Do you want your players to play faster? Are you satisfied with your team tempo? Are you putting your players into situations that continuously develop their football fitness’?

Modern football/soccer is played at lightning fast speed – elite players find a way to be successful in restricted spaces with little time on the ball.

The following activities emphasize ‘Speed of Play’ – at the individual and team level. Within these games players need to make decisions and execute those decisions quickly due to pressure from opponents – this results in a higher tempo within the activity. As players increase their speed of play their bodies also adapt to this increased tempo; this results in a gradual increase in ‘Football Fitness’!

Pitch size, player numbers, touch restrictions, work:rest periods etc can be adjusted to alter the demand depending the age + ability of your players!!

Good luck!

1.

Setup:

12 players divided into Four teams of 3.

A 3v3 is organised inside the playing area; the remaining two teams wait on the perimeter as shown.

Instructions:

SPEED OF PLAY / FOOTBALL CONDITIONING:

Play starts with a pass from the Coach to either team; players compete for possession of the ball and attempt to score in the mini-goal.

Unrestricted touches.

Games of 1min: Rest periods 2min reducing to 1 min

After each game the next 2 teams enter the playing area to continue the game; the players who just completed the games walk around the pitch to recover (active recovery)

Coaching Points:

• Congested space = less time on ball = less time to make decisions and perform actions –
• Results in Many Actions per minute = Fast Recovery is forced between actions
• Push players to maintain a high tempo during the work period

2.

Setup:

12 players divided into Two teams of 6.

A 6v6 is organised inside the playing area 4 mini-goals are placed as shown.

Instructions:

SPEED OF PLAY / FOOTBALL CONDITIONING:

Play starts with a pass from the Coach to either team; players compete for possession of the ball and attempt to score in the mini-goals.

Unrestricted touches. After a goal the next ball is given to the scoring team; this ensures a higher tempo.

Games of 4-6min: Rest periods 2min

After each game players walk around the pitch to recover (active recovery).

Coaching Points:

• Quick ball circulation and movement
• Congested space = less time on ball = less time to make decisions and perform actions.
• Push players to maintain a high tempo during the work period

3.

Setup:

12 players + 2GKs divided into Two teams of 7.

A 7v7 is organised inside the playing area; 4 mini-goals are placed as shown. A coned/shaded area is organised for the Goalkeepers.

Instructions:

SPEED OF PLAY / PRESSING / FOOTBALL CONDITIONING:

Play starts with a pass from the Goalkeeper.

Teams must attempt to maintain possession and score by (1) playing a long flighted ball to the opposite Goalkeeper or (2) passing into either mini-goal.

3 goals are awarded for successfully playing a long-ball to the opposite Goalkeeper.
Unrestricted touches.

After a goal the next ball is given to the scoring team; this ensures a higher tempo and transitions.

Games of 4-6min: Rest periods 2min

After each game players walk around the pitch to recover (active recovery)

Coaching Points:

• Defensive team: PRESS immediately to remove the option of the long-ball.
• Possession team: Quick ball circulation and movement
• Congested space = less time on ball = less time to make decisions and perform actions.
• Push players to maintain their PRESSING during the work period