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Breaking Enemy Lines
Breaking Enemy Lines take the players’ low level of fitness into account while maintaining social distancing rules. During the session, players focus on the core concepts of the technical and tactical elements of the game, using individual ball mastery skills and the ability to break lines through different types of passes to build soccer specific fitness in a methodical way.
Unlock the 8 & 10
This activity will provide your players plenty of repetition working on playing through the midfield and unlocking the #8 and #10 specifically. Encourage developing a nice rhythm of play building out of the back and then finding the right moment to play a crisp penetrating ball on the ground to your midfielders feet. Adjust the system of play to fit your needs, add a third defender to make it a 5V3 rondo and lastly reward the green team by having theam finish on goal.
Safety Pass Rondo 4v2 to 6v4
Try this economical activity that works on the “safety pass” as well as pressing. Once the transitional moment happens do you your players have the composure to play out of pressure and do your players have the desire to win the ball back immediately? Experiment with your player personnel and see who fits in each role the best.
Three Shot Finishing Sequence
This Three Shot Finishing Sequence is great for match day minus one or two! Have fun with this rapid fire finishing activity that incorporates a shot from the top of the box, a cut back ball and a first time finish from across the goal mouth. Your Goalkeepers will certainly have a lot to do!
Tracking the #9
Don’t let the simplicity of the diagram fool you. Tracking the #9 is a simple and outstanding activity to try with your GKs. All you need is a group of balls and three different colored cones or bibs.
Modern Trends Handling & Shot Stopping
In this joint theory and practical session Eric will look at the ways in which the goalkeeping position has evolved and the adaptations that have occurred in the goalkeeper’s technical repertoire.
Shadow Striker
Here is an excellent session that focuses on the shadow striker. The shadow striker can be one of the two strikers in a twin striker set up, or it can be the #10 attacking midfielder that often finds himself making penetrating runs into the opponent’s back line. Customize and tweak this session to fit your personnel and formation.
50 Pass Challenge!
Take the 50 Pass Challenge! See if your players can connect 50 passes in a row in this 11V5 possession activity. 5V5+2 with four neutral bumpers on the outside. Increase the level of difficulty with three different variations: unlimited, two touch, and one touch.
North Carolina Courage: New Training Game
Thanks to Paul Riley and the rest of the staff at NWSL’s Carolina Courage, I was fortunate enough to see a training game that I had never seen before. It will be added to my training games library immediately as it ticks a number of necessary youth player development boxes.
Sideways-on: Check the Shoulder
Two of the most valuable techniques you can teach your young players are to receive the ball sideways-on facing the playing field and get them to check their shoulders at least once before they receive the ball. Work the non-dominant side: through the repetitions in these passing variations, challenge them to receive the ball with their weaker foot and make sure they are checking both shoulders at least once before receiving the ball.
7v7 Modrić & Rakitić
Inspired by Croatia’s journey to the WC Final and in particular by the play of their midfielders Luka Modrić and Ivan Rakitić, here is a simple 7V7 training game that will encourage your players to join into the attack from deeper positions.
Fast Attack 8V8+2
Try this functional version of an 8V8+2 counter attacking activity. Designated for high intensity, the coach will be able to dictate the amount and frequency of repetitions in order to reach the desired load for the day. Adjust the personnel or size to make it your own!