Find the target man
A challenging drill to teach your players the importance of build up play when setting up a target man with a clear goal scoring opportunity. MORE
Attacking
The attacking soccer drills in this section aim to help you coach your players to make the most of the opportunities that come their way during a game. We look at ways to create chances for your attackers, small-sided games that will sharpen their reactions in front of goal, and tips on how to coach your attackers to be goal-machines.
Breakout
To make a success of counterattacking, players must be able to recognise the moment of transition between defence and attack quicker that the opposition. They should then move quickly to take advantage of it. 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
Shoot on sight
Shooting chances may only be there for a split second and young players miss the opportunity while moving the ball from one foot to the other or by passing when a shot would be the best option. MORE
Beat the block
Crowded penalty areas can allow attackers to disguise their shooting by shielding themselves from the keeper behind defenders. Can your attackers beat the blocking defenders and not hit their own players? MORE
Clever disguise
in Attacking, Ball Control and Footwork
Help your attackers to develop their dribbling skills and encourage them to fool defenders by disguising the direction they are going to take to shoot at goal. 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
Attacking wingbacks
Use this session if you want to see exciting attacking wingbacks who can either cross a ball or cut inside and shoot. Players can make use of 2v1 situations to attack or fool the defenders with a skill. Crosses into the box are also an option in this game. MORE
Positional game with attacking movement
This session is all about build up play, keeping possession to pass into key attackers getting players to pass to the players safe side away from their markers. Youth players will also learn the why, when and how of attacking and defending play. MORE
How to coach a midfielder in tactics and techniques
in Attacking, Email newsletters
An attacking midfielder sets up so many goalscoring chances that it cannot be ignored in your coaching sessions. Once the midfielder wins the ball there are a number of important things to do that go through a players mind in a split second. Can I secure the ball? Can I pass into the striker? Can I play the ball wide and find space? ..... So how do you coach it? 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
Score from close range
Scoring from close range isn't always as simple as it sounds. Try running this session to get your attackers taking shooting opportunities in the penalty area. MORE
Turn possession into goals
in Attacking, Email newsletters
I see a lot of statistics on the TV that often show the teams with the most possession don't always win games – you can have the ball as much as you want but if you are not doing something different then it's much easier for the defence to break the attack down. Keeping the ball is a small part of the game, you have to make use of it. MORE
Finish your chances
in Attacking, Crossing, Passing, Shooting
Teams can get into the final third but often fail to convert chances. This focuses on finishing using combinations, passing, crossing and a variety of finishes. MORE
Tight defence? Switch play
Breaking down a defence isn't always as simple as playing passes into the space behind – sometimes that space is on the other side of the pitch that your players can exploit. MORE
Possession and penetration
Here’s a session, divided into two parts, that benefits players in three core elements. At the heart of this is possession; but keeping the ball is only really useful if players know what to do with it, and that’s where patience and penetration come into play. MORE
Third line pass
The third line pass is the creative pass that splits defenders and creates space for attackers to exploit. Helps players to understand the importance of creative passing but also to play easier passes when a defence splitting pass isn’t ‘on’. MORE
Sharp shooter
This session combines key attacking elements of passing, shooting and crossing. It moves quickly and positively and ensures players use both feet. Having players who can link up instinctively in the final third is a great advantage at any level, and this practice will get them thinking on their feet. MORE
How to create more goals
in Attacking, Email newsletters, Psychology
One of my players loves to score goals... in fact last season when he didn't score he often cried. I've worked with him all last season and at the start of this to make him realise that setting up a goal is just as good as scoring. I'm battling the professional game here because they hold up goalscorers above anyone else but I am also helped by an unusual influence! MORE
Escape
in Attacking, Ball Control and Footwork
In this session players learn to be confident on the ball through triangles, a shape at the heart of football – in both attack and defence – which is comprised of three players. MORE
Midfield support in attack
When you attack the play should cover all areas of the attacking third. To do this attackers need support from midfield that is creative and moves quickly into the dangerous areas of the pitch to create goal scoring chances. MORE
Top four tips for wing play
Oxford United winger James Henry gives his top tips for to help young players to be successful on the wing telling them to cross the ball and score goals! MORE
Shoot from outside the box
This session improves shooting technique and gives players confidence to shoot from outside the penalty area. It helps players to see an opportunity and take it with a shot from long range. Some players will be able to do it straight away but others will take time – put accuracy over power when they first try. MORE
The final pass
This session works on patterns of play building up to the final ball into the striker. Important for youth players to understand the role of the support players in build up play. MORE
