Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Reverse Goals with End-Zones

Warm-Up - Keepie Uppies (5 mins)

Warm-up drill. Players to perform keepie uppies.  Players to locate space and attempt a keepie uppie.  

Mechanics

• Identify space
• Using the sole of the foot, place foot on ball
• Slowly roll ball back 
• Scoop ball into the air
• Keep eye on ball
• Open body
• Use laces to chip/curl ball back to body
• Focus on the ball

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

Progression:  Can players perform a keepie uppies by using both feet, thighs, shoulders or head.  Can player alternate keepie uppies by using either foot.  Use weaker foot only.  Can players catch the ball between legs.  Players to perform skills whilst the ball is in the air.

Regression:  Pick-up ball using hands, drop ball to floor and perform keepie uppie upon bounce.  Wait for bounce before attempting keepie uppie.

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Score counting between players.

Players could work in pairs and add scores together.

Can players do a keepie uppie in the following order:  right foot, left foot, right thigh, left thigh, right shoulder, left shoulder and head.

Can players travel the length of the pitch whilst performing a keepie uppie.

Coach Support

C = Potential coaching positions to observe drill. 

Depending on quality of session an invention may be required. Coaches should ensure that players are following the mechanics of the drill, break the mechanics down for individuals to understand. If a demonstration is required the Coach(s) could pull an individual, pairs, sub-groups or the entire group.  

Ensure coach(s) have spare balls should a player lose control of the ball.  Place additional balls within the goal.

Pass to the End-Zone v1 (10 mins)

Aim of drill: Based on 6 players, create a 2 v 2 environment in the centre of the pitch and then allocate 2 further players to either end-zone (see green lines). Players in the centre are not allowed to enter the end-zone, players allocated to the end-zone are not allowed to leave the end-zone.

After 3 successful passes have been completed, players should then look to pass ball to either player in end-zone. Player receiving the ball within the end-zone (green) should then attempt a first-time finish.  A point is then gained for each time 3 successful passes are made followed by a goal.

Timebox period to 2 minutes and then swap players within the end-zone (green).

Mechanics

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

Progression:  Reduce number of touches of the ball to 2 or 3.  If a player attempts a pass which is unsuccessful and falls outside of the pitch area, player should run and return ball back to any supporting coaches, this would create an overload.  Reduce pitch size.  Remove goals and replace with cones forming gates.  Add additional players.  Increase successful number of passes before a pass can be made within the end-zone (green)

Regression:  Increase area size, remove players (creating a 2 v 1), increase goal size.  Players receiving ball in end-zone (green) can touch the ball before striking.   Decrease successful number of passes before a pass can be made within the end-zone (green)

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Score counting of goals between teams.

Can players beat players by using skills.

Points for more passes:  For each additional pass that is made before an end-zone pass, additional points can be gained.  Example:  if 5 passes are made, 2 additional points could gained - assuming that a goal is later scored.

Tie a bib to the cross bar, if the player shouting hits the bib and scores a goal, additional points can be gained.

Coach Support

C = Potential coaching positions to observe drill.

Observe session and identify any players/teams that are finding it challenging completing passes.  Are they engaged with the session?  Are they identifying and moving into space to receive a pass?  Is a player communicating?  Are the players following the mechanics of the drill?  Suggested interventions would be 1 on 1, players in the end-zone (green) or the entire group.

Mini Game (15 mins)

Progressing session to a mini game 3 v 3 or 4 v 4 depending on numbers. If players are uneven, then a player could be rested in small intervals or used as a magic player where the magic player joins the team that is currently in possession of the ball.

Players to play in a match environment with the aim of scoring goals.  If a goal is scored, the team who conceeded the goal obtains possesion of the ball with the other team resetting to the halfway line.

The drills output should replicate the aim and mechanics of the previous drills focusing on passing.

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

Progression: Players to make 3 successful passes before a shot can be made. Shots can only be made within the end-zone. Decrease area size.

Regression: Increase area size. Rest a player for a small interval of time which will create an overload – swap players to ensure both teams have a chance of creating an overload.

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Lock certain players to zone(s) – refer to green lines.

Can players perform a skill to beat a player.

Can players communicate prior to receiving a ball (using their body and verbal).

Can players use their weaker foot.

Additional points could be gained by:  Hanging a bib to the cross bar of the goals, if a player can hit a bib on the crossbar, they can gain an additional point. Add a small gate (using 2 cones) within the goals, if a player shoots through the gate, they can gain an additional point.

Additional points can be gained based on the number of passes that are completed, example if 6 successful passes are made and a goal is scored, 7 points would be awarded.

Coach Support

C = Potential coaching positions to observe drill.