“What A Great Book”, Order It Here
One man that you probably never heard from could aid your professional soccer career. This man is Wiel Coerver. His techniques are being taught all over the world, from the youth academy in Manchester United to professional club in Belgium and Indonesia. Coerver was one of the first coaches that put the focus on the individual, not necessarily the team. Coerver has been termed the Einstein Of soccer. Find out more about the Wiel Coerver method.
Daniel Sturridge
Who Was Wiel Coerver
Wiel Coerver was a former professional soccer player and coach. He became the champion of Holland as a coach and as a player and managed to win the EUFA Cup as a coach. Wiel was a character who did it his own way. He did not agree with the teachings of the Dutch Soccer union (KNVB) and developed the Wiel Coerver Method. He is quoted as saying;
The forests in Zeist (Zeist is where the headquarters of the soccer union is located) can be covered under the reports, but no one dares to say what it is really about: the youth must be taught technique again.
Wiel Coerver
The Wiel Coerver Method
Coerver thought that simple soccer is possible for most players as long as they possess a mastery of the ball. To put the focus on increasing individual qualities, everybody can become a good soccer player. The Wiel Coerver method focus on individual development. Wiel Coerver often compared soccer with different sports and noticed that soccer is severely lacking in individual basic techniques.
In other sports, the number of repetitions for error-free learning of a certain technique has increased dramatically. The average youth players only have a few minutes of actual ball contact per week, and they also learn how to make it impossible for someone else to play football
Wiel Coerver
Creativity And Personality
Coerver noticed an anti-soccer movement in youth soccer in the Netherlands. This kind of soccer depends on strength and speed, not soccer skills. He wanted to make sure every soccer player is capable of displaying beautiful soccer. His view was that an increase in the strength and speed of soccer players is a lack of soccer skills. Coerver wanted every player to be able to go past a player and play attractive soccer. Players like Gerald Vaneburg was his example, players with creativity and insight. Vanenburg was a player from the streets and only made the transfer from to AJAX from the amateurs when he was 15 years old. Gerald became a professional one year later. See the video below of Vanenburg, notice the skils performed with both feet, how easy he goes past players and always looking for a creative and attractive solution. Wiel Coerver said this about Gerald Vanenburg.
“The public doesn’t mind paying 25 guilders for a player like Gerald Vanenburg” (guilder is the old Dutch currency)
Wile Coerver
The Public Wants More
Coerver looked at soccer from the perspective of the public. The public needs to be entertained by attractive soccer. Furthermore, people like personalities. Wiel argued that once you have a soccer technique, you will show initiative and personality. He talked about Ronald Koeman as an example. He argued that Koeman was very much liked by international clubs because of his personality. Koeman had a great shot but his personality and his love for soccer are why clubs wanted him. Coerver said that creativity and personality were the ultimate desired result of his teaching methods.
Creativity and personality, on that this total curriculum is built. Through their soccer skills, those players developing creativity. If you master the technique, it is but a small step for you to control your opponent and all football situations. From that control, you build up your personality
When To Start With The Wiel Coerver Method
Coerver thought that real training should start at age 10. He thought as with other sports the technical skills should be primary. The total number of hours should be at least 8 hours a week. At this stage no big games should be played, small-sided games are fine if the techniques were put into practice. At age 13 the players should employ the techniques in a more explosive and dynamic manner. Up to 16 years of age students should learn all the techniques and should be confident to employ these techniques. Confidence can be achieved by mastering the ball. Coerver noted that as the technique of soccer players becomes worst or is not sufficient physical properties are needed to compensate. But spectators don’t want to see physical games, they want to be entertained with technique, skills, and goals. The wiel Coerver method is all about mastery and entertainment. Although many people talked about the Coerver as a perfect soccer education, Coerver never made this claim. Coerver noted;
There is no such animal as the “complete soccer player” or a “complete training program,” any more than there is a “complete coach” or a “complete training program”
Wiel Coerver
Coerver wanted his program used for any normally gifted player to learn the techniques of the top professional soccer players. Studying professional soccer players and mastering their techniques was the main premise of the Wiel Coerver.
The 7 Phases Of The Wiel Coerver Method
Wiel Coerver wrote about his method in many books and articles. One of his most important books is “Soccer fundamentals for players and coaches” published in 1986. This book goes through the techniques and skills that are needed to succeed. Although it’s written more than 30 years ago, it is extremely relevant today. The book goes through 7 phases. Let’s find out how to become a professional soccer player, the Wiel Coerver way.
