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