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%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
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?
This practice incorporates many different principles to engage players at home. We begin with some ladder work using whatever sequence you think your player needs to work on, before a bounce pass is played. After this initial pass, player must move quickly to get themselves into a position to receive a second pass to control and play off a rebound board. This must be through the poles shown and firm enough to return the bounce on one touch and play another pass off the rebound board at the opposite end.
As the ball is returned the player must then look to finish in a goal, before moving to perform right and left foot hops in the 4 hoops. On completing this, the player must dribble the ball and finish in no more than 3 touches at the opposite end.
Attacking Emphasis100%100%
Defending Emphasis0%0%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
Key Coaching Points 1
Focus on individual technique in each area of the practice, with a lot of variation in player movement and skill execution. It’s very easy to just go for speed and forget technique, but it is crucial you focus on getting this right first with both feet before focusing on speed.
Progression 1
Now you are fine with your technique and you have made progress from the beginning of the soccer drill, you can now begin to challenge yourself by setting targets for accuracy and time.
Key Coaching Points 2
It is crucial to reiterate that technique over speed is the main objective here. You can steadily increase your speed without sacrificing technique and you will start to see big improvements in your, dribbling, passing and finishing.
Key Coaching Points
– Technical: Running with ball close control – Passing and finishing accuracy – Balance and speed to accel and decel as neccesary between exercises.
Q&A
– What skill do I need to work on most and how? – How does speed influence my technique and how can I adjust?
This ‘Play At Home’ practice is focused on players control, lateral movement and quick feet together with finishing in and around goal.
Attacking Emphasis100%100%
Defending Emphasis0%0%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
Key Coaching Points 1
Focus on your first touch to move the ball through the gate accurately, well weighted so you can pass the ball on the other side before playing the pass back, performing quick feet, before receiving a return pass to finish in the goal on the opposite side.
Progression 1: Weaker Foot and Increased Movement
Develop your first touch outside of the area now and finish in the near side goal with your weaker foot on each side. With this added challenge, you will begin to slow down and execute your finish more carefully.
Progression 2: Physical Focus to Develop Speed
Introduce ladders if you have these, or poles and cones to aid the selected physical exercise. Quick feet will develop speed and co-ordination, which are extremely useful traits for attacking players
Key Coaching Points
Physical: Movement and balance to control the ball and body between sections Technique: Touch to move the ball in small spaces under close control Technique: Finishing on both feet, near and far
Q&A
How can I move quicker in between areas whilst still in control? What is the difference between weaker and stronger foot finishing technique? How does your standing foot influence this and how can you develop it?
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
Number of Players
Minutes
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?
This Ball Mastery practice is focused on dribbling with players challenged to improve their technique within competition. With 2 players with a ball each on opposite facing cones, they must dribble around each of these at an angle and to run the ball through 2 poles. Pair players based on their age and ability and set competition, with the winner gaining a point for their team.
Attacking Emphasis80%80%
Defending Emphasis20%20%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
Progression 1
Progress the practice, by introducing 2 mini goals for individuals to score into, with every player scoring a point for a goal, with the fastest gaining a 2nd point.
Key Coaching Points
Technical| Ability to dribble around cones, changing direction
Physical| Balance is crucial at this age, especially with youngest players
Technical| Dribbling at pace with ball under control
Q&A
How do specific players respond to competition?
Are players paired up correctly ensuring they are motivated?
