Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Skill Center Shooting

Lightning (20 mins)

Lightning ⚡

Players line up behind the cone, one player in net. Coach has all the balls next to the net.

1. Coach plays the ball in and player takes a shot first time.

2. If the player scores they go to the back of the line and the keeper is out (waits behind the net). If the player misses the target or the keeper saves, that player is now in net.

3. The game continues until there is one player remaining. When a player is out and waiting behind the net, they can catch the ball off a missed shot to get back in (can't hit the ground).

* As soon as the players understand the game, pick up the pace.

* If the ball hits the crossbar, everyone is back in.

* Have players who are out collect balls to get back in ex. "Bring me three balls and you're back in!"

Quick Strike finishing around the box (15 mins)

Quick Strike finishing around the box

3 lines of players with 1 player on the edge of the 18 yard box

Player A plays the ball forward (does not go into the 18 yard box with his touch forward) and then takes a strike on net.

Player B plays the ball to player A who sets for player B to take a strike on net.

Player A after they play the set overlap player D

Player C plays a pass to player D who takes their first touch to the middle of the field and then plays the ball into the corner for overlapping player A who then looks for a cross.

Player C will make a run near post, Player B will curl their run behind player C and go far post and Player D after the ball into the corner will slide to the top of the box.

Player A will now look for 1 of the 3 options for a finish.

Once complete, each player brings a ball back to go to the end of a cue except for player A. The player who crosses (in this example player A) would then take up the edge of the 18 yard box.

Since A moved to D, B moves to A line, C moves to B line and D moves to the C line.

Coaching points

- eye up to see the keeper and target then eyes to ball for a proper strike

- after first shot happens, follow the shot for a step or 2 to then check back to the ball from the 2nd shooter

- after the set is made, quickly overlap the wide player

- player C ball to player D is a switch of the pitch in the attacking third (pace, type of ball, driven or lobbed?)

- player on the edge of the 18 must picture receiving this switching ball, the defender is likely goal side and closing out so first touch into the middle of the field towards the net will slow that close down and thus open up the overlapping option

- curled run from the overlapper so they can get their hips squared to their target on their cross.

- crosser must picture in their head, low ball near post, drive ball through the 6, chip back post, set to the top of the box

- the 2 players making runs into the box must think about the timing of their runs, communicate near and far post and stagger their runs so that they don't approach the cross flat

Striker/Wing movement to get behind for a shot (15 mins)

Striker/Wing movement to get behind for a shot

Player B Checks away and comes to in a wide position from the defender (the cone)

Player A passes to B and tells them man on

Player B sets to A, then moves back to support or wide to drag the defender

Player A send a through ball between the cones for B to have a one touch shot.

Once done, player B moves to the other queue behind C and player A moves to player B's position.

Same is happening with C and D with a small net since we don't tend to have 2 keepers.

The same is set up on the other side of the pitch as we do this with 2 squads training together but make the space work for your group as needed.

Progression shown on the C and D side of the pitch.

Player D once again moves away to get to the ball on an angle

Player C passes and calls man on and receives the set pass.

This time player D will run across the face of his/her defender and behind the CB

Player C passes through the opposite side gap for player D to have a one touch shot.

Key factors

#1. The check off must be deep to draw the defender and help to create space.

#2. When coming back to receive, check shoulder, fix shape and receive on the half turn.

#3 The weight of the set is important, too soft and the timing is off, too hard and it's hard to handle AND the timing is off.

#4 After we set we MUST move again. Cannot stand as we are still covered so 2 choices to get behind the defender. Either drop to give an angle and suck the defender in or pull wide to create more space to get in behind.

#5. Weight of the pass after the set is huge. We want a one touch shot in this tight space, can't if the pass is too heavy and can't if the pass is too soft and likely behind the attacker.

#6. Angle of the pass is key. too tight to the cones and it is a pass to a defender. Have to visualize what this scenario is and split the cones as close to the middle as possible.

#7 For the progression, after the set pass we must move right away for timing and realism. We should be looking to run in front of the defender that is covering us and go behind the CB again for realism and timing.

King Louis (15 mins)

King Louis

2 teams in 2 18 yard box's attached. Play 5 vs 2 with the 5 having 2 touches max and the 2 having unlimitted. The 5 cannot cross into the other grid, nor can the 2. No goalie but players can go in the net and stop the shots without their hands.

Goal is to create scoring chances from the 18 with combination plays either with each other or going to their strikers to get set passes. They can of course look to play their strikers in for opportunities as well.

Coaching Points

spacing depth and width in the 18 to keep possession and set up lanes to shoot

speed of play

communication for set passes