Soccer Drills – Page 58

Continuous 2v2

Mark a small grid 15yd wide by 25yd long, with 2-3 yard goals (marked out with cones) at the ends. Have about 3 teams of two at each end. Teams play 2v2, but any time the ball goes over and end line (whether in the goal or not), the next team waiting at that end immediately starts attacking, and the team that shot the ball over the end line must defend. The team that was defending leaves the field and goes back behind their goal. This game gets moving very quickly; have plenty of extra balls handy at each end and along the sidelines to keep things going. Each team keeps its own score.

Coaching points: Attackers must be ready to immediately transition to defence, maintain shape so as not to get countered. Always be alert if waiting on the end line; if ball goes over the end line attack immediately and don’t let the other team get set up.

Can focus on any 1st/2nd attacker or defender concepts.

Five great dribbling games

Beehive

Provide a 20 yd x 20 yd. grid (or approximately 1sq. yd. per player). Each player has a ball. Players dribble inside grid randomly using correct techniques and avoiding other players. Players should practice inside and outside foot dribbling, stopping changing direction and pace, and maintaining control while in the beehive.

King of the Ring

Provide a 20 yd. x 20 yd. Grid. Each player has a ball except one player (or coach) who is “it”. Players start to dribble inside the grid while trying to avoid having their ball kicked out of the grid by the player who is “it”. Players may re-enter grid after retrieving their ball.

Attack and Protect

Provide a 20 yd by 20 yd grid. Each player has a ball. Players dribble around the grid trying to kick each other’s ball out of the grid while protecting their own ball.

Shadow Dribbling

Have players pair up, each player with a ball. Leader dribbles while second player follows, also dribbling. Remind players to keep their heads up. Encourage creative dribbling – changes in direction, pace, and technique. Stress control and change leaders frequently.

One-on-One

Players pair up, each couple with a ball in a grid. Player with the ball is “on the attack” and the other player is the defender. The attacking player tries to dribble to any of the cones (aside from the one behind her/her) and touch the cone with the ball. Defending player tries to prevent this. Players switch possession of ball when attacker accomplishes her goal or when ball goes out of bounds.

Ball Tag

Age groups: all ages

Number of players: whole team

Set up: the size of the grid will vary depending upon the numbers involved as well as the level of the players but for 10-14 players a 25 x 25 grid would be about right.

Basic game: start with two players each holding a bib. These two players are “it” in a simple game of tag. If either of the two “it” players tags another player, the player who was tagged gets the bib and becomes it. This should get all of the players moving a bit to start.

Progression: next we add two footballs into the grid. A player who has possession of a football can’t be tagged. The “it” players don’t try to steal the ball but rather they try to tag a player who doesn’t have a ball. This is where the passing, receiving, vision and communication come into play. If a player is being chased and is about to be tagged, a teammate with the ball should pass her the ball in order to give her safety. This will require the players with the ball looking to see who is in danger of being tagged. It will also require the players without the ball who are being chased to be running while looking for a ball and calling for it (just like they should be doing in a game).

TIP: With younger or less experienced players you might want to start with them holding the balls and they can throw and catch using their hands and then progress up to using soccer skills.

Summary: while this is a very simple game, it’s one that your players will enjoy and will also allow them to work on some extremely valuable ball and communication skills at the same time.

Across the line

Two teams play soccer on a field without goals. A point is scored when a player dribbles the ball over and stops the ball within three feet of the end line.

COACHING POINTS

“Push the ball into space” – move ahead into open space.

“Keep control of the ball” – when crossing the line.

“Pass the ball if a teammate is open for a pass” – passing is more efficient than dribbling.

“If you can’t dribble forward, look to pass the ball backward” – use this game to teach players the concept of support.

VARIATIONS

Harder: Stop the ball on the end line for a point.

Easier: Vary the field size. Wider field makes it easier for the offensive team.

Make smaller teams (2 vs. 2 or even 1 vs. 1). Winning team stay on.

Conditioning drills (2)

Indian Running file – Players jog around the field in pairs. The back pair must sprint to the front, outside the line of other players, then the next pair, and so on.

Shuttles, sprinting, backward and sideways sprinting – Arrange a line of cones 3 yards apart and 30 yards long. Players sprint to the 1st cone and then back; 2nd cone then back; and so on.

The 5000 endurance running – Using the soccer field, players first jog around the perimeter. When they return to the starting point they must sprint one side then jog the remainder, then two sides, three sides and full field sprint.

Strap an old car tyre to a player’s midriff with approximately 25 feet of slack rope. Player must run distances of 50 -100 yards against the resistance.

Circuit training (30 seconds on each) – Arrange 5 stations; divide group into 5 equal teams and start 30 second drill. -a) Push ups. b) Burpees. c) Sit ups. d) Star Jumps. e)

Bench Jumps Up and down the clock- 10 yd; 20 yd, 30 yd, 40 yd, and 50 yd sprints then walks back breathing deeply. Arrange cones in 10 yard distances; develop progressive long run sprinting and develop breathing for recovery.

