Kay began his search, examining the managers under whom Leo had trained throughout his career. What he discovered left him both surprised and apprehensive. All of Leo's former managers were known for their attacking tactics. Even, Leo had trained under Xabi Alonso towards the end of his playing career, a manager renowned for his offensive strategies and fluid style of play.
This revelation led Kay to a crucial conclusion: Leo would likely employ an aggressive, attack-oriented style for his team. Given that their coaching school curriculum had only covered the basics so far, Leo would naturally fall back on the tactics he was most familiar with from his playing days. This meant Kay's team would face a formidable offensive strategy designed to overwhelm their defense.
With this knowledge, Kay knew he had to adapt his strategy to counteract Leo's attacking prowess. He needed to prepare his team to disrupt their opponent's flow, tighten their defense, and capitalize on any counter-attacking opportunities.
Kay spent the weekend researching various tactics to counter attack-oriented teams. He even reread the book "The Art of Defense" provided by the system, taking detailed notes on strategies that could be effective against their upcoming opponent.
The next day during dinner, Kay shared his excitement and apprehension with his parents about the upcoming match and invited them to come and watch. The match was scheduled for next Sunday, and Kay was eager to showcase his team's progress.
Monday morning arrived, and Kay was ready to implement his training plan. He began the session with a thorough warm-up, ensuring the kids were physically prepared and focused.
After the warm-up, Kay gathered the team and explained that today's session would focus on passing and moving into empty space, a crucial skill to disrupt the opponent's attack and create opportunities for counterattacks.
"These exercises will help you understand how to keep the ball moving and find open spaces on the field."
The first exercise provided by Kay was 'Triangle Passing Drill': Kay set up cones in a triangle shape with approximately five meters between each cone and divided the players into groups of three, assigning each player to a cone.
"Alright, everyone," he called out. "Player A starts with the ball. Pass it to Player B at the next cone, then run to the empty cone. Player B will pass to Player C, and Player B will move to where Player A started. Player C then passes back to Player A, and the sequence continues."
The kids began the drill, initially hesitant but quickly getting the hang of it. Kay walked around, offering tips and encouragement. "Great job, Max! Quick movement, Alex! Remember, accurate passing and communication are key!"
After some moments Kay decided to pass to the second exercise of the day, which was 'Grid Passing and Moving':
Next, Kay set up a 10x10 meter grid with cones and positioned players evenly around the grid's perimeter, with one player inside the grid.
"The player inside the grid starts with the ball," Kay explained. "Pass to any player on the perimeter, then run to an empty spot. The receiving player dribbles into the grid and repeats the process. Quick decision-making and movement are crucial here."
The kids started the drill, and Kay noticed their initial struggle with quick decision-making. He provided guidance, demonstrating the importance of scanning the field before receiving the ball.
"Excellent, Taylor! Keep your head up, Michael! Look for open spaces before you pass."
Then Kay announced the last exercise of today's session; it was 'Pass and Follow Drill': For the final exercise, Kay set up a straight line of cones, approximately five meters apart, and divided the players into two lines facing each other.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"The first player in Line A passes to the first player in Line B," Kay instructed.
"After passing, run to the end of Line B. The receiving player in Line B controls the ball and passes to the next player in Line A, then runs to the end of Line A. Keep the passes accurate and move quickly."
The kids executed the drill with increasing confidence. Kay monitored their progress, noting their improvement in passing accuracy and movement.
"Fantastic work, boys! Keep those passes sharp, and don't forget to communicate with each other!"
As the session progressed, the kids began to understand the concepts and executed the drills with growing precision. At the end of the session, Kay gathered the team. "Great job today, everyone! Rest up and be ready for another great session tomorrow."
The kids cheered and thanked Kay before heading off the pitch. Kay stayed behind, planning the next steps for their training.
Kay returned home, and on his way, his phone rang. It was Mr. Hamilton, his class's instructor. "Hello, Kay," Hamilton greeted. "I have some important news for you. In your match in five days, Mr.Guardiola will be there to observe your performance."
Kay's heart raced with a mix of excitement and nerves. "That's amazing news! Thank you for letting me know."
"There's more," Hamilton continued. "Your opponent will be your classmate, Leo. I believe you've already discovered that." Kay was a man of search, and Hamilton was aware of this.
"Yes, I did some research and found out," Kay replied, chuckling at Hamilton.
"Good to hear," Hamilton said. "Also, at the end of this practical month, you'll need to provide a report about your experience. Start thinking about what you want to include."
As soon as Kay hung up, he began to mentally organize his thoughts for the report.
Once he arrived home, he wasted no time. He grabbed his laptop and settled in for the night, ready to start drafting. He began with an introduction, detailing his initial feelings of excitement and trepidation at being given the opportunity to coach a youth team. He wrote about his first impressions of the academy, the condition of the team, and his initial strategies.
Kay described his focus on basic skills and teamwork, emphasizing the importance of creating a positive and engaging environment for the young players. He included anecdotes from training sessions, highlighting the drills he used and the progress he observed in the kids.
The next day, Kay gathered the kids and informed them, "Today is the last day we'll work on exercises. For the remaining four days before the match, we'll focus on fixing errors, and training on our tactics."
Today's focus was communication between players, a crucial aspect for any team, especially for young players who were still learning the importance of teamwork.
Kay had prepared two specific exercises to improve their communication skills: The first exercise was the 'Call and Response Passing Drill'
Kay set up the cones in a wide circle, with one player standing in the middle and the others positioned evenly around the circle. The player inside the circle would throw the ball into the air and call out the name of a player on the outside. The named player had to control the ball on their first touch. If successful, they would catch the ball, rethrow it, and call another name. If they failed to control the ball, they had to pick it up and try to hit one of the escaping players with a shot. If they hit a player, the hit player was out of the game. If they missed, the shooter was out.
This drill emphasized quick thinking, clear communication, and precise ball control under pressure. The kids were enthusiastic about the game-like drill, calling out names loudly and sprinting away when their name was called. It became a fun competition, but also a serious exercise in improving their on-field communication and first touch.
Then they passed to the second exercise 'Blindfold Dribbling and Passing'
For the second exercise, Kay set up a small grid with cones, approximately 5x5 meters. He paired up the players, giving one player in each pair a blindfold. The blindfolded player started with the ball and had to dribble within the grid, relying solely on the verbal instructions of their partner to navigate. The guiding player had to use clear, precise commands to direct the blindfolded player through the grid.
After a set time, the players switched roles. This drill was more challenging, requiring the players to build trust in their partners and communicate effectively. It improved their listening skills and ability to give clear instructions, essential for successful teamwork. The blindfolded players had to develop a heightened sense of spatial awareness and control the ball without visual cues.
Kay noted during the session that there was a communication problem between two of the children, so he concluded that something was wrong. Kay then gave the players a break before turning to the two.
See you in the next chapter ...
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