Possession To Goal

I. Ladder Work

II. Short, Short Long Technical Work

III. 5v5 Straight Diagonal Keep Away

• 4 passes before straight/diagonal
• Play 5 minute games
• 3 Games

Teams

Key Points

• Angles of support
• Head on a swivel
• Movement off of the ball

IV.  5v5 Straight Diagonal to Goal

• Play 5 minute games

V. 5v5 Double The 18 Scrimmage

• Play 5 minute games
• Consider having wide players to cross the ball for double points

Creating Width

12 Players

I. Ladder Work

II. Switch The Field To 2v1 Wide & Cross

Set Up

• Use half of a field
• 4 teams of 3 players
• 3 teams are attacking and one team is defending
• Make a wide channel for the 2v1
• Create a goal for the defenders to score in if they win the ball

Procedure

• A coach or extra player plays a ball into a center mid who has checked to her
• The center mid receives the ball and plays a big switch to the far outside mid
• The outside mid who started inside bounces outside and receives the ball close to the side line
• As the ball is traveling to the outside mid the red defender moves out wide to put pressure on the ball and she should be about 10 yards away from the wide player when she receives the ball
• One of the blue forwards makes a run to towards the outside mid to create a 2v1 on the wing versus the red defender
• The two blues go 2v1 and look to either combine around the red defender or the blue outside mid can play the forward down the line to beat the defender with the pass
• If the defender wins the ball she can score by passing the ball through the cone goal 
• After a successful 2v1 the blues cross the ball into the middle for the 2nd forward to finish first time 

Make It Competitive

+1 for a cross and a shot on goal
+3 for a cross and a goal 
+5 for a header goal 

Defense +3 for a goal

Key Points 

• The cue for the outside mid to get wide is when the center mid opens up the field.  The run by the wide mid needs to be quick and they need to curve their run wide to create a passing lane.
• The forward needs to read whether or not to run to the line to be played in by the wide mid or if she should combine with the wide player to beat the defender
• The cross into the box needs to be placed in an area where the forward will be successful

III. 6v6 With Wide 2v1 Channels To Goal

Set Up

• 2 teams of 6 players and a goalie
• Wide channel that is from the outside of the 18 yard box to the side line

Procedure

• Teams play 6v6 and try to get the ball out wide
• The team that is defending cannot send anyone wide until the ball enters the wide channel
• When the ball enters the wide channel the defending team can send one player to create a 2v1 for the attacking team
• Teams must get the ball to one of the wide channels before they can score 

Make It Competitive

+1 point for a goal 
+3 points for a goal from a cross
+5 points for a header goal 

Training The Center Mids - Futsol 1/10

The idea for today was to work with our center mids on how to find space to receive a pass and for the other players to look to find our center mids.  We struggle, like most U14 teams, to find our center mids and switch the point of attack on a consistent basis.  Over the next month I want to continually build on the idea of playing through our center midfielders as I believe this will really help us to break teams down more effeciently.

I. Video

I took the next exercise from the coaches education session that Ian Barker put on for us.  I really liked the progression from the individual idea towards the team working together.

II. 5v5 Partner Keep Away

Set Up

• 15x15 yard grid
• Two Teams: 1 Red and 1 Blue
• Each player partners up with a player from the other team 

Procedure 

• Blue is the attacking team and begins with the ball
• Red is the defending team
• The Blue players try to get away from their partner who is marking them to receive a pass
• The Red players try to stay touch tight to their partners on defense
• The Red players cannot steal the ball
• Play for 90 seconds and switch roles

Coaching Points 

• Change your pace to get away from your defender
• Drag your defender away from the space you want to run into and when he starts moving the wrong way make a sharp cut to get into the open space

After playing the game once bring the players in and talk about working together as a team.  You will notice that everyone will be working to get the ball and players will often run into each others space.  When you bring them in talk about dragging your defender away from a space to create space for your teammates.  Remind them that it is a team game.

Make It Competitive

• Give a point to the attacking team every time they create space to receive a ball 
• Play two rounds and have players switch partners after both teams have gone once

III. 5v5 To Goal Must Combine Off Your Center Mid

Set Up

• Two teams of 5 players
• One player on each team is designated their center mid 

Procedure

• You must play the ball to your center mid before you can go to goal
• The teams will play normal soccer and must keep good defensive shape.  That means they cannot ignore the other players and only cover the center mid

Key Ideas

• Work on possessing the ball until the pass to the center mid opens up
• The timing of the center mids run
• The other players keeping their heads up while possessing the ball

Make It Competitive

Once they get the idea of the game we will play normal soccer and give the following points

• +1 point for finding the center mid and keeping possession of the ball
• +2 point for finding the center mid and switching the point of attack and keeping possession of the ball
• +3 points for the center mid creating a scoring opportunity
• +1 point for a goal
• Play games to 15 points

IV. Futsol