3 teams of 4-6 players in an area 25 long x 15 wide, split into 3 sections. Each of the 3 teams must start in a different playing area, with 1 team keeping possession in one end zone. 2 players press from middle area to win possession and transfer the ball to the opposite end.
Once they win possession, they drop out of central zone and the team who loses possession moves into the central area, with 2 players pressing; this is a quick rotation.
Attacking Emphasis35%35%
Defending Emphasis65%65%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
Progression & Constraint 1 | Player Drop To Receive
Opposite end player can drop in to link play to play through, must not stay in area more than 5 seconds – Rotate.
Progression & Constraints 2 | 50 Pass, 4 Ball Transfer
Players keep count of passes and must make 4 passes to transfer the ball to opposite end.
Progression & Constraints 3 | Bounce To Play
Middle players must drop and set possession player to switch and transfer to opposite end.
Key Coaching Points
Quick Passing | Spacial Awareness | Speed of Press | Body Shape | Angles
Player Focus Great practice to start sessions off after warm up, as elements of competition and quick passing and transfer of the ball, encourages player to work at a high tempo. Compact area encourages players to play quickly and challenges individuals in possession to move the ball quickly under pressure.
Not much time available here. Get players to focus on giving themselves more time through being ready before transfer; organised. Balls must be prepared at the coaches feet or stationed around the practice, as there will be a lot of transfer of possession.
Be creative with numbers, decide what you want out of the session, easier defending or attacking and work to those ends. e.g. 4 v 2, 5 v 3, 6 v 4 etc
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?
Football Practice 4 of our ‘Play at Home’ Series combines working on your touch, movement off the ball to open your body and check shoulders, running with the ball and quick feet in ladders.
Attacking Emphasis100%100%
Defending Emphasis0%0%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
Key Coaching Points 1
Focus on your first touch and movement off the angle of poles to receive on your back foot to be able to drive into space. It is crucial you get into the habit of checking shoulders as you will in a game situation, to ensure you have space to drive into and can see pressing defenders.
Progression 1: Speed Challenge
Now we can begin to introduce your speed of movement whilst maintaining technique in each step. Give yourself a score for each correctly performed technique together with the time it takes you to complete the course.
Key Coaching Points
Technical: Short side foot passing Technical: Movement to take first touch forward Physical: Quick feet and speed between poles
Q&A
– How can you ensure your movement allows you to take the first touch in front? – How can you vary sprints between ladders and poles? – How else can you take the ball to break into space?
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?
