Warm-up: 2v2 + 2 floaters, no goals, passing inside square
Organisation
- Each pitch has three pairs of players. One pair are floaters.
- This means that the pair without the ball are always outnumbered 4v2.
- The pairs try to complete a certain number of passes to score a point.
- Challenge them to make passes in different ways (e.g. throwing, volleys, headers, along the ground).
Ways to make the exercise easier
- Restrict the "defending" pair to walking.
Ways to make the exercise harder
- Require a higher number of passes to score a point.
Great questions to ask the players
- Can you try to use all the space available?
- How can you communicate effectively when you want to receive the ball?
- Can you try to intercept the pass by predicting where it will go?
Safety tips
- Create safe zones between each pitch.
Skill development: 3v3 + 2 target players on the goal lines
Organisation
- Equal teams of 3v3 on the pitch; each team also has two target players positioned either side of the opponents' goal.
- Each team plays a normal game, but should pass to a target player whenever possible.
- The target player should then set up a shooting opportunity for his/her team.
- Give all the players the chance to be target players.
Ways to make the exercise easier
- The target players can roll or throw the ball.
Ways to make the exercise harder
- Add goalkeepers (who should also be rotated).
- Require goals to be scored in the air (i.e. from volleys or headers).
- Require goals to be scored with first-time finishes.
Great questions to ask the players
- When one of your target players has the ball, how can you create space to receive it back?
- Can you think about the timing of your run to receive the ball?
- When you defend near your goal, what do you need to do?
Safety tips
- Create safe zones between each pitch.
Game application: 5v5 + 2 target players on the goal lines, 2 goals
Organisation
- Equal teams of 5v5 on the pitch, including goalkeepers; each team also has two target players positioned either side of the opponents' goal.
- Each team plays a normal game, but should pass to a target player whenever possible.
- The target player should then set up a shooting opportunity for his/her team.
- Give all the players the chance to be target players.
- Also rotate the goalkeepers.
Ways to make the exercise easier
- Play the game with no goalkeepers.
- The target players can roll or throw the ball.
Ways to make the exercise harder
- Require goals to be scored in the air (i.e. from volleys or headers).
- Require goals to be scored with first-time finishes.
Great questions to ask the players
- When one of your target players has the ball, how can you create space to receive it back?
- Can you think about the timing of your run to receive the ball?
- When you defend near your goal, what do you need to do?
Safety tips
- Create safe zones between each pitch.