Kay continued, adding more detail about Aaron to help Mark and Michael understand their opponent better.
"From what I've read about Aaron, he's not just any striker. He's exceptionally fast, and his dribbling skills are top-notch. He's got a talent for weaving through defenses with ease. On top of that, his shooting accuracy is impressive for someone his age. He's a complete package, so we need to be at our best."
He paused, letting the information sink in. "The best strategy is to cut the passes before they even reach him. Intercepting those passes will limit his chances and frustrate him. Always be on the lookout for the ball heading his way and try to anticipate where it's going."
Kay then turned to Taylor. "For this training, Taylor, you'll be playing the role of Aaron. You've got the speed and skills to mimic his playstyle, which will help us simulate the real game situation. Mark and Michael, your job is to practice cutting off passes to Taylor and dealing with his speed and dribbling."
He set up the drill, positioning Taylor as the striker and Mark and Michael in their defensive roles. "Remember, stay close, communicate, and don't let him have any easy chances. Let's practice this until it feels easy."
The players took their positions, and the training session began.
Taylor, acting as Aaron, used his speed and dribbling to challenge Mark and Michael, while they focused on intercepting passes and maintaining tight defense.
Kay stood to one side, taking notes, while the kids continued with their drill.
He remarked that Mark has improved his cutting and pressing abilities, but his incapability to drive Taylor to Michael is still an issue.
Then Kay ended today's session, and he went home and spent the night thinking about how to resolve this issue.
Thursday morning, Kay gathered Mark, Taylor, Aiden, and Michael for a specific exercise designed to address Mark's issue of directing the opponent toward support players.
He explained the drill clearly to ensure everyone understood its purpose.
"Alright team, today we're going to focus on how to control the direction of the opposing player and guide them towards your teammates for support. This is especially important for you, Mark. We need to make sure you can drive Aaron towards Michael or Aiden, so you're not dealing with him alone."
The field was divided into three zones: a central zone and two support zones on either side.
Taylor, playing the role of Aaron, started in the central zone with the ball, while Mark was positioned to defend in the same zone.
Michael and Aiden were stationed in the support zones, ready to assist when needed.
Kay explained Mark's objective: to engage Taylor in the central zone and guide him towards either support zone, using body positioning and movement.
The idea was to drive Taylor away from the dangerous central areas and towards the support zones where Michael or Aiden could assist.
Michael and Aiden's role was to stay alert and ready in their zones, immediately engaging to help Mark dispossess Taylor once he entered their areas.
The session began with Taylor attacking from the central zone, using his speed and dribbling to challenge Mark.
Mark, keeping in mind Kay's instructions, focused not just on intercepting the ball but on positioning his body to drive Taylor toward the support zones.
Initially, Mark struggled, but with each repetition, he became more adept at using subtle movements to influence Taylor's direction.
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Michael and Aiden remained alert, ready to support as soon as Taylor entered their zones.
After multiple attempts, Mark's improvement was noticeable; he was more confident in his ability to guide Taylor towards Michael, and Aiden effectively.
Kay was pleased with the progress. "Great job, Mark! Remember, the key is to stay composed and use your body to direct your opponent. This will make a huge difference in our match."
Kay gathered all the kids for a final simulation match to practice the tactics chosen for the next game.
He set up the teams with Taylor playing against Mark, Aiden, and Michael, ensuring that the defense would get plenty of opportunities to test their coordination and positional awareness.
As the simulation match started, Taylor used his speed and dribbling skills to challenge the defenders.
Mark focused on guiding Taylor towards Michael and Aiden, just as they had practiced. Michael and Aiden remained vigilant, ready to provide support and intercept when needed.
The simulation provided a high-pressure environment for the defenders to refine their skills and for Taylor to adapt to breaking through coordinated defense.
While the kids played, Kay took a moment to speak with Ramirez. "How are we looking, Ramirez?" he asked.
Ramirez glanced at his notes. "If we win the next match, we'll move to sixteenth place. However, if we lose or draw, we'll drop one place. The stakes are high, but given how well the kids are performing, we've got a good chance."
Kay nodded thoughtfully, absorbing the information. The simulation continued, with the defenders showing marked improvement in their ability to handle Taylor's attacks.
Mark was getting better at guiding Taylor toward his teammates, and Michael and Aiden were more synchronized in their support.
As Kay observed the simulation match, he couldn't help but notice Taylor's remarkable improvement.
As he was consistently facing three defenders; Taylor had honed his skills and pushed his limits.
Intrigued, Kay decided to check Taylor's stats. What he saw left him astonished:
- - -
Player: Taylor
Pace: 32
Shooting: 21
Passing: 23
Dribbling: 28
Defending: 16
Physical: 21
- - -
Taylor's pace, dribbling, and physical attributes had significantly improved over the past two weeks.
Kay was both pleased and impressed. It was a testament to Taylor's hard work and the effectiveness of their rigorous training sessions.
After the simulation match, Kay gathered the team to conclude the session. "Great job today, everyone," he said, his voice full of encouragement.
"I'm seeing a lot of improvement, and it's clear you're all putting in the effort. Keep it up, and we'll be ready for the Tigers."
***
The next day.
Friday's session began under a clear sky, the perfect setting for the final day of training before the big match.
The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as Kay led the team through their drills, the familiar routines now second nature to the young players.
Kay had organized a series of repetitive drills, designed to engrave their tactics into the players' minds.
The kids moved through defensive formations, counter-attacking strategies, and positioning exercises with a precision that had noticeably improved over the past weeks.
Kay observed closely, his eyes following each movement, each pass, and each defensive maneuver.
As the day came to an end, Kay addressed the team once more. "Tomorrow, there won't be a training session," he announced.
"I want you all to rest and be in the best shape for Sunday's match. Remember, the game is here at the Eagles' academy, so we'll have time Sunday morning to discuss our strategy before we head onto the field."
The kids cheered, grateful for the day off and the opportunity to rest.
Kay knew the importance of this upcoming match not just for the standings, but for the team's morale and growth.
The Tigers were a formidable opponent, but Kay was confident in his players and their ability to rise to the challenge.
Saturday passed in a blur of anticipation. Kay spent the day going over his notes, refining strategies, completing the report for the school, and mentally preparing himself for the game.
He knew that Sunday would be another hard test that he should surpass with the kids.
Saturday night, Kay sat with his parents over dinner, discussing the upcoming match. "The game will be played at the Eagles' academy stadium," he explained, a note of excitement in his voice. His parents listened attentively.
Sunday morning, Kay arrived at the academy early to finalize the tactical preparations with his players.
He informed his parents that the match would begin in four hours, giving him enough time to make any last-minute adjustments.
Gathering the kids in the locker room, Kay began to outline the final notes and instructions for the match. "Remember, the primary goal is to keep the score at 0-0 if the Tigers attack," he emphasized. The team nodded, absorbing every word.
Suddenly, Aiden raised his hand. "Manager, what should we do if the Tigers score first?"
Kay paused, considering the question carefully. "Good point, Aiden. If the Tigers manage to score first, we will ..."
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