Blog
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.
Penetrate your Opponent
When to dribble? When to pass? Through plenty of repetition, here is a great opportunity to help your players gain confidence when deciding how to execute and breakdown the opponent in the final third. The session starts with a warm up focusing on dribbling at pace, then progresses from 4V4 to 7V7 to a final 8V8 match. Your players will enjoy this fast paced session!
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.
Recovery Runner
Recovery Runner will force them to manage the ball as well as the lurking forward behind them. Plenty of reps for both your forwards and your defenders in this fast paced 2V1 and 3V2 activity!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Build Out, Press High
Here is an economical way to work on breaking pressure when building out of the back with your back four/holding midfielders as well as organize your front four attacking players to effectively defend and press high up the field. Your defensive minded players can focus on their attacking principles while your attacking players can sharpen their decision making skills while defending.
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.