Bøger af Marcus Dibernardo

Scoring in the game of soccer is perhaps the hardest thing to do. However, many coaches often do not spend enough time developing their player's ability to score. Finishing drills should be done on a daily basis. The book provides a compilation of the best finishing drills that I have collected in my 20+ years of coaching. These drills focus on decision making in the attacking third in order to maximize scoring chances. The drills also provide many meaningful touches allowing players to improve their finishing ability. If you make the commitment to use the drills in this book with your team I guarantee your team will score more goals.

I wrote Soccer Psychology "Made Easy" with the purpose of giving coaches simple effective strategies that they can implement immediately into their team structure. As with all my books, the value is in the quality of the content. The ideas presented in this book are intended to stimulate coaches thoughts in the following areas: creating effective learning environments, preparing players mentally for training & matches, overcoming adversity, implementing self-organized learning environments in soccer, breaking down skill acquisition from a brain perspective, grasping the power thought, analyzing elite players cognitive attributes and grasping an understanding of the importance of coaching the body and mind together as one unit.

I put together my work in the form of a slideshow book, in hopes of communicating my thoughts on player development, in a more impactful way. After observing player development methods at pro clubs from around the world, I consistently found a disconnect between their training methods, and intended outcomes. Many of the pro clubs trainings looked interesting, with colors being identified, numbers being added, multiple tasks being completed, but the reality is, the methods didn't make developmental sense to me, nor did the explanations behind them. I do believe there are secondary benefits associated with the training methods, but for me, the driving force behind player development is summed up in three words, game based trainings. That being said, outside of game-based training methods, I do find value in some Isolated technical training, but the limitations need to be recognized. It is also important to understand that player development and soccer intelligence go hand in hand, it is very difficult to increase soccer intelligence in isolated exercises, compared to ever changing game-based trainings.

The "10 for 10 Soccer Coaching Series" is simply 10 Soccer Coaching topics combined with 10 training exercises for each topic. This series like all my books is written in a simple and clear way. The objective is to provide coaches with high quality information and exercises that can be used directly on the training ground and applied to the 11 v 11 game. "Attack Like Real Madrid. Defend Like Barcelona." Is a compilation of training exercises & variations used by the clubs to develop their style of soccer. Real Madrid possesses one of the most lethal counter-attacks in the modern game; while Barcelona possesses excellent team pressing when possession is lost. I am confident you will find great value in all the exercises. Your team will improve their counter-attacking ability, defensive pressing and zonal pressing by using these exercises. All the exercises in this 10 for 10 guide are designed for full team participation -11v11 or 10v10.

What is External Cueing?Cueing can be classified as either external or internal. Internal cueing is when the athlete focuses on their body parts and how they move in relation to the task or objective. An example of internal cueing would be to focus on keeping your ankle locked and toe up when performing a soccer push pass with the inside of the foot. External cueing is when the athlete focuses on the outcome of the movement or action, but not on the movement itself. An example of external cueing would be to focus on the outcome of a soccer pass, not the technique. External cueing is proven to increase athletic performance results compared to internal cueing, but internal cueing still serves an important purpose in the learning of new skills. The researcher Gabriele Wulf, considered an expert in external and internal attentional focus, came up with the 'constrained action hypothesis' to explain the factors behind external and internal attentional focus. "Wulf et al. (17) defined the hypothesis, stating that focusing on body movements (i.e. internal) increases consciousness and 'constrains the motor system by interfering with automatic motor control process that would 'normally' regulate the movement, ' and therefore by focusing on the movement outcome (i.e., external) allows the 'motor system to more naturally self-organize, unconstrained by the interference caused by conscious control attempts.'" (Wulf 2007). "An internal focus occurs when the athlete is thinking about one of their own body parts or one of their specific movements during execution of a movement task. An external focus of attention occurs when the athletes thinks about the effect of their movement while executing a performance. Internal refers to the performer's body part movements and external refers to the movement's effect." Wulf's research tells us that athletic performance is enhanced with the use of external cues, so the next logical step is to integrate external cueing into soccer training sessions. This book covers basic passing exercises using external cueing, ending with the use of external cueing in game model passing. The exercises use cones as gates, to measure the success or failure of each pass. The gates provide the players with instant feedback about whether a pass was successful or not. The gates are meant to take the emphasis off of the internal cues, while encouraging external cueing, allowing the techniques to be carried out with a natural rhythm and tempo.

