Short Passing

Technique Practice
1.2 teams of 5
2. 1 x ball per team . Maintain possession
trying to pass to team-mates in boxes
adjacent to yours
3. Encourage use of give and go’s and 1-touch
play

Skill Practice
1. 6 vs. 4 (or 7 vs. 3)
2. Blues seek to keep the ball from the reds,
whom if gaining possession keep themselves
3. For blues, a split pass (played between 2 reds)
scores. Blues score every complete pass
made.

Small Sided Game

1. 2 teams of 4 + 2 support players on the side
2. Play into end zone for team-mate to run onto
to score – offside can apply in end zone
3. Use yellows to support keeping possession
and setting up attacks
 Short Passing

Simple Attacking Principles

Create….
Maintain…..
Exploit……

Space

Coaching Considerations
Coaching Considerations
Passing – Execution
Passing – Selection
• Approach
• Retain or risk possession? • Standing foot/weight
• Feet or space • Striking foot
• Beyond all defenders • Ball contact
• Beyond most defenders • Follow through
• Beyond some defenders • One touch or more?
• Play square • Time: eliminate defender(s)
• Play backwards • Weight: easily received
• Accuracy/disguise
 Defending Outnumbered
Technique Practice
1.2 teams of 4 + 2 GK’s
2. GK serves to defenders who play into
target player.. They play to attackers,
unopposed, who seek to get ball into GK’s
hands
3. Re-start as in 1.

Skill Practice
1. As in Technique practice, except attacking
team seek to score in goal and defender /
goalkeeper try not to concede.
2. If defender / goalkeeper re-gain play into
target player in middle area
3. Target player after playing into attackers
recovers into practice to act as a recovering
defender

Small Sided Game

1. 2 teams of 4 + GK’s
2. Look at opportunities for attacking from re-
gains to support team to practice defending
outnumbered
 Defending Outnumbered
Coaching Considerations Simple Defending Principles
Defending When Disorganised
Deny….
Restrict…..
Deny
•Body stance, weight, prepared to act Predict……
• Win ball from poor touch/pass
• Do not track poor forward runs e.g. offside Space
• Step up/in and eliminate overload
• GK to protect goal and space behind last def

Delay
•Body stance, weight neutral
• Drop and narrow
• Remain between ball and goal
• Threaten ball if/when possible
•Wait for recovery runs to eliminate overloads
• GK to protect goal and space behind last def

Deflect Coaching Considerations

•Not able to prevent quick forward play
• Prioritise risks
• Allow play to wide rather than central areas Recovery Runs
• Do not leave opponents unmarked centrally
• Be patient – opposition must bring ball • How deep?
central to score
•Press ball when shooting becomes an option • What line?
• GK to protect goal and space behind last def

Defend
•Apply Pressure
•Last resort – a defender must commit • Supply Cover
• Distance from goal?
• Who presses?
• Destroy Support
• Line of pressure • Available to Counter
• Adjustment of other defenders based on prioritising risk
• GK prepared for shot stopping and protecting the reduced space
behind defenders
 Creating Space
Technique Practice
1.2 teams of 5 – one inside area, other on
perimeter – 4 balls
2. Receive ball from outside and play to an
available player on the perimeter – go and
receive a different ball
3. Swap roles

Skill Practice
1. 5 vs. 3 + 2 servers
2. Red’s seek to work it end to end (ball to one
end and back is 1 goal)
3. Blues to spoil and break up play to score

Small Sided Game

1. 2 teams of 4 + 2 targets
2. Directional – play to targets to score – they
return to opposition who play other way
 Creating Space
Simple Attacking Principles
Coaching Considerations Create….
Maintain…..
Create Space as a unit without the ball Exploit……
• Spreading long and wide
• Create space between defenders: ind/units Space
• Destroy cover/support
• Create opportunities beyond/around and
between opponents
• Gives time/space to receive

Create Space as an individual without the ball

•Movement off the ball
• Movement to lose tight markers
• ‘Blind side’ Movements Coaching Considerations
• Move against the flow of the play
• Stand still Space

Create Space as an individual with the ball • Constantly adjust support

• First touch • Rotation
• Tricks & Feints • Interchange of position
• Turns • Play away from pressure
• Dribbling • Stand still
• Running with the Ball
• Disguised passes
 Defending When Organised
Technique Practice
1.2 teams of 4 + 2 GK’s + 2 servers
2. GK serves to defenders who play into
target player.. They play into attackers on
other pitch who, unopposed, seek to get ball
into GK’s hands
3. Re-start as in 1.

