WEEK ONE PRESSINGWEEK TWO INDIVIDUAL DEFENDINGWEEK THREE PRESSURE AND SUPPORTWEEK 4 DEFENDING WHEN ORGANISED WEEK 5 WINNING THE BALL The moment of transition from defending to attacking is a crucial one for young players. If they can take advantage of winning the ball, they are more likely to win games – but all players must […]
This activity places players in a game environment where they are set up to win the ball back from the opposition and counterattack quickly to a waiting target. The game works on group decision-making and helps players understand when and where to press the ball and tackle to win it back. It also encourages quick […]
A defensive unit that can prevent opponents from making penetrating forward passes will stop goals. Teach your players to do this and their chances of winning games will increase. What this session is about Applying basic principles of defending. Making play predictable. Working together to deny penetration. What to think about Being “goal side” (defenders […]
Use this session to encourage play on the wings and to improve the ability of your forwards to latch onto rebounds in a crowded penalty area. The focus of the game is the wide areas and creating space in the packed area in front of the goals. Rebounds from crosses are plentiful in youth games […]
Central midfielders are key to the development of all matches. Help your “middle men” influence the game by improving their movement and their ability to gain possession of the ball. What this session is about Improving central midfielders. Playing through midfield. Quick combination play in central areas. What to think about In possession, your central […]
We all love to see a stunner – goals from outside the box are always a spectacular way to hit the back of the net. It is often seen as a waste of possession but in youth soccer young goalkeepers will find it hard to keep out an accurate shot hit with power. It does […]
Some teams have limited space available for training but clever coaches can turn this to their advantage and make tight training work for them. Often in matches players will find little space to work in, and they will struggle to hold on to the ball when surrounded by opponents. Playing games in tight spaces helps […]
If your team can master the art of close marking, it can make the opposition’s task of scoring goals extremely tricky and that means your players will have a better chance of winning matches. What this session is about Guarding an opponent so it is difficult for them to receive the ball or play an […]
WEEK ONE PRESSING WEEK TWO INDIVIDUAL DEFENDING If you want to win matches, you need smart defenders. A great deal of the time they will have to play their part in defending as a team, but there will also be other times when they will have to defend as individuals. Most coaches think of defending […]
A forward player who can hold the ball up with his back to goal can wait for support and give the team a better chance of scoring goals. This is how to “make it stick”. What this session is about Shielding the ball from a defender. Receiving the ball under pressure to “make It stick”. […]