Today's modern soccer player must be able to make ultra-fast intelligent decisions under pressure, while possessing the ability to successfully execute on those decisions with high-level technical skill. Top players are able to sort through, instantly organize and chunk essential information together, while discarding all non-essential information. The high-level player rarely gets stuck in the decision making process, while the lower level player will frequently get stuck. Often the lower level player will fail because somewhere in the decision making process, they fail to process data quickly enough, focus on the wrong cues or they simply do not have the technique to execute the required skill, even if they made the right decision. It is no coincidence that top-level players possess higher intelligence levels and are better problem solvers on and off the field then lower-level players. Today's scientific data is making a convincing case that becoming a high level elite athlete has far more to do with your brain than your body. "Developing Soccer Intelligence" Part I & II, delve into the science and theory behind the development of soccer intelligence. These books are intended to provide unique insight into the development of the soccer brain, increasing the potential for maximizing performance. Coaches who understand the science behind game intelligence, will be better equipped to provide their players with more meaningful experiences in training. This is not your typical soccer book, if you are looking for purely a drill book, this will not be for you. If you have read my cognitive modules already, much of this material will have been covered.

Watching elite athletes like Lionel Messi, LeBron James and Roger Federer is truly amazing, they literally transform sport into art before our very eyes, making everything look so simple and easy. However, the reality is, playing at the highest levels isn't easy, what we don't get to see is everything that goes into the making of these high level players that allows them to perform with such skill, grace and intelligence. Becoming world-class in sports comes with a price, it demands a life commitment, a total dedication and immersion into the sport. The endless hours of training on the court, in the pool, on the field or in the gym are the minimum requirements if you want to become really good, but even more is required if you want to maximize your potential. One of the secrets behind the success of top athlete's is sleep, this may sound simple but proper sleep plays a major role in the development of the body and brain. Aside from hardwiring and retaining what you learned during the day, it has been shown that people who get enough sleep are three times more likely to solve complex problems compared to people who had less than 6 hours of sleep. On the opposite end, a lack of sleep can lead to inhibited memory ability, an increase in impulsive behavior, poor judgment, the craving of stimulants like caffeine and sugar, poor muscle motor control and reduced attention span. There is no way around the fact that humans need sleep to function and be healthy.

Is the future of player development going to be above the neck? What does "above the neck" mean exactly? To me, it means that the next great advances in player development, will be in the area of the brain, above the neck, not on the physical side. At this point in time, strength and fitness coaches have taken the physical component just about as far as they can, but the brain has received little attention, yet the brain has huge potential when it comes to increasing sports performance levels. The important question for coaches is, how can we in a real and meaningful way develop the soccer brain, so players can reach their highest levels of performance? The answer I came up with may surprise you, it centers around what happens during the milliseconds to seconds before we make a soccer decision on the field. You may be thinking this is pretty obvious stuff, the player takes in current information and makes a decision based upon the information, but there is a catch and it may not be that simple. What if you are not actually consciously in control of the decisions you think you are making, is it even possible for your brain to make decisions before you are consciously aware of what you chose to do? You may think you are making a conscious decision, but that decision may have already been made 0-7 seconds before it became known to your conscious mind. The premise of this book is that you may not be in as much control of your actions as you think you are. All this might sound a little like science fiction, but the reality is, it may be very true, and if it is indeed true, it gives us even more reason to re-examine how we develop soccer players. This book focuses on examining the neurology of decision-making, in the context of soccer coaching and overall player development, it also covers the current research pertaining to conscious and unconscious decisions-making, and how decisions can be made 0-7 seconds before the conscious mind is even aware of the decision. Finally, the book will use the scientific information on decision-making to suggest some types of training can best help players become top decision-makers on the soccer field.

Sports Brain is written for coaches who want to understand what "Cognitive Sports Development" is and how they can apply it with their own teams. In order to develop a sports specific cognitive training program, coaches must first grasp a basic understanding of how the brain works. Don't expect to find a ten-step process in sports psychology or twenty-five techniques that will improve your team. What "Sports Brain" provides is a unique perspective and information that will inspire you to rethink how you teach sports. Don't be surprised if after reading the book, you re-evaluate all your current training methods. The best part is the insight in the book is applicable all sports. I happen to be a long time soccer coach, so many of the examples relate to soccer but I have included an array of other sports in the book as well. I am confident Sports Brain will unlock creativity from coaches of all sports as they apply the universal lessons of cognitive sports development.

