Fox in the Box works on forward players’ attacking instincts and confidence around the goal. The practice centers around creating good habits in and around the penalty box. The practice focuses on the #7, #9, #10 and #11 and the key qualities needed when playing inside or close to the 18 yard box. The skills honed during the practice are the movements to create space, first touch and finishing from multiple different situations, either from outside the corner of the box, after a combination close to the box, off a dribble, from a through ball in behind or from a cross coming from a wide area.
Fox in the Box
1.
Setup:
Fox in the Box warm up. Balls start at 3 points (A, B and C) with three mannequins on top of the box and 2 players on each wing with 2 gates ahead of them.
Instructions:
Warm up:
A. Player at A starts on the cone and drives to beat the mannequin to finish.
B. Player at B starts on the cone and drives to beat the mannequin to finish.
C. Player at C starts on the cone and drives to beat the mannequin to finish.
D. Player at D drives through the cones for the three players to attack the cross and finish.
E. Player at E drives through the cones for the three players to attack the cross and finish.
Coaching Points:
- Pre movement and first touch before finishing- create space and make sure the first touch prepares for the finish
- Decision of type of finish- low and hard, power, chip, placement into the corner, one touch, two touch (less than 3 preferred), header, volley, instep, laces
- There are multiple types of finish available to the attacker- they must choose the best based on the situation
2.
Setup:
3 team finishing competition. Three teams set up as above with one team centrally (black), one team on the right side (yellow) and one team on the left (red). A ready set of balls centrally, on the right side and on the left side.
Instructions:
Finishing competition:
A. Balls start at Player 1 who plays to Player 2 who turns and finishes.
B. After finishing, Player 2 checks to the central mannequin; Player 1 plays a give and go with Player 2 and finishes from outside the box.
C. Player 2 moves to the red cone after the give and go and passes to Player 3 who checks off the mannequin to touch and finish.
D. Two players (yellow) combine for a cross- Player 1, 2 and 3 attack the cross and finish.
E. Player 1, 2 and 3 must get back around the mannequins while the red team combine to cross for them to attack the cross and finish.
Coaching Points:
- Pre-movement and first touch before finishing- create space and make sure the first touch prepares for the finish
- Decision of type of finish- low and hard, power, chip, placement into the corner, one touch, two touch (less than 3 preferred), header, volley, instep, laces
- There are multiple types of finish available to the attacker- they must choose the best based on the situation
3.
Setup:
Fox in the Box 2- 36L x 30W field split into half. Two teams play on half the field, with one team off. Balls start in each goal. 3 sets x 4 mins.
Instructions:
Team 1 (black) attack Team 2 (yellow) and attempt to score. If they score, Team 2 (yellow) exit. Team 1 (black team) receive a new ball from the goalkeeper and attack the bottom goal with Team 3 (red) entering the field. If Team 1 (black), Team 2 (yellow) receive a new ball from the goalkeeper and attack Vs Team 3 (red) who enter the field. Continue for 3 mins. The team with most goals at the end wins.
Coaching Points:
- Combination play and movement to create space for a finish
- Pre movement and first touch before finishing- create space and make sure the first touch prepares for the finish
- Decision of type of finish- low and hard, power, chip, placement into the corner, one touch, two touch (less than 3 preferred), header, volley, instep, laces
- There are multiple types of finish available to the attacker- they must choose the best based on the situation
4.
Setup:
Fox in the box small sided game. 36 x 36 field, two teams of 6. Four goal set up on each side as shown above.
Instructions:
Team 1 (black) attack goals C and D, while Team 2 (red) attack goals A and B. Balls start from a new goalkeeper each possession (if the black team kick the ball out of play, a goalkeeper from C or D can restart play; if kick the red team kick the ball out of play, a goalkeeper from A or B can restart play.
Coaching Points:
- Combination play and movement to create space for a finish
- Pre movement and first touch before finishing- create space and make sure the first touch prepares for the finish
- Decision of type of finish- low and hard, power, chip, placement into the corner, one touch, two touch (less than 3 preferred), header, volley, instep, laces
- There are multiple types of finish available to the attacker- they must choose the best based on the situation