1. Review or what we call the warm-up.

2. The presentation of what is to be learned.

3. Guided work related to the presentation. Drill work in plain English.

4. Independent practice...a game related to the presentation.

5. Cool down and homework.

Of all of the above the most neglected is step number five. Cooling down and homework. Most coaches ignore this step as if it did not exist. It is an important step. It is a two part step. Let us review the two parts.

A. Cooling down is an essential part of training. Players need to stretch out the parts of the body that hurt, relax and let the pulse rate drop. During this time the coach can talk to the players as they stretch and relax. And cool off. The coach can explain what was covered during the training session, why it was covered and what needs to follow.

B. That brings us to the second part. Homework. If the team does not train every day, homework should be given. Just like school.

Homework can be done alone or with a friend. Just like school. There are many things that a player can do alone. I would like to focus on what can be done with a friend. Two players, little equipment and no coach.

Here we go.

Uniforms-no need for that. Not with two players.

Goals-Easy. Goals can be made from almost anything. Several bleach bottles filled with water. How about some coffee cans filled with concrete and holding plastic rods? Some rocks? Some hats? What's the big deal? Goals are easy.

Fields-The back yard, a quiet street, a driveway, the corner of a field, or anywhere that is convenient. Easy.

Ball- Any round ball will do. Big or little? (I like little ones.)

Games-This is what we miss in this country. Kids have to be told how to play. Baloney. Let them play what they want. Some examples:

*Play with two goals about ten yards apart. Players attack one and defend the other. Over and over again.

*Play with one goal and attack it from one side, gather the ball and attack it from the other side. Sustained effort. Hard work, but good.

*Make a three sided goal and allow the defender to run in the middle, but force the attacker to run the perimeter. More hard work.

*Set up three goals about fifteen yards apart. Allow the player with the ball to attack the middle goal. When he scores, he can turn and again attack the middle goal or continue on to an end goal. Two ways to attack and two ways to defend! More hard work.

*Instead of a goal, use a line and have the player with the ball dribble over the line. No shooting. Use all of the above formations but dribbling instead of shooting. Different games.

*If a third player shows up, two play and the third rest. Rotate frequently. Want to be bold? Play two on one. After each goal, rotate the sides. This will give practice to basic combinations.

*If a fourth player shows up...Well, by now you know the routine.

The main point is to give the routines to the players. Let them change the games to their satisfaction. As long as they do their homework.

We lack a soccer culture in this country. Nobody had to tell Pele what to do when the coach was not looking. Nobody told Johan Cruijff. Here players do nothing unless they are told to do something. And they do it only when the coach is watching. (Many years ago I gave a demonstration to a group of players in a gym. Individual work with the ball. Every player had a ball. I stood in the middle. My error. The players that I faced did the work that I gave them. When I turned suddenly, I discovered that the players behind my back were sitting down watching me and the rest of the players!) We must get to the next level as a nation.

My point. Get players to play simple games on their own. No coach and no fancy equipment. Simple. As they invent new games, share them with the rest of the team. Then go home and play them.

Editors note:
You can correspond with Alan Maher by writing to:
Alan Maher
340 Euclid Ave.
Massapequa Park, NY 11762
alanmaher@aol.com