Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): Mens Team Training

Warm Up (10 mins)

Session Set Up

5 to 6 players in each third- organise players into groups for the warm up so we can quickly go straight into first drill.

Every players has a ball - if not possible one ball between two.

Session Explanation

To begin players practice their ball juggling in their channels- try different combinations and different techniques- Players try to beat their records.

Players then dribble around their channel doing inside and outside touches/sole roles/ shuffle taps etc. Making sure they dribble with their heads up and stay in their channel. 

Progression

When I blow my whsitle al players must dribble into a different channel making sure they don't hit each other.

Players must then dribble into one channel turn and then dribble back to their original starting channel.

Get into pairs- pass and move in pairs around the channel to finish. 

Ensure players do dynamic stretches at the end in their area.

Opposed practice (1 v 1 Skills) (15 mins)

Session Set Up

Pitch 1- 2 wide goals

Pitch 2- end zone

Pitch 3- a single goal

16 players- 5 to 6 players to each pitch

A lot of balls on each pitch.

Pitch 1 and pitch 3 is wider than pitch 2.

Session Explanation

Pitch 1- attacker (red) has to beat defender (blue) and score in either of the two goals.

Pitch 2- attacker (red) has to beat defender (blue) and stop ball on the end line.

Pitch 3- there’s a goal in the middle- attacker (red) tries to beat defender to score in goal.(give the defender a point if they can get out and win it high. This prevents defender backing away and standing in front of goal)

Always competition, always engaging, always fun.

All pitches start with defender (blue) playing ball to attacker (red) and then attacker drives and tries to beat opponent to score.

Once you’ve attacked one pitch you run to the next pitch and become attacker there (snake system).

Every attacker will have 3 attacks (1 on each pitch)- then swap the defender.

Progression

Instead of snake system players remain on one pitch for 2 minutes before moving to the next field.

If the defender wins the ball they can score- introduce a target goal (e.g cones) or target player to pass to (attacking player waiting) in order to get a point. 

Key Coaching Points

How and why we are using it- facing up defenders, beating defenders.

Can't always drive straight at the defender- must sometimes drive to the side to drag defender and then that opens up space to drive into after performing skill. 

Perform skill at intensity in order to beat the defender.

The correct distance to perform skill from defender- not too close or not too far away from the defender.

When throwing the step over make sure you’re low and knee is bent so you can push off and explode the other direction.

Explosive power away after skill has been performed.