The session is about quick and inventive play around the edge of the 18-yard box. It’s about being inventive, firstly in tight areas, then progressing into a large area.
Smart interplay around the penalty area gives players the green light to take risks and be inventive to create goalscoring opportunities
You need balls, bibs and cones. Set up an area 30 x 10. We used 6 players in each set up.
Three players start at each end, two ‘wingers’ playing into an attacking midfielder. Wingers begin with a ball each in this continuous drill. They play a 10-yard pass inside, then follow the pass Receiving inner midfielders must be inventive as they move through the cones, playing a pass out on the other side They then remain in place to receive the next pass and the move continues. To progress the session tell wingers to create quick and precise combination play and one-twos with team mates around the mannequins. We can alter the style of passes – quick, to left and right feet, chipped, even driven.
Look for quick, positive and accomplished passing, good first touch and excellent player anticipation and awareness.
in Email newsletters, Return to play
Now we are back playing matches and training after nearly four months of lockdown I can certainly notice the difference in my players. It isn't like when they come back from summer holidays because that is usually just down to a bit of fitness and rusty match play. So how can you relight their fire? MORE
in Email newsletters, Return to play
I have done podcasts with a skills coach, a development coach and a director of sport at a school this month and they all say when the kids have been locked up for ages just let them play games when they do get out. MORE
in Email newsletters, Return to play
At last an end is in sight to the sitting at home and meeting my team on Zoom twice a week. But what can I do with my players? There are no guidelines yet so I am waiting to see how this will all pan out. I know what to expect from my players, they will just want to play a game, score goals, make saves, cheer with each other, shout at each other and just generally get back to a normal world of all things football. MORE
in Email newsletters, Midfield
One of the things I find really useful is to engage my players on a Zoom call and get them to list the attributes they think players need in certain positions. So this week we are working on defensive midfield. What does a player in that position have to do? MORE
Playing a pass from a deep lying midfielder into attacking players needs accuracy and speed but also it needs the midfielder to anticipate runs and movement MORE
In this fast, passing game midfielders must keep the ball and pass it through to the attackers quickly. Your players learn to make the right decisions and develop skills such as disguise using tight touch and quick release with limited space available. MORE
