The flower

by Tony Carr in Fitness and Diet, Practice plans

This training session is designed to develop your players’ facility for intensive endurance. This could give you the advantage you need to win more matches.

What this session is about

Improving the players’ ability to maintain high intensity running whilst fatigued.
Translating the learnt skills into a soccer based drill.

What to think about

At each turn focus on the correct turning technique – small steps and quick feet.
After every turn perform acceleration correctly.
Body position (lean from ankles) be aware that some players will bend at the waist which is counter productive.
Use of arms (powerful and dynamic), elbows at 90’ moving full range.
Maintain quality of movement when fatigued.

Set-up

Place poles on the corners of the 18 yard boxes and at the intersection of the halfway line and touchlines.
Then place 6 poles around the centre circle adjacent to the outer poles.

Warm up	Session	Developments	Game Situation	Warm Down
10 minutes	15 minutes	15 minutes	15 minutes	5 minutes

What you get your players to do

Start at one of the poles placed around the centre circle.
Run out and around the outer pole placed opposite.
Return back to the centre circle pole and continue around the set up in a clockwise direction until you get back to your start pole.
Rest while another player runs the course.
Repeat in an anti-clockwise direction.

Follow the direction of the arrows for this tough but effective endurance challenge.

Development

Introduce a ball at each of the outer poles for the players to receive and return (with quality and care) before turning and continuing with the course (receiving a ball at each pole) until the player returns to their start position.

Now introduce a ball to the session. Get them to receive and make a quality pass.

Game situation

In a large area (30 x 30m) play a 4 v 4 keep ball game with spare players around the edge of the area. At every opportunity the player in possession is encouraged to pass to a spare player, follow his pass collect the ball, turn and continue the play.

This 4 v 4 keep ball is real test of endurance in a soccer situation. Keep the intensity high.

What to call out

“Every turn is a new acceleration.”
“Powerful arm drive.”
“Maintain good form.”

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