Team A
Team B
Goalkeeper
Joker (+1, always plays for the team with the ball)
Ball
Cone
Pass
Dribble
Run
Shot
Activity 1
Technical Warm-Up
2v0 Combination Play
Setup: TRAINING AREA = 20W x 30L. Place a "defender" (wall man, cone, pole, etc.) in the center of the space. Form (4) lines in each corner of the field with ball. The player with the ball dribbles towards the defender to "commit" them. Then plays pass to teammate. Both players run off the field, and stand in the next line. The next group begins a similar movement. **Combinations = Take-over, through ball, overlap, dribble-give/go
Goal: The player with the ball dribbles straight at the central dummy defender to commit it (draw its attention onto the ball), then passes to a teammate from another line. Both players run off and join the next line so the drill flows continuously. There is no scoring: the aim is to rehearse each combination (take-over, through ball, overlap, dribble-give and go) cleanly.
Coaching Points
- Dribble with the laces of the foot when dribbling at speed
- Pass with the inside of the foot to be more accurate & strike the middle of the ball when passing
- What: The laces of the foot should be used when dribbling at speed
- Where: Pass to the open space in front of me
Activity 2
Small-Sided Activity
3v2 Dribble Goals
Setup: TRAINING AREA = 20W x 30L. Play (2) goals on each end-line using (4) cones. The goals should be 3 yards wide. Designate a group of attackers (3), and a group of defenders (2). Play 3v2, scoring by dribbling through the gate. Rotate attack & defense. *If the defense win the ball they can attack the goals on the opposite endline.
Goal: The three attackers try to score by dribbling the ball under control through either of the two 3-yard cone gates on the defenders' end line. The two defenders try to win the ball, and if they do they can counter-attack by dribbling through either gate on the opposite end line. Rotate attack and defense between rounds.
Coaching Points
- Point your standing leg/plant foot towards the player or space you wish to pass the ball
- Follow through with your foot after you pass the ball to increase speed and accuracy when passing
- What: Recognizing the moment to attack & engage the defender with the dribble
- Why: To enable commit the defender, which will open more space for my teammates to enter without the ball
Activity 3
Expanded Small-Sided Activity
5v5 to Two Goals
Setup: TRAINING AREA = 40W x 60L. Place (2) goals at opposite ends of the field. Play 5v5, attacking the goal on your opponent's end line. A goal counts when the ball crosses the goal line between the posts, whether it arrives from a shot or a pass. *Variations: -Scoring a goal = 1pt.; -Committing a defender & scoring a goal (making a defender step toward the ball carrier before the ball is released, or dribbling past that defender, on the possession that leads to the goal) = 5pts
Goal: Each team attacks the full goal on its opponent's end line and defends its own; a goal is scored whenever the ball crosses the line between the posts, from either a shot or a pass (a pass is not required). A plain goal is worth 1 point. It is worth 5 points if, on the same possession, the scoring team first commits a defender: making a defender step toward the ball carrier before the ball is released, or dribbling past that defender. This rewards beating an opponent off the dribble rather than just passing around them.
Coaching Points
- Where: In front of them into space after I have committed a defender
- When: Just before the defender steps in to tackle the ball
- Look to attack and commit a defender off the dribble before you release the ball, so a teammate or the goal opens up
Activity 4
Game
Goal: Apply what you practiced today in a real game.
Play a scrimmage with the biggest teams possible, or play small-sided if you have fewer players or less space. Reinforce all points above.