Category: Communication

Young players find basic “keepaway” games rather boring.

But they are really good for improving ball control, shielding, supporting play and communication.

So you need to find a way to make keepaway fun!

Quick! Pass! is great fun to play and it can get very competitive. My players love it!

Age group: U8s to U14s.

Set-up: Split your players into two teams of between four and six and give the players numbers, 1 to 4, 1 to 5 or 1 to 6.

Create a 20-yard square. This is a good size for experienced players but if your players are inexperienced or find the game difficult, make the areas bigger.

How to play: Use one team per area. To begin, your players pass the ball to each number in order, i.e. 1 to 2 to 3 to 4, etc.

Make sure players move after passing (no playing statues!) and they use the whole of the area.

After a minute or two, call a number.

The players with that number run into the other team’s grid and try to steal the ball.

Whoever steals the ball first gets a point for their team.

Progression: Call two numbers so two players on each team try to steal the ball.

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Objective: To practise shooting, vision, communication and support play.

Skill level: Intermediate/advanced.

Number of players: The whole squad.

Set up:

Create a 40 yards by 40 yards playing area with a goal on each side (four goals). Divide your squad into four teams.

How to play:

Each team defends one goal and attacks the other three. You have no goalkeepers in this game. Play first to five goals wins the game, or play for a set amount of time.

Coaching points:

Encourage quick, positive play. Emphasise the need for the players to keep their heads up and switch play to unguarded goals.

Variations:

Play with two balls.

Have five teams. Play the game as described above but, when one team concedes two goals, they are replaced by the fifth team. Play does not stop, so the fifth team has to be observant and prepared to enter the game quickly. This improves transition.

Objective: To encourage players to keep their heads up, to develop soccer “vision”, communication, switching play.

Age range: U8s to U14s.

Set up: Create a 20-yard square for every eight players.

Place a small goal (or a couple of cones, three feet apart) in each corner of the area.

Divide your players into two teams of four.

How to play

Each team has two goals to defend and two goals to try to score in.

The first team to score X number of goals wins.

Coaching notes

It can take a few minutes for your players to get used to this game. But you should persevere – it really does reward the players who can get their heads up and make a good decision regarding which goal to attack.

Objective: To encourage teamwork.

Set up: Divide your players into teams of six or less.

Create a 30×15 yards channel for each team, using flat cones.

Place a turning cone at the end of each channel.

Each team needs one ball.

How to play: The first player dribbles a ball up the channel, around the cone and back to his team mates.

The starting player then links arms with the second player on his team and they dribble the ball up the channel, around the cone and back to their team mates again.

Another player joins the chain gang after each lap until all the players are in the chain.

The whole team must negotiate the course without breaking and keep their ball under control.

If the chain breaks, the team must start that lap again.

Change the starting player between every race.

Play the best of three or five races.

This game is called “Take a Chance!”. It is a good example of active learning – your players will decide how this game should be played.

Will they take the easy option or take the harder one and potentially win more points?

Objective: To improve decision making and teamwork.

Age group: U8s to U14s.

Number of players: Eight.

Set-up: Create a 30×20 yards playing area with a goal at each end.

Divide your players into teams of four.

How to play: The first team to get to 10 points wins the game.

One team starts with four players on the pitch. They get one point if they score the first goal.

The other team is given 10 seconds to decide how many players they will have on the pitch.

If they decide to play with all four they also get one point for the first goal.

If they play with three and score first they get two points, if they play with just two on the pitch they get three points and if one of them is brave enough to have a go on his own, his team gets four points if he can score the first goal.

Alternate the teams after every goal so that both have the opportunity to take a chance!

This traditional coaching game is great for getting players to play with their heads up, watch what is going on around them and move into spaces where they can influence the game.

Experience: beginners/intermediate.

Set-up: Play 4v4 on a 30-yard square with two goals at each end.

The goals should be set a few yards in from each corner of the pitch.

How to play: Each team defends the two goals at one end of the pitch and attacks the other two.

Coaching points: Watch for attacking players moving to unguarded goals and congratulate them. Similarly, stop play and congratulate defenders who track attackers or cover open goals.

Progression:

Place a goal on each sideline and allocate each team two goals to attack and two to defend. This may look chaotic to begin with but it improves spatial awareness.

Restrict the number of touches each player can have before passing or shooting. For younger players, three touches is appropriate. For older or more experienced players two-touch is good. You can even try restricting them to one-touch.

We will try to maintain a good attacking and defensive shape throughout the game. This is absolutely essential before we begin to work on positions. These principles apply to ALL PLAYERS, in ALL PARTS OF THE FIELD!! Generally, we want to spread out on the attack, and compact-in on defence.

We want to take more risks in the attacking third of the field, and play very conservatively in our defending third. Fill the diamond on attack, and recover and cover for your team-mates on defence. We will work on this a lot this week.

What to tell your children:

Attacking Shape

1) KEEP POSSESSION

2) Create or fill left and right (square) passing options IMMEDIATELY!!

1. a) Adjust constantly to be open and visible
2. b) Have adequate space – about 10 yards from ball carrier
3. c) Only one player in each support position. If one moves, FILL IT!

3) Make sure a back pass option is available can be to the keeper-(to the side of the goal please!)

1. b) TALK to the ball carrier – especially if they have their head down or if there is a defender closing from behind!!

4) If you are covered, MOVE. This draws away a defender and causes confusion for the opponent.

5) After passing, MOVE TO SPACE!

6) Look to fill the through-pass slot (go deep)

1. a) Adjust constantly to be open and visible
2. b) Try to draw defenders from the ball carrier if you are closely marked.

7) Movement is good, especially cross-field movement.

8) MOVE IF YOU ARE COVERED!!

Defensive Shape

1) 1st Defender: Pressure the ball IMMEDIATELY!

1. a) Do not dive in, just slow the attack down and make it predictable. PATIENCE!!
2. i) Eyes on the ball
3. ii) Weight even between legs, and forward on toes, knees bent

iii) Feet shoulder width apart, one foot forward

1. b) Do not mark too close until you have help- you may be beaten by a wall pass.
2. c) Mark close enough that the attacker has to keep her head down looking at the ball.
3. d) Herd the attacker towards the touch line (side line).
4. e) Tackle only if you are sure to win the ball, and have a teammate covering behind you.
5. i) Risk tackles more in the offensive third of the field (closer to the opponents goal)
6. ii) Tackle if the attacker is alone and outnumbered.

iii) Tackle if you can touch the ball before the attacker can.

1. iv) Do not tackle if you are the last defender!

2) 2nd Defender: Cover the space behind the 1st defender. LET THE 1st DEFENDER KNOW YOU ARE THERE!

1. a) Be a little bit toward the goal side usually.

3) 3rd Defender: Cut off passing options, especially square (cross-field) passes.

1. a) You can either mark the receivers, or the space between them and the ball.

4) RECOVER – It is never to late to run back and help your teammates.

5) STAY COMPACT – Do not be drawn out of shape.

6) Make sure that the far post area is covered as the ball nears your goal.

1. a) Do not be caught ball watching. Track players moving forward.
2. b) Do not release your mark to go after a back pass unless you are CERTAIN that a teammate is there to cover, AND does not have a mark of his own to cover! Usually this means the covering player TELLS YOU TO GO.

So tell your children to communicate!