CONTROL AND SHOOT

Look to shoot early and at every opportunity around the box - if you don't buy a ticket you can't win the raffle

Warm Up

Players move freely around a large area, start with the players passing and moving using 2 or 3 footballs and gradually add more balls to increase the passing tempo. 

Players should re-act to coaches commands such as, 2 touch passing, step over then pass, turn and then pass, pass and then press the ball

Include dynamic stretches while off the ball, side steps, knees up, heels up etc. 

Coaching points:

• Receive the ball side on 
• Aim with the non kicking foot pointing to the intended target
• Keep your head steady and eye on the ball
• Play the ball at an angle which is easy for the receiving player to control  

Main Drill

The ball starts with the player beside the goal, who passes the ball out wide. The wide players will then play into the striker who is standing in the box allocated just outside the penalty area. 

The striker takes their first touch out of feet (out of the box) and strikes on goal.

The sequence starts again from the other side this time.

Rotation is simple, follow the ball to the next station, striker gathers the ball after his shot and joins the line next to the goals. 

Coaching points:

• Speed and accuracy of pass
• First touch should be forward and into space, setting yourself up for a shot 
• 'Check' into an area of the box as if to create space for receiving the ball
• Striking technique, keep head down and put laces through the ball, aiming away from the keeper and into a corner

Progressions:

• Ball can be varied between played into the strikers feet or in the air for him to control
• Passes can apply limited pressure to the receiving player

Conditioned Game

On a 40x40 pitch, play 5 v 5 with 2 wall pass players at each side of the goals.

To score a team must play the ball to a wall player then shoot and score first time with the return.

Players play 2 touch and the wall players only have 1

Coaching points:

• Speed and quality of pass 
• Create space to receive 
• Receive to play the ball forward
• Look for early delivery into the wall player with speed and accuracy 
• Striking technique

Control and Support Play

The following session includes exercises to aid players ability to control the ball; from there we look at controlling the ball and playing it to the supporting teammates who should be moving off the ball to help the player in possession.

 

Warm Up

Set up and instruction: Have a team of players in red, a team in blue and 2 yellow (neutral) players. The teams use there teammates and the yellow players to pass and move inside the area, focusing on their first touch. 

Coaching points: When receiving the ball, use the inside of your foot to control the ball and stop the center of the ball so the ball cannot bounce over or roll under your foot. Lock your ankle to you make a firm connection with the ball, stopping it instantly. Coach should demonstrate

Progressions:

1. Make sure your first touch is in front of you so you can then step onto the ball and pass
2. Challenge players to turn with the ball with their first touch
3. Play 2 touch - players must control then pass

Drill 1

Set up and Instruction: Split the team into groups of 3 or 4 players, with 1 ball per group. On the coaches command the teams work the ball from one side of the area to another, always using 2 touches, 1 to control and another to pass. Encourage creativity and imaginative combinations.

Routine: When the first pass is played, the receiving player controls the ball, other players move to support and receive a pass from that player

Coaching points for support run:

• Always be in a position to receive the ball, get there as fast as you can!
• Make sure you communicate to the player on the ball to let them know you are open
• Give the player on the ball options, run into a difference space from other teammates
 

Progression:

Insert 1 defender who will attempt to stop the team from getting from one side of the playing area to the other.

Drill 1 - Progression

Set up and Instruction: Play 2v2 with 2 yellow supporting players outside of the area, yellow players cannot be tackles. The red team start by playing the ball to a yellow and then showing support, the yellow will control and play back to the red team. If the red team is successful in scoring a goal against the blue defenders then the next 2 red players go, if possession is lost or a shot is missed, the next team become attackers.

Conditioned Game

Set up and Instruction: As in the diagram, set up each team with 2 defenders, 3 midfielders and 1 striker -  these players must stay in their allocated zones. The aim of the drill is to play the ball into the strikers feet and then 2 midfielders can go into the final third area and support. The striker must look to control the ball and play to a supporting midfielder (3v2). 

Progressions:

• Progress to a full game, re-iterating the technique for a good first touch and encouraging quick and effective support play

Pass and Move #1

The following session includes exercises to aid players ability to pass and move the ball with accuracy and the correct weight of pass. The practice starts with no pressure on the pass to build technique and confidence and progresses to playing in more game like situations.

