SKILLS ENDURANCE WARM UP 

@DavidBairdSC

A few highlights from the teams warm up in preparation of a game the next day: 

Receiving Open Body

& Playing a Weighted Pass

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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:

First Time Shooting

by David Baird

A session for first time shooting, the weight of the pass must be stressed when assisting the shot and the technique for striking the ball cleanly with power and accuracy:

• Put your laces through the ball
• Knee over the ball
• Strike just below the center of the ball
• Head down, shoulders slightly back
• Standing foot - have your toe in line with the back of the ball
• Swing from the hips
• Opposite arm to foot comes up as you strike for balance 

Drill 1:

Drill 2: 

Drill 3: 

Conditioned Game: 

David Baird Soccer Coach

@DavidBairdSC

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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

Passing and Moving 2

By David Baird

Follow @DavidBairdSC


A session to encourage young players to pass, move and support the ball




Passing:

• Inside of the foot
  
• Punch through the ball
  
• Head down
  
• lock ankle – push your toes towards the sky
  
• Aim with standing foot and hips
  

Progression 1:

Progression 2:

Progression 3:

Notes: Support play, always show your feet to the ball and get into open space. 

More Drills: Football drills and sessions

The Weighted Pass

This is a simple drill that I was explaining to a friend, just uploading this so he can see it.
I often progress this to a race between the 4 teams (or however many you have) once the receiving player gets through the gate, the next pass can be played, first to 30.

WORKING ON YOUR FIRST TOUCH

@DavidBairdSC

Warm Up

Mark out a diamond using cones approx 15 yards apart. The ball will start at one end and is played anti-clockwise, with all players receiving and passing with their right foot. Players follow their pass. 

At each side players should receive the ball side on and aim to take their first touch through the gate. At each end players should receive the ball from one side of the marker and move the ball across to play out the other side (again working on right foot). 

Progression: 

• Use two footballs simultaneously
• Change to working clockwise, to work on receiving and passing with the inside of the left foot

Coaching points:

• Weight and accuracy of all passes, play the ball to the receiving players back foot
• Body position and movement when receiving (side on, receive with the back foot and use the inside of your foot to control the ball)
• Check over your shoulder before receiving
• First touch forward into space
• Call the name of the player you are passing to/receiving the ball from 

Main Drill

Within an area of 20x20, play 3 v 3 with a neutral player at each end of the area. 

The object of the game is for a team to get the ball from one neutral player to the other as much as possible while keeping possession. 

Neutral players should be looking to support the play at all times. Play at high intensity for 3 minutes. Rotate neutrals at the end of each game. 

Progression: Play 2 touch

Conditioned Game 

3 v 3 (blue v red) with 2 neutral players (yellow) who play for the team in possession. 

Players pass and move aiming to keep possession and a goal is scored if a player can take their first touch through one of the red gates. Neutral players can't score.

Progressions: 

• Play 2 touch
• 5 passes = 1 goal
• First touch through the gate = 2 goals

Individual defending 

Coaching points:

• Look to contain or intercept as oppose to risking a tackle that you might not win
• Contain the striker - be tight and don't let him turn, stay low and side on, showing the player wide and away from goal
• Show the striker onto your strong foot
• If you are 100% sure you can win the ball - take the ball! Otherwise contain
• If you win the ball, look to mount an attack

Drill 1

In an area of 20x20 yards, set up a small goal at one end and 2 small goals at the other. The players line up in between the two small goals.

Here the defender (red) passes the ball through the attackers legs (blue) then both players chase to win the ball. The striker aims to turn the defender and finish into 1 of the goals on the side that has 2 goals. The defenders main aim is to stop the striker scoring, however if the defender wins the ball he should aim to play the ball into the goal on the other side (playing the ball up the field accurately to start an attack)

Drill 2

Split the playing area into 3 equal zones and set up 1 v 1 in each zone. The red team will play the blue team at a game of possession - players cannot leave their allocated zones. A goal is scored if a team can successfully play through all three zones, keeping possession. The 1 v 1 contest will work on the basic defending elements - marking, tackling, intercepting. This drill also helps defenders technically as in possession they must control the ball under pressure and play away to a team mate. 

Drill 3

5 v 5, with 2 players of the defending team in the end zone. The team of 5 (red) aim to complete 10 passes which is equal to 1 goal in this game. If the team of 3 (blue) win the ball, they must aim to get the ball to one of their players in the end zone to which is equal to a goal in this game. Switch players in the end zone and rotate attacking and defending team as necessary 

Quick recap - The defenders job first and foremost is to prevent the opposition team from scoring, if an attacker has the ball under control avoid diving in attempting to win the ball (the chances are if the striker is in control of the ball he can move it quickly and get past you). Look to contain the player and show him away from goal, which will give your team mates time to get back and defend. When winning the ball, coach defenders to be confident and look to play the ball to a team mate as opposed to a long hopeful kick up the field. 

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

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