The finer details in the art of defending (Stopping the Cross)

In this session MP Coaching guest specialist striker coach Steve Guppy brings us further detail on the fine art of creating shooting opportunities and the more intricate technical details that make all the difference in your approach, set up, and execution when in goalscoring positions.

Two top Premier League players — Harry Maguire and Andy Robertson — have generously donated signed shirts to MP Coaching to help give back to the grassroots game.

It’s been a busy June so far for the MP Coaching team with visits to Thailand and Singapore and this morning we had the pleasure of providing coach education for ADVOS PTE LTD at the Kallang Football Hub.

Creating shooting opportunities within the confined space of the 18-yard box and closer to goal is increasingly difficult in modern football. Defenders are getting smarter, team set ups and out of possession tactics are more, astute, and defensive units are more cohesive than ever in their quest for clean sheets.

A Dynamic Week of Soccer Development Across Two Prestigious Programs

So here we are on a 7 day stint of social events, player camps, coach education workshops, university and corporate visits as the team work their way around NYC, New Jersey and Brooklyn.

Following on from session one in the games for goalscoring series ( inside the penalty area ) Mike and MP Coaching now take the original drill a little further.  In this second of the series we incorporate link play with team mates, increase the distance from goal, and also add in a variety of angles and orientations to the goal making things a little more technically challenging for all those prospective goal scorers out there. Equipment Needed: 1 x Full size goal 10 x Bibs 20 x Samba Match Balls 3 x Samba Mannequins 2 x Goalkeeper Gloves 2 x Corner Flags 1 x Half of Full Size marked Pitch 1 x VEO camera This particular drill involves multiple technical and tactical aspects from the subject player (Striker). They have to make contact with a midfielder or a wide player and initiate the sequence and intention to move and to play, they have to both pass and receive, correct timing of the run is essential and this in turn is determined by the weight, trajectory and smoothness of all passes from start to finish and from both connecting players throughout the move. So, although the drill is still unopposed and involves mannequins as opposed to defenders this is the first stage before we might think about live defensive situations and will form the building block of technical (passing, striking) and tactical (movement and timing) competencies required in a first class forward player and the session forms a solid base for your coaching to progress from as your players mature. Without being overly extensive the drill tests the strikers ability to receive from behind themselves via a central midfielder, play out wide and connect with a crossed ball, put shape on their movement to cater for defenders and ultimately face a live goalkeeper who will be anticipating their every move.

In this training session Mike Phelan addresses the art of goalscoring and working inside the penalty area.

In a recent interview with our director and co-founder Mike Phelan, the MPC media team discussed the realities of coaching, how when working with players to get the best you possibly can out of them, and also the importance of maintaining enjoyment and the love of the game through your sessions by keeping them relative to the game.