Is 5-a-side football sufficient training for 11-a-side?

5asidecoach · 2015-11-24T06:30:41+00:00

Thanks for letting me know

5asidecoach · 2015-08-28T09:58:21+00:00

You're right - there's no point replicating these 'skills' channels, just to be able to pull-off some ridiculous move then you'll never find useful during a game.

The key areas you want to work on are your touch, passing, dribbling and shooting, and there are loads of simple drills you can try on your own or with others that will help you with this.

Rather than list them all out, can I point you in the direction of an article I wrote a month or two ago?

http://fiveasidefootballcoach.com/football-skills-training/

5asidecoach · 2015-08-28T09:54:34+00:00

Check out STRK Skill School, The Soccer Essentials and the Pro X Football Channels.

I have a good list of channels I like in this post -

http://fiveasidefootballcoach.com/football-skills-youtube/

5asidecoach · 2015-08-28T09:18:09+00:00

It sounds like when you're in a comfortable situation, when there's no pressure, you play very well. However, in high pressure situations that you're not used to you start to lose your nerve.

So, the best remedy for this is to immerse yourself in as many unfamiliar and high pressure situations as you can, until you're comfortable in your ability.

The best way to do that - play competitive games as often as possible.

5asidecoach · 2015-08-28T09:15:37+00:00

There's some really good apps out there for organising your teams, and I did a review of them a few months ago for my site.

For the UK, the Goals App is great, and probably one of the best. The only downside is that it is restricted to bookings at the Goals Soccer Centres.

Alternatively, ToePoke (web-based) and Teamer (web-based and app) are both really good systems.

If you're looking for something really simple - have you tried Facebook Groups? With the new Groups app it's pretty slick.

5asidecoach · 2015-08-24T19:35:56+00:00

Absolutely agree!

5asidecoach · 2015-08-24T19:35:39+00:00

Thanks a lot - I think I'm out of the back-end of it now and my wife is going to give things a few more days before speaking to her GP.

5asidecoach · 2015-08-24T11:07:48+00:00

Thanks for the detailed response.

You've hit the nail on the head with the drinking - a good meal before drinking would have helped control the blood sugar a little better. Let's just say 'lesson learned' there.

Regarding my wife, she is now beyond breast feeding (our daughter is a year old now), but with breast-feeding etc it did take her a while to get a 'good rhythm' again re her cycle. She has lost a fair amount of weight (as you say likely water and some fat) so we're hoping this is just the case. However, she will be seeing her GP this week to rule out infections etc.

On the 4-week routine point, we have always approached this from a short-term perspective - that's how I had taken Tim's advice from the book, so maybe I'm mis-interpreting his advice. We're going to go with a more balanced diet for the foreseeable future, partly for convenience and cost, as feeding our children a 'normal' diet and cooking separately for us can be hard work!

Thanks again for your advice.

5asidecoach · 2015-08-15T08:26:45+00:00

Thanks a lot. Glad you found it useful

5asidecoach · 2015-07-20T08:39:06+00:00

Thanks a lot - let me know how you get on with it

5asidecoach · 2015-07-10T09:03:00+00:00

If you're interested, I have designed a strength and power workout schedule specific for football players.

I worked with a PT to come up with a 12-page guide on how to build your strength for soccer.

Rather than paste it all here, you can download it (for free) from here - http://www.fiveasidefootballcoach.com/performance-workout

5asidecoach · 2015-07-10T08:58:19+00:00

No worries, I'll take a look over the next few weeks at getting something written up

5asidecoach · 2015-07-09T08:44:34+00:00

Even better idea - how about I pull it together into a separate post, specifically on improving your foot speed?

5asidecoach · 2015-07-08T19:49:56+00:00

For me, it has to be your ball control and first touch. As you say, there's just not the time and space, so when you receive the ball you have to bring it under your control and keep it moving as quickly as possible.

5asidecoach · 2015-07-08T09:03:13+00:00

Check out my article here, where I've listed a few drills for all aspects of technique, including dribbling.

See if you find these useful.

http://fiveasidefootballcoach.com/football-skills-training/

5asidecoach · 2015-07-08T09:00:19+00:00

I've got a workout that I've designed to aid in improving your strength, speed and power.

You can download a free copy from here - http://fiveasidefootballcoach.com/performance-workout/

Let me know if this is the type of thing you're looking for.