Gerard Houllier the former Liverpool, PSG and Lyon Manager said, "The important moment in the game today is when the ball is won or lost." Gegenpressing means to pressure the ball the instant possession is lost, with the intent of launching a quick counter attack when possession is regained. It is different then ordinary pressing where play is always directed into pre-determined pressing areas of the field. Gegenpressing is literally a swarm of intense high-energy players immediately trying to win the ball back after possession is lost, in most cases this is carried out high up the field. The idea behind this type of counter pressing is to force the opposition into hurried decisions and inaccurate passes, coupled with a heavy psychological pressure on the player in possession. This book provides insight into Jurgen Klopps Gegenpressing tactics along with training exercises that teach Gegenpressing.

An IED (Improvised Explosive Device) is planted roadside on an unsuspecting street in Iraq, as American soldiers approach. One of the more experienced soldiers stops quickly and says, "Turn around, something doesn't feel right here", the team of soldiers quickly head the other direction. Later the news spreads, there was in fact an active IED on the street that the soldiers decided not to walk down. Was it luck that the soldiers made the decision to turn around? Is it just down to coincidence that only the experienced soldiers in Iraq are able to predict with stunning accuracy whether a street contains an IED or not, without being able to say why they knew? Winston Churchill the 29th President of the United States was just about to take his car out for a drive but something just didn't sit well with him that day. He stood by the car, keys in hand as a feeling came across him that he couldn't explain. He elected not to start that car at the last moment, good thing he didn't because the car was wired with an explosive. Another coincidence? When I was around 12 years old I would walk to the bus stop every morning by myself to jump on the yellow school bus. Walking to the bus in those days didn't involve bringing along an iPhone, handheld video game, headphones or any digital devices at all, they didn't exist; it was just me and my thoughts. I lived on a street that was a mile long with only five houses and no street lights, nature was basically our entertainment. One day a car drove by and it just didn't feel right to me. Over the next couple of weeks a few more cars came by that gave me an odd feeling. It suddenly hit me in an instant, "the cars were stolen and being redone in an old barn (chop-shop) down the street from the bus stop". I didn't tell anyone about my feeling, but deep down I knew it was true. A month later police cars showed up at the barn, arresting the people for running a stolen car "chop-shop"! Was it just a lucky guess that I made? If it was just luck, my luck didn't run out there as you will later find out. Ever hear of the term flow? Talk to any high level athlete, and they will be able to tell you about times when they were so focused, concentrated and in the zone, that everything slowed down for them, making the game almost easy. These athletes knew what was going to happen before it even happened, possessing a superior anticipation ability. In these moments of flow, there are no distractions, the experience itself takes complete center stage. The focus is not on winning, the fear of losing doesn't exist, there is no desire to out trick your opponent and there is no need to impress people, the experience is all consuming, as the player is simply a highly skilled part of the puzzle. This is athletic intelligence at its highest form, but getting to this point doesn't happen overnight, it takes proper training, along with a lot of dedication and hard work.

The most important time in a soccer game is when the ball is lost or gained, that is the point of transition. The team that wins possession of the ball, normally has a small window of opportunity to attack the opposition, before they can get organized defensively. In modern soccer, the speed of the counter attack or attacking transition speed is critical in creating scoring chances. Teams will often leave a minimum of one player high when defending, ready to spring into the counter attack the moment the ball is won. A team that is skilled in attacking transition, will look to play early balls into depth behind the defense to create goal scoring chances. Attacking transition is also very effective when a player with excellent pace, runs with the ball at speed, advancing it down the field to create scoring chances, not allowing the defense time to organize. However, attacking transition does not always start by going forward. If the ball is recovered and there are no good options to advance the ball forward into a dangerous position, the ball can be worked backwards or square. By simply maintaining possession of the ball, players on the attacking team are allowed time to open up and spread out the field, moving out of their compact defensive shape. The opposite of attacking transition is defensive transition. If a team in possession loses the ball, they must re-group and organize themselves very quickly, in order to stop the opponents from launching an immediate attack. Defensive transition involves quickly pressuring the ball, while dropping numbers behind the ball into a compact shape. By slowing the ball down and getting players back, it makes it harder for the attacking team to penetrate the attacking area. Transition both from an attacking and defensive standpoint is something that needs to be trained regularly in all possession exercises.

