Football Training

Playing Philosophy

Through our football training our aim is to develop players in a supportive and safe environment, and to encourage them to reach their full potential. We also want our students to enjoy their course with us, while working hard to continue their personal development.

Attitude

  • Be a good team player
  • Bring passion to your game
  • Respect your coach and his decisions
  • Be brave on the ball
  • Take it on the chin! Welcome constructive feedback
  • Be tough, resilient & determined
  • Trust your team mates
  • Work hard for your team – be a willing runner

Action

  • Be expansive in possession
  • Create overloads whenever possible
  • Stay compact when out of possession
  • Execute effective wide play
  • Play off minimal touches whenever possible
  • Recovery runs – work as hard running back as you do attacking

Tactics

  • Know what you are trying achieve
  • Try to make your best decision whilst on the ball
  • Look to play forward

Playing System

We have developed an adaptable playing style for all players, to take into account the range of experience and skill. Our playing formation is based on a 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 system of play (which is adaptable to include 4 – 3 – 3, 4 – 5 – 1 and 4 – 4 – 2). This system promotes confidence on the ball and in a team situation. We aim to rotate playing positions to make the experience as wide as possible, and to create adaptable players. Players may be played in a number of positions during their time at IHM to facilitate fixtures and for the IHM coaches to assess their best playing positions.
Our aim is to develop players in a supportive and safe environment, and to encourage them to reach their full potential. We also want our students to enjoy their course with us, while working hard to continue their personal development.

Training Topics

The following topics will be covered in team training sessions:

  • Basic techniques – dribbling, running with the ball, passing and receiving, decision making, finding space, developing possession, individual work and combination play, support play and turning
  • Defending – with appropriate numbers and recovery
  • Attacking – transition counter attack and attacking when outnumbered
  • Finishing – shooting repetition, crossing & finishing, individual and combined finishing, 1v1 finishing
    Team Shape & formation

The following topics will be covered in personal training sessions:

  • Strength, Speed and flexibility
  • Aerobic endurance – Continuous & Interval
  • Muscular endurance
  • Fitness Testing

    Fitness testing is done on arrival, on return after any long holiday breaks, and at the end of the course. Players are expected to commit some of their free time to help to develop their own fitness levels. They have access to a public gym to help with this. Our coaches will also work with players on a 1 to 1 basis, to help them to develop with specific exercises.
    Sample Fitness Tests:

    Aerobic Endurance Bleep Test, Yo-yo Test, 1.5mile run
    Power Vertical Jump Test
    Strength 1 Rep Max (upper and lower body), grip dynamometer
    Muscular Endurance 1min Press-ups/sit ups
    Speed Sprint Tests (various distances)
    AgilityIllinois Test, arrow-head test
    Flexibility Sit and Reach