Youth Soccer
"ODP & '9-Step Practice Routine"

I was asked to train our district U16 boys ODP team. I was handed a very small group of 12 to 13 players. Because of the High school and competitive games only 7 to 8 players were able to attend my training sessions.

I designed my training sessions based on your "9-Step Practice Routine." Using the Routine I was able to train the U16 ODP players to a successful result in the state try out selections. Five players out of 11 (total roster) were invited to the state tryouts.

Quite surprising to some coaches and admired by others my entire training routine was as follows:

• Individual skills were covered during the Figure 8 Warm-up, One + One and One vs. One games.
• Combination plays such as support runs, wall passes, overlaps were covered during cooperative small sided games i.e. 2 + 1. I was able to build as high as the 4 + 2 and also similar training sessions for defense challenge and recovery.
• Small Cooperative Scrimmages with max 4 on 4 were used to cover depth, balance, concentration, and communication, and flat back four.
• Finally, I had to combine the U17 with U16 (myself included only if needed to make 11 a side) for 11 + 11 Cooperative Scrimmage (to make team corrections)and Competitive Scrimmage to (test) the players progress in team concepts.
• Goal keepers would participate in every training game, as a field players, and as a goal keepers in the final competitive scrimmage.

I was very happy with the success of U16 ODP team as I am sure many players were satisfied as well.

I strongly recommend your "9 Step Practice Routine" to any coach who wishes to have a well structured and rewarding training program for his,or her youth teams.

Do not forget to have some FUN while doing your training so your players can have some FUN as well while learning how to play soccer.

Remember the famous saying "Try it you'll like it." I know that some day you too will become a strong believer in the "9 Step Practice Routine" once you learn how to use it! .