The Basic Idea

Coaching soccer is such a diverse occupation. It really requires open-mindedness, balance, tons of hours of studying, working but above all this, it requires passion. Just like people think differently in every country and culture, soccer fans and also coaches do it the same way. This can be seen in the represented style of play when it comes to soccer.
The attitude of the soccer coaches is different. Their style, their thinking and all the details and vision they would like to see is different. This is why some people believe in different soccer coaching or training methodologies. Out of the many, there is a so-called method global training method and analytical training method.

The Global Training Method

Soccer is a sport that’s often separated into four parts, that are technical, tactical, physical and mental. These pillars put together the open skilled sport of soccer. Global training method is often called integrated soccer training method. The reason is that all the previous segments of this sport appear in these drills completely. The reason why soccer is called an open skill sport is that the functional technique is always depending on the current situation of the game. This is why people who really believe in the global method say that soccer can’t be separated into parts, it needs to be considered, seen and taught together with every part of it.
Training sessions through the global training method are full of exercises and drills that involve all the four previously mentioned pillars of soccer so they can be improved together, not separately. Of course, the game of soccer is global, too but not everybody can play and can develop in soccer the same way.
Every soccer coach can imagine a newcomer on his/her training sessions who is not able to play the game and does not have any success in the training practice drills. This is a common situation even though the newcomer can be very talented. Playing the game only during the sessions is not the best solution because of this example. Something needs to be changed.
This change is what coaches call “adjusting the balance”, so they put more emphasis on some of the four pillars. It really depends on the players, though.
Coaches can adjust the balance for particular parts of the team or specify it to some players, too. Giving different tasks for the players (e.g.: the player can only play with one or two touches or the player can only defend on his own half) can really put a huge emphasis on a specific development area.
Coaches must be aware that the final and most global game is soccer itself. This is the goal that they would like to reach.

Training Examples of the Global Training Method

The most common game based on this methodology is a soccer game itself. From that starting point, coaches often adjust the size of the pitch, the number of the players, the time or the rules. These modified games are called small-sided games. These small-sided games are very common. These games always have a purpose, that can be the ball possession (make a number of passes), goals or even special tactical aspects, like 2v1 situations on the wings.
Coaches can modify these games for their players’ own improvement. Apart from having all the aspects of soccer in the same time, it is really important for a coach to have the ability to adjust the game during the exercise. This can be the modification of the rules, playing area or the number of touches in different zones.

Examples for Different Development Areas

For physical improvement coaches can bring rules like the players have to touch their own crossbar in 5 seconds after they scored. In the meantime, the opponent team can attack, of course.

This drill also mixes the two segments: Rondo With Added Runs

Another rule can be that all players can only defend on the side where the ball is. So if the ball is on the opponent’s half, the defenders need to push their defensive line to the halfway line. This can be a good idea for coaches to practice high-pressure with the team.
For tactical development coaches can play zonal games or game like the following: the two teams have different coloured vests. All players have cones in their hands (blue for one team and red for the other). When a player receives the ball, he needs to drop his/her cone. He/she can only defend when he/she has his cone in his/her hand again. This drill helps the players’ defensive transition and defending deep.

This drill is for quick transitions from possession to defending: 4v2 Possession on Two Halves with Four Pairs

 This drill is also a tactical one for special soccer situations: Depth Play and Switchover

For technical development coaches can have the players play with two touches or they can play a game where one player touches the ball more times than one and the other teammate must play with one touch. This is for concentration and for technique, too.
For mental development there could be the counting of the passes made or a player needs to tell the number of touches that the last player took. Other mental development and concentration drill can be that the players can only play the ball after they told the hand of his teammate that he/she had raised before.

The Analytical Training Method

Analytical thinking goes from the parts to the whole and not reverse. These parts can be in soccer passing, shooting, crossing, headers, defensive unit movements or dribbling. These parts can not be considered meaningful if we look at the game of soccer. Each of these become alive and purposeful in-game. Let’s say there is a midfielder who has a 95% of passing rate but all the completed passes are “back to sender” passes that make no sense. The game itself has to be reckoned as a whole.
But of course, parts and analytical drills are really important. Unopposed drills are mostly analytical because they are lack of accountability from any other players. This is why analytical drills can be easier because only the execution of a technical, tactical, mental or physical segment is present. If the parts put together the game, then a great freestyle player would be the most skilled soccer player and the fastest men would be the most successful wingers.
Analytical part must be a part of the training sessions, though. It’s because they help a lot for players from many perspectives. For example, these drills can improve the ball control, the balance while running and also help getting used to the training load in the beginning of the training. We have seen so many players lacking technical execution. Although they had the opportunity to make a great movement, they failed to do it because of the execution. 

Analytical Training Drills

Many coaches use passing or dribbling drills without an opponent. This is for pure technical executional development. Unopposed drills give the players the opportunity to concentrate only the specific exercise.
There are so many drills that go from the very simple to the most complicated.

This combination training drill is unopposed but it is built-up from the easy to the complicated: One Touch Combinative Passing Drill

Another analytical training drill that is unopposed but very useful as it concentrates on an individual tactical variation: 
Receiving to Break the Line 2

Global vs Analytical Training Method

If somebody asks a coach which one is better, everyone has an opinion that supports one method. Both can be implemented very well and can be used during training sessions very effectively. The mixture of the two can be the best way to improve players, but all coaches must be clearly aware of what he or she is doing. Every soccer drills can be described as global or analytical, so coaches can decide which one to use for education purposes.
The global method usually gives more stimulus to the players so it can be harder for the first time. The nervous system must be treated well so the drills must be well built-up from the easier to the more complicated. This is why coaches usually start with an analytical, unopposed drill that might be used as a warm-up drill.
Both methodologies can be useful and effective, but coaches must be aware which one to implement.