When I speak about the soccer brain, I am talking about a players ability to make intelligent, ultra-fast decisions, in real-time, during the actual game. However, making the right decision is only half the battle, the player must also possess the technical ability, to execute the proper technique at high speeds, based upon the decision. The million dollar question is, how do we as coaches, develop our players soccer brains? I will skip the in-depth confusing scientific explanation, and stick to what I believe is the foundation of developing the soccer brain. First, train the players in small areas, forcing them to find fast solutions to keeping possession of the ball, in confined areas. Second, constantly change the small area training environments, forcing players to experience new situations in practice. Third, players must play the real game, it sounds simple, but there is no substitute for the real game. Fourth, ball mastery must be undertaken, how to do this can be the subject of much debate. I prefer not to take team training time to do this type of work, players can often work on these skills outside of training. However, some technical skills sets can be learned and improved during games, this is especially true with constraint based training in ever changing environments. Examples of constraint based soccer training, that can lead to the development of unique technical & tactical skills sets, include beach soccer, futsal, cage soccer and playing the game on different surfaces.

This book focuses on how to incorporate dynamic exercises into passing patterns for fitness and technique. Today's modern passing patterns often contain a physical element that is intended to build fitness, strength, coordination, quickness or agility. Equipment such as speed rings, miniature hurdles, coaching sticks, medicine balls, balancing foam, exercise balls, mannequins, boxes and speed ladders are all elements you can use to create dynamic exercises. In this book I provide 15 passing patterns from professional and college teams for you to study. These patterns will give you a basic foundation so you can construct your own dynamic passing patterns exercises. The patterns can go to goal or be self-contained. Keep the following in mind when teaching a passing pattern: pass with the inside of the foot and control with the inside of the foot, play to the proper foot of the receiving player, be sure body position is correct for receiving and passing, pop-off the mannequin or cone to receive the ball at the correct time "coordinated timed movement with the passer", be sure to have eye contact with player receiving the ball before passing (don't just pass the ball to pass it if the receiving player is not ready), play firm quality balls to feet and keep the rhythm and tempo of the drill quick and realistic. When working the dynamic part of the pattern be fast, powerful and sharp in all movements. Passing patterns can even be used as mini-fitness circuits. Adjust the number of players in the pattern to give more or less rest or more or less time for exercises in-between the passes. Adding physical exercises like push-ups, squats, lunges and much more can easily be done. In this book I concentrated on speed work but feel free to adjust the patterns for the desired physical and technical outcomes. I recommend inside of foot passing and receiving but if you wanted to change the technical emphasis feel free. I would recommend all players be proficient with inside of the foot passing and receiving before adding other passing and receiving techniques. It is helpful to time the patterns in order to make it possible to better measure the total workload of the players. Monitoring workload is very important in terms of the week's periodization training plan. You can easily change the distance of the pattern, the number of players, the dynamic elements and the time trained to reduce or increase the workload. I hope you enjoy the book and get some good use out of the patterns.

The use of passing patterns is a critical component in developing a team's ability to possess the ball under pressure."Tiki-Taka Passing Patterns" contains 20 passing exercises & patterns that will increase player's one-touch passing ability. The exercises develop coordinated player movement, help establish a high tempo passing rhythm and provide hundreds of meaningful touches to players.

The 3-5-2 is a very dynamic and flexible system; it can be an ultra-attacking formation or solid defensive formation depending on how it is deployed. In attack the 3-5-2 is numerically strong in the midfield and comes with the benefit of two strikers. Creating width in the attack is never a problem with two wingers and strikers that could also run the channels. The formation is naturally set-up to encourage movement off the ball with the interchanging of positions when in possession; the interchanging of positions and movement off the ball allows different players the opportunity to fill different spaces, making the 3-5-2 more dynamic and difficult for the opponent to predict and deal with. In the modern game I personally find many advantages to playing the 3-5-2 formation, due to its fluid attacking potential and less focus on keeping numbers back. The defensive side of the 3-5-2 presents the formations biggest challenges, yet it can also be seen as a strength if the players understand how to form a back four or five in the correct situations. With only three defenders in the back, covering space in deep wide areas must be addressed and dealt with effectively. In order to offset the possible defensive weakness that come with three players not being able to cover the entire width of the field, the coach must choose player personnel and more importantly the formations tactics wisely. In this book I will cover multiple ways the 3-5-2 can be played to maximize its strengths, while turning the formations possible negatives into positives. When breaking down and analyzing any formation, it is important to note that the difference between formations is about 10 yards in player positioning. You can make an argument that most formations are similar and difficult to identify once the game has started. The transition from defending to attacking and attacking to defending creates totally new shapes from the original formation. The game of soccer is a free-flowing game but inside that flow there must be a structure which drives individual and team decisions. The coach is the one who will lay out the important tactical guidelines for the execution of the formation, so it is important to note that the same formation can be carried out in many different ways, depending on the coach. Tactics that will influence the way the formation played include things like setting a line of restraint, establishing a line of confrontation, identifying pressing zones, outlining counter-attacking areas, realizing when to press or drop-off, addressing the overall style of soccer to be played, player personnel, work load, location of the game, weather conditions, field conditions and much more. All these factors will directly influence the way a formation is played.