Phase 1 Control
Phase 1 consists of 7 steps that all focus on different ways of controlling the ball. The different exercises are almost always done with 1 student, 1 ball. This concept is revolutionary compared to most soccer academies. While most soccer academies concentrate on shooting at the goal, standing in line and waiting, Coerver focuses on ball control, let’s go through the steps.
Step 1 The Basics
The basic technique consists of using different parts of the body to master the ball. These include turns and swivels, chops and changing directions with all sides of the foot. These skills are mastered with 1 player,1 ball or 2 players, 1 ball. The aim of learning basics is to begin to aim mastery of the ball. when kids dribble in straight lines, mastery of the ball cannot be achieved. Turning and swivels, changing directions and using all parts of the foot can start the mastery process. As the pupil becomes better, the speed while controlling the ball should be increased.
One example would be to chop with your right foot, change direction with your left outside foot. After this, you would chop with your left and change direction with the outside of the right foot, see picture below.
Phase 2 Flexibility, and agility And Technique
See the video below. notice how deep Ronaldo goes when he is performing his feints. This is what Coerver was talking about when describing natural ability. This ability, however, can be achieved by practice.
Have you ever noticed how deep Brazilians are to the ground? Coerver also noticed this and wrote about it. While he called the European children wood-like, Brazilain had a natural ability to be flexible and agile. The exercises in this step are similar to the first step, but there is an emphasis on flexibility and agility. This can be done by bending deep while doing the exercises. Coerver wrote that
All of the basics moves can be used for the purpose of acquiring suppleness and agility on the ball, but the body must now be kept as close to the ground as possible by bending the knees deeply. In changes of direction the supporting leg must be as far away from the ball as possible in order to keep the body low.
Wiel Coerver
Step 3 Fast Footwork With The Ball
To cope with smaller spaces, footwork has to be fast. Think about the differences between futsal (smaller space and) and field soccer (bigger space), in which the quickness of futsal players is faster. Rolling the ball and quickly tapping the ball in different positions. this can ensure quickness with the ball. The player can make thousands of touches in an hour and develop a rhythm.
One example is a simple but helpful side to side. Put the ball in between your feet and quickly move the ball side to side. To make it more difficult, one can slowly go forward and backward. One can also goe side to side and tab the ball.
Step 4 Looking Up
Difficulties with technique results in difficulties in overview and lack of time. Once the players have learned the basics (the first 3 steps), the player must look beyond the ball to truly master the ball. See below the master of the ball with a no-look-pass
Step 5 Feinting And Possession In The Wiel Coerver Method
Once the players learned the basics of controlling the ball while looking beyond the ball, a new world will open for them. The world of feints. feinting consist of pretending to do one action, while actually performing another action. The basic feint is the pretend to shoot feint. The feint goes as follows;
- Dribble with the ball while looking up trying to get contact with a teammate
- Try to pretend you are in despair (like you don’t know what to do)
- Pretend to shoot
- Instead of shooting, move the ball in a different direction
- Dribble in a different direction
But there are different kinds of feints. Wiel Coerver would like to see a player like Frenkie de Jong. A complete technical player without supernatural talents. See the video below on how de Jong uses his feints.
Step 6 Creation And Creating
Once the pupil has achieved mastery of the ball at full speed it is time to showcase them in practice. This player will find that he has to improvise and create new actions. Football is, according to Coerver;
In no other sports does a player with the ball have so much scope to give free rein to his creative capabilities. In training a player, therefore, creative and improvisational ability must be worked on right from the start.
Step 7 Kicking Technique
The Coerver method only teaches kicking after basic techniques have been mastered. In modern soccer, there is no time to get the ball to your strong leg. As such, kicking should be practiced with both the left and right foot. Once mastering with both feet of the ball is done, kicking should be easier. Kicking exercises focus on controlling and kicking the ball. The focus of the kicking exercises focuses on kicking with multiple players and multiple balls.
2nd Phase Domination In The Wiel Coerver Method
Once you mastered the ball, you have to put the first phase into practice. One of the main benefits of mastering the ball is confidence. Having the basic technique provides answers to the demands of soccer. Without confidence flair and independence, the player has to back to Phase 1. Phase 2 consists of 4 steps. The main purpose of this step is for the player to find out which skill is best for any given situation. Let’s go through them
Step 1. Controlling The Ball And Dribbling
This step consists of controlling the ball after receiving it from a pass. In the beginning, the student can control the ball without pressure from the defenders. Once the player is doing well and is comfortable, the pressure of the defenders is increased to 100%. In this step, there is a lot of duels. In the more advanced stages, an exercise might look like this;
Step 2 Protecting The Ball
Wiel Coerver wrote;
“Good players always place their body and the opponent at the right moment, not only to shield the ball but also to permit a quick resumption of play”
Exercises in this step follow the exercises from step 1. The focus of this step is keeping control and possession of the ball for a longer time. Take a look at Ronaldinho below. Notice how Ronaldinho leans into the player from time to time, always shifting back and forth. Ronaldinho also, in Brazilian fashion, stays low to the ground, bending legs and making a strong stand.
