We’ve had a lot of fun games this season with all the stopping and starting of the leagues due to coronavirus. But when I ask the players what it is they want to do they nearly always ask for a shooting game – and with only one match left before the Christmas break this is a great time to work on one of the most vital areas of the game.
I want my players to do things that will help them with their player development as we head towards the last training sessions of the year. So I’m happy for them to indulge in shooting sessions as long as there is a reason behind the game.
The type of shooting games I go for are ones that I would use anyway when my players are not hitting the target during matches as often as they should.
All teams go through periods when they are not scoring as many goals as you think they should, so the sessions that I have targeted for my players will help them to score more goals when they are playing games after Christmas.
If you are thinking about giving your players games that they will not only develop their ball skills but also one they will have great fun playing try these – and they are also going to help your team to score goals in your next match.
Having possession of the ball is one thing but making use of that possession and creating goals is another. A great session for creating goalscoring opportunities is Create in possession. Try it with your team and watch the goal count soar.
Working in overloads is a key topic for teams during the season as it allows players to take advantage of real match situations. 3v2 transitions is great for attacking and defending teams to practice before their next match.
Speed of play is a key factor in decision making for young players. It can often cause them to make mistakes and lose the ball, but lightning fast play is always a winner in grassroots – try Five seconds to score.
And of course scoring goals is one of the favourite topics for most players and my go to sessions is 7 goal shooting range which has plenty of ways to score with added game management key to success.
I hope you find the sessions useful going into 2020 and they bring you and your team success in the second half of the season!
This session improves attacking players in key skill areas – namely in pre-movement (dynamic and elusive), penetration (with and without the ball), link-up play, plus the ability to focus on positive outcome MORE
The attacking team has an overload but can the defending team use their players to create their own overload and win the ball back so they can score? MORE
It is a very difficult time to be coaching our players around the world. So to help you I have created the Coaching Classroom where you can download lessons to give to your players online. Here I have focused on Compactness and Penetration MORE
Anticipate the ball being played through the lines and intercept passes by blocking passing routes. Players will also need to be able to tackle and win the ball MORE
I was out walking on the local golf course where I live this week and in the distance I saw a child running from what seemed miles away at top speed. As the child got closer I realised that it was someone dribbling a ball. Of course on the fairways it was like being at Wembley on a well cared for football pitch! It was great to see a child enjoying dribbling a ball, chipping over the bunkers and swerving around the patches of heather that catch out an unwary golfer. MORE
At the United Soccer Coaches Digital Convention yesterday I was in the presentation by Dan Abrahams on performance of your team with well being in mind. He explored three environmental approaches and combines them to help you establish a healthy and safe coaching environment for players of all ages and levels. MORE
I'm usually high up in the sky on my way to the United Soccer Coaches convention in America at this time of the year – last year I was at the convention in Baltimore and there was loads of coaching education on offer. Yet it is still exciting to be entering the United Soccer Coaches Digital Convention 2021 on my computer in the home office. MORE