Better than one direction
Being able to keep control of the ball while changing direction when dribbling is an important skill that players must use in matches, especially when trying to beat or avoid a defender. MORE
Win your 1v1 duels
This session is designed to improve 1v1 duels in the midfield. The players are forced to continually attack and defend 1v1 in order to get a chance to attack and score a goal. MORE
Second ball steal
Forwards must always be “alive” and ready to react should a defender fail to clear the ball, miss-control, play a poor pass or not react to a rebound off the goalkeeper. Use this session to keep your forwards alert and they will steal goals for your team. MORE
Keeper sweeper
in Goalkeeping, Practice plans
Goalkeepers have to be alert even if they don’t have a lot to do in some games. Any attack on their goal can be prevented by early action such as interrupting long balls to sweep away danger. MORE
Ever ready to make a save
in Goalkeeping, Practice plans
It may only be for a split second, but having a good “ready” position will give a goalkeeper a good platform from which to make a save. Such preparation can be the difference between winning and losing a match. MORE
Attacking 4v2 game
Good passing and movement will generate instances of 4 v 2 overload. Take these chances when they arise and you’ll win the game. This session shows your players how to maximize the opportunity. MORE
Ball dribble challenge
in Practice plans, Soccer dribbling drills
This session will test whether your players have the skills to take on and beat defenders, and then go on to score goals. If they haven’t, use this practice plan and they will soon have the technique. MORE
Reactor!
in Goalkeeping, Practice plans
Improving your goalkeeper’s reaction speed to different attacking situations such as rebounds and the fast, unexpected shot could stop your team leaking goals. MORE
Counter strike
Teams are at their most vulnerable when they lose the ball in the attacking third. This session will help your team to capitalise on these opportunities by making a quick fire counter strike when they win possession and the opposition’s defence is vulnerable. MORE
One-on-one defending
Defending in a 1v1 is tough – use this drill to improve your players’ ability to come out on top in such situations. MORE
Flick the switch
If you can improve your team’s ability to quickly switch play from one side of the pitch to the other, the attacking options are far greater. MORE
Side-on volley shots
When the ball’s between knee and waist height the side-on volley is a very effective technique for getting a strike in at goal. MORE
Cunning corners
In professional soccer almost 50% of goals are scored from set pieces (corners and free kicks). So organisation and efficiency in set-piece attacking and defending is crucial to the success of your team. This session focuses on corners. MORE
Control the long pass
in Ball Control and Footwork, Practice plans
In the previous Smart Sessions Core Skills, we looked at long passing. Today, we show you how to teach your players how to bring those long passes under control. MORE
Palming the ball over the bar
in Goalkeeping, Practice plans
A keeper needs a variety of techniques to cope with those times when they can’t catch the ball. Palming the ball over the bar is one of those techniques, and is ideal for high crosses that could potentially drop behind the keeper and into the net. MORE
Defence and midfield link
This session will improve your team’s ability to play the ball out of defence. It develops technique and understanding through unopposed, opposed and small-sided games. MORE
Scoop save
in Goalkeeping, Practice plans
Any shot that is traveling towards a goalkeeper’s legs at pace is difficult to deal with. Young goalkeepers in particular have problems with these and often opt for kicking the ball away, or end up with the ball hitting, or even worse, going through their legs into the goal. MORE
The second six yards
in Goalkeeping, Practice plans
When a cross arrives between the six-yard box and penalty spot, the goalkeeper can catch the ball or leave it to his defenders. This session will improve your goalkeeper’s confidence and decision making in the crucial “second six yards”. MORE
Finishing touches
Sharpen up your players’ finishing abilities in and around the penalty area with this hot-shot session. MORE
Shooting from outside the box
This session aims to improve the attitude to shooting from outside the box. MORE
The ‘footballing’ goalkeeper
in Goalkeeping, Practice plans
This week’s session is designed to improve your goalkeeper’s ability to pass and receive the ball and make him more confident while in possession. MORE
All round passing and receiving
Fine-tune your players’ general passing and receiving and passing. skills with this trio of drills that all take place inside a circle. Increasing the speed of each activity will improve players’ skill level. MORE
Chest control
in Ball Control and Footwork, Practice plans
Players should be comfortable at dealing with balls at whatever height they arrive – and that means being able to control a ball that’s too high to control with feet or thighs or too low to head. MORE
Mix and match
In matches, players have to make a range of passes across various distances. The practices in this session are designed to improve awareness of when to use a short pass and when a longer pass is required. MORE