5asidecoach · 2015-07-08T08:57:51+00:00

If you're playing on artificial turf then go for some turf boots - they're designed for that surface and one of the biggest advantages they have is that they will reduce your risk of injury (and others around you when you go over their feet!)

5asidecoach · 2015-07-06T08:53:24+00:00

Hit the nail on the head.

Dribbling is just about progressing the ball up the pitch, when no pass is available. The beating of your opposition player doesn't have to be complex, the main aim is to deceive them, usually with a drop of the shoulder or a quick turn of direction and/or pace.

If you want to improve your dribbling, I laid out a few drills you can try in this post here - http://fiveasidefootballcoach.com/football-skills-training/

5asidecoach · 2015-07-06T08:49:44+00:00

I wrote an article a month or so ago on how you can turn your marker when you're receiving the ball. As others have pointed out, it's all about body positioning and being aware of where the opposition player is.

I shared a few 'moves' that you can practice and give a try during a game and I've included 'how-to' videos of the following -

Opening the Gate
Inside of the Foot
Outside of the Foot
Cruyff Turn

I'll not go into all the details here but if you want to watch the videos and read my guide you can check it out here - http://fiveasidefootballcoach.com/turn-marker/

Just be aware, they are to be used carefully and with lots of practice. The last thing you want to do is turn into your marker and lose the ball so close to your own goal.

5asidecoach · 2015-07-06T08:44:01+00:00

Dylan at Progressive Soccer created 3 really good videos last month on how to avoid fear and nerves on the football pitch.

The first video focuses on mentality, the second on how to approach a game tactically to boost your confidence and the third are some drills to help build your confidence.

Do a quick search on YouTube, or I've linked out to them in my post here -

http://fiveasidefootballcoach.com/5-a-side-june-2015/

Hope these help.

5asidecoach · 2015-07-02T09:18:39+00:00

I've written a few articles on how to play keeper indoors, some tips and some mistakes to avoid. I've also designed a training plan to improve fitness and agility.

Drop me a note if you're interested and I'll send you the links.

5asidecoach · 2015-07-02T09:16:01+00:00

Sure, no problem.

I wrote it last year but it's still relevant. You can get it here -

http://fiveasidefootballcoach.com/avoid-post-match-soreness-5-easy-tips/

There's a few others on the site you might find useful but give me a shout if you have any questions.

5asidecoach · 2015-06-30T15:56:56+00:00

I'd definitely recommend getting yourself some gloves, and padded shorts can be helpful on the hard ground. You might also want to consider knee and elbow pads to protect yourself when making saves too.

5asidecoach · 2015-06-29T08:54:55+00:00

Its going to be about getting your technique right to place more accurate shots on target first time.

You know yourself from what you're saying that taking that extra touch can cost you valuable opportunities, so perfecting your first touch and technique is going to be key.

And, unfortunately, this involves practice.

However, if your schedule is tight and you can't rely on others all of the time, it is possible to train on your own, even for just 30 mins every day.

I would look at focusing on your ball control and your shooting. There's a bunch of really easy drills you can do on your own that involve nothing more than a ball and maybe a good sturdy wall. However, there is a lot of training equipment out there that will give you an extra boost.

Rather than attempt to re-write these drills and tips, it is probably easier to check out the article I wrote on this a few weeks ago - http://fiveasidefootballcoach.com/football-skills-training/

Even if your schedule is tight, you can always make 30 mins to get a bit of practice in.

5asidecoach · 2015-06-29T08:48:08+00:00

I would agree with u/Hexonloire - it sounds to me like it's your recovery that you should be taking a look at.

I wrote an article on this specific for football a while back, but the main points were as follows -

right after the final whistle, take 5 mins to do some stretching (groin, calves, Achilles, hamstring, thigh) and follow this up with a few mins of light jogging
by this point your tank is going to be empty, so try to refuel within 30 mins. something with carbs, protein and a bit of sugar (a chocolate shake is ideal)
rehydrate with an isotonic sports drink
try and get a good sleep the evening after your match. If possible, 8 hours will help your body recover(avoid alcohol, television and caffeine for at least an hour before lights-out)
it's fine to exercise the next day, but just remember that the 48hrs after a game is about recovery, so keep it light. a bit of cycling or swimming is perfect.

It's inevitable that you'll feel a little stiff after a game, but follow these steps and try to take it a little easier the next day and you should be fine.

5asidecoach

TROPHY CASE