METHOD

After numerous experiences across various youth categories and countless exchanges during various updating courses, today the technical sector is setting a methodological training guideline heavily based on researching the individual athlete’s characteristics to develop and nurture them, eventually expanding their capacity not just as individuals, but as a team. Current statistics highlight the need to rediscover the qualities and abilities of one-on-one duels, the cleverness in creating space, and the creativity in using feints to gain numerical superiority. For too long, perhaps, the pure zonal schematizations have somewhat standardized the various movements of the game units as well as the individual players’ performances. Personally, I believe in planning a mixed technical approach, not only focused on maintaining the zones covered by the units but also emphasizing individual field invasion, thus seeking one-on-one or two-on-two duels, etc., to inevitably enhance the players’ technical abilities and tactical decision-making. Today, the technical sector assists us with simple yet extremely effective notions, especially regarding marking and defensive skills. For too long, marking, covering, and positioning may have been interpreted exclusively as collective responsibilities. However, now, observing the levels of football in general, the responsibility should revert to being individual, aimed at disciplining and fostering the growth of the young footballer. The indicative formation at Coverciano is the 3-4-3 (three diamonds three), where we find the attacking midfielder (the ‘trequartista’) and the organization of chains and functional units. I believe it’s a proper and well-suited choice to rediscover a qualitative level of play from the lowest to the highest category.

campo e calciatori Prospettiva

TYPICAL TRAINING SESSION

1. Development of ball mastery and control through playful exercises
2. Stations for improving athletic performance on aerobic and anaerobic capacities, strengthening postures, and specialized sprints
3. Analytical exercises for technical and coordination improvement
4. Drills with opponents and ball, game situations divided into units, development of 2v1 situations, and so on
5. Themed games and possession drills with and without numerical superiority to improve ball management
6. Different shooting techniques and positional play to work on team tactics
7. Themed match and free match

This brief guideline will be further structured and agreed upon with the technical staff, who will also take care, above all, of the athletic and motor aspects, in addition to specific work on the goalkeeper, a role of vital importance for the build-up phases of the game.

Today, training must take into account many factors, especially the psychological aspects related to the relationship with the athlete and their family environment. The guidelines outlined for the session are valid and functional, starting from the youngest players up to the junior category, with appropriate adjustments in terms of duration and intensity of the training. It can be developed over an average of three to four sessions. All of this is related to a well-structured and organized club that can support the work of the coaches, providing adequate equipment and spaces, functional to carry out modern training sessions.

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