INDIVIDUAL

DEVELOPMENT:
STRIKERS
AG E P H AS E : U 1 7 +
SESSION PLAN
SESSION OVERVIEW INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT: STRIKERS

LEVEL KEY
• U17-First team Ball movement

Player movement
PRINCIPLES OF PLAY without the ball

• Offering support between the lines. Player movement

• Running in behind the first centre-back. with the ball
• Attacking the box.
• Hard and low shots.

PART 1: UNOPPOSED TECHNICAL Players

EXERCISE TO MINI-GOALS 1
• This practice focuses on the striker dropping to offer Cones
support and running in behind the defensive line.
• It requires four players.
Flat marker

PART 2: UNOPPOSED TECHNICAL

EXERCISE TO MINI-GOALS 2 Cones with
flat marker
• This exercise focuses on the striker offering support,
attacking the box, and running in behind the
opposition’s defensive line. Goal
• Six players are required.

Mini-goal

Mannequin Pole

Football

AGE PHASE: U17+

UNOPPOSED TECHNICAL EXERCISE TO MINI-GOALS 1 INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT: STRIKERS

FUNCTION 1 B

• In this individual session with a striker, the focus is

20 yd
on setting the ball and making runs in behind before
finishing into two mini-goals.
B
• The practice requires four players: two strikers (B) and 8 yd
3
two midfield players (A).
• A line of four mannequins is placed 20 yards from two

20 yd
mini-goals. Two more mini-goals are placed a further 2
20 yards away and to either side of the midfielders,
15 yd
as shown in the diagrams.
• The exercise begins with one midfielder passing to the A 1 A

other midfielder. Meanwhile, the striker in play moves

in behind the line of mannequins before dropping back
to offer support between the lines, receiving a pass
from one of the midfielders and setting into a mini-goal
near the midfielders, to replicate setting the ball to a
teammate. This passing sequence is shown by numbers
1, 2, and 3 in Diagram 1.
2
• The striker then moves to take up a position between B

the left centre-back and left-back in the line of 7

mannequins. They then use a counter-movement to
move into the space in front of the mannequin line and
receive a pass from the right-sided midfielder (Pass 4).
B
• The striker then sets to the other midfielder (Pass 5),
and runs diagonally between the two centre-backs
in the mannequin line to get in behind and receive a 6

through ball from that midfielder (Pass 6) and finish 5

into a mini-goal (7). 4

• The striker does one repetition on each side and then

switches with the forward who is waiting. Each striker A A

should do at least three reps on each side.

• When setting the ball, the striker should use just one
touch. They can use two touches to finish after the run
in behind the centre-backs.

AGE PHASE: U17+

UNOPPOSED TECHNICAL EXERCISE TO MINI-GOALS 1 INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT: STRIKERS

COACHING DETAIL: TECHNICAL

SHARP MOVEMENTS, CRISP PASSES & SOFT SETS RUNS IN BEHIND THE FIRST CENTRE-BACK
• All players should make sharp movements and crisp • After the striker moves to offer support and sets the
passes to keep the practice realistic. ball, they should move at pace diagonally into the space
• When the striker moves to offer support between the between the two centre-back mannequins.
lines, they should use a change of pace to lose their • Once the midfielder takes their first touch, the striker
marker, before setting the ball into the mini-goal with should change pace to make their run in behind the first
a crisp, firmly hit pass. centre-back to receive the through ball.
• Running behind the first centre-back is a difficult run to
DEPTH & MOVEMENTS TO SUPPORT defend against because the first centre-back is usually
• The striker should always look to take a high position watching the ball, leaving unguarded space in behind.
between the full-back and centre-back mannequins.
• This provides depth to the team’s attack and also pins FINISHING
the defenders back, which then creates space when • When receiving the through ball, the striker will ideally
they offer support between the lines. be able to take a quick shot with their first touch.
• The striker should change pace and move to offer However, if the pass is difficult to control, then using
support between the lines after the midfielder takes two touches is fine.
their first touch. • The striker should use a low, hard finish.

AGE PHASE: U17+

UNOPPOSED TECHNICAL EXERCISE TO MINI-GOALS 2 INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT: STRIKERS

FUNCTION 1 B

• In this individual session with strikers, the focus is on 4

20 yd
setting the ball and making runs in behind to finish.
• The practice requires six players: two strikers (B), two C C
B
midfielders (A) and two wingers (C). A line of four 8 yd
mannequins is placed 20 yards from two mini-goals. 3
• The exercise begins with one midfielder passing to the

20 yd
other midfielder. Meanwhile, the striker in play moves in 2
behind the line of mannequins before dropping to offer
support between the lines, receiving a pass from the
midfielder and then playing a pass out wide to the right A 1 A

winger. The winger takes a touch forward and crosses

into the striker, who runs between the centre-back
mannequins to finish into a mini-goal. This sequence is
shown by passes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in Diagram 1.
• Then, the striker should move to receive the second ball
from the right-sided midfielder (Pass 6). They then set
the ball to the other midfielder (Pass 7), who plays wide
2
to the left winger (Pass 8), who has dropped to offer B

support. The striker then runs in behind the first centre-

10a
back to receive a through ball from the winger (Pass 9) 10b

and finish into either of the two mini-goals (10). This

pattern is shown in Diagram 2. C C
• When setting and finishing, the striker should aim to B
9
use one touch. They can use two touches to control and
pass out wide to the winger.
7
• Alternate with the striker waiting after one repetition on 8
6
each side. Each striker should do at least three reps on
each side.
A A

AGE PHASE: U17+

UNOPPOSED TECHNICAL EXERCISE TO MINI-GOALS 2 INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT: STRIKERS

COACHING DETAIL: TECHNICAL

SHARP MOVEMENTS, CRISP PASSES & ATTACKING THE BOX
CHANGING PACE • After the pass out wide, the striker should move
• All players should look to make sharp movements and diagonally towards the second centre-back in order to
crisp passes. When the striker moves to offer support create space at the front post.
between the lines, they should use a change of pace • As the winger looks up and appears ready to cross,
to lose their marker and create space for themselves to the striker should change pace to attack the cross and
set the ball. finish first time.

DEPTH & MOVEMENTS TO SUPPORT RUNS IN BEHIND THE FIRST CENTRE-BACK

• The striker should always look to take a high position • After the striker moves to offer support and sets the
between the full-back and centre-back mannequins. ball, they should slow down while moving diagonally
• This provides depth to the team’s attack and pins the towards the space between the two centre-back
defenders back, which creates space when they offer mannequins.
support between the lines. • Once the winger on the opposite side takes their first
• The striker should change their pace and move to offer touch, the striker should change pace and attack the
support between the lines after the midfielder takes space behind the first centre-back to run on to the pass
their first touch. in behind.

PASSES WIDE TO THE WINGERS FINISHING

• Passes out wide are important to create 2v1 situations • When receiving the through ball, the striker will ideally
that can then be exploited. take a quick shot into the first mini-goal with their first
• The striker should take a touch to control the ball, as touch. However, if the pass is difficult to control, they
this will draw a defender into the central lane before can use two touches but this time shoot into the second
playing wide. mini-goal.
• In a match, a full-back would then make an overlapping • They should look to use a low, hard finish into whichever
run around the wide player to create a 2v1. goal they are shooting at.
• This sequence will force the opponents to shift across
to deal with the 2v1, creating more space in the central
lane and in front of goal.

AGE PHASE: U17+