Dimensions: 10 x 10 Yard Square with a 1 yard square in the middle. Place a ball or a cone inside this area; this is the passing players’ target.

How To: Have three passing players outside the 10x10 square. One defender occupies the middle of the square but isn’t allowed inside the 1 yard square with the target inside. The defender is also not allowed to leave the 10 x 10 square. The attacking players must work an opportunity to take a pass/shot at the target in the middle, the defender must move to close down passing angles and intercept passes played in at the target.

Coaching Points: Remain focused and aware of your surroundings, know that players on the outside have the freedom to roam and create opportunities. Focus more on cutting out passes, closing down passing channels and work hard to remain ahead of play.

Progressions: Set up a situation with more defenders and more passing players. Incorporate a second ball to create a bigger emphasis on communication between defenders

Dimensions: 10x10 yard square with a defender occupying the middle of the square. Line the players up 2 two each side of the square with two balls. One of the lines facing each other should have a ball at their feet to they have a receiving player in front of them. Lay more areas to accommodate more players

How To: One player sets off and attempts to dribble past the central defender before passing the ball to the player opposite them. Once the player opposite has received the ball, the other player with the ball at their feet running across the previous attacking players path sets off and tries to beat the defender, lines alternate. If the defender wins the ball back they join the back of the line the player was attempting to reach and the player who loses the ball becomes the defender.

Coaching Points: Attackers must play at speed and attempt to get around the defender, they will have to use close control and creativity to pass the defender. Be alert to when it is your turn to try and beat the defender and try to take advantage of poor defensive position while the defender recovers from the previous attack.

Dimensions: Set up a small area approx 35 yards from goal, one Defender occupies the area. Two attackers and 1 defender occupy the space between the area and the goal. Allow 1 goalkeeper.

How To: This is a weighted 2 v 2 game. The Goalkeeper passes the ball to the defender in the area, the defender must pass the ball to the attackers who attempt to score on goal, once the defender has made the pass into the attackers, the defender must make a quick recovery run to help out their other defender. This will be 2 v 1 until the defender can get back and defend.

Coaching Points: The defender in the area must recover quickly to get back behind the ball and help out their other defender, the outnumbered defender should try to cover both attackers and slow the play down, position yourself between both attackers and goal and drop backwards straight to prevent over committing to one player and allowing easy passage, slow play down enough and this will allow the recovering defender to get back into position and even up the numbers.

Dimensions: Set up a 12 yard square with 2
players in opposite corners. Setup additional areas to accommodate more players or stagger the players when they start to allow more players and more rest time. Each player will need a ball.

How To: Two players from opposite corners dribble unopposed to a central cone. Once they get close to the central cone they make a sharp turn or cut and dribble out at speed to the free cone before looping around that cone and heading back to the middle cone.

Coaching Points: Dribble with pace to the middle cone, while keeping the ball under control in order to make a neat turn at speed. Make sure your turn in precise and controlled. Test yourself, don’t do the same turn twice in a row and be creative.

Can you add a fake into this before you turn?

How could this benefit you in a game situation?

Dimensions: Set up two evenly sided areas based on the number of players you have per team. 25 x 40 yards with one line down the middle creating two 20 x 25 yard squares is a good starting place. Larger area will offer more chance of success. Split the players into two teams, one in each half of the field.

How To: One team starts with the ball and must attempt to make 5 passes, every 5 passes in their own area equals one point. The opposing team are allowed to send in 2 players to attempt to win the ball back. If they win the ball back they must quickly switch the play back to their half and begin making passes of their own to score points. The other team can then send two players in to try and win the ball back for their team. First team to 5 points wins. (Adjust the number of defenders in the opposing area to increase or decrease the difficulty level)

Coaching Points: Defenders will work to make the space more compact, use the available space to allow more time on the ball to keep possession. Try to make the field as big as you can when you have the ball.

Support the player in possession to allow them to find a simple pass. Work hard off the ball to create space and be available to receive the ball and relieve pressure on your team mate.

Progressions: Add a target player to the opposite end of the field. After 4 passes you must attempt to play the ball through or over the opposing team and connect with your target man, this scores one point. The target man then plays the ball back in to the other team and the game continues.