1. Alexandria Soccer Association U9-U12 Curriculum: Unit 1
Ryan Rich, Director of Coaching

2. Unit 1 Overview
In Unit 1, U9 players immediately learn the foundation of our style of play – how to build attacks out of the back. Coaches should plan on allocating a significant amount of training time to building each player’s understanding and effectiveness in making good decisions and executing passing and dribbling sequences out of the defensive third. The defensive unit (GK, LB, CB, RB) should be encouraged to cycle the ball quickly and accurately in order to find an opening for one of the defenders to penetrate with a pass or dribble into the middle third when numerical advantages exists. On the defensive side, players learn 1st defender principles in the context of defending teams in our attacking third, giving immediate chase, and making play predictable by forcing the ball into central areas. Coaches should consider weeks on this unit.
To protect the proprietary and information included in this material, it can only be shared, in either print or electronic formats, within and among Alexandria Soccer Association coaches. All other uses require permission from Ryan Rich, Alexandria Soccer Association Director of Coaching.

3. 7v7 Game Formation
GK-3-2-1
In Units 1-3, training concepts, activities, and style of play are addressed through a GK formation. The reason for choosing this formation is that it helps provide greater numbers in defense in order for players to learn and gain confidence building play out of the defensive third. In addition, players learn immediately the value of getting outside defenders into the attack and an introduction of multiple CMs, which will be present in our GK formation at 11v11. In addition, our numerical advantage in the middle of the field allows for more freedom in the attack down the sides of the field and limits excessive counterattack opportunities down the center of the field. CF CM CM RB LB CB GK
To protect the proprietary and information included in this material, it can only be shared, in either print or electronic formats, within and among Alexandria Soccer Association coaches. All other uses require permission from Ryan Rich, Alexandria Soccer Association Director of Coaching.

4. Game Transfer Objectives - Attacking
Players will be able to…
Demonstrate understanding of the inherent left/right/split passing options available to the GK and defenders during game play and goal kicks in the defensive third;
Demonstrate proper 2nd attacker movement and positioning off the ball based on its location in the defensive third; and
Demonstrate proper 1st attacker decision-making in building attacks out of the defensive third by using visual cues in game situation.
To protect the proprietary and information included in this material, it can only be shared, in either print or electronic formats, within and among Alexandria Soccer Association coaches. All other uses require permission from Ryan Rich, Alexandria Soccer Association Director of Coaching.

5. Attacking Roles & Responsibilities
Building Attacks out of Defensive Third
When the GK has possession of the ball (goal kick, after a save, pass back, etc.), the left defender (LB) and right defender (RB) should immediately move into wide positions outside the goal box at a clear passing angle. The center defender (CB) should move laterally along the top of the goal box with a side-on position to receive and go forward. The center midfielders (CMs) should push higher up the field to occupy “windows” of space between the opponent’s midfielders and maintain side-on positions with their backs to sidelines to receive. The center forward (CF) should push high up the field to provide depth and give CMs room to operate. The key concepts are for LBs and RBs to come wide and deep to receive off the GK if necessary, CMs should sit in windows of space between the CB and their respective outside defender, and the CF providing depth up the field. CF CM CM CB LB RB GK
To protect the proprietary and information included in this material, it can only be shared, in either print or electronic formats, within and among Alexandria Soccer Association coaches. All other uses require permission from Ryan Rich, Alexandria Soccer Association Director of Coaching.

6. Attacking Roles & Responsibilities
Building Attacks out of Defensive Third – Attacking off the dribble
In this instance, the GK has passed out to the LB under little pressure. Coaches should encourage outside backs to attack forward on the dribble to create numerical advantages in the midfield. The ball-side CM should continue forward into “windows” of space up the field to allow the LB to utilize the open space. The CB and RB should push forward as well to stay connected to the team; however, two defenders should stay back at all times. The CF should look to make a penetrating run into space. The weak-side CM should look to move central to provide support to change point of attack if needed. The key concepts are reading visual cues to take space at speed up the field, the ball-side CM pushing high up the field to allow outside defender to take space, CB and weak-side outside defender holding back and central to provide cover in case of counterattack, and CF making a penetrating runs wide. CF CM CM CB LB RB GK
To protect the proprietary and information included in this material, it can only be shared, in either print or electronic formats, within and among Alexandria Soccer Association coaches. All other uses require permission from Ryan Rich, Alexandria Soccer Association Director of Coaching.

