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
Lofted and driven
There are two types of long pass: Lofted and driven. Develop your players’ ability to execute both with this session that will keep them interested. MORE
Shooting across the goal
This session will encourage your players to play the percentage game. Shooting across the goal enables the team two chances to score – either directly from the shot or from any rebounds that follow. MORE
Quick turn and fire
Creating space in a packed penalty box in order to turn and fire off a shot is an invaluable skill that brings great rewards for strikers. MORE
“Gang up” defending
When a defender puts pressure on an attacker, it is vital that another defender stays close by in a supporting position. This session is designed to improve how your players “gang up” in defensive situations. In doing so, they will improve their understanding, positioning and teamwork. MORE
Don’t be shy – shoot!
Get your players shooting at every opportunity with this drill. MORE
The killer instinct
Remaining composed when faced with just the keeper to beat is vital for a striker. This session will show you how to teach your hitmen how to hit the target and win matches. MORE
Hold off a defender and shoot
This drill improves the ability to cope with the pressure of having a defender breathing down your neck when through on goal with only the keeper to beat. MORE
The finishing square
The practices in this session are designed to improve the movement of the centre forward when receiving the ball and the awareness of midfielders to make an accurate forward pass and then support this pass with a forward run. MORE
Safe hands and safe feet
in Goalkeeping, Practice plans
The ability to deal with balls that come to the goalkeeper from all angles is one of the most important parts of a goalkeeper’s game. It relies on positioning, technique and good decision making. Most importantly, keepers need to be good with their feet as well as their hands. MORE
The instant shot
Striking the ball first time at goal requires good service, timing and technique. With benefits including reducing the amount of time keepers have to prepare themselves, it’s worth giving it a shot. MORE