Heading endurance in circle – Arrange 10-15 players in a circle; one player enters and goes for 30 seconds calling and heading balls back to the server. This can be developed with two or even three players challenging for the same ball in the circle. This drill can also be used with passing and control topics.

Posture running – over cones: Start at the end of the line cones; run over the top of the cones; lift your knees high. Purpose: To keep upper body and head still while running.

Agility running – around cones: Stand sideways to the line cones; start at the first cone and run between each cone sideways; use small; quick steps. Purpose: Improves forward movement and side movement.

Speed starts– no cones: Begin a sprinter’s starting position; use a two point stance and burst forward as quickly as possible; use a three point stance; use a four point stance. Purpose: Improves initial movement towards ball.

Sprints – no cones: Mark off 50 yards and 20 yards on the track; start in a three point position; run to finish and quickly change direction to run backwards; have a partner time each sprint.

Up and down drill – Objective: Improve speed by running short sprints forwards and backwards. Start at the end of the line of cones; sprint to the cone diagonally in front; go around the cone; back pedal to the opposite next cone; go around it; repeat the process; go through all the cones; jog back to the starting point. Look For: Explosiveness on first step; body straight and leaning forward; arm movement on sprints; arm movement on back pedalling.

Recovery Step Drill – Objective: To work on explosiveness. Have two lines of cones in a “zigzag” formation; cones must be seven or eight feet from each other; have at least eight cones on each line. Stand by the first cone; stay inside the two lines of cones thru the drill; touch the first cone and always facing forward go to the next cone by performing one cross-over step and a few side steps; get to the cone as fast as possible, touch it and go for the next one; repeat the process and finish touching every cone; jog back to the starting point. Look For: Bent knees, Explosive recovery.

First Step Drill – Objective: To work on explosiveness, mainly on the first step. Have two lines of cones in a “zigzag” formation; cones must be seven or eight feet from each other; have at least eight cones on each line. Start at the end of one line of cones; sprint to the closest cone to the side; over-exaggerate the first step: if cone is to the left, left leg goes first and vice versa; decelerate as you get to the cone; turn and sprint to the next cone; repeat process until you finish weaving in and out thru the cones; jog back to the starting point. Look For: Powerful and explosive first step, pivoting and turning, arm movement, leaning forward.

Cross over Step Drill – Touch cone and side step; stay lower-no feet bump; last cone sprint back ( *Use also running backwards)

A. Use same set up for going around cones, get low when going around cone and touch-sprint back.

B. Same as 1) above – no touch cone ; sidestep around cone – sprint back.

C. Sprint to first cone – back stepping to next – change speed sprint to next cone, etc. Spring back. (*Develop w/ball)

D. Ski-skip drill in and out of cones, then sprint, jog back.

E. High knees over cones.

Conditioning drills

Here is a list of soccer conditioning drills and games to do for 10 minutes or so. Some can go longer, but don’t try them all in one practice!

Dribble warm-up: dribble in box; at ‘GO!’, sprint to farthest line and back into box; at ‘NUMBER!’, form a group of that number; last ones to make it do 10 press-ups.

Box relays: set out enough grids of 9 cones that you can divide your team into groups of 3-4, each group with its own grid. The grid looks like this:

Each grid makes a little box and a big box. Run a series of relay races – 1. each runner goes around the small box and then the big box, with no ball, touching each cone with his/her hand as she passes it (best with flat cones); 2. each runner dribble around the small box, then the big box, and passes to the next runner after clearing the last corner; 3. each runner dribbles around the small box, then the big box, using a specified turn for each corner (pull-back/spin; tap behind standing foot; scissors; etc.). Alternate directions so they must use both feet! The purpose of having a little box and a big box is to vary the pace at which they must go to maintain control of the ball.

Lane races: set up 4-5 lanes with flat cones appx 35 yds long; straight dribble right, left, choice, cone weave right, left, choice

Horseshoe: set out 8 cones in square (one at mid-side on each side); divide in groups; dribble & trot 7 gaps, then sprint one gap; next time 6 & 2, then 5 & 3, all the way to 7 sprint and 1 trot

Amoeba: small groups with 2 cones each; lead takes off and sprints until catches back up to end; new lead takes off; all w/ ball & dribbling; rest of group trots

Switch field: groups of 3; pass from edge to edge; rotate every 2 minutes.

3-fly: groups of 3 goal to goal for time; 3 times so each is in middle once; set limits such as 2-touch or 1-touch; cannot shoot until coach ok’s

Wall Pass Ladder: stagger 6-8 players in zigzag; one takes a ball down the middle, passing and receiving wall from each side alternately

Pass relay race: one group at corners of box or pentagon; pass around perimeter to beat a runner from the other team; keep score by teams

Team relays: set in team alignment; pass F LM CM RM RS LS LD CD RD W G; a runner goes the same path & tries to beat the ball; when runner is done, replaces a field player; from goalie, work back up in opposite sequence

Pair Pass Challenge: series of connected boxes (approx 10x10x6 boxes); D at back of each box; cannot leave back line until someone enters box; pairs try to go thru all boxes; who can go farthest?