Technical Warm Up

Set up and instruction: Set-up a square area and divide in to a 4 x 4 grid. Split group in to two teams and give each team one ball for every two players. Players can pass to any available teammate, but passes must go in to a different grid square.

Progressions:

• Players can only receive the ball in an empty square.
• Players must travel through 2 squares.
• Add defenders

Coaching Points: Pass with the inside of your foot, communicate with the player you are passing to, pass and move into space, receive the ball side on for quick release, firm and accurate pass by putting your foot through the ball. The coach should give a clear demonstration and explanation.

Drill 1

Set up and Instruction:  Pick up some of the markers to leave a 2x2 grid. In each quadrant play 3v3.

Teams score by controlling the ball on their opponent’s end-line.
Always restart with a pass.
Play first to five points and then rotate groups around the quadrants.

Start with a neutral player in each game to allow more passing opportunities.

Encourage players to move off the ball and find space and good positions to receive the ball, again communication is very important.

Coaching Points for 3 v 3:

Look to create space behind the defense and exploit the space with either a Penetrating Dribble, Penetrating Run or a Penetrating Pass;

• Penetrating Dribble- players off the ball moves away (diversion) to create1 v 1 situations
• Penetrating Run - players off the ball makes a cleaver run into space which will either set them free for the pass or act as a diversion for the player on the ball to dribble
• Penetrating Pass - player on the ball makes a pass around the defender for the player off the ball to run onto
• Decision making is key!
• As there is no numbers advantage here, patient build up play should be encouraged, players can give the player on the ball an option to pass back.

Conditioned Game

Set up and Instruction: Remove the grid markers and add two small goals to each end-line. Each team attacks a pair of goals on the same end-line. Players can only score from within the final third of the pitch.

Progressions:

• Add neutral players to allow more passing options
• Play 2 touch
• If a player has their pass intercepted, or plays the ball out of bounds they must sprint around one of their opponent’s goals before they can touch the ball again

 

Dribbling Session #1

The following session includes exercises to aid players dribbling abilities. The session helps to improve basic close control, change of pace and change of direction; progressing into using these skills in 1v1 and 2v1 situations

Technical Warm Up

 

Set up and instruction: Set up a square area with 2 gates on each side of the square. Use 4 defenders (1 defender to guard 2 gates.) Both defenders and attackers have a ball, the aim of the warm up is for attackers to dribble the ball through as many gates as possible (1 point for every gate you get through), the defenders get points for tagging attackers, but loose a point every time an attacker gets through one of their gates.

Progressions: Make the gates smaller and remove the defenders ball so they can now tackle the attackers

Drill 1

Set up and Instruction: Create a 3x3 square, with attackers lined up in the corners (with a ball) and the defenders in the middle squares (without a ball). The attackers work anti-clockwise around the area going 1 v 1 against the defenders, if the defender wins the ball they swap with the attacker. Progression: Two attackers are now going to attack the defenders square, creating a 2 v 1 situation

Coaching Points for 1 v 1:

• First touch must be forward
• Attack the defender and perform a skill to go past the defender, for the move to be successful it must be made up of three things
• Close Control, Change of Direction, Change of Pace
• Coach should give clear demonstrations and explanations of going past a defender 1 v 1

Coaching Points for 2 v 1:

Use the numbers advantage, to go past the attackers must perform either a Penetrating Dribble, Penetrating Run or a Penetrating Pass;

• Penetrating Dribble- player off the ball moves away (diversion) to creating a 1 v 1, see coaching points above
• Penetrating Run - player off the ball makes a cleaver run into space which will either set them free for the pass or act as a diversion for the player on the ball to dribble
• Penetrating Pass - player on the ball makes a pass around the defender for the player off the ball to run onto
• Decision making is key!

Conditioned Game

 

 

Set up and Instruction: Set up as above with two Goalkeepers added. Teams play 5 v 5, the aim of the conditioned game is to get through one of the gates and have an attempt on goal, players can dribble or pass to a teammate through the gates, once a player enters the end zone no defenders can follow him/her.

Progressions:

• Add neutral players to allow more 2 v 1 situations
• 2 touch finish inside the end zone
• Defenders can come into end zone and put pressure on the attacker





 1 v 1 Attacking Principles

Age Group: 9-10 years old     Ability Level: Beginner     Gender: Boys

Equipment Required: Bibs, balls, cones

Aim of Session: To learn, practice and improve taking on an opponent in a 1 v 1 situation.

Overview: 1 v 1 situations happen all the time during soccer games, this practice is developed to build confidence in young players and help them practice (hopefully with some success) the key formula to going past a player when in this situation. When faced with an opposition player trying to steal the ball, it is a combination of three things you need to go past them;

1. Close Control

2. Change of Direction

3. Change of Speed

These concepts will be introduced gradually throughout the practice so not to overload the player with information and so they are given adequate time to work on each step, then hopefully with practice they will perform all of the above together to successfully go past there opponent in a 1 v 1 situation.

 Set Up 

This practice will involve players working in pairs. A player should partner up with someone wearing a different coloured bib and you will need one ball between two for this session. Pairs work together in a squared area, here I have used 10x10 but each individual coach will make a judgement on the dimensions for 1 v 1 situations depending on age and ability level of the group. Set up as many squares as required for this 1 v 1 session. I have already set up goals so not to disrupt the practice later.

Drill 1 - Close Control

Instruction: The red players starts with the ball, on the coaches command the red player must try and hit the blue players feet with the ball, without the ball going outside the square (this will stop kids kicking the ball too hard as if the ball goes outside the square they loose). As the blue player moves around the tight area to stay away from the ball this will encourage the player on the ball to keep the ball close in order to move/turn quickly and chase the player while keeping there head up and on the opposing player. Switch roles. (for young kids you can put a bib in as a 'tail' to catch instead of kicking the ball.)

Coaching Points: Red player keep the ball close to feet so you can move it quickly, encourage use of all parts of the foot (inside, outside, sole, laces).

Blue player never turn your back on the ball, keep your eyes on the ball and work on quick feet, fakes and explosive movement without the ball.

Drill 2 - Change Direction and Change Pace

Instruction: Player line up on opposite sides of the area, with the markers acting as an end zone. The blue player feeds the ball to the red and then acts as a defender shutting the ball down quickly. The red player must demonstrate good close control when he receives the ball and then the aim is to try and get past the approaching defender and stop the ball under control over the blue players end zone. Switch Roles

Coaching Points: Encourage the attacking player to go past defender quickly, first time! If you do not get past within 4 seconds in a game it is likely the chance will be gone as the other team will have time to get players back. To go past quickly - approach defender at 75% pace, change your direction when you get closer the player and change your pace to 100%. Encourage attacker to perform fakes (drop shoulder, step overs) and show them when you break these moves down they are essentially the same thing, change direction (fake one way and go the other) then change pace (to catch defender of guard and so he can't catch you once you are past)

Drill 3 - Attacking Competition

Instruction: This time players line up diagonally on opposite cones, the blue player passes to the red who is the attacker to start. The attacking player is attempting to go by the oncoming defender (blue player). The scoring system is as follows; the attacking player gets 1 point if he can successfully get to the cone to the right or the left with the ball under control and having not been tackled by the blue player. If the attacker can get to the cone behind the defender he will get 3 points. Each player has 5 goes and score is kept to determine a winner. This can easily be turned into a tournament with winners moving up grids.

Coaching Points: Close control, change direction, change pace! Attackers should control the ball quickly with there first touch taking them forward in the direction they wish to go, if they attack one marker and the defender follows, quickly change direction and pace to get to the other marker before the defender has time to adapt. If the defender does not fall for the attackers fake then the attacker has a head start on the marker he is already pursuing. Let players be creative, who can do double fakes and step overs, make up their own moves and give them names and try new things, perfect them before the next game.

Conditioned Game

Instruction: Once the skill of 1 v 1 attacking has been practiced, put it into a conditioned game for the players to use the skills they have learned in a game type atmosphere. Play a small sided game 4 v 4 or 5 v 5 with goalkeepers who you can rotate as desired. In this game if the team in possession pass the ball forward they concede a free kick, they can only pass back. This means the only way to get the ball up the field to approach the other teams goal is to dribble with the ball and beat players in the 1 v 1 situation practiced. It is also a good game to develop young players the concept of passing the ball backwards to go forwards.

 Coaching Points: Close control, change of direction and change of pace.