Practice 1

Organisation

• Three thirds coned off as shown in the diagram with both teams, in this instance, playing a 3-5-2 system.
• The Goalkeeper for the Os starts the practice by rolling the ball out to one of his defenders who are outnumbering the forward Xs. The defenders must try to play amongst themselves, including the Goalkeeper, to release one defender who must run with the ball into the middle third.
• The forward Xs try to prevent this but cannot leave this third. The defender entering the middle third releases the ball to a midfield O but remains in support of Os anywhere up to, but not beyond, the halfway line.
• Midfield Os look to play together or create space for one to run with the ball into the attacking third. Midfield Xs try to prevent this but cannot leave this middle third. The Midfield O entering the attacking third now makes a 3 v 3 situation whilst the supporting O defender in the middle third must return to his original defending third.
• Attacking Os try to combine now to score a goal. If they do score or the Goalkeeper for Xs gains possession, the attacking midfield O returns quickly to his original middle third. Should the ball be intercepted by defending Xs then a similar attack can now begin for the Xs. This practice can be high intensity!

• 4-4-2 makes attacking play in final third more difficult
• 3-4-3 makes attacking play easier
• Can utilise a larger squad of players, ie 3-6-2 or 4-5-3
• Can be more fluid by allowing defender to go all the way through the thirds if a midfield player replaces him by dropping back into the defending third.
• Time limits to score in attacking third.

Key Factors

Goalkeeper: Selection and timing of pass, safety/risk, support, communication.

Defenders: Receiving body position, timing of pass to another defender, first touch, running with the ball technique.

Midfielders: Turning, shielding the ball, creating space.

Forwards: Creating space/movement, receiving, turning, dribbling, positive mentality.

Practice 2

Organisation

Number of players can very between 12 and 20.

• All players line up in their relative positions. Defenders, Goalkeepers and Strikers remain in their own positions whilst midfielders pass and move and exchange positions with midfielders in the opposite half of the field.
• CD1 starts the drill by driving the ball to S1. MF1 runs to support the set-up pass by S1 and plays one-twos or give ‘n’ goes with MF2 and CD2 finally setting up LB1 with a quality ball which can be struck first time by LB1.
• MF1 then exchanges places with the midfield player who makes the run to support LB1’s pass to S2 (in this instance MF3). A similar rotation begins again. All passes are one-touch and below waist height to the strikers and on the ground everywhere else.

Two balls in play can be used for greater number of players with care!

Delivery of passes can be varied, eg CD to S can be served to chest or head, MFs playing with weak foot, etc.

Rotation of players’ positions, eg S1 can spin after his set-up pass to MF1 and play one-twos (MF1 replacing him as a striker) or any other combination.

Key Factors

Control: getting into line; selection of controlling surface; weighting of first touch, etc.

Passing: weighting, accuracy, techniques of various passes.

Supporting runs: timing, change of pace/direction, communication.

Practice 3

Organisation

Four O defenders on the outside corners of a 12 yard wide x 15 yard long grid with a shooting line approx 5 yards away that roughly represents the edge of a penalty area. A number of X forwards stand either side of the goals at each end. The Coach serves a ball for X1 to run on to and control and enter the grid. Defender O1 moves into the grid only when X1 makes contact with the ball. O1 has to move quickly to the front of the grid to give himself time and space to prevent X1 crossing the defending 12 yard line of the grid with the ball. If X1 succeeds he has to maintain control and shoot before the 18 yard line.

Progression/Variation

• Successive 1 v 1 challenges can occur if O4 moves from his starting position (when the ball is played by the coach) to in front of the grid to defend against X1 entering the front 12 yard line. O1 can only move into the grid once X1 has entered over the front 12 yard line, to defend the last 12 yard line.
• As illustrated in Practice 3ii in the next column, grid size changed slightly to introduce a centre line ‘A’ so that ‘O’ has to defend both ‘A’ and ‘B’ lines to force X1 away from the middle of the goal and also prevent X1 crossing defending line ‘B’.

Key Factors

Defending: Close down quickly, body position low to show inside or outside, threaten to win the ball, pivot and not turn your back on attacker, patience, etc.

Practice 4

Organisation

• The area is box to box using the full width of the field.
• 8 v 8 or 7 v 7 with two floaters and two goalkeepers. Both goalkeepers must remain in their own penalty areas and can only use their feet to serve passes along the ground to the team in possession. The two floaters (F) play for the team in possession of the ball.
• GK1 starts the practice by playing into Xs, who must retain possession by playing forward into the opposition half and achieve a final pass along the ground and over the 44 yards line width of the penalty area into GK2’s feet.
• A goal is only scored when the move continues again from GK2s into Xs keeping possession once again in the opposite direction until the ball is passed along the ground across the 44 yards line and into the supporting GK1’s feet.

• 3 Floaters (F) to start. One floater to finish.
• Area could be restricted to the width of the penalty boxes depending on numbers or demand.
• Floaters (F) to be restricted to one half of the field each.
• All passes played along the ground.
• Ball must be passed forward following a pass backwards, etc.

Look to play forwards first, receiving positions, turning/shielding, supporting angles, creating space, forward runs, etc.

Practice 5

Organisation

Figure 1: 20 yard x 10 yard grid (ie 2 x 10 x 10 grids). X1 plays a pass into the opposite grid for X2 to receive under pressure. X2 has to defend the ball physically and technically from O defender and stay within the 10 x 10 grid for 5 seconds/10 seconds. Repeat from other side.

Progression/Variation

Small-sided Game - 4 v 4 or 5 v 5 and one floater in central area keeping possession until six passes achieved by Xs or Os who then play a ground pass into respective X or O in the 15 yards x 15 yards grid, X or O receiving must be allowed to receive by defender then a 1 v 1 may develop in that grid for either a strike at goal or the defender winning the ball and serving back into the central area for possession passes.

Organisation

• Two goals x 2 yards wide marked by cones approximately 8 yards apart.
• X1 serves a pass to X2 who must first receive and shield the ball from defender O.
• X1 must try to run the ball through either goal by unbalancing O from a backing-in or side-on position.
• X1 must not turn and face up to O in an orthodox 1 v 1 dribble.

• Receive side-on
• Keep ball and defender in view
• Use of arm to both balance and resist physical challenge
• Keep ball moving whilst feinting to change direction
• Use of different parts of foot sole, inside/outside
• Use of other foot if changing directions.