Calcio Coaching: A week in the life of a Serie A coach – Saturday

Forza Italian Football is pleased to bring its readers a regular new feature – Il Mister. Our experts will endeavour to show you all the methods and tactical secrets employed by Serie A’s best football coaches.

It is perhaps quite naïve of some fans to think that professional players and coaches spend a couple of hours every day running round a field and smashing footballs randomly at a goalkeeper before entering the stadium at the weekend, in an attempt to fulfil all our sporting dreams and win the match.

The reality in fact, is wildly different. Forza Italian Football aim to dispel this misconception and bring you a series of articles after speaking to a top Serie A coach, to find out exactly what goes into preparing for the weekend’s match.

Having already looked at Friday, we now move on to Saturday which is based on improving the combination of mental and physical agility and co-ordination.

Saturday

In the class room

The players will be shown video footage of the opponent, again going over the weaknesses that the Coach wants exploited and areas of the pitch they should try to work in.

On the field – Morning Session

Exercise 1

Psychokinetic exercises – 15 minutes

This is a form of exercise (jumping, running sprinting etc.) that are to be done as quickly as possible depending on what the Coach asks the player to do.  An example is here:

Exercise 2

Reactive Circuit – 20 minutes

Similar to the above, exercises based on either a command or signal.  An example is here:

Exercise 3

Set plays – 20 minutes

A reminder of the set plays practiced from the day before.

Exercise 4

Small sided pressing game – 20 minutes

One team attacks the goal to try and score.  The opponent must try to win the ball back and either get the ball over the end zone or complete 7 passes.

Drill Objective:

• Develop ultra offensive pressing
• Create scoring opportunities in tight spaces with little time on the ball

Rules:

• Attacking team has no  limit on touches
• Defending team has 3 touch limit