Training 2/27 Lots of Shooting

I. Evan Warm Up

II. Heading Work

III. Shooting Technique

IV. Eric Shooting Game

V. 3v2 With Kneeling Targets

• Field size is approximately 36 x 44 yards although I often make the width more narrow with my team. Two target players are always on the field. 
• The one that is NOT in attack is always kneeling and ready to pop up if his team wins the ball or brings the ball onto the field, while the other target takes a knee. 
• Teams are situated behind opposite goals and are broken into pairs. A goalkeeper is in each goal. The two players of the pair position themselves on opposite posts. 
• One has a ball and must play to target first and then both players enter the field to attack the two players of the other team (their target is kneeling). 
• The 18 yard box is the half field mark. If your team scores a goal then your pair defends a pair from the other team that is just coming onto the field. 
• If the ball goes out of bounds in your teams half, then you are off and another pair from your team attacks.

Training 2/23

I. Technical Passing and Receiving

II. 4v4 (4v2) Build Up

We should have 12-13 players tonight so I am going to modify this to be 3v3 (3v2) Build Up

This exercise works on patience in the attack and possession. For younger teams that are just learning how to possess the ball, it is great due to the numerical advantage. For the older teams that can keep the ball, it works on knowing when to go forward and when to keep the ball. You can play it with 4v4 or 5v5. The field is approximately 40 x 30 yds (varies by age).

Teams score by dribbling over there opponents goal line. The defending team must place two of its players on the goal line and they may only move across the line to defend. When the defending team wins the ball, they must complete three passes before they attack (this allows the other team to put two of its players on the goal line to defend). It also helps teams understand the concept of negative space as they will always have the two players on the line to play to. This will help them learn to go backwards to break pressure.

When the team finally does get close to the goal line, the two defenders may have shifted to that side and closed off the potential to score. The player must look to switch the point of attack. If the other defenders are in the way, he or she must play the ball back and restart the build up.