Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Conditioned Games

Conditioned Game (15 mins)

Organization:

2 teams broken into pairs, 2v2 plus GKs on the field

Each waiting pair is positioned with one player on either side of their defending goal, one side will have all the balls

Instructions:

2v2 is played on the field until a goal is scored (limit to 60 seconds before rotating new teams if no goal is scored)

When a goal is scored, the goal scorer must run back and touch the post of his defending goal before continuing to play

The pair that was scored on goes off the field, replaced by the next pair for their team

The new team comes onto the field with their ball to attack the opposing goal as soon as the goal is scored

Play to 'x' amount

Rotate teams halfway through if only able to use one full size goal

Coaching Points:

Recognize moments to attack the defender 1v1

ability to use attacking move to beat defender and create the chance to shoot

decision to dribble or pass

quality of end product

Progressions:

Conditioned Game

Organization:

1. 50 x 35 yard area with 5 x 5 corner areas set up as shown

2. 12 players (4 Attackers, 4 Defenders, 4 Targets) set up as shown

3. 1 ball (Additional around the outside)

Instructions:

1. Teams score by making a lofted pass into either of their target players

2. The target player must attempt to control the ball inside their controlling area

3. Target players are not permitted outside their target area and defending players are not allowed inside

4. If the ball leaves the area the game is restarted with a kick in

5. Teams can score from a kick in

Coaching Points:

1. Getting into line with the ball

2. Assess the flight as ball travels

3. Select appropriate surface

4. Arms out for balance

5. Withdraw surface at impact

6. Directions of touch to enable next action

Progressions:

P1 – Change the position of the target players so that the game becomes directional, both players now at the same end

R1 - Award 1pt for a ball played into the target on the ground, and 3 pts for a ball played into the target that reaches him in the air

R2 - Allow players to lift the ball into their hands and volley the ball toward the target after x amount of passes

R3 - Players in middle play team Handball, but target players must control the ball out of the air without using their hands to score a point. Switch the target player every time a ball is played into him.

R4 – Increase the size of the target area to 10 x 10 yards

3v3 Conditioned game (15 mins)

Organization:

3v3 with 4 triangles poitioned centrally along each side of the area

Instructions:

Teams play 3v3 inside area with normal soccer rules

Team in possession must connect a pass to a teammate who has taken up a position inside one of the triangels to score a point

Only an attacking player may be inside of the triangle

Both teams score at any of the triangles

Coaching Points:

Angle of support

Receive with back foot when possible

First touch into space and away from pressure

Disguise the direction fo your first touch

Progressions:

1 - In order to score a point, the receiving player must take their first touch to leave the triangle

2 - 2pts for leaving out a different side of the triangle from where the pass entered

3 - Receiving player can either take first touch out the opposite side of the triangle or play a one touch pass back to the player it came from