Learning platform
en 
In this session, Newcastle United Head of Pre-Academy Jamie Williams encourages his players to “find a way forward” by using their eyes and body to anticipate and respond to the game around them.
Session overview
The first activity — a tag-style game featuring “gladiators” — challenges players to scan, plan, and disguise their movements as they search for routes past defenders. Success depends on entering each run with intent, staying alert to shifting spaces, and using feints and changes of direction to break through.
The second exercise, a 4v4 “turn and burn” game, brings these principles into a game-realistic context. After scoring, a team immediately receives a new ball and attacks the opposite goal, creating fast transitions and powerful learning moments:
-
Can players scan early to spot forward options?
-
Can they receive in an open body position to act quickly?
-
Do they have the courage to exploit space and score again?
Together, these practices help young players link awareness with decisive forward play — a key building block in developing intelligent, proactive footballers.
Part 1: Tag Gladiator Game
This first exercise works on the player’s ability to play with their eyes open and head up to find the best way forward. This is an activity without the ball to help the players focus more on scanning and recognising opportunities ahead of them.
-
Mark out a 20x20m area.
-
In the centre of the area, mark out 3 mannequins facing outward.
-
Tie 2 lines of tape between the mannequins to create 2 hurdles.
-
Around the mannequins, place 2 mini-goals, a rebounder and 2 mannequins together on the floor to act as obstacles.
-
Split the players into 3 groups of 4.
-
The white team starts inside the area next to the mannequins.
-
The orange and green teams start at one end of the area.
-
The orange and green teams must get through the obstacles and evade the white team to reach the opposite end.
-
The white team must try to tag as many players as they can.
-
If orange or green players make it to the other side, they score 1 point.
-
The orange and green players must continue running from one end to the other as many times as they can in 40 seconds.
-
They must see how many points they can score individually in 40 seconds.
-
Once the white team has defended two rounds, switch the teams so each team has a go as the ‘tagging’ team.
-
In the second round, the players must try to beat their record from the previous round.
-
The players score additional points every time they jump over or under any of the obstacles.
-
They must avoid being tagged and reach the other side to record the points gained.
-
Play with the eyes and head up to see opportunities and gaps to run through further forward.
-
Explode and reach maximum speed to power through to the opposite side, should the opportunity arise.
-
Scan frequently when moving to anticipate faster and adapt the route to the other side without being tagged.
-
Use body feints, sudden hip movement and the obstacles to deceive opponents.
Part 2: 4v4 - Turn and burn
This small-sided game gives players a sense of when to accelerate and attack spaces upon receiving the ball. The exercise focuses on moving forward or passing forward quickly.
-
Mark out a 30x20m area.
-
Position 2 mini-goals at either end of the area. Each mini-goal should be 2m from the sideline.
-
Split the group into 2 teams of 4.
-
4v4 on four mini goals, where each team defends two goals and can attack two goals on the opposite side.
-
When a goal is scored, the coach will immediately pass the ball to the team that scored.
-
The team receiving the ball must try to score at the opposite end they just scored in.
-
The team out of possession must now defend the opposite end.
-
If the receiving player dribbles into the opposite half and scores, he wins his team 5 points.
-
If the receiving team make one pass before scoring, they win 3 points.
-
Every other goal equals 1 point.
-
To score a goal, the attacking team must be in the opposition’s half.
-
If the ball goes out of play on the sidelines, the ball must reenter the pitch via a pass or dribble from the same place the ball went out.
-
Play 2x2-minute games before rotating the teams.
-
Play with the head up and eyes open to see solutions to play forward immediately.
-
Position the body side on so that the hips can be turned and a forward action can be taken immediately upon receiving the ball.
-
Recognise opportunities to drive with the ball, such as when the opposition are not in a defensive position, or space opens between them.
-
Adopt a ‘Turn and burn’ mentality, which is to accelerate forward as soon as a turn is performed.
Rate your experience