Professional Soccer Restarts" contains the best 15 corner kicks I have seen in my 20+ years of coaching. Each corner kick is accompanied by its own diagram that clearly maps out the play. Set plays often make the difference between winning and losing. Championships are often decided on restarts. Give your team the advantage they deserve. I have also included a game changing defensive counter attack when defending corner kicks.

If you are serious about becoming an elite athlete, don't think the secret is found in the physical side of training alone. The truth is, the real secret to high level athletic performance is the connection between the body and the brain. If you are currently not training the body and the brain together as one unit, you are not going to reach your full potential. Are you aware of the power and influence that your subconscious mind has on your athletic performance? Have you trained in the powerful techniques of mindfulness meditation? Are you fully aware of yourself, your emotions, who you are and your goals? Have you programmed your mind to build neurological pathways for success? Do you actively train your body and brain together in athletic environments? Do you understand the importance of living in the moment? Is your brain working 24 hours a day on your path to success?This book is not a quick fix, getting better will require you to train the body and brain together on a consistent basis, but if you follow the exercises, I am positive you will make huge improvements. If you are serious about reaching your true potential, this book might be the most powerful tool you could ever imagine. Train hard and live in the moment. Good luck on your own personal journey to becoming the best you possible.

Game intelligence in team sports is hard to quantify, as top level players are noticed for their exceptional ability to read the game, anticipate the next play, and find solutions on the field. It is very difficult to isolate a single action, and then attribute it to game intelligence, but when we look at a player's overall ability, it can generally be categorized it into two parts. First, the ability to strategize and make intelligent situational decisions on the field, and second, the carrying out of those decisions with technical skill and speed. The foundation of game intelligence is found in part one; the decision-making and strategy component, but technical and physical skill, also play a part in decision-making. When I talk about game intelligence with soccer coaches, the majority of them do not want to hear about scientific studies, data and abstract theories. Coaches want logical and realistic training methods that work, which can be incorporated into their regular practices. This is why connecting the dots of game intelligence, with logical training methods is so important. For a number of reasons, I believe the most effective and direct way to develop game intelligence, is through game based trainings. These are the types of trainings where players are constantly playing, stoppages are limited, and coaches tend to speak to individual players, without stopping the game.

This book is not designed to break down in detail Barcelona's formations and tactics. It is not an in depth tactical analysis of each player's role and responsibilities in the Barcelona system of play either. The focus of this book is to provide you with training ground exercises direct from FC Barcelona. The exercises focus on the major principles and concepts that Barcelona embrace as an entire club. Each exercise directly relates to the "Barcelona Training Model" that fits directly into the "Barcelona Game Model". The exercises in the book cover the four phases of the game: attacking transition, attacking organization, defensive transition and defensive organization. FC Barcelona is famous for their total commitment to play their style of soccer with all their teams from U8 all the way up to the first team. Many people refer to the Barcelona style of play as "Tiki Taka". The "Tiki Taka" possession style of soccer Barcelona plays requires years and years of training. Players must be technically gifted with a complete understanding of the "Barca" system. In the simplest of explanations Barcelona's former Coach Pep Guardiola explains the Barcelona style of play as, "This is a game of 11v11 with one ball and we try to keep this ball, we try to play with this ball". Guardiola is basically saying that at Barcelona ball possession and ball circulation is of the highest importance. The players are trained to pass the ball and keep the ball under intense pressure from the opposing team. While in possession supporting players form triangles and diamonds to support the player with the ball (provides multiple passing options). FC Barcelona has proven that their method works and works very well. Just look in their trophy cabinet! They have won the treble twice in the last ten years along with 7 La Liga titles in 10 years! The exercises in this book will have your team training like Barcelona and through time playing like Barcelona (training model = game model).

