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

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 

Transition Session #1

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

Equipment Required: Bibs, balls, cones

Aim of Session: Encouraging quick transition play from defense to attack and building confidence in young players to do so.

 

Technical Warm Up 

Set up a 40x20 area, with players divided between the 4 outside cones. In this exercise the red players starts to dribble the ball, on his/her first touch, the blue player comes to put pressure on his/her dribble. Once the dribbling player passes halfway they play a diagonal pass into the other red team. The process continues. Encourage players to join the line diagonal from where the start to keep a smooth rotation and after 5 minutes swap the red and blue teams.

Coach:

• Be Positive 
• With first touch forward and into space 
• Attack the ball as it approaches you
• Correct weight of pass

Progression:

• Dribbling player must cut across the oncoming defender, again coach a positive attitude towards dribbling and passing forward.

Transition Drill

Instruction: Split an area of 60x40 into two halves. Play 7 v 7 in one half, there is a neutral goalkeeper in each half (represented in the diagram as 'R'). The team in possession must make 5 passes then play the ball into the goalkeeper on the opposite side of the field, at which point every player must transfer into that half. On a turnover the ball must go into the opposite goalkeeper.

Coaches Points:

Timing/type of pass and run 

Speed of transition, support early 

Movement off the ball is essential from all players to give options

Progression:

To transfer, you must play a teammate into the other half before it goes to the goalkeeper

You must dribble into the other half before it goes to the goalkeeper

Play 2 touch

Transition Conditioned Game

Instruction: Split a 60x40 area into thirds with a goalkeeper occupying a goal at either end. There is no tackling allowed in the middle zone and there should only be one player there at a time. The red team start with the ball and release a player into the middle third, this player plays into the final third and supports to create a 4 v 4 situation and the team aim to score. On the turnover the blue team release a player into the middle zone and make advantage of a 4 v 3, the sequence continues, play first to 5 goals.

Coaching Points:

Speed of play, fast!

Timing of pass and runs, movement off the ball to be available

Use the extra attacker for give and go's or diversion runs

Mindset - ready to change quickly from defense to attack when your team wins the ball

Progression:

• Attacker can drop into the middle zone to receive the ball, defender can go with him