Dribble w/ front challenge: in pairs, one in front is passive defender; each time D changes stance to adjust, A moves dribble to other side

Dribble w/ rear challenge: In pairs, D behind; A must dribble away & shield ball; change sides by touching with inside of foot closest to defender, then outside of foot away from defender; each time passive D changes sides.

5-ball: set 5 balls in a row on the 18 yd box top line, spread within the edges of the circle; 2 girls start from opposite intersections of the 18 yd box and the restraining circle; at GO, they race diagonally to circle around a cone at the intersection of the end line and the goal box, loop around and straight back up to the intersection where their challenger started, and around to shoot the nearest ball. Back down the diagonal, around, and straight up, to shoot the second ball. Back down around and up to see who can get to the remaining ball and shoot it first. Great conditioning, tight turns, and shooting.

BALL!: Coach with lots of balls stands in goal; two kids stand out between goal and 18 yd box. One team-mate is assigned to count shots on goal for one player, another counts the second player; other teammates shag loose balls; for 2 minutes the coach feeds balls and shouts ‘BALL!’ as he does; kids fight to shoot the live ball; if they go too far or take too long, just feed another ball! Begin by working them out away from the goal, gradually make the feeds closer to the goal until they are hitting headers, volleys, etc in the goal mouth. Manipulate the throws to keep things fairly close. This is easier with a count-down timer on your watch.

2v2v2: Use the penalty area as a boundary. 3 teams of 2; i.e. 2 reds, 2 blues, 2 yellows. GK in goal. Teammates line the 18 yard box with balls. Coach puts ball in play. It’s always 2 attackers vs. 4 defenders. The ball and players may travel within the goal box, but shots must be taken outside of it. If a ball leaves playing area, nearest player on touch tosses another up, then shags. All balls caught by GK are restarted by GK. When one team scores, the other 2 swap out. LOTS of action, emphasis on shooting at the 1st chance, partner moving open in front of the goal.

Turn’n’go: from front of goal, A faces goal with ball in front; D behind facing away & touching; when A goes, D turns to chase down before shoots

3v2+G: 1D in front, 1D behind; pass to space & overlap

3v1, 4v2, 5v3: keep-away

3v3: with extras divided into 3’s; whenever one team scores, the replacement team from the other end starts immediately with their own ball; they should try to ‘fast break’ against the team that just scored.

Progressive sprints: jog in line; last one sprints to front, then slows down; as soon as you are last, you start your sprint, so a sequence are sprinting

Dribble sprints: 1 min. Back/forth across goal box, then penalty box, then penalty to midline, then goal to midline, back down; who can do the most lengths in each 1 min. period?

5v2

Five offensive players try to keep the ball away from two defenders. Switch defender with any offensive player who makes a mistake.

COACHING POINTS

Offence

“Two players must show short for support”–player with the ball must always have two passing options nearby. These players should ‘open wide’ by getting to the sides of the grid quickly.

“Play facing the inside of the grid”–particularly when receiving a pass. Don’t get trapped in a corner.

Defence

“Communicate”–who’s pressuring the ball? Who’s in support?

“Don’t get split” — a split occurs when the ball is passed in between the defenders (as opposed to a pass to a supporting player on the side).

VARIATIONS

Vary the size of the grid.

Require a one or two-touch restriction.

5 pass game

Playing ..

Split players into 2 even teams (play 4 vs 4 up to 7 vs 7)

Mark a large grid with cones (approximately 40 yards x 30 yards)

A neutral player is placed at each end of the field.

To score a goal, a team must make 5 or more consecutive passes to teammates and then must make the 6th pass to one of the neutral players without the ball being touched by the opposition.

After 5 consecutive passes are completed, the players from that team may pass to either neutral player to score, no need to alternate between neutral players.

A player (team) does not get credit for a pass if the ball is passed back to the player
from which it came. (But they still keep possession and play continues)

Any time a team is dispossessed of the ball before completing 5 passes, the opposition starts at pass #1.
Once the neutral player receives the pass that counts as the goal he/she must pass
the ball first time (one touch pass) to the same team that scored the goal and that
team begins play again at pass #1.

Coaching Points

Players keep their heads up, know where your teammates are and pass to the open player.

Play quickly

Teammates must support the player receiving the pass

A minimum of 2 players give close support options

A minimum of 1 player gives long support

Thus spreading the defenders and opening the field

Players make runs to open space to receive passes

Make quick (change of speed) runs to get open to receive a pass.

(Don’t be a Johnny Jogger) who always jogs the same speed and is easy to defend.

Competition, Variations & Restrictions:

Play games to 5 and losing team does 5 jumping jacks

Restrict players in the grid to 2 touches … if a player touches the ball 3 times
they lose possession of the ball.

Restrict players to 1 touch soccer.