Humans are like ingenious machines that have been biologically designed to live together in tribes to ensure the safety of the group. Since Paleolithic times humans have been pre-programed for survival, with much of the programing coming from just five chemicals found inside the human body. These five chemicals, probably undenounced to us, incentivize our actions, so we can have a higher chance at survival. However, the role of these chemicals has changed slightly over time, as society and living conditions have progressed. It is my belief that in order to become a highly effective coach, you must understand how your actions and coaching methods influence these five chemicals, it is also critical to grasp an understanding of how the brain works in the process of learning. Coaching isn't guesswork, there is a proven neuroscience for effective teaching, coaching and educating. Take the chemical dopamine as an example, dopamine determines a person's ability to retain information, it facilitates deep learning, regulates motivation levels, raises focus, increases concentration levels, improves problem solving abilities and expands attention capacities. Coaches who understand how to tap into this powerful brain neurotransmitter, are able to turn regular practices into supercharged learning experiences. The reality is, there is only so much faster, stronger and bigger we can make the body, but the potential for training the brain is virtually unlimited. There is a saying in athletics that "performance follows the mind", if we can train the "sports brain" using the latest scientific knowledge, then the future of athletic performance will be unlike anything we have ever seen before. It is my hope that this book will inspire coaches to look deeper into the logic behind their own coaching methods and philosophies, while they investigate the possibilities of using the findings from neuroscience to re-shape and improve their coaching effectiveness.

This book is packed with advice for soccer players who want to get better as they strive to reach their highest level in the game. The forty-five pieces of advice in this book are a culmination of the most important things I've learned in my playing and coaching career over the years. As a coach who is approaching almost 30 years' of experience in the game, I have seen a lot and observed how society has changed over the time; but even with all these changes, there are still certain universal truths or pillars of success that hold true today. Call me old school, but there are no short cuts to success that I am aware of. It is my hope that players will find this book useful in their own personal journey to success and personal growth.

The Cognitive Soccer Instructors Course is a cutting edge five book series that will make you completely re-think the way soccer is coached. I have spent the last few years researching, applying and refining the cognitive soccer methods. The course is designed to take you outside box, giving you a direct look into how an athlete's brain processes information; problem solves, adapts and most efficiently learns. Neuroscience and Neuropsychology provide us all the proof we need to see that becoming a great athlete is more about developing the brain then the body. Whether you are a complete novice coach or in the professional ranks, this course will motivate, excite and stimulate your coaching mind. It covers in detail the science behind cognitive soccer development along with providing a comprehensive soccer curriculum that puts the cognitive theory into soccer specific exercises you can use immediately with your team. You will learn to teach the game in a way that the brain is naturally meant to learn, called "Brain Structured Learning". It will quickly become apparent that cognitive soccer development will encompass much more than just soccer, it involves living a cognitive healthy lifestyle that will benefit players well beyond the soccer field. If you wish to become a Certified Cognitive Soccer Instructor please visit soccersmarttraining.com

Being a coach in today's world is different than twenty-five years ago, technology has put information at your finger-tips, just one click away. Want to see a professional training session? Just log onto Youtube and take your pick from Jurgen Klopp to Pep Guardiola. The only problem with this kind of access is, there is no filter or explanation of what you are watching. I don't just mean an explanation of the rules of the training, but more about the methodology and reasons why the manager created this type of training, and where does this training fit into the overall development of the team for the week, month or year? You may think you understand the training but the reality is you may not fully understand it or the reasons for it. I view coaching is an art form and in-order to become a talented coach, you must gain a deep understanding from the ground up, without understanding the foundation of player development, it will be hard to establish a sound coaching methodology. This book is written about the fundamentals of cueing, gridding and visualization, and how they can be effectively used to teach soccer. Maybe you are familiar with these terms and maybe you are not, but these are important tools that every coach should understand in order to teach the game. Here is a quick example of external cueing; A ball being passed in-between two cones might seem very basic, but it is important to realize the significance of what is actually happening. The cones operate as reference points, so the brain can judge whether the action of passing the ball was successful or not, the focus is taken off the actual technique and put on the outcome of the action. When the focus shifts to the outcome of action, it allows the body and brain to let the technique flow, resulting in improved performance. The next time you see a player passing the ball through a gate, set of cones or pair of mannequins, you will know this is external cueing with the focus on the end result of the movement, as the equipment serves as reference points for the brain. After you teach internal and external cueing, the next progression is to introduce gridding, which serves to build spatial awareness and soccer intelligence, followed by the use of visualization. Visualization takes away all the reference points, making the players judge space, angles and timing without any guidance. The purpose of this book is provide coaches with the science behind cueing, gridding and visualization, so they can be creative and construct any exercise they want using these tools to develop their players. Without grasping the science behind the methods, it will be impossible to construct trainings that lead towards a bigger picture in terms of player development.