Skill Practice
1. As in Technique practice, except attacking
team seek to score in goal and defender /
goalkeeper try not to concede.
2. If defender / goalkeeper re-gain play into
target player in middle area.

Small Sided Game

1. 2 teams of 4 + GK’s + 2 servers
2. Server starts game and plays into GK who
commences game – servers not to be used in
play
 Defending When Organised
Deny Space (continued)
Coaching Considerations Around The Ball
Defending When Organised Support/Cover
Start position
1. Deny Space Angles
Team/Unit Distances
• Pressure first touch Communication
• Reduce options Job and a half
• Encourage mistakes
• Stay compact Away from the Ball
• Squeeze as a unit •Balance the team
• Start positions
• Deny space behind • Mark players?
• Remain between ball/goal • Cover space?
• Outnumbered
• Pressure not possible 2. Restrict Space
•Eliminate best options for opponents
• Encourage mistakes by opponents
Individual
•Start position in relation to: area of field, • Execution of opponents hurried
• Exclude individual opponents
ball, goal, team mates, opponents and
• Ensure one or two touch maximum by opponents
pressure on the ball
•Decision: Can they intercept, spoil or delay?
• What factors will affect their actions? 3. Predict Space
How:
•Team shape/policy
First Defender
•Start position • Set up/start positions
• Shut down • Angle distance of pressure
• Sit down
• Slow down Why:
• Stay down •Force direction of play
• Show down • Numerical advantage in certain area of field
• Defenders can be pro-active
• Angle/distance of pressure
 Turning
Technique Practice
1.4 groups of 3 – 1 ball per group
2. Receive ball from outside, turn and play to
third player – repeat five times and then
change central player
3. Third player in sequence can be on the
move

Skill Practice
1. As technique practice but grey team defend.
One defender active, the other two are target
for active player if he wins possession (swap
places)
2. Turning player s score every time they play
across to third player and back
3. Rotate defending team

Small Sided Game

1. 2 teams of 4 + 4 target players in boxes
2. Directional – play to either target to score –
target plays ball to opposition who attack
 Short Passing
Simple Attacking Principles

Create….
Maintain…..
Exploit……

Space

Coaching Considerations

Turning
Turn No-Touch
• Use space available and pace/angle of pass
to allow ball to run across body

Turn One-Touch
• Use pace/angle of pass to receive ball on
back foot,
•OR use pace/angle of pass and movement of
defender to turn around opponent one touch

Turn Two-Touch Plus

•Little space available so requirement to
Manipulate the ball in a confined area
•Utilise multiple-touch turn to allow
opportunity to play forward or to play away
from pressure (e.g. Cruyff turn)
 Long Passing
Technique Practice
1.2 teams of 5 in their own channel
2. 1 x ball per team – server plays into 2 who
combine and play longer ball into far target
player
3. One of the two moves into other half of
the pitch to support player in that half to
combine and return the ball to start point.

Skill Practice
1. 2 vs. 1 + 2 servers/targets on each pitch
2. As technique practice but defender seeks to
win ball and return to server
3. Attackers work opportunities to play ball into
far end target, doing so from the half of the
pitch that they received the ball in

Small Sided Game

1. 2 teams of 4 + 2 target players in end zone
2. Play into end zone target to score – try to do
so from own half of the pitch
3. Target player plays ball into opposition to re-
start game
 Long Passing

Simple Attacking Principles

Create….
Maintain…..
Exploit……

Space

Coaching Considerations
Coaching Considerations
Passing – Execution
Passing – Selection
• Approach
• Retain or risk possession? • Standing foot/weight
• Feet or space • Striking foot
• Beyond all defenders • Ball contact
• Beyond most defenders • Follow through
• Beyond some defenders • One touch or more?
• Play square • Time: eliminate defender(s)
• Play backwards • Weight: easily received
• Accuracy/disguise
 Running With The Ball
Technique Practice
1.2 teams of 4 – one inside area, other on
perimeter – 4 balls
2. Receive ball from outside and run with it
into other half of the pitch before passing to
available player on the outside - receive back
and repeat four times.
3. Swap roles with a red.

