Identifying Space when Building out of the Back

by America Scores

Description

This course offers an overview of:

1. Philosophy on Upfield Progressions

2. Insight for Goalkeepers

Goal Kicks and Dead Balls
Goalkeeper Hands
GK as a Field Player
Alignments v. GK (Film Included)

3. Adjusting to Opposing Team's Formations

Defensive Adjustments
Player Positioning
Reading Plays and Player Anticipation

4. Practice Habits

Don't Score: Play the Target
Implementing Phases and Defensive Pressure in Practice
Exercises and Warmups
Player Development
Importance of Film

5. Completing the Pass

Lessons

1 Philosophy on Upfield Progressions 1:40

Goal Keeper Insight

2 Goal Kicks and Dead Balls 3:04 3 From Goalkeepers Hands 1:19 4 GK as a Field Player 0:44 5 7v4+GK 1:43 6 7+GK v 4 Film 3:53 7 7+GK v 4 Objectives and Film 1:35

Adjustments and Formations

8 Adjusting to Opposing Teams' Formations 1:51 9 Securing the Ball into the Net 1:08 10 Defensive Adjustments 0:41 11 Player Positioning 2:35 12 Reading Plays and Player Anticipation 1:57 13 Completing the Pass 2:41

Practice Organization

14 Implementing Phases and Defensive Pressure in Practice 1:17 15 Don't Score: Play the Target 2:07 16 2 v 1 Film 2:40 17 Circulating the Ball: Finding Through the Pass 3:05 18 Exercises and Warm Ups 2:50 19 Importance of Video for Your Team 2:59 20 Recruitment and Player Development 3:31 21 Q&A Session 5:42

The Coach

America Scores

Leonard Griffin is a former All-American defender at UCLA who spent three seasons as the assistant coach at the University of Portland. He is the sixth head coach in program history, following Eddie Soto, Erik Visser, Gus Donoghue, Bob Braghette, and Stephen Negoesco.

Griffin, with eight years of Division I assistant coaching experience, has recruited, coached and developed 35 professional players in MLS, USL and abroad. In his first season as the Pilots' assistant coach, Griffin helped guide the team to a 2016 West Coast Conference Championship. He coached three Far West Region Team players and MLS players: Benji Michel (Orlando City), Paul Christensen (Atlanta United), Kris Reaves (FC Dallas) and Rey Ortiz (1st Team).Prior to joining the Portland staff, he spent two years at UCLA where the Bruins advanced to the NCAA College Cup finals in 2014. Griffin coached nine all-Pac-12 players, including 2014 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Leo Stoltz and 2015 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Jose Hernandez.

Griffin spent a season as an assistant coach at California in 2013, guiding Cal to a NCAA Quarterfinals appearance. At the time, the Golden Bears received the No. 4 overall ranking in the NCAA, which was the highest ranking in school history.

Prior to Cal, Griffin spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Saint Mary's. There, he led the Gaels to the NCAA Elite Eight and a WCC Championship in 2011.

Javier Ayala-Hil is the assistant coach at the University of San Francisco

During Ayala-Hil's three seasons at SF State, he was named CCAA Men's Soccer Coach of the Year in 2017 after guiding the team to a CCAA Championship Semifinals. During the same year, he led the Gators to a program's best start in school history with a 5-0 start and, on the final day of the regular season, and clinched a postseason berth for the first time since 1978.

Prior to joining SF State, Ayala-Hil also served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Cal. During his time in Berkeley, the Bears went 34-18-5, were ranked as high as No. 15 in the nation and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2014. In 2013, Cal was ranked as high as No. 1 in the nation for six weeks and went 2-1 in the NCAA Tournament.