The Cognitive Soccer Instructors Course is a cutting edge five book series that will make you completely re-think the way soccer is coached. I have spent the last few years researching, applying and refining the methods. The instructors course is designed to take you outside box, giving you a direct look into how an athlete's brain processes information, problem solves, adapts and most efficiently learns. Neuroscience and Neuropsychology provide us all the proof we need to see that becoming a great athlete is more about developing the brain then the body. This is one of the rare series of books that focuses on the brain and not the body to improve soccer ability. Whether you are a complete novice coach or in the professional ranks, the information in the course will motivate, excite and stimulate your coaching mind. It covers in detail the science behind cognitive soccer development along with providing a comprehensive soccer curriculum that puts the cognitive theory into soccer specific exercises you can use immediately with your team. You will learn to teach the game in a way that the brain is naturally meant to learn, called "Brain Structured Learning". It will quickly become apparent that cognitive soccer development will encompass much more than just soccer, it involves living a cognitive healthy lifestyle that will benefit players well beyond the soccer field. This book is the fourth in a series of five that make up all the manuals for the "Cognitive Soccer Instructors Diploma Course". Please visit www.soccersmarttraining.com if you wish to become certified.

This book is not designed to break down Arsenals 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 Formation. It is not an in depth tactical analysis of each players roles and responsibilities in the system. If you are interested in details of specific systems you can pick up my book "Playing The Modern 4-2-3-1" or Playing The Modern 4-4-2 Diamond". The focus of this book is to provide you with training ground exercises that focus on the major principles and concepts that Arsenal embrace in their style of play. Many of the exercises are directly from Arsenal FC. Each exercise directly relates to the "Training Model" that fits with Arsenals "Game Model". The exercises focus on the four phases of the game: attacking transition, attacking organization, defensive transition and defensive organization. Arsenal is known for their ball circulation (attacking organization), quality of passing, movement off the ball and penetrating passing in the final third. Playing the Arsenal style requires excellent technical players, a belief in a passing system, tactical intelligence and the ability to break down teams and finish in the attacking third. Playing against Arsenal can be very difficult because the majority of possession is usually with Arsenal. Sessions focus on ball circulation, penetrating the attacking 1/3 and developing quick technical passing ability. These exercises will have your team training like Arsenal and after time playing like Arsenal (training model = game model). I would strongly recommend that you also read my book "Tactical Periodization: Made Simple" in order to get a greater understanding of how to organize and create a training system like the ones the top clubs in the world use. I hope you find the exercises rewarding!

Los rondos desarrollan las siguientes habilidades en un jugador: velocidad de pensamiento, veolcidad al jugar, capacidad de retención del balón individual y colectivamente, trabajo con los pies, agilidad, resolución de problemas futbolísticos, trabajo en equipo y la habilidad de marcar el ritmo o tempo del juego. Todas estas son habilidades esenciales y críticas para el fútbol. Observa un juego completo de 11 contra 11 y fíjate en cuántos toques de balón tiene cada jugador. Estudios indican que cada jugador tocará el balón entre 20 y 40 veces durante el curso de un juego de 90 minutos. El rondo puede aumentar el nivel de juego de un futbolista rápidamente, porque son colocados en situaciones de juego reales, una y otra vez, durante un marco de tiempo reducido. Un jugador puede tocar el balón de 20 a 40 veces durante un rondo de 5 minutos. Los toques en un rondo son significativos: requieren que los jugadores encuentren soluciones a situaciones de presión defensiva alta que se relacionan directamente con el juego y prácticamente no se detienen. "La Ciencia del Rondo" es el mejor libro para los entrenadores que quieren que sus equipos se desarrollen usando entrenamientos de rondo.Este libro incluye mi currículo personal en entrenamiento con rondos, variaciones, progresiones y transiciones. Te enseño cómo combiner rondos con rutinas de patrones de pase, forma física y ejercicios de posesión en situaciones reales de juego. Si quieres entender todo sobre el rondo y métodos de entrenamiento que lo utilizan, este libro es para ti. Que lo disfrutes.