Step 3 Dribbling To Take On Opponent
If the player can successfully control dribble and shield the ball, its time to show confidence. Th use of feints, basic technique, shielding the ball should all be used in this section. Although there is are defenders in this section, the focus is placed on the attacker who is in possession of the ball. An often exercise used is shown below. The player with the ball (A) must dribble and pass the line, which is being defended by a player (B). The player with the ball must use feints, shielding and change direction to keep moving the ball forward. Once B has the ball, player B will become the attacker and player A will become the defender.
Step 4 Dribbling To Take On Opponents In Group
While keeping the focus on individuals, the practices of step 3 are now done in small groups. The payer can learn that once a player can beat another player, the game changes. Think about playing 3 vs 3. You have possession of the ball and you beat one player. Now the game is 3 vs 2 and you have so many opportunities by just beating one player. This is why Coerver focuses on individual qualities, not group play. See the exercise below for a type of training that is performed in this step. Team 2 ( D, E, and F) play against team 1 ( A, B, and C). While team 2 has to try to dribble the ball over the line behind team 1, team 1 has to defend retrieve the ball and try to dribble the ball over the line protected by team 2. As Wiel Coerver says during this step;
All their energy and positive aggressiveness must be put into individual play.
Wiel Coerver
3rd Phase Puts The Focus On Getting past defenders
When the first phase (basic technique) and the second phase (dominating the opponent) are mastered, the third phase can start. After you can use feints and you master shielding the ball, its time to progress. This phase consists of the following 5 steps;
Step 1 Moves To Beat Players
All the moves to beat players can be mastered, most coaches will not focus on this as 1 soccer player with 1 ball its time-intensive. The value of you as a player will be greatly enhanced as you can move past a player. This step can be done without a coach by yourself. Let the soccer skills to beat players become your second nature. It does not matter if you are a defender, midfield player or attacker, as a soccer player you should be able to do these skills under pressure. Once you are comfortable to do these feints and other skills, you only have to perform these skills one time and your defender will be warned. Look at the example of Messi versus Roberto Carlos. Carlos knew that Messi possesses these skills, and when Messi controls the ball, Messi goes with full confidence towards Carlos. Messi then proceeds to do a simple but spectacular feint, notice how low Messi goes.
Step 2 Practicing Under Pressure
The same as step 1, but now the pressure is increased. Most exercises in the step consist of 1 versus 1 in an open field group. Including a defender will put stress on the player with possession of the ball. All the moves to beat players and skills should be practiced with a defender until it becomes natural.
Step 3 Include An Extra Team Player
Adding a team player with the player who has possession of the ball change the dynamic. After beating an opponent with feints or moves to beat players, the one-two is the best. A one-two is passing the ball to a team player and getting the ball back with one touch after you moved into space. exercises are the simple monkey in the middle models with one touch.
See the picture below. A plays to B who moves into space (C is defending). Now A has to move into space etc.
Step 4 Passing Behind The Enemy Lines
The pass behind the defensive line is one of the most effective ways a team can create a chance. This can be done by a one-two. A one-two is a simple yet extremely effective way to get behind the defensive line. The one-two starts with a player (A) with a ball. this player is put under pressure by the defender (C). Player A passes to his teammate (B), player B does 1 touch into space behind the defensive line. Player A runs past player C and dribbles the ball past the line.
As Coerver writes;
This means that players who are coming through quickly to take a good pass are extremely difficult to deal with despite the presence of a sweeper…It is an ideal weapon, yet one that is far too seldom used.
Wiel Coerver
Exercises are done in small teams. The focus is on finding the space behind the defensive line. See the plays below. In the first play (1), Team A (A and B) play versus team B (C and D). Team A has to dribble over the line behind team B, team A can use individual skills or can use the one-two or a variant. Play number 2, player A has to dribble past the line who is defended by player B. The player with the ball can use player C and D to get past player B. Players C and D stay on the line. For the more advanced players, C and D can only use one touch. See below.
Step 5 Group Play
The final step in the third phase is to expand from single players, 2 versus 2, into small groups. The focus is on creativity, using your move to beat players and most importantly being a personality on the field. Don’t be a cog in the machine, as Coerver noted;
Lack of independence and personality are not accepted. You have to realize that you must become somebody as a player, otherwise you will not achieve the principal objective of this training plan.