7. Attacking Roles & Responsibilities
Building Attacks out of Defensive Third – Attacking with passing
In this instance, the GK has passed to the LB under heavy pressure. The CB moves to a deeper support position, and the GK moves out of the goal mouth to support deep as well. The weak-side CM and RB move centrally to provide balance in case possession is lost. The CF moves ball side as well. Since LB is under pressure, ball-side CM checks back to the ball from a high position to give support. From this situation, the LB can combine with the ball-side CM to attack out of the back with a wall pass combination. The key concepts are reading the visual cues to decide to dribble or assess passing options quickly, basic combination play (wall pass) out of the defensive third, and 2nd attacker movement off the ball. CF CM CM CB LB RB GK
To protect the proprietary and information included in this material, it can only be shared, in either print or electronic formats, within and among Alexandria Soccer Association coaches. All other uses require permission from Ryan Rich, Alexandria Soccer Association Director of Coaching.

8. Attacking Roles & Responsibilities
Building Attacks out of Defensive Third – Changing point of attack
In this instance, the LB has gotten forward but the team does not hold a numerical advantage going forward (3 vs. 5), and therefore, should change the point of attack. The CB and GK should always provide a deep options, especially to get out of trouble spots. The CB should look to receive quickly and play out the other side of the field to create and search for numerical advantages. The CB and LB should stay as RB advances forward up the field. It is important to teach players that using the CB and GK are legitimate options in order to keep the ball if no forward options are available. In addition, it will allow players time to reorganize by getting into position and open up space. The key concepts are recognizing numbers-down situations quickly, speed of play to switch the play around the back, weak-side outside defender anticipating the switch and moving wide, and attacking quickly down the opposite flank once play is switched. CF CM CM LB RB CB GK
To protect the proprietary and information included in this material, it can only be shared, in either print or electronic formats, within and among Alexandria Soccer Association coaches. All other uses require permission from Ryan Rich, Alexandria Soccer Association Director of Coaching.

9. Game Transfer Objectives - Defending
Players will be able to…
Demonstrate understanding of 1st defender pressure principles and decision-making based on visual cues in game situations and value of immediate pressure upon losing the ball in our attacking third.
Demonstrate proper execution of the poke and block tackles at the correct moments in game situations.
To protect the proprietary and information included in this material, it can only be shared, in either print or electronic formats, within and among Alexandria Soccer Association coaches. All other uses require permission from Ryan Rich, Alexandria Soccer Association Director of Coaching.

10. Defending Roles & Responsibilities
Defending in the Attacking Third - Immediate Chase and Pressure
When the ball is lost in our attacking third, the closest player should provide immediate chase in order to win the ball back. The opponent is most susceptible to give the ball back right when they win it, because they are not in good positions to attack. The CF should provide the highest pressure up the field on the opponent’s defenders, keeping their head down and pushing the ball to one side of the field. The ball-side outside back (LB) should push up to cut off the next option and force the ball central towards our numbers in the middle of the field. The ball-side CM moves to cover space behind the LB while the weak-side CM covers the opponent’s CM. The CB and RB should stay back in case of a longer ball played over the top. The GK should be well off his/her goal line to serve as “last defender” for balls that beat the CB and RB. The key concepts are making play predictable by keeping the ball to one side and not diving in to win the ball unnecessarily. Group functions should not be addressed at this point. CF CM CM LB RB CB GK
To protect the proprietary and information included in this material, it can only be shared, in either print or electronic formats, within and among Alexandria Soccer Association coaches. All other uses require permission from Ryan Rich, Alexandria Soccer Association Director of Coaching.