The Cognitive Soccer Instructors Course is a cutting edge five book series that will make you completely re-think the way soccer is coached. I have spent the last few years researching, applying and refining the methods. The instructors course is designed to take you outside box, giving you a direct look into how an athlete's brain processes information, problem solves, adapts and most efficiently learns. Neuroscience and Neuropsychology provide us all the proof we need to see that becoming a great athlete is more about developing the brain then the body. This is one of the rare series of books that focuses on the brain and not the body to improve soccer ability. Whether you are a complete novice coach or in the professional ranks, the information in the course will motivate, excite and stimulate your coaching mind. It covers in detail the science behind cognitive soccer development along with providing a comprehensive soccer curriculum that puts the cognitive theory into soccer specific exercises you can use immediately with your team. You will learn to teach the game in a way that the brain is naturally meant to learn, called "Brain Structured Learning". It will quickly become apparent that cognitive soccer development will encompass much more than just soccer, it involves living a cognitive healthy lifestyle that will benefit players well beyond the soccer field. This book is the first in a series of five that make up all the manuals for the "Cognitive Soccer Instructors Diploma Course". Please visit www.soccersmarttraining.com if you wish to become certified.

The game of soccer is perpetually in a constant state of change; as new tactical trends appear each and every season. Some of the changes are adaptations and variations from the past, while others are completely original. If we roll back the clock to the first international friendly match ever played in 1872, you would have witnessed England playing a 1-2-7 formation, against the Scottish 2-2-6. Soccer's early formations were built with few players in the back and many up top. Fast forward to the 1920's and things began to change, this is when the 3-2-2-3 W-M formation made its debut, introduced by Herbert Chapman at Arsenal. Then jump ahead to the 1966 World Cup, as England played the first diamond 4-4-2 formation. Change continued to come in 1974, when the Dutch coach Rinus Michels lined the team up in a 4-3-3 formation, introducing the world to "Clockwork Orange". The 2000's has been responsible for the emergence of the 4-2-3-1 formation, along with the 4-6-0 "false 9", introduced by the Spanish. However, the question every top coach is constantly pursuing is, what is the next major trend or change in the game? We have already seen some signs of change, with the inverted wingbacks of Guardiola at Manchester City, and the deterioration of the classic back four, even Arsenal have changed to a 3 back system! As we look at the history of soccer, the changes in formations are pronounced. The original formations have been compared to inverted or upside down pyramids, with 7 attacking players up top and only 2 in the back. As the game progressed, the pyramid completely turned around, as seen with the 4-2-3-1 formation, which took on a realistic pyramid type of shape, and now the shape appears to be changing again. This book focuses on what very well may be one of the formations of the future, the 2-6-2 formation. We saw the 2-6-2 formation used when Guardiola's Bayern, dismantled Roma in a Champions League match 7-1. Argentina recently played a 2-3-4-1 in a friendly match against Singapore. The reality is that the modern game is seeing the pyramid shape turning more into a rhombus, small on the bottom, large in the middle and small on top. Obviously, simply talking about general shapes is an over simplification of formations, but this type of rhombus idea, seems to be where the formation trend is heading. How many teams have switched to a 3-5-2 in the last 24 months? Many more than a few years ago, that's for sure. Arsenal who rarely change anything, went to 3 at the back last spring along with many others. The new trend in formations also points to need for developing more intelligent players. In order to effectively play with 2 - 3 players in the back, an overloaded midfield and two forwards, players must be excellent decision makers and possess high soccer IQ's. Today's new formations demand players be smart and skillful, while the older bunker-in and counter attack systems (4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2) can more easily accommodate the simple, disciplined and hard-working player. It's my opinion that the modern player must be technical, creative, smart, have a high soccer IQ and be an active problem solver. As formations become more expansive and more dangerous, they also become more vulnerable, the player of the future must be a different breed, they must possess a complete soccer brain.

The Cognitive Soccer Instructors Course is a cutting edge five book series that will make you completely re-think the way soccer is coached. I have spent the last few years researching, applying and refining the methods. The instructors course is designed to take you outside box, giving you a direct look into how an athlete's brain processes information, problem solves, adapts and most efficiently learns. Neuroscience and Neuropsychology provide us all the proof we need to see that becoming a great athlete is more about developing the brain then the body. This is one of the rare series of books that focuses on the brain and not the body to improve soccer ability. Whether you are a complete novice coach or in the professional ranks, the information in the course will motivate, excite and stimulate your coaching mind. It covers in detail the science behind cognitive soccer development along with providing a comprehensive soccer curriculum that puts the cognitive theory into soccer specific exercises you can use immediately with your team. You will learn to teach the game in a way that the brain is naturally meant to learn, called "Brain Structured Learning". It will quickly become apparent that cognitive soccer development will encompass much more than just soccer, it involves living a cognitive healthy lifestyle that will benefit players well beyond the soccer field. This book is the fifth in a series of five that make up all the manuals for the "Cognitive Soccer Instructors Diploma Course". Please visit www.soccersmarttraining.com if you wish to become certified.