give their group numerical advantage in possession.

The transition is this game is very rapid (players up, players down). The coach must facilitate the flow of the game.

Coaching Points:
* Speed of execution: movement of ball - first touch, playing with different surfaces, vision.
* Mobility: movement of players - timing of runs, creating space for self or others.
* Support play: angle, distance, and body shape.
* Decision-making: if you don't have pressure on you, don't pass to a teammate who does.

Variation: One Up - One Down
* Divide the team into two groups.
* Assign each player a number.
* When a player loses possession, have only that player take a knee. This provides more of a challenge for the group in possession because they have one extra player.

National Soccer Coaches Association of America • 6700 Squibb Road, Suite 215 • Mission, KS 66202

1 st Annual KICKIN' IT WITH SCORES Benefit Concert
To Benefit BAY AREA SCORES

Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006
Doors Open @ 7:30pm
Featuring WONDER BREAD 5
Bimbo's 365 Nightclub
1025 Columbus Avenue
To Buy Tickets: $30 Click Here
To Make a Tax-Deductible Donation: Click Here
www.americascores.org

Questions please contact:

f you've been prone to sprains or rolling your ankles, check it out and share it with other players, coaches and friends. Click here: http://www.sfphysicaltherapy.com/pages/837511/index.htm

my suggestion is that in your newsletter you add little "soccer stories" to make people laugh or to share a touching moment or to make us reflect on something deep or philosophical. for all of us who live for and worship soccer, a good part of our lives is spent on the soccer field, or off it with others who are also "soccer oriented". therefore, we must have some great soccer related stories out there to share with one another! so, i propose a small space dedicated to these little stories. i can offer mine as the first one! here it is:

I am currently a volunteer in Namibia, Africa, working with children affected by the AIDS pandemic. Besides my work with school readiness programs and educational workshops, i am creating a youth soccer program in Katatura, the poorest part of the city. yesterday i organized a friendly soccer match for the young girls. as the game was about to begin, one team formed a little huddle. i overheard them praying to God to help them win. i walked over to them and said, "if you pray to God to help YOU win, and the other team prays to God to help THEM win, then who will God help to win?" the littlest one smiled up at me and said, "the one who scores the most goals, of course!" i almost died laughing!!

so toby, that is my little soccer story! if you like my suggestion, feel free to print it! i also have a photo of my little girls team, the "Beautiful Pumpkin Stars" who play in their bare feet on "fields" of rocks, stones and broken glass. they are INCREDIBLE!! i wish i could find other little girls to play against them!! i wish i could put them all on a plane and bring them to san francisco to play against all the little girls in the bay area on grass fields! i think the women's national team would start recruiting them!!

so, that is all for now from this hemisphere! keep up the GREAT work in the bay area and know that i am a BIG, BIG, BIG fan of yours!!!! tons of love! it was GREAT to see PIERRE at SI!!! i would never have recognized him, he has changed since the last time i saw him in the stroller at some tournament up north!!! :)

big hugs and best wishes now and always,
xoxoxoxoxoxox
mb :)

COACH GIANNI SOCCER ACADEMY
FOR YOUTHS & ADULTS

I'm very proud to inform you that I will run the Coach Gianni Soccer Academy for youth soccer  players (boys and girls) and adults (men and women) from January through June 2006. 

Youth Players ( between 10 and 17 years old)
For youths it will be on  Saturdays from 12:15 to 1:45pm (1.5hours), in the beautiful Gymnasium of the Buchanan YMCA in San Francisco. 

Adult Players (all ages)
For adults it will be on Thursdays from 7:30 to 9:00 pm (1.5hours), in the beautiful Gymnasium of the Buchanan YMCA in San Francisco.

Classes and Purpose
When we play a soccer game, in 90 minutes we touch and handle the ball for no more than 2 minutes. It's hard to learn something in 2 minutes. A 1.5 hour class is the equivalent of more than 30 games!
During the lessons we'll do a lot of footwork to develop first touch, trap, pass, heading, juggling and shooting. Particular exercises will be done to improve strength and agility through stretching and fitness. We'll develop one topic every session.
In short, you'll become A BETTER SOCCER PLAYER.

When and Cost for Youth Players
Youth players can enroll in a 6 hour program, taking place on Saturdays for 4 sessions.

I will accept NO MORE THAN 20 STUDENTS for each monthly 4 session program. 

Full coverage insurance the same as YMCA members

Parking validation in the Japan Town garage (across the street) 

When and Cost for Adult Players
Players can enroll in a 6 or 7.5 hour program, taking place on Thursdays from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm in 4 or 5 sessions.

I will accept NO MORE THAN 20 STUDENTS for each monthly 4/5 session program.  

Full coverage insurance the same as YMCA members

Parking validation in the Japan Town garage (across the street)

Where
The Academy will take place at the Buchanan YMCA, 1530 Buchanan (at Geary St. across from Japan Town) in San Francisco (see map).

Enrollment
This letter is sent to more than 1,600 contacts, so HURRY. 

Email giannimininni@yahoo.com

You are allowed to sign up for more than 1 month.

First to enroll, first serve, no exception.

I'll email you back for acceptance, and ask you to send a check  to Gianni Mininni at 2650 Green Street, San Francisco, Ca. 94123

When I receive the check you are officially in the course and I will let you know. (So if you don't hear from me I haven't received your check and you're not enrolled.)  

If you'd like to know more about me, please go to CoachGianni.com and read the pages 'About Me' and 'Testimonials'. 

I look forward to hearing from you.
Coach Gianni