Listed below are a few examples of the techniques used within the SSD Training Programme plus a brief explanation of OPPOSITES and the planning procedure for creating BALANCED TRAINING PROGRAMMES

Less Power = Accuracy Young players (and some professionals) have a tendency to always use excessive power when striking the ball - start gently until you gain accuracy - then gradually build-up the power. Accuracy first - Power second. A good example of this is when you see players trying to swerve a free kick - the ball generally goes wide of the target before generating any kind of swerve.

Contact = Accuracy If you have a greater surface area in contact with the ball at the time of striking - you gain more accuracy (more surface contact = greater control = accuracy). Always use the inside of the foot for short distance passing, close range shots, and cushioning aerial balls to the ground. Power Side Foot - if the ball is travelling along the ground before you make contact, then incredible distance, power, and accuracy can be achieved through sweeping underneath the ball with the side foot and following through. All the great crossers of a ball use this technique.

Technique v Power Hit a static standard size ball off the ground from a fixed point and measure where it lands - then use a heavier ball and keep practising until you reach the same distance. By 'sweeping' the ball from underneath and 'following-through' with the striking foot, you will soon learn that the correct technique requires less power to achieve the same objective.

Co-ordination (Eye - Foot) Throw the ball up into the air - cover the right eye and cushion the ball to the ground using the left foot/thigh - cover the left eye and try again, this time using the right foot/thigh.

Weak Foot Most players (including a lot of professionals) have a psychological block when it comes to striking the ball with their weak foot - hence the lack of power and accuracy. Starting from a short distance, use your strong foot to gently loft the ball over some 10" cones - watch the approach and striking technique. Now try to copy that technique with your weak foot. If fail, then stop, and try again until you get the approach and technique right. Gradually increase the distance away from the cones. With lots of practice, comes confidence - the accuracy will then follow naturally because you have removed the mental block and anxiety.

Aerial Control Throw the ball high into the air and get underneath it. Hold your arms out in front of you as a guide for the ball to drop through, and relax the body. If frightened of the ball, you will automatically tense-up and the ball will bounce off you because you've lost the cushion effect. If relaxed, the ball stops dead. When using your foot, use the inside of your foot - it's a wider target area.

Ball Juggling Practice with your weak foot only - over and over again - and don't use your strong foot until you can achieve at least 6 with your weak foot. Using the law of opposites, practising with your weak foot improves your strong foot.

Crossing & Lofted Passes Start from a short distance out and strike a moving ball (coming towards you) at a target 3 feet high. When competent, increase the distance and height. Move back to the start and try doing it again, but this time, with a static ball (it's easier to loft a moving ball, so the static ball will require better technique). When you've mastered the forward moving and static ball techniques, try the same exercise with a ball coming towards you from the side (both left and right - so you will have to use your weak foot). You now have the additional complications of good positioning, balance, and timing.

Shooting Practice with a moving ball (from the side and straight ahead) - how straight and accurate can you hit it towards a fixed target? Start with a large target area - then gradually reduce its size. Remember to also use the side foot - less power, but more accuracy.

Dribbling Time yourself over a set distance going in and out of cones (or markers). Gradually decrease the distance between the cones and try to reach the same time.  

If competent doing a particular exercise with a standard size ball, use a smaller ball. If good on your right side, do the exercise with your left side only.
Think - "how can you change an exercise to make it more difficult"

1.  Write down all of the following key skills and then mark alongside each of them - either WEAK or STRONG:

• Fitness/Agility/Speed
• Right Foot
• Left Foot
• Ball Juggling (with weak foot)
• Aerial Control (chest/thigh/foot)
• Shooting (with a fast moving ball)
• Dribbling
• Hitting the Ball off the Ground

2.  Operate a 4 WEEK TRAINING CYCLE - with the first 3 weeks working on weak skills only - followed by 1 week on strong skills only

Practice Hours Per Week
Age 6 = One hour
Age 7 = Two hours
Age 8/9 = Three hours
Age 10/12 = Four Hours

Time Per Exercise
Divide the session time by the number of skills requiring practice. For example, if you have listed 4 skills and have a one hour training session - then it's 15 minutes of repetitive practice on each skill area

3.  At the end of the 4 week period, write down the list of skills again. What areas are you still struggling with? What are your weakest skills? THEN - start the next 4 week cycle

                                                          
                                                TRAINING ELEMENTS

If left to their own devices, young players will inevitably practice the strong areas (or fun elements) of their game. Coaches must, therefore, at an early age, devise training programmes that generate a better overall balance - weak and strong skills - and incorporate the three main aspects of professional development - Key Individual Skills, Repetition and the 3P's

KEY INDIVIDUAL SKILLS
1.  Ball Juggling (keepie-uppie)
2.  Aerial Control (chest, thigh, foot)
3.  Ground Control
4.  Passing
5.  Weak Foot
6.  BASE (Balance, Agility, Speed, Endurance)

REPETITION
Mastering any skill involves repetition - working on a particular skill continuously for long periods of time - particularly important with regards to specific weak areas. For example, if weak on your left foot and poor at aerial control, then 15 minutes continuous work with the left foot, followed by 15 minutes on aerial control - then repeat, over and over again.
Note: Dedicated repetition is for youth players (age 12 and above), from age 8 to 11 there should be a 'gradual' increase in the level of repetitive exercises (especially the Key Individual Skills), but no repetitive drills from age 4 to 7.

3 P's
Children must learn at an early age, that to become a good player, you must practice, practice, practice.

If give a child a ball and an empty goal, they will spend the entire afternoon shooting into the empty net using their strong foot only.

Create a Balanced Training Programme - strong and weak skills
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Incorporate SSD Training Techniques
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Encourage Repetition and the 3 P's
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Gradually Increase Level of Difficulty by using Opposites
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