Receiving Open Body

& Playing a Weighted Pass

Follow @DavidBairdSC

A session for small sided teams (8 v 8) looking at angles of support and playing a weighted pass so you and your teammates can move the ball quickly

Coaching Points:

Specifically for my team I look at the shape of my 3-1-3. No matter how you look at the diamond, we are moving it across the field then up the field as quickly as possible, I keep the player in juggling and speak about space and distance and the CM connecting all the triangles on the field

Progression 1:

Notes:

Check to each side of your maker to move the ball quicker and split the diamond, speak about pattern of play... right back, to right winger, back to the full back, hit the striker, recycle and play it again.

Conditioned Game:

Quick Passing in Tight Areas

By David Baird 

Follow @DavidBairdSC

I used this session with a good U10 team to encourage pulling the other team down and combining to get forward once we had done so.


Warm up:

Drill 1: 

Progression: 

Conditioned Game: 

More: Soccer Drills and Sessions

Play Striker, Set Midfielder, Unlock a Wide Player to Goal

by @DavidBairdSC

Progression 1:

Conditioned Game: 

More drills and sessions by David Baird soccer coach: Soccer drills and sessions

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.

Attacking the final third

BELOW IS A PRACTICE TO help your team penetrate through the middle and support the attacker in the final third.

Warm Up

Set up and instruction: Split the group into 3 teams of 4 (yellow, blue and red). Two teams play against 1 team to keep possession. Here the yellow and red combine to keep the ball away from the blue team, if a team looses possession they swap roles with the defending team. 

Scoring: Award points for successful combination play, such as a give and go, overlap, short-short-long. 

Award a point every time a team makes 5 consecutive passes. 

Impose dribbling to commit defenders before passing and combining. 

Coaching points:

• Weight and timing of pass
• Support play off the ball, timing of runs and angle of support 
• Quick speed of play
• Communication

Progressions:

Limit the number of touches to encourage quick play.

Main Drill

Set up and Instruction: 

Split an area of 40x40 into 4 equal areas

The game is 6v6 possession (red v green) with 2 neutral players who play for the team in possession (blue) 

Players can move freely around the whole area, however you can only make a maximum of 3 passes in 1 quarter of the grid.

Play 2 touch and 8 passes = 1 goal. 

Coaching points:

• Look to disguise your pass and run so not to be tracked by a defender
• Look for longer passes to break the pressure and keep possession
• Communication

Conditioned Game

Set up and Instruction: 

Use a 40x40 area, with a center line and 2 goals. Play 4 v 4 with 4 neutrals on the outside

Organize 3 v 1 in each area, with 3 midfielders in 1 area and an attacker in the other. Midfielders must play 2 touch in an attempt to get the ball up the field quickly, the striker has unlimited touches.

Neutral are limited to play 1 touch. 

Goals can be scored from anywhere on the field (not just the striker) 

Rotate teams frequently, winning team stays on.

Coaching points:

• Quick combination and finishing 
• Know when to go for goal and when to keep possession, don't waste chances
• Quick speed of play/decision making 
• Communication

Combination Play

Below is a practice to develop combination play towards goal, a high tempo is vital when delivering this session, always encouraging younger players to pass and move.

Warm Up

Set up and instruction: Split the group into 3 teams of 4 (yellow, blue and red). Two teams play against 1 team to keep possession. Here the yellow and red combine to keep the ball away from the blue team, if a team looses possession they swap roles with the defending team. 

Scoring: Award points for successful combination play, such as a give and go, overlap, short-short-long. 

Award a point every time a team makes 5 consecutive passes. 

Impose dribbling to commit defenders before passing and combining. 

Coaching points:

• Weight and timing of pass
• Support play off the ball, timing of runs and angle of support 
• Quick speed of play
• Communication

Progressions:

Limit the number of touches to encourage quick play.

 

Main Drill

Set up and Instruction: 

Split an area of 20x30 (depending on age and ability) into 3 zones with the middle zone being the largest. 
Play 4v2 in the middle zone, with a target player in each outside zone.

The aim is for the team in possession to get the ball from one target player to the other as quickly as possible.

At least 2 passes must be played in the center zone before looking for a target



Progress to the target players playing the ball into the middle to the players head, chest or feet. 

Coaching points:

• Look to disguise your pass and run so not to be tracked by a defender
• Be patient and let opportunities develop
• Communication

Conditioned Game

Set up and Instruction: 

Split an area of 44x60 (depending on age and ability) into 3 zones with the middle area being 24 yards and the end zones each 18 yards

Play 6v6 with Goalkeepers. 4v4 in the middle with a target player from each team in both end zones

The team in possession develops opportunities to combine with an attacking player. Once the ball has been fed into the attacker one player from the middle zone can go into the attacking zone and combine for a shot on goal.

Progression: 2 players support and 1 defender comes back to help. 

Coaching points:

• Change in rhythm in attacking to unbalance defensive shape
• Width in depth in attack to create space to combine and penetrate 
• Quick speed of play/decision making 
• Communication

Combination Play Session #1

Age Group: Various Ability Level: Intermediate Gender: Boys

Equipment Required: Bibs, balls, cones

Aim of Session: Fast, accurate combination play to split the defence.

Technical Warm Up

Have players in groups of 3 in an area of 25x30 with one ball per group. Players pass and move, creating 2 touch combinations and overlaps.

Coach:

• Play the ball quickly 
• One or two touch 
• Movement off the ball is essential, always be open and in a position to receive the ball
• Receive the ball side on
• Vary distance and types of pass
• Communicate

 

Combination Drill

Instruction: With the same set up as above, set up two attacking players (red) and one defender (blue) in each zone. Play a possession game. Players must stay in there zone and try and keep the ball away from the defenders while playing through the zones. Rotate the defending team.

Coaches Points:

Look at the movement and support in each zone 

Focus on passing and support angles

Work on mixed passing, long, short, direct etc

Progression:

Play two touch maximum

Combination  Conditioned Game

Instruction: Same set up as before including two goals and two goalkeepers. Players play the same as before but combine to shoot on goal.






Progression:

• Attacking players can now switch zones, but there must be 2 players from the attacking team in each zone, meaning they must be aware of the player movement around them and make off the ball runs to get into the zone that they must be in. This is an excellent progression to help support play, for example, if one red dribbles or makes a support run into another box, a player from that box must drop to support him.

Finish with a 4 v 4 game and 1 neutral player, no restrictions but encourage support play

Playing a Through Ball to the Forwards

 Age Group: 12-13 Years Old Ability Level: Beginner Gender: Boys/Girls

Equipment Required: Bibs, balls, cones

Aim of Session: To play an accurate and well timed through ball for the forwards to run onto. This session will also aim to raise strikers awareness, movement and finishing.

Overview: You won't win any games if you don't score goals. This practice will improve combination passing, accumulating with the most important pass into the strikers. The through ball will be used to unlock defense and set a striker through on goal without being offside.

Learning Outcomes:

1. When to play the killer pass

2. Striker movement to get into dangerous areas and stay onside (timing runs)

3. Strike across goal

Drill 1 - Combination Passing and Movement 

Set up four cones in a diamond with one cone in the centre, cones should be at least 12 yards apart from each other. Have a line of players at the front and back cones of the diamond and 1 player on each side cone. Also have a player on each side of the centre cone facing the line of players, the player at the front of each line will start with a ball. The player at the front of the line passes to the centre player facing him, who controls and plays it out to the right. When the player on the outside receives the ball they play it to the front of the next line. Follow your pass.

Coach:

• Check off the cone (cone acts as a defender) 
• Receive the ball side on 
• Play 2 touch 
• Pass and move quickly

Possible Progressions:

• Receive the ball and drop it back for the person who passed you the ball to move it on (give and go)

Drill 2 - Timing the Pass and Run

Instruction: Same as before however the line of orange cones (3 across the centre) work as the offside line. Coach acts as a referee, player receiving the ball must stay on the correct side of the cones.

Coaches Instructions:

Time of Pass: Passer must get their head up and pass the ball when the running forward is onside and ready to receive the ball. Practice a firm and accurate pass.

Time of Run and Movement: When forward is ready for the ball, communicate. Time your run to stay onside and shake of defender. The coach should demonstrate disguising runs and pulling defenders out of position.

Drill 3 - Introduce Goalkeeper

Instruction: As before, the player in the centre receives the ball side on, gets their head up and looks to play the forward through on goal quickly. The forward runs on to the ball and tries to score against goalkeeper

Coaching Points: Time of pass and time of run (must stay onside). Pass into an area where the striker can run onto the ball and finish quickly. To challenge the striker set the stipulation of 2 touch finishing. Encourage the striker to finish across the goal into the far corner from the goalkeeper.

Conditioned Game

Instruction: Play 4 v 4/5 v 5 in a designated area in the centre of the field. Have 2 goals at each end of the field. To score in this game, the team must make 10 passes in the area, after 10 passes a player can make a run outside the box and towards goal. Continue with the same rule as the previous drill, the orange line of cones acts as an offside line, so the player must be onside when the pass is made. The striker has two touches to finish when he receives the ball outside of the box. As a progression a defender can be allowed to follow the striker out of the box to put pressure on the shooter.

Coaching Points: Time and accuracy of pass. Time of run and quality of finish.