Practice 5 works on individual player’s movement to lose what would be opposition to receive, move the ball and finish quickly. In addition we include finishing and movement practices to enable players to combine these different elements.
Attacking Emphasis100%100%
Defending Emphasis0%0%
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Key Coaching Points 1: Movement to receive
Focus on movement off the angle of the pole, check shoulders to develop the habit to check for defenders who will you press you in games and take ball out of your feet on 1 touch to attack space and finish.
Progression 1: Physical Focus (Power / Speed)
After shot, player must sprint to corner and jump hurdles two footed to develop power, before sprinting through ladders using quick feet and then sprint through to the end pole.
Link to the Game
For older players, think about how these skills can link to their game in whatever position players play in. It’s important that skills are transferrable to the game where they can be applied in a game situaton.
Key Coaching Points
– Technical: First touch and finishing – Physical: Body Shape to play forward – Physical: Speed and Balance in between stations
Q&A
– How can I move into position qiuckly to give myself time on the ball? – How can I maintain technique over hurdles and ladders and maintain speed?
Now let’s get players focused away from the training ground.. nothing stops individuals learning and so this new coaching scheme will aim to allow individuals to conduct their own sessions from one place. We will be hoping to get a piece of individual content out to players each day that can be applied away from training.
Attacking Emphasis100%100%
0%0%
Age Group
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Get comfortable working on both feet bouncing passes off the wall at different angles so you are able to take your first touch out in front of you before finishing into corners. Challenge yourself and set timings if you are happy with your technique to challenge yourself under pressure and add some competitiveness to motivate.
We can introduce ladders, poles or cones to add a physical component into your practice, depending on what aspect of your physical you wish to develop. This example shows how you can use hurdles for plyometrics with bounces for power and ladders for quick feet to improve speed.
Key Coaching Points
Technical: Passing Quality against wall Technical: First touch out in front Technical: Quality of finishing (Accuracy and power
Q&A
Is my technique right on both feet, how can I improve? How can I adapt my body shape to be comfortable with my first touch? How can I change technique with my finishing?
Practice 3 of our counter attacking theme has a 2 v 2 with a floater in a 15 by 15 square in each corner of the practice. When possession is won, one of two players must play the ball into an awaiting striker with one player able to support, creating a 2 v 1 to finish. The practice must work in both directions throughout.
Attacking Emphasis75%75%
Defending Emphasis25%25%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
Key Coaching Points: 2 v 1 Counter Attack on Break
If defender wins possession they must attempt to play the ball into the square to restart the practice and gain a point.
Depending on player numbers you may be able to allow for recovery rotating players in and out.
Key Coaching Points: Maintaining Soccer Practice Speed
We can progress this by allowing two players to support the striker, with a defender now active on their first touch, 1 recovering defender will create a 3 v 2 situation. Ensure we rotate attackers and defenders throughout the practice.
Key Coaching Points
– Speed of counter – Angles of support – Combination to finish with overload
Q&A
How do the opposition defend against this and what problems does this cause?
How can central players combine in one touch effectively, what support can you provide in your teams for this player?
Between a 20 and 30 yard area depending on age group coached, we play a 3 v 3 plus targets changing to a 4 v 4 with a goal and GK at each end. Players must combine with a central target player to score with quick combination. Area has two central 5 yard zones where target players must play 1 or 2 touch combinations with the attacking team.
Focus efforts on playing through either of the 2 central floaters. Defenders will be protecting target players, so players may need to play around the opposition to create better angles to combine.
Progression 2
Progress the practice by allowing rotation between central target players, with a single player in each box for each team.
Progression 3
Central players can now rotate with a teammate after their pass. This will focus players and motivate targets to join in attacks, by checking for advanced teammates to connect with. Focus attention on playing on the half turn to ensure they play quickly. You may even stipulate a 2 touch rule to focus them on having to assess teammates’ position.
Progression 4
Central players can drive out of the square to initiate attacks quicker on their first touch. Now central players will be focusing on the space they can drive into, rather than teammates to connect with. This is fine, as they become more positive with the ball and identify available space to penetrate with their first touch.
Key Coaching Points
Try to allow free play and recognise opportunities for possession team to combine quickly with forward passes. If opposition start to protect target players, may need to enforce passing conditions (e.g. 10 passes a goal) to force pressure. Be creative and think about other progressions that could be implemented using STEP model, or ask players to create their own.
Q&A
– How well do you connect with central players and why? – Where are you facing difficulties and how can you overcome this? – How does each progression change your attitude to the game? – What problems have you had to solve?
This Soccer Drill begins with the coach playing the ball into an attacking player who attacks a single defender and goal, with the support of a teammate (2 v 1 outfield). If the attacking team scores, an extra player joins in creating a 3 v 1.
If defenders don’t concede they get an extra defender (2 v 2). There cannot be an overload of more than 2 players throughout the soccer practice; rotate player roles.
Attacking Emphasis75%75%
Defending Emphasis34%34%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
Key Coach Points 1: Using the 2 v 1 overload effectively
Players should be focused on attacking at pace, using the full width of the pitch and timing forward runs beyond the single defender with offside rules in place. Their first touch should be with intent with a heavy touch to attract the defender to engage leaving space in behind; be clinical in their finishing.
Reward: Extra player added to create 2 player overload
If team scores we add an extra attacker creating a 3 v 1. If they don’t score then we introduce an additional defender balancing to a 2 v 2. think about balancing this for each task. For example add a time constraint, if team does not score in 5 seconds then add an additional defender. Or have a passing line where the penetration pass must be played before a certain point and observe the impact this has on defenders.
Game Rules: Continue overloading based on success
Observe the differences between the 2 v 1 overload and a 3 v 2 or 4 v 3 and adapt the practice as a result. With a clearer advantage in the 2 v 1 and 3 v 2 overload situations we have discussed possible constraints. When it is more balanced with a 4 v 3 for example, we can tweak individual challenges. Ideas could be only 2 players can score in a 4 v 3 attacking overload, or 2 players play on one touch, be creative with your ideas and how you apply these.
Progression 1: Striker must play in attacking half
We can start to add more realism to the practice by restricting our strikers movement and having a focus point for our possession players. No longer a typical counter attack, this attacking situation focuses more on supporting possession from behind the ball and so you must address the differences betwen support beyond and support in front here.
Progression 5
We now add a double reward for successes of teams. Not only do they gain a player for successfully attacking or defending the goal, but the opposition must also lose a player. We always maintain a maximum of a 2 player overload, allowing defenders and attackers to gain relative success. Players will need to self manage, not wanting to be withdrawn from the pitch. This therefore has a huge social and psychological influence on players. Observe this and speak to players to improve their approach to this change when possible.
Key Coaching Points
Tactical – Timing of forward runs to support
Technical – Decision of passer to pass or dribble
Psychological – Recognition of space with overload v balanced numbers
Q&A
Where is the best position to support my teammate?
How can I bring my teammates into play better?
Who are defenders staying with when overloaded? What does this mean?