Wiel Coerver
One example would be 2 versus 2, dribbling past the line, with 2 assistants on the side. In essence, if you are in possession of the ball, you effectively play 4 versus 2. The 2 assistances on the line can only do 1 touch. In the example below, team A (player A and B) is playing against team B (player C and D). In this play, player A has the ball. Player A passes the ball to assistance F. At the moment player A passes the ball, player B moves into space where assistance F can easily deliver the ball. Assistance F does a one-touch, into space where player B can receive the ball.
4th Phase, Creating Opportunities And Scoring
Wiel Coerver thought that the first 3 phases were given the player the confidence and skill to be a soccer player. Not just a player who passes the ball but somebody who can go past a player and create a chance. This phase consists of 4 steps. Let’s go;
Step 1 Kicking On The Goal, Take A Shot
Although Coerver does not really go into kicking techniques, many exercises and practices are done to install kicking on the goal. Shots are done from all sides, high low and a variety of distances. These exercises follow the pattern below. Players B and C feed the ball to player A, who shoots on the goal. After the balls have been shot, its time for player E.
Step 2, Using Your Head
Although heading for children is currently being debated, a soccer player should be mastering heading. Practicing heading can increase jump power with 1 or 2 legs. exercises are performed in a multitude of ways. Not just heading on the goal but also controlled heading. Below is an example. Player A passes the ball over player C towards player B. Player B heads the ball to player C, who controls the ball and dribbles to the position of player A.
Step 3 Individual Practice
If you want to become a professional soccer player, you will have to stand out. Wiel Coerver wrote;
In their all-important formative years, young players must become masters of individual play in order to ensure that they do not vanish into the ranks of the nondescript
Wiel Coerver
The first couple of phases taught to install the basic techniques and moves to beat players. These techniques must be practiced in small spaces. Coerver righteously wrote that ball mastery is most important in the opponent’s penalty box. Exercises consist of 1 versus 1 with goals, attacker dribbling towards the defender, getting past the defender and shoot on the goal.
Step 4 Groups Play
Step 4 is the same as in step 3 but now in game form. This is usually done with multiple goals. Wiel Coerver famously noted the rule that during this exercise games must be excited and playful. If a player is in possession of the ball, without displaying flair and skills, the ball is forfeited to the other team. One exercise is 2 versus 2 with 4 goals. In this exercise, team A (player A and B) play versus team B ( player C and D) to score as many goals as they can. There are 4 goalies (E, F, G, H). Both teams (A and B) can score on any goal and have to display as many techniques as they can.
As Coerver wrote;
colorless soccer is now definitely taboo.
Wiel Coerver
5th Phase Creating Optimal Match Conditions
Most exercises in this phase are in line with an average soccer club. While the Coerver method only starts with these exercises after ball control has been mastered, traditional soccer clubs start with them.
- These include long passes to the player while running after the ball
- One versus one over a long distance
- One-two over a long distance
Furthermore, Coerver noted the importance of strength and explosive exercises. he advocated for explosive 1 legged jumps, zigzag sprint side jumps and a combination of these. Coerver noted that between the ages of 13 and 16 years this would be a suitable age.
6th Phase Defensive Skills At The Wiel Coerver Method
When the first five phases have been mastered, the focus is moved to the defensive style. This makes sense as young children don’t want to defend. Children, however, don’t mind defending to get possession of the ball. They want to retrieve the ball to dribble with the ball. Furthermore, children who are lacking skills are usually put in a defensive spot. Most of these children will never really develop. The Wiel Coerver method teaches defensive skills at the end. Only when you can perform attacking techniques at full speed should you learn defensive techniques. Coerver focuses most of the defensive skills towards tackling, which is something that can be mastered. Coerver also noted that both man-on-man defense and zone defending is not optimal, and almost a sign of weakness.
7th Phase Movement And The Ball At The Wiel Coerver Method
Making sure the player understands moving without the ball is part of phase 7. Being in the right place at the right time. The phases before have been conducive for positional play. Coerver thought that the proper collective should come second to individual progression. He stated;
You must be strong individually to play collectively. For years now the two have been placed in the reverse order, with predictable results.
Wiel Coerver
Most of the practices in this phase focus on 4 versus 4 with assistants or more. This is the last phase in the Coerver method but not the end of your progression. After these phases, you have the tools to progress at a higher level.
To end this article with some with quotes that are aligned with the Wiel Coerver method;
“You should feel free to improvise and use your creative abilities to elaborate on the various components shown”
The main objective of this training program is to ensure that young players will devote themselves to learning the attacking techniques of the best players