The program takes advantage of coach Waiters' considerable experience and his ability to simplify and de-mystify systems of play. 3-D graphics, game footage and a team in practice make it a visual learning experience and allows you to develop the best system for your team.

60 Minutes

Detailed Desc.

EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT…one of the best soccer coaching videos ever produced. The term "System of Play" refers to the formation and style of play you use. A huge part of a coach's success depends on choosing the "System of Play" that gives his or her team the best chance of being successful. The best system of play for your team is the one that maximizes the strengths of your team and minimizes its weaknesses. This video covers formations, styles of play ("defending deep", "pushing up", counterattacking styles, and others), and is a brilliant coaching overview, covering tactics and the principles of attacking and defense….much of what a coach needs to know. The video demonstrates the formations, styles of play and principles of attacking and defense by using 3-D graphics and carefully selected game film clips, combined with excellent commentary and on-screen teaching points. Every recreational, travel and school coach should own this. This video is so good it would be a bargain at $100. If this had been available when I started coaching, I could have saved hundreds of dollars and a huge amount of time that I wasted on bad videos, books and classes. It tells you how to coach in a clear, concise way. There is a 4-page checklist that can be printed if you have a computer that can play a DVD and you have (or can install) the free version of Adobe Reader. The checklist will help you develop the "system of play" (i.e., the formation, style of play and tactics) best suited to your team, discusses how to pair up players, how to develop long-term plans and short-term goals that are consistent with your coaching philosophy, and how to adjust your system of play on a game-by-game basis depending on the opposition, field conditions, weather, the importance of the game, and whether you're winning or losing. NOTE: The video only describes 11 v 11 formations, but the discussion of styles of play and the principles of attacking and defense apply to all teams, no matter how many are on the field. It has Scene selection, slow motion and freeze frame, and Dolby Digital Stereo. 59:45 minutes of "Systems of Play", 6:50 minutes of excerpts from "Goalkeeping Tips" (excellent for goalkeepers), and 3:35 minutes of excerpts from "Set Plays", which is outstanding.

Tony Waiters: Tony Waiters is one of the best, most knowledgeable and most successful coaches in the world…in addition, I've talked to him and he's a nice, modest guy. Tony played professionally for 10 years in the top division of the English League and with the England National Team. He was a Manager/Coach of the Liverpool FC Youth Development Program, Manager/Coach of the England Professional Youth Team, in 1978 he was Coach-of-the-Year in the North American Soccer League, and he coached the Canadian World Cup and Olympic Teams in 1982-86, including the Canadian men's team that went to the World Cup in 1986. We also believe Tony is one of the best soccer coaching teachers in the world and this video is one of the best ever made.

User Tips: When you first start the DVD, the Main Menu has 3 choices: Play, Chapter Selection and Special Features. Choose "Play" to start at the first. "Chapter Selection" lets you choose from 8 chapters. "Special Features" has 3 choices: you can print the "Developing A System Of Play" checklist, or watch "Goalkeeping Tips" and "Set Plays Tips", which are described below.

Contents:

Play ("Systems of Play") . (this is the main program and runs 59:45 minutes)
Minute Topic
00:00 Introduction
1:00 Evolution of Formations and Styles of Play
- "Pyramid" formation
- "W M" formation (what we call a "3-2-2-3")
5:30 10 Principles of Attacking and Defense
9:00 "First Attacker" and "Second Attacker" concepts
10:30 "Second Defender" concept
10:50 Team defending
11:00 Stretching the defense
12:40 Defensive concentration
13:00 The area where 95% of all soccer goals are scored
13:20 "Recovery" runs (funneling to goal)
15:30 "Balance" in defense ("Third Defenders")
16:20 The "Thirds" of the field (This is very good and important)
18:15 Improvisation in attack
19:00 Discipline/patience in defense
23:00 "Man Marking" vs. "Zone Defense" and "Sweeper" style vs. "Flat Back" defense
26:30 3-5-2 formation
27:00 3-4-3
27:45 4-1-2-1-2
29:00 Selecting Forwards
30:30 "Line of Concentration", "High Pressure Defense", "Pushing Up", and "Line of Defense"
32:40 "Defending Deep" and "Counterattacking Strategy" (NOTE: if you're a Rec coach, we recommend you NOT try to teach an "offside trap")
35:30 "Funneling back"
35:40 3-5-2 formation
36:30 3-6-1
36:45 4-3-3
37:45 How to decide which formation and style of play to select
39:10 Practicing (and teaching) your System of Play
39:45 Mini-Field walk through
40:40 Half-Field Shadow Play
42:50 Full-Field Shadow Play
42:45 Twin Striker Practice
46:20 "Back 4" Practice
47:00 Midfield Possession Practice
47:45 Midfield Penetration Practice
48:30 Chalk Talk (Team Talk)
49:30 Overview and Re-Cap
52:30 How to organize your team…Developing the system most suited to your team…How to choose the formation and style of play that best suits your team…Where to play playrs with different abilities (THIS IS EXCELLENT!!)
54:40 Long-Term Plans and Short-Term Goals (THIS IS EXCELLENT!!)
55:50 Putting in the details
57:05 Adjusting your System of Play to fit circumstances …Contingency planning…When to change? (discussion of field conditions, weather, opponent's strengths and weaknesses, if you're ahead or behind late in the game, etc)
59:45 End