Soccer Drills – Page 36

Simple ball control

Age group: All ages

Description

This is a simple, unopposed soccer drill designed to improve the push pass and first touch. It allows the soccer coach to work with a number of players in a fairly small area.

Set up

Make a 15-yard by 15-yard square grid with marker cones at each corner.
Between two and four players stand at each cone.
One football at two adjacent cones.

Action

Players pass – two touch – to the player diagonally opposite, then run to disc on their right.

Coaching points

Is body language relaxed and balanced?
“Play on your toes”
Eye contact and communication.
Accuracy and pace of pass.
Strike through mid-line of ball, keep it down.
Contact with inside of foot – not with toe end.
Follow through in direction of pass.
First touch – withdraw foot on contact.
Get receiving foot off the ground, “soft ankle”.
Move quickly following pass.
Encourage players to aim for a high standard.
Older players should be able to recognise and correct their own faults.

Ball control skills

Age group: all age groups

Set up

Use a 10 by 10 yard square grid marked out with a cone at each corner.

Put players in groups of three.

One ball to each group.

Two players with the ball (players 1 and 2) are positioned on one side of the square and the third player (player 3) faces them on the other side.

Action

The player with the ball (player 1) passes to the player on the opposite side of the square (player 3).

Player 3 receives the ball with the inside of the foot and takes the ball a couple of yards to the side in one action.

On his next touch he passes the ball with his other foot back across the square to player 2.

After two or three minutes change player 3.

Coaching points

Remind players that it’s important to give a good pass so it is easier for their team mates to receive the ball and control it away with their first touch.

Allow two touches to start before limiting players to one touch.

Remind the receiving player to move toward the ball.

Attack and defend

Objective: To improve attacking and defending skills as a warm-up or as part of a coaching session.

Age group: U8s to U14s.

Set up: Create a 20-yard square for every four or five players as shown below.

How to play: One player starts in the middle zone and has a choice of which defender to attack. The player then attempts to score.

If the player is successful, he returns to the middle zone, collects a ball and attacks another defender.

If the defender manages to stop the player, the defender runs into the middle zone, collects a ball and attacks the defender of their choice.

The practice is continuous and can be played with one or more additional players in the middle for increased intensity.

Your players will soon learn that good defending will give them the chance to attack and score.

Take a chance!

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!

A simple game that every player will want to play!

The best coaching games are usually the simplest, and “1v1 Wars” is both simple and one of the best.

Children from five to 15 love to play it!

Objective: To encourage a “be first” mentality and to take quick shots on goal.

Age group: U6s to U10s.

Number of players: Whole squad.

Set-up: Place a small goal at one end of a 20×10 yards playing area. Place a flat cone on the end line opposite each goal post.

Use a goalkeeper and divide your squad into two teams. Place each team next to a goal post. You stand to one side of the playing area with a supply of balls.

How to play:

On your command, the first player in each line runs around the cone in front of their post. As they run, you play a ball into the playing area midway between the cones and the goal. Both players try to be first to the ball and score in the goal.

Scoring: One point for a goal, one point if you can stop the player with the ball from scoring for 30 seconds.

If the ball goes out of play, players return to their teams.

The first team to 10 points wins the game.

Variation: Instead of one goal on the end line, put one small goal on both sidelines. No goalkeeper is used.

Keep your yard clean

This game is called “Keep your yard clean” and is one of those simple, fun games that young children never tire of playing.

It’s very easy to set up and explain and you can play it with as few as four and as many as 24 players.

Objectives: To improve kicking technique.

Set-up: Create a playing area with flat cones big enough for the number and age of your players. With 10 six-year-olds I would use a 20-yard square area. With 20 eight-year-olds, 40 yards square would be more appropriate.

The playing area needs a halfway line.

Divide your players into two equal teams and put one team in each half of the playing area.

Each player has a ball.

How to play:

When you shout “go!”, the players try to keep their half (i.e. their “yard”) clear of balls by kicking their ball over the halfway line and kicking back any balls that their opponents kick into their yard.

Players are not allowed to cross the halfway line.

After a couple of minutes, call time.

The team with the fewest balls in their yard wins the game.

Progression: Kick with your non-kicking foot only.

Players have dribble the ball around a cone that has been set up in the middle of their “yard” before kicking it back.

Create a “neutral area” between the two teams where no player is allowed. This area can be as small as one yard and as big as 10 yards wide. The width is determined by how far the players can kick the ball.

4v4 overload

Objective: To improve defending and attacking skills.

Age group: U9s and upwards.

Set up: Use a 30×20 yards pitch with a goal at one end.

Divide your players into teams of four.

How to play

One team starts as the attacking team. The other team defends.

The defending players are numbered 1-4 and each takes a turn as goalkeeper.

Defenders get a point each time they stop attackers from scoring for 20 seconds.

To start the game, one attacking player dribbles the ball onto the pitch and attempts to score in a 1v3 situation.

If he scores, his team gets a point. If the defenders win the ball or force it out of play, they get a point.

When the first ball is dead, a second attacker dribbles a ball onto the pitch and combines with the first attacker to make a 2v3 situation.

Again, if the attackers score, they get a point and if the defenders win the ball or force it out of play, they get a point.

When that ball goes dead, the third attacker enters the playing area. Finally, the fourth attacker enters to make it a 4v3 in favour of the attackers.

When all four attacks have been completed, the teams switch roles.

4v4 four goal game

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.