Skill Practice
1. Waves practice. Reds serve into two on field
players who seek to run ball into other half
and play through to reds at far end. Receiving
reds enter pitch and play 2 vs. 1 coming back
the other way - repeat
2. If def’ wins they score by running ball over
nearest end line

Small Sided Game

1. 2 teams of 4.
2. Directional – run ball into end zone and stop it
to score. Opposition collect ball and attack
back opposite direction.
 Running With The Ball
Simple Attacking Principles

Create….
Maintain…..
Exploit……

Space

Coaching Considerations

Running With The Ball

•Recognise space/opportunity/defenders
• Adjust body to receive
• First touch
• Travel quickly/effectively
• Head up where possible
• Leading foot
• Execute outcome: pass, shot, dribble
 Switching Play
Technique Practice
1. 8 players. 3 in middles channel and five
shared between two wide channels. 3
balls.
2. Red players receive a ball from one side of
the pitch and seek to play to a free player
on the opposite side of the pitch
3. Rotate 3 reds

Skill Practice
1. 2 vs. 2 + GK’s + 4 servers
2. Try to score having gone from one side of the
pitch to the other. Can use GK to achieve.
3. GK can serve ball into yellow servers

Small Sided Game

1. 2 teams of 4 + 2 GK’s
2. Directional game – maintain markings of
thirds
 Switching Play
Simple Attacking Principles

Create….
Maintain…..
Exploit……

Space

Coaching Considerations

Switching Play
When
•Route forward blocked

Why
•Get to the back of the defence

How
•One pass
• Up, back, out
• Dish or play round
• Cross over, turn, reverse pass
 Finishing
Technique Practice
1.4 players, 4 servers + 2GK’s.
2. 1 server serves a bal l onto each pitch and
two attackers create a shot on goal - repeat
3. Rotate – vary service

Skill Practice
1. 2 vs. 2 + 4 servers + GK’s
2. Servers play into area and reds attack to score
(can use servers to help if required). If blue’s
win the ball, play back to server and swap
roles – if reds score, they get another go
3. Rotate servers for players

Small Sided Game

1. 2 teams of 4. + 2 GK’s
2. Directional – score in oppositions goal
 Finishing
Simple Attacking Principles

Create….
Maintain…..
Exploit……

Space

Coaching Considerations

Finishing
A – Adjustments
•No time to shape body
• Any contact to direct ball on goal

B – Basics
•Time to adjust
• Shape body for recognised technique
• e.g. header, driven

C – Clever
•Time to adjust
• Utilise unexpected contact

For B & C – assess GK’s position, select technique and

aim for most vulnerable area of the goal
 Support Play (incorporating runs on the ball and off the ball)
Technique Practice
1.2 teams of 4 + 2 GK’s. 1 ball per team. 2
players (1 t either end) on the outside and 2
in the middle. GK’s on two sides.
2. Ball played into middle two who combine
and play out to GK who serves to outside
player to play back in & repeat.
3. Swap roles.

Skill Practice
1. 3 reds vs. 2 blues attacking goal. Two serving
reds set up and play in. Red’s seek to set up a
shot on goal. If blues regain they play to
outlet player and then return to red servers.
2. Rotate positions

Small Sided Game

1. 2 teams of 4 + GK’s
2. Directional – score in oppositions goal
Support Play (incorporating runs on the ball and off the ball)
Simple Attacking Principles

Create….
Maintain…..
Exploit……

Space

Coaching Considerations
• In advance
• Behind
• Angle
• Distance
• Timing
• To do what?
a. Receive possession
b.Create space for others
c. Release pressure on the ball
 Defending Heading
Technique Practice
1.4 players, 6 servers + 2 GK’s. Servers play a
pass from either central to wide or wide to
central and ball is then fed into defender
aerially for them to defend with their head.
2. After each header swap with partner. Can
use thrown serves.
3. Rotate with servers.

Skill Practice
1. As technique practice but add an attacking
opponent.
2. Rotate servers for players and attackers with
defenders
3. Can use thrown serves

Small Sided Game

1. 2 teams of 4 + 2 servers + 2 GK’s
2. Directional – score in oppositions goal. Use
servers to provide aerial balls into box from a
variety of angles/positions and from both
sides of the pitch
3. Can use thrown servers
 Defensive Heading
Simple Attacking Principles

Deny……
Restrict…..
Predict……

Space

Coaching Considerations
Generic Factors
• Adjust to the flight
• Attack ball at optimum point
• Head contact
• Ball contact
• Generate power – how? Neck, back, legs, body
weight

Defending
• Often straight down the line of the ball returning it
in same general direction
• Can be ‘far posters’, using pace on ball to alter flight
and clear danger
 Attacking Heading
Technique Practice
1.4 players, 6 servers + 2 GK’s. Servers play a
pass from either central to wide or wide to
central and ball is then fed into attacker to
head past GK
2. After each header swap with partner. Can
use thrown serves.
3. Rotate with servers.

Skill Practice
1. As technique practice but add a defending
opponent.
2. Rotate servers for players and attackers with
defenders
3. Can use thrown serves

Small Sided Game

1. 2 teams of 4 + 2 servers + 2 GK’s
2. Directional – score in oppositions goal. Use
servers to provide aerial balls into box from a
variety of angles/positions and from both
sides of the pitch
3. Can use thrown servers
 Attacking Heading
Simple Attacking Principles

Create……
Maintain…..
Exploit……

Space

Coaching Considerations
Generic Factors
• Adjust to the flight
• Attack ball at optimum point
• Head contact
• Ball contact
• Generate power – how? Neck, back, legs, body
weight

Attacking
• Usually involves redirecting the ball towards goal
with the attacker going across or down the line of the
flight of the ball
• Aim for the most vulnerable area of the goal or
goal mouth area
 Receiving
Technique Practice
1.2 teams of 4. 1 ball per team.
2. Play into two end boxes before returning
through the middle area.
3. Continue to work end to end

Skill Practice
1. 4 vs. 2 + 2 blue targets
2. Reds seek to play into one of end boxes
before returning through the middle area
3. If blues gain possession score by playing to
either end player who makes a move into
scoring box to receive

Small Sided Game

1. 4 vs. 4
2. Play into either scoring zone for team mate to
receive
3. Directional
 Receiving
Simple Attacking Principles

Create……
Maintain…..
Exploit……

Space

Coaching Considerations
Receiving Priorities
• Beyond opponent
• In front and facing opponent
• In front with back to opponent

Ball Control
• Observe recognise/options
• Select surface
• Adjust body/address ball
• First touch:
a. Release
b.Move off line
c. Travel
d.Protect
e. Kill
 Dribbling
Technique Practice
1.2 teams of 5 in their own channel
2. 1 x ball per team – server plays into team
mate who dribbles past stationery player and
passes to end player
3. Dribble joins behind player he gave the ball
to, and initial server comes onto pitch to be
the stationery opponent – repeat.

Skill Practice
1. As technique practice but one defender goes
across into oppositions channel to create 1 vs.
1
2. If defender wins they run ball over opposite
end line
3. Initial server becomes attacker, dribbler goes
in behind player he scores by playing to -
repeat

Small Sided Game

1. 2 teams of 4 + 2 GK’s
2. Directional – score past oppositions GK
 Dribbling
Simple Attacking Principles

Create……
Maintain…..
Exploit……

Space

Coaching Considerations
Aims/Thoughts
• Stretch opposition
• Develop 1 vs. 1 situations
• Space behind defender
• Recognise opportunity
• Positive attitude
• Execute technique
• Adjust behind ball

Technique
• Close control
• Ability to feint and dummy (ball stays on same line)
• Ability to change pace
• Ability to change direction or heigh of the ball