Scan, receive, turn – Practice 2

WHY USE IT

This practice promotes scanning, receiving and turning to create space, which all help in making quick choices and creating better options in a game.

SET UP

Use two wingers, a midfielder and a striker, together with a goalkeeper, in a 30×40-yard area (or half a 7v7 pitch) as shown.

HOW TO PLAY

The midfielder plays the ball in to the striker, who must receive, turn and then play a weighted pass for a winger. The winger crosses for the second winger, who makes a run to the back post to try to score. After a few repetitions, change the players around. Keep the waves of players moving – as soon as one lot finishes, another starts. If the ball is loose, reset the current play. To progress, add an extra midfielder who overlaps and is part of the play – then add one or two defenders; one to hold or close a winger down.

COACHING POINTS

• Keep the waves of players moving quickly
• Striker goes to the ball to receive, wingers time runs
• Try different types of turns
• Judge weight of passes and crosses, and try to play into players on the run
• Take this into a small- sided game to finish the session (see next page), asking players to include the receiving, turning and scanning in their