Soft Touch, Quick Strike

By David Baird

Follow @DavidBairdSC

A session to improve functional play of the striker 








Progression 1:

Progression 2:

Progression 3:

Progression 4: 

Getting the ball wide and delivery

This session looks at phases of play to get the ball wide.

Movement off the ball is vital to get into goal scoring positions.

By David Baird





After a good warm up start with the following drill:

Instruction:
The blue team will perform the phase of play, once the shot on goal has been taken, the white team should start as the blue team make their recovery run back to their starting positions. The aim is to complete the phase successfully, avoiding the traffic of the returning players. Speed of play challenge – complete the phase and shoot before the other team are back on their markers


Coaching:
Encourage the winger to check away from the play then back, asking for the ball to feet. The defender should play the wingers back foot so he can play 1 or 2 touch into the striker who should have also have checked away then to the ball, moving the defender away momentarily.
The return ball should be played in front of the winger.
Midfielder should time his run to just inside the box for a cut back and first time shot. Attacker should be the back post option – staying onside and looking for rebounds


Progression 1:

Conditioned Game:

More: Football drills and sessions

Changing the point of attack

by  @DavidBairdSC

Attacking Combination Play 

David Baird

@davidbairdsc 

Drill 1:

Drill 2:

Progression:

1. Insert a defender to play 3 v 1 to goal
2. The defender who plays the ball in then follows the ball into the play (recovery run) to create a 3 v 2. The attackers must combine quickly and use the momentary numbers advantage to shoot quickly 

Conditioned Game:

Quick combinations towards goal (drill)

This drill should be carried out at pace with 1 touch passing where possible. 

questions or feedback about the blog? find me on twitter @davidbairdsc

Set Up

Mark out a 20 x 20 square with players in each corner; in the center should be two target players, I have put the target players in different colors to help explain the drill but this is not necessary.

Explanation

The red player on the outside starts with the ball and plays to a target player of his choice. Here he plays to the green player who quickly plays to the other target player who plays the ball back into the path of the player who started the move. On receiving the ball that player will play it to the next red player who will repeat the sequence. 

The next red player must play his first pass to the target player who did not receive the first pass last time (yellow) who will then play to green and back to the red player who has moved into a position to pass to the next red player in the sequence (here we are working anti-clockwise)

Then progress the drill by adding a goal and a goalkeeper. The red player will play into a target, who plays the ball into the other target who then must find the run of the red player towards goal. 

Remember the next red in the line must play the first pass to the other target player. Which encourages movement off the ball from both players in the center. 

Static defenders can be added to this drill to make it more realistic and make players aware of the offside line when combining to goal (time your run to stay onside) 

Coaching points:

• Movement in the center - check to the ball if it is your turn to receive and the player not receiving should get into an angle to support his team mate for a quick pass
• Receive the ball open body - make sure you can see where you are receiving the ball from and where you are going to play the ball to. Allowing quick movement of the ball (1 touch)
• Play the ball in front of the moving player so he can run onto the ball and play first time
• Firm and accurate pass so the receiving player can play first time
• Communication - call for the ball.

Supporting the striker (3v2) 

Coaching points:

• The following drills are designed to get the ball into the striker quickly and encourage wide players to support with pace and good movement to achieve a shot on goal. 
• Angle of support - make sure you are available for a pass
• Play the ball in front of the supporting player so they can run onto it
• Receive the ball side on so you can quickly play the ball into the path of the supporting player (give and go)
• Look for rebounds 

Warm Up

Mark out a 12x12 box which the striker (red) will look to move around in and show for the ball. A blue player will play the ball into the striker and then both blue players will make runs towards goal looking for the return ball. 

The striker must decide who's path to play the ball into - that player will have a shot and his team mate will look for rebounds - next to players will go.

Striker - check to the ball and call for it, receive side on and quickly play into the path of a supporting blue.

Progression: 

• Overlap runs
• The blue line of cones acts as the offside line
• Play to red, drop back to blue who plays the other blue through on goal
• BE CREATIVE! 
• LOTS OF COMMUNICATION! 

Main Drill

3 v 2 continuous to goal. The Gk for the blue team starts by playing the ball into the strikers feet, once this pass is played the 2 blue players will come to support, at the same time the red player will recover back to create 3 v 2 to goal. Once the play breaks down the players can line up behind the other goal and the opposite Gk will start the drill again.

Rotate the 2 central players accordingly 

It is an idea to have a supply of footballs in the goals for quick re-starts 

Remember:

• Support quickly
• Stay wide to stretch the defense 
• Shoot when given the opportunity
• Pass or cut back when necessary (player always look to support in goal scoring positions)
• Look for rebounds 

Conditioned Game 

3 v 3 in the center with 1 v 1 in the end zones. The team in possession look to play the ball into their striker, from here 2 players of that team can go and support and only 1 player of the other team is allowed to get back and help defend creating a 3 v 2 to goal.

Once that play breaks down it should leave the other team an opportunity to attack quickly and create a 3 v 2 at the other end.

Look for quick solutions, play direct in front of a supporting team mate so they only need 1 or 2 touches to get a shot on goal

1 v 1 Finishing Session

 Coaching points:

• Create space with feints and turns
• When striking the ball keep your head down and knee over the ball - kick through the ball
• Use team mates around you for give and goes
• Communication 

Warm Up

This exercise takes place in an area of 20 x 20 with a 5 yard end zone which contains two goals. The striker (blue) starts with the ball and is positioned a couple of feet in front of the defender (red). The striker will play the ball into the coach (green) then immediately follow his pass for the return, at the same time the defender will rush out to defend.

From here it is simply 1 v 1, with the striker looking to get past the defender and into the end zone to finish into 1 of the 2 goals. 

If the defender wins the ball he can score into either goal. 

Main Drill

For this drill, have 2 teams (red v blue) with both teams behind a cone and the players numbered 1 to 4. The coach will start the drill by passing the ball into the playing area and calling out a number, the corresponding blue and red player will come out and play 1 v 1. The aim is to find space and try in score into one of the opposing teams goals. 

Progress the drill by calling more than 1 number and creating 2 v 2s and 3 v 3s etc.

Dimensions: 25 x 25 yards

Conditioned Game

In a playing area of 30x25 create a 5 yard scoring zone at each end with 3 goals. The teams play 4v4 and can only score when they get into the opposing teams scoring zone (defenders can follow attackers into the scoring zones to prevent goals). 

Progressions: 

Teams now must score outside the scoring zone

1 touch finish

2 touch open play and 1 touch finish

Quick recap - When 1 v 1 to goal create space with change of direction and change of pass then look to get your shot away early, low and hard, into a corner away from the goalkeeper - be alive for rebounds. 

Questions about this drill, find me on Twitter: @DavidBairdSc 

Finishing around the area

This drill is designed to help decision MAKING around the area, movement off the ball and to encouraging players to get shots away early and look for rebounds

Set Up

Set up the players in 4 teams, red, blue, green and yellow (or 1,2,3,4 – a,b,c,d etc) On the coaches command the first player will attack the goal (red) in an attempt to score and once the shot has been released they then support the next player (green) and this sequence continues until all 4 players have attacked the goal, on the coaches command the first player of the next set of 4 players can begin.

Progression – once a player has supported they can become a defender creating 2 v 1s and 2 v 2s to goal. 

Once the red player shoots he will support the green player for a give and go towards goal

Once the green player shoots he will support the yellow player. The red player will become the defender creating a 2 v 1, meaning the yellow player has a decision to make. he can use the supporting player or he can go alone to goal.

Movement off the ball from supporting player is key, making sure he stays onside.

Once the yellow player has shot he will support the blue player, the green and red player will now become defenders creating a 2 v 2 to goal, again you are looking for good movement off the ball, effective 1 v 1 attacking and decision making, pass, dribble or shoot?

Important: Make sure you apply a rotation process so every player can play each role in the drill, for example once the play breaks down, collect your ball and join the next line

Coaching points:

• Technical points for shooting
• Look to penetrate quickly and take every opportunity to shoot
• Create space by passing and moving or dribbling with the ball
• Player off the ball must show good angles of support and be available for the pass
• Off the ball - run into space and take a defender with you to create a 1 v 1 situation for your team mate

Conditioned game

A GREAT SHOOTING DRILL, SUITABLE FOR MOST AGES AND ABILITY LEVELS, CREATING SPACE FOR AN EARLY SHOT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THIS EXERCISE SO ENCOURAGE PLAYERS TO PLAY WITH CONFIDENCE AND SPEED

Set Up

Set up an area of 30x40 with 2 goals and goalkeepers. Divide the group into 4 teams of 3 players.

3 reds will line up to play 3 blues, the other 3 reds will wait behind the red goal and the other 3 blues will wait behind the blue goal.

From here it is simply a case of winner stays on - as each team aims to score, if the red team scores then that group of 3 will stay on and the two blue teams will swap and vice-versa. If the ball goes out of play at any moment, both teams will switch. 

Important: Make sure the coach has a large supply of footballs at the side of the field in order to play a ball into the field when a goal is scored or the ball goes out of play, this is a high tempo exercise, therefor do not have players chasing the balls.

Coaching points:

• Technical points for shooting
• Look to penetrate quickly and take every opportunity to shoot
• Create space by passing and moving or dribbling with the ball
• Keep players wide to create space (diamond formation)
• Goalkeepers are